Charm XVIII: Only the sun rises for free

[janestarz]

Charm was very, very awesome, once again. I swear, if I didn’t have Maerquin this would have been my favourite event. As it is, I am very blessed with GM’s who take my wishes into account (my skin can’t abide make-up) and give me fun things to do.


margrietje in one of my fav pictures of the weekend. It was sunny!

I was a bit wary about the role I’d been given. cabaray said he'd typecast me, but I noticed what he wrote was nothing like he'd ever seen me play before. It was a bit of a complicated role, and I was of the opinion he could have just used two NPC’s to play this character. As it turned out it was a good thing I had so much to do.

Warning!
I am about to relate what I played. This might yield information about other PC’s that you and your character do not yet know. Please remain fair and refrain from using this information in your future play. Houd IC en OC strikt gescheiden!

The entire weekend I played one role, most like a DPC. Some players didn’t realise I was an NPC, no doubt thinking I was just a PC like them. In any case, I had tremendous fun. Meet Maria Belladonna, heart mage.

Maria was sent to Meya-Tula as a mage because her opinions on magic were a bit strict. Basically, she was exiled from the Schola Magica so she wouldn’t be a bother. This rubbed Maria the wrong way. She was determined to prove that toad Mordechai wrong, finish her research on the use of blood offerings and magic, and return victorious to Thuringen.
The problem was that Meya-Tula was a saurian city, with swamp all around, and her research did not progress very far. The local cult worshipped the sun, which they called X’un (pr: Ek-SOON), bringing it offerings in blood every noon. It would have been the perfect place for her research, except that there was no immediate evidence that the offerings had any magical effects.

And then word came from Thuringen that a group of adventurers was going to pass through Meya-Tula. Maria was the perfect contact there, for delivering mail among other things.

Friday
There was some initial confusion about the mail, but I ended up in my Carrot-Apple dress with parcel and mail, waiting in the bar for players to arrive. Tal-Klotz, the goblin ambassador, and Ceotese, the half-faun daughter of the innkeeper Jiske, kept me company. The gloomy inn had long since been adapted to make the saurians at home, though Jiske, being a good-natured and clean human being, opted to keep mould outdoors and only hang the ceiling with plants-shaped pieces of fabric and other cloth that imitate the close atmosphere the saurians seemed to prefer.


Tal-Klotz the goblin ambassador, played by Martine.

Tal-Klotz joined me at a table where she expressed an interest in the long parcel I had in front of me. It had arrived earlier by a messenger who had delivered several messages for the expected guests. Tal-Klotz fondled the wrappings and urged me to open it. “Go on, they’ll probably never know.” She said, her green eyes shining with delight at this sport. Even for a goblin, the saurian swamps are boring.
I denied her the fun and waited. Soon enough people started pouring into the inn. Soon enough, a man took a seat at my table and voiced the cheesiest opening sentence I’ve ever heard. “Say, don’t I know you from somewhere?”
I introduced myself as Maria Belladonna, but he shook his head, saying I misunderstood. “Outside the game, who are you? You look familiar, maybe we’ve met at a different event.”
Gone was the lovely atmosphere, and I certainly was disappointed. When I said who I was he introduced himself too (but I forgot his name instantly), thought for a moment, and said he knew me from Sword & Ink, an online magazine I once made for the larpers online. It flunked because of a lack of writers, and though I did blog about S&I for a while, it’s definitely a thing of the past. Unfortunately, this man was definitely a thread necromancer, as he went on to revive dead things from the past. “I’ve been e-mailing with you back then, don’t you remember?”
I thought “Dude… please just go away.” But I shook my head and said “I really can’t. It’s been years.”
He went on to ramble about how he had been right back then when he said I should have done S&I in Dutch, since more people would have read it and the e-zine would never have dwindled away into obscurity. Yea, whatever.

After this most depressing encounter I didn’t have any more problems and I count myself lucky that I could just get back into the game. I met a feline named Anna who helped me find some people to deliver letters to, and told other people about the saurians and their unique culture. Most of the players were troubled by a condition called Swampsore, unique to the swamp, where sores appear on the soles of their feet, caused by the humidity and exercise. Many players were literally putting their feet up to let the sores rest, which would cure this strange illness, but some were actively searching for a salve to heal their feet. Either way, I was still lugging that parcel around and searching for a man or woman named Anarion Sindanarië to deliver it. Anna said he’d fallen into the swamp and that he was taking a shower and changing his clothes.

Finally, someone pointed him out to me and I approached him at the bar. He was an elf, dressed in white. I introduced myself and told him I had a letter for him, and a parcel. Handing him the heavy, long package, I dug into my purse to find his letters. Accidentally I handed him a letter for Uriël. He opened it and immediately returned it, but I asked him if he knew who this man Uriel was. He said it was a woman he knew, and that she was taking a detour. He also promised to deliver the letter to her, so I gave him the letters to deliver.
Vargynja got her letter and so did Kilian, and I also had a letter for Duckdalf, a mage who was studying all of the five branches of magic. Being curious and news being so hard to come by, Maria had already read the letters and was very interested in Duckdalf, especially because he was the epitome of what her research was trying to prove to be disastrous: a rainbow mage. When Duckdalf was pointed out to me I was kind and polite, but inside I was already plotting to hinder him in any way I could.
After Duckdalf had read the letter, he asked me to read it. Feigning I hadn’t done so yet, I read his letter and asked him about his skills. He told me what I had feared: that because he had studied multiple branches of magic, the magic was running wild, and the spells were interfering with each other. Duckdalf told me about one incident where he’d first cast an earth spell to turn something to stone, and consequently had cast an air spell. The spell had worked, but his hand had partially turned to stone as well.
Luckily, Mordechai had told Duckdalf in his letter that he could turn to me for help. And I promised Duckdalf that I would. But I had my own plans about that as well...


Remco as Xi'to (left) and Lars as As'uac the stargazing aquasaurus (I think...).

Saturday
I went to bed rather late and slept less then perfectly, waking up in the middle of the night from someone’s snoring and thinking it was a bear in the bed next to me. The shape of my bags was rather reminiscent of a bear’s snout. I blamed Ahroun, but it might not have been him. Also, rather uncharacteristically, I was cold in my sleeping bag, which should be fit for -4°C in tents, and we were sleeping inside with the heater on. Uh?

Coffee and eggs for breakfast and I went into the monster room for some updates. I was finally allowed to deliver the letter for Diego, and I made myself scarce when anna_xanaphia briefed the rest of the NPCs for the si’prayer – the noon prayer. Before I could find this Diego two saurians called Drek and Sladder were already rummaging about with drums, instructing players in the proper chants to use during si’prayer.
I had also already met several other people who sparked my interest, Mirak and Duckdalf, another young mage who thought that exercising multiple kinds of magic was fine and the Magic Five. Fergus of the Magic Five struck me as a most volatile person, having proven my point the previous night in an explosive ritual where stuff went very, very wrong. In short, there was enough to do, and some research could quite easily prove the point of my thesis with this very varied group of people.

I spoke to several people who had no intention of joining the si'prayer, and I told them it was best if they didn't want to participate, to not be around at all. “The saurians insist that if you're here, you participate. I can hardly skip it, but they can't tell most humans from each other and they don't know your faces yet, so perhaps you can sneak away.”
I also saw the first other signs of disagreement between the saurian culture and other cultures: several people had been marked with the curse of X'un. The saurians would curse people who did not show the proper respect to X'un, and a marking would appear on their forehead: a sun with several rays. The more rays, the more disturbing the violation. Rosalie, a heart mage, was one of them. I told her that the curse meant that she would die, and that the saurians would no longer acknowledge her presence or speak to her. She then rightfully concluded that it would be a rather self-fulfilling prophesy, as the saurians were in control of most things in Meya-Tula, including food and guides through the swamp. Rosalie turned to her friend Alyssis, a saurian and also part of the Magic Five. But Alyssis didn't speak to Rosalie either.
Rosalie went in search for answers, and later returned to me to say that it was a magical marking, not a curse, and that it could be removed by an “disempowerment” spell. But she also said the curse would return afterwards. I thought it best not to tell her this was because the saurians know only the Axis can remove the curse, and anyone not offering to X'un to remove the curse will be cursed yet again to teach them a lesson.


sna as Za'nai'nis, enjoying the sunshine.

The therosaurians, the lowest caste in saurian society, started to gather everyone. I noticed a rather large group of people sneaking away into the woods, but I joined the si'prayer. The Axis, a tall stately acrosaurus (ruling caste) chanted the words of power and promptly pointed to Tick. “Offering!” she hissed (which is really hard with a word without 's'es, I can tell you). Tick, a skaven female carrying several of her young, looked around uncertainly, but she was hoisted to her feet by Drek and Sladder, the raptasaurians (middle caste) who had prepared the visitors to Meya-Tula to learn the rite. They hadn't said anything about this, though. Fergus was also asked to join them, which he did. Bram held the bowl for the offering of blood, and only then did they realise they were not supposed to offer their lives for X'un. They had the honourable task of holding a giant toad while the Axis sliced the carotid artery (or however that's done with toads anyway). The blood poured into the bowl and cup, and the Axis raised the cup to X'un, intoning the proper chant. She drank...and then she fell down.
Silence preceded pandemonium. Drek and Sladder, Silas, Za'nai'nis, Xi'to, Snasz and Issis, every saurian present started to run around screaming and wailing. The offering to X'un had been refused, and now the sun would go away tomorrow and never return!

After this shocking piece of barbaric culture I went to get a drink at the bar. I ran into Kilian, a priest of Helena, and I asked him if he knew who Diego was, since I still had a letter for him.
“Of course;” he said; “I'll describe him to you. He's got a piratey look, with a bandana on his head.”
I thanked him and went looking for Diego. Outside the sun was shining with vigor, and there was not a single sign it was disgruntled at the giant toad the saurians had offered it. People were lounging about on the grass, happy to not slide slowly down into the swamp so close to a larger building (anything but the inn, even the temple to X'un, had slid into the swamp slowly over time. I guess that's why they use high ceilings and doorways).

I saw two men who seemed to fit the description Kilian had given me, and I approached them. They eyed me curiously from under their tricorns. “Excuse me, but I'm looking for Diego. Which of you is him?”
“Why do you want to know?” the one closer to me said. He wore an orange embroidered vest and the smaller of the two hats, but his eyes peering out from under the tricorn were sharp.
“I was told to look for a man with a piratey-look about him, and you both seem to fit the description. I have a letter for Diego.”
The man in the orange vest stepped back, holding up his hands. “I'll leave you to it.”
The other man, with long, dark hair and loads of small daggers suspended from belts slung over his tall body, eyed me curiously. I handed him his letter with a smile. “I hope it's good news.”
He opened the parchment and immediately stepped back from me. Only then did he turn on his heel and nearly manhandled the other guy towards the edge of the field. There they stood glaring at me, the letter held so both of them could read it.



I joined several people in the sunshine, enjoying the warm rays of “X'un” on my body. It was a few minutes later that Diego came up to us, focusing on an elven female who sat opposite me. All of a sudden, he said there was a wasp in my hair and started to wipe at my loose hair to try and get the insect away so it wouldn't sting me. I froze, afraid to be stung.
It was only a few minutes later that I realised he had been looking for a marking there. I approached a GM who called Cabaray who ruled I wouldn't have the marking (phew, because I don't), because that wouldn't be at all practical.

When I met Diego later in the bar he asked me some questions, but he was very circumspect. He obviously didn't want to give away too much, and on the other hand he really wanted to get some answers. How did I get that letter?
I explained I was a heartmage working on a thesis here in the swamp, and as such the only viable contact for anyone looking to send or receive mail. He asked if I had any special skills too, and I said I had, smiling secretively. Because he was so circumspect and I was loathe to tell too much all at once, we more or less danced around each other. And then I suggested we would meet up later, to play a game of cards.

It took us several hours to get to the card-playing stage, during which I started to get a headache and no amount of water would make it go away. I went into the NPCroom to find something to cover my head with, as the location had its front face full in the sun and there was no shade to be had. Wendy also gave me a painkiller, which slowly dissipated my headache, but it was a clear sign to drink more and try and find some shade – which was nigh impossible.

When Diego and I met up for our game of cards we sat in the inn, sipping ice tea. I didn't hesitate to drink it, but I knew exactly what he was and what he had been told to do. I finally told him we should be clear with each other, and offered to help him. I knew what had been in that letter, and I was in a position to be of service. Likewise, he could be a great deal of help for me.
“There are two gentlemen among this group that have been marked by my friends. I want to play with them a little bit. They don't have to die, necessarily.” I said. “And since there is no official contract on them, this presents an interesting situation. I would be very grateful for your help, but you must tell me if there is anything you would want in return for that help. I have many talents and can acquire a goodly amount of gold. Whichever you prefer.”
Diego said he'd think about it and told me he knew the gentlemen in question. It wasn't long after that that the first opportunity arrived.


Scurvy the skaven. I don't know the player's OC name, but he was very warm.

Mirak had been wounded by someone, I believe a feline, and I noticed that Angus was stitching him up. I nodded to Diego, knowing that I would be of even less help, and Diego kneeled next to the wounded Mirak. “What happened?” he asked.
Angus told him to hold a wound closed, and I swear all I could see, as I was standing off to one side, was that Diego was helping Angus by holding the wounds closed and softly slapping Mirak's face to wake him up. But once Angus was done and Diego joined me again, he said he'd smeared a poison into the wounds and onto Mirak's lips. It was a good start, and it proved to me he was an inventive man.

Most of the afternoon I spent lounging and discussing magic with Eros. He had heard I was going to help Duckdalf in a ritual, and Eros was interested to help. We contrived a ritual where we could lay the founding blocks for proving my theories on the use of multiple kinds of magic by one single person. Duckdalf still needed to learn water magic, which I couldn't teach him, but already the boundaries between the elements were fading. We theorised that if we were to 'program' Duckdalf by hypnosis, we could lower the boundaries between the elements inside Duckdalf completely. And, with a different power word, raise them again, even higher than before. We could tell Duckdalf it was a ritual to help him separate the elements. I only needed to have enough evidence to prove my theory on how dangerous it could be to combine elemental magic in a person, and after that I had no further need of Duckdalf.


Rosalie (played by josianne) and Duckdalf (played by armhart) sharing an intense moment in a ritual as GM Bas (with earpiece) watches closely.

As for Eros, he had been marked as my other target. Diego showed me his concept, a code of six numbers: 421707, flanked by markings reminiscent of the Jack of Hearts – one with a broken heart, one with a whole heart. I didn't understand it at first, until Diego rotated the parchment, and the code spelled something quite different upside down. I nearly squeed with glee. “If you can tattoo that on his chest... I would be most grateful.”
To my surprise, Diego and his friend Bram accomplished this feat within the hour. Eros rubbed his chest afterwards, and even showed it to me proudly later that night.

At some point in the day when I went inside to get some more water, I noticed Kilian in the bar, helping our friend Xi'to who had been poisoned. The bar was otherwise deserted, and I went to get Diego, who carefully checked his weapons. “I can cast a spell to make Kilian forget what happened;” I said, “including the minor detail that I cast that spell. You will have to take care of Xi'to.”
Diego and I offered to help Kilian get Xi'to to the Axis' rooms out back, as Kilian had helped Xi'to to his feet. Diego took the saurian's arm on one side, as Kilian took it on the other. We went outside and rounded the corner around the inn a little later, where Bram joined us. When we were out back, Diego carefully put Xi'to down, and Bram helped him, while I started casting my spell, turning Kilian around so he wouldn't see what was happening to Xi'to. When I was done, Kilian looked confused. And then a noise behind us made him turn around again. Diego had placed his leather coat over the body of Xi'to so the saurian priest could bleed to death in peace, but the noise had alerted Kilian.
“Thank goodness you’re here!” I improvised. “Xi'to has been poisoned, can you help him?” I asked Kilian, who promptly set to it.
Right that moment Anarion burst around the corner in a turn of speed, thinking Kilian was in trouble. He had seen me put my arm around Kilian, forcing him to turn around and the elf thought Kilian was being forced to do something. Almost all of the rest of the players followed him, milling about. Anarion demanded to know what was happening, what I was doing to Kilian with my arm around him.

Blood rushed to my face in fright, and I saw Bram and Diego edging around the corner, making themselves scarce. If I were to try and leave, I'd probably end up dead. So I told my version of what had happened, leaving out crucial details. How Xi’to had been poisoned, and how Kilian and I were just escorting him to the Axis’ quarters when Xi’to collapsed. How Kilian had rushed to help Xi’to. I helped Xi’to up, but Anarion was still sceptical. I could sense he didn’t yet trust me. Kilian took Xi’to’s other side, and we escorted the saurian to the Axis’ quarters, where he closed the door in Kilian’s face.

That was very close.

Dinner was good, and I was second in line, or some such. Most of the NPC’s clustered together and shared experiences in soft voices. Martine and Judith S were both a bit jealous of my role and squeed with glee along with me about what happened so far.

After dinner, Bram approached me with a question. Since people had voiced their doubts about how heart mages are, I had embraced their prejudice and gave them exactly that, since it would cloud my other purpose in the group. I heard Anarion was looking for a mage who could cast a “purge mind” spell (it was “forget”, actually, so I could truthfully say I did not know it).
Bram first asked a young woman sitting next to me whether she had something to do that night, and when she denied his opening he turned to me. “Do you have something to do tonight?” he asked, and smiled when I said I didn’t.
“Do you want to go stargazing with me?” he asked.
“I’ll bring the stars....” I smiled.
When I walked away from the group later, several people approached me. “You do realise Bram asks a lot of women to go stargazing with him, right?”

The rest of the evening was filled with lessons as well as the actual stargazing. Both Eros and Rosalie approached me because they wanted to learn advanced heart magic. I had no intention of learning Eros anything but humility. I also asked temporary GM omdathetkan about the lessons and my plans. I told him I’d pretend to teach Eros the magic, but not teach him anything. Omdathetkan helped me by also allowing me to rule for a moment as temp-semi-GM. Hurrah! Good plans.

Eros and I looked for a table aside from the other drunkards revellers, and I asked him about himself and how he viewed heart magic. More and more I thought that Eros was a dimwit. Not stupid per se, but not quite aware of how other people viewed the world, and their role in it. Eros seemed to be a very self-centered being, but without realising he was.
My strategy was to confuse Eros so badly that he wouldn’t be able to learn the advanced branch of heart magic. But I couldn’t fudge the lesson too bad or he’d notice. I told him how we needed to remove the cognitive step from his casting. No longer should he think about which spell to cast, but let his emotions take over and control the magic. He seemed to understand the concept, but when the time came to practice, I screwed him over.
I first asked him to concentrate on an emotion, but before he could experience it and try to let it envelop him I slapped it down. I started pacing around him, letting my voice pulsate to confuse him and just as he was focusing on an emotion I berated him in a stern voice and told him to let it go. “Feel it. Feeling is not acting!” I said sternly. “How can love dance? Love is an emotion, not an action! Feel it! Now let it go.”
Eros shrunk back down. I told him to sit where he had stood. I started to pace around him again, working on his nerves. But then something happened. When I let him focus on the emotion Fear, a vision washed over him. Because of Omdathetkan I could ref it myself, which was cool, and Eros played along perfectly. He curled up in a ball and my voice changed back to a warm tone. When I finally managed to snap him out of the vision, he was crying.

I jumped to my feet and called for Rosalie and the others of the Magic Five. We took Eros back to the table where Diego was still mixing drinks, and Rosalie took care of him. Diego slid a drink my way, something green with gold flecks in it which he called “Northern light”. It was delicious. The cinnamon from the Goldstrike and then the green Pisang Ambon refusing to mix. After that drink, Woempf, an imp from the fire dimension I’d met the day before, came to say goodbye. He gave me a fiery kiss (quite a feat for an imp no larger than my hand if he hadn’t been so warm to start with) and left us to be.
Diego had mixed the next drink, a “Cannonball” (Tequila, tabasco and another ingredient I can’t remember) but I didn’t finish it as it was too peppery and because Rosalie also wanted her lesson.


Feline Anna with the flowers she picked for Godess Aurora.

I was much more kind to Rosalie. Like Eros, she was interested in telling me how she felt about heart magic, but she was actively searching for my opinion on the subject as well -- something Eros did not do. I liked her more, and not just because she didn't operate under the assumption of a broken heart.
I explained to her, just like I did with Eros, how the next step in Heart Magic would advance. We discussed the concept for a while and then we too practised the emotions. I asked her which emotions she found very difficult, and which emotions were easy. I started her with an easy emotion, and could easily see she submerged herself totally in it. I gave her more time to experience the feeling than I had Eros, and slowly took her through the steps.
At some point I told her that feeling was different from acting. She was prone to moving around a lot when an emotion overwhelmed her so fully as I asked her to, so I told her to sit down. To make sure she wouldn’t suddenly pop out a spell or two, I sat immediately opposite her. No pacing around, no rush, and no stern voice. Rosalie’s lesson was decidedly different than Eros’, mostly because I wanted her to learn where I wanted Eros to fail.
But with Rosalie, the same thing happened, again when I asked my student to focus on the emotion of Fear. This time I knew the signs, and I managed to steer her clear from the same fate as Eros. She shook it off, and we continued on to the next emotion. As a final part of the lesson, I asked her to focus on Calm. She sat perfectly still, and I explained that when practising to embrace your emotions and then returning to yourself, one could easily mistake Calm for Self, and that is a trap that can be avoided. In stead of returning to Calm, I told her to try and find the differences between Calm and Self, as homework. We would continue our lessons the next day, when I would teach her a new spell that would only work with her increased ability.

After another drink from Diego, Bram and I went stargazing. It’s been so incredibly long since I last lay on my back in the grass, gazing at the stars it felt like the first time. What you don’t see when you’re staring at the stars when you’re not lying down is the curve of the heavens. It’s really quite awesome. There was some interference from the light, but I found the Warrior and the Large Ursine, and Bram asked me whether the Warrior was special to me, because it was the first constellation I mentioned.
Cold seeped through my cloak and dress soon – clear, cloudless nights with frost! – so I got up and returned to the table where Diego was still mixing drinks. Eros had found his bottle of whisky and was well underway to drink it. I opted for another one of Diego’s green drinks (Pisang Ambon, not absinthe!).

Soon enough Diego turned to me, while his girlfriend Alcaniël was sitting opposite us. He handed me a letter, which I promised to send. I had seen some goings on at the entrance to the sunken saurian temple and I knew that Xi'to had finally met his end, though I only had Diego's word for it. Still, if he said it was done I was ready to believe it.
He smiled at me his million gold-pieces smile and asked when we'd do his lessons. We'd agreed that if he wanted, I could teach him the most vulnerable places of a body, and I was happy to do so that evening. After all, I had already had one successful student, and Diego had been most helpful in my other objectives.

We walked onto the grass nearby the inn, a little way into the darkness, far enough so people couldn't exactly make out what we were doing. Most had gone inside already anyway, the night being cloudless and very cold once more. Inside a fire was roaring and songs were heard.
I concentrated on Diego in front of me and like with Eros and Rosalie, I asked him what he already knew of the subject I was about to teach. He said he was 'rusty', never having learned it as a skill but having a common sense of anatomy.
Of course he knew about the carotid artery. Everyone knows the best way to kill someone is to open up the veins in the neck, as well as the subjects windpipe. I told him about the other things in the neck that might interfere in his objective; the spine being foremost. Most knives will do plenty damage there, but penetrating the spine is tricky and the effect can be messy, sloppy, and anything but silent.

I pointed out several crucial spots in his anatomy, touching his back to point out several parts where major organs could easily be reached. His leather coat and numerous knives obstructed my probing hands at times, but I think I managed to convey my lesson well enough. After a few organs, I told him to repeat my lesson back to me.
Diego stepped behind me, and I tried to check the shadow he cast on the grass beside me. Suddenly I was very nervous. Would he grab a knife and get rid of me? Would I notice it in time if he did? I was quite defenseless, didn't even carry a knife, and I wouldn't be forewarned if he decided to try something. Seconds stretched out as my mind raced, and then I felt probing fingers searching for a kidney. His voice was soft enough not to carry, a strange accent even more obvious now that he stood closer.
He carefully reached around my body, lifting my arm, and pressed his open hand into my armpit. “Major artery.” he murmured. He stepped in, took my other hand, and lifted it. “It's a little like dancing.” he said. I stepped clumsily, oh so flat-footed, around him, trying to swirl like a dancer. Blood rose to my face in an awkward blush. Maria, the lolita, Maria the heart mage, blushing like a girl child.
When Diego released me I might have wished he'd held on, but our relationship was purely business. I cleared my throat, hoping he'd not seen me blush, and continued the lesson.
When he asked, I also showed him a grip on someone's neck and how to break it. It's far too crude, but effective if you can get the placement right. And I showed him the best and most silent way to murder someone: by placing one hand over the mouth, which is then used to softly lower the body, avoiding unnecessary noise.
Perhaps I should have shown him how to kill someone from in front, but it's hard, even when you know your stiletto will slide between the ribs. In any case, a lady has to keep some things to herself.


Outline of a faun, played by Arno.

Sunday
Not too long after breakfast I was cornered by Mirak, whom I still had not been able to mark with revenge. As it turned out it was a most unpleasant man. He insisted I teach him heart magic, but I lied and excused myself when he looked the other way. The entire time, Mirak had stood a little too close to me, and he had hinted after the black lipstick he wore and that I knew something else about it. The only one who really knew what I was, next to a heart mage, was Diego, and since he'd had ample opportunity to slice a knife into my back, I doubted he would rat on me.
The other option was Fergus of the Magic Five. He had proved to be a most unstable man during several rituals and occasions, which wasn't too surprising since he practises multiple strands of magic. He'd asked me the previous night whether I could write him a scroll, and I had asked him if he could burn-mark Mirak for me in return. Perhaps I shouldn't have gone out on a limb like that. But I could probably handle Mirak, and Fergus too if it came to that.

I spoke to Kilian, asking him what he knew of Mirak and telling him I felt unsafe around the man. Several people had warned me not to trust Mirak and I hoped to create some sympathy for a lonely woman by discreetly asking people for help. I also spoke to Diego, telling him I felt naked and whether he would loan me the use of a knife. If push came to shove, I was sure I could at least hold Mirak off for a little while.

The other thing I did to cultivate some goodwill was help with the wounded. A tribe of desert people had come into the city and declared war on the group for some reason, and they used hit and run tactics in the hope to wound us. Two women, Merel and Surewen, offered themselves up as hostages in the hope to open negotiations, but this only worsened things.

I took care of Sand, also of the Magic Five, after he was wounded. Poor little elf as he was, he was sewn up by Angus and told not to move. I carefully placed his head in my lap and stroked his hair as other people went after the desert tribe in order to regain the hostages. I even fed him pineapple, the poor elf.
Not long after Sand insisted to get up, I saw Bram go down. The boisterous little man with a heart for stargazing had struck a chord in me, and I lifted my skirts to run to his aid, making sure Angus would stitch him up once it was clear that Helena would not heal him. In the end, Bram seemed to make it.


Maria Belladonna (left) and Rosalie (played by josianne) discuss magic.

The saurians, who had been busy trying to get the players to help them catch large sacrifices for their altars, had decided to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to avert the eclipse. As the sun darkened, the saurians of the X'un cult all drew their knives and stabbed themselves through the heart. At the moment supreme, the Magic Five (Six, Seven...I lost count) were also performing a ritual.
And then, the sun reappeared. Most of the saurians could be saved, all but the Axis, but her sacrifice was enough to make X'un return and smile upon the world once more.




This Charm was again a great one, with lots of intrigue on my part. I'm not usually good at evil roles, or even chaotic neutral, but I really enjoyed Maria Belladonna. Perhaps it was just the fact I got to run around the night with Diego and Bram. Evil might be contagious. In any case, all that remains to do now is look forward to the next one. Who knows, Maria might return. She is not done with Duckdalf or Mirak yet...

More photos on Flickr ~ Charm website

Comments

[erwinl.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you had a lot of fun this last event.

:-)

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Goeie voorbereiding voor Marianne, niet?

[erwinl.livejournal.com]

Zou je zo kunnen denken. :-)

[maglok.livejournal.com]

Wouw goed verhaal. :) Tof!

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Heb je het nu al uit? Dat doe je snel!

[maglok.livejournal.com]

Dat zei Mark ook al eerder en zo snel lees ik echt niet.

[cabaray.livejournal.com]

I typecasted you because I thought you could play secretive and take on characters who are layered, based on Puerto and Maerquin experience. I went at length to supply a role which was non-schmink. Also I was aware that this would be a role that could easily be played by two NPC's but the one supplied the alibi for the other.

I knew you could do it, and you did awesome!

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yay! GM-praise!

[ikhier.livejournal.com]

Heel tof verhaal! Weet ik ook een beetje wat er verder nog gebeurd is, het meeste is straal langs me heen gegaan.

[lupijn.livejournal.com]

Mooie actie en geweldige timing met de spreuk, jammer dat de heren achter je wat lawaai maakten toen ze de leren jas over Xi'to legden... :D De arme saurier, dat was de derde keer dat Kilian hem oplapte (al kon Kilian maar één keer herinneren). Het was gaaf!

Oh, en ik ben bang dat ik ook degene was die Mirak van een vergiftiging afgeholpen heeft, toen Angus bezig was hem op te lappen...

Heb ik onwetend toch nog aardig wat plannetjes in de war gestuurd.

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Dat houdt het leven interessant! Ik ben blij dat je er lol mee had, want daar gaat het nu eenmaal om.