Warding the Roost

Log Info

• Title: Warding the Roost

• Emitter: Telamon

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Telamon, Verna

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Ravenstongue and Telamon are staring at the wards on the house and are trying to figure out how to DIY the ward renewal when Verna approaches. They chat for a bit, and Verna offers to do the warding herself in the form of a hallow spell. Telamon and Ravenstongue are grateful for the offer, and pledge to aid any way they can--even if it's only in the form of keeping Pothy away from the herbs and oils that are needed for the spellwork to take hold.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes
Verna                4'5"     98 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Petite humanoid in bulky gray robes and cloak.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The Lúpecyll-Atlon home, midday.

While the immediate threat has abated for now, it's become clear to Telamon that it is past time to start taking the security of his home seriously -- especially for his fiancee's sake, if not his own. And so the sorcerer is sitting on a stool outside, carefully tracing the warding runes around the door with a fingertip. A book hovers next to him, held open by an unseen servitor, as he murmurs, "OK... okay, I can do this. It's tricky though." Mostly talking to himself.

He's dressed in a simple linen tunic and breeches, and his boots of course, and he leans down to pick up a brush and a jar. A little bit of powdered silver, as he starts to trace the initial rune. A flicker, as energy pulses through the delicate engravings. "There we go... alright, now how to stabilize?" He gets up, rubbing his chin and thinking.

He is not the only channeler of mana nor the only bearer of hovering tomes this day as Verna approaches the home she once knew via a different couple in residence. Witnessing Telamon at work, she does not immediately speak up nor intrude, instead awaiting a more opportune moment to make her presence known. She, herself, once noted that the difference in gesture and invocation between removing a curse and bestowing one, for example, could be as minimal as an ill-times sneeze or hiccough. "Good day to you."

Cor'lana stands next to him, a cup of tea in her hand, as she's mostly there to provide moral support. She's dressed in a light cotton dress without sleeves that has the curious marks of her curuchuil out on display, the neckline low enough to show most of it. It is, after all, a spring day going on summer--the heat's getting up there.

"Well," she says, craning her neck to look at the rune, too, "I wish I could be of more help, but..."

While the two sorcerers are rubber-necking at runes over doors, however, Pothy on Cor'lana's shoulder is more helpful. He notices Verna first. "Verna," he says, mimicking the voice of one Auranar.

"Huh?" Cor'lana blinks. "Verna? And Auranar?"

Then she looks over her shoulder and snickers, shaking her head. "No, just Verna--which is not a bad thing at all! Pothy just made me think there could be your other half, too. Good day to you too!"

Telamon doesn't drop the brush or jump, but his head does come up. "Verna," he replies, but he smiles at her genuinely. "It's good to see you. I'm working at it, but... the best I've been able to do so far is to get the ward running briefly. I'm not sure if I'm missing a reagent, or I need to try and feed mana directly into it."

His expression is wry. "Considering my luck with compounding alchemical solutions, I thought I might seek out an expert's assistance instead of possibly blowing the entire wall off the house." Tel grins. "So, how is Auranar doing?"

Verna is dressed in the height of her own spring fashion... which is also, conveniently, the height of her fashion for all other seasons. Namely gray robes over gray flesh in turn covered by a gray cloak. The weather, or her current status, does have her hood doffed, however! The greeting, or rather, the voice given by Pothy causes a blink. Perhaps she should have expected this, but did not. "Greetings to you as well, Pothy."

"She is well, thank you. She left early this day to venture out of the city to aid in a matter. One involving... sheep, if I recall correctly. Lacking her pleasant company and having no temple duties this day made for an opportune time to visit and offer what assistance I may. On that topic," she adds after considering Telamon's update, "it may be best to recreate or replace the protections entirely. They are rarely intended, much less able, to endure indefinitely."

Pothy's feathers all fluffy up as the bird holds his head up high. He's so proud that he got a greeting of his very own from Verna. "Snacks," he says.

No, wait, that's a demand. He wants to know if Verna has any snacks.

"You have plenty of snacks inside, Pothy," Cor'lana says with an eyeroll. "I do hope Auranar comes back okay. Telamon and I owe her a lot, and we'd like to talk to her again soon to express our gratitude--as well as a question I'd like to ask her, too--"

She looks back to the mark and trails off her thought. "Right! The wards. Yes, we're trying to replace them. They've been inert since I bought the place."

Telamon sighs heavily. "I was afraid of that. I had hoped to at least repurpose them if not restore them entirely, but... ah well. It's a shame too -- the scribework on them is gorgeous." He gives the inscription a gentle pat, before capping the jar of powdered silver and putting it on the stool. "Seldan probably... did things differently than me. And with 'talent' that can make or break attempts to work with someone else's tools."

He smiles at Lana, before looking back to Verna again. "Alright. What would you suggest, and what will you need? I grow some herbs and materials in the backyard, and I have the usual smattering of materials that we occasionally use for spellcasting."

"I do not generally keep supplies of snacks on my person," Verna explains to Pothy. "The few exceptions are those baked by Auranar, which I rather promptly consume." Yes, she did just admit to eating all of the snacks. Her snacks, at least.

Back to the less-feathered yet no less fine friends. "She expected to return late today, perhaps early in the morn. I could-" a pause as the hope of a safe return belatedly sparks a rather unfounded moment of worry. "I could convey any information or inquiries to her if you wished... though I am confident she shall return quite soon; hearty, and hale."

Yes, to the wards. She steps to inspect the indicated inscription and her lips purse as she traces over a portion with one gloved finger. "I was ... too hasty in this section, I believe. There was some urgency at the time, and limited funds available..." She turns from the critique back to the pair (trio). "After some consideration, in light of your current ... unwelcome visitor that your home be blessed. Not in the common sense, but in a similar manner as the temples, themselves, and render this holy ground. Evil entities would be far less potent, uncomfortable, and more disinclined to enter or remain."

A grievous blow has been dealt to Pothy. The weight of knowledge is too much to bear. Verna had cookies... But she ate them. Before they could even be offered to Pothy as tribute! How will he continue his most important of work now? The white raven makes a sniffling noise.

"Oh for the love of Navos, Pothy--those were Verna's cookies to have, because Auranar made them for her. Not you. Not all of the snacks in the world belong to you." Cor'lana practically glares at Pothy for a moment before she looks back at Verna. "We would immensely, immensely appreciate it. We have had far too many intruders in our home lately, to the point where I'm contemplating just selling the place and moving to the Mythwood to live in peace, but... We're needed here. Alexandria needs adventurers."

Telamon gives Pothy a look. Again. "Pothy, you have an entire basket of snacks in the kitchen, not to mention the peanuts. Do not even start." He rolls his eyes, his expression long-suffering, before returning his gaze back to Verna again. Back to the matter at hand.

"Verna, at this point I would just like to not have any more blasted uninvited house guests. As Lana says, it's starting to wear on both of us -- and while I'm willing to work to bring some light into the darkness, I also have a responsibility to her." He reaches out to take Lana's hand. "So. Yes. Whatever it takes, whatever you need." He heaves a sigh. "Maybe there'll be a day it won't be necessary, but until then..."

"You are most welcome. Moreso, you are both deserving of the home and life of your choosing and not one overshadowed by fear." Verna's frown deepens. "There shall always be threats, but there should ever be respite and security from such things." At Telamon's words, and taking of Lana's hand, Verna's spark of ire abates, frown softening nearly into a slight smile. "I would be delighted to offer any portion of that security to you both, as I long for that day, myself."

A nod brings her back to the facts at hand and her typical neutral expression. "You need not concern over materials; they are obtained readily enough. A Hallowing should protect the majority of your home. Additional effects can be bound to this, as well, if desired. Moderating of temperature for comfort, aloowing all to speak in Tongues, prevention of spoken lies, to name a few."

Cor'lana smiles at Telamon, squeezing his hand gently as she looks back at Verna. "You are a wonderful friend, Verna," she says, "and Telamon and I are deeply grateful for your help. Pothy will be, too--despite his appearance, he was worried sick about me when I was abducted."

Pothy's feathers remained fluffed up, although he looks almost angry, somehow, in those blue eyes of his. "Fuckers," he says quietly, mimicking a voice like Cor'lana's but deeper. Cor'lana reaches up to pat his feathers down with her free hand.

"Tongues would be amazing," Cor'lana says. "Pothy has an inner voice that can only be heard with magical intervention, so it'd be nice to have a place where he can speak to our friends more freely. And Telamon wouldn't have to expend so much magic to understand him. Temperature moderation sounds great, too."

Verna eyes Pothy again. It could be due to the expletive, it could be due to consideration of just what other comments he may have or had that she was merely unaware of. Her focus returns to Cor'lana. "Auranar and I are both grateful for your safe return. To clarify, I may have mispoke. A single additional effect can be bound to the Hallowing. You would need to select only one, if any. From your statement, the latter may be preferred? The hearth can warm cold nights, but does little for communication."

"Tongues would be preferred, yes," Cor'lana says with a nod and a smile. "If we get cold, Tel and I can just get some extra blankets and bundle up under them."

"Yuck," Pothy says, mimicking Cor'lana's voice again. This is what makes him decide to finally flap into the backyard, where--

"Oh no! Here comes Sir Pothy! He looks hungry! Hiiiiiide!" a little high-pitched voice yells, followed by a set of giggles that sound like the chiming of small bells. <Sylvan>

Cor'lana's smile twitches a little. "Have we ever mentioned we have garden pixies? We like them well enough, but they can be mischievous. ...Just take care to craft your hallow spell so it does not affect the fey, please, or my ancestor shall be cross, as well." Her hand goes to the large feather mark on her chest.

"Indeed. Pleasant company is another fine solution." Verna's head then cants at the sounds and her lips twitch slightly upward. "You have not, but they are wise to hide from Pothy, even in play. The spell should not inhibit the fae; they are not creatures with vile hearts so far as I am aware. Capricious and chaotic, perhaps, but not intrinsically evil. If there are such variants, I expect you would not welcome that sort into your home... Intriguing. I now wonder if Auranar's garden might draw such visitors..." A curious thought, but not an ill one based upon Verna's expression.

Her path of thought soon returns from musing to the matter at hand. "When would be the most convenient time for enchantment? The ingredients shall require only a scant hour to acquire, though the arrangement and empowering shall take a full day and night. I would not wish to impose nor intrude upon your home and privacy unduly."

Telamon glances back at the giggling of the pixies, and smiles. "For all their mischievious tendencies, they've been quite helpful with the garden. I think they were attracted by Lana's... fey nature, for lack of a better term." He looks back to Verna, "But yes. I would rather not hedge them out, they are good folk. Nor would I hedge out Lana's ancestor, either."

At the prospect of a time, he looks thoughtfully at Lana. "Perhaps tomorrow or the day after? That way Verna can work relatively undisturbed. I want to get this done, swiftly -- I don't desire any more uninvited guests and I'm pretty sure you feel the same, love."

"Either one would be fine with me," Cor'lana says with a smile and a nod. "Maybe you could even bring Auranar with you, Verna? It'd be nice to see her again, and maybe I'd get to ask her that question. I'd relay it to you to ask her, Verna, but it's better to ask this kind of thing in-person, I think."

It sounds like Pothy's chasing around the pixies, judging by all of the wing-flapping and pixie-giggling that's coming from the gardens. Cor'lana just snickers. "That's new. Then again, Pothy's branching out... so to speak."

Then she just stops in her mental tracks. "...Was that a bird pun?"

"Given some imminent travel for which I should prepare, I will start at the earlier of the two. I will be as unobtrusive as able," Verna notes. "Admittedly, I expect to be utterly focused on the matter and threfor unaware of most all else. I presume that none shall disturb the herbs and oils applied to the home during the process." Her eyes shift. Certainly she must refer to the fae. She could not POSSIBLY be eyeing Pothy. After a long enough glance, she adds, "I will bring Aura if she is available, and inform her that you wish to speak with her."

Telamon nods. "Lana and I will speak with the pixies. I... think we can exercise a little authority over them." He glances at Lana. "At least I was able to, when I came home that time." His voice becomes tentative. Unwilling to dwell too much on recent issues. Swiftly, he moves on. "It'll be good to see Auranar again."

He looks Verna in the eye, and his gaze is twinkling again. "You are a lucky woman. And so is she. Let me know if there's any other assistance you'll require for this ritual -- I am at your service in this matter."

"I think I can manage to dissuade Pothy from the herbs and oils just fine," Cor'lana says with a heavy sigh, "although I fear that he might clean us out of the kitchen stocks to compensate for not being able to eat any of it. A small price to pay for comfort, however."

She smiles and nods to Telamon's sentiment. "Let me know, too. Telamon and I aren't quite at your level of spellcraft, of course, but we may well get there eventually--provided we don't up and retire from adventuring before then to start a family. It's in the cards, but not for a long while. Far too much to do and too many people to help before then."

Now a smile forms on Verna's lips. It is not broad, but warm. Moreso, perhaps, as it is so uncommon an expression for her as to be even more conscpicuous. "I am most fortunate, indeed. Too much so." It fades, though not abruptly. "Your assistance in the arrangement would be most welcome. Much of the time and effort involved is the arrangement, not unlike inscripting sigils."

The mention of family quiets her a moment as she considers... presumably an appropriate response. "I expect you shall discover or make the appropriate time for a family. As noted, a life of your own choosing is deserved."

Telamon blushes a touch at the mention of starting a family. But he doesn't show any other signs of discomfort at all. "In time. But for now, I think we'd like some peace of mind -- and that starts here with setting up a new hallowing." His arm goes around Lana, as he continues, "Maybe we can get Addy to babysit Pothy for a bit, while we're working here. That might keep him out of trouble--" He pauses. "No, that won't work, Addy would watch her entire stock vanish down his gullet."

He rubs his head, thinking. "We'll come up with something. Even if one of us has to sit in the backyard keeping him occupied while the other helps you out. How hard could it be?"

Cor'lana has a look on her face that suggests that she's contemplating if her fiance is a fool, as "how hard could it be?" are typically the last words of one. But eventually she just nods and smiles. "I'll deal with Pothy, then, and you help out Verna, if it comes to that," she agrees. "I'm the one with the most experience handling him, after all.

Verna nods. "Excellent. I will obtain the needed ingredients and return on the morrow with those and a diagram of the markings," she looks to Telamon, "for your ease of reference."

Telamon nods. "We will see you on the morrow, then, Verna. Safe travels, and say hello to Auranar for us." He smiles, glancing at Cor'lana, and blinks at her expression. "...What is it?" He clearly didn't grasp the depths of error that is 'how hard could it be?'. He offers Verna a cheery wave, giving Lana a fond squeeze. It's a good day, after all.