Astarael42

Rites of Passage

Brisa sat in stunned silence when Kaya told her of what happened to the village.

How could everyone be gone? Vanishing into thin air was the stuff of stories, not reality. Autry had taught her much of the magical history of the land; but nowhere did it mention a story where people simply vanished. It would have to be magical; how else could it be accomplished. What had really happened? What had attacked the village?

The thoughts tumbled in Brisa’s head as she sat staring at the fire she had just lit. She was having a hard time wrapping her head around it all. It just didn’t seem possible. She liked things neat, facts, order, precision, logic, not scattered thoughts and ideas that raced through her mind faster than she could focus on them. She hadn’t always been this way, Autry had drilled that precision into her and now it was second nature. She felt uncomfortable returning to her own scatter brained ways.

Fortunately she was quickly distracted by Argurios and his rather spectacular entry. She followed Kaya and watched as Kaya confronted the unknown. Brisa admired her for it, but she was also vastly relieved that it was simply the leather-worker’s boy. Brisa had seen him when she was fetching hand crafted pouches for Autry. She had never met him, and was very nervous around him, but she also knew he was one of the town and that was something. Right now that familiar face was welcome.

In very short order she found herself startled into jitters again as Thovren made his equally spectacular entry. He was another boy she had seen but had no contact with. He always seemed to be busy, just as she was. They would pass each other in the street as they went about their duties but nothing more than that.

When Dakin showed up it was a huge relief, him she knew well. He and his teacher were always here at Autry's. That Dorn wasn’t with him was bad; whatever happened it had to be bad to stop both Dorn and Autry from returning.

The two of them were both magical warriors in their own right, and both seasoned adventurers at one point in their life. Autry hadn’t told much of her history to Brisa but she knew the woman was once an enchantress in Waterdeep. Wherever that was. It sounded vast, busy, and exciting. It also sounded like Autry could handle her own when she needed too. Dorn she suspected was the same, a newcomer to the village like Autry his life must have been equally as exciting and challenging.

Dakin’s appearance broke through her mind, sending her worries scattering. It was something known she could focus on.

“Come inside” she said calmly, relieved that her voice didn’t betray her edginess. “It’s safer in here. Autry’s charms protect the house from the night beasties.” She winced visibly again, Autry didn’t like people to know she had charmed her house. It made people nervous, suspicious, or worse. Autry had shown Brisa the charms and told her eventually she would teach the girl how to lay the enchantments for them.

Autry is gone she berated herself. She had no doubt, as the others straggled in with the same news she knew in her heart that Autry was gone. The old woman was more of a family than her own. She had at least understood Brisa. She won’t mind now.

“I have food too, in the study. And more in the cellar if we need it.” she continued quickly trying to cover her slip-up. “Maybe there are more people out there, it can’t be just the five of us--Right?”

She beckoned to the others and turned and headed back inside the room. The cry of pain brought her out again at a run. She was certain something horrible was happening. Instead she saw Atrus and her eyes widened.

“Atrus!” she said in surprise. “Where in Mystra’s Mantle were you? Have you been here the whole time? Are you ok?”

She knew there was a neutralizing potion somewhere, Autry always had them around for the boy to use, but she didn’t know where. She knew a bit of his studies, though potions were not her strong suit she liked studying the formulas. She just couldn’t craft them to save her life. But she was very familiar with the potential for nasty side effects. Once he had even turned himself into a chicken, Autry had corrected it fairly quickly, but Brisa had been awed. She didn’t know that simple potions had the potential to do that.

“What kind of potion was that? Wait never mind. It’s not important. We need to figure out what happened, if we can. Autry is gone but I’m going to look for her at dawn.”

She hadn’t realized she intended to do that, but now that she said it she knew she had to. She had to try and find her at least.

“The study” she said continued “Lets talk in there. Its warmer, and we have food. It looks like its still several hours until daylight so we shouldn’t leave now anyway.”

Rites of Passage

okiedokie...I just chatted with LI. Your good to go on being from outside the village...but I will be PMing you some more pertinant information regarding where/how you currently are. You can work it into your intro post or your history whichver you prefer

Rites of Passage

@Fatalerror1337...I have a good thought for you and your mentor (what god were you looking at?) but I'm at work and lupus and I run on opposite schedules so yeah give me till tonight to catch him. Look out for another post from one of us or PM.

@pyroman. Was worried about you, glad you havent vanished. Brisa is still in Autrys house along with kaya and now argurios (sp) We are having a convention I guess. I just assumed brisa never noticed you cause of the invisible thing.
:-).

I hope to post tonight too; party at Autrys house. :-).

Rites of Passage

my problem too, I'm thinking about trying a blue tooth keyboard to see if that makes it better but until then I shan't use it for real posts. It's why I didn't post last night. Today however will be a different story. :-)

Rites of Passage Interest Check

Come on over to the OOC thread...first post shows what character archetypes are currently open as well almost everything else you need to know.

OOC

Look forward to seeing a character sheet from you

The Next Mythic Quest to Save the World

color me interested

Rites of Passage Interest Check

bumpity bump bump bump

The Dark Carnival

"Thin or worn women have their own appeal Baba" said Vol silkily. “If given the proper motivation they can be very eager. And I do believe I am the perfect man to provide such motivation.”

“Of course peasant men have lots of charm too, strapping lads with bodies sculpted by hard labor. I am, after all, an equal opportunity gentleman lover.”

The irony of the last two words was not lost on anyone. Love never entered the equation with Vol, and he was nearly as far from a gentleman as it was possible to get. He was also getting desperately bored. He wanted Hag to get on with his little speech so they could get on with the more interesting parts of the day.

He could have fine women whenever he desired it was true, it was his wish after all, but the fortune teller had sparked his taste for something different though she may not have realized it at the time. A little variety might be nice. Even a bitter soul cleansed the palette and made one savor others so much more. And Vol could appreciate a wide palette of souls, they all had their own appeal.

And maybe if he was properly inspired by the encounter he might drum up a new act, something to suit this chilly hard land.

yes he thought to himself. a new act would be just the thing for this new town

Rites of Passage

Brisa had moved too slowly getting out of Autry’s house and back to her parents, and the darkness had caught her. She was afraid to leave Autry’s house now; so she had started to head to one of the rooms with a fireplace to get a fire on for the night. She was half shaking but the task helped calm her, she even got to use a little bit of magic to start the fire. Autry wasn’t there and she wouldn’t scold Brisa for showing off. Besides there was no one to see.

Autry’s other apprentice, Atrus, was nowhere to be seen…she assumed he had left or whatever had happened to Autry had happened to him. She would go and look around the village in the daylight.

Brisa just couldn’t stomach the idea of spending a night in the dark. Not when she knew in her heart, and her gut, that something was dreadfully wrong. Thus getting the fire up and roaring was her first goal, the second was to light a brace of candles and several sconces around the house. And the third task was to fetch something to eat. She hadn’t realized it but she was starving. A pitcher of milk from Autry’s cold box, a loaf of bread, and apple and a wedge of cheese would make a fine meal. She was carrying it back to the study where she had the fire when she heard a voice.

At Kaya’s call she almost jumped out of her skin. And she very nearly spilled her milk. Terrified Brisa peeked around the corner to see who was out there. She had a horrible sinking feeling it was a ghost or a spirit.

Spotting Kaya in the doorway a deep sigh escaped her and she quickly set down her tray of food. She recognized the other girl though she didn’t know her personally. Brisa didn’t really know anyone personally, not even Atrus and she saw him almost every day. People thought she was too weird, dressing like a boy, running wild in the woods whenever she could. She didn’t mind her lack of friends before, now though she really wished she had a friend. She could use one. Another known villager was the next best thing however and Brisa stood, brushed her palms on her hips, and walked forward.

“Hi” she said softly. “Get inside quickly. Its safer in here.”

Brisa all but pulled Kaya inside and slammed the door behind her. The slam of the door was extremely loud in the unnatural silence and Brisa winced visibly. Brisa grabbed the tray of food and beckoned Kaya to join her in the room with the fire and candles.

“What happened?” she said to the other girl. “Is Autry ok? Is she coming back?”

Rites of Passage

wow orcpunx. I can only write small posts from my phone. and even then I end up arguing with it quite loudly which draws strange looks from passesrs by