Shadows 2.2
Written mostly today, but partly yesterday. I switched to using tilda's instead of colons for the mental conversations because the colons woudln't work when I tried pasting the story to its normal home on the game wiki. I hope that's not confusing!
Shadows 2.2
Ishitaka Ryushin was a healer in the house of Lord Osana Hikaru . Lord Osana was a cousin of Souta Shigeru, Daimyo of Shinkyo. Ishitaka, then, occupied quite a prestigious position, as Hadyn had learned over the past week. The older man was part priest, part alchemist and herbalist. He had a number of duties, but the most important of these in his master’s eyes was the care of Osana Meiko, his lordship’s daughter and heir. After their initial meeting, the two scholars had spent more time together, comparing notes on various subjects.
Hadyn liked Ishitaka well enough, though he was extra cautious to conceal his appearance and association. The Daimyo was as yet ignorant of the Loyalist presence in his territory, and he would not welcome the news. Lynel’s enemies were powerful and the Southern empire would not want to attract their attention. If they were discovered (an event that seemed inevitable given the spy in their midst), they would be forced to relocate. Hadyn figured that if the leaders of their group were at all clever they should already be preparing for this eventuality.
But maybe cleverness alone wouldn’t be enough. He trusted Volaris more than Shevan for a lot of things. He was smart, and quick thinking. His judgement wasn’t clouded by adherence to a hypocritical faith. But he wasn’t always forward thinking. He wasn’t devious enough. And now that he’d had the command, such as it was, foisted upon him until the prince’s return, he’d begun relying more heavily on both Hadyn and Kyla. Hadyn wondered if maybe be ought to look into alternatives himself.
The added responsibility also complicated his interactions with Ishitaka. He had less time, and it was often difficult to excuse himself. Ishitaka was fortunately also busy, most often with his charge. He mostly dealt with Meiko in the mornings, after which she was given a mild sedative. It helped keep her quiet.
This afternoon, Kyla was in charge of the lab. She was beginning to show signs of stress, but Hadyn credited her for lasting so long given her shy and high-strung nature. He was meeting Ishitaka to discuss distillation techniques for some of the plants they’d been collecting. Their knowledge was very complimentary: Hadyn had learned many techniques up north that were new to the Southerner, and he had experience with plants Ishitaka had only read about. The reverse was also true.
Hadyn cast a subtle Alter-Self spell as he left the compound. He wouldn’t be unrecognizable to those who already knew him, but he seemed less alien. Volaris told him he looked like a jaundiced Half-Elf - good enough. He hoped that anyone who had a chance to see him up close in this guise wouldn’t think to scrutinize him if for some reason he met them unexpectedly and was unprepared. He’d taken to using the spell anytime he was going out and there was a chance that he might have to interact with anyone. He had other spells to cover his efforts, and they were rapidly becoming part of his daily routine. They weren’t quite as ingrained as his other stand-bys like Alarm, Rope Trick and Lightning. He didn’t even need to see a book anymore to refresh their place in his memory.
He arrived at Osana’s palace and was greeted by a pair of the lord’s guards, as usual. Instead of being admitted and directed to his host’s location, however, Hadyn found himself being escorted to the priest’s chambers. He quelled, barely, his rising panic, wishing that Teah was closer. He let the incantation for Dimension Door run through his mind. There was always a way out. And Teah would come for him, was maybe already on her way. But what was happening?
Ishitaka looked grave, the usually calm set of his face seeming a little sterner. Nevertheless, he bowed politely and there was tea prepared.
“Please sit with me, my friend. I apologize for your reception, but we have received disturbing news this morning, and Lord Osana is made wary of receiving foreigners into his home.”
“What news?” He knew he should be a little more decorous, but couldn’t quite manage it. His host beckoned him forward again, and Hadyn moved up to kneel before the low table. He two guards bowed and stepped outside the room, closing the door behind them. He could smell the tea, an herbal concoction. There were some elements in it that he cold distinguish and recognize, but others were unfamiliar. If he’d suspected that anything was amiss before he came, he could have prepared better. If. Always if. He did the best he could, but it seemed that for all his precautions he was too often caught off-guard by these situations.
Ishitaka poured the tea. First a cup for his guest, and one for himself. “The Daimyo has been informed that the exiled prince of the Northern city of Exia, his highness Lynel Bourne, has take up residence in this very city along with his allies and subjects - aided by local agents and without the knowledge or permission of his Excellency, Daimyo Souta.” He gestured to Hadyn, who picked up his teacup and hesitated, his mind racing.
The prince, and the Loyalists, were discovered, then. Had they found the compound? If not, it would only be a matter of time. More importantly, had they linked him to the group? And if so, what would they do? They couldn’t hold him. Ishiaka knew he was a wizard but his understanding of the magical arts was vague. Things worked differently in the South, and true wizards were not as common. As far as he was aware, there was no institution comparable to the University in Exia. Ishitaka lifted his own cup and drank.
“I see you are surprised to hear this also, Zanne. It has become a dangerous time to be a Northerner.”
~Teah, find Volaris. Tell him we’ve been discovered. He might already know, but be sure. The Daimyo knows we are in the city, if not where we are.~
~I will make him know.~
Hadyn set down his cup. “I had no idea.”
‘My friend, please drink with me. I know that you are of a nervous disposition, but my Lord Osana wishes to speak with you. You must relax.”
It just got better. But he’d dealt with worse. This was just an interview. And if he could quell this rising panic, he could pull it off. He needed something, though, before it overwhelmed him. It wouldn’t do to succumb to The Fear here, but he could feel it building at the edges of his mind. He took hold of the tea cup once more, unsurprised to see his hand shaking slightly. He swallowed the hot liquid all at once. It tasted sweet, with a suspicious bitter aftertaste. He hadn’t used the haglia in this, had he? Hadyn had taken to mixing a pinch of the powdered flowers into his tea mix in the mornings. He’d already had some that day, or else he might not have made it this far. But it was dangerous to take too much. Ishitaka couldn’t have known. No…. Not known, but maybe guessed.
The concoction worked quickly - more quickly than he’d expected. He felt his anxieties slipping away. It didn’t matter. His host nodded, setting the teapot aside.
“Alright.” Hadyn spoke after a… moment? A minute? “I’m alright.” He felt disassociated. Ishitaka must have taken something earlier to offset or neutralize the… something. Or was it… No. Something else? He blinked. Osana wanted to speak to him. He had to be careful. Was the priest frowning? His mind couldn’t reconcile that image. There was something whispering at him, but it didn’t sound right.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Fine. Your lord wants to speak with me.”
“Very well.” Ishitaka rose. Why was he so slow? “Please come this way.”
He stood up, faster than he’d intended. Lights swam. He felt dizzy. Or - no. That was just the tea. It wasn’t him. Everything was fine.
HADYN
“What?”
YOU NEED ME. HE DRUGGED YOU. TRICKED YOU. MAKE HIM PAY.
He didn’t see where the voice was coming from, but it was familiar. Where were they? Ishitaka didn’t seem to know either. He looked very confused.
“Its alright,” he told the voice. He wasn’t afraid. He still had his spells. He still knew the words.
~Hadyn!~
“Teah?” Was she here? Why? He gathered his thoughts to send her assurances of his wellbeing through their mental link, but his thoughts swirled blackly in on themselves. He thought he heard Ishitaka calling for the guards, and then he hit the floor.
Shadows 2.2
Ishitaka Ryushin was a healer in the house of Lord Osana Hikaru . Lord Osana was a cousin of Souta Shigeru, Daimyo of Shinkyo. Ishitaka, then, occupied quite a prestigious position, as Hadyn had learned over the past week. The older man was part priest, part alchemist and herbalist. He had a number of duties, but the most important of these in his master’s eyes was the care of Osana Meiko, his lordship’s daughter and heir. After their initial meeting, the two scholars had spent more time together, comparing notes on various subjects.
Hadyn liked Ishitaka well enough, though he was extra cautious to conceal his appearance and association. The Daimyo was as yet ignorant of the Loyalist presence in his territory, and he would not welcome the news. Lynel’s enemies were powerful and the Southern empire would not want to attract their attention. If they were discovered (an event that seemed inevitable given the spy in their midst), they would be forced to relocate. Hadyn figured that if the leaders of their group were at all clever they should already be preparing for this eventuality.
But maybe cleverness alone wouldn’t be enough. He trusted Volaris more than Shevan for a lot of things. He was smart, and quick thinking. His judgement wasn’t clouded by adherence to a hypocritical faith. But he wasn’t always forward thinking. He wasn’t devious enough. And now that he’d had the command, such as it was, foisted upon him until the prince’s return, he’d begun relying more heavily on both Hadyn and Kyla. Hadyn wondered if maybe be ought to look into alternatives himself.
The added responsibility also complicated his interactions with Ishitaka. He had less time, and it was often difficult to excuse himself. Ishitaka was fortunately also busy, most often with his charge. He mostly dealt with Meiko in the mornings, after which she was given a mild sedative. It helped keep her quiet.
This afternoon, Kyla was in charge of the lab. She was beginning to show signs of stress, but Hadyn credited her for lasting so long given her shy and high-strung nature. He was meeting Ishitaka to discuss distillation techniques for some of the plants they’d been collecting. Their knowledge was very complimentary: Hadyn had learned many techniques up north that were new to the Southerner, and he had experience with plants Ishitaka had only read about. The reverse was also true.
Hadyn cast a subtle Alter-Self spell as he left the compound. He wouldn’t be unrecognizable to those who already knew him, but he seemed less alien. Volaris told him he looked like a jaundiced Half-Elf - good enough. He hoped that anyone who had a chance to see him up close in this guise wouldn’t think to scrutinize him if for some reason he met them unexpectedly and was unprepared. He’d taken to using the spell anytime he was going out and there was a chance that he might have to interact with anyone. He had other spells to cover his efforts, and they were rapidly becoming part of his daily routine. They weren’t quite as ingrained as his other stand-bys like Alarm, Rope Trick and Lightning. He didn’t even need to see a book anymore to refresh their place in his memory.
He arrived at Osana’s palace and was greeted by a pair of the lord’s guards, as usual. Instead of being admitted and directed to his host’s location, however, Hadyn found himself being escorted to the priest’s chambers. He quelled, barely, his rising panic, wishing that Teah was closer. He let the incantation for Dimension Door run through his mind. There was always a way out. And Teah would come for him, was maybe already on her way. But what was happening?
Ishitaka looked grave, the usually calm set of his face seeming a little sterner. Nevertheless, he bowed politely and there was tea prepared.
“Please sit with me, my friend. I apologize for your reception, but we have received disturbing news this morning, and Lord Osana is made wary of receiving foreigners into his home.”
“What news?” He knew he should be a little more decorous, but couldn’t quite manage it. His host beckoned him forward again, and Hadyn moved up to kneel before the low table. He two guards bowed and stepped outside the room, closing the door behind them. He could smell the tea, an herbal concoction. There were some elements in it that he cold distinguish and recognize, but others were unfamiliar. If he’d suspected that anything was amiss before he came, he could have prepared better. If. Always if. He did the best he could, but it seemed that for all his precautions he was too often caught off-guard by these situations.
Ishitaka poured the tea. First a cup for his guest, and one for himself. “The Daimyo has been informed that the exiled prince of the Northern city of Exia, his highness Lynel Bourne, has take up residence in this very city along with his allies and subjects - aided by local agents and without the knowledge or permission of his Excellency, Daimyo Souta.” He gestured to Hadyn, who picked up his teacup and hesitated, his mind racing.
The prince, and the Loyalists, were discovered, then. Had they found the compound? If not, it would only be a matter of time. More importantly, had they linked him to the group? And if so, what would they do? They couldn’t hold him. Ishiaka knew he was a wizard but his understanding of the magical arts was vague. Things worked differently in the South, and true wizards were not as common. As far as he was aware, there was no institution comparable to the University in Exia. Ishitaka lifted his own cup and drank.
“I see you are surprised to hear this also, Zanne. It has become a dangerous time to be a Northerner.”
~Teah, find Volaris. Tell him we’ve been discovered. He might already know, but be sure. The Daimyo knows we are in the city, if not where we are.~
~I will make him know.~
Hadyn set down his cup. “I had no idea.”
‘My friend, please drink with me. I know that you are of a nervous disposition, but my Lord Osana wishes to speak with you. You must relax.”
It just got better. But he’d dealt with worse. This was just an interview. And if he could quell this rising panic, he could pull it off. He needed something, though, before it overwhelmed him. It wouldn’t do to succumb to The Fear here, but he could feel it building at the edges of his mind. He took hold of the tea cup once more, unsurprised to see his hand shaking slightly. He swallowed the hot liquid all at once. It tasted sweet, with a suspicious bitter aftertaste. He hadn’t used the haglia in this, had he? Hadyn had taken to mixing a pinch of the powdered flowers into his tea mix in the mornings. He’d already had some that day, or else he might not have made it this far. But it was dangerous to take too much. Ishitaka couldn’t have known. No…. Not known, but maybe guessed.
The concoction worked quickly - more quickly than he’d expected. He felt his anxieties slipping away. It didn’t matter. His host nodded, setting the teapot aside.
“Alright.” Hadyn spoke after a… moment? A minute? “I’m alright.” He felt disassociated. Ishitaka must have taken something earlier to offset or neutralize the… something. Or was it… No. Something else? He blinked. Osana wanted to speak to him. He had to be careful. Was the priest frowning? His mind couldn’t reconcile that image. There was something whispering at him, but it didn’t sound right.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Fine. Your lord wants to speak with me.”
“Very well.” Ishitaka rose. Why was he so slow? “Please come this way.”
He stood up, faster than he’d intended. Lights swam. He felt dizzy. Or - no. That was just the tea. It wasn’t him. Everything was fine.
HADYN
“What?”
YOU NEED ME. HE DRUGGED YOU. TRICKED YOU. MAKE HIM PAY.
He didn’t see where the voice was coming from, but it was familiar. Where were they? Ishitaka didn’t seem to know either. He looked very confused.
“Its alright,” he told the voice. He wasn’t afraid. He still had his spells. He still knew the words.
~Hadyn!~
“Teah?” Was she here? Why? He gathered his thoughts to send her assurances of his wellbeing through their mental link, but his thoughts swirled blackly in on themselves. He thought he heard Ishitaka calling for the guards, and then he hit the floor.