[Epistolary RP] An Important Notice

[silvereyedphage]

A sheet of typing paper is pinned to the bulletin board, a morning or two after Morgoth's attack. There's a message typed on it, though the typing is not quite as precise as usual, and the signature is even more scrawled than usual.TO MY STUDENTS

Comments

[not_snake_bite]

My dearest master,

I do hope your indisposition is only passing, and that your recovery will be speedy.

If there is any assistance I may bring you in your time of need, I will be available, at your convenience.

Ever your faithful servant,

Master Steerpike.

[silvereyedphage]

It might be a day or two later, but a note turns up.

Master Steerpike, my valued servant,

This illness does not appear to be of natural origins, and I think that I will need to reinforce the wards and the shields on my chambers. Something broke through them and attacked my mind. Do you recall the sigil that we painted on the ceiling of the innermost chamber of my work room? We may need to add similar shields to my quarters to prevent a repeat of this incident. Once I have recovered, perhaps we will set to work on this task? Consider this a part of your training, in case the same entity should approach you.

We will discuss this at length when we meet face to face,

Your mentor,

K. Muraki

[not_snake_bite]

Another note is slipped the following day.

Dear mentor,

I am at your disposal as you see fit, of course.

Until then,

Steerpike.

[silvereyedphage]

Another note appears later that day:

See if you can't get the cupboard in the kitchen to produce a bottle of Migranal. And bring along a pot of green tea as strong as you can make it: I have a feeling that I'll be living on both till this condition subsides.

K.M.

[not_snake_bite]

A few hours following the reception of that note, Steerpike is standing at Muraki's door and knocking, carrying along a tray with Green Tea and a small nasal spray bottle, which he looked at curiously before he came up.

[silvereyedphage]

The door opens a crack. "Master Steerpike?" Muraki's voice replies from behind the door, his usually mellow voice gruff with pain. "Have you brought what I requested?"

[not_snake_bite]

"I have, my lord," Steerpike replies pleasantly. "May I come in?"

[silvereyedphage]

No, no, please don't: my senses and my shadows could not bear it, he can't help thinking, and braces for a lecherous mutter from the back of his mind. Only there is silence, an almost blissful silence....

The door opens further. "You may, but I'm no sight for sore eyes," he warns, stepping back and pulling the door open wider. Should Steepike step through, he'll find Muraki has draped a pillow slip over the back of his head, ho9lding it so that it shades his face and he's still in his dressing gown.

[not_snake_bite]

Steerpike blinks at the very weird sight, and then schools his features to evenness. "My lord?"

He wanders in, then, setting the tray on a nearby table.

[silvereyedphage]

"Excuse my appearance: the light is hurting my eyes and I've been in so much pain I've barely been able to rise from my bed," he says, sinking into a chair and letting the pillow slip drop onto the chair back. "You brought the drops?"

[not_snake_bite]

"I did," Steerpike replies. "And I will admit to wondering what their usage is."

[silvereyedphage]

"It's a headache remedy, and I hope that it works, since this is the worst I have ever suffered," he says, his eye narrowed against the light. "Let this be a lesson: be careful when you deal with powerful spirits; even an experienced practitioner can let down his guard, let them manipulate his thoughts and feelings and then turn these things against him. The result you are looking at, and this likely a best-case scenario.

"Could you hand me the flask?"

[not_snake_bite]

Steerpike listens, hands the flask over without a word.

He's not sure he likes what he's hearing. If this can happen to his master, what could happen to him?

[silvereyedphage]

He takes the flask, and uncaps it, then tilts his head back and sprays the contents once, up each nostril, drawing in a sharp breath. After a moment, he tilts his chin down.

"I was at fault: I let my emotions get the better of my reason, and let the demon that attacked me in the night get ahold of them. And it was an -- at best -- ill-advised affaire de coeur that was used against me," he says, thoughtfully. "Not to say that a practitioner has to set his heart like steel against loved ones and lovers, but rather, he must not let himself react when some creature tries to pull on that thread. And he also has to make sure that the wards he sets on his personal space are strong enough. It's why I'm planning to reinforce the wards I put on my rooms."

[not_snake_bite]

"Understandably," Steerpike agrees. "I will of course assist you as needed, my lord."

[silvereyedphage]

"I'm thinking we should ward your rooms as well, and possibly those of the rest of my 'household'," he says. "We might even need to wear charms of the sigil that I have in mind."

There's a thought that he's weighing, but he barely dares speak it...