Valance
“Mathias?”
Mathias forced himself not to turn around, he was, after all, no longer Master Naths factotum. Then again, he did still greatly respected his old Master. Ah well, thought Mathias, the moments passed.
“Are you going to stare all morning at your adoring fans?” continued Master Naths.
“They are neither adoring or fans, Master.” He cringed inwardly at the habitual address.
“Oh, they could be both, if you were to greet them rather than hide within our enclosure.” He came up behind Mathias to stare out at the waiting crowds. “But I understand, I avoided them for weeks on my own coming out.”
“But you already knew what you wanted to pursue.”
“True. A distinct advantage that you do not posses I’m afraid.”
Mathias nodded sadly. After all the years of study and servant work for Master Naths in order to be accepted onto the Mages Guild waiting lists and he still had no idea what mysteries to pursue. And without that choice made there was no opportunity to advance any further, for without the Guild there was no access to the greater powers available to the Mage trained. Which led me here, thought Mathias, staring at the waiting thongs who gather each year when the factotums graduate from their meager servitude to potential mages and researchers on their own. Oh, Mathias could hardly fault the crowd, each member with their own interest to be pursued, their own mysteries to be investigated. Most importantly though, their own hooks to get into a young and impressionable post-factotum on his way into the greater Mages Guild. No doubt each willing to do what they could to ensure that their young interest made it past the grueling tests and reviews that were to come. Or, at least, come to those whose patrons were not wealthy enough to have them bypassed.
Mathias sighed.
He’d given up searching out the various houses in the crowd. The three major had set up tables and small tents to cater to the post-factotum. Yet no house was willing to shield its treatment of a post-factotum from the rest of the Mages, so the tents did not have roofs, just walls for privacy against the poor of the street. Even a couple of the lesser houses had set up enclosures, but not as elaborate, nor as well stocked, as the major houses. Even now he could see a fellow ex-factotum being fed from a pair of slaves as they lounged in one such enclosure to hear the greater houses offer.
Between them mingled the commoners, those who heritage was far too mingled to be retained by a house at all. Mathias noted that even the Southrans were huddled in little groups here and there. Sad, pathetic, and clearly the most desperate, Mathias still wondered what plea might possibly be worth the social stigma of dealing with the refugees. He was rather reluctant to find out, but curious none the less.
There. Mathias tilted his head to see the passing pole. Yes, a Boatswan. Not just passing by either, but waiting. A Boatswan wanted the attention of a factotum? A seriously dangerous choice for a factotum, as it was the magic of the guild that shifted the waters and weather of Valence that kept the Boatswan’s the only people able to navigate the channels and waterways. While not a direct conflict between the two groups, a serious need not to mix too freely has always been held in place.
It would not do for a factotum to be indebted to a Boatswan, anymore than a Boatswan would be allowed to fall under the command of the Mages Guild.
++++
Ok, so it's more than 400 words, that's not such a bad thing. 609 actually. So, suggestions as to what's next are welcome. I have ideas, of course, but again, the surprise that comes from others input can be fun to respond to.
Had Valance been started as a game starting mages would be in Mathias' position. No pc's could begin as Boatswan's. Mages in Valance have enormous social and political power, if not actual magic power. Well, all that power is not always a good thing...
Mathias forced himself not to turn around, he was, after all, no longer Master Naths factotum. Then again, he did still greatly respected his old Master. Ah well, thought Mathias, the moments passed.
“Are you going to stare all morning at your adoring fans?” continued Master Naths.
“They are neither adoring or fans, Master.” He cringed inwardly at the habitual address.
“Oh, they could be both, if you were to greet them rather than hide within our enclosure.” He came up behind Mathias to stare out at the waiting crowds. “But I understand, I avoided them for weeks on my own coming out.”
“But you already knew what you wanted to pursue.”
“True. A distinct advantage that you do not posses I’m afraid.”
Mathias nodded sadly. After all the years of study and servant work for Master Naths in order to be accepted onto the Mages Guild waiting lists and he still had no idea what mysteries to pursue. And without that choice made there was no opportunity to advance any further, for without the Guild there was no access to the greater powers available to the Mage trained. Which led me here, thought Mathias, staring at the waiting thongs who gather each year when the factotums graduate from their meager servitude to potential mages and researchers on their own. Oh, Mathias could hardly fault the crowd, each member with their own interest to be pursued, their own mysteries to be investigated. Most importantly though, their own hooks to get into a young and impressionable post-factotum on his way into the greater Mages Guild. No doubt each willing to do what they could to ensure that their young interest made it past the grueling tests and reviews that were to come. Or, at least, come to those whose patrons were not wealthy enough to have them bypassed.
Mathias sighed.
He’d given up searching out the various houses in the crowd. The three major had set up tables and small tents to cater to the post-factotum. Yet no house was willing to shield its treatment of a post-factotum from the rest of the Mages, so the tents did not have roofs, just walls for privacy against the poor of the street. Even a couple of the lesser houses had set up enclosures, but not as elaborate, nor as well stocked, as the major houses. Even now he could see a fellow ex-factotum being fed from a pair of slaves as they lounged in one such enclosure to hear the greater houses offer.
Between them mingled the commoners, those who heritage was far too mingled to be retained by a house at all. Mathias noted that even the Southrans were huddled in little groups here and there. Sad, pathetic, and clearly the most desperate, Mathias still wondered what plea might possibly be worth the social stigma of dealing with the refugees. He was rather reluctant to find out, but curious none the less.
There. Mathias tilted his head to see the passing pole. Yes, a Boatswan. Not just passing by either, but waiting. A Boatswan wanted the attention of a factotum? A seriously dangerous choice for a factotum, as it was the magic of the guild that shifted the waters and weather of Valence that kept the Boatswan’s the only people able to navigate the channels and waterways. While not a direct conflict between the two groups, a serious need not to mix too freely has always been held in place.
It would not do for a factotum to be indebted to a Boatswan, anymore than a Boatswan would be allowed to fall under the command of the Mages Guild.
++++
Ok, so it's more than 400 words, that's not such a bad thing. 609 actually. So, suggestions as to what's next are welcome. I have ideas, of course, but again, the surprise that comes from others input can be fun to respond to.
Had Valance been started as a game starting mages would be in Mathias' position. No pc's could begin as Boatswan's. Mages in Valance have enormous social and political power, if not actual magic power. Well, all that power is not always a good thing...