Shade Visits a Wizard

Like the others, Shade made his way to the Trois Fluer tavern eventually, by his own path.  First, he wanted to get a look at the town of Toulon.  There was a mill...of course there was.  Where there are farmers there are mills.  A tailor/seamstress shop...for when the farmer's wanted to put on their best worship clothes and go to the Temple.  A general store for sundries.  He'd have to check that one out in detail later.  You never quite know what you'll find in such a shop...especially when you find yourself in a split-off world.

Shade walked by the stables, the blacksmith's forge, the cooper and wainwright's work-yards.  There was a rustica shop...even farmer's need herbal diversions.  Especially farmers!  Shade kept his chuckles to himself.  There was a lumberyard, a stone-mason, a rather well-kept cemetery, and four Temples.  These people took their God's pretty seriously.  

Shade rounded a corner and stopped dead in his tracks.  Before him was a wooden building, painted light blue.  It was garish compared to the rest of the buildings in town.  But, it was the sign that stopped him dead in his tracks.  "Renaud - Conjuring and Enchanting."  Entwined with the words, was some sort of magical symbol that Shade had never seen before.  A wizard?  A user of magic?  Advertising a magical shop out in the open like this?

Shade's shock subsided.  Well of course.  This split-off world never experienced the Nameless War.  They never saw the world broken and the dead rising from their graves.  They have no understanding of just how dangerous magic can be...to the entire world.  Shade shrugged, and walked to the business, peeked in the window, and then went on in.  

A young girl sat on a high stool behind the counter.  "Welcome!  Thanks for coming in."  She had red hair and freckles, and was not a month over 18 years old.  Her pale skin was sun-kissed, and she was pretty...in a youthful way.  Shade made a note to steer Timm clear of this place.

Shade gave a nod, and looked around the place.  There were baskets brimming with different little hand-made charms of wood, plants, and string.  On shelves mounted to the wall behind the counter, there were jars of herb, both dried and fresh.  Incense was burning, and it stung Shade's eyes a bit.  "So, where's the wizard.  I'd like to talk to him."

The young girl smiled.  Shade decided she was a little goofy.  "Oh...Rene.  He's in the back.  Let me check if he's available to talk with you."

"Thank you."

Shade could hear the young girl talking to someone in the back room.  Then she returned, and stopped by the curtain separating the store from the room beyond.  "He will see you now."  She gestured toward the curtained doorway."

Shade took a breath, gave a nod, and parted the curtain as he walked through the doorway.  His feet were no walking on soft carpets.  Soft light coming through gauze draped windows combined with the light of the candles burning in the room.  There was a man sitting in a chair, a low round table before him, with an empty chair across from him.

The man was wearing expensive clothes.  A black silk shirt, and tailored grey pants.  His pants were tucked into high leather boots.  His hair was jet black, short, and combed back and up, giving the carefully crafted appearance of being unruly.  He was in this late thirties, with light wrinkles at the corners of his green eyes.  He was thin, and his features were sharp.  Shade surmised that if nothing else, the man had a look of cleverness.

Ranauld

The man spoke in a smooth calming voice...and Shade knew this man often found it easy to get his way.  "Sit...sit.  I am Renaud...but call me Rene.  Jess said that you wanted to speak with the wizard.  I am he."

(Written by Chris)

After a loooooong pause, Shade shuts his mouth using his own hand. He says, "Hi, I'm new here. Give me a second or three...You sell magic services and such, eh? Maybe a device or two?"  Before Rene could answer, Shade pointed back at the main room of the store, and said, "And, what is her name and is she Feeeeeeyyy?"

He was having more difficulty wrapping his mind around the implications. But, one thing is for sure, Shade is staying here and here is staying here.

(Written by Mark)

Rene chuckled, amused by the thief's inquiry about his clerk.  "That's Jess.  Her family had a hard time last harvest, and I hired her to help them out.  She is a beautiful youth, but is not touched by the Fey."  Rene smiled and shook his head.

(Written by Chris)

Realizing he may have crossed a line, Shade admitted, rather clumsily and out of character that he grew up in a secluded forest. He had secret friends that were fey and they helped him survive.

(Written by Mark)

This seemed to pique the interest of the self-proclaimed conjurer.  "We have few Fey here honestly.  I'm not sure if they were destroyed in the Great Cataclysm, or if they were simply left behind when the three kingdom's escaped the destruction of Kempin.  Were you raised far from here?  Are there more fey in Vesh...or the Far Reaches?"

(Written by Chris)

Shade gets his feet and mind back under him and asks more general questions around what he does? Or, more accurately, what he has people do for him, people like Shade. 

He doesn't tell him he came through the portal. And plays the dumb forest nymph routine, so as to give reason why he knows nothing.

(Written by Mark)

Shade is subtle in his inquires about work, but Rene catches his drift.  "Oh, I think you misunderstand me.  I use my magic to benefit the people of Toulon, and the areas around Toulon.  I don't have need for any employees other than Jess, and I don't even really need her."

Shade nodded.  "Ah, yes...you mentioned hiring her to help her family."

Rene smiled.  "Yes.  That is what I do.  The blacksmith shapes metal to make his living, and help the community.  The brewer ferments grains to make his living, and to help the community.  I shape the potential of the world using magic to make a living..."

Shade finished for him, a touch of disappointment in his voice, "...and to help the community."

Rene nodded, amused by the tone he had caught.  "And so my friend...how can I help you?"

(Written by Chris and Mark)

Shade apologizes, "Forgive me. I am usually a better judge of motivations and I am new here. I don't mean to waste your time. But, are machinations afoot that keep the real deals, the power deals, far underground?"

Rene looks confused.  "Machinations?  Power deals?  This is Toulon...a clean, simple, if somewhat backwards little farm community in the Kingdom of Othamar.  I'm guessing the power deals...the underground politics and such is more something you would find in our capital...Bassot.  Is there anything more I can do for you?  If not, Jess will see you out."

Shade somewhat begs and demands at the same time, "For my own survival, please, give me a yes or no."

Rene laughs, a laugh of amusement...not a mocking one. "No!  No, my friend.  You are in Toulon.  Leave the politics and back-stabbing to the greedy elite, the scramblers and the social climbers.  Wine, women and song is all that really matters!"

(Written by Chris Stevens)

On that note, Shade agrees and says, "I couldn't agree more. Shall we meet for a drink sometime? We can discuss how herbalism can match magic. Bring Jess...um please." 

(Written by Mark Stinson)

Rene stood, a warm smile on his face.  "A conversation to which I will look forward.  Let's have dinner tomorrow at the Trois Fluers...a little before sunset.  Good?  We will dazzle innocent Jess with our depth of knowledge."

Shade stood as well, and the two men walked to the door that led to the store portion of the building.  "Yes.  I will see you there."

Comments

    • Mark Stinson

      I finished out the story, Chris.  :-)

      • Chris Snevets

        On that note, Shade agrees and says, "I couldn't agree more. Shall we meet for a drink sometime? We can discuss how herbalism can match magic. Bring Jess...um please." 

        • Mark Stinson

          I added your part Chris, but edited a bit and added to it.  :-)

           

          • Chris Snevets

            Shade apologizes, "Forgive me. I am usually a better judge of motivations and I am new here. I don't mean to waste your time. But, are machinations afoot that keep the real deals, the power deals, far underground?"

            Rene interrupts, "I must stop you there and ask you to leave. Feel free to come back another day and deal with Jess. I'll introduce you."

            Shade somewhat begs and demands at the same time, "For my own survival, please, give me a yes or no."

            Rene takes pity on the newcomer, "Yes. Now leave and speak of this to no one!"

            • Mark Stinson

              Tag, you are it!  I added yours, and added more of my own.

              • Chris Snevets

                Shade gets his feet and mind back under him and asks more general questions around what he does? Or, more accurately, what he has people do for him, people like Shade. 

                He doesn't tell him he came through the portal. And plays the dumb forest nymph routine, so as to give reason why he knows nothing.

                • Mark Stinson

                  Chris, I wove your parts into the story, and used them to build a little conversation between you and Rene.  I posed some questions there at the end, to determine the direction of the discussion.  :-)

                  Mark

                  • Chris Snevets

                    Realizing he may have crossed a line, he admits, rather clumsily and out of character that he grew up in a secluded forest. He had secret friends that were fey and they helped him survive.

                    • Chris Snevets

                      After a loooooong pause, Shade shuts his mouth using his own hand. He says, "Hi, I'm new here. Give me a second or three...You sell magic services and such, eh? Maybe a device or two? And, what is her name and is she Feeeeeeyyy?"

                      He was having more difficulty wrapping his mind around the implications. But, one thing is for sure, Shade is staying here and here is staying here.

                      • Mark Stinson

                        He is new...but I have no other comment.  :-)

                        Mark

                        • Marcus Auerilius

                          wow...why do I feel like Renaud is a fox. Have we encountered him before...maybe in the early 90s campaign?