(no subject)

[sythyry]

Not Sleeping Late [6 Hispis 4262]

The City Guard's inspectors showed up the next morning.

Ptefshi:"Sythyry ... goodness gracious, but what did you do to the Legeriat?"

Me:"Told them the truth about Vae."

Ptefshi:"... and? ..."

Me:"Well, I wasn't terribly polite about it."

Ptefshi:"Well. We're here to investigate reports of your possession of excessively powerful magic."

Me:"Investigate away!"

Khyrrain:"What excessively powerful magic do you have?"

So I told them about the Eye of Mirican and Melizan, and the seven-winged burning thing.

Ptefshi:"Is that all?"

Me:"I've got a water-creating pitcher and a levitation tether I made in Enchantment I and ... II? III?"

Ptefshi:"Noted."

Me:"Oh, I did lie to the Legeriat though."

Ptefshi:"Oh, dear, Sythyry."

Me:"I have a few cosmetic items too."

Ptefshi:"Cosmetic?"

Me:"Well, Zi Ri don't usually have feathers on their wings. At least, I don't, without some help."

Ptefshi:"Sythyry? You can make this investigation more annoying for us if you like, but that will make it more annoying for you too. We're not here because we think it's a good idea."

Me:"... right ..." I know Ptefshi and Khyrrain somewhat from City Guard things. They are generally worthwhile people.

Ptefshi:"So, may we investigate your person and premises by magical means?"

Me:"Do you have to report my stash of stolen Zi Ri / Orren pornography?"

Khyrrain:"Ptefshi reads it all to check for the important diplomatic secrets!"

Me:"... technically, it is a diplomatic secret."

So I had to explain how I came to be in possession of a stash of pornography stolen from the Daukrhame Embassy.

Ptefshi:"How about not making any more jokes, Sythyry?"

So I rather humorlessly let them inspect me and Quelldrie House, by physical as well as magical means. (Because of course Illusidor spells are very hard to detect magically, and any information spell might fail to notice anything some one time in twenty.)

Me:"So, am I innocent of ... um ... being actually capable of doing my job?"

Ptefshi:"Well, we didn't find anything, and we'll report that you were cooperative and apparently truthful. I doubt that Kaim-Su will find the situation particularly menacing. As for Darsues in the Legeriat, I cannot predict."

Sympathetic Beast [6 Hispis 4262]

Vae:"Sythyry! The worry was on me, from how late you are!"

Me:"I'm sorry, Vae. It's been a horrible day or two."

Vae:"The woe! Are you in love, and crushed?"

Me:"No."

Vae:"Is your city being invaded by burrowing nrex yet?"

Me:"No ... yet?"

Vae:"The wall still thwarts them."

Me:"Oh, dearie."

So I had to ask a lot more questions about that. Which required more payments than I had -- I had to fly back into the city to pick up a box of almond cakes and a skewer of grilled shrimps, and a pair of cute pink and purple paper earrings. The earrings were a hit. Vae gave herself a pair of very big flappy ears to attach them to. And told me about where the nrex were digging, and what they were doing. That's in my official report.

Vae:"And still you do not explain your sorrow!"

Me:"Do I have to?"

Vae:"Yes!"

She squeezed off a little bit of the universe to be her private torture chamber.

Me:"Vae, please put me back in regular space."

Vae:"Not a bit so. And you must explain your tardiness and unhappiness!"

Me:"I'd really rather not."

Vae:"And am I the source and focus of your sorrows?"

Me:"No, not really."

Vae:"The help I shall therefore give you, by which you may conquer them!"

Me:"Please don't!"

Vae:"Not a single situation exists which cannot be improved by mighty and subtle Mutoc spells!"

Me:"Do I have to give you The Conversation again?"

Vae:"Not now! After I have helped you!"

Me:"... right ..."

Vae:"The full explanation you must give me, immediately!"

Me:"I'd really rather not."

So she turned an arken leaf into a sort of biggish beetle insect thing about half my size, with very large pincers. "The full explanation, or the biting by this insect!"

Me:"Are you really going to torture me into telling you how you can help me?"

Vae:[whiny]"Not encouraged to use Mentador magic I am, already! Not so effective is torture, but the Mentador lecture I will not risk!"

Me:"That doesn't even make sense. If you want to do something good for me, torture will make it bad for me."

Vae shouted or wailed, "Not a bit must you criticise me when I am being the helpful one!" And she threw the beetle at me, very hard, with a spell on it to make sure it hit. There was a lot of cracking when it hit, and it hurt quite a lot.

Being the extremely clever and resourceful and mighty adventurer that I am, I responded by coughing up some blood. Which was actually a tactically very successful move, as well as a very accurate expression of my feelings.

Vae:"Not that! Sythyry, you're hurt!"

Me:"Yes, you just broke my ribs with a beetle."

Vae:"The horrible is this!"

Her healing spell hurt more than the beetle.

Comments

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I guess it's a good thing you had the Raven's Beak up?

I can't think of a single thing you should have said to Vae about your troubles that wouldn't be full of doom. Did she let you change the subject after the beetle?

[justicezero.livejournal.com]

Well, on the bright side, a reading of the report of this will help demonstrate your case that Vae is 'powerfully insane'..
And she didn't pull the information out of your head! That's good!
One more vote for 'Vae is growing up and being a teenager now' however.

[sianmink.livejournal.com]

Huzzah, you nearly died again!

Clearly you should request more hazard pay (or embezzle more hazard pay) when delivering your report on the nrex.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

*comforts poor Sythyry* The poor lizard! Perhaps it is time to master the art of the diplomatic white lie, which is to distract Vae with a smaller truth while hiding the bigger truth.

[archadia.livejournal.com]

Sometimes white lies are nothing but the truth said so politely it isn't the same truth any more.

[mmsword.livejournal.com]

And here I thought the only possible way you'd have a beetle related injury would be by choking on a chub beetle. Shows me.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Or, a Herethroy friend with beetle styling sitting on me by mistake!

Important Safety Note

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

All injuries must be valiantly concealed from *friendly* as well as hostile nendrai. Necessary healing afterwards should be paid by the Duke.

Re: Important Safety Note

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Next time I am, unknown to myself, coughing up blood, I shall endeavor to remember this rule!

But yes. Friendly nendrai are far more dangerous than hostile ones. If, indeed, it is possible to tell the difference.

Re: Important Safety Note

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

You could also demand that the Duke fork over some bound healing spells for contingency use. And if he says no, you could ask your ~mother~ ... if you consider family angst to be less miserable than Nendrai-healing.

Re: Important Safety Note

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Hmm, isn't Rhedwy a healer? Or does she use mutoc-based healing spells too?

Re: Important Safety Note

[solanth.livejournal.com]

I somehow doubt Sleeth cruelty extends to that sort of masochism.

Re: Important Safety Note

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Nobody uses Mutoc-based healing spells. Nobody except nendrai.

[kensan-oni.livejournal.com]

I feel for you!

... although I wouldn't be sure how to tell her that the people thought she was a monster and wanted to kill or use her very much against hers and yours will would react, and I would be very hesitant to tell her also... although, she being a monster, probably already suspects that things are trying to kill her...

... which occasionally must be amusing to her... considering she puts glass in her eyes every time she cries...

[rowyn]

O_o

I think it's time to look for a new line of work. On the other side of the tree.

o_O

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

This right here is some impressive doom. Also, amusing to note that you don't have a Fourth Amendment anymore than we do! I hope you find a way to serve Vheshrame's ruling class as well as they're serving you. I'd insist on a steady flow of brandy, lozens and nubile Orren, at least, to put up with this sort of nonsense.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Hey, I am in Vheshrame's ruling class! My half-sibling is more powerful than two out of three dukes!

Unfortunately, we're on the other one now.

Fortunately, he's my patron, I guess.

Unfortunately, he's my patron.