Brief Q&A

And how did they determine a tail was required for the magic, if everything she's around seems to do the magic for her? I admit, this one confuses me a bit. Unless... maybe the deity (Gornn or something?) has changed the nendrai again and they actually don't require a tail to do magic? Ew... that'd be unpleasant -- endless magic, limited only by the kid's imagination. ;-p

Gnarn

Well, we're pretty sure it all starts at the tail, and not just because nendrai all say that it does. We have, as best we can, been watching all of Vae's magic use for a year. She's cast two spells that didn't involve her tail, but they were little spontaneous spells that cost cley in the usual way -- I could have done the same. Nendrai get the same sort of magic that primes get, as well as their tail Mutoc powers, but they just don't use them very often.

This was when she was with Greenspikes. She was trying to look unobtrustively prime at the time. Now, no sensible prime would spont a spell to unspill a cup of water when she was drinking outdoors and the well was nearby -- that is the hallmark and habit of someone with unlimited magic. But she used ordinary child's magic to do it.

Anyways, all of the other spells that we've seen have actually come from her tail -- or from whatever part of herself her tail got shapeshifted into. With the tree, it was one of the branches. They've all been from tailtouch, and cast on something she was tailtouching -- which can, unfortunately, always include herself, the air nearby, the space nearby, the ambient light, the ambient sound, and various other things. So, if she wanted to blast someone with lightning, she'd turn a breeze on her tail into a lightning bolt aimed at them.

If she wanted to turn someone into a large pot of osso buco, she'd have to touch them with her tail. But, since she's so good at Locador, she can probably use another spell to let her tailtip touch something half a mile away.

Which can, incidentally, be defended against in various ways. I don't get those defenses myself, since I am likely to be near enough for a mundane tailtouch and I'm not supposed to be fighting her. The people who are being equipped to fight her will have those defenses. I don't know much about them, of course -- it's not Strenata or Rhedwy, though I think Paarhan might be. I don't want to be involved! I don't want to be seen as someone from whom that information could be extracted!

She could certainly be trying to decieve us on this point. She was canny enough to be careful not to cast her better spells when we were around, except when she was very upset.

Brief Q&A

And how did they determine a tail was required for the magic, if everything she's around seems to do the magic for her? I admit, this one confuses me a bit. Unless... maybe the deity (Gornn or something?) has changed the nendrai again and they actually don't require a tail to do magic? Ew... that'd be unpleasant -- endless magic, limited only by the kid's imagination. ;-p

Gnarn

Well, we're pretty sure it all starts at the tail, and not just because nendrai all say that it does. We have, as best we can, been watching all of Vae's magic use for a year. She's cast two spells that didn't involve her tail, but they were little spontaneous spells that cost cley in the usual way -- I could have done the same. Nendrai get the same sort of magic that primes get, as well as their tail Mutoc powers, but they just don't use them very often.

This was when she was with Greenspikes. She was trying to look unobtrustively prime at the time. Now, no sensible prime would spont a spell to unspill a cup of water when she was drinking outdoors and the well was nearby -- that is the hallmark and habit of someone with unlimited magic. But she used ordinary child's magic to do it.

Anyways, all of the other spells that we've seen have actually come from her tail -- or from whatever part of herself her tail got shapeshifted into. With the tree, it was one of the branches. They've all been from tailtouch, and cast on something she was tailtouching -- which can, unfortunately, always include herself, the air nearby, the space nearby, the ambient light, the ambient sound, and various other things. So, if she wanted to blast someone with lightning, she'd turn a breeze on her tail into a lightning bolt aimed at them.

If she wanted to turn someone into a large pot of osso buco, she'd have to touch them with her tail. But, since she's so good at Locador, she can probably use another spell to let her tailtip touch something half a mile away.

Which can, incidentally, be defended against in various ways. I don't get those defenses myself, since I am likely to be near enough for a mundane tailtouch and I'm not supposed to be fighting her. The people who are being equipped to fight her will have those defenses. I don't know much about them, of course -- it's not Strenata or Rhedwy, though I think Paarhan might be. I don't want to be involved! I don't want to be seen as someone from whom that information could be extracted!

She could certainly be trying to decieve us on this point. She was canny enough to be careful not to cast her better spells when we were around, except when she was very upset.

Brief Q&A

Originally published at Sythyry. Please leave any comments there.

And how did they determine a tail was required for the magic, if everything she’s around seems to do the magic for her? I admit, this one confuses me a bit.

Unless… maybe the deity (Gornn or something?) has changed the nendrai again and they actually don’t require a tail to do magic? Ew… that’d be unpleasant — endless magic, limited only by the kid’s imagination. ;-p

Gnarn

Well, we’re pretty sure it all starts at the tail, and not just because nendrai all say that it does. We have, as best we can, been watching all of Vae’s magic use for a year. She’s cast two spells that didn’t involve her tail, but they were little spontaneous spells that cost cley in the usual way — I could have done the same. Nendrai get the same sort of magic that primes get, as well as their tail Mutoc powers, but they just don’t use them very often.

This was when she was with Greenspikes. She was trying to look unobtrustively prime at the time. Now, no sensible prime would spont a spell to unspill a cup of water when she was drinking outdoors and the well was nearby — that is the hallmark and habit of someone with unlimited magic. But she used ordinary child’s magic to do it.

Anyways, all of the other spells that we’ve seen have actually come from her tail — or from whatever part of herself her tail got shapeshifted into. With the tree, it was one of the branches. They’ve all been from tailtouch, and cast on something she was tailtouching — which can, unfortunately, always include herself, the air nearby, the space nearby, the ambient light, the ambient sound, and various other things. So, if she wanted to blast someone with lightning, she’d turn a breeze on her tail into a lightning bolt aimed at them.

If she wanted to turn someone into a large pot of osso buco, she’d have to touch them with her tail. But, since she’s so good at Locador, she can probably use another spell to let her tailtip touch something half a mile away.

Which can, incidentally, be defended against in various ways. I don’t get those defenses myself, since I am likely to be near enough for a mundane tailtouch and I’m not supposed to be fighting her. The people who are being equipped to fight her will have those defenses. I don’t know much about them, of course — it’s not Strenata or Rhedwy, though I think Paarhan might be. I don’t want to be involved! I don’t want to be seen as someone from whom that information could be extracted!

She could certainly be trying to decieve us on this point. She was canny enough to be careful not to cast her better spells when we were around, except when she was very upset.

Brief Q&A

Originally published at Sythyry. Please leave any comments there.

And how did they determine a tail was required for the magic, if everything she’s around seems to do the magic for her? I admit, this one confuses me a bit.

Unless… maybe the deity (Gornn or something?) has changed the nendrai again and they actually don’t require a tail to do magic? Ew… that’d be unpleasant — endless magic, limited only by the kid’s imagination. ;-p

Gnarn

Well, we’re pretty sure it all starts at the tail, and not just because nendrai all say that it does. We have, as best we can, been watching all of Vae’s magic use for a year. She’s cast two spells that didn’t involve her tail, but they were little spontaneous spells that cost cley in the usual way — I could have done the same. Nendrai get the same sort of magic that primes get, as well as their tail Mutoc powers, but they just don’t use them very often.

This was when she was with Greenspikes. She was trying to look unobtrustively prime at the time. Now, no sensible prime would spont a spell to unspill a cup of water when she was drinking outdoors and the well was nearby — that is the hallmark and habit of someone with unlimited magic. But she used ordinary child’s magic to do it.

Anyways, all of the other spells that we’ve seen have actually come from her tail — or from whatever part of herself her tail got shapeshifted into. With the tree, it was one of the branches. They’ve all been from tailtouch, and cast on something she was tailtouching — which can, unfortunately, always include herself, the air nearby, the space nearby, the ambient light, the ambient sound, and various other things. So, if she wanted to blast someone with lightning, she’d turn a breeze on her tail into a lightning bolt aimed at them.

If she wanted to turn someone into a large pot of osso buco, she’d have to touch them with her tail. But, since she’s so good at Locador, she can probably use another spell to let her tailtip touch something half a mile away.

Which can, incidentally, be defended against in various ways. I don’t get those defenses myself, since I am likely to be near enough for a mundane tailtouch and I’m not supposed to be fighting her. The people who are being equipped to fight her will have those defenses. I don’t know much about them, of course — it’s not Strenata or Rhedwy, though I think Paarhan might be. I don’t want to be involved! I don’t want to be seen as someone from whom that information could be extracted!

She could certainly be trying to decieve us on this point. She was canny enough to be careful not to cast her better spells when we were around, except when she was very upset.

(no subject)

Maidservant to a Monster [21 Lage 4261]

There were considerable relief and congratulations given to me when I got back through the Halflight Gate.

And various advices were also thrown at me. Paarhan in particular complained at me considerably and greatly for getting Vae to turn into a tree. I actually breathed fire in his face ... I can't remember the last time I did that to anyone. Certainly never to anyone as dangerous as Paarhan. He just healed it and glared, and Strenata suggested that he save his tactical discussions for later.

I didn't particularly feel like putting this errand off. I flew to Heavybell Street, where the smiths are. Kaim-Su had recommended Basnt. Her shop is a small unobtrusive one, not that any of the smiths' shops are particularly ostentatious. If you work with metal, you don't need to be ostentatious.

Basnt's shop was more trouble for me than most shops. The door was closed, and I had to scratch loudly enough to be heard over the tinging of her hammering. She works in lead, silver, gold, and mnenorzion.

Me:"I've some lead moss to sell... I've never done this before."

Basnt:"Oh, you're the one controlling that nendrai out of town, aren't you?"

Me:"That's an optimistic way of saying it ... a very optimistic one!"

Basnt laughed, and called her mari Bandazure over with a bit of tea.

Me:"Oh, thank you. It's been an alarming and shakesome sort of day several ways already, and it's not even noontime."

Basnt:"Oh? Tell me, if you like? The Howling Horn didn't say much about it yesterday."

"It wasn't this morning," I said. So I wound up telling her and Bandazure about meeting Vae, and, somewhat to my surprise, about Eitharheinen catching Ilottat and me in bed together. I am now officially traff, having pretty much introduced myself that way to a business contact. They were more than a little bit disturbed by it, unfortunately, and I was more than a little rattled by that.

Me:"Well, I suppose I'm to sell you some lead moss?" I showed it to her.

Basnt:"Well, it's lead moss ... I'll have to refine it, destroy out the plant material; it's a lot of work to make this into pure metal."

Me:"I'm sorry -- it's what the nendrai gave me to sell. I don't know what the rates are like, and I don't particularly even care to know."

Basnt:"Oh ... oh, great staring gods. That's what I say when regular adventurers bring metal in, to start the bargaining down a bit."

Me:"I'm not an adventurer at all" (which got an odd look, alas) "and I'm not trying to make money on these. And I've used up a nine day's supply of cajoling and sociability on the nendrai already. Could you, oh, give me a fair price for them, I don't care what it is, and leave it at that?"

Basnt:"This is city business, isn't it now? I can do that. Let me look at the moss." And, while she was hefting it, she asked, "Why not just give it to the guard and have them give you a bit of money?"

Me:"I don't know. Kaim-Su said to do it this way. I should ask about that."

Basnt:"Not that I mind extra metal, of course. I would hope to buy this for eight lozens. For you, since it is city business and I'm grateful for you keeping the nendrai quiet, how about ten lozens?"

Me:"How about five lozens. It's not my money, it's the nendrai's."

Basnt:"You don't get to keep any of it?"

Me:"I should ask about that too."

Basnt:"Well, we can do it that way this time, but I'll expect you to renegotiate for next."

Me:"Sensible."

Bandazure:"Overly generous!"

Basnt:"This is not the usual arrangement, dear sweet bug."

No. It's a very disturbing arrangement.

(no subject)

Maidservant to a Monster [21 Lage 4261]

There were considerable relief and congratulations given to me when I got back through the Halflight Gate.

And various advices were also thrown at me. Paarhan in particular complained at me considerably and greatly for getting Vae to turn into a tree. I actually breathed fire in his face ... I can't remember the last time I did that to anyone. Certainly never to anyone as dangerous as Paarhan. He just healed it and glared, and Strenata suggested that he save his tactical discussions for later.

I didn't particularly feel like putting this errand off. I flew to Heavybell Street, where the smiths are. Kaim-Su had recommended Basnt. Her shop is a small unobtrusive one, not that any of the smiths' shops are particularly ostentatious. If you work with metal, you don't need to be ostentatious.

Basnt's shop was more trouble for me than most shops. The door was closed, and I had to scratch loudly enough to be heard over the tinging of her hammering. She works in lead, silver, gold, and mnenorzion.

Me:"I've some lead moss to sell... I've never done this before."

Basnt:"Oh, you're the one controlling that nendrai out of town, aren't you?"

Me:"That's an optimistic way of saying it ... a very optimistic one!"

Basnt laughed, and called her mari Bandazure over with a bit of tea.

Me:"Oh, thank you. It's been an alarming and shakesome sort of day several ways already, and it's not even noontime."

Basnt:"Oh? Tell me, if you like? The Howling Horn didn't say much about it yesterday."

"It wasn't this morning," I said. So I wound up telling her and Bandazure about meeting Vae, and, somewhat to my surprise, about Eitharheinen catching Ilottat and me in bed together. I am now officially traff, having pretty much introduced myself that way to a business contact. They were more than a little bit disturbed by it, unfortunately, and I was more than a little rattled by that.

Me:"Well, I suppose I'm to sell you some lead moss?" I showed it to her.

Basnt:"Well, it's lead moss ... I'll have to refine it, destroy out the plant material; it's a lot of work to make this into pure metal."

Me:"I'm sorry -- it's what the nendrai gave me to sell. I don't know what the rates are like, and I don't particularly even care to know."

Basnt:"Oh ... oh, great staring gods. That's what I say when regular adventurers bring metal in, to start the bargaining down a bit."

Me:"I'm not an adventurer at all" (which got an odd look, alas) "and I'm not trying to make money on these. And I've used up a nine day's supply of cajoling and sociability on the nendrai already. Could you, oh, give me a fair price for them, I don't care what it is, and leave it at that?"

Basnt:"This is city business, isn't it now? I can do that. Let me look at the moss." And, while she was hefting it, she asked, "Why not just give it to the guard and have them give you a bit of money?"

Me:"I don't know. Kaim-Su said to do it this way. I should ask about that."

Basnt:"Not that I mind extra metal, of course. I would hope to buy this for eight lozens. For you, since it is city business and I'm grateful for you keeping the nendrai quiet, how about ten lozens?"

Me:"How about five lozens. It's not my money, it's the nendrai's."

Basnt:"You don't get to keep any of it?"

Me:"I should ask about that too."

Basnt:"Well, we can do it that way this time, but I'll expect you to renegotiate for next."

Me:"Sensible."

Bandazure:"Overly generous!"

Basnt:"This is not the usual arrangement, dear sweet bug."

No. It's a very disturbing arrangement.

(no subject)

Originally published at Sythyry. Please leave any comments there.

Maidservant to a Monster [21 Lage 4261]

There were considerable relief and congratulations given to
me when I got back through the Halflight Gate.

And various advices were also thrown at me. Paarhan in
particular complained at me considerably and greatly for
getting Vae to turn into a tree. I actually breathed fire
in his face … I can’t remember the last time I did that to
anyone. Certainly never to anyone as dangerous as
Paarhan. He just healed it and glared, and Strenata
suggested that he save his tactical discussions for later.

I didn’t particularly feel like putting this errand off. I
flew to Heavybell Street, where the smiths are. Kaim-Su
had recommended Basnt. Her shop is a small unobtrusive
one, not that any of the smiths’ shops are particularly
ostentatious. If you work with metal, you don’t need
to be ostentatious.

Basnt’s shop was more trouble for me than most shops. The
door was closed, and I had to scratch loudly enough to be
heard over the tinging of her hammering. She works in lead,
silver, gold, and mnenorzion.

Me:“I’ve some lead moss to sell… I’ve never
done this before.”

Basnt:“Oh, you’re the one controlling that
nendrai out of town, aren’t you?”

Me:“That’s an optimistic way of saying it … a
very optimistic one!”

Basnt laughed, and called her mari Bandazure over with a bit
of tea.

Me:“Oh, thank you. It’s been an alarming and
shakesome sort of day several ways already, and it’s not
even noontime.”

Basnt:“Oh? Tell me, if you like? The Howling
Horn didn’t say much about it yesterday.”

“It wasn’t this morning,” I said. So I wound up
telling her and Bandazure about meeting Vae, and, somewhat
to my surprise, about Eitharheinen catching Ilottat and me
in bed together. I am now officially traff, having pretty
much introduced myself that way to a business contact. They
were more than a little bit disturbed by it, unfortunately,
and I was more than a little rattled by that.

Me:“Well, I suppose I’m to sell you some lead
moss?” I showed it to her.

Basnt:“Well, it’s lead moss … I’ll have to
refine it, destroy out the plant material; it’s a lot of
work to make this into pure metal.”

Me:“I’m sorry — it’s what the nendrai gave me
to sell. I don’t know what the rates are like, and I don’t
particularly even care to know.”

Basnt:“Oh … oh, great staring gods. That’s
what I say when regular adventurers bring metal in, to start
the bargaining down a bit.”

Me:“I’m not an adventurer at all” (which
got an odd look, alas) “and I’m not trying to make money
on these. And I’ve used up a nine day’s supply of cajoling
and sociability on the nendrai already. Could you, oh, give
me a fair price for them, I don’t care what it is, and leave
it at that?”

Basnt:“This is city business, isn’t it now? I
can do that. Let me look at the moss.” And, while she
was hefting it, she asked, “Why not just give it to the
guard and have them give you a bit of money?”

Me:“I don’t know. Kaim-Su said to do it this
way. I should ask about that.”

Basnt:“Not that I mind extra metal, of
course. I would hope to buy this for eight lozens. For you,
since it is city business and I’m grateful for you
keeping the nendrai quiet, how about ten lozens?”

Me:“How about five lozens. It’s not my money,
it’s the nendrai’s.”

Basnt:“You don’t get to keep any of
it?”

Me:“I should ask about that too.”

Basnt:“Well, we can do it that way this time,
but I’ll expect you to renegotiate for next.”

Me:“Sensible.”

Bandazure:“Overly generous!”

Basnt:“This is not the usual arrangement, dear
sweet bug.”

No. It’s a very disturbing arrangement.

(no subject)

Originally published at Sythyry. Please leave any comments there.

Maidservant to a Monster [21 Lage 4261]

There were considerable relief and congratulations given to
me when I got back through the Halflight Gate.

And various advices were also thrown at me. Paarhan in
particular complained at me considerably and greatly for
getting Vae to turn into a tree. I actually breathed fire
in his face … I can’t remember the last time I did that to
anyone. Certainly never to anyone as dangerous as
Paarhan. He just healed it and glared, and Strenata
suggested that he save his tactical discussions for later.

I didn’t particularly feel like putting this errand off. I
flew to Heavybell Street, where the smiths are. Kaim-Su
had recommended Basnt. Her shop is a small unobtrusive
one, not that any of the smiths’ shops are particularly
ostentatious. If you work with metal, you don’t need
to be ostentatious.

Basnt’s shop was more trouble for me than most shops. The
door was closed, and I had to scratch loudly enough to be
heard over the tinging of her hammering. She works in lead,
silver, gold, and mnenorzion.

Me:“I’ve some lead moss to sell… I’ve never
done this before.”

Basnt:“Oh, you’re the one controlling that
nendrai out of town, aren’t you?”

Me:“That’s an optimistic way of saying it … a
very optimistic one!”

Basnt laughed, and called her mari Bandazure over with a bit
of tea.

Me:“Oh, thank you. It’s been an alarming and
shakesome sort of day several ways already, and it’s not
even noontime.”

Basnt:“Oh? Tell me, if you like? The Howling
Horn didn’t say much about it yesterday.”

“It wasn’t this morning,” I said. So I wound up
telling her and Bandazure about meeting Vae, and, somewhat
to my surprise, about Eitharheinen catching Ilottat and me
in bed together. I am now officially traff, having pretty
much introduced myself that way to a business contact. They
were more than a little bit disturbed by it, unfortunately,
and I was more than a little rattled by that.

Me:“Well, I suppose I’m to sell you some lead
moss?” I showed it to her.

Basnt:“Well, it’s lead moss … I’ll have to
refine it, destroy out the plant material; it’s a lot of
work to make this into pure metal.”

Me:“I’m sorry — it’s what the nendrai gave me
to sell. I don’t know what the rates are like, and I don’t
particularly even care to know.”

Basnt:“Oh … oh, great staring gods. That’s
what I say when regular adventurers bring metal in, to start
the bargaining down a bit.”

Me:“I’m not an adventurer at all” (which
got an odd look, alas) “and I’m not trying to make money
on these. And I’ve used up a nine day’s supply of cajoling
and sociability on the nendrai already. Could you, oh, give
me a fair price for them, I don’t care what it is, and leave
it at that?”

Basnt:“This is city business, isn’t it now? I
can do that. Let me look at the moss.” And, while she
was hefting it, she asked, “Why not just give it to the
guard and have them give you a bit of money?”

Me:“I don’t know. Kaim-Su said to do it this
way. I should ask about that.”

Basnt:“Not that I mind extra metal, of
course. I would hope to buy this for eight lozens. For you,
since it is city business and I’m grateful for you
keeping the nendrai quiet, how about ten lozens?”

Me:“How about five lozens. It’s not my money,
it’s the nendrai’s.”

Basnt:“You don’t get to keep any of
it?”

Me:“I should ask about that too.”

Basnt:“Well, we can do it that way this time,
but I’ll expect you to renegotiate for next.”

Me:“Sensible.”

Bandazure:“Overly generous!”

Basnt:“This is not the usual arrangement, dear
sweet bug.”

No. It’s a very disturbing arrangement.