An Autograph and Some Direction

Memorial Gardens, early evening

The warmth of the enchanted Memorial Garden is much appreciated by many, but as the sun nears its daily sleep, its numbers thin, and the appointed hour approaches. He's parked on a bench along one of the walkways, not far from the statues, a kelly-green magelight affixed to a copper coin that is balanced on the iron arm of the bench next to him. By its light, he's working with a large needle and thick thread, hand-sewing together what appears to be several layers of cloth and leather together. It's a pad, similar to the one seen on the shoulder of the brown cloak he's wearing over the deep green robes, embroidered with gray thread. The shepherd is currently asleep at his feet, snoring contentedly.

The Gardens get a certain amount of traffic even in winter -- there's something about green growing things that just lifts spirits during the harsh, cold months. There's a chill wind, but it's less blustery today than it's been.

Walking along the path comes Telamon, dressed in a long fur and leather coat over a white silk blouse and brown woolen trousers tucked into his boots. A broad brimmed hat with an ostentatious violet feather stuck in it rests on his head. He's whistling a jaunty tune, his expression one of cheerful resolve, and his haversack bumps against his hip as he strides towards the soft green glow. "Lheo Korrelli," he says with a smile. "Glad you got my message."

One last stitch gets carefully placed in the pad. The young wizard is nothing if not methodical and meticulous. When that is done, though, he lets the entire thing drop in his lap, and looks up. "I was amazed you found anything so fast, sir. You had much better luck than I did." Not to mention that an _archmage_ is helping him. That doesn't hurt either.

He gestures to the space next to him on the bench. "My brother would love the hat."

Telamon chuckles. "I'm not above a little peacocking, I admit. Though I can't really wear it if I fly. The wind has an annoying habit of snatching head coverings off." He sits down next to Lheo, looking at the young wizard. At Lheo's remark, the sorcerer opens his mouth, then pauses.

His next words come a little softer. "It wasn't as hard as I expected. I... well, I don't know if I can explain it or not. I feel like if I talk too much it'll come off as bragging and I don't want to do that. I'd rather help you, point you in the right direction."

Tel rubs his chin, then looks at the dog, and says softly, "Tobey?"

Lheo smirks at the mention of not bragging. "If you're not bragging and self-important, how in the Iron Hells did you become an archmage? I've never met one who wasn't full of themselves." _Huh,_ reads the look in his eyes, though. "The problem with the hat makes sense, though."

Immediately, the dog, who'd barely raised his sleepy head at the arrival of Telamon, immediately gets to his feet, his tail flagged high and wagging. He clearly recognizes it.

"I think it was a paperwork error. Would you believe that I still, on occasion, look around when someone refers to me as an archmage, thinking they mean someone else?" Telamon regains a little of his cheer, chuckling. "I think it might have to do with how... social I am. I was a diplomat first, before I became an archmage."

When the dog rouses, Tel nods, grinning. "There we go." He pats his knees. "Tobey, want some pettings?" While he endears himself to Tobey, he continues the tale. "Tobey belonged to a farm run by Alli and Kennan Theralin. They passed away a short time ago, but Tobey was taken in by the farmhands who are now running the place."

_A diplomat._ The explanation clearly means something to Lheo, but he maintains the not-quite-smirk-mostly-half-smile. "Well, you're sure the humblest one I've ever met. I like it."

He turns to watch Tobey, who immediately jumps up at Telamon and attempts to lick his face, and snorts laughter. "I'd love to know how you found out, but there's no doubt, you've got it."

The half-smile fades as he listens. "Sorry to hear that. How far's the farm?"

Telamon starts laughing as Tobey tries to give him kisses. "Easy, boy! Easy!" He gently but firmly nudges the dog down, scratching him behind his ears and letting him rest his head on his knee. "There you go. Let me finish the tale for Lheo here." His fingers continue to stroke Tobey's head.

"So Tobey became a sheepdog for Ronan Springrun, who now runs the farm. During his tenure, Tobey got hurt fending off wolves from the sheepherd. He wandered off to try and heal -- or die, as dogs sometimes do. But a traveler came upon him, healed him and brought him to Alexandria."

Telamon's expression becomes hard, though his fingers never stop petting Tobey. "The traveler sold him to a member of the Happy Pony shipping company. He didn't know that Happy Pony's a front for Charneth animal smuggling. And that... is where you and your friends came in."

After some more licks, Tobey finally rests his head on Telamon's knee, drooling happily as his ears get the love they desire. Lheo, meanwhile, leans an elbow on his knee. "Huh. How about it, Tobey?" he asks, looking at the blissful face of the dog being loved on. "Shall we go and take you back home? You're a lucky boy."

The only answer this nets him is a melt on Telamon's leg.

That smirk returns, and he shakes his head affectionately. "Hold still, sir." He puts his fingers to his teeth and lips, and lets out a shrill whistle, then immediately drops his hand and pulls out the single leather glove on his belt. It's a thick one, too, and not not a moment too soon, as a gray-feathered hunting hawk swoops out of the trees towards their position. It has a band around one leg, but no jesses, and Tobey's head snaps up at its approach.

He gets the glove on just in time, raising a fist to offer the bird a place to land. "Hi girl," he coos at her. "Go find Theo and lead him back here," he tells her, staring into her eyes. She lets out a cry and bates, and he lifts his fist to throw her back into the air, where she immediately takes off south and westward.

Telamon continues to fuzzle Tobey merrily. "Anyways. Theralin Farm is a few hours by horseback outside of Alexandria. Ronan would probably be very thrilled to get his sheepdog back." His eyes glitter. "And I'm thinking someone might take a look at Happy Pony. Ask some questions. I'm thinking of something a friend of mine once told me: When you need to know something, go find someone who knows, and ask them. Don't be afraid to ask extra hard." He pauses. "Well, he IS an oruch, after all."

He watches with interest as the hawk soars down and alights on Lheo's hand, smiling in admiration as the wizard sends his familiar off to collect his brother. "Now that's useful," he notes. "Does she give you much trouble?"

Lheo watches the hawk go with genuine affection. "She's worth it," he says softly. "I like making stuff, too. Let's just hope Theo isn't bouncing the bedsprings with his lover." The smirk quickly returns, the softening momentary. He lowers the gloved hand into his lap. "And hope he doesn't think something's wrong and panic."

"I want to take more than a look, and see how those animals did. I hope they all made it. I didn't think to tell the Watch, though. Maybe I should."

"From what you told me it was a rather chaotic incident. You can't expect yourself to remember ever detail in the heat of the moment. Granted, it helps to try, but this sounds like the sort of thing where you're just lucky to get out in one piece." Telamon's hand rests on Tobey's head, scritching gently. "I... guess your familiar can't talk. My wife's can, but then he's a raven." Tel rolls his eyes. "It's like having continuous commentary on your life by an overly-precocious eight year old."

He looks at the rapidly darkening sky. "Are you thinking about heading out tonight? Or are you just bringing Theo in for consultation?"

"For consultation," Lheo shrugs, the smirk turning to a sudden frown. "I'm not too keen on taking a trip like that without him, for a few reasons. Zelany might help, too, and it'll take me a bit longer to find her. The glove in his lap stays on, notably. "No, she can't talk. Some people think eventually she will, but she does plenty without needing to talk. So your wife has a raven familiar? It doesn't sound like an ordinary raven."

Telamon grins. "It's not. Oh, gods, it is -so- not. His name is Pothy -- short for 'Apotheosis'. He's a white raven. Loves to cadge food from people -- that was how we met, Lana and I. Pothy saw me coming out of the University cafeteria with a sweetroll, and confronted me looking for a handout."

He runs his free hand through his hair. "Still, I've never forgotten that he was the reason I met my wife. Nowadays he's like the little brother I never had, and he'll never have to worry about getting snacks or a place to sleep." Suddenly he realizes his hat has fallen off, and he tries to turn without dislodging Tobey. "Oh bother... my hat fell behind me, didn't it?"

"Glad it's not me," Lheo snorts at the description of food-stealing. "This one eats enough, and he's got better manners than to steal food." He shrugs at the affection and the softening, but when the mention of the hat is made, Lheo leans backwards and looks, finding the offending garment in the grass a few feet away. "It blew away, a little." He smirks and speaks a word or two of power, makes a gesture, and gestures.

As if collected by a ghostly hand, the hat crinkles a little and comes towards Lheo, then at his gesture, pauses over Telamon's head, then lands on Tobey's, a wicked grin spreading over his lips.

GAME: Lheo casts Mage Hand. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14

"Probably fell off when Tobey decided he wanted to give me smooches." Telamon looks down at the dog's sleepy eyes. "No, I don't hold a grudge, you were just happy someone remembered your name finally." Then the hat lands on Tobey's head, and he snorts in amusement at the dog's confused mien. "Doesn't suit you, boy? No worries, it's hard to be a fashion statement."

Settling his hat back on his head, Telamon nods wryly. "My next door neighbor has a dog, and it's a darn good thing he makes good money. But Pothy is something else. There's something about his nature -- I guess because he's a familiar -- that means he can eat ridiculous amounts of food and ask for more. The only time I've heard or seen him getting full is with magically-conjured food."

A figure is quickly approaching their location. Clearly at a run. The figure is following a much smaller speck which is more easily identified as Lheo's familiar. Which means that very likely the more humanoid shape quickly approaching them is Theo.

It is.

The paladin of Serriel is wearing a tabard that marks him as such though it is a bit askew, his belt riding low on his hips and hastily donned as well as his armor that looks like it's not quite properly on. He huffs in exertion as he hastens toward them. "L-Lheo! Is... Is this guy... giving... you trouble?"

Interestingly, the paladin coming in at a run is a more muscular carbon copy of the man on the bench, perfectly relaxed. "Shit. I'm sorry, brother. She scare you?" He raises the fist again, and the hawk alights on it, bating again. He fishes a strip of meat from his belt pouch. "I didn't have enough free hands to explain. "This is Archmage Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon, and he's worked out where this one is from." He points at the dog. "But, it's outside the walls."

Telamon looks like the only thing he might bother is a tailor -- until someone looks at his eyes. And then Lheo introduces him, so of course he offers an abbreviated bow, since his lap is still occupied by happy dog head. "I ran across your brother trying to find information the other day, and as you'd succeeded in derailing a contemptible Charneth scheme... I thought I'd try my hand at it."

"But yes. Theralin Farm, currently run by Ronan Springrun. I'm pretty sure Tobey here would be happy to return to his old haunts." His eyes twinkle. "After all, this -is- the season for gifts."

Theo comes to a slow halt, cautiously looking his brother out and then letting out a relieved sigh. "Poor Tarna can't talk, and I've not the spell-skill for understanding her brother." The admission is mostly amusement. He nods politely to Telamon. "Pleasure to meet you Archmage- Wait! Archmage?"

He glances at Lheo. "Damn. That's fine!" Theo seems pleased a little bit and looks like he wants to nudge his brother. "Have you gotten his autograph yet? That's a fine hat you have sir. I've one like it myself at home." He smiles.

Lheo offers the strip of meat in his hand to the bird, who grabs it with her beak, swallows it down, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Good girl." He gives her a few strokes on the head and down the back, then when she bates again, he regards her affectionately. "Off with you, then, girl. Go sleep." He tosses her into the air again, and as she flies off, up into the trees, he tucks the glove back into his belt. "No, I didn't get his autograph," he sighs exasperatedly. This is my brother Theo." Close up, the two men are carbon copies of one another, save only for Theo being a good bit more muscular than Lheo, and their clothes. "Although, if he doesn't -mind- - "

For a moment, Telamon actually looks nonplussed. Evidently he never thinks of these things, or perhaps only rarely. Oddly, he then tilts his head a moment, and his hand pauses in its scritching -- as if listening to something. It's just a moment, and then he chuckles. "Oh, all right, all right. No, I don't mind. I'm not used to it though."

His expression turns slightly amused. "Though I notice that the ethics classes I teach at the University always seem to be packed full... usually by wide-eyed young ingenues and neophytes. I do hope they're listening, though." He opens his haversack, fishing out an quill and inkbottle, tightly stoppered.

Theo grins at his brother, clearly knowing that this is something that will please his twin. "It's much appreciated sir Archmage. Lheo here is an aspiring mage himself. Of the more studious variety. In case he failed to mention it himself. He's a fair hand at it." His grin fades to a slightly mischievous tint. "Hardly ever sets my blankets on fire by accident anymore." It had been _one_ time, but certainly memorable.

While Telamon is fishing for ink and quill, Lheo is quickly searching among his pouches for anything that might serve him as a scrap of parchment. This he eventually finds, the back of a part of a used scroll hastily stuffed into his sleeve. "I appreciate all the help, sir. We'll get Tobey here home. Will you come with me tomorrow morning, brother? We should have time before we need to head home, right?"

He proffers the back of the used scroll to Telamon. "You teach ethics classes?" What his brother says, though, gets his attention first, though, and he smirks. "No, now I do it a-purpose. Maybe I should make Zero's life interesting some morning."

"Indeed. I've found it's more important than whatever tidbits I can offer in terms of arcane knowledge. Better to know when to cast, and when -not- to cast." Telamon fights with the bottle for a moment, before muttering, "Sisig bursag," and just letting the inkwell hang there in midair, the stopper slowly working its way out. "Every spell you cast is on your conscience -- so make sure you do things that won't weigh on it."

Deftly, he takes the scroll, and once his unseen servant has opened the inkwell, dips his quill in before carefully signing, 'Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon' with a flourish. A cantrip causes the ink to instantly dry, and he passes it back to Lheo. "Ultimately, we have to answer for what we do. I'd like to think reminding students of that is a good way to prevent future problems."

Theo gives his brother an aghast look. "I know where you sleep too Lheo." He says firmly, giving the other man a slight narrowing of his eye. But he shakes off the thought with a wayward smile and then leans to get a look at the name on the paper. "Mmm that's interesting..."

"Every spell you cast is on your conscience," Lheo mutters, his attention on the inkwell and parchment. He, of course, knows the spell involved - he just used it himself, after all. He takes the parchment and studies it, clearly impressed. "Thanks."

He finally looks at Theo, then, smirking. "I wouldn't. You ought to know that. My classes back in Rune said the same thing. Don't think about whether magic can do a thing. Think about whether it ought to."

He studies the signature a moment longe4r, then rolls it up and pushes it back into his sleeve. "Well, I'm super grateful for all the help, sir, but I think it's time we started making ready to take this boy home, and I've still got to find out where this farm is."

Theo trails after his brother still clearly half in thought. "Do you think he's any relation to that woman Cor'lana Lupecyll? I heard from one of the guys in the theater district that she's the one that book is based off. You know the one." His cheeks turn a little red as they draw away from Telamon. "Zero read it to me..."