Less Awkward Aid

Another chilly, unpleasant evening. The icy wind blows in vicious gusts and snarls around the edges of buildings and claws at doors and windows shut tight against the cold. Fires are lit and stoked, and spells are chanted to ward off the grasp of winter.

One can't say he doesn't learn. Telamon comes stamping through the snow (shin deep in some places for him, despite the daily plowing), wrapped in a heavy fur cloak coated with frost from the blowing wind. He pauses at the doorstep to Verna and Aura's house, taking a moment to admire the magically-wrought structure, his eyes speculative, before walking up onto the porch and knocking on the door briskly. His eyes become distant for a moment, as he sends his thoughts away briefly, before returning to the here and now.

While the view may be majetic at times, and the location is far less crowded than the city below, the weather is far more brutal. Thus the hearth in the home is always fed and managed. Knocks upon the door are also promptly minded, if with some caution.

The door cracks, first, for observation before it opens fully to reveal Verna. Her Mourner's robes are presently absent, replaced with rather simple houserobes. "Telamon," she greets. "Please, come in out of the weather." She steps back to clear the way and gestures to the more cozy interior. "Would you care for tea?"

Telamon offers a smile to Verna, as he pushes the hood of his cloak back. "Thank you, Verna. Yes, tea would be delightful. The weather is atrocious and after last time, I think I'll take the hint and -not fly in it-."

Stepping inside, he carefully hangs up the cloak, as he looks to Verna. "I hope the day has treated you well so far? I promise to not bear unhappy tidings... just questions. Gods, so many questions."

"Make yourself comfortable," Verna notes before she moves to retrieve cup, tea, and pot from the table where all sat. "You are fortunate in that I only recently boiled the pot of water." After pouring, she returns to him and offers the cup.

"I am pleased that you bear no ill news. There has been more than enough as of late. Questions, however, are an ever-present part of existence. I would aid you with them as I might."

Telamon takes a seat once Verna has escorted him into the parlor, settling his hands on his knees. When she returns with the cup, he takes it from her, smiling, and sipping lightly before he responds.

"Well, I visited Dolan, and he is on the mend, if..." He pauses, considering his words. "Traumatized. However, he's a strong man, and I for one believe he will recover from this."

Telamon looks at his cup of tea, before continuing, "I have also been trying to tease additional information out of Tanith, but that has gone... well, about as well as can be expected. It feels like when I was a child, trying to find one -specific- toy in my box, and I knew I was going to have to dump it out onto the floor to find it." He snorts. "Jyndei said she was -very- opinionated about the whole thing."

Verna nods, lips pursing. "I was able to visit briefly. His body is mending, yet that is only part of the process. I share your assessment, however. It may simply require time."

She does not dwell on this and shifts to the other topic. "Tanithariairisixchel ever seems rather like a child that I observed. Chaotic in focus and simple in concepts, yet wise in unexpected ways. What is, to her, a direct answer, may be most confusing to others."

The recollection of her visit with Dolan sparks a belated comment. "A trip to The Vast is being organized, based upon the visions received by some. Dolan originally planned to attend, but insisted that we not await his recovery and return. I seek all interested parties, if you were not already involved or have suggestions."

Telamon nods. "If you weren't suggesting it I would have. I saw a vision of the Vast, and the black roses there, as well." He sighs. "It's hard to tell how much is literal, versus how much is allegory and metaphor. But it's clear we need to pay a visit."

He sits back. "I had the opportunity to review some of Dolan's documents prior to his... encounter with Kol. He mentioned 'shedding blood on the totem' would have further effects once one was already bonded to it. Has anyone tested that?"

"I did not receive the vision personally, but I received detailsed secribption and was able to narrow the location to The Vast," Verna explains. "I had made others aware, but had not confirmed a date and time, given the recent events. We should prioritize the venture as much as possible, to close the matter."

The mention of the totems draws her lips to a line. "I was unaware that further blood might deepend the bond or have additional effects. I had not attempted such, yet can readily do so." Now she frowns. "It may also be a benefit limited to those who are servants of the deity which created the totem to which they are bound. The Harpist did not craft any of the relics, so my efforts and results may be less potent than others'."

His lips curl into a sardonic smile. "Definitely. We need to get -ahead- of this thing, instead of perpetually chasing after it." Telamon takes another sip of tea, eyes sparkling over the rim. "Auranar gave me the totem that was crafted by Eluna. I've been... poking and prodding it. Cautiously. But I'm wondering if I need to try this... blood-letting." He grimaces at the thought. "Not my idea of a good time, but needs must."

"Speaking of needs, and blood... I mentioned this before, but Tanith had been very specific about how Kol was once a person. Do you know if anyone might be able to shed clues on his past?" He raises a hand. "If not, I won't press, but... I want to exhaust mundane options before I start using magical ones."

"Indeed," Verna nods her agreement, though her frown remains. Until the mention of Auranar, that is, which causes it to all but evaporate. "You need not excessively harm yourself, and if the totem is of Eluna, it would only function to aid you. A small amount of blood is little risk, even if nothing should come of it. I can do the same with mine own, now that I possess it once more."

Then back to Kol, and her frown also returns. "Apologies. I have yet to go through my notes from some years ago. Myself and others encountered Kol as a child. It is possible that others encountered him at other times, as well. What details my journals may lack, we would know whom to seek for answers, at the least."

Telamon shakes his head. "No apologies needed, Verna. It's been a bit of a hectic few days. And I could be entirely wrong." He smiles wryly. "After all, I've been wrong before. And yet, we still manage to make it through."

His eyes soften, and he says gently, "Aura's been searching for... purpose for a while. I think she found it with you. I'm happy to teach her, and I appreciate her faith in me, giving me the totem. But I for one hope the two of you have a long and happy life together."

And so the frown vanishes once more. In fact, Verna lips curl upwards some. "Thank you. I could state that we were both lost, in a sense, until we found each other. I am most grateful for whatever you can teach her. She looks to me as an example, and is oft frustrated by what she cannot -yet- accomplish. The same is troublesome to me, as there is so much that I would wish to aid her to learn, but cannot: my boons are endowned by The Harpist or from dilligent study; yours are from neither."After a pause, this brings forth a sudden thought. "She might inquire of her ability to heal. She sought to tend my injuries following the rescue, and was most upset when she could not."

Telamon winces. "Of all the things to ask," he says ruefully. "Healing magic is not precisely my forte. I can... cheat, sort of. I use a ring," he points to a rather elaborate ring on his hand with a simple malachite gem, "that can duplicate a spell. But the magic feels... hm. Ever try to write with your off hand? It doesn't feel unnatural, but it does feel slightly clumsy."

He takes a deep breath. "However, that doesn't change the fact that I did agree to teach her all that I could. Theory and practice and research. The 'talent' springs from so many places there's few 'unified' concepts. What works for me may not work for her -- much as certain things that work for Lana do not work for me." His lips quirk. "Though we've made strides in it."

Verna makes note of the ring and nods. "I am familiar with such rings. Prior to her mention, I did not realize that she could heal others. She does not have such a ring to my knowledge, yet if it is useful, perhaps she should. You are far more knowledgeable in the .. talent than I, and I had presumed that I was simply ignorant of the healing abilities that might spring from it. Apologies."

Telamon shakes his head. "The talent is as unique as an individual. You can't blame yourself for not understanding." He leans back, tapping his fingers on his knee. "She will have to explore and develop her powers, which means, of course, testing them. I had recommended she tackle some Guild jobs as those tend to be good for that sort of thing. Research can only take you so far."

His eyes glint. "It seems like only yesterday I was barely able to muster enough magic beyond the simple cantrips. And here we sit now. If she desires it, she will find it."

"I do not doubt her spirit of exploration," Verna notes, "nor her capacity to learn and harness her talents. She is a harsh critic of herself, however. I seek to encourage her, yet she ever accuses me of bias." A flash of further smile. "Not that she is incorrect."

There is a pause before Verna's expression changes to something more ...awkward. "My apologies. You sought answers to questions, and I redirected the topic to Auranar. Please, continue."

He laughs then, a gentle sound. "Sometimes the answers do not come when the questions are asked. No... I think I'm all right." Telamon sighs. "I will seek to bind to the totem more closely, and see if that unlocks its secrets. If you would review your notes, I would appreciate it -- perhaps we might get lucky. You never know."

"But don't begrudge yourself your love for Aura. I feel the same for Lana, and occasionally have to remind myself to not wax poetic about her virtues." He grins. "So I suppose we are not that dissimilar. But to return to business..." He tilts his head. "Do you know what Sir Seldan has in mind? He seemed very.... focused, when I encountered him here."

Verna opens her mouth, though closes it before she might veer off into discertation of Auranar's virtues. She focuses instead upon the question posed for a moment. "I presume that he simply wishes to learn where to find Kol Demontry in order to confront him. Dolan's goal was to use Kol to locate the lycanthropes. Seldan's focus appears solely upon Kol, to little surprise. We may now have the information to address both aspects."

Telamon tilts his head again, and his expression becomes oddly abstracted. Like he's listening to a voice only he can hear. "Hrm." He finishes his tea, and sets the cup down. "Thank you for your time, Verna, I do appreciate it." His starry eyes dance with humor. "But Lana calls to me, and is asking me to mediate a small dispute between Pothy and Tanith regarding the virtues of various fish. Oh, and dinner, too."

He stands easily, and smiles at Verna. "You are of course always welcome at our home. Just as much as Aura is. We'd welcome a dinner, just the four of us... well, and Pothy, and assorted other friends." He looks wry. "Such is life in my home."

Verna arches a brow at his expression and announcement; this is perhaps the second or third instance she has witnessed. Intriguing. A thought and inquiry of her own forms, but not for this moment. "I can only imagine the conflict that might arise around snacks between them. It is best that you not keep Cor'lana awaiting, as well. Auranar and myself would be honored to be your guests in the future." She moves to see him to the door. "Amidst all assorted other friends, as well. Perhaps Hunter would find Pothy entertaining? The reverse may not be true, alas."