A Fresco Nearing Completion

Summer has settled into the city like a grandparent settling into their favourite chair, comfortable and not going anywhere for a while. The day's heat has begun to ebb away, with the sun beginning to set, sinking behind the western horizon.

Simony sits perched atop a scaffold, her bare feet dangling over the edge and swinging freely back and for. Her face is scrunched up as she squints at the work she does. With a tiny metal tool, she scrapes miniscule amounts of paint into the forested part of the painting. A fey 'gentleman', his face well detailed, bearing deep blue eyes and with a dashing look about him. His form sleek and graceful, yet exhibiting the subtle cues of strength... well made arms, broad chested and wide shouldered. His shirt has the top buttons undone, part of his chest bared showing the slightest hint of chest hair.

Simony giggles to herself then, leaning back and looking quite pleased with herself.

Telamon was out the other day along with Lana, off on some errand neither had exactly mentioned to Simony. Still, he's back today, sitting at the table while he goes through a stack of paperwork. His expression is... not really regretful, not really unhappy, but pensive. His brow furrowed, as he takes a deep breath, before signing his name with an elegant flourish at the bottom of the document. Removing a small jar of wax and a stamp, he holds the jar for a moment, focusing, before pouring some onto the paper. The stamp follows, leaving his symbol embossed, and a wave of a finger causes the wax to cool instantly.

That done, Tel looks up at Simony's giggle, and he grins. "Are you being tasteful, Simony?" He reaches up to brush back his hair, as he stands up from the table, collecting the papers as he does so.

The Goblin goes quiet for a moment. "Yes, I am tastefully dressed.", she says with a snort. "I am simply giggling at Lily's potential reaction. I am also quite pleased that I think I have captured Seldan's heroic look and demeanor."

"What are you up to, this evening?", she wonders quietly. "I could be done the fresco this evening, easily. But I find myself feeling a little melancholic about that. Finishing a big work is such sweet sorrow."

The half-sil gestures, and his perennial unseen servant comes bearing two tall-tankards of tea. Taking them, he passes one up to Simony. "It looks wonderful. I understand how you feel. No matter how much a task might vex you, it can be a familiar opponent, and you don't know what will challenge you next."

Telamon heaves a sigh, not one of sadness but of relief. "Still, it's good to have faced one's tasks and been able to achieve them. If nothing else, it encourages you to keep striving."

The Goblin shifts her dress slightly, the wide strap on a shoulder moving conspicuously. She reaches to take the tall-tankard, and sips daintily from it. "Thank you, Telamon. As always, your chilled tea is delicious!" Simony nods, sighing wistfully. "Having to trust it to your care, and it taking on a life of its own. My biggest and best work, so far. I will look back on its making with fondness."

Her ears perk up slightly, and she peers at his facial expression for a time. "Something is weighing on you, hmm? Something of import having been decided?" The Goblin leans forward, stretching out a wee hand to pat the man on the shoulder.

Telamon hmmms. "Not really. But since we're friends, and you're taking a break..." He smiles at the pat, before sitting down on one of the drop-cloth covered chairs next to the scaffold. "So you may remember when we disposed of Marsward, he had collected a virtual army of were-creatures. Werewolves, primarily, but I suspect some other types as well. With Marsward's death, that army was left directionless."

"I'm still not sure if Harkashan was feeling his oats, or just confident, but he later approached them with an offer of peace. To help them resettle somewhere, and adjust to living as -people-, not bandits and marauders." He pauses, looking thoughtful. "I know I have a reputation for impulsiveness, but... damn."

Simony smiles, nodding. "I'd like to think we are, Telamon. We've been through a few things together." Her feet sway back and forth as he speaks, and once more nods. "Yes, I recall the werewolves going on a tear through the woodlands, killing game without eating it. That was pretty scary. And an army without direction is a dangerous thing."

The Goblin's eyebrows rise up. "He is either foolhardy, or wise beyond his years. Peace is good, but... I can't imagine that it won't be without peril. I can't imagine Marsward was directing them to be good and honest people. But... you have to start somewhere, right?"

Telamon rests his forearms on his knees. "My thoughts precisely. At some point... there has to be peace. There has to be an -ending-." He takes another pull from his tankard. "So we traveled to the Vast. Distance is something other people have to worry about, after all." Tel's eyes twinkle. "And we spoke to them. No threats, no intimidation... just the offer to live, to build, without becoming a blight upon the world that would have to be destroyed. A better life."

"Of course," Tel continues, "that sort of thing isn't easy. I think they have the mindset for it -- they've seen enough death, I think they're sick of it. But they'd need some place to start. Which is where I came in."

The Goblin's ears perk up, and she leans forward slightly, peering down at him. "Teleportation?", she wonders, making a face.

"A better life. That is quite the offer. Are they to go to Am'shere? There's a lot of jungle there, a lot of room to have a little society in."

Simony grins brightly. "But I'm guessing you had an unorthodox suggestion. Small demiplane somewhere?"

Telamon chuckles. "Of course, teleportation. I'm not -walking all that way. But to address the more pertinent question, Alexandros wants to keep an eye on them. Remember, there are two -thousand- of them... minus the casualties suffered when we dealt with Marsward, but still. In fact, Hark told me the council wanted them broken up into small groups and spread out -- but I didn't think that was a good idea, and neither did Hark."

"We decided to 'buy out' one of the villages that had been decimated so badly by the wight invasion, and let the werewolves have that to build a new home." Tel's eyes glint with starlight. "I funded that with the stake I'd bought in White Shield ale and the earnings from it after we'd denounced the Blue Moon Ale scheme Zalgiman and Marsward had been running."

Simony laughs, holding her stomach. "Of course you're not going to walk!" Giggling lightly, she nods. "Well, it's a trade off. Breaking them into small groups makes them easier to deal with if one group goes rogue. Two thousand all at once would be ... difficult, would it not?"

Her eyebrows raise up then, and she blinks. "I would have offered up some coin towards that, had I known. But I am glad you're able to absorb the cost. So they have their own village, then? Nearby, so Alexandria can keep an eye on them? Which village is it? I'd be willing to check in on them, offer healing, perhaps send them some supplies, like we did for the Egalrin."

Her expression falls, a look of weariness overtaking her momentarily. "That was very hard. How are you feeling, then, after the teleportation spells you cast to move people and things around?"

Telamon smiles at Simony's laughter, leaning back in the chair. "True. But... and I didn't want to bring this up in front of them, because it's... not the kindest way to think of it. But you're familiar with Hannazin's syndrome? Leopracy? Some communities will establish isolated settlements for those suffering from it. This... is a similar issue." He lets out a breath. "But I suspect they'll find their feet soon enough. What they do then, well... that's up to them."

He looks sympathetically at Simony. "I know. I 'm going to try and visit the Aerie in a day or two, if I can. Check in, see if there's any arcane assistance I can offer. I don't mind handing out food, but I suspect I might be more useful with other tasks. At any rate... expending that much energy does leave me fatigued, and it's hard to gather my focus after expending so much mana."

The Goblin's expression grows sober quickly at the mention of leprosy. She nods gently. "It spreads easily, does it? No known cure either, from what I have read. Perhaps that can be changed in time." Her pause is brief, just an inhale and exhale. "I wish them well. If they are willing to take this olive branch, then there is hope for them then, indeed for all of us."

She lets out another, heavier breath. "There were no deaths, not while I was present at least... but there are some serious injuries... some that will have to be reinjured in order to set them properly. Broken wings, broken arms, and broken legs. So young, too. Not looking forward to that. But... I think Slixvah is going to do well, now. People are starting to trust her... they were calling her bad luck charm, Telamon. People can be so mean, sometimes."

His expression is kindly. "It's a truth that sometimes a wound has to be cleaned, a bone has to be set, to heal properly." Telamon gets up from where he's sitting, and reaches up to take Simony's hand in a firm clasp. "I know it'll be hard. But I also know you've the hands -- and heart -- of a healer. Between you and Slixvah, they couldn't ask for better care. And if you need help, well..." His eyes twinkle encouragingly. "You know where to find me."

He nods slowly at the mention of Slixvah's unfortunate reputation. "As I said, this isn't something you can just punch or hit. It's not fair and yes, it's mean." His lips curl down in a frown. "And all we can do is be the friends she needs to lean on."

Simony's eyes light up, and she puts her other hand atop his. "What makes you so personable, aside from those eyes, is that you seem to always know the right thing to say, and when. And I know that I can ask for help. You're right, Slixvah and I have it in hand."

Her grin is toothy and mischievous. "Oh, I have a feeling I could have changed some minds by punching and hitting, but that would definitely ruffle not a few feathers. I was really happy to see that it was not her family that was causing her sadness, they all love and adore her, it was really sweet to watch her mother crack Slix's back while hugging the life out of her." The Gobbo giggles brightly, a hand reaching up to scratch at an inkline on her shoulder. "Her healing methods are interesting, but work very well."

"It's good that she's reunited with her family. Those are the hardest weights to bear." Telamon grins up at Simony. "But I think she's up to the challenge. Especially with your assistance."

His eyebrows rise. "Healing is... well, no, that was me about to say something stupid. I guess it makes sense, not every form of healing is the same. I should know that by now."

A pale form drops down from the scaffold, the Goblin rolling and coming up on her feet. A few steps has her attempting to wiggle in beside Telamon on the dropcloth-covered chair. "It is one time I wish I were taller, just to be a better friend to lean on, you know?" Simony ends up leaning against Telamon's leg.

"Say it anyways, Tel. There may still be wisdom in it, even if it is perhaps a silly thing to say. I am curious."

Telamon pats Simony's shoulder. "You're tall enough, Simony," he says with a grin. "Sometimes it's not about how tall you stand. It's how strong you are to help your friends through the rough times in their lives."

He chuckles. "Well, I was about to say 'healing is healing, isn't it?'. But that's not precisely true. Auranar can heal, by way of the light she manipulates. You heal through the beneficience of the Historian. Even I can heal, by way of... well, cheating a bit." He holds up one hand, the ring on it glimmering dimly. "A captured spell I can use. Not a supremely powerful one, but it'll pull someone out of danger. But all three are different."

"Pfff, I'm strong enough to stand with my friends, but if someone tries to lean on me, we're both going to look silly falling over." Simony giggles and sighs. "Though I do have some tricks up my sleeve for those times when strength is absolutely needed."

Her expression becomes quizzical as she ponders what Telamon says. "In the strictest sense, you are correct, healing is healing. If you goal is to prevent serious injury or death, it matters not where the power comes from, only that it be strong enough to do the job."

Telamon's ring is eyed carefully. "How powerful a spell can it hold? Could I perhaps attempt to cast an improved healing spell upon it? Give you just a bit more capability? Though, I suppose one could get a wand or use healing potions."

Another cheerful laugh. "Strength is more than just physical, Simony. Sometimes it's up here," he taps his head, "and here," and he taps over his heart. "And you are very strong in those places."

Telamon hmms, mulling over her comment. "True, I suppose. And it's a truism that magic always works a little differently for everyone. Even for priests, let alone wizards or sorcerers. I guess the same principle applies: as long as it works, who cares?"

"As to the ring? It only holds arcane spells -- it won't take a divine spell. Makes sense, since I have to fuel it with my own mana." Telamon's lips quirk in a quizzical smile. "But bards and witches draw on arcane mana, and they can cast healing spells. That's where this one comes from -- in fact, it was Slixvah's spell I duplicated."

"Well, you must be seeing things I can't.", she says with a flash of a grin. "But you are right, strength is found in many places, and if you are not strong one way, often you are strong elsewhere."

Simony pouts lightly, "A shame, I would love to bolster your capabilities with a nice, strong healing spell. Another things to spur my interest in arcane spells. Though... do such rings exist for divine spells? I know it would be fantastic to have an extra bless or two, or some extra healing."

"I am glad that Slix is able to do that, though, for you. I am curious, outside a wand or healing potion, what other options do you have for healing?"

Telamon smiles, and props his chin on his hand. "Well, sometimes your friends do see the things about you that you might not see yourself."

"But to continue the discussion... it's the nature of mana. It takes certain devotions to draw on divine magic for spells, and I simply don't have that. Oh, I'm dedicated to Ni'essa Sky-Singer, but I'd make a terrible priest. Still, I think she's happy enough with me as a starborn sorcerer."

At the mention of other items, Telamon frowns. "Well... I think priests can draw upon pearls of power, those allow you to regain a spell expended. Usually wizards wield them, but there's naught that says they only work for wizards. Should work for priests as well. When it comes to healing... well, I do have one other trick."

Tel's eyes twinkle. "I found that if I'm injured, if I stand outdoors under the night sky, I begin to heal rapidly. I haven't tested its limits, and I don't really -want- to, but if I get banged up, I can just park myself out in the garden at sunset and probably be all mended by the time the stars come out."

"Sometimes we are willfully blind, though.", she says with a wink and a smile. "I am totally guilty of that, though." The Goblin nods slowly. "I am sure you could make an excellent priest, Telamon. It might take you a bit of time, but I am sure you'd take to it readily enough. I mean, while the priesthood isn't exactly a race for power, there is still some decent power in divine magics, which might interest you as you started to learn them. Don't count yourself out so quickly, though, I suppose we'll never know, giving your choice of path through life."

Simony smiles ruefully. "I have to consign myself to the fact that there aren't many, if any, shortcuts on the path of divine magics." Her eyebrows raise at Tel's mention of natural healing. "That's pretty amazing, though. As long as you make it out of a dangerous situation alive, even by the merest thread, we know you'll make it. That'd make triage very easy where you are concerned."

Telamon shakes his head. "There are no shortcuts. And honestly, mastery of yourself is -far- more important than mastery of magic. As I've commented before, any idiot can learn to throw a fireball. The trick is learning when you -shouldn't- throw a fireball."

"I've occasionally pondered roads not taken, but honestly? I'm happy where I am. Happily married, friends and family, mysteries to solve, wrongs to right, foes to vanquish. It's been hard, but it's been rewarding." Tel grins. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"That was my thought. As long as I'm not actually, you know, getting my papers checked in the Halls, I should be able to recover. The stars clearly are not interested in letting me go that easily, and to be honest I'm happy to agree with them. There's still so much to see and do."

"Perhaps shortcut is the wrong word. Though I suppose I've kind of answered my own question now. I could pen scrolls of different spells I need, and save them for a rainy day. But a ring like yours would be extremely useful, especially if I could save up a few utility spells in it."

She nods in agreement. "It was scary at first, but I have been feeling better about guild missions. Mysteries to ponder, wrongs to right, things to scream at and run from.." Simony prods him in the knee, "THe most rewarding thing is the friends I've made along the way. I appreciate all the things you've done to help me, and again I credit you for preventing me from running off into the sewers and some icky doom that would have found me. It's been fun watching you.. I am hoping some day you'll be the best lord Alexandria has, and that she'll feel fortunate for having you."

Telamon grins. "See, now you're thinking ahead. If you know how to scribe magical scrolls, pen a few and carry them along. There's some cost associated with it, as I understand it -- but then again, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything."

The unseen servant approaches to refill their tankards, as Tel continues, "I don't know where I'll go from here -- I mean in a 'I don't know the future' sense, as opposed to feeling aimless or lost. I'm still not sure I want to be a lord, but... there comes a time when a mantle is thrust upon you, and it might be better to take it up rather than set it aside." His lips quirk up in a smile. "Do you call yourself a lord if someone names a town after you? I'll have to check."

"There is a cost, yes. But worth it, I believe." The Gobbo rubs at her chin. "Healing potions might work better. I think that whatever I have, it should be usable by anyone. So if something happens to me, they can get me back up, and I can use my spells to help the others. And you can drink potions or simply pour them over the wound, so they've got a bit of utility there. The scrolls seem limited, when you think about it."

Simony grins as her tea is refilled, and she takes a lengthy sip. "I hope I get to witness whatever your future steps are, some of them anyways." She blinks, and then sticks her nose up, "Hmmmnnyeessss, I do believe you automatically become a lord once they start naming towns after you.", she says in a faux posh accent.

"I've studied some aspects of potion making, but honestly, it's so limiting I'd rather learn to scribe a scroll. You can only cram so much magical power into a bottle, and it seems somewhat expensive for the things I'd like to do with it." Telamon makes an annoyed face. "Ah well... still, if you're looking for emergency 'oh shit' items, potions work well in a pinch."

He laughs softly. "Well, so far, the only time I've actually -used- the title of 'lord' was when I grabbed a rather unruly fellow and slammed him into the ceiling with telekinesis. In my defense, he'd just slapped a good friend of mine and it was that or let my friend's husband cut his head off."

"Yes, it is limiting, but it does work well for that oh sh... poop moment." She rubs at the back of her head, and then scratches at her shoulder. "Well uhm... I would hope you would do good things as a lord, remember, be the lord you wish the nobility would be. But if you kept your friend from cutting the person's head off, well, that works out rather well. Seems rather rude to slap a person's wife, er, anyone really. Why did they do that?"

Telamon hmphs. "Well... it was family related. We managed to beat some sense into him, in the end -- well, Dolan did. It was kind of messy, and I'm pretty sure we've all been banned from that tavern -- but considering it was a hole in the wall kind of place anyways, I'm not in a hurry to go back."

He tilts his head at Simony scratching her shoulder. "Simony, did you get burned again? I've got a jar of something if you need it -- just use the water closet if you need privacy."

"Oh.. a family matter. Well, hah, cutting a head off might have made for erm tense family relations. A good fistfight, on the other hand..."

She snorts and sighs. "Of course it'd be in a tavern. Well, there are plenty of those in the city, some good, some bad. The trick is to get banned from the bad ones first, you know?"

Simony pauses, her hand half way to scratch at her shoulder once more. The hand trembles and then moves the strap of her dress. Revealing a simple, five-sided star tattoo. "It's a tattoo. The skin is a little sensitive there, so it's a little irritated. I was practicing on myself."

Telamon snorts. "It's funny. I think that was one of the places Aryia told me -not- to go when I led my donkey into Alexandria, as naive as a kitten. And how times change that I get thrown out of it -- well, figuratively speaking. I don't think anyone wanted to play after Dolan showed off a bit."

At the star tattoo, though, Tel's eyebrow almost climbs into his hairline. "...Do I want to know why you have a five-pointed star tattoo? I presume it's not a summoning focus..."

"Wait... were you in the Ox-Strength or something? How... it's... you got tossed out of just about the worst place. Though, the curry is good."

The tattoo is quickly hidden on Telamon's reaction. "No, it's not a summoning focus, it'd be useless here in the city. I uhm heard it was popular so I was offering them. Something from a book."

Telamon actually grins. "No, it wasn't the Ox-Strength. I've actually been there -- once. This was..." He pauses. "Damn it, what the hells was the name? The Amorous Ankheg? It was something really stupid. And it was a dive. The Drunken Armadillo may not be high class but at least it's -interesting-." He rubs the back of his neck, and smirks. "In any case, I like the Fernwood and the TarRaCe better."

He tilts his head, giving Simony that look that makes her feel like he's staring right into her brain. But after a moment he lets it drop delicately. "Well, don't scratch at it, you don't want to damage it or hurt yourself. Any takers, incidentially?"

"It is a tattoo mention in a.." She swallows noisily, and then finishes off her chilled tea. "A crimson pen novel. There were quite a few ladies who wanted it done. On their ankles, usually. It's uhm meant to represent the protagonist, Melaton."

She blinks, and mouths the words Amorous Ankheg. "Uh, the pubs all have such interesting names."

"Of -course- a Crimson Pen novel." Telamon just rolls his eyes. "I swear, what Grandfather saw in those copper dreadfuls I will -never- understand..." Then the rest of Simony's explanation catches up, and he kind of grinds to a halt. "...Wait, -Melaton-?" He opens his mouth, then shuts it. Finally, he says wearily, "...Oh, Daeus's teeth and toenails."

"Why do I suddenly feel the urge for something stronger than tea?" Tel says almost beseechingly.

"You have a fanclub.", she say softly. "Also, ick... teeth and toenails? Ewh, again you have the strangest sayings, Telamon." Simony rubs at her face. "I uh suggest vodka? It seems to work pretty well, considering what I've seen of others drinking it. But uhm..." She casts her eyes downwards. "If you're mad at anyone, it should be me."

Telamon sighs. "I'm not -mad-, Simony. I know about the fanclub. I'd have to be blind and stupid -not- to know about them. The girls are kind of obvious." He chuckles ruefully. "I just didn't expect them to be adding... well, tattoos. And if it wasn't you it'd be someone else." He runs his hands through his hair. "Alright... I'm not going to worry about this right now. I'm going to go deliver this paperwork. You're going to get back to work on the fresco. As problems go, a fanclub going around with star tattoos barely makes a ripple, compared to fiends, werewolves, and helping my friends restore their reputations."

The Goblin, somewhat mollified, leans forward to hug at Telamon. "I get to say I'm your number two fan, being the first one with this tattoo, as far as I know. Obviously I can't claim number one fan. That's reserved."

With a few steps and a hop, she's quickly ascending the scaffold. "Two figures left. Then it's done!"