|
|
Post by danny on Jan 17, 2021 1:25:02 GMT
Rook's alarm at 5:30am woke her, as usual, to pitch black night. She'd always been a morning person, but having to drag herself out of bed at what felt like the middle of the night each day had required an adjustment period. She slapped at the lamp on her bed-side table until it turned on, and then sat up and stared at it for a minute. But she was on the clock at 6am, so after a ritual sigh, she got up and got ready for work.
Her first task in opening the lodge's main hall was supposed to be arranging the chairs and tables from where they'd been pushed to the side for cleaning during the night, but as usual she took a detour to the kitchen to put on the giant coffee machine and then went to open all the windows. The tiny bit of dawn that was visible by then helped her remind her body that it was, in fact, morning time. But today, she pulled open the window shades to fine only absolute darkness.
Rook frowned and peered closer. The windows were covered with snow. If there had been winds during the night, sometimes this happened. The weather app on her phone had also predicted a foot or two of new snow overnight, so she decided to poke her head out the door and see what the damage was. She already had the keys on her to unlock the lodge's side door, so she did so and with a heave, pulled it open.
Snow. To the top of the door frame.
Uncomprehendingly, Rook pushed her hand against it, expect perhaps a thin layer deposited by the winds to crumble under her touch. Instead, her hand sunk into it until the snow behind it was too compressed for her to easily push. She pulled her hand out, and stared at the six inch indent she'd made, and then she did it again to the same effect.
Perhaps it had been more than a foot or two of new snow. She shut the door and went to get herself a cup of coffee.
|
|
|
|
Post by mania on Jan 17, 2021 17:47:29 GMT
The lodge's side door opened once more as a woman in a sweeping black gown stepped through the threshold. There was bright light behind her, rendering her a darkly obscured silhouette. The door swung shut with a click on its own behind her, and the light disappeared.
Diadora took in the new world around her, hoping it wasn't too hostile. Although, the little prince would probably be fine so long as the danger was only monsters and not unbreathable air or something. Or maybe his powers from the king's damn prophecy rendered him immune to even a lack of oxygen.
Regardless or her spite towards the family and his powers that had the masses heralding him as a hero, she didn't wish him dead. She wasn't that much the villain everyone made her out to be. She just needed him out of her way and not trying to constantly kill her, so she just...'pushed' him through a door here. And now she was being a good person and checking up on him after her powers recovered enough to let her open another doorway across dimensions- and get some more work done without bother. She hoped time worked the same between her home and here, she'd hate to arrive a week later only to find a shriveled up wrinkly prince.
The large kitchen was both foreign and familiar to her, its function clear but its materials and utility designs were different from what she knew. For serving feasts to a lord of this world? A lord that the prince has brought to his allegiance against me as well? Or one that I may sway myself? She scattered her thoughts away and set herself back to her main objective, finding the prince and assuring his well being. She noticed a woman standing near a small brewing pot containing some dark liquid that smelled rich and wonderful. Perhaps she could help her find the prince, if he was staying with the lord of this manor.
|
|
|
|
Post by danny on Jan 17, 2021 18:00:32 GMT
Rook was on her phone, trying to figure out what management number she should call to find someone who could tell her what the hell she should be doing right now and then there was a light and noise like a door opening, and suddenly someone else in the kitchen with her. She'd only been on her phone for one second and already a guest had found her??
Rook shoved her phone in her pocket as quickly as she could and said in her best customer service voice, "Good morning, ma'am." Then she paused because she had just processed the impressive and oddly-dressed woman standing across the room from her. She looked like she'd stepped out of some sort of ren fair, but like a really expensive ren fair, black gown, hair style, and all. It took Rook a moment to shake herself. She shouldn't judge. Maybe this was what this lady liked to wear to bed, and it wasn't like she didn't look good in it. It probably wasn't the weirdest thing she'd see today. She continued on with her spiel. "I'm afraid the kitchen isn't open for breakfast yet, but I'll have tea and coffee ready in just a moment."
|
|
|
|
Post by mania on Jan 17, 2021 18:30:49 GMT
Even across dimensions, the 'customer service' voice existed, so Diadora took the young woman before her to be a servant of sorts for this place after she heard her speak. "Good morning," she greeted in return, speaking in an unplaceable accent. "I apologize for interrupting your work. I just arrived here and am hoping to find a young man by the name of Taverin Esperien. Do you know if he is staying here, or who I might better ask of his whereabouts?"
She was prepared to use her magic to help keep herself from seeming too suspicious or out of place, but she could sense that she didn't need to yet. She hoped to keep her magic to a minimum to avoid too much scrutiny until she knew more of this place. If she had to wait a while for any information on the prince she was going to take up the offer for tea, or possibly this 'coffee' she mentioned. She had refined her energy expenditure for the portal this time, but it still was tiring work. She was also curious about the food and drink here. Not every day you get to sample cuisine and beverages from another dimension. She was a woman of taste, and as such she of course enjoyed literally tasting many things. Life's simple pleasures.
|
|
star
Member
Posts: 8 
|
Post by star on Jan 17, 2021 19:14:01 GMT
Aura has watched the first of the snow fall as she'd hiked up, and back down the mountain nearest the lodge. It was still a starting point, but she'd thought perhaps she could try taking skii's out the next day and covering more territory to the East. That was where she thought the trail would lead, if she was right about it. But she knew before she even got back to the lodge that the snow was going to force her to put her plans on hold.
That was fine. Things happened as they happened. If anything this was what would lead her there eventually. If she was meant to help at the lodge, or meet someone who would also journey to the East, or just to be patient and wait, then that's what she'd do.
Aura had woken to windows covered with snow, hiding any daylight that might have filtered in letting her know what time it was. Waking only by electric light had felt sterile especially since she knew she was far from a hub of civilization.
She'd gathered her books; some for research, some for passing the time, and headed down to the main room, settling herself at one end of a large couch in front of the fireplace.
|
|
|
|
Post by danny on Jan 17, 2021 19:28:37 GMT
"Uhhh," was Rook's eloquent response to the woman's question as she realized that it was in fact a good question, she probably should know how many guests were currently in the lodge and their names and ages, and she also realized she had no idea how to get that information because her job was 90% skiing, so her training on how to use the computer system had involved an email telling her her employee username and password, and her manager pointing to where the computers were that the lodge employees used.
Eventually her brain finished buffering, and she said, "I can try to find that information if you'll give me just a minute. Would you like to wait in the common room? Through here." The coffee machine was nearly done brewing its first batch, so she lugged it over to the serving window, and shoved the metal covering out of the way, so she could see the common room, and guests could reach the coffee and tea without coming into the kitchen.
She then stepped over to the door next to the window, and opened it. Predictably, there was already another guest in the common room that she hadn't noticed come down, so she said, "Good morning, there's coffee and tea at the counter," before glancing back towards the woman in the kitchen and motioning slightly to the common room, since she had said 'through here' and then not shown her where to go through to get out of the kitchen.
|
|
|
|
Post by mania on Jan 17, 2021 22:39:56 GMT
Diadora waited for the woman to finish processing things and direct her. She answered, "yes, thank you," before heading through the door to the..."common room." She wasn't sure if this was some designated space for "commoner" guests, and if so, how it was that she thought it fit for Diadora to wait there instead of some other class based room. Perhaps social status and presentations were very different here, and her fine dress and jewels designated her as someone not wealthy? Or maybe it had nothing to do with appearances and it was merely the waiting room for unannounced or unknown guests at this lord's manor- or perhaps a high lady, if she was so lucky. It would be nice to have entered a world and time less patriarchal than her home.
While pondering these things she made her way to the stacks of mugs and served herself the fresh brew of "coffee." She found herself a seat at one of the unoccupied couches near the fireplace and set her mug on a small side table beside her to let it cool a little. She reached a hand into a fold of her dress where a hidden "pocket" had been sewn in with magic and pulled out her leather-bound journal and a pencil. She had notes to make now that she had entered this new world herself.
|
|
|
|
Post by danny on Jan 18, 2021 0:40:56 GMT
Cool, okay. Coffee was taken care of, neither guest in the common room seemed to imminently need her, and she couldn't see anyone else on the staircase from the second floor, where all the rooms were. Rook had a moment of calm, and she needed to take advantage of it. "I'll be back in a couple minutes, if you need anything," she announced to the common room as a whole, and then dashed for the manager's office around the corner to call her boss and figure out how to log into the computer systems.
--------------
Rook had only been out of the room for about a minute and half when a teenage boy wearing a mismatched combination of modern clothes and armor sprinted down the stairs, ran across the common room, and flung open the main door. Whether this door had been locked a minute ago was something he neither seemed to know or to care. He stared at the wall of snow before him with abject glee. The capitol of the storm phoenix empire was situated in a temperate climate and nestled next to the ocean. Snow was something he'd heard about but rarely seen in his life, and now he was faced with more of it than he knew could exist in a place.
He drew his sword from his sheath on his belt and stabbed it horizontally into the snow. A grin spread across his face and he laughed to himself a little bit as it sunk all the way in to its hilt. With both hands, he pulled his sword through the snow, make a dark gash until the snow face started to lose its cohesion and a couple globs of slush fell to the floor near his feet. He withdrew his sword and poked at the snow on the ground with the toe of his boot.
|
|
|
|
Post by mania on Jan 18, 2021 1:41:20 GMT
The witch sensed the prince cross the threshold before she looked up and saw him run and fling open front door...and stab a wall of snow. Of course he would stab it with his sword. While the king gave him the heavy burden of the prophecy and its power he still was just a child at heart, or hopefully at least in ways that would keep him from becoming like his grandfather. She didn't know the building was surrounded by such high snow until now since she didn't see any of it on her way inside, but it wasn't as foreign to her. Unlike the sheltered prince, her abilities--and having to frequently travel to avoid the king's authorities who sought to seize or kill her--allowed her to experience many different climates throughout her life. The amount of snow here now though was a surprise.
She took in the prince's appearance while he hadn't yet noticed her. He didn't look like a shriveled old prune, or frankly any older than when she last saw him--not that she would have shoved him through an interdimensional door if she wasn't almost completely certain that he would be fine. She was good with her magic, but not so cocky as to put the possibility of accidentally leaving him to rot in another world completely out of her mind. Her pride could rest easy now though, knowing it turned out as she hoped, and all was well.
She called out to him, "I see you are enjoying your snowy vacation I sent you on, prince." She slipped her journal and pencil back into her "pocket" and the air around her seemed to pop a little as the spatial magic took the items back inside. She raised the slightly cooled coffee to her lips and tasted it. It reminded her of a bitter elixir, though certainly not the worst thing she'd had. The second sip proved better. Not as good as the smell, but still an interesting beverage that warmed her.
|
|
star
Member
Posts: 8
|
Post by star on Jan 18, 2021 1:55:23 GMT
Aura had just decided on the novel she'd bring instead of the history when the kitchen door opened, admitting Rook, who she recognized, and another woman who she didn't. But there was something familiar about her. Aura was sure she'd never seen her before, but she'd seen people like her. People from far away, people gifted powers, or from a wold where it was common. Adventurers, heroes of their own story.
And while she was still studying the witch, a second one appeared, apparently completely unbothered enough with the reality of earth to take out a sword as casually as you please.
She wasn't listening to be a snoop, but the obvious relation between the two people was interesting enough to make her put her book down. If anyone was a hero who's journey might help guide her, it'd be one of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by danny on Jan 18, 2021 1:59:22 GMT
Tavin turned away from the door when he heard someone begin speaking, but it was at the word 'prince' that the recognition hit. First there was confusion. Its really her? How did she get here? Then understanding. The same way she sent me here. Then there was a sharp spike of panic. She is here, but he is not. And then there was only rage.
"Where is Jhas?" Crown Prince Taverin snarled. He swung his sword up and pointed it at her, an accusation. A promise, a threat. A judgement. And he was moving forward, but he barely felt his steps as the magic sparked awake in his veins, pain and power in the same stroke.
His grandfather had sent him after the witch Diadora Lakatos under charges of heresy, treachery, sedition, murder; any number of other words that sounded good ringing through the marble court of the storm phoenix empire but lost their meaning when you said them to a woman kneeling in the grass, teaching a young girl what herbs could be used to make tea and which were poison. Tavin had forgotten all of those words. Whether they were true or not, he cared about one thing and one thing only.
"Where is my bodyguard? What have you done to him?"
|
|
|
|
Post by mania on Jan 18, 2021 2:59:28 GMT
Diadora couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Oh what a monster I am to you all." Oh how many times she wanted to give in and become the part. To be the scourge the empire believed her to be. To bring an end to those that have persecuted her and countless others for so long. To have their blood on her hands and feel it was justice. Be the villain so that those after her could have a better chance at life and brining meaningful change. But how far would she go with exerting her will onto the empire? She wanted change, but she didn't want to be a new tyrant. She wanted a revolution, a new system, justice and people who would uphold it, for power to be shared and not horded. She had to be patient, calculating, and persistent. But most importantly, not loose her kindness. It was all of these things that brought her here now. She took a steady breath and resumed her composure. "Your guard is unharmed. Furious, but fine. Now if you could put that sword away and swear that you will not kill me, then I will reunite you two."
She could already feel that he had grown stronger in the little time they were away. She wasn't afraid of power, at least not yet while it was still awakening and he just a reckless young man. He was enough to be a real nuisance, but not yet a threat. A real thorn in her side that she didn't want to grow to cleave her in two. One that must have been lonely and scared though, separated suddenly from what was apparently his closest friend. She was loath to admit she envied their companionship.
|
|
|
|
Post by danny on Jan 18, 2021 3:37:45 GMT
Tavin stilled, though he didn't lower his weapon. Did he think of her as a monster? Even if he didn't, evil was a word that was hard to banish from his mind at the sight of her, after all the times his grandfather had whispered it in his ear, after the sleepless nights wondering if Jhas was still alive or if he'd ever see him again. Was Jhas truly unharmed or was this just a trick?
The tip of his sword dropped a few inches. What kind of trick could it possibly be? She wanted a promise of peace from him. If there was even a chance that she might reunite him with Jhas, he already knew in the back of his mind that he had to take it. Trust would be hard to come by, but if she wasn't lying... The tip of his sword dropped a few more inches, and the finally he lowered it all the way to his side. "If you reunite me Jhas, and so long as you do not attempt to harm anyone, I will not try to kill you."
|
|
|
|
Post by mania on Jan 18, 2021 4:25:50 GMT
"So be it," Diadora promised. She believed him to be a man of his word. She willed the door behind the prince to shut. She reached into her pocket once more and removed a small silver key. It was for the spell restraining Jhas from using weapons or crossing the boundary she had made to keep him trying to kill her while she recharged, finished some important work, and improved the next door to this world. A shock collar of sorts, but with more freedom than traditional chains. And she was sure the bodyguard was crafty enough to get out of a good pair if they weren't spellbound. She was growing stir crazy herself, stuck with his company in her small stone safehouse without any windows. "He must do the same if he wants to lose his restraints. I did so for my own safety, not so much out of shear spite." And after being stuck there with her, she was sure he may harbor ill intent even after reuniting him with his prince.
She set down her coffee and took in and released a deep breath as she concentrated on the door. With much less effort than when she shoved the prince here, but still more energy than she liked to expend, the door slowly opened once more, but to where Jhas was.
|
|
star
Member
Posts: 8
|
Post by star on Jan 18, 2021 4:51:49 GMT
Jhas blinked for a moment at the sudden picture into a different reality, until he saw Tavin. He jumped forward, almost tripping out into the main room the lodge. He didn't bother with more than a cursory glance around. What mattered was that the prince was right there, and so was Diadora. He put himself between them, even though Tavin was the one with the blade and demanded,
"What do you want?"
She'd already exiled Tavin, and locked Jhas away from him. And now she'd followed him to the other world and released Jhas to him? why? What was her plan.
|
|
