3 Hours: Magic Duel Practice with Alice if she agrees and uses the same time. Give her my spare pair of leather dueling gauntlets, slotting in a Blood Quartz/Mage Emerald My own gloves will now have a Mage Emerald/War Opal. If she doesn't agree otherwise, use this time to train Contain Magic with Thorton. (magic combat)
2 Hours: Searching the library for good books on the subjects of Contain Magic and Magical Combat. Check them out for a few days, if possible. (reading)
6 hours: Learning Time Broker Stuff with Alan Glover. Maybe how to bead/unbead items? Cause that's important! (
)
1 hour: Buying a plane ticket round trip to Los Angeles, California-or some other magical means much faster would be really helpful. I need to warn Kathryn! (
)
---
Miles looked up from his meal, glad to see Alice was smiling. He smiled too. She was quite fetching in the light, with the snow in her hair.
He patted the wooden box beside him.
"Mademoiselle Baskerville, I am pleased you could make it.
I have a gift for you, Alice."Revealed inside the box were a pair of leather dueling gauntlets. The light of two gleaming magic gems swirled lazily within their wrists.
"...These are merely lesser versions of what I myself use. I had a thought, that if you were willing, you could learn to use these weapons as I do. I know you have the willpower and the training to do so. And I need as much training as you do, in truth. We could learn to fight together.
Later, I can commission a true set. For now, I have done some preliminary needle work and adjusted them to fit a smaller grip, and to be a bit looser in the cuff-your hand movements are more precise than my own."He fell silent for a moment, finishing off a bit of egg. His gaze was momentarily haunted by the uncounted years of horror.
"The last few days have been hard...and we're hurting. I am hardened to loss and pain, yes, but...not as much as I could be. If you will agree, Alice, I will help you use these weapons. I want you to be able to defend yourself. I...don't want you to be hurt. I find myself occupied with thoughts of you...and your safety. I like to see your smile...if I may be so, blatant in my feelings...hmm.
Ahem! Now, there is one thing before we begin...the Ancient Oath of Honorable Combat...one cannot actually use these very well without taking it. It is not an easy process, but for now-if you will agree-all we need to do now is a simple promise to Ranald The God of Competition. The Oath can come later, if you wish it.
It is nothing you would find distasteful-merely an oath of Honesty, to abide by the agreements you make with other duelists. It need go no further than that, naturally..." He falls silent, perhaps wondering if he spoke too much.
Ranald is regarded as a quixotic entity-a powerful deity who has no true followers. In truth, he would not accept them. Ranald has power over the domains of Competition and Fair Play-and, stays neutral in most matters, only rewarding those who have satisfied his ideal of Honor. His rule tends to be strongest among beings of law and order, while he is all but unknown in chaotic lands.
As the God of Honorable combat, a battle oath made under Ranald is a binding one, and it cannot be made under duress or coercion-it gives him a degree of power, as with any prayer, though it is not the same. He oversees all these games of chance in his name, be they the roll of a dice or the blast of a dueling pistol. A dueling gem can power many weapons and items-one placed into the Ace of Spades of a deck of cards, for example, or the hilt of a revolver.
He does not interfere in these games, but those who excel quickly gain his favor-and find themselves fairly rewarded with additional powers and knowledge. Those who violate his edicts will find their gems shattered and their connection severed, perhaps forever. Those who flagrantly violate an Oath made in his name might suffer the ultimate of divine punishments-to be transformed into a harmless Rudis, a small wooden sword. It is thus, that few but the very brave, or the very arrogant dare to make these Oaths.
The ancient art of creating the 'Duel Gem' involves many rites in his name, and it is these holy icons through which he channels his powers and watches from afar. It is widely known that, ultimately, Ranald is looking for the one thing-someone strong enough to take his place, whom he can challenge personally one day. So he watches the games, measuring and betting, rewarding and punishing. Waiting.
He resides in a Grand Coliseum in the Celestial Realms, and is fond of testing the brave in ritual combat upon the bloody sands of his arena, usually with a host of angelic beings lining the crowd. These events are quite popular for the usually dour upper realm dwellers. Indeed, not a few seek him out, hoping to obtain his gifts from victory-though at times he may extend an invitation to a worthy warrior and his allies. Few return from this place alive-those who are slain in his realm often find themselves fashioned into weapons or armor to serve the next set of more worthy candidates.
Author
Topic: @)~~}~ (RPG) Magia Exquisitis: Bloodrush ~{~~(@ (Read 16652 times)