Magical Adventures in the Duchies (Vivien, Emmeryn, Geoffry)

[Deleted]

Vivien walked down the street, noticing a nearby field off in the distance, a little out of normal people's eyes. It seemed quite out of view, so she suspected not many people knew about it. She had no idea what exactly drew her to the field, but living in a world such as the one she did right now, it really didn't matter to her. Instead of worrying her, she decided to walk towards it, keeping an eye out for someone in case they didn't like the idea of her going near. As she thought this she muttered:

"An odd place... I'm not the biggest fan I must say..."

As she reached the field she found a slightly damaged fence which she proceeded to step over carefully, and then took a little look about. Not much about but there were a few bright green trees some a little taller than others. Also the grass was kind of... Brown in comparison, which was a little bit odd. The huge comparison, the juxtaposition, it was just... Horrid. She really did dislike it. With that she stepped on one of the only flowers in the whole field and kept on walking, towards the centre of the field.

[Deleted]

Geoffry Wilson was wandering through the fields of his mind to find a monstrous monster. He was petrified by the beast and he began to run away from it. As he ran he could see the beast more clearly, it was around 3 or 4 times taller than him and 5 time wider. His face was wrinkled and greenish with sharp red eyes. A thick ear was erect and covered most of his face with a lot of earwax coming out of it. As he ran he began to look at his surroundings. Geoffry was running across a rainbow and was getting convinced that he was floating in mid-air. Around him he saw flying ponies that were giving him smiles keeping him going. After a while the ponies began turning evil and red. Which frightened the life out of him and the rainbow began to disappear. Geoffry was now falling, forever.

Suddenly he was startled awake by the sound birds chirping outside the window. Now he walked over to the window and stared out of it to see a strange man approach the small field around behind some trees. As this field was a very cut-off and desolate he thought he might ask what he would be doing that strange field. So he began his journey down the stairs, which was quite tough for him as he was 51 years old. As he reached the bottom a woman came and asked if he had a nice sleep. "Of course ma'am" he replied. "Did you". She told him she had had a very nice sleep and thank you for asking. Geoffry began to make his way around the small inn towards the field.

As he approached he thought he didn't want to startle him so he hid in the bush until he thought it was time to reveal himself.

[Deleted]

Emmeryn Gastiwr, energetic 24-year-old amateur mage and idealistic adventure-seeker, was lying on her back in the middle of a large open plain with her coat bundled up behind her head as a pillow. Her eyes were shut and her mind wandered here and there across daydreams of where she might find herself next, and who she would find there. The world was an interesting place. This was one of the few things she openly accepted as indisputable fact. The wind was rustling the grass and she could hear the croaking of grasshoppers in the distance, and beyond that the birds in the trees on the horizon. The world was interesting. That's why even with your eyes shut you can marvel at its uniqueness.

She slowly opened her eyes. The sky was pale blue, with only a few clouds dotted around. A nice day, according to common opinion. She pulled her hands out from under her head and stretched them out, hearing the dull click from her shoulders that this usually resulted in. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled. The air tasted clean, like it usually did in more natural areas. In a motion that to any outside observer would have been abrupt, she leapt to her feet like some kind of deranged ninja. She stretched out again, arms over her head, before bending down to pick up her coat, slipping her arms into it and doing up the clasp.

She threw glances around the field looking for something to do or someone to meet, and sure enough she wasn't disappointed. Pretty much directly to her right was a simply dressed woman walking further into the field. She had a thin but fairly cute face, at least when you looked past the red raw scar arcing across her face. She looked kind of intimidating from this distance, what with the scowl and all, but Emm made it her duty to not judge by appearances and pop in to say 'Hi' in the hope of making friends anyway. Beyond this woman was... quite frankly the strangest looking individual she'd ever seen. He was the oldest looking person she'd encountered, like, seriously, he looked proper ancient. He was a certifiable midget, the top of his head barely making her chest, and he looked like he'd spent his whole life ramming food into his mouth. Fat bulged out from the gaps in his clothing, which looked to be splitting at the seams. His hair was half gone, and his brown eyes were small and beady. He seemed to be attempting to give chase to the woman, but Emm was determined she would befriend her first. She lightly jogged up to her and raised her hand in greeting.

"G'day milady, the name's Emm and it looked like you might need saving from the creepy old fat guy there." She proclaimed in her usual speedy and breathless way, pointing over the woman's shoulder as she did.

[Deleted]

Vivien looked over at the overly happy seeming girl, with quite bright clothing and a never ending smile. It took her only a split second to realise she was going to dislike this girl quite the amount. It took her another moment to realise she disliked everyone anyway so another girl added to the list meant very little. Nevertheless she seemed to have a point, because as she turned around she spotted an overly large old man poking out from a bush. He was quite a bit larger than the small shrub so it wasn't hard to spot him at all.

"Thanks for that... let's ignore him..."

Her voice was gritted and the usual unhappy tone which could probably give the impression she'd have their head without a second thought. Taking another step towards the girl she went to inspect her but quickly heard a weird noise underneath her feet. Lifting her right food quickly she looked at the destroyed flowers which she had caused. It hadn't been intentional but she was sort of happy about it, the kind of thing which made her feel slightly good about herself. Perhaps they were meant to be good things, and destroying them made people sad. People being sad made her happy, although only slightly. She somehow doubted the girl in front of her would be sad though, way too happy annoyingly enough. With a groan she asked:

"So what's your name then? More than a nickname..."

[Deleted]

As he hid behind the shrub, which was way too small for him, he overheard them saying saying stuff about him and that he was fat. He got a little bit angry but sadly he knew this was true and began to walk over to them. He was a bit nervous in talking to them as he hadn't talked to a stranger in a while so he stuttered a bit while he was speaking. "H-Hello People. I-I overheard you talking about m-me. Y-You called me fat but you a-are k-kind of right so I'm not t-that angry at you. I h-hope you don't m-mind me joining you." he began to get more confident when he was talking so he stopped stuttering "My name's Geoffry and I'm a mage with cool spells. Who are you two then?" 

As Geoffry waited for an answer he look around the clearing to see if anyone was about or if he was being watched by a member of the academy or if he could see poster saying if they were wanted or something as he was always on the lookout for things that could get him some good money but as usual he found nothing. He had never seen them around before and he thought they were new in town. That would definitely be his next question.

[Deleted]

Short? Called Geoffry? Annoying as all Hell? Emm may have been reading too much into it, but she was sure that was ironic somehow.

Emm decided to put Geoffry - the 'mage with cool spells' - to one side for a moment and focus on the question of the clearly far more intriguing individual, the woman. She looked even scarier up close and personal, with the narrow eyes and somewhat disinterested glower, but the sheer fact that she'd asked for Emm's full name was a sign that she was probably nicer than she looked. Emm grinned as she blurted out her full name.

"They call me Emmeryn Gastiwr! How about you, Miss, what do they call you?"

She ran the fingers on her right hand through her unruly and somewhat grimy locks, tightening the string holding it up as she often found herself doing. She looked at the woman's face again. She looked a few years older than Emm, though she knew that looks could be misleading when it came to age, and the brown hair that framed her face looked a lot better kept than the glorified jungle on Emm's own head. She found that she couldn't draw her eyes from the scar running across her face. Must've stung like a halberd between the legs when she got it.

"Also, how did you...?" Emm ran her finger from her own eyebrow across her nose to finish her question.

[Deleted]

Vivien gave the newly named Geoffry a pained glance. She doubted she'd remember the name but this guy gave her the impression that she'd remember his name until he died, which depending on if he continued to act the way he was might not be too far into the future. Then again perhaps old age or diabetes would take him first. Nevertheless she knew she'd have to be at least slightly polite to him, if he was telling the truth he might actually try and attack her and age quite often meant wisdom, so this guy must have been quite capable at magic and the such. She replied in an attempt not to hurt his feelings too much:

"I presume you're with the college or whatever, otherwise I do believe we'd be allowed to hand you in. You don't look to be anyone of a higher up status..."

She'd actually managed a subtle pun there which she was sort of proud of, probably because generally speaking she found them annoying and dull. But at the expense of someone else she was happy enough to make an exception. Turning back to the girl, ignoring the interruption for a moment, she took her name into account too. She wasn't sure which of them would get on her nerves more but she had a suspicion she wouldn't be getting rid of them just yet, although if she didn't soon then they'd think she actually wanted to be around them. Also, she dislike nicknames, just too informal, but she was actually considering using Emmeryn's for the simple fact that her name was a little bit of a pain in the backside to say every time. Although she had a better way of referring to her of course:

"If you must know I'm Vivien, don't know why it's so important but I guess introductions are always at least slightly important. And I suggest you mind your own business girl"

Her voice was a little bitter but a lot less than it had been before, she was in her element at the moment, that being having a go at people almost sarcastically. 

[Deleted]

After the response Geoffry looked over at them both, it seemed that Emmeryn didn't like him at all judging by her face and she seemed much more interested in Vivien. Vivien however seemed not too worried about his appearance and how he acted around strangers. She also seemed a bit interested in his magic skills so Geoffry thought he would show her.

He then tries to make a weak fire appear in his hand and then disappear.

---

Geoffry tries to make a flame in his hand to warm and light up a small area around it.

Fire I, Thaumaturgy I,       Threshold:20
0DqYPAv6

---

Failed

---

He tries to conjure this fire but he failed and nothing appears in his hand. "Sorry, this usually works but not always." Geoffry said "Ill try in a minute. What brings you two to this village then."

[Deleted]

Emmeryn fought back a smirk as the old man's attempt at magic crashed and burned. Except there was no fire with which it was to burn. She arched her eyebrows and gave him a bemused look.

"Yes, well, I hear performance issues are common in older people." She couldn't hold it any more. And enormous grin spread across her face as a high pitched whine that was a laugh escaped her lips. She was terrible at being subtle. Internally, though, she was wondering about what Vivien had said. Firstly being called 'Girl' slightly got on her nerves. There couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years between them in age. Secondly, was the college she mentioned. She hadn't really heard about anything like that, but if she was telling the truth then it seemed that magic was illegal without affiliation to this college. Emm would bear it in mind. As her laughter drew to a close, she looked between the two strangers. First Vivien. Then Geoffry. Then back again. Rinse and repeat. Eyes flicking back and forth. She just kind of stood awkwardly, the fingers on her left hand twitching and her right foot tapping up and down on the floor slightly.

[Deleted]

Vivien actually had to admit that the feeling this Emm lady was having was very similar to hers, she found it most entertaining that this old fat guy had interrupted their conversation to show off some "cool magic" and then completely failed, meaning that he now just looked like even more of a dim elderly, deranged person. A slight smirk was on her face, but left after a few moments, leaving the usual scowl which sat upon her face. This man wasn't giving magic a good name, but nevertheless if he could use it she'd have to be wary of him:

"It isn't always very reliable I've heard, hitting someone with a rock or something usually has a higher success rate... But what would I know?"

It was going to be interesting to see if she could hide the fact she could use magic from this guy, but knowing his old age he probably wouldn't even see her use it, even when it hit him in the face like a boulder from a catapult. Vivien did wonder if the old guy thing was an act though, because he looked like he should have been dead by now, long dead. Magic could do that to a person though, and as she was about middle age and looking it, she hoped she could find a way to extend her life as long as possible. Then again she didn't really feel like becoming deranged like that old guy.

"I'm just passing through, thought I'd have a little look around, not that it should matter to you old man"

[Deleted]

Geoffry then replied, "Where are you going then. I might be able to help you get there. I'm going to try that spell again"

---

Geoffry tries to make a flame in his hand to warm and light up a small area around it.



Fire I, Thaumaturgy I, Threshold:20

LK_GrCBd

---

Failed

---

"Sorry girls, but I'm just not the man I used to be." He said after that failed attempt. "Do you have any talents or anything. Like using a sword or something" He looked at them and it appeared that they weren't at all impressed by his failed magic attempts. It didn't seem that they were even interested any more. He looked about the field and then he looked up at his tiny inn window. He was sure he took everything from there as it was the last time he was sleeping there.

[Deleted]

Granddad was just embarrassing himself at this point. On top of flopping to summon... something that remained unknown due to said failure, all while giving expository commentary worthy of a child's game, he outed himself as someone who clearly had thought processes worthy of someone a fifth his age through the use of words like 'cool' and 'spell'. Emm had a particular thing against the latter, mainly as Teach had. Spell made it sound like a narrow opportunity, like blinking - a single action with very little room for variation, where in truth magic was as open to personal interpretation as speech - millions of possible uses based on the user's mindset and personal capabilities, as well as their situation, location and surroundings. Calling magic a 'spell' was like calling a field a plant; an understatement so large it was almost criminal.

Plus, anyone over forty who referred to people in their twenties as 'girls' could die in a pit on fire. And Emm would gladly be the one throwing said fire.

Resisting the urge to hit and run, she instead offered him a lopsided and bemused grin with her head cocked to one side. "Very keen to get into our personal lives, aren't you, old man? Is that all you want to get into, I wonder?"

[Deleted]

Vivien was struggling to listen to some of what Emm was saying, it wasn't all that fun. But then again, she could put up with it because this old man was actually entertaining her a little. He had once again failed to cast a spell which he should have been able to do quite well by now if he was as trained as he said. He even acted as if old age had done it, yet she was pretty sure he was using magic just to be alive, so what was he doing failing his spells? She had half a mind to try and have a go at some magic herself, as if it was a success nothing much would change, but a failure would do nothing. She just wanted to see if she still had it.

"You're doing badly old man... Maybe you should have a sit down and try again? And as for where I'm going... I'm just walking, not that it concerns you much. My skills are observing old men fail at using magic it does seem."

With that she decided she'd try and make the very ends of her hair a very dark blue, it'd be almost impossible to notice without looking for it. However when she tried to do it, she didn't manage it. She was all too aware that magic was difficult, that's why she didn't announce to the world she was using it, she was simply testing herself.

---

Vivien uses Glamours I to change her hair slightly

Glamours I, Threshold 15
jJtDoBFJ

[Deleted]

By the tone of the Vivien's voice, which was soft and calming, she seemed that she wanted to help Geoffry do his spell and that she was very inviting. He almost thought she might have a crush on him for a short second but then faded back into reality. "I'm going to try that again now."

---

Geoffry tries to make a flame in his hand to warm and light up a small area around it.







Fire I, Thaumaturgy I, Threshold:20

C_VYks0b

---

Success

---

A small flame bursts alight in his hand which gives off a warm glow and feels deeply satisfying. "I did it, I actually did it. This was my first time conjuring for a while and it feels great." Geoffry said excitedly. "I hope you liked that little spell."

[Deleted]

As exposition flew once more from the should-be pensioner's mouth, Emm was ready for more reason to laugh when to her utmost surprise sparks flew and a small flame gushed from his fingertips. Emm coloured herself mildly impressed. Even if it took him three attempts, the old man had managed what she'd never been taught. She couldn't have this; she couldn't let the old man be the only one to show off. She might not be able to materialise fire from nothing, but once it was there, she could manipulate it like nobody's business. Exercising caution, she splayed her fingers, keeping her hand close to her side.

Alas, no such luck, as the fire remained in the OAP's hand. Emm closed her fist, slightly annoyed that six years' learning still didn't give her a 100% success rate. She looked to Vivien, who was looking oddly concentrated. A crazy thought crashed through her mind, and she coughed in a hope to get her attention, before nodding at the fire and splaying her hand, trying to say, 'If you can mess with that, do it'.

---

Emm tries to pull the fire from Geoffry's hand to her own.

Channeling I, Fire I, threshold 20
r9vj0O2L

---

FAILURE

---