09-24-2019, 06:51 PM
Okay..I have to appologize for the delay on this...as my life has had some serious upheavals since I last posted here. But here is Vassago's Level 5 interlude.
Basic Changes: Hitpoints now 40 Spells now include Fireball and opted to swap Scorcher for Shatter Spell pool now 5
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
The sound of water splashing filled the air as I sat pulling the last bit of sticky webbing off my cloak, muttering in infernal a curse on all Spiders. We had been abushed by 7 of the bloody things, and we all were feeling abit worse for ware.
As the last rays of the setting sun filled the sky with crimson flames, I felt weary, bone weary. It had been a long hard day, culminating with the fight with the spiders, and I felt ready for sleep.
I turned to the approach of someone, only to see the Elf Maid Caelyn coming back with water for the pack horse, that one of our three new companions, the large human named Turicon, had just completed the removal of the pack frame. I paused to ponder about the big man. He was a easy going sort, though he could get down right furious when he called upon the power of his ancestry and culture gave him. He was a welcome addition to the group, since poor Hrafin had been injured so badly.
That thought gave me pause to consider where we stood as a party. With myself, and Caelyn being the only originators of our little band of adventure seekers, we were sort of desperate for others to refill the void left by the Rhyndaris, Hrafin and the Dwarf Cleric Frost.
Frost's departure was hardest felt, as healers were always in demand, but his faith had not allowed him to leave Hrafin to venture home unaided. He mentioned he would try to return once Hrafin had reached his homelands, but I knew that to be a bit of a folly as the odds of finding us would be exceedingly slim.
Another shock was the sudden departure of the Hobbit Bard and her dark friend. They had both left us in the middle of the night without explaination, though we were fortunately not in the wilds and this leaving us devoid of watch for several hours.
We were fortunate to find others who were looking for a group. The Barbarian, was pretty easy to figure out. As for the other two, there is some concern expressed. Both had some oddness about them.
First was the diminutive Vlad. Claiming to be one of the smaller common races, his attempts to hide his scaly skin and draconic features were for naught for one with my eyesight. He was a Kobold, which surprised me. One would expect such a creature to be travelling the daylight world, as Kobolds had considerable trouble with Sunlight, thus his heavy hooded cloak of neutral colour. He was armed with a Drow made hand crossbow, and sported a few knives and what appeared to be leather armor, thus he was one of the more roguish professions. However, the small bird, he called Bela, that stayed with him, as well as my seeing his use of essence made him some sort of spellcaster.
Second, was the Young Woman called Jolandria. Though she seemed to be a human martial warrior types, utilizing their ahand and feet, as well as weapons. She was superior in her speed, even excelling Lady Caelyn, but that was not the most shocking thing about her. He bright eyes had almost a glow about them, and darkness did not appear to have touched her in any way. With our first fight together, my suspicions were confirmed. She was an Angelic! One of the Assemryi, as some call them. A Hybrid like myself, but from the Order side. I wondered just what sort of sad joke was being played on me by pairing me up with an Angelic, but she did not prove to be any sort of a threat. However, I would still have to remain cautious arround her.
Roused from my musings as a bowl of stew was placed in my hands by Caelyn. She smiled, noting she had caught me woolgathering again. I smiled back with a slight shrug of my shoulders to acknowledge the situation. I ate sort of half heartedly. It was good, but since the druidess had made it, I knew it was to be vegetables and spices, but no meat. I rummaged arround in my side pouch and pulled a strip of Jerky I had got from the last town to augment my meal.
As darkness settled in, I opted to take my usual watch, letting my mind relax and, though exhausted, was alert, thanks to a small draft of Anise and Ginger. Even one who is a show alchemist, knows a few good combinations of root and plant extracts.
My shift passed without incident. Rising as Lady caelyn exited her tent, I took the small bundle of webbing I had finally completed removing from my person, along with the trimmed strands from my overflowing mop, and tossed them into the campire, causing a momentary brightness, which drew a stern look from the Elf. I stood and took a bow, which casued her to roll her eyes, making me chuckle a little. I opened the flap of the tent, then paused and strode out of camp a few feet, feigning the call of nature.
As the last of the firelight dwindled to almost nothing, I saw a slight shimmering beneath a large tree. As I studied it, I hear the telltale feminine chuckling in my head. "Yes," the voice said, "it is my doing." The voice paused, "Walk through it."
Hiding a smile, I chimed in. "Why should I do that?" I said with a bit of mock indignation. "Some trollup tells me to walk into some sort of Magic manifestation," I paused for dramitic Effect, "and I am to just to walk through it no questions asked?"
An exagerated sigh came from the voice, "Why are you being so difficult?" There was a slight pause, "A TROLLUP?!! Oh my dear Vassago, you have crossed the line with that one!" I could now see two blue black eyes glaring at me. "I am no Trollup!!
I turned away from the eyes, fighting very hard not to laugh, " Well what would you prefer? Hussy? Wench?... " I paused as I was stiffling a laugh, only to feel a hand on my collar and getting drug backwards through the disturbance and found myself, thrown into a heap, in the middle of an immaculate room lit by gleaming Baelfires.
There standing above me with more bright fires in her eyes, was my Queen. "You Scoundrel! You Miscreant! You Ca.." She stopped as I was now laughing aloud on the floor, having lost all sence of control. Looking down at me, she was perplexed. When her expression changed from outrage to that of admonishment, I knew I was no longer in mortal peril.
"You Fiend!" she chastised me, "You insult me and then laugh?!" She looked on as I fought to regain control, with little avail, "I should make you pay for that."
"But.." I wheezed between laughs, "Whom else would you have to tease you so?" I tried to meet her eyes but the laughter continued unabaited. "I know you...enjoy...it a little." I rolled over onto my stomach to try to regain control of my breathing. I was unsure how this revelation was going to be received, but was committed to the course, and she held my fate in her hands.
After a few moments, when my laughter dwindled off. The silence was almost palpable, then I hear this sort of slight chuckle. I made to turn over to face her again but she jumped onto my back and started swatting my backside.
"You Cad!" she intoned, each word accented by a swat, "You..mean..to..tell..me..you..were..TEASING ME!" The next swat was twice as hard as the last. "Oh you are going to pay, buster! She was now chuckling as she continued, "Calling me a Trollup?!" She paused, "Vassago, you must really enjoy taking risks!" She round off with another swat. Before she could deliver another, I managed to surprise her enough to roll over and grabbing her wrists, I then rolled on top of her.
"I am going to pay?" I continued teasing, "How about you are going to pay for tenderizing my backside?" I held her fast, "When all I was doing was providing you a little change of pace." I looked into her eyes as she mockingly struggled to get free. "Now..let me think...what can i do?"
She looked at me square on, and noting my expression, "Don't you dare!" She threatened. She started to try to free her hands. "I know your mind well enough to know some sort of deviltry will result." she said as she struggled to no avail. "NO!!" she shrieked as I dove in and started tickling her. She squirmed lithely as she renewed her fight for freedom, managing a briefly worded "STOP IT" between her writhing as I persisted. "Noooooo!" she moaned as she squirmed and struggled before I finally let her lose.
Sitting up, I gazed at her as she gasped for breath on the floor. "You..horrible horrible man" she intoned between breaths. "How did you know?" she inquired as she also sat up.
"Purely happenstance" I replied smiling. "I was at a loss..and not wanting to enrage you...thought what other than a simple gesture?" I paused chuckling a moment. "It was a pleasant surprise none the less."
"Surprise?" She looked at me with mock indignation, "You molest a goddess and you say you were surprised?" She got to her feet. "If I were so inclined, I would send you to the Umbral Mines for a decade or two." She paused to look at me sternly. "By rights that would be what you deserve." She shook her head, "But then who would be left to complete the task I set upon you?" She smiled slightly, "And who would make my life that much less stressful?"
I opened my mouth to reply..but her finger to my lips stopped me. "I do not need another joke, my dear Shadow." She looked at my expression, "Hush!" She admonished as I went to persist. "You need to be serious now." She looped her arm in mine. "We have work to do." We walked out on the veranda of the house we were in. A great plain stretched away under a gibous moon. In the distance a waterfall fed a small lakefrom a crag of stones one could just make out in the distance.
"Beautiful." I commented, "Are we at the seat of your dominion?"
"No,' she replied, "It is one of my havens in the Plane of Shadow." She paused, "I have several, but this is the closest to your realm." she smiled slightly...he eyes twinkled in the moonlight, "It has become one of my favorites."
I looked at her face, "Favorites because it is closest to your favorite?" I asked as innocently as I could muster.
She laughed, "Well, now that would be telling, now wouldn't it?" She strode accross to a table and picked up a opalescent stone Sphjere and turned to me holding it upright. "You have progressed far, my Shadow." She paused, "And you have achieved this threshold of power faster than I expected." She released the stone and it hovered freely in the air, it's luminescence lit the immediate area. "It is a testamount as to why you were chosen by me." She smiled broadly, "You do me proud, My Dear Vassago, " she smirked abit, "even if you do cause me consternation from time to time." She smiled again, "But that is your being. Clown..Charletan..Jokester..all are part of you as much as your ability with the power." She again paused, "You are a asset without equal in most regards and I am the better for having you."
I actually started to feel slightly embarrassed at her adulations, as I was nothing more than what she had made me. She set me on the path those many months ago, and I owed her everything with my new existance. "My Queen," I began, "I am what you set me out to be. Everything I am...I owe to your boon." I watched the stone slowly started to occilate up and down before she placed her hand upon it and it stopped, hovering rock steady. s
She had paused as she notice I was gazing at the stone, smiling at my comments. "Good!" she clapped her hands once, "You are both humble and dedicated." She paused with a smile, "Humility. An odd thing from one such as you. I think I have your attention now...at last."
"How could one not be attentive to such a beautious patron?" I smiled.
She chuckled, "And there it goes. Subsummed by that flirtatious Jester I have come to love." She sat in a chair that appeared out of nowhere, "Just as long as we both know...it will be our secret." She smiled. "Now...the new lesson."
Her eyes grew wide and their dark luster was a flame in the darkness. "I have watched your attempts as focusing your fire blast and seeing you have difficulty maIntaining the effect without it overamping and extinguishing itself." She made a gesture and a swirl of darkness formed before becoming like a dark mirrior. And suddenly, there I was, falteringly trying to wrestle the fires of my infernal nature and focusing them into a useful ability. Evidently my Ancestry was competing with my ability, trying to augment the blast beyond the ability I was able to focus. I made several attempts and was able to manifest the blast most of the time, but the sustained flames were writhing with their own energies that made it more chaotic than I intended. Thus, I had not made use of it much.
"I had worried about your self taught abilities not being the best path to let you walk." She paused to sweep the vison away. "I believe it would be better served if I showed you a better way to utilize your gifts." She smiled, "I think you can now handle it." She stood and strode over to me and came arround my right side to be able to guide me. "Instead of trying to contain your fires, I think a better way would be to let them pool up in mass, letting them roil arround in a simpler volume, which will allow you to better focus on their power." She drew her hands up and a ball of black flames appeared between them. I watched as the flames whirled arround and wove back in upon themselves. "It is far easier to manipulate them into a sphere."
Taking my ques from her I started focusing my flames, but instead of confining them into a consise blot, the flared and roiled into a small sphere like hers, though my flames were tinged red due to my infernal nature. As I worked trhe sphere grew more uniform, and I found that it was indeed easier to focus. "Excellent!" she intoned watching my efforts. "See, I was right, it is far easier for you to control, like I said." I smiled in agreement. "Now," she commanded, "Look accross the veranda. See that Tree stump?" I nodded in the afirmative. "Direct the sphere at it now, abruptly, yet holding it contained within your focus." I did as she asked, and the sphere flew accross the lawn and exploded with serious vigor against the stump. My expression was a mixture of wonder, bewilderment and some excitement.
"You did it!" she exhaulted. "You did not even falter, as I worried you might." she beamed, "You are truly amazing at times, my dear Vassago." She looked at the flaming remnants of the stump. "Congradulations! You have just learned how to throw what a Wizard would call a Fireball." She paused, "One of the most destructive manifestations of the power...and you did it without any added effort from me!" She took my hands in hers with a beaming smile. "You have moved into the new level of ability as if you were born to it." She kissed me quickly. "I am so very proud of you!"
Delighted..and a little overwhelmed..I relished that telltale of lava and Ice that her kisses always brought. I once again remember just how lucky I was to have such as her for a Patron..and honestly...someone who made me feel so alive to be with her. I thought back to the night I met her..and my sheer delight finding out just who and what she was...but she had captured my heart before she captured my essence. I had to admit that to myself and it made me ponder just how lucky I was that she seemed to have similar feelings for me...
"What?" She asked, looking at my expression. "Woolgather again?" She teased with a smile. "You chose some of the oddest times to get lost in thought."
I looked at her and smiled, "Well..yes and no." I replied, "I had to just take stock of my lot here." I moved to draw her close. "I figured just how lucky a man I was. To not only have such a stunningly beautiful patron, but to have her seem to feel for me how I felt with her."
He expression darkened a little, "If only were it that simple." She said haltingly, "As the Raven Queen, I have so many responsibilities and duties, that what, if any time for myself is fleeting at best." She paused lowering her eyes, "I knew it was to be when I accepted this mantle...but sometimes I regret doing so." She slowly turned away...seeming to wilt a little. I remained where I was and was silent...letting her take the time she needed. After a few moments, she looked up at me and smiled a little, "But then I would never would have found you...my dear man." She wrapped her arms arround me, "And I would never have the chance to experience your love and your dedication to my cause." She hugged me close, " And what sort of diety am I if I can not make time for my Dearest Shadow, my handsome, funny, yet sometimes frustrating, delight of a man, Vassago?"
I smiled, "I am sure you could think of something, my lady." She looked at my expression and chuckled, "The Clown again, there to disarm the tensions." She paused, "But I mean it, you are that special to me."
"As you are to me, my lady faire." I replied with a flourish, drawing yet another chuckle from her. "I do as my Queen commands me!" I said as I stood at attention.
She looked at me with a perplexing look, the flashed a wicked smile, "Anything I command?" she said coyly. "Anything at all?" She walked back towards me. "Oh my dear Vassago...you are in for it now." Before I could even begin, she jumped at me wrapping her arms about me tightly and spinning me half way arround. "Anything my little heart desires?"
I laughed, "Anything...within reason."
She drew back and looked at me her eyes flashing. "Within reason?" She said mockingly. "I have just the thing...but that will have to wait for a few moments more. One more lesson."
I had almost forgot she brought me here to teach me my new abilities, such was how entoxicating her presence was. "Alright.." I said with a sigh, "What is next?"
"This is just a way to utilize your gift in yet another manner that can prove to be useful." she paused, "Especially if find your way barred to you, or someone is using terrain as a cover." She moved aside a bit then gestured with a flourish and a black mote grew and then raced off to hit the remnant of the stump...blowing it to splinters. "The wizards call this Shatter." she paiused and turned to wards me again, "Good enough as any I suppose, since that is what it does, disrupt the object in question, liuterally shattering it." She repeated the gesture more slow so I could see it clearer, "It will damage anything, including flesh in a pinch." She motiuoned me up and stepped me through the casting of this attack. It came fairly fast to me, despite the distraction of her proximity, and she was pleased I mastered it so fast.
"Excellent my dear Shadow!" she beamed as I completed a third cast of the attack. "You are truly worthy of my patronage." she said with a slight smirk.
"One would only hope." I replied innocently, causing her to chuckle.
After a moment, she walked over to me and took my arm and turned me to accompany her inside the building. "That is all I will teach you, for now." She walked past the main room and on into what could only be a dimly lit sleeping chamber. "Now...let's see what we can do about your pennance." Her smile gleamed in the near darkness. "I am sure I can think of something."
A few hours later I passed back through the portal my queen had created. The memory of the hours shared still alight in my mind. I often had wondered about the Diety and how they were different than the common man. I now knew there was one thing we both shared and that memory would stay with me always.
"Be well my dearest one." her voice followed me through. "And stay safe."
I turned to look at the portal and saw her face within. "I will, my love." I said with all honesty. I saw a slight color come to her cheeks. "I look forward to our next encounter."
"As do I, my Vassago...as do I."
Basic Changes: Hitpoints now 40 Spells now include Fireball and opted to swap Scorcher for Shatter Spell pool now 5
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
The sound of water splashing filled the air as I sat pulling the last bit of sticky webbing off my cloak, muttering in infernal a curse on all Spiders. We had been abushed by 7 of the bloody things, and we all were feeling abit worse for ware.
As the last rays of the setting sun filled the sky with crimson flames, I felt weary, bone weary. It had been a long hard day, culminating with the fight with the spiders, and I felt ready for sleep.
I turned to the approach of someone, only to see the Elf Maid Caelyn coming back with water for the pack horse, that one of our three new companions, the large human named Turicon, had just completed the removal of the pack frame. I paused to ponder about the big man. He was a easy going sort, though he could get down right furious when he called upon the power of his ancestry and culture gave him. He was a welcome addition to the group, since poor Hrafin had been injured so badly.
That thought gave me pause to consider where we stood as a party. With myself, and Caelyn being the only originators of our little band of adventure seekers, we were sort of desperate for others to refill the void left by the Rhyndaris, Hrafin and the Dwarf Cleric Frost.
Frost's departure was hardest felt, as healers were always in demand, but his faith had not allowed him to leave Hrafin to venture home unaided. He mentioned he would try to return once Hrafin had reached his homelands, but I knew that to be a bit of a folly as the odds of finding us would be exceedingly slim.
Another shock was the sudden departure of the Hobbit Bard and her dark friend. They had both left us in the middle of the night without explaination, though we were fortunately not in the wilds and this leaving us devoid of watch for several hours.
We were fortunate to find others who were looking for a group. The Barbarian, was pretty easy to figure out. As for the other two, there is some concern expressed. Both had some oddness about them.
First was the diminutive Vlad. Claiming to be one of the smaller common races, his attempts to hide his scaly skin and draconic features were for naught for one with my eyesight. He was a Kobold, which surprised me. One would expect such a creature to be travelling the daylight world, as Kobolds had considerable trouble with Sunlight, thus his heavy hooded cloak of neutral colour. He was armed with a Drow made hand crossbow, and sported a few knives and what appeared to be leather armor, thus he was one of the more roguish professions. However, the small bird, he called Bela, that stayed with him, as well as my seeing his use of essence made him some sort of spellcaster.
Second, was the Young Woman called Jolandria. Though she seemed to be a human martial warrior types, utilizing their ahand and feet, as well as weapons. She was superior in her speed, even excelling Lady Caelyn, but that was not the most shocking thing about her. He bright eyes had almost a glow about them, and darkness did not appear to have touched her in any way. With our first fight together, my suspicions were confirmed. She was an Angelic! One of the Assemryi, as some call them. A Hybrid like myself, but from the Order side. I wondered just what sort of sad joke was being played on me by pairing me up with an Angelic, but she did not prove to be any sort of a threat. However, I would still have to remain cautious arround her.
Roused from my musings as a bowl of stew was placed in my hands by Caelyn. She smiled, noting she had caught me woolgathering again. I smiled back with a slight shrug of my shoulders to acknowledge the situation. I ate sort of half heartedly. It was good, but since the druidess had made it, I knew it was to be vegetables and spices, but no meat. I rummaged arround in my side pouch and pulled a strip of Jerky I had got from the last town to augment my meal.
As darkness settled in, I opted to take my usual watch, letting my mind relax and, though exhausted, was alert, thanks to a small draft of Anise and Ginger. Even one who is a show alchemist, knows a few good combinations of root and plant extracts.
My shift passed without incident. Rising as Lady caelyn exited her tent, I took the small bundle of webbing I had finally completed removing from my person, along with the trimmed strands from my overflowing mop, and tossed them into the campire, causing a momentary brightness, which drew a stern look from the Elf. I stood and took a bow, which casued her to roll her eyes, making me chuckle a little. I opened the flap of the tent, then paused and strode out of camp a few feet, feigning the call of nature.
As the last of the firelight dwindled to almost nothing, I saw a slight shimmering beneath a large tree. As I studied it, I hear the telltale feminine chuckling in my head. "Yes," the voice said, "it is my doing." The voice paused, "Walk through it."
Hiding a smile, I chimed in. "Why should I do that?" I said with a bit of mock indignation. "Some trollup tells me to walk into some sort of Magic manifestation," I paused for dramitic Effect, "and I am to just to walk through it no questions asked?"
An exagerated sigh came from the voice, "Why are you being so difficult?" There was a slight pause, "A TROLLUP?!! Oh my dear Vassago, you have crossed the line with that one!" I could now see two blue black eyes glaring at me. "I am no Trollup!!
I turned away from the eyes, fighting very hard not to laugh, " Well what would you prefer? Hussy? Wench?... " I paused as I was stiffling a laugh, only to feel a hand on my collar and getting drug backwards through the disturbance and found myself, thrown into a heap, in the middle of an immaculate room lit by gleaming Baelfires.
There standing above me with more bright fires in her eyes, was my Queen. "You Scoundrel! You Miscreant! You Ca.." She stopped as I was now laughing aloud on the floor, having lost all sence of control. Looking down at me, she was perplexed. When her expression changed from outrage to that of admonishment, I knew I was no longer in mortal peril.
"You Fiend!" she chastised me, "You insult me and then laugh?!" She looked on as I fought to regain control, with little avail, "I should make you pay for that."
"But.." I wheezed between laughs, "Whom else would you have to tease you so?" I tried to meet her eyes but the laughter continued unabaited. "I know you...enjoy...it a little." I rolled over onto my stomach to try to regain control of my breathing. I was unsure how this revelation was going to be received, but was committed to the course, and she held my fate in her hands.
After a few moments, when my laughter dwindled off. The silence was almost palpable, then I hear this sort of slight chuckle. I made to turn over to face her again but she jumped onto my back and started swatting my backside.
"You Cad!" she intoned, each word accented by a swat, "You..mean..to..tell..me..you..were..TEASING ME!" The next swat was twice as hard as the last. "Oh you are going to pay, buster! She was now chuckling as she continued, "Calling me a Trollup?!" She paused, "Vassago, you must really enjoy taking risks!" She round off with another swat. Before she could deliver another, I managed to surprise her enough to roll over and grabbing her wrists, I then rolled on top of her.
"I am going to pay?" I continued teasing, "How about you are going to pay for tenderizing my backside?" I held her fast, "When all I was doing was providing you a little change of pace." I looked into her eyes as she mockingly struggled to get free. "Now..let me think...what can i do?"
She looked at me square on, and noting my expression, "Don't you dare!" She threatened. She started to try to free her hands. "I know your mind well enough to know some sort of deviltry will result." she said as she struggled to no avail. "NO!!" she shrieked as I dove in and started tickling her. She squirmed lithely as she renewed her fight for freedom, managing a briefly worded "STOP IT" between her writhing as I persisted. "Noooooo!" she moaned as she squirmed and struggled before I finally let her lose.
Sitting up, I gazed at her as she gasped for breath on the floor. "You..horrible horrible man" she intoned between breaths. "How did you know?" she inquired as she also sat up.
"Purely happenstance" I replied smiling. "I was at a loss..and not wanting to enrage you...thought what other than a simple gesture?" I paused chuckling a moment. "It was a pleasant surprise none the less."
"Surprise?" She looked at me with mock indignation, "You molest a goddess and you say you were surprised?" She got to her feet. "If I were so inclined, I would send you to the Umbral Mines for a decade or two." She paused to look at me sternly. "By rights that would be what you deserve." She shook her head, "But then who would be left to complete the task I set upon you?" She smiled slightly, "And who would make my life that much less stressful?"
I opened my mouth to reply..but her finger to my lips stopped me. "I do not need another joke, my dear Shadow." She looked at my expression, "Hush!" She admonished as I went to persist. "You need to be serious now." She looped her arm in mine. "We have work to do." We walked out on the veranda of the house we were in. A great plain stretched away under a gibous moon. In the distance a waterfall fed a small lakefrom a crag of stones one could just make out in the distance.
"Beautiful." I commented, "Are we at the seat of your dominion?"
"No,' she replied, "It is one of my havens in the Plane of Shadow." She paused, "I have several, but this is the closest to your realm." she smiled slightly...he eyes twinkled in the moonlight, "It has become one of my favorites."
I looked at her face, "Favorites because it is closest to your favorite?" I asked as innocently as I could muster.
She laughed, "Well, now that would be telling, now wouldn't it?" She strode accross to a table and picked up a opalescent stone Sphjere and turned to me holding it upright. "You have progressed far, my Shadow." She paused, "And you have achieved this threshold of power faster than I expected." She released the stone and it hovered freely in the air, it's luminescence lit the immediate area. "It is a testamount as to why you were chosen by me." She smiled broadly, "You do me proud, My Dear Vassago, " she smirked abit, "even if you do cause me consternation from time to time." She smiled again, "But that is your being. Clown..Charletan..Jokester..all are part of you as much as your ability with the power." She again paused, "You are a asset without equal in most regards and I am the better for having you."
I actually started to feel slightly embarrassed at her adulations, as I was nothing more than what she had made me. She set me on the path those many months ago, and I owed her everything with my new existance. "My Queen," I began, "I am what you set me out to be. Everything I am...I owe to your boon." I watched the stone slowly started to occilate up and down before she placed her hand upon it and it stopped, hovering rock steady. s
She had paused as she notice I was gazing at the stone, smiling at my comments. "Good!" she clapped her hands once, "You are both humble and dedicated." She paused with a smile, "Humility. An odd thing from one such as you. I think I have your attention now...at last."
"How could one not be attentive to such a beautious patron?" I smiled.
She chuckled, "And there it goes. Subsummed by that flirtatious Jester I have come to love." She sat in a chair that appeared out of nowhere, "Just as long as we both know...it will be our secret." She smiled. "Now...the new lesson."
Her eyes grew wide and their dark luster was a flame in the darkness. "I have watched your attempts as focusing your fire blast and seeing you have difficulty maIntaining the effect without it overamping and extinguishing itself." She made a gesture and a swirl of darkness formed before becoming like a dark mirrior. And suddenly, there I was, falteringly trying to wrestle the fires of my infernal nature and focusing them into a useful ability. Evidently my Ancestry was competing with my ability, trying to augment the blast beyond the ability I was able to focus. I made several attempts and was able to manifest the blast most of the time, but the sustained flames were writhing with their own energies that made it more chaotic than I intended. Thus, I had not made use of it much.
"I had worried about your self taught abilities not being the best path to let you walk." She paused to sweep the vison away. "I believe it would be better served if I showed you a better way to utilize your gifts." She smiled, "I think you can now handle it." She stood and strode over to me and came arround my right side to be able to guide me. "Instead of trying to contain your fires, I think a better way would be to let them pool up in mass, letting them roil arround in a simpler volume, which will allow you to better focus on their power." She drew her hands up and a ball of black flames appeared between them. I watched as the flames whirled arround and wove back in upon themselves. "It is far easier to manipulate them into a sphere."
Taking my ques from her I started focusing my flames, but instead of confining them into a consise blot, the flared and roiled into a small sphere like hers, though my flames were tinged red due to my infernal nature. As I worked trhe sphere grew more uniform, and I found that it was indeed easier to focus. "Excellent!" she intoned watching my efforts. "See, I was right, it is far easier for you to control, like I said." I smiled in agreement. "Now," she commanded, "Look accross the veranda. See that Tree stump?" I nodded in the afirmative. "Direct the sphere at it now, abruptly, yet holding it contained within your focus." I did as she asked, and the sphere flew accross the lawn and exploded with serious vigor against the stump. My expression was a mixture of wonder, bewilderment and some excitement.
"You did it!" she exhaulted. "You did not even falter, as I worried you might." she beamed, "You are truly amazing at times, my dear Vassago." She looked at the flaming remnants of the stump. "Congradulations! You have just learned how to throw what a Wizard would call a Fireball." She paused, "One of the most destructive manifestations of the power...and you did it without any added effort from me!" She took my hands in hers with a beaming smile. "You have moved into the new level of ability as if you were born to it." She kissed me quickly. "I am so very proud of you!"
Delighted..and a little overwhelmed..I relished that telltale of lava and Ice that her kisses always brought. I once again remember just how lucky I was to have such as her for a Patron..and honestly...someone who made me feel so alive to be with her. I thought back to the night I met her..and my sheer delight finding out just who and what she was...but she had captured my heart before she captured my essence. I had to admit that to myself and it made me ponder just how lucky I was that she seemed to have similar feelings for me...
"What?" She asked, looking at my expression. "Woolgather again?" She teased with a smile. "You chose some of the oddest times to get lost in thought."
I looked at her and smiled, "Well..yes and no." I replied, "I had to just take stock of my lot here." I moved to draw her close. "I figured just how lucky a man I was. To not only have such a stunningly beautiful patron, but to have her seem to feel for me how I felt with her."
He expression darkened a little, "If only were it that simple." She said haltingly, "As the Raven Queen, I have so many responsibilities and duties, that what, if any time for myself is fleeting at best." She paused lowering her eyes, "I knew it was to be when I accepted this mantle...but sometimes I regret doing so." She slowly turned away...seeming to wilt a little. I remained where I was and was silent...letting her take the time she needed. After a few moments, she looked up at me and smiled a little, "But then I would never would have found you...my dear man." She wrapped her arms arround me, "And I would never have the chance to experience your love and your dedication to my cause." She hugged me close, " And what sort of diety am I if I can not make time for my Dearest Shadow, my handsome, funny, yet sometimes frustrating, delight of a man, Vassago?"
I smiled, "I am sure you could think of something, my lady." She looked at my expression and chuckled, "The Clown again, there to disarm the tensions." She paused, "But I mean it, you are that special to me."
"As you are to me, my lady faire." I replied with a flourish, drawing yet another chuckle from her. "I do as my Queen commands me!" I said as I stood at attention.
She looked at me with a perplexing look, the flashed a wicked smile, "Anything I command?" she said coyly. "Anything at all?" She walked back towards me. "Oh my dear Vassago...you are in for it now." Before I could even begin, she jumped at me wrapping her arms about me tightly and spinning me half way arround. "Anything my little heart desires?"
I laughed, "Anything...within reason."
She drew back and looked at me her eyes flashing. "Within reason?" She said mockingly. "I have just the thing...but that will have to wait for a few moments more. One more lesson."
I had almost forgot she brought me here to teach me my new abilities, such was how entoxicating her presence was. "Alright.." I said with a sigh, "What is next?"
"This is just a way to utilize your gift in yet another manner that can prove to be useful." she paused, "Especially if find your way barred to you, or someone is using terrain as a cover." She moved aside a bit then gestured with a flourish and a black mote grew and then raced off to hit the remnant of the stump...blowing it to splinters. "The wizards call this Shatter." she paiused and turned to wards me again, "Good enough as any I suppose, since that is what it does, disrupt the object in question, liuterally shattering it." She repeated the gesture more slow so I could see it clearer, "It will damage anything, including flesh in a pinch." She motiuoned me up and stepped me through the casting of this attack. It came fairly fast to me, despite the distraction of her proximity, and she was pleased I mastered it so fast.
"Excellent my dear Shadow!" she beamed as I completed a third cast of the attack. "You are truly worthy of my patronage." she said with a slight smirk.
"One would only hope." I replied innocently, causing her to chuckle.
After a moment, she walked over to me and took my arm and turned me to accompany her inside the building. "That is all I will teach you, for now." She walked past the main room and on into what could only be a dimly lit sleeping chamber. "Now...let's see what we can do about your pennance." Her smile gleamed in the near darkness. "I am sure I can think of something."
A few hours later I passed back through the portal my queen had created. The memory of the hours shared still alight in my mind. I often had wondered about the Diety and how they were different than the common man. I now knew there was one thing we both shared and that memory would stay with me always.
"Be well my dearest one." her voice followed me through. "And stay safe."
I turned to look at the portal and saw her face within. "I will, my love." I said with all honesty. I saw a slight color come to her cheeks. "I look forward to our next encounter."
"As do I, my Vassago...as do I."