A second opinion on a sword

A roleplay transcript by Lady Eternatee and Iskrin Orin'Darr

TL;DR - Lady Eternatee points out an obvious solution to the problem with Ke'ntor

:: Iskrin Orin'Darr walks past the Inn, heading to the docks and happens to glance in. "Oh, Lady Eternatee, are you dining alone?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє ßєäя ღ Sitting at the table sipping some wine, I look up when I hear a familiar voice. "Oh hello Iskrin please join me for a glass of wine?"

:: Iskrin smiles. "Thank you. I do have a few minutes before my next appointment." He walks up the steps and seats himself next to the elven sorceress. "And how are you finding live in our great city?" he asks, meeting her eyes with in inquisitive and curious look.

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє "Im not sure to be honest." I reply

:: Iskrin looks concerned for a moment. "Oh," he says. "Have we… this is a strange question… but have our paths crossed in the past week or so? I've not been myself of late. Or has something else been troubling you in our realm?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє "Actually no I have not seen you in the past few weeks but word does get around. Are you feeling alright?" I ask as I take a moment to look you over

:: Iskrin smiles with some relief. "I am… glad…" he says. "I am feeling OK now. The burdens of the AmranKai," he waves his hand in a dismissive gesture. "What have you been keeping yourself occupied with? How go your researches into your origins?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє "Did I not offer to help in any way I could? Do you think I am not capable of helping? That I lack for talent or knowledge? I know I am young and I am looking for information but, I can help if it is needed."

:: Iskrin frowns thoughtfully. "I meant no offense, Lady Eternatee. Only to dismiss my own troubles in favour of asking after your own situation. In truth, there has been little anyone could do to help me. I have been in the grip of something dark. Lady Silmariel has lended her magical aid in the end, though I've no doubt you would also have been a good choice in that regard. Had I been in my right mind, I might have preferred your aid, given that I judge you as less scheming that Lady Silmariel tends to be. But alas, I was not in my right mind."

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Looks thoughtful then nods slowly. "Fair enough. I know I am way younger than Lady Silariel but, don't think I don't or can not handle great magic. I have learned a lot in my years from Sir Bryan."

:: Iskrin nods. "Of that I am sure," he says with an easy smile. "I recall well the magical prowess you showed in our battle with Sol'varin." He scratches his chin. "Speaking of the elusive Sir Bryan, he still hasn't replied to my messages. I am tasked with understanding all powerful magic users in the realm and I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't look into your background. Do you think there is a chance he will respond to me at all?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє looks at her cup of wine as she answers "Honestly you will not get him to come until he wants to come. He has his reasons he does not go out much."

:: Iskrin sighs. "Ah well, it cannot be helped, I suppose. I am a patient man." He smiles, sipping his wine. "Tell me, Lady Eternatee, how much do you know about the work of the AmranKai. We are always looking for skills mages loyal to the High King and, indeed, our own King here in Sa'Viir-Arin."

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Looking up thoughtfully "Practically nothing to be honest. I am afraid that where we live, there is very little we have to do with royals and matters of anyone really. This is my first city I have actually had anything to do with."

:: Iskrin nods. "How much would you like to know?" he asks with an innocent smile.

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Thinking a bit "Well first off what do they do? Who would I answer to and what would be asked of me? For starters."

:: Iskrin "The AmranKai are the embodiment of the power of the High King. We are their presence in the world, enforcing their will and preventing harms that would threaten the realm before they happen. We mix diplomacy with… ah… darker arts to achieve our ends." He sits back and drinks more wine, easing into a topic he knows well. "We ask of our allies and our members only that with which they are comfortable and that of which they are capable. For some, they are the velvet glove, for others, they serve as the iron fist." He looks at you with calculating eyes. "It isn't a job like being a court wizard or a…. um… " he looks around and spies a waitress, "a waitress, for example. It's more along the lines of keeping an eye out and reporting to me anything that seems amiss or unusual. Then we can work out what to do about it." He frowns for a moment. "I suppose the most appropriate word might be spy, but we certainly wouldn't call ourselves that."

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Thoughtfully I take a sip of wine. Mulling over this information. "I don't posses nor use dark magic. I use my magic to help those that need help. If that means I have to fight someone to save others that need saving so be it. As for spying well It would depend on who or what I was spying on and why. I don't mind reporting if I see something that should be reported like nefarious people or wrong doers. The safety of the people that live in the city is vital."

:: Iskrin smiles. "You are so refreshingly pure of spirit, Lady Eternatee. As I said, you would not be asked to do anything you were not comfortable with. Much of our work is supporting and helping people, and the parts that are not… well, I simply wouldn't give to someone who was not comfortable with it." He frowns for a moment. "There is something that you could help me with actually," he says thoughtfully. "I possess a sword that contains a spirit. It is the object that caused me some trouble these past two weeks. Lady Silmariel has bound the spirit more strongly and effectively, she says. But I still hear its whispers in my mind… pushing me to violence and anger. It is weaker than before, but I fear that over time the whispers will become stronger and stronger." He looks at you with concern in his eyes. "I am wondering whether you can think of a way to silence the whispering altogether. Perhaps an amulet or spell or something that would allow me to shut my mind off to it?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє I tilt my head thoughtfully and look you over. "You and this spirit were linked for a long time, that means it has ties to you now. They have to be severed completely. This is not a easy thing to do and can be very dangerous as well for the person needing this done. There is a spell that has to be used as well as a ceremony. The evil spirit that is tied has to be summoned out of you. Well the part that is tied to you that is. Then I would have to pull it out and contain it."

:: Iskrin nods thoughtfully. "This is not something Lady Silmariel mentioned," he says with a frown. "Perhaps it slipped her mind." He thinks for a moment. "Would removing it from me prevent me from accessing the power of the sword?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Thinks for a moment " The swords power if it is the spirit making it powerful then yes. If the swords power is not from the spirit then no. That should not have anything to do with it."

:: Iskrin "The swords power comes directly from the spirit trapped within it. I'm afraid I must have access to that power and be able to wield the sword in defense of the Kingdom." He sighs. "If what you are suggesting would prevent that, then I'm afraid an alternative 'safety net' is required."

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Ponders this for a bit. "Perhaps the sword can be enchanted without the spirit? What does the sword do? If I may ask?"

:: Iskrin "You understand I speak as a user of magical items, not a mage or sorcerer," he says. "But my understanding of the sword's function is that it lends the wielder increased agility, speed and stamina. The voice in the sword also advises on strategy - so long as the strategy requires violence. The spirit also lends a supernatural strength and sharpness to the blade of the sword itself." He shrugs. "Whether all that requires the spirit in the blade, I am not sure, of course. But I cannot risk being without such a weapon."

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Looks thoughtful as I listen to what all the swords spirit does to make someone a way better fighter. "But the spirit in the sword is evil. There is another way around that. Replace the spirit with a good one that can do that."

:: Iskrin Orin'Darr sits in silence for a moment. "That is… possible?" he asks, almost in disbelief. "I mean, it is a simple matter for a mage such as yourself to trap an alternative spirit in a sword to the same effect?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Gives a soft smile. "There are many that do not wish to move on to what is beyond the veil. Find a good soldier who is willing to have their soul live forever in a sword used for protecting. Many old soldiers who feel and yearn still for battle. To continue to serve and assist another fighter for the greater good. That would appeal. So yes is just a simple mater to transfer."

:: Iskrin looks stunned. A look that very rarely crosses his face. He takes a few sips of wine while he thinks this over. "Nobody ever suggested simply… replacing the spirit," he said. His tone implied that now that Eternatee had pointed it out, it should really have been obvious all along. "So what would be needed?" he asks cautiously. "There would be the removal of the part of the evil spirit from within me, and then the replacement of the evil spirit with one less inclined to want me to murder everyone? How would that… uh… work?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Gives a nod and small chuckle. "First you need to find a old soldier. You have access to the kings records I am sure it would not take long at all to find a retired soldier that served the king well and was noted to be of good character might even find more than one. While you do this I will find and gather what I need to perform this for you. I need candles to summon as well as crystals to contain, Then we need a quiet spot away from others so no one distracts me as this is very dangerous and Ill need my wits to focus. But only if you are sure you are prepared to do this as it is as I said dangerous."

:: Iskrin nods. "I already know which spirit to ask," he says with a smile. "An old friend of mine who passed not long ago and was not nearly ready to give up the fight." He pauses. "But it's critical that she would have a choice in this - I assume we are not going to trap her against her will?" He scratches his chin. "As to danger," he says, "I am replaceable. If I die attempting to serve the High King, that is simply the fulfillment of our creed. I would not ask you to place yourself in danger, though, Lady Eternatee." He looks at you with concerned eyes. "And for a place, I know a glade outside the city where we would be undisturbed."

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Gives a nod "No as trapping someone against their will can turn them evil with anger and resentment. Why I said one who is willing. This danger I speak of is not mainly to me sweet Iskrin but for you. As pulling a spirit out can make it angry and lash out on the vessel which happens to be you. You will have to be retrained during this but this is to reduce any harm to yourself yet they always find a way it seems from what I have myself witnessed. The last one almost did not survive the ordeal."

:: Iskrin nods. "It is a risk I must take. If, as you say, there is a shard of Ke'ntor within me, I am of no use to the High King in such a compromised state. It must be excised and all operations come with risk. How long do you need to prepare, Lady Eternatee?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Thinks over the things I have to gather. "A day, maybe two at most if the spirit you are thinking of does not agree. As will have to find another."

:: Iskrin "I am certain she will agree. But I know not how to ask her?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Nods "I will have to go and summon her to ask. Put her in a crystal to hold. I will also have to have the sword to put the spirit in."

:: Iskrin "The sword is in my dwelling," he says. "I can bring it to you on the morrow. As to the spirit, her name is Lemfillian Gire. She was… ah… is… an elf warrior. She passed not long ago." He looks at you with a mix of gratitude and caution. "I am placing great trust in you, Lady Eternatee, to put my life in your hands. I will make arrangements so that all know if this goes wrong I absolve you of any fault. This will mean that you could kill me and suffer no consequences for it. I hope you understand what that means for the esteem I hold your power in." He smiles, softening his expression and tone. "I have business that I must take care off. I suggest we schedule our… surgery… for the weekend. I will have the sword delivered to you. Where will my agent find you?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Nods and reaches out to give your hand a squeeze. "I will do all that I can to help as well as protect you as I do this. Bring the sword with you in a box this weekend as I gather everything I need. Do not touch it if you can as you do not wish to get more ties to yourself from it. We will first go and ask your friend then go straight to perform this."

:: Iskrin nods with a smile and finishes his wine. "A mentor of mine used to observe that sometimes the solution we need is close to us all along, but that if we look in the wrong place for wisdom, it may as well be a thousand leagues away." He stands slowly. "I am glad I popped in when I saw you sitting alone. But I must continue on my errand if you will excuse me. Let us meet on Saturday evening, around this time, just outside the city gates if that is convenient for you?"

:: ღ єϮєяηäϮєє Smiles and nods. "Wise words. Till this weekend dear Iskrin."

:: Iskrin nods and makes his way out of a Inn, feeling a lightness in his step that he has not felt in a while.