Treguard
Traveller
Dungeon Master
Posts: 23
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Post by Treguard on Sept 6, 2015 19:35:53 GMT
[ OOC: Sort of continued from Dunshelm Ascending. It happens later in the day, and introduces a kind of new storyline, so I've started a new thread.] *Treguard is right where we left him: standing, staring out of the window. He's been doing this for a while, waiting for something to happen. Unbeknownst to him, he now feels exactly like an actor does ninety per cent of the time.* What was that? *Miles away, a long way down the path that leads from his front door straight into Level One, a ball of his own magic sweeps two participants away. Though he knows not what it is, he feels something.* I felt as though something... something small... left my person. But that's all. It has to be. *He is, of course, monologuing again. It helps him think. A memory of him doing so, every week for three years, assuming that someone else was watching, flits through his mind. For what seems like the first time in an age, he turns from the window, the very instant that something happens. As he is walking away from the window, Prince Anglia is racing through the dark forest on his horse. He's done this before. Whether he'll make it or not this time is conjecture. Treguard hasn't seen him, so he doesn't even have the entertainent of speculating on the prince's fate, or even wondering who he is and why he's so desperate to get into the castle.* Dragonsblood! *The curse word comes from him not unsolicited. Immediately following approximately another minute of thinking and pacing, the dungeon master feels another, smaller, jerk behind his navel, almost as if another small part of him has disappeared. But that is nothing at all compared to the indistinct shape now materialising at a rapid pace before his eyes... in the middle of his own antechamber. Treguard isn't used to this. People usually appear out of nowhere through the door befoe getting kitted out and shoved through the dungeon portal. Someone doing so in the middle of the room is most irregular. Despite himself, he takes a step back, thinking of trolls and technosorcerers and unwelcome genies... ...but it is none of those. It is a human shape. Although, from the looks of it, older than the humans who used to frequent his chambers.* Are you... are you... you...? You?
*There has been a not inconsiderable amount of smoke generated from the sudden appearance in a place of immense magic. When the cloud clears, a tall, lean and thoroughly bemused-looking woodsman stands before Treguard. And they stare at each other for a while...* Robin?
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Post by Robin on Nov 11, 2015 12:53:13 GMT
*Time has passed.
Robin doesn't know how much time. It's been a while since he materialised in the antechamber of Knightmare Castle - a week? A month? Several? He doesn't know.
He was disoriented when he arrived and moreso when bats appeared in one of the rooms. He's had time, lots of time... enough to copy out his map onto some nicer paper and complete it with help from the Dungeon Master himself. The dark wood to which Prince Anglia referred is clearly visible from Knightmare Castle's window, and to Robin's surprise, it doesn't look any more inviting in the middle of the day.
Robin hadn't realised quite how high up the castle was, despite the prince mentioning a mountain, complete with crevasse. However, once you get used to it (as he constantly told himself), the view was somewhat dazzling. Wolfenden was a speck in the distance, but noticeably red amongst the green. Having entertained himself that he may be able to "see my own house from here!", the Woodsman has to admit that he can't. It's a hut in a tree, after all.
He isn't sitting in the chair. That's Treguard's chair; he is pretty convinced that he doesn't have the authority. Even if Treguard isn't here. He is, however, recumbent - in a relaxed sitting postion propped up by several ratty old cushions. He's been sleeping on them, too; he does prefer them to the bundle of cloth in his old hut.
Returning to his hut has proved to be a problem. Much as he doesn't find the concept of traversing a dark forest to get to a green one particularly appealing, he doesn't fancy being on the Path to Wolfenden after hours. It makes him feel uneasy - although he doesn't understand why; something about being hit by a travelling spell while walking down it does that to you. Treguard says that there is a spell named HOME, but after considering, Robin is rather retiscent to ask Treguard to cast it. After all, Robin has been several people in several places in the past - who knows where he may end up?
With a yawn and a stretch, Robin hauls himself up from the cushions, walks across to a side table, and picks up a tatty old book he's been entertaining himself with - one of the few from the library that hadn't fallen into disrepair over time. He wasn't even aware Knightmare Castle had a library until recently.*
"If only Cafépress could see this," he'd said, poring over the old volumes, many of which were decomposing into dust. "He'd have a fit."
*He's just beginning to wonder what happened to Callimpsest and whether Treguard ever managed to contact him - despite staying here for a while, he hasn't thought to ask - when Treguard himself enters from the stairs.*
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Treguard
Traveller
Dungeon Master
Posts: 23
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Post by Treguard on Nov 12, 2015 21:10:43 GMT
Good morning, temporary guest.
*Treguard allows himself a rueful smile. Whether or not Robin intended to turn up at Knightmare Castle at all, he isn't going to assume that the Woodsman is a permanent fixture. Still, with the exception of missives from Hordriss, Robin is the only ally he's contacted since his forced entry to his own home. And - although he would never admit it - he's appreciative of the company, especially since the Magic Mirror went down.
He isn't going to say any of this, however.*
Have you managed to scavenge any more nuts and berries for breakfast, or am I to conjure up some more food for us? I am, however, getting a little sick of VIM spells, so...
Robin: "What happened to the bread and parcel of cheese I found just inside the dungeon entrance? Isn't that still in the kitchen?"
How astute. Run along and get us some of that, will you?
*As Robin scampers off, Treguard sits in his chair and tries to decide upon something to do during the day. Cleaning bits of the castle hasn't been an easy job, but it's all but done now, with the exception of the unused tower through which the adventurers used to appear. He has the uneasy feeling that he will be spending the next twelve hours writing disjointed entries in his journal, waiting for another letter from Hordriss, and attempting conversation with Robin, which flowed freely during the first couple of days, but eventually lapsed into a number of uncomfortable silences.
He feels as though, like him as he may, Robin is keeping something from him... although, considering how much of Robin's life is rumoured to be less than respectable, he doesn't want to know exactly what. Maybe there isn't anything.*
Robin: "Here we go... whoops..."
*Returning from the kitchen with two wooden slabs laden with a healthy amount of bread, cheese, and berries (which, it turns out, he had scavenged), Robin slips and just about manages to maintain his grip. An amount of water from the flagon he's been holding with a free finger sloshes through the air and lands in a small vase in which a blue flower sits. It makes an appreciative noise... he thinks.*
Robin: "I... I meant to do that. Yes. Obviously."
Clearly.
*He takes his food from Robin and tentatively tries one of the berries. It's not actually that bad.*
Listen, tempora... Robin, I've been meaning to ask you something for a while...
*Robin, who has been helping himself to bread and cheese with almost indecent abandon, pauses and looks up at the Dungeon Master.*
Are you absolutely sure you've told me everything?
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Post by Robin on Nov 16, 2015 17:01:51 GMT
*The little blue flower reminds Robin of the serving maid he threw one to... and, by extension, to Serena - who, he assumes, is still coming to terms with being the sole Brinkatore survivor in (relative) luxury after years of servitude. He assumes that he should probably visit her at some point, but then again, he's also been promising himself that he will do that for Sophie in Holmgarth and Aranel in the forest and Grimwold at the Crazed Heifer. He's visiting Treguard, though, even if he didn't intend to, so...* There's nothing else I could have told you. I really don't know much... * Treggie D.* *He notices Treguard ruffling his brow. After days of not being able to help (save for being able, somehow, to source enough food for two), he's beginning to wish he could actually be more useful. At least he's been able to sort out the weapon stock he found in a long-abandoned room, and even added some nice silver-tipped arrows to his collection.* ...although I really wish I could. *In an attempt to be of some use, he fishes around in his head for any further suggestions.* What about Callinthevet? Did he tell you anything? *It's the first time he's mentioned the librarian since their conversation in the marketplace. He had assumed, naturally, that Treguard had simply taken it upon himself to contact him, and that Callimpsest had told him everything he knew... whatever it was that he did know. Robin also reminds himself that how much Callimpsest knows is all conjecture to him; he's really not sure how much, but Treguard could use a conversation with someone who doesn't wear green and shoot arrows. Unknown to either of them, Callimpsest isn't right here now. But it jogs something in Treguard's brain.*
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Treguard
Traveller
Dungeon Master
Posts: 23
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Post by Treguard on Nov 22, 2015 19:54:47 GMT
Who?
*Robin opens his mouth, presumable to reply, but Treguard - whose brain has only just caught up with the conversation they've been having - cuts across him.*
Oh! The librarian, you mean...?
Robin: "Yes, because I thought you'd like to..."
Well, I'd certainly like to talk to him, but I couldn't find him. I did try using the Mirror...
*He gestures, casually, at the aforementioned Mirror.*
...but it didn't seem to be able to find any librarian. Kept showing me some sort of ruin that reminded me of the Knightmare Boarding School.
Robin: "Oh, well, it probably was actually the..."
It's almost like he's not here at all. Are you sure he's here?
Robin: "Well, I've met..."
Merlin's beard! Will you look at that!
*On his ejaculation of the word 'here', Treguard had pointed at the blank screen of the Magic Mirror, as if to emphasise what he was saying (plus, although he'd never really thought about it, he likes to gesticulate), and the Mirror itself is something handy to point at. A second or so after being pointed at by the Dungeon Master, the inactive screen let out a little noise, something like an indeterminate whine, and let out a few random click-like sounds. As Treguard and Robin watch, the screen lights up, remaining blank but definitely having a little potential.
Treguard is about to start issuing commands again, but holds himself just in time. It shut down due to the amount of stress Treguard was putting on it. If he overworks the mirror again, he may as well not bother using it at all.
He looks uncertainly at Robin.*
What do you think?
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Post by Robin on Nov 23, 2015 14:50:35 GMT
Well, I certainly wouldn't begrudge you for trying...
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Treguard
Traveller
Dungeon Master
Posts: 23
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Post by Treguard on Nov 27, 2015 20:06:14 GMT
Yes, but it's not you that I'm worried about. The last time I used this thing to search for the librarian you mentioned, it just... sort of... stopped. Looked as if it was... *Treguard flails around for a while trying to find the right word." ...tired. Robin: "Why don't you try asking it nicely?" *Treguard considers scowling at him. It's a ludicrous idea. Of course that wouldn't work. Besides, he doesn't ask anyone to do anything nicely. He's the Dungeon Master. Things should bow to his whims and...* Magic Mirror, when you feel up to it, would you please respond by showing me Wolfenden High Street? Damn.*For a while, at least, there is no response. Treguard is about to berate Robin for even making such a suggestion - and is even close to asking him to go back to town to find the librarian and bring him here by whatever circuitous route he had come - when the Mirror shifts. With less of the hesitant static and flickering pictures it had previously brought up, an image of Wolfenden High Street fades very slowly onto the screen. Treguard and Robin look at each other for a second... and then back at the Mirror. Treguard is the first to say it.* It's a still picture. *The Mirror works, all right... but it has brought up a still image. Nevertheless, this is better than it not having worked at all.* Uhm... *Robin gives the Dungeon Master an encouraging look. Treguard raises a shaky hand and points ambiguously at the screen.* I'd like to see the librarian... please. *Wolfenden fades out, and for a few seconds, the screen goes completely blank. Just as he was beginning to think it had given up on him again, the Mirror lights up with a new picture... the ruin that Treguard had seen previously. He doesn't recognise it, but it looks as if it was once a large building, with some rooms intact and some open to the atmosphere. A haze hangs over it and there is a large crack running along the ground. It looks maudlin, but with an air of magic. Treguard doesn't recognise it, but is certain that this is not the librarian.* Robin: "That's..." *He waves a silencing hand at Robin." Not the librarian. I know. Why don't we try the library? Show me the library! *Nothing happens.* Please? *The Mirror is still for a second longer, and then zooms, rather than fades, into the picture it was showing. This is not what Treguard was expecting... but it was, once, a library. Now it is a pile of rubble, a once-proud repository of knowledge ravaged by an explosion. The ceiling is not intact here; a midday sun peeks out from behind a cloud.* Okay. What else can we try?
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Post by Robin on Dec 6, 2015 21:36:50 GMT
What else can we try?
*Robin hadn't expected himself to be so irritated by the one question. He had, he admits to himself, been hoping that Treguard - the almighty, all-powerful Dungeon Master that so many had wondered about, spoken of with such reverence - would be more able to locate one tiny librarian.
He's not here, he tells himself. He's simply not here and Treguard can't find him because he's not here. He's gone somewhere.
That's what I'm going to say. I'm going to say he's not here and...*
How am I supposed to know? You're the Dungeon Master! You do it, TREGUARD!
*The Magic Mirror suddenly jumps, as do Robin and Treguard. It's suddenly gone blank, and then a very indistinct, black-and-white image picks itself out in front of them: a young-looking man, rather austere, with short, wavy, light hair. He is looking at them, Robin thinks, slightly superciliously. But it's a still picture... not something they can talk to.*
Treguard: "Dragon's breath! Turn that picture off! Get us... just show us anything."
*Robin watches as the Mirror shuffles through images like a master with a deck of cards. Finally, it settles on an image of Dunshelm itself.*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Dec 10, 2015 17:44:26 GMT
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Treguard
Traveller
Dungeon Master
Posts: 23
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Post by Treguard on Dec 13, 2015 19:50:56 GMT
[OOC: Yes, that is precisely to what I am referring!]
It looks like we are stuck here for the moment. Maybe you should return to your dwelling in the greenwood.
Robin: "Maybe I should. I don't have much to do, but something should come up. Can you spellcast me back?"
I have no idea. My magic has been... shall we say... haphazard... since I entered the castle once more. Were I not the Dungeon Master that I am, I'd be more disposed towards saying that it has been a nightmare.
*The Mirror suddenly pings into life...*
Robin: "Whoah."
*There is a rapid succession of shots flickering across the screen. Among them, Treguard catches glimpses of traders on stalls in Wolfenden Market, youngsters drinking in the inns, adventurers shielded under protection in a wintry landscape. He sees a small clearing with a young goblin in it, an empty treehouse with a pile of rags to one side, and a tower with a collection of books sitting unguarded. Figures form and disappear: an ogre reading a book; a red-clad wizard dictating a letter; an elven creature with feline features; a pretty young girl in slightly oversized clothes emblazoned with the Brinkatore crest. He even thinks he sees a slumbering figure resembling his old nemesis Lord Fear. The final shot, a slightly longer one, shows a small girl standing in the middle of Holmgarth, a waterfall of golden curls cascading down to her shoulders. Treguard has the impression that she is looking back out at them from the Mirror - or, more specifically, at Robin.
And then it pulls out from where it is. Zooming up, up and up some more, a panoramic shot of all the Dungeon is displayed to them - Levels 1, 2 and 3 from a great distance. Too far away to make out anything specific, but just close enough to appreciate the green jumble of forests, reddish sprawl of settlements and dark, forbidding mountains in the very distance.*
That's what your map should look like, my friend...
*He stands. Robin joins him by his side and they both look together, looking through the Mirror at all there is to see. Just what Treguard requested.
The two stand and look out at...*
Knightmare.
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Treguard
Traveller
Dungeon Master
Posts: 23
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Post by Treguard on Dec 25, 2015 22:04:31 GMT
*Despite the majesty of the vista, Treguard feels increasingly uneasy. The mirror should not be possessed of so much magic, especially when it is not a Phase of Adventuring. For all his years of spellcasting, Treguard is no mage. What if the mirror's magic grows beyond his control? What if it is already beyond his control? He glances at Robin, about whom Treguard also feels uneasy. He is not used to having somebody so long in his inner sanctum who is not intermittently frozen in time, bound by the Adventurer's Code or an employee of the castle. And is Robin not a man who, in a previous incarnation, prided himself on being a thorn in the nobility's side? How far can he be trusted? There is a braggard in every man, Treguard reasons; the longer Robin stays, the greater the chance that he will undermine the Dungeon Master's privacy and present problems later on. Underlying these concerns is a peculiar paranoia that - and the Lord of Knightmare Castle hesitates to admit this to himself - that a rabbit is out to get him. Watching, waiting to strike. He has learned not to underestimate the animal kingdom, however untarnished a creature's reputation may be. Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes. Whatever the cause, twisted thoughts are massing, and Treguard realises he must clear his head before he is compromised. A trip to Wolfenden is in order. He can gather supplies and information, try to contact Hordriss properly, maybe make enquiries to restaff the castle. Treguard turns to his temporary guest.* Robin, I shall be leaving the castle shortly. It is time that you did the same. *Treguard draws breath to spellcast DISMISS, but decides to go for something a little more gracious.* I gift you a DISMISS spell that is self-activating, and will in a few moments take you home. Or at least homeward. Farewell. *A little later, after Robin has departed, Treguard makes preparations to leave the castle. He mutters a few spells that will leave Dunshelm at least as secure in his absence as it was before. Missing his erstwhile steed Black but looking forward to a brisk walk, he dons the least smelly of his cloaks. He wonders how many in the village - or has it grown into a town now? - will recognise him. He suspects he will not stand out, owing to the prevailing trend for men to cultivate beards, particularly the young ones. This pretence of worldly-wisdom is one that Treguard is unimpressed by. It could, he thinks, quite easily be remedied if these adolescent upstarts were escorted for a shave in the Corridor of Blades. Treguard steps out of Knightmare Castle, once again leaving behind the safety of its mighty foundations. Then again, the true foundation of Knightmare was the conviction that too much safety, and too little adventure, is a bad thing. The path softens beneath Treguard's feet as he proceeds.* [OOC: Continued for Treguard in The Spring and Queen.]
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Post by Robin on Dec 27, 2015 15:05:50 GMT
[ OOC: Set a few moments before Robin departs, to facilitate his exit.] I gift you a DISMISS spell that is self-activating, and will in a few moments take you home. Or at least homeward. Farewell. *Robin is about to protest, but recognises the dismissal. He has, after all, been here a few days, and (despite using the time to complete his map) has been feeling a little useless, even though he managed to get Treguard to try the Mirror again. Maybe the Dungeon Master's wisdom is more astute than it seems - Robin should return to the realms, rather than watching from afar.* After all, he thinks, that's his job.*He sheathes his sword, re-stocks his quiver and slings his crossbow back over his shoulder. He pockets his map, as well as - for good measure - some remnants of the parcel of cheese, bread, and wild berries that they had been eating, in addition to a flagon full of fresh water. Then he turns to Treguard, who appears to be waiting for him to leave.* You'll know where to find me, I take it. *He notices, just before he departs, that Treguard almost smiles at him. Reflecting that that's the best he's going to get, Robin gives a small salute in farewell, and turns to step into the crushing darkness.*
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