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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Nov 1, 2023 19:02:12 GMT -5
Things around Charon have been quite chaotic lately, but despite all of that, Astrid still manages to find time to come home. This is of course made easier by some magic items which help her get home quickly. Rather than spending weeks traveling from place to place, she can simply take a quick jaunt through a door or drink a potion to make her way back to Sky Peak. If she has a home, she might as well live there, right?
On a generally quiet evening where the weather is chilly but pleasant, Astrid sits at a table in her workshop, etching bits of Formulae into the surface of a curved piece of metal. It isn’t that she has any real intentions for this piece except to practice her enchanting. From upstairs drifts a pleasant, sleepy tune while Cantio practices his violin in his room. At this time, the sun has long since drifted behind the mountains to the west with the only indicator of its presence being a soft orange glow outlining the peaks.
To her surprise, there’s a knock at the door, but… not the front door upstairs, someone is knocking on the workshop door. Looking toward the door, Astrid’s brow furrows in confusion. So, she makes an assumption and calls out, “Blue, ya know how ta unlock that door. If yer havin’ issues, go ta the front. Charles’ll let ya in.” But the knock comes again, so she sighs a little and hops off her stool and goes over to the door and opens it up. “Blue, what are ya–”
Oh, to her surprise, the stranger at the door is not her oozey knight sibling but someone much different. “Erm… ‘evenin’,” Astrid says unsurely. Why would someone come around the house and down the hill and knock at the back door? Is this one of the assassins Veliky warned her about so long ago? Her fingers twitch, ready to make a move if this person presents a danger. “Can I help ya? Bit late fer a visit, ain’t it?”
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Post by Aledüne Nevaar on Nov 9, 2023 12:34:10 GMT -5
The man before her is clearly not just one of the villagers or normal traveller. His bright hair cascades like liquid sunlight, catching even the faintest glimmer of light. Each strand seems to possess a life of its own, lending him an almost ethereal radiance as he moves his slim frame. He possesses a subtle strength that is evident in his movement. His lithe physique exudes an air of grace and agility, and his tall stature gives him a commanding presence that demands attention. He has blue eyes that are vibrant, almost unnaturally so. They hold an intense, piercing quality, like twin sapphires that seem to see through the very soul of those who meet his gaze. His skin carries a cold pallor. This, with the rest of his appearance gives him a clear otherworldly quality, as well as enhancing the natural beauty he was born with.
His attire, A rough red robe of good quality designed for the road but is well maintained, and a long dark cloak with pauldrons at the sides. The fabric is black, but smooth as silk. Two jewels decorated with rubies are attacked to each side with a golden chain connecting the two sides of the cloak together to allow for ease of wear. The inside of the cloak seem to be red silk instead of black. The cloak is neck high and with a hood that hangs down the back. On his left shoulder pad sits a small bat with red eyes that is washing itself similar to how a could would go about it.
The figure gives a polite smile, having noticed the twitch and slight nervousness of having a stranger surprise her in this way. He does a polite bow, placing his hand on his stomach and lowers his head while putting one foot backwards. A bow practiced among royalty and high nobles wanting to make an impression, and certainly not for backdoor meetings. He doesn't seem to be meaning it as an insult however as his eyes never leaves hers.
"My apologise young lady of the house. I have heard that Lady Astrid lives here, I have come to see her on a delicate matter, and her reputation paints her as someone trustworthy, walking in the political circles of Dragon's Cradle. Please excuse my suspicious arrival, but I promise I am here simple to talk."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Nov 10, 2023 16:25:41 GMT -5
With some scrutiny, Astrid looks the stranger up and down. He looks fancy, but Cantio would probably appreciate the quality of his clothes more than she would ever even think to. Still, he looks like… Oh yeah, this guy would totally fit in at Court. She can just imagine him sucking up to Baan to make the old dwarf less grumpy (as if that were possible). Except when he mentions her name, it doesn’t really serve to relieve any suspicion she may have. Instead, her stance actually relaxes, one hip poking out to the side.
“Well, yer speakin’ ta her. Lady Astrid Stormstone, at yer service,” Astrid says with confidence and a bit of a smirk playing at the edge of her mouth. “Don’t imagine ya wanna chat in a workshop. Why didn’t ya come ta the front door? Ain’t many folks on this side a’ town, ‘specially at night.” This whole situation is weird, and it might just result with her deciding to fuck around with him if he proves to be someone here with ill intent hidden behind chivalrous actions.
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Post by Aledüne Nevaar on Nov 15, 2023 16:37:25 GMT -5
He looks surprised at the young woman in front of him. Barely a woman in fact, though he doesn't sense any deception from her nor can he think of any reason that someone would lie to him about such a thing. He decides to play along and if she was the real deal he would know soon enough.
"My apologise for being direct. You are a lot younger than I was led to believe with the stories people tell me. And you will have to excuse my sudden appearance at your back door. An action I imagine would seem less than trustworthy." He takes a step back, allowing her some space as he introduces himself. His tone remains humble as he speaks, and he keeps the decorum to a minimum.
"My name is Aledüne Nevaar. And the reason I seek you in the mid of night is because I am a vampire, and I have returned home to Sky Peak that was my home before my abduction. Likely a time before yours, but perhaps you know my parents, Adamar and Amedee Nevaar?" He straightens up and looks her in the eye.
"It is because of my parents that I return in secret as I am not yet ready to reveal my presence and nature to them. And my hope in coming here was that with your social contacts that you would make arranging a meeting with Thadda here in Sky Peak go smoother than if I was to approach him myself." Nothing in his words sounds like a lie. His face, mannerism and tone all speak of a man that has been away from home for a long time.
Claiming to be a vampire could very well be true as well, why would he lie about such a detail? Even though vampires can manifest a number of different ways, they usually have some tell tale sign of their condition, and Astrid cannot spot any on him.
"Please, I ask that you allow me into your home so I can go into details, I would not wish for anyone to recognize me before I am ready."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Nov 19, 2023 16:03:54 GMT -5
Somehow, the fresh knowledge that the person before her is a vampire neither surprises nor preturbs Astrid. Aledune would not be the first vampire she has ever encountered, and despite stories of vampires being evil creatures, her experiences with them have generally been pleasant. After all, her adopted grandfather is a vampire himself. Being a vampire certainly explains Aledune’s late night arrival and, at least to Astrid, some of his formality.
“Nice ta meet ya, Aledune,” Astrid says with a chipper tone. She offers him her hand, garbed in a thick, leather, elbow-length glove, to shake. “Can’t say I’ve ever met yer parents, but if I’m bein’ rightly honest, I’ve only been involved in the noble stuff fer a few months. Thadda granted me the title ‘cause a’ the work I’ve been doin’, but I ain’t really one fer the formalities an’ whatnot.”
Stepping back into the workshop, she waves him in. “Aye, come on in. Ya want somethin’ ta eat or drink? We can sit down here or go upstairs. Though me da will probably be a bit offput seein’ a stranger that came in through the back door.” Regardless of his answer, she motions to an empty stool sat beside a wide table in the center of the workshop, on the side opposite of a mess of tinkering tools and blueprints that she presumably had been working on before Aledune’s appearance. Astrid takes a seat on the stool near her current project and looks expectantly at Aledune.
“So, how long have ya been away from home? S’pose knowin’ a bit about ya before introducin’ ya ta one a’ the top fellas makes sense, huh?”
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Post by Aledüne Nevaar on Nov 30, 2023 7:15:54 GMT -5
The lack of reaction did surprise him, but he took thanks to the fact that the issue wasn't made more difficult that it had to be. After all, he was here to return to his roots, and to involve himself with the political climate of Dragon's Cradle in hopes of making a better public image of himself. He wasn't made for living in the shadows away from peoples perceptions, and already, after just a few decades after his embrace he had grown tired of the deception of pretending to be mortal. Ready or not he was about to reveal himself to the world, and his parents with it.
There is a pang of emotions as the worry of them accepting him still as their child hit him. The elves of Sky's Peak were harmonious with nature, and while sentient undead weren't actively hunted in the area for religious reasons they were still often seen as unnatural creatures, and most would be killed due to their own evil actions just like his sire. Aledüne was determined for this to not be his fate, no matter what he had to do.
When she offer her hand in greetings he takes it, and when he does any doubts about this just being another young girl playing a prank disappears right away. Her strong grip, callouses and the steady beating of her heart despite her situation. She wasn't lying about who she was. Again, this surprised him as he had never heard that Lady Astrid was so young. Clearly having her own circumstances he doesn't press for answers, for now at least.
"You are most gracious my lady." He steps in after her as she waves him inside. "And no thank you, I made sure to be well fed before my arrival. Animals if it makes you feel any better. And your recent entry into noble society doesn't concern me, in truth I am no noble either even though some might assume as much."
He takes a look around the workshop, again amazed by what this young girl was getting her hands into, but again leaves well enough alone. If he was to return here after all these years he was sure to get to know her eventually.
"Well, if you want to know more about me I guess it makes sense to explain where my story starts. I was kidnapped from Sky Peak by my sire some thirty years ago, it was only recently that I was freed from his will, and now I have found it in myself to return home in hopes that my home still wants me here. This is why I need to speak with Thadda so that I can ensure my safety before announcing myself to the public. You being new to the village and famous in your own right makes for a great candidate to help present my case to the rest." He deliberately left a larger part of the story out, not wanting to go into too many details at the moment, but his words ring true either way.
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The Tinkertons
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Dec 1, 2023 23:35:12 GMT -5
With a solid shake of the hand, Astrid steps in and takes a seat at her stool. “Aye, makes me feel a bit better, if I’m bein’ honest, but I know some folks do their best not ta do any killin’ ‘cause of their curse. ‘Cause that’s what vampirism is, if I’m rememberin’ properly. A curse, right?” While she speaks, she clears the space in front of her, neatening it up only enough to be slightly more presentable – something she doesn’t exactly personally care about but she knows that it is important in some situations. This feels like one of those situations.
While Aledune tells her about himself, she listens, nodding along thoughtfully. “That’s a long time,” she says finally, still pondering his situation. Astrid tries to consider what family wouldn’t want to accept their child back into their lives, especially after they disappeared suddenly, but she remembers Cantio and his parents. They don’t have the best relationship. She even considers her own mother, still wondering if she would accept seeing her again were they to come face to face. But there is still a hopeful seed inside her heart, something that wants things to go smoothly and for everyone to have the family they deserve.
“Well, I think that makes enough sense ta me,” Astrid says. “I don’t mind introducin’ ya ta Thadda tomorrow. He’d be better fer this kinda stuff, I think. Can ya walk around in the daylight?”
She chooses not to mention that she’s not new to Sky Peak. Even if her home is new and having a family is new, Astrid’s spent half her life in Sky Peak at least. It’s just that most of them were on the streets and alone. Besides, anything probably seems like a short time to an elf. Plenty of elves she knows can’t even keep up with their own ages.
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