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Jes
 
PostPosted: Thu, Nov 02 2017, 9:11 AM 

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Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Camriiole

The house in Nes'ek in which the lovely drow sorceress, Sui'Aerl Valis, had made her home is a serene place. The drow and her companion, a copper dragon wyrmling named Boulderdash, are often seen sitting outside in the warm sun or wandering about Nes'ek and all the way to Khalem, simply enjoying the new home they have made for themselves. The little dragon chases scorpions in the sand with glee and Sui'Aerl speaks cheerfully with the locals about the Morninglord or her Art. She had arranged a small laboratory in her home, apparently, and as such she offers to her neighbors a source of magical trinkets or tools or even fine jewelry. The examples she shows them of her work, namely a platinum necklace with a symbol of Lathander set with seven blue diamonds in an arc over top of it, give a perfect representation of what she is capable of creating.

Oftentimes, a half-elf with black hair named Elliot Cys'dina accompanies Sui'Aerl on her outings. He is equally pleasant and friendly, and the pair make an attractive couple. It is certainly unusual for a drow to linger in and enjoy the sun of the desert, but Sui'Aerl is an unusual drow. Her demeanor is sweet and kind, as if she has never seen the realms Below and has no desire to do so.

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Cromlech - The Best Copper This Side of Ruathym
Zelly Cys'dina - The Wounded Soul, Also Merchant

Aelynthi Nor'alei - The Bubbly Winged Elf


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Jes
 
PostPosted: Thu, Nov 02 2017, 19:04 PM 

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Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Camriiole

Sui'Aerl brushed her fingers over the shining golden grip of the rapier which rested on a table in front of her. The sword was perfect for what she had wanted and she smiled to herself as she thought back to when she had first looked upon it. She had not unwrapped it when Alenia had given it to her in Bendir Dale the night before, but perhaps she should have. She knew the joy and satisfaction which came with seeing a customer's delight at your craftsmanship.

She was glad that she had been able to make a larger laboratory for her artifice. For the many projects which she felt did not require a sympathetic link to the location of the ritual, it was a perfect size, with two large circles to act as focal points for larger projects. She had one project set out atop one of the circles already. She did not need one for this, though.

She reached into her pouch of diamond dust and sprinkled it over the weapon in its entirety. She then took a deep breath as it settled and focused her attention. She moved her hands, first weaving a spell of Greater Magic Weapon over the rapier. She worked slowly, meticulously, layering the spell twice more just to ensure that it takes. This would be a potent blade, and she wanted it to be perfect. Afterward, she called upon the magics of Keen Edge. This part was a bit trickier. In order to make it just a little more potent, exceptionally sharp for the sake of doing massive damage with just the right strike, she needed to manipulate the magic in just the right way.

Image


Her eyes closed as she layered four of these spells, cast methodically and slowly in her ritualistic manner. She gave it the added potency she was sure it needed in order to cause the effect she wanted. And when she finished those four castings, she let out a heavy breath. She was already growing weary. She ran a hand over her brow and took a moment to cast an Endurance spell over herself. She still had the most difficult part to accomplish, and it could take some time. She might even have to finish it later.

She breathed deeply, focusing again before returning to the task. This was a new approach, but like most of her creations, it was a matter of piecing together the magics in new, inventive ways. Her father had always encouraged her to experiment, and this was certainly experimental. She recalled when she had imbued a sword with the energies of Undeath to Death to give the weapon additional effectiveness against Undead. Using that same theme, she called upon a Maximized variant of Magic Missile. Rather than release the energies onto the sword as she might an enemy, she held it fast and focused it over the blade. Her eyes narrowed intently as she pressed the energies close, carefully coaxing it to permeate the weapon's clear, metallic surface.

It was a process that drained her. Especially as she pressed the magic into the blade to seal it, and then did it nine more times. She cried out softly as she finished the last one, leaning into the table as she gasped softly for breath. Sweat covered her brow and she had to lean into the table as she regathered her strength. She stared at the sword, lifting a shaky hand to grab a fistful of diamond dust. A quick movement sent the dust over the weapon and she stared at it as the potent magic hummed and throbbed, making it uncertain if it would take.

It took half an hour for the magic to settle. Sui'Aerl let out a relieved breath and simply sank to the floor with a quiet, weary laugh. As far as she could tell, it had worked. It had worked!

She leaned back to lie down on the stone floor, panting softly still from the exertion of the spellcasting. She closed her eyes, smiling to herself as she imagined what Ulrik would say if he saw the things she did with her artifice now. Would he be proud? If the sword had taken the enhancements in a stable manner, as she hoped, then yes.

Well, he would probably still be proud of her for trying so hard to do something different. She smiled to herself, a wave of emotion coming over her as her thoughts lingered on her father. How she missed him...

The door to the laboratory opened.

"Hey!" Boulderdash leaped down from Elliot's shoulders and flew across the room to Sui'Aerl's side. He landed next to her, nuzzling at her cheek as she weakly tried to wave him away amidst a chuckle. Elliot stepped in, a confused look on his face.

"Are you all right, Sui?" he asked as he hurried across the room to join them.

Sui'Aerl opened her eyes and smiled at them both. "I'm wonderful," she replied in a quiet, tired voice. "I finished my project." Despite her weariness, she looked utterly happy.

_________________
Login: The Copper Queen
Cromlech - The Best Copper This Side of Ruathym
Zelly Cys'dina - The Wounded Soul, Also Merchant

Aelynthi Nor'alei - The Bubbly Winged Elf


See me DM-side as:
[DM] Hlal | [DM] The Voice


 
      
Jes
 
PostPosted: Tue, Oct 23 2018, 4:12 AM 

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Joined: 23 Aug 2006
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The Lady Sui'Aerl Valis gently pushed open the door to her laboratory and looked around. It had become dusty in the past several months of disuse. Taking a deep breath, she closed the door behind her and stepped forward to the center, where her personal project lay unfinished. She gazed at the golden contraption with sorrow in her eyes. Her need to finish this was related to the very reason she couldn't bring herself to finish it, and the reason she found herself weeping out at the oasis when no one was around to see it.

Boulderdash.

Even now, he was not nearby. As her familiar, she could sense him through their empathic link when he was within a mile of her location. But he had taken to wandering frequently of late, as his hunger to explore the world drew him away from the hole in the ground she had created here for herself. She knew she wasn't happy, and her perpetual sorrow and self-deprecation must have been unbearable for the jovial little copperling. And now... Now he clearly felt that she was not a suitable companion for him. It was inevitable, really. They were both long-lived, and he couldn't possibly remain her familiar forever - especially as he grew in power as he aged. Soon he would be to the point where it would be highly inappropriate for him to remain as her familiar. It was natural, and simply a step they would have to take one day.

But gods, it hurt that it had come all too soon...

Sui'Aerl sank to her knees next to the pile of carefully-constructed precious metals. She reached out to touch the ornate surface of the geometric structure. She had been struggling of late to work at all on her projects - she had had so many in mind just last Winter. The prospect of losing Boulderdash had filled her with a melancholy that she could not describe. And that had led to darker thoughts of shadows and daggers and blood...

The drow gently shook her head and covered her face with her hands. She had to pull herself together. She knew that. It was just so damn hard... She had been lost out here in the sands for months. Alone, even when she was not truly alone. Her spirit was weak and wounded, far more than she knew how to describe. She had made a few friends of late, though, and their encouragement and kindness had been coaxing that stubborn little spark of hope that refused to go out in her chest. She had not realized how much she had missed having someone to talk to about magic...

They had asked her to write scrolls for them, that they could learn and grow in their Art. The memory of drawing those runes on the scroll vellum, handing it over to the wizards who would normally look down upon her for being sorcerous... It filled her heart with warmth, and reminded her that she is not, in fact, useless. Her (practically nonexistent) confidence had always been her weakness. She could readily admit that, even if she did not like to. It had only grown worse for her over the last months.

People change. People leave behind their loved ones to find their own place in the world. Marcus had done that. Gabria had, too. In a way, even she had, though she was failing rather miserably at the moment. Soon, Boulderdash would do the same, and she would be left to gaze after them and wonder... why she had never been good enough.

She exhaled heavily, trying to ignore the choked sob that came upon her suddenly. She needed to stop thinking like that. This... It was just a low moment for her. Things would get better; they had to. If they didn't - if she just continued to wallow as she had been - she would lose herself to it, and fall into the fires of self-loathing and nothingness.

She didn't want nothingness. She didn't want to come apart at the seams one day, seemingly random before her new friends. She was sure they would not remain her friends, if they knew the struggle in her very soul. Too much drama, they would surely say. Too much unnecessary stress, not worth their time. It toed the line of that self-deprecation, but she decided that in this case it was allowed. She wanted to be a boon to her friends, not a burden. So she needed to find the will to try. To do more than just half-heartedly see the days through to the next, or seek out others in the hopes that they have time for her. She was more than that. She was. She just needed to find that in herself again.

Sui'Aerl blinked back her tears as she gazed upon the lovely piece of work she had begun months ago. It was a simple design, really: a golden chassis covered in flowery motifs and runes. She needed to find a way to power it still, but she had time to consider that. This project was not why she had come here today.

She drew away from the workspace and approached an empty desk in her laboratory. She opened up her satchel and withdrew a lock of hair she had carefully knotted. Now that she was in her dusty home, she could smell the hair, which made her wrinkle her nose slightly. It smelled of the forest, but also dirt and sweat - and possibly even the distinct odor of wet dog. Still, it could prove useful to her new project.

Someone had come to her for artifice. It had been so long that she had nearly allowed herself to think that she would lose this part of her. But that was silly... She could never lose it. Artifice filled her with such joy. It always had.

Maybe it would help her find joy again...

_________________
Login: The Copper Queen
Cromlech - The Best Copper This Side of Ruathym
Zelly Cys'dina - The Wounded Soul, Also Merchant

Aelynthi Nor'alei - The Bubbly Winged Elf


See me DM-side as:
[DM] Hlal | [DM] The Voice


 
      
Jes
 
PostPosted: Thu, Oct 25 2018, 19:00 PM 

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Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Camriiole

Sui'Aerl sat next to her workstation, various tomes splayed out over the table. Each book was open to a description of spells, written in her father's hand. She pored over them, analyzing the spells she sought and trying to work out how to make them work with her more natural connection to the Weave. She practiced incantations, closed her eyes, and felt the strands of the Weave around her.

For several hours, she focused on this task, and when she was finished for the day, there was some fatigue in her expression. She sat back in her chair and took a deep breath, regarding the books with a small smile. She felt silly sometimes. Her emotions were strong, and often overwhelmed her when she couldn't help but focus on one extreme or another. But Boulderdash had lain some of her fears to rest, and they had come to an understanding.

He was going to leave, for a while. He couldn't help that he wanted to go out and explore, but he did not blame Sui'Aerl with his decision. She had agreed to sever their bond as familiar and arcanist, and her heart ached in knowing that her dearest friend would no longer share that with her. But he had promised to return and regale her with the stories of his travels, and to help her again when he did.

The sting of the separation earlier this very day was eased by the presence of other friends she had made of late - and old friends, as well. She had opened her home to them, welcoming them to use her laboratory. She hoped they really would. Having their company here would be good for her. It had already been good for her.

She had been right about artifice giving her joy again. She was still sad, of course; her pain would not so soon diminish, and her nightmares had only eased a little. But it was a step in the right direction.

She would be okay. That stubborn spark of hope in her heart shone just a little brighter as she dared to believe in that.

_________________
Login: The Copper Queen
Cromlech - The Best Copper This Side of Ruathym
Zelly Cys'dina - The Wounded Soul, Also Merchant

Aelynthi Nor'alei - The Bubbly Winged Elf


See me DM-side as:
[DM] Hlal | [DM] The Voice


 
      
ZoltanTheRed
 
PostPosted: Fri, Oct 26 2018, 15:39 PM 

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Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Location: USA

A wizard would systematically go through the lab, sweeping the floor and wiping away dust. Someone has taken the time to meticulously ensure that the books and bookshelves themselves were free of dust. The divination orb has been carefully polished. Stray diamond dust has been carefully recovered and stored away into a glass container and left on the table next to Sui'Aerl's project so that she can figure out what she wants to do with it. All of this while making sure that the order of things was tediously preserved. The only thing out of order is a brass pocket watch and a recently purchased set of watchmaker's tools that were left on a table. A few tiny steel cogs have been left haphazardly scattered around next to the watch, perhaps telling the story of a would be clock maker getting too impatient and frustrated with themselves to bother with their project right now.


 
      
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