|
Post by vorpal on May 5, 2019 9:16:30 GMT
"It typically is the nobility, and sometimes I'd just rather not be mistaken for one." Sometimes. Yes. Only sometimes. It had its uses on occasion, and Crispin had a good sense for how to play such a part whenever the need arose for it, whether he was just making it up on the spot as his own background or playing the role of someone else entirely. "Most tend to just go along with Embers for me, which is fine, even if it's more suited to the stage. If I did have to pick my own, I would choose Reynard, of course." And of course, he left that line of thought behind as swiftly as he'd gotten around to it, without any elaboration. "You ought to choose something meaningful to you, perhaps the name of something you've slain in a difficult battle..."
Paladins also had so many righteous and justice-related causes, usually, so he was sure something suitable along those lines would fit, as well. Something or other about upholding goodness and truth. He wouldn't hold that against her, really. He considered for a moment, choosing to take her advice, putting in the order for the onion and another drink alongside that.
"I can do weird. I thrive on weird, and all the rest of that. I've traveled around so much, I've forgotten the names of half the places I've been to. But I don't forget the people or the things that happen. You'd be surprised by how many monster stalkers you get out there, for one thing. I always said they were simply admiring fans, but somehow no one else in the troupe believed me."
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 5, 2019 14:12:04 GMT
Solstice snorted at that, savoring her first chip. The food of the Summer Court was drastically different from the bar fare of Faerun; by every right, she should disdain what was set one from of her, when she had dined on the same repast shared by Queen Titania herself. But Solstice looked upon most things as an adventure, food among them. The unknown wasn't to be shunned just because she had never tried it before; how would she learn if there were new things to be enjoyed if she shunned all?
"And why not choose pick your own name, stage or otherwise? If you like Reynard, I see no reason why you shouldn't." Crispin didn't need to elaborate on his motives for choosing that name for her to support it. Choice should matter, especially with names. "And maybe I'll take that advice, when I have more experience under my belt. So far, I can't say there's anything to inspire a worthy surname, but we'll see."
Pausing to take a sip, she raised an eyebrow. "Monster stalkers? Faerun is more wild than I thought, if even the 'civilized' areas have to deal with that regularly."
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 6, 2019 0:51:10 GMT
"Yes, indeed... why not make it something that you want to live with, and better than that, that you enjoy? You could even perhaps name yourself for your favorite beverage or food. Solstice Ale-Slayer? Solstice Quipper? Or... insert whatever that may be here." Nonsense ideas were pretty excellent in his book. Although in this case his own pick was the surname of someone who to him was more a father than his own, but that in itself would be a story for some other time, if ever at all. Some things just weren't for talking about so casually. It was, in fact, one of the rare times he needed it to have some sort of meaning. Crispin gulped down some of the next drink when it was brought out, then started munching on the onions. "Mmm, you were right about this one! Good selection. Anyway, I don't know how we managed to have so much trouble out on the road, but these things happen, especially when you make a life of it. Some areas are safer than others, of course."
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 6, 2019 3:01:42 GMT
"Ale-Slayer?" Solstice snorted in amusement at that, but shook her head. "Aye, but it has to mean something more to me than that. Something significant, you know? If it's meant to be, I figure its time will come. A name will come to me, and it will sound right. My people don't usually have formal names, so maybe I'm doing it wrong. But if it's to be might, it has to fit like a glove. Well enough so that someone will look at me and they can't imagine how I'd be called anything else."
She smiled and shook her head a little self-consciously at where that ended up, but wasn't inclined to take it back, either. "Don't go telling your true name in the Feywild, if you ever end up there. Names have power, you know. If someone learns it, there's no telling what they could do to you." Her eyes twinkle and her tone is light, but she doesn't say whether it's truly a joke or not. And she pauses to take a bit more of her meal, nodding smugly as Crispin is enjoying her suggestion. She thought as much. "What's the most dangerous area you've ever been to? Civilized or wild."
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 7, 2019 4:59:53 GMT
"I'm sure you'll find something that strikes your fancy..." He paused just a moment for more ale and onion, munching speculatively as he made a quiet little decision. Well, why not? It wouldn't be showing his hand necessarily, and actually may help him in forming a potential alliance here. It actually seemed amusing to him. So Crispin added, speaking in Sylvan, "I can try on new names as readily as new clothes. But I appreciate the tip, should it ever need to be put to use."
He grinned, switching back to Common, "We decided for some accursed reason to try out a stint in the Dalelands, once. It was a long journey, with a few stops along the way at minor villages here and there. But we somehow ended up in the Storm Horns and got in over our heads." That had been a detour for assassination purposes, at the time, although they hadn't anticipated that things would go so badly, so fast. "That place is teeming with monsters, if you wanted to have your pick of things to kill, you would enjoy it there. I would also give a special award of recognition to Spiderhaunt Wood over in that region, because, well... consider the name." It wasn't as if he had any particular thing against spiders themselves, really, but, well, spend any time in there and you might just decide that you did.
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 7, 2019 15:06:53 GMT
Hearing Crispin speak Sylvan had Solstice raising her eyebrows, impressed. It wasn't a common language in the area, and all of a sudden she had a flash of nostalgia for the Feywild and the language of her childhood there. She smiled warmly, before taking in some more ale and quipper, a little more at ease. Maybe it was ridiculous to be so, she had just met him after all, but there was no reason not to enjoy a point of commonality over some ale and bar food.
Resting an elbow on the bar, Solstice turned to maintain her interested gaze on him as he spoke, a rapt audience. She nodded at mention of the Dalelands, having heard about those if not seen them in person yet. "Storm Horns and Spiderhaunt Wood...well, if I get tired of the challenges Waterdeep has to offer, I'll keep those in mind. Spiders that are ordinary sort aren't always so bad, I can sometimes reason with them, but the unnatural kind like phase spiders and the like are a different story. Downright nasty, no doubt about it."
She took another sip, then grinned. "So, do I get to learn how you came to know the tongue of the fey? I bet there's a good story to be hand in the acquiring of it."
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 8, 2019 5:24:51 GMT
"Definitely keep wary if you head out that way. Of course, it's a good idea to stay wary wherever you might end up. It's not always just monsters who can pose a threat, either, after all. Thieves and bandits and the like are always out there, too..." It took one to know one, when it came to those roguish types, so Crispin always knew to keep his guard up for things like that. The dangers of the open road were something he'd gotten used to watching out for. But it also wasn't without its good points too... gorgeous scenery, fun companions and always a song being played or stories being told... and then there were the strangers who you met along the way.
"Do I not look fey enough to you? Maybe I secretly am, and this is my disguise." Crispin smirked, casually downing more drink. He in fact just might tell her about this, at least the parts he felt like sharing. Amusingly, it wasn't as if he had to exaggerate too much about the whole matter. No, it was just about as tumultuous and romantic as it could get. "Have you ever been in love?"
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 8, 2019 13:48:03 GMT
"Oh, I know. Some bandits targeted me before I reached Waterdeep, thinking that because I was alone that I might be easier pickings. They were very wrong. The bullseye lantern I now own? That was theirs." Solstice flashes a grin, less merry and more feral. She could be kind and merry with the best of them, but holy champions were far from soft and she wouldn't hesitate to prove that in times of need.
She chuckled at his comment about a disguise, then tilted her head. An amused twinkle in her eyes emerged as she conceded that. "You do have a trickster air to you, I'll admit it. Though you don't quite match the air of superiority some of them possess. That's a trait which takes centuries to get just right."
At Crispin's question, she just shook her head but seemed unconcerned about that. She was young, and there was plenty of time...centuries, assuming she didn't meet an untimely end. "In love with adventure, or my destiny...not a person, though."
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 16, 2019 4:45:43 GMT
"Pretty good spoils. It's always more worth it if there's something to be gained..." Crispin looked amused, overall, by the way she turned on a more dangerous sort of attitude there, for a moment. It really called to the side of him that was in this whole lifestyle for the thrill, the danger of it all. Both of his "occupations" had some element of that to them, whether he was performing or killing. So he could appreciate her approach there. People were always into adventuring for various reasons, but generally he just understood better when it wasn't some lofty sort of reason... those always seemed more like excuses.
"Ha! Well, I forgot to exist last century, so I guess I have some catching up to do. But, really, what sort of performer would I be without some element of trickery involved?" He drummed his fingers on the bar table. "Adventure's good. Though I can't say I believe in destiny. Good on you for your conviction, but as I see it, attempting an affair with destiny is more futile than trying to catch fish from the sky. Not worth it, and you'll just end up disappointed. No, I love being in love with people. And I am, quite often and quite passionately. It was love for a nymph that sparked my interest in finally learning the language, although I'd crossed paths with the fey at times here and there before her. We were both wild, both unable to settle down, but we met often and with considerable fervor. She became my most ardent admirer."
He'll leave out the hard parts, the weird stuff where his mother had been the one who made him look for signs of the fey everywhere they went, way back during his rocky childhood. He's more than happy to discuss the details of his love life, though, of course, the more recent events that make for more interesting telling.
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 16, 2019 14:03:14 GMT
Solstice shrugged at Crispin's take on destiny, not needing him to believe in such to know that she had her own. It wasn't a topic for idle chatter anyway, and she finished more of her quipper and chips listening to him speak. Polishing off another chip and washing it down with some ale, she chuckled afterward. Just because she didn't have a resume to match his when it came to love -or lust- didn't meant she hadn't heard tales, and what better place to hear them than the Feywild?
"Nymphs are like that, aye. You can't contain them any more than you can capture a sunbeam. You just enjoy their presence while you have it. It's said that such affairs can lead to bursts of inspiration. Did she influence your craft? Or are you hoping for more exposure to help out with that?" She winked.
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 19, 2019 18:53:20 GMT
At least it seemed she was amused by the story, and wasn't that the entire purpose? Even though he often used his more social talents for some sort of ulterior motive, putting that easygoing charm and wit to work in finding information or persuading someone of something, during down time such as this, it just simply felt good to have someone respond favorably. An audience of one was still an audience, after all. Switching back to common, Crispin nodded, downing more of his drink, definitely moving closer to needing a refill in a bit.
"Oh, you better believe it! I've got a tune or two that were written with her in mind..." He chuckled a little. "And I'm always looking for new, exciting ways to expose myself." A pause, more drink, before he added, "That's what keeps music and art alive... knowing that love and life are fleeting, and inevitably bound to come to an end. Romance isn't forever, and that makes it even more exciting to capture it. It's fire, not stone." Others out there could keep their notions of sacred eternal love, but to Crispin, a love fling with the fey was the ideal situation. Sure, this one in particular had stuck with him beyond what was normal, but those were special circumstances. He'd never had a supporter as eager as she. Time might pass, sure, but he had no doubt that she would show up again someday, when least expected. That was how it tended to go, between them.
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 19, 2019 19:27:09 GMT
"Fleeting or not, I agree with enjoying it while it's there. A tenant of my oath is 'Preserve Your Own Light'. Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can’t preserve it in the world. I couldn't imagine living any other way. There are times when it's a challenge, but the alternative is...want, living without beauty and hope? Wallowing in despair? I couldn't imagine anything more repellent."
Solstice shook her head, curls swaying as sighed at the thought. Some in this world seemed to live in that way, and in her mind they were the walking dead. It was just that no one told alerted them to that fact yet. Having polished off most of her meal by now, she leaned against the bar and stretched, looking content. She wasn't in a 'food coma' state yet, just savoring a peaceful moment with good food and company, in a beloved and familiar place. Moments like this were one of the great pleasures of life, so she was in no hurry to see it pass her by.
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 21, 2019 5:40:43 GMT
"That's not so bad... for an oath." While he couldn't be bothered to put any stock in such things himself, at least she'd seemingly chosen something worthwhile. Beauty and art were so much more valuable than law and justice, and all the rest of that. Crispin nodded agreement, waving the barkeep over to ask for a refill. No, there was no room for despair, that was the entire life he'd carved out for himself. A life without the utter dejection and pain of sorrow. The world kept attempting, doing its damndest to shove despair on his shoulders, but fuck that. He had better things to do with his time. There was just a moment where he considered those heavy thoughts, though, the things which had driven him to return here, of all places, seeking... what? Revenge? Forgetting? "Life truly is nothing without art and beauty... and love... and freedom. The freedom to choose your course, to make of life whatever you will. If the world ever tries to impose itself, to make you listen to a song you don't like, it's up to you to change its tune." He laughs a bit. "I'm glad you seem to appreciate this sort of talk. One of my companions on the last stretch of my journey here would only talk to me about his body's many ailments. It had neither art nor beauty to it." He made a face.
|
|
Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
|
Post by Jarovbees on May 21, 2019 15:20:23 GMT
Solstice shook her head sympathetically at that. "If you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that is all you'll ever see. Some drown in their own perceptions, forgetting that their suffering is not the whole picture. I feel for them...but that's all the more reason to enjoy what we can out of life, isn't it? We can revel in it for them, and ourselves. And aye, choice is important, even when it's detrimental to themselves. I use my freedom of choice to promote the goodness in the world, and deny others further harm from those who would seek to inflict it. But the rest...well, that's up to them. I can only do so much, and I know it."
She winked, then tilted her head back and drained her glass.
|
|
|
Post by vorpal on May 25, 2019 3:28:14 GMT
"And if you can laugh at the dark, all the better, you'll never be beaten by it." At least, that was one of the many ways in which he preferred to live. Crispin hadn't gotten this far without a certain twisted sense of humor to keep him going, especially during the worst of times. He liked to think of it as being cheerfully morbid or morbidly cheerful, depending on the perspective. He nodded, appreciating what she was saying, even if he didn't fully agree. "Goodness is all in the eye of the beholder... but I think you definitely know what it means, to you. You stand behind it, and that's what matters." He laughed, thinking about that, tipping back his drink for some more. It was actually more of a curious, fascinating thing to him, whenever he got to talking about all of this with someone who was more firmly into that "goodness" stuff. There was nothing wrong with certain forms of good, like... for instance, not being a total ass to other people, that kind of thing. People who deserved to be treated well, anyway. Some most definitely did not. "Is that what brings you here, by the way? Do you have some good mission or other you're trying to achieve? Or perhaps it's something else entirely..."
|
|