Enjoy Everything

Holy crap!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:43:50 GMT

I has a marriage license! Now all I gotta do is sucker some people into signing it~ Hopefully within the next couple days

Happy B-day!

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:11:40 GMT

Happy Birthday music_enforcer !!!!!!

I love spring

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:00:20 GMT

I fucking LOVE spring! I woke up to birds this morning~ Real birds, not just cooing rats with wings. Okay, pigeons are kinda cute but one can only take so much of just one thing! But this was a song bird, a song bird, singing it's little heart out right by my window~ Was it singing to reaffirm it's territory? Or to try to impress a nice chicky? Unfortunately I never made a study of bird calls so I don't know, though this time a year I'd say it's singing to find a mate ^______^ hummm... maybe I should get a bird house and see if I can't tempt a lovely new couple onto my balcony with a shiny new abode.

Sooo

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:38:02 GMT

Anyone else hear gunfire last night?

Resolutions!

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:05:42 GMT

Okay it's that time of year and I'm a girl in need of some serious resolutions. I have some tiny glimmer of hope that posting my resolutions to my LJ will make me actually keep them, yeah good luck with that >.>

Number 1! I am going to cut down on caffeine! No really I am... seriously... okay you all can stop laughing now... ;o;
But yeah, I'm gonna own up to it I got a serious addiction to the stuff. I went through five cases of 12 in two weeks. I also spent my bus fare on coffee last week and as I type I have my venti latte and a can of diet coke. So yeah I'm gonna kick my habit in 09!

Number 2! I'm gonna eat more healthy! My eating habits have really gone to shit this year >.> I'm blaming my roomie, Mr. doesn't have to watch what he eats =P

Number 3! I would love to get in better shape, so I guess exercising more has gotta be on here.

Number 4! okay I don't have a number four. Well I guess trying to keep my resolutions is my number four!

Dante's Inferno meme

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:50:56 GMT

So I decided to do this meme for my NTGC character Luth. I'm amused

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Seventh Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Very Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Extreme
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Meme, or whatever you call it

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:05:02 GMT

1. Answer each of the questions below using Flickr Search.
2. Choose a photo from the first three pages.
3. Copy the URL of your favorite photo into this site: http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php.
4. Then share with the world.

1. First Name
2. Favorite Food
3. Hometown
4. Favorite Color
5. Celebrity Crush
6. Favorite Drink
7. Dream Vacation
8. Favorite Dessert
9. What I Want To Be When I Grow Up
10. What I Love Most In The World
11. One Word That Describes Me
12. My LiveJournal Name

1. Sewing Lessons for the Lady Kindra, Kentwell 1578, 2. Pomegranate Seeds, 3. Reflecting at the Beach, 4. Fly me to the Mooooon..., 5. jackie, 6. Coke Addict, 7. Okavango Delta Sunset, 8. Creme brulee , 9. Taming of the Squirrel, 10. Attack!, 11. Effervescent Glory, 12. #113 Moon fruit

My answers:

1. Kindra
2. pomegranate
3. Lynnwood
4. yellow
5. Jackie Chan
6. Diet Coke
7. Okavango Delta
8. creme brulee
9. eccentric hat lady
10. nerdity
11. effervescent
12. moon fruit (butt fruit, hehehe...)

COSTUMES!!!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:20:33 GMT

I have 30 days left to finish these costumes so I decided that I need a list to keep me accountable~

First week
[X] finish boots
[X] resize top and add in eyelets
[X] cut out skirt pieces
[X] sew together skirt
[X]figure out when to fit it

VICTORY!

Second week
[X] get myself a wig form
[X] make wefts
[X] work wig into a ponytail
[X] sew in wefts
[X] finish wig styling

VICTORY! Muhahahah days ahead of schedule~

Third week
[X]Cut out pieces for corset
[X]sew together pieces
[X]put in boning
[X]add eyelets
[X]finishing touches on corset

TT___TT Days behind schedule

Fourth week
[X]work out a way to do that damned tiara
[X]do that damned tiara
[X] make pattern for spider
[X] cut out pieces for spider
[ ]sew together spider

The Spider just isn't going to happen I wanted it to but there is just too much rigging to figure out and not enough time.

Fifth week
[X] put eyelets in pants
[X] final touches on costume

Miscellaneous
[X] hem skirt
[X] Belt
[X]make spider jewelery
[X]find shoes for costume
[X]get body paint and makeup
[X]borrow airbrush

Kay now I'm kind of intimidated >.>

I WILL PERSEVERE!

MUHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA

Accurate travel log in pictures!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:53:45 GMT

First, meet our car unspecial Ando, who has dental problems and other issues.

Then see some of the interesting places we went to, which were full of facts.

We also found a couple of signs that were entertaining to various degrees.

But you should all rest assured that we are safe and well.

I'm not dead.... yet

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:48:58 GMT

b-day shout out

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:29:54 GMT

Happy Birthday! music_enforcer

>:] Luth and Lyson Fic

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:44:53 GMT

Title: Failure to Communicate
Characters: Luth and Lyson
Rating: PG-13 for language
Note: This is an RP with music_enforcer Takes place after they arrive at Silverdale but before Anora's Trial.

Silverdale was supposed to be a place of rest, peace after the storm that was Llorkh, but for the young cleric of Oghma the days served as waking hours of confusion and sleepless nights. This day proved to be no different.

His head spun, thoughts whipping by so fast that he could barely stand the silence of his own room. She just left. His mind's voice repeated to himself as a phantom pain in his back reminded of him of the poisoned dagger. There were a lot of things he felt he didn’t know, and for answers there was only one person who could help him.

Lyson sought out Luth, finally locating him in the room that Luth shared with Sid. Lyson knocked and Luth's voice came from the door asking for identification.

"Hey Luth? It’s Lyson. Can you help me with a question I have?" Lyson asked through the door. He noted a small silence before he heard there was shifting of small metal objects in the room, and the light foot steps to the door.

The door opened, Luth stepped out and closed it behind him. He held a small rag in his hand wiping what looked to be paint from his hands. He leaned against the door frame and looked down at Lyson quizzically; the young cleric had never sought out his advice before.

"Yeah, go for it."

Lyson managed to temporarily halt his thoughts. "I don't think I've been as good of a friend to someone as I claimed. Can you help me figure out how to reach this person? Maybe help me be a better friend?"

Luth wasn't sure why Lyson had approached him about this, there were plenty of others who could give him better counsel. "Umm…. Yeah, sure I can try, though you would be better off asking Sid."

"Ah, no sorry. Let me better explain. I'm asking you because it pertains to Andrea, see, I wanted to be a better friend to her."

Luth suppressed the hot wave of anger that washed over him. Why couldn't people just leave him well enough alone? Why did they insist on talking to him about her? He didn't want to talk about her to people anymore; he just wanted to put the whole thing behind him. Luth answered in angry clipped words, "Lyson, Andrea isn't your friend, and she never was."

Lyson sensed anger in the tone of Luth's voice, but pressed on to get answers his mind could finally be still with, and remembered past conversations with Andrea.

"She showed interest at least! She didn't shrug me off or anything. We promised! We promised to watch each other's backs. But she just ended up stabbing me in the back."

The angry expression Luth had been keeping at bay slowly crept over his face as he struggled to keep his composure. Lyson had always struck him as naïve, but this was beyond naïve; this was idiotic. From between clenched teeth he replied, "Which would show any rational person that she was lying!"

Lying? Lyson, almost scoffed at this idea before almost hissing out, "She wasn't lying, I think she was asking for help!"

Luth's composure broke as he stepped towards the young cleric making Lyson well aware of their height difference before shouting, "Lyson! She betrayed us. She betrayed us and left. She's not coming back, she doesn't care about you, and she doesn't want you as a friend! Stop being so idiotically naïve and get over it."

Lyson stepped back a pace, surprised by Luth's sudden aggressive actions, but regained his footing before answering, "N-Naïve? I thought you were her friend! I thought you, of all people, would understand my wanting to help her, but I guess I was too 'idiotically naïve' to think that."

"Yes! I guess you are. So how about you grow up and leave me alone!" Luth barked, giving a leading hand motion towards the exit.

Lyson just ignored the gesturing hand keeping eye contact with Luth. "I can't believe this. She betrayed us? She may be in trouble and you're abandoning her? Can you not go after her because you're too tied up with your duties to Anora?"

Luth let out a howl of frustration. "Gods fucking damnit, you're a fucking moron! Anora has absolutely nothing to do with this! In case you were too busy thinking of puppies to notice, Andrea is Evil. E – V – I – L! If she wanted to change or help, she had plenty of time before all this to ask. But she you know what? She didn't. Want to know why? 'Cause she doesn't want to change!"

Okay, mentioning Anora was a bad thing to do, all it had done was escalated the argument further. Every muscle in Lyson's body told him to run, again, from this confrontation, but this wasn't right. Andrea did deserve another chance and he couldn't stand here and just accept such a simple explanation for her actions.

"Of course she had plenty of time to change and some of that is my fault too because I didn't reach her early enough. Getting someone to understand why to change takes more respect and compassion than brute fists to the face!" Lyson yelled waving his hands in over-exaggerated motions to get across that Luth's temper at moments, took a breath and spouted, "because if you had had any, maybe she would of came back when you called for her! But she isn't here now is she!"

Luth glared dangerously down at Lyson, barely stopping himself from punching the self-righteous little bastard. "Yes, you have gotten it all figured out haven't you?" Luth's tone was cool and mocking. "I drove her away with my cruelty and indifference. If only you could have gotten to her sooner. Too bad you didn't because if you had I'm sure everything would have turned out just fine then. Then we would all be living happily ever after riding pink magical ponies into the sunset!"

Lyson clenched his teeth, he should have known better. Luth's reaction was just like all those who hated him before, full of disbelief, sarcasm and spite. Lyson felt sorry this whole conversation had started. Obviously this reaction was running deeper than what he had an understanding for. But he had to stand up to people like Luth sometime, perhaps this sometime was now.

"I'm sorry, but I just wanted to get better at helping people. If I can't help people, how can I help demons?"

"You!" Luth gestured emphatically. "You need to get over yourself! You think people's decisions revolve around you? You think you have the right to force people to change? Gods, you are so arrogant! You spout your childish rainbow and kittens crap and think that it some how makes you morally superior? Well here is a little real world perspective; you can't even properly heal physical injuries, you have to be reminded to use your healing or you let people die! You're too busy trying to prove your fucked up theories to 'help people'. 'Cause in reality you don't care about the people, you just want to prove to yourself that you can."

Lyson's heart almost skipped a beat. Even his thoughts came to a screeching halt as the memories of Librarian Seacrest's death, the look of mourning on Uragant's face, the complete fear he had at that time. This was no argument, this was a punishment.

"T-that was…" he squeaked out before the tears just started to come, and there was nothing Lyson could do to stop it. His hands quickly came to his eyes trying to wipe them away, to no avail.

He wanted to yell at Luth, to shout at the top of his voice that none of it was true. After all that had happened, after all the ridicule, how could he doubt himself now? The thoughts in his head almost disappeared. A small bout of nausea took over him and Lyson fell to his knees clutching his stomach, tears still running uncontrollably. And without warning or reason the young cleric just cried out, weeping on the floor.

Luth turned. "Don't ever talk to me again." He tossed the paint rag he realized he was still holding away with disgust and stalked away, fuming.

Luth and Anora RP ^___^

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:09:02 GMT

Title:Goodbyes
Rating: PG
Charaters: Anora and Luth
Note: RP with zinjadu

Luth simultaneously felt relief and dread when the Tyrrans handed down Anora's sentence. Relief because it could have been worse, so much worse, and yet he felt a deep sinking dread at the idea of Anora in prison for five years. How could she go through that and still keep her positive attitude and her faith in humankind? How could she experience that and still be the person he knew and loved?

He needed to see her before they took her to Loudwater. He needed to say goodbye, and he needed to tell her that no matter what he would be there for her when she got out.

When the sentence came down, it hit Anora like so many bricks. It wasn't the money, it was the time. Five years. At the age of eighteen--nearly nineteen!--five years seemed like forever. She should be married and have a child in that time, by the age of twenty-three. But now she was to be doing hard work, probably dangerous missions as she had volunteered to undertake such things. Still, it seemed like so long a time. So long a time to be alone and apart from everything and everyone she knows and loves.

People had been coming in to say good-bye, but there was one that mattered most. As the guards approached, she perked up and thankfully it was Luth who came into view. They opened the cell door for him and shut it in after him, and Anora practically pounced on him as soon as he entered, nearly crushing him in a hug. But as she hugged him, she found she didn't feel the need to cling, to hold on. She would miss Luth, yes, but she wasn't afraid of being apart.

It was an odd thing to realize in a single moment.

She let him go and smiled bravely. "Promise me that you will look after yourself, Luth. I've only one of you, and I do not care to loose you." It was her way of saying good-bye.

Luth hugged her fiercely back, trying not to feel like this was the last time he would see her.

Luth forced a reassuring smile "I'm going to be just fine, don't you worry about me." Luth paused struggling to find the right words. "I... you... I want you to know that when you get out I will be there waiting... kay?" They were not exactly the right words but he thought Anora would understand.

"I know," she told him, giving Luth a small smile of her own, but unlike her bondsman it was not forced. Really, she had expected no less. He might be on a five year vacation--back time from years of nothing but his work--but the second she was free, she knew he'd be there, not like before but better.

"But tell me, what are you going to be doing for five years? I want to know," she pressed, not wanting him to focus on where she would be. She would be well looked after, that much she knew. Bad form to let your prisoners die on you. She wanted to make sure Luth would not spend five years sulking.

Luth shrugged "I'm not entirely sure. I'm going to do some training, some painting, maybe research a couple things. I'm going to try to use this time to work through some things." Luth wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying he just wanted to stay as long as he could. "I might take Jhaer some place nice."

Anora nodded, encouraging as Luth spoke about his plans, but there was no mistaking her eyes widening at Luth's mention of Jhaer, or the pleased grin on the princess' face.

"That's fantastic! Luth! Oh, oh!" She clapped her hands together as though she were a girl at a party. "I wish you all the luck with... whatever you want to do, you know that, right?"

Luth fought against the blush he could feel threatening to suffuse his features. "Yeah.. I know."

There was no mistaking Luth's blush, even for Anora. She smiled, placing a hand on his burning cheek and gave him a quick peck.

"Good," she said, refraining from further comment. If Luth wanted to tell her what he and Jhaer were to each other, he would. Pressing him for details would only drive him away. She had learned that lesson not long ago. Still, she was so proud of her friend. He was finally getting a life for himself, even if it was hard for him.

Luth blushed even redder. "Yeah... I... hope that things work out... ya know between... us. Jhaer and I."

That made Anora blink. What Luth said implied that there was already something between him and Jhaer. Anora had not known they had gotten further than the part where Jhaer made Luth blush a lot and then run away. Well, good. It meant he was doing better than she had given him credit for.

"I hope so, too," she told him. "She seems to make you happy."

Luth was thoroughly embarrassed. "She does... I just hope that I can make her happy." He shifted uncomfortably "t-try not to change too much, okay? You... you are going to be a great queen some day and... and I am very proud of you for doing the right thing."

"I'm glad she does. And." Luth's last statement gave her pause. How could she promise to stay the same? How would she stay the same? She was not same person she was five years ago, so it stands to reason she would not be the same person five years in the future. Or, when he said that did he mean that the core of her, her beliefs and hopes would not change. Maybe, just the very things that make her... her. His princess and his friend. She took her hand in his, giving it a firm squeeze.

"I'll do my best. Thank you. For everything, Luth. Thank you." His simple faith in her, his pride in her, would keep her sustained through her time alone, that much she could tell. Maybe it wasn't that she always needed someone beside her, just on her side. That seemed to be enough. Luth squeezed Anora's hand back, and then pulled her into another bone crushing hug.

"I am going to miss you" he whispered.

"Ooomph," she exhaled as Luth hugged the air out of her. She returned the hug with equal force. Just because she knew she could survive on her own, did not mean she would miss her oldest and dearest friend. "I'll miss you, too."

Oooo~ Quiz

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:13:52 GMT

I saw that zinjadu had taken this and I just cant resist a good quiz

Your result for Which Chess Piece are You Test?...

The Bishop's Innkeeper

Congrats! Only 6-9% of the population score this!

The Bishop's Innkeeper enjoys the experience of life to the fullest. They enjoy the variety of people and material comforts. They are excellent team players and focus on tasks at hand utilizing fun. They find pleasure in the new. They will involve everyone in discussion and decision making. They value the strengths of different individuals and encourage people to contribute their best. They make great storytellers and in fact this is why they have a special place for children in their hearts. They are deprived when cut off from others.

They aren't fond of written studies, but prefer learning in a 'hands on' way. Because of this they do tend to rush. Schools can be difficult at first, but if they find the relevance of a subject - they will exceed. They are sensitive to criticism and may take it personally. They will focus on the task at hand but forgo the long term costs. However, they are practical with their approach and have a lively sense of humor. If one asks them a question, one should be prepared for a drawn out explanation of their answer and how it relates to their life.

The Bishop's Innkeeper is useful because they can quickly mobilize others during times of crises. They are genuine and optimistic so it is hard not to do as they say. They are the peacemaker due to their sympathetic and tactful natures. They are the builders of the ‘can-do’ atmosphere using humor to brighten everyone’s mood. You should be pleased scoring as a 'Pawn' - it proves that you are a constructive and contributing member of society.

Take Which Chess Piece are You Test? at HelloQuizzy

^___^ RP fic!

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:44:05 GMT

Title: Thrust and Parry
Characters: Andrea and Luth
Rating:PG-13
Notes: This is an RP between coramegan and I, it takes place during the one day stay in Baulder's Gate on the way to Llorkh.

The night felt pleasantly cool against Luth's heated face. His conversation with Sid had left him flushed and embarrassed, if better informed. Luth was musing over his new knowledge as Andrea slipped silently out of one of the ground floor windows with a respectably sized satchel. Luth took only a couple of seconds to change form before stalking silently after her.

Andrea was careful, focused, slipping through the night on silent feet. She didn't yet know Baldur's Gate as well as Waterdeep, but knew enough to take the smallest, least used alleyways. Her heavy bag was familiar by her side, and she longed for the evening ahead, a chance to relax and unwind away from the prying eyes of the Adamant Company. She cared for Luth and Anora, and the others, but this was a private thing. Taught to her by her father, now it served to soothe her homesickness and elate some of her perseverations on her continued imperfect performance. She paused at a corner, holding still, hiding in the shadows, looking behind herself for any sign of pursuit.

Only quick reflexes and luck kept Luth from being seen as he tailed Andrea. He lost her once in the twisting alleys, only to spot her again a block away. Luth followed her through progressively worse districts till she finally stopped in front of a shabby, worn building. The decaying sign hanging in front read The Thrust and Parry and featured incredibly vulgar illustration of an otyug and an adventuring party.

Andrea stole one last glance over her shoulder as she opened the door the slipped inside.

Luth watched as Andrea entered the front door of the disreputable establishment and hesitated. He didn't know if he wanted to follow her any farther. The last thing Luth wanted was to walk in on Andrea if she was actually there to indulge in the business's… service. It was only the knowledge that she had used a similar establishment as a cover before kept him from going back to the inn. Luth thought briefly about using a cover identity to rent a room and discarded the idea. He didn't want to complicate things by potentially adding another person or rouse suspicion by asking to be left alone. So he waited for another patron to open the front door to enter the establishment. Luth activated his vanisher's cloak; it didn't render him invisible for long but it was enough time for him to slip in and up the stairs undetected.

Luth had to work quickly now that the invisibility had worn off. Finding the room Andrea was in was easier than he expected. The building wasn't very large; he just located the only room that was silent yet still had a light on. The door was at the end of the hall and quite a bit removed from the other occupied rooms. He wasn't sure what he was about to do was the best course of action, but he couldn't stay out in the hall and risk being caught by the patrons, so he took out his thief’s tools. The lock was insultingly easy, and he opened the door.

Andrea sprang up from the floor as the door open and lunged at the figure entering her room, barreling him across the width of the hall and into the opposite wall with all her strength. One hand was fisted in the front of his shirt, the other clutched a dagger, the blade of which glimmered faintly with a thin, clear liquid in the dim light. She snarled, teeth bared, glaring in surprise and rage.

Okay, bad idea. Luth put his hands up in surrender "Whoa, whoa, sorry. It's me Luth" Luth changed from his current disguise to his most commonly worn form.

Andrea blinked, eyes widening. She panted for air, grimacing and glancing back at the stairs leading down to the first floor.

"Get in," she hissed, pulling the dagger from his throat and ushering him into the room, frowning and looking back for any witnesses. Satisfied there were none, she closed and locked the door behind herself.

The room was small and sparse and had a distinctly unpleasant odor, somewhere between urine and vomit. The small bed looked about ready to fall apart; it had been pushed up against one wall, leaving most of the floor clear. A single oil lamp sat on the bare floorboards, illuminating Andrea's workspace. It was clear she hadn't finished setting out her tools, as her satchel was still half full. In the flickering light, glass bowls were carefully arranged with jars of bottles of dried plants and jars of picked insects. She had a mortar and pestle, delicate instruments for measuring and cutting up her ingredients, and a delicate silver scale. Vials of faintly colored liquid sat in a collapsible rack.

Andrea frowned, flustered with the sudden start. "You followed me," she murmured, hurt and anger in her voice as she watched him, dagger still in hand. Now that Luth could see it better, it was the dagger she always kept with her, even when she slept or bathed. The place where the hilt would have touched the scabbard was caked with wax and the blade dripped its clear liquid on the floor.

Luth took a steadying breath. That had been close. "Yes I did."

Andrea dropped her gaze, slowly sheathing the dagger. "Why?" she asked, tone soft and hurt.

Luth heard the hurt in Andreas voice and felt a twinge of guilt. "Andrea, we have talked about this before, in Waterdeep. You are keeping secrets from us, I have to try to figure them out, it’s my job."

Andrea let out a sigh and nodded, running a hand through her bangs, pushing them back from her face. "Yes.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Yes, I remember. Satisfied?" she asked, dropping her gaze to the instruments carefully arranged on the floor.

Luth took careful stock of the items arranged on the floor, he could only think of one reason to have some of those ingredients. "You make poisons?"

Andrea nodded, eyes moving almost fondly over the delicate instruments. While it was not strictly illegal to own any of the things spread on the floor, what she made with them were. She stood still, slowly fingering her dagger, waiting for his reaction.

Luth looked at Andrea and the instruments for nearly a minute wrestling internally before saying "Are you any good, and can you make Drow Poison?"

Andrea blinked then frowned, raising an eyebrow at him. "Drow Poison? Don't insult me. Why do you ask?"

Luth gave a wry smile "I'm finding it fairly difficult to get my hands on some. I think it’s because I won't patron places that are most likely to have it"

Andrea actually chuckled, offering him a weak smile. "Yet you'll follow me to The Thrust and Perry?" she teased.

Luth couldn't keep the blush from spreading across his features. "Yes, but... I… err... I didn't actually pay to get in here" he responded lamely.

"How very reprehensible of you, Luth. Don't worry, I paid enough for three." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing on the matter at hand again. "Will you tell Anora? Or the authorities?" she asked softly, frowning.

Luth looked at Andrea and sighed. "No, not unless you start using them on innocents."

Andrea nodded, tapping the pommel of the dagger against her palm. She frowned, thoughtful for a long moment. "How did you get in here?" she asked softly.

Luth grinned. "Now that would be telling"

Andrea gave something of an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. "Spies," she grumbled, giving him a tiny smirk. "Regardless, it would raise suspicion if you left now. Stay with me," she asked, sitting at the center of her tools and righting the few bowls she'd upturned in her haste to get to the door.

Luth shrugged. "Sure" He took a seat on the bed hoping it would hold his weight and watched her work.

Andrea sat facing him, the lamp between them. She finished setting out her tools and settled into something almost like a trance as she started to work. Her expression was peaceful and content, a faint smile on her lips. Her supplies were perfectly organized and in excellent repair. Finally, she pulled the book from Candlekeep from her satchel, Tools and Their Uses. She opened it, flipped through the delicate old pages, and set it open beside her knee. The silence stretched between them for a long moment as she opened the lantern to use it as a heat source for the poison making and set to preparing the ingredients.

After a long moment Andrea murmured, "My father taught me. Told me I was ready to learn when I turned ten. He'd always made poisons, as long as I can remember. I'd sit by his knee and watch him and he'd tell me stories..."

Luth looked at Andrea for a moment and mentally sighed, she has had such a hard life. "Bran would do something similar with me, well the story telling part not the poison, they are some of my favorite memories."

Andrea smiled faintly without looking up as she carefully measured out a white power. "He sounds like a caring father, the way you talk about him," she murmured.

Luth leaned back on to the bed. "He is. He's a wonderful person. He didn't have to take me in and raise me but he did. Bran changed his whole life for me."

Andrea paused in grinding the white powder into a finer grain with her pestle and looked up at him in confusion. "Bran isn't your birth father?" she asked.

"No, he's not. He found me when I was seven. I remember him holding his hand out to me and being afraid, but I don't remember anything before that, it's completely blank. I didn't even remember my name."

Andrea stared at him for a moment, the powder in her hands forgotten. "Not even your name?" she asked, stunned.

Luth stared at the ceiling "No, not even my name. All I had was a basic grasp of common. They think it was trauma, mental not physical."

Andrea was quiet for a moment, contemplating that. She couldn't really imagine. A great big nothing where her childhood was. Her name stripped away. The uncertainty of what was there, what had been taken. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, gazing up at him from her spot on the floor, tone and expression genuinely bereaved at his loss.

Luth looked at her, surprised at the sorrow in her voice. "It's okay. I had Bran and the Marthareus family. He was a wonderful father I'm lucky to have had him. I just wish I could repay him for everything he sacrificed for me."

"What...what did he sacrifice to be your father?" Andrea asked, distracted as she started to work with her pestle again.

Luth sat up and crossed his legs on the bed. "Well, he gave up his entire way of life. He gave up his life of adventuring. He moved back to his home town, got Eddard to build a temple so he had a place he could raise me and still help the community. He never married or had children of his own; I can't help but think that it is my fault. That if not for me he could have found someone."

Andrea smiled faintly, checking her book before combining the powder with one of the liquids. "An amazing man. And he's where you get your loyalty? Your devotion?" she asked softly.

Luth paused. A contemplative look passed over his features. He weighed each word before he spoke them. "No. Bran taught me the importance of good and the power of mercy. He taught me that self sacrifice wasn't weak or futile and through it we change the lives of people for the better. I have devoted my life to a different cause then the one he has, I am loyal for different reasons, but while I do not draw my loyalty and devotion from him, he taught me what they truly meant."

Andrea nodded, slowly heating her mixture over the flame of the lamp. "Is it... challenging, being devoted to something different than him?" she asked softly.

Luth failed to keep a pained look from his face. "A little. I have not chosen a path that easily employs the message he taught me." Luth gave a heavy sigh, "The things that are worth doing rarely are easy."

Andrea smiled faintly, a little sad, a little bitter, smelling the mixture she was working on before adding more of the white powder. "Indeed," she agreed, glancing up at Luth. She squinted faintly at him in the dull light. "Will you show me what he looks like?" she asked finally with a little curious tilt of her head.

Luth smirked. "Yeah I could do that, Give me a second." Luth closed his eyes in concentration before his features and form shifted. It took him only a few seconds before he looked like a man some where between his late 50's to 60's. His features where not too different from the ones Luth normally wore.

Andrea watched him, a shiver running down her spine as his features shifted, but only slightly. She blinked in surprise and set the poison she was creating aside, rising gracefully to her feet and moving towards him. "You choose to look like him," she murmured, studying his face, his build, openly curious.

Luth shifted uncomfortably as Andrea approached him, feeling decidedly strange under her scrutinizing gaze. "Yes."

Andrea, without truly thinking about the gesture, reached out to brush her fingers along Luth's now bearded cheek. "It's amazing, what you can do..." she murmured, shaking her head slightly in awe, her eyes dark and warm.

Luth's face tingled as Andrea's fingers touched him. He stood up from the bed quickly and moved away from Andrea clearly panicked.

Andrea blinked at him, obviously confused. She looked down at her hands, rubbing her fingers together. "My hands are clean. I'm careful; there's no poison," she promised him, frowning faintly but letting him put distance between them.

Luth stared at the floor and shifted into his normal form. His face was flushed and his breathing a little quick. "No...that's...I just...it's..."

"Have I offended you? I meant the compliment out of respect," Andrea tried, frowning and watching him.

Luth closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths trying to push away his conflicting emotions. "No, you haven't offended me. I just...I just...nevermind." Luth's tone was panicked and he frantically tried to change the subject. "So you seemed to enjoy making poisons."

"You would prefer I refrain from touching you?" she asked, still puzzled and unwilling to let the matter drop without an explanation.

Luth continued to stare at the floor. "Yes. I...it could...I just...I wouldn't want it to accidentally be misconstrued as something that its not. It could make things difficult, and I don't know how Jhaer would feel."

Andrea blinked, surprised again. "How Jhaer would feel?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Luth shifted visually agitated. "Yes...we are sort of together...I think"

"Oh...you're...courting her?" Andrea asked dully, brow furrowed.

Luth looked up at Andrea. "Yes."

"Oh..." Andrea met his eyes, staring at him for a moment. An unreadable expression moved across her face, part surprise, part something else. Perhaps regret. She dropped her gaze and turned away abruptly, moving back to her place beside the lantern. "Yes, I enjoy my work. It's peaceful. Time for me to be alone, working with my hands. It's something I can control, something I'm skilled in. Even when other things are going wrong and I fail in my assignments, I know that I am talented at this," she said without looking up from the clear liquid as she poured it over a beetle from one of her jars. Her tone was cool and calm again but clipped in a way unusual for her.

Luth felt like an idiot. How could he not have known? "I'm sorry. I didn't know...I hadn't realized."

Andrea shook her head, swirling the beetle in the liquid and then pouring it into a tiny glass vial. Her movements where quick and graceful and precise. "Here," she murmured, cutting off his apology, holding out the bottle full of clear liquid.

Luth silently accepted the bottle and met Andreas eyes briefly before looking away. "I...I should get going. I'll pay you for this tomorrow." Luth turned to leave.

Andrea caught his wrist as he took the bottle and turned to leave. "There's time yet to make you another. Wait," she told him softly, composed again.

Luth flinched away from her touch. "Okay, but only for a little while more."

Andrea released him as soon as she had his attention. She held his gaze and moment longer before starting to grind new powder. "I apologize," she murmured.

Luth shuffled his feet. "Nothing to apologize for. This is just...awkward."

Andrea frowned. "Perhaps. But it is customary, I think, for what is said and done in this room to stay in this room." She moved quickly, her movements sure and practiced as she brewed the second batch of poison. "I don't want payment for these," she said softly. "It's miserable, working hard all the time and only having a string of failures to show for all your sacrifice, for your will and your drive and your desire to follow your duty. I want only for these to help you find success, and care for Anora."

Luth watched Andrea’s quick fluid movements as she brewed the second poison. "I feel terrible not giving you anything in return for these; I will try to find a way to use these in fulfilling my duty. For Anora's benefit." Luth took a deep breath "And I won't say a word about what has happened in this room."

"Thank you," Andrea said softly and some tension seemed to leave her shoulders, though she didn't yet look up at him from her work. "They cost hardly anything to make and I've known how to brew them since I was eleven. Don't regret the gift."

"I won't." Luth replied barely above a whisper.

Andrea finished her work in silence, flipping through her book once more. She offered the second vial of poison to Luth, meeting his eyes fleetingly, her expression calm and oddly gentle in the flickering light. But she didn't speak, quickly packing up her tools so no trace could be found of her activities. "Help me move the bed?" she asked.

Luth accepted the vial from Andrea's outstretched hand, trying to ignore the warm sensation that radiated from where their fingers touched, and pulled back. "I'll help you move the bed, but then I really have to go."

Andrea nodded and set her pack aside. Together they gingerly shifted the rickety bed back into place. She took one last sweeping look around the room as she replaced the lamp's glass cover and set it beside the bed. Satisfied, Andrea picked up her satchel and cast a final glance back at Luth as she opened the door, expression mildly curious and questioning as to how he planned to escape the building unseen.

Luth looked at Andrea for a moment, and then moved toward the window and opened it. "Would you mind closing it behind me?" Luth didn't wait for her to respond, he activated his vanisher's cloak again, dropped to the alley floor below and ran as far as he could before his invisibility ran out.

Andrea shut and locked the window before leaving The Thrust and Parry. The woman at the front desk glanced at her as she passed but did nothing more as the Thayan woman stepped out into the cool night. She sighed, tracing a different path back to the inn where she was staying with the others, feeling oddly lonely and sad.

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:27:26 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!gwydyon!!!

Time for a change

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:39:15 GMT

So I'm completely bored of my hair and am going tomorrow to get it cut. Unfortunately I have no idea what I want it to look like, except for short and different. I don't mind being at the mercy of my hairstylist, but I'd rather not irritate her with my complete lack of direction, since shes the one with the scissors. so if anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it!

Cause Personality Tests Are Fun

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:06:57 GMT

I don't think its too far off ^_____^

Deity Chibis!

Sat, 31 May 2008 17:51:04 GMT

I wanted to make more chibis ^____^ so I decided to do the deities of the Forgotten Realms, well not all of them cause there is quite a lot.

From left to right: Ilmater, Lathander, Chauntea, Lolth, Mystra, Mask, Sune, Ohgma, Umberlee, Torm, Kelemvor, Tymora, Bashaba, Gond, Shar, Selune, Bane, Mielikki, Shaundakul, Waukeen, and Malar. ^______^

I <3 Chibis!!

Thu, 29 May 2008 21:53:44 GMT

coramegan has gotten me addicted to making these chibis! So I've made a bunch from NTGC!

or
From left to right: Vilda, Uregaunt, Serade, Arivilar, Fire Priest dude, Kershak, Lady Bloodhawk, Galath, and Galath on Nim. I added Danilo

D&D Meme ^__^

Mon, 19 May 2008 04:05:59 GMT

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Druid (3rd Level)

Ability Scores:

Strength-12

Dexterity-9

Constitution-13

Intelligence-13

Wisdom-15

Charisma-14

Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.

Class:
Druids gain power not by ruling nature but by being at one with it. They hate the unnatural, including aberrations or undead, and destroy them where possible. Druids receive divine spells from nature, not the gods, and can gain an array of powers as they gain experience, including the ability to take the shapes of animals. The weapons and armor of a druid are restricted by their traditional oaths, not simply training. A druid's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that they can cast.

Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

^____^ RP time!

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:21:14 GMT

Title: Much Needed Advice
Characters: Sid and Luth
Word Count: ~ 1600
Notes: this is an RP between miss_arel and I, it takes place during the one day stay in Baulder's Gate on the way to Llork

At first, Sid might have been willing to write it off as just his imagination. After all, he HAD been away from the party for a while; it was possible that he'd just forgotten how paranoid and jumpy Luth could be. But he still couldn't quite shake the feeling that there was something different about Luth -- something in the look in his eyes, the way he held himself. That brawl with Andrea the day of the siege, that was also unlike him.

Jasper sensed the change, too, hissing into Sid's mind that the changeling even smelled different. But it wasn't until they were attacked by the ogres on the road to Baldur's Gate, and Sid saw just how often Luth kept glancing at Jhaer, saw the look of anxiety and worry on his face (a look which Sid had previously thought reserved only for Anora), that it began to make sense.

He waited, however, to bring up the subject. Only after they'd reached Baldur's Gate and after Miss Anvilheart's services had been requisitioned did Sid approach Luth as they walked back to the inn, reaching up to tap the young man's elbow lightly.

"So, how've you been?"

Walking back to the inn, Luth's mind was elsewhere; specifically, he was thinking of Jhaer. He had spent a significant portion of the day watching her track down a wayfarer guide, and marveling over just how good she was with people. It was like she could just smile and people fell all over themselves. He understood their reactions; when Jhaer smiled at him, every comprehensible thought seemed to fly from his head. Luth was so lost in his musings he didn't notice Sid's approach and nearly jumped out of his skin at Sid's tap on his arm.

"I'm... I've been better." Luth tried to give Sid a reassuring grin but instead managed to look singularly pathetic.

Sid raised his head (having ducked it a moment ago to avoid Luth's sharp elbow) and gave Luth a friendly, sympathetic smile. "Yeah," he agreed, "You don't exactly seem like your normal sunny self these days." He looked around, seeing their friends and companions distributing themselves around the inn, then looked back up at Luth. "Hey, you want to go get a drink?" His tone was casual, friendly. He didn't want to alarm Luth, after all, and the poor kid looked jumpy enough already. More than ever, he looked like he could really use a drink... and buying him one would also provide Sid with an opportunity to find out just what was on Luth's mind.

"That... that sounds wonderful." Luth flashed Sid a genuine grin. "Though my limit’s two. I remember last time we got drinks; or rather, I don't remember."

Luth procured a table that was relatively private -- it wasn't too hard as there currently weren't too many patrons -- and ordered two drinks. "First drink’s on me."

Sid chuckled and shook his head as he hopped up onto a chair. "That's kind of you," he said. "I'll get the next round."

The serving girl took their order and swished off, and Sid turned his attention back to Luth. "So," he said, resting his weight on his elbows as he leaned forward, "What's been going on with you, Luth?"

Luth didn't even know how to begin. "Ummm...well, not too much besides that whole siege thing, I guess."

Luth was saved from elaborating by the return of the serving girl. Luth accepted his drink with a mumbled thanks and took a long pull from it before continuing. "Things just have been kinda complicated and confusing lately."

"Yeah, that whole day was pretty... intense," Sid agreed, taking a sip of his drink. "Seemed like it was pretty hard on everyone."

But no one else started a fistfight, Jasper pointed out helpfully, coiled up snugly inside the pouch at his belt. Sid's mouth quirked in a faint smirk at that.

"Complicated? How so?"

"Well, umm... err... gods, I don't even know where to start." Luth ran his free hand through his hair in a frustrated manner. "No wait, yes I do. The day before the siege we ambushed the ushemoi army between Beragaust and Candle Keep. During the battle I failed in my duty... again." Luth remarked bitterly, "Anora almost died at the hand of one of the turlemoi... I don't know what would of happened if Levanter hadn't been there to save her." Luth took another deep drink from the tankard.

"And then after the battle Jhaer showed up to tell us that Galath was in trouble, she was wearing the comb I gave her. Then she kissed me and ran off in the other direction, I realize now I probably should have gone after her right then but Anora and Levanter jumped me, making a huge godsdamnned deal about the whole thing, so I fled. Then I got called out by that elf paladin Arivilar, for being a security risk because I was a changeling. Anyway, it was at least an hour before found Jhaer and stuttered like an idiot at her... b-but then..." Luth trailed off trying to hide his flush in his cup.

Sid smiled faintly, raising an eyebrow. "But then? I'm guessing something good happened."

Luth stared at the bottom of his now empty cup. "I-I slept with Jhaer"

Sid had more or less expected that answer, but he hadn't expected Luth to look so down about it. Seemed like the poor kid had a hard time being happy about anything, but given everything Luth just told him, Sid supposed he couldn't blame him for that.

Still, he smiled at the young man, nodding. "Thought you might say that. Did you... enjoy yourselves?"

Luth didn't know if he could get any redder. "Oh gods yes, well... um... I think she did... I'm pretty sure... I certainly did... it was... she was."

Sid chuckled softly, but kindly. "I'm happy for you, Luth," he said, meeting the changeling's eyes. "For both of you." He took another gulp of his drink and set the glass down. "I just thought you'd be, well, happier."

Luth gave a heavy sigh. "I just don't know what to do from here. I don't know if this was a one time thing or not. I don't know how she feels about me, gods I must seem like a child to her. I just...I dunno... I want to be what she wants me to be but I can't tell what that is." Luth made a frustrated sound. "I just can't ever tell what she's thinking."

"Knowing what people are thinking is overrated," Sid muttered as he drained his glass. "Trust me."

He set the glass down and looked up at Luth, smiling again. "Look at it this way: she wouldn't have chosen you if you weren't what she wanted. She clearly wants you. Not me, or Levanter, or Garvin, or anyone. She picked you, and she did it for a reason."

"Ah." Luth fiddled with his empty cup. "I. Um. I hadn't... thought about it that way." Luth hadn't really thought that anyone could want him, but Sid seemed to think that Jhaer did.

"Um." Luth struggled with words for a moment. "I. Uh... I'm feeling a little out of my depth here... I don't know if anything more will happen... wi-with Jhaer... but... in case it does... um. I. I don't really... I haven't a clue about what I'm doing. And you seem to have much more experience... what um. Is there anything... ah... I could do that... um..." Luth buried his flushed face in his hands, wondering why asking for advice was so hard.

"First time, huh?" Sid asked, smiling but very carefully not laughing. "Well, no wonder you were nervous." He flagged down the serving girl and ordered a second round of drinks -- stronger, this time.

"Yeah, it was." Luth thankfully accepted the second drink from the serving girl. He took a drink, trying to drink this one slower than the first. He could no longer tell if the heat in his face was from his embarrassment or the alcohol.

"Well," Sid said, choosing his words carefully, "if it's advice you want, I'll do my best to answer any questions you might have. Here, or in private," he added, glancing around the now crowded room.

Luth gave Sid a look that was both grateful and pleading. "That is... That would be... please." He took a couple of deep breaths trying to get himself under control. "Though I think after we finish our drinks I would prefer to move to some place not so... exposed."

Sid chuckled and nodded, reaching into his pocket for some coins to leave on the table. "I was about to suggest the same thing," he agreed. "But, still, no need to rush our drinks."

Luth flashed Sid a smile "Right."

Luth wasn't sure what it was that Sid had ordered for their second round, but he was significantly buzzed by the time they had finished with their drinks. Which in hindsight, Luth thought was probably a good thing. He didn't think he could of asked half of the questions he posed to Sid if he had been entirely sober. The conversation proved to be... enlightening. Sid proved to be a wellspring of information on the subject, answering all the questions Luth had asked -- and some that he hadn't. Luth just hoped that he would have the chance to apply his new-found knowledge.

Why didn't I think of this

Sun, 04 May 2008 18:25:11 GMT

So sometimes you come across a design that is so simple yet useful that you wonder why you didn't come up with the idea. Like those plastic tab things that hold close bread bags or post-it notes. Well I ran into something today that made me feel like that, it is so simple and yet I will never have to worry about spilling my coffee all over my hand while I illegally run across the street again ^______^ It is little green swizzle stick that is also a stopper that plugs the hole in the lid of your cup.

Okay so I'm easily impressed.

Next Time Gamers RP!

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:21:49 GMT

Title: Some Things Are Universal
Charaters:, Andrea, Luth
Rating: PG
Note: Takes place during the A to B adventure!
This is a rp coramegan and I have been working on for a while now hope you enjoy it ^___^

Ever since Anora had told him about the conversation she had with Andrea, Luth has been even more uneasy about her. She might have told Anora a little about her past but it wasn't particularly enlightening about why she was so obsessed with Anora, or what she hoped to gain by traveling with them. He just didn't know enough about her, and what he did know wasn't cutting it. He knew that she had hero worshiped her father, who by Anora's account sounded like an evil man and that she wished to follow in his footsteps.

He knew the only way he was going to find out more about Andrea was to talk to her and get her to talk to him, and though that seemed an impossible task Luth was determined to try. Andrea was riding ahead of him he took his horse up beside her. "So" he began lamely "You have been hanging out with Anora a lot lately."

Andrea raised an eyebrow at Luth as he drew his horse up beside her. They haven't truly spoken to one another since the Temple of Helm, and the brief conversation they have shared left Andrea with the distinct impression that Luth would like nothing more than to keep as much distance between them as possible. Perhaps an ocean or two. When he mentioned Anora, her surprise faded away and she returned her gaze to the road before them. "Yes, I have," she agreed mildly.

Luth thought quickly if he didn't find some way to start a conversation he was never going to find out anything. "I've known Anora all her life. It's strange for me to see her spending significant amounts of time with someone I don't know. So perhaps we can be more than just strangers to each other."

Andrea frowned thoughtfully but nodded. That made sense. And Luth seemed to know the others that Anora frequently traveled with. "Perhaps," she agreed with a faint smirk. "I assure you, the time we're spent together was innocent, if that's what you're concerned about. It's a rare thing, traveling with another woman living on the road as it were."

Innocent? Damn it! He hadn't even thought of that. Well, that was another thing that could go on his growing list of concerns. "I know Anora enjoys having a woman around to talk to. She enjoys having, what did she call it? Oh yeah, girl talk"

"Mmm, as do I, oddly," Andrea agreed reluctantly, making a face as though she'd tasted something bitter. "Very odd. All the places one gets sore after riding a horse too long, monthly bleeding... I still need to ask her about bearing children," she mused to herself.

Luth kept his features blank this was not the kind of conversation he wanted to have. "That does seem" Luth faltered "inconvenient. Even though I can take female form I don't ever keep the form long enough to have to deal with...those kinds of things."

"That's very interesting. Do your private areas change as well, then?" Andrea asked with perfect composure, genuinely intrigued by the idea. And deeply amused by the look on the man's face.

"Only if I want to. I don't take female form often." Luth needed to find a way to change this conversation.

"So you prefer being male, then. Why male instead of female? Or, perhaps better put, what are the benefits of being male versus female?" Andrea asked, turned fully in the saddle to face Luth now, deeply engaged in the conversation.

"Umm.." Luth tried to keep himself from fidgeting with discomfort "Well I feel most comfortable being male, since well, I am male. As for the benefits of being male versus female, it really depends on the people I am interacting with." Luth took a deep breath "I think it matters more if I look intimidating as opposed to non-threatening."

"Oh, forgive me, Luth, I didn't realize you have a sex. Hmm." Her tone was sincere, her expression honestly surprised. She pondered that for a moment, scanning the road before then and the woods around them before continuing. "Intimidating vs. non-threatening. And you find using one sex for one, and the other for the other accomplishes this goal?" Andrea asked with a slight hardening of her expression, a tightening of her mouth that showed with perfect clarity what her opinion on the question was.

Luth winced, he didn't know why her considering him sexless stung but it did. He ignored the feeling and answered her question "Not exactly. It is not that I specify one sex for one or anything like that. Though I will admit it is harder for me to disguise myself as a female, and since I am not a particularly intimidating individual, I find that if I need to be intimidating I will go as a male." Luth paused and looked at Andrea's hardened expression. "Do you find that being a woman hinders you?"

Andrea hesitated but nodded, turning her gaze back to the road and narrowing her eyes. "It has in the past. People are less likely to take me seriously when I seek work. I've watched jobs that I was well qualified for given to men after being denied to me. …I imagine that the combination of being a woman, being of Thayan descent, and being…not tall, plays against me. Why is it harder to disguise yourself as a woman?" she asked without taking her eyes from the road.

"My disguises are just not as good, as I am changing a lot more of myself." Luth paused he was suposed to be getting answers from her not the other way around. "Why did you leave Thay? I assume because of your accent you lived there."

Andrea nodded, relaxing slowly though her eyes remain on the road before them. "I grew up there. I left to study at the School of Nine Swords in Silverdale."

"Is that where you picked up your particular fighting style? It's impressive." Luth wasn't about to admit to himself that he was a little jealous of her skill.

Andrea frowned. Lust had never given her a compliment before. She thought back but could remember no instance when he'd praised her. Usually he glared at her or voiced his distrust or ordered her to stay away from Anora. "Thank you," she murmured, schooling her expression into calm neutrality. "I assume you learned your skills in service of Anora's family?"

Luth relaxed a little, conversing about fighting styles made him feel a lot less awkward than the previous conversation. "I did. Though the skills I employ you can learn in any back alley. The skills you, Anora, and Nexus employ are a whole other caliber. What was training like at the school?"

Andrea considered for a moment. "Rigorous. My master was exceptionally talented and had high standards, though mine were higher," she confided. "It was unlike anything I'd endeavored to learn in the past, mastering the stances and energy manipulation of the Swordsage."

Genuinely intrigued, Luth desired to know more. "So, did you learn one on one with your master or was training done in groups?"

"Both. Initially, we were trained as a group. In my second year of training, however, I spent more time training alone with my master." Andrea frowned faintly. "It would be...good, to be able to visit him again. And you? What was your training like, Luth?"

Luth looked away "Harsh, but fair. My master strove to push me both mentally and physically." He paused and sighed. "Every day. It is important that I do my job well; failure isn't an option. I don't spare any affection for my master, but I respect him. You seem rather fond of your master, what was he like?"

Andrea considered for a moment, expression thoughtful. "Fair as well, though I would not describe him as harsh. He was…eccentric. He loved telling stories, perhaps to a fault, and didn't understand the standards to which I held myself. But he was a master in his art. Terrible and wonderful to watch. I am but a novice by comparison. Fighting him…was joyous."

"Joyous, huh." Luth had never attributed joy to fighting, pride maybe, but never joy. "How many years did you spend under his tutelage?"

"Just over two years," Andrea replies, his reservations lost on her.

Luth looked at Andrea with a surprised expression "Two years is not a lot of time, He must have been a very gifted teacher or you a very gifted student. You said he was eccentric for telling stories was he some sort of bard?"

Andrea tried very hard not to sigh and roll her eyes but was only marginally successful. "No. A sailor of sorts. An adventurer. He enjoyed traveling and collecting stories, histories. Sharing them with others. …I rather imagine my success was his skills as a teacher rather than mine as a student."

This was the most emotion Luth had ever seen from Andrea "He seems like an enjoyable person to be around, being a talented teacher and scholar both." He replied not being able to keep an envious tone from his voice.

Andrea frowned faintly, either not noticing or ignoring the envy in his tone. "I suppose. Different students are better suited to different styles of teaching, though. I was accustomed to a much more focused and strict education prior to my training with Master Farkeep."

"What is it that you learned before your training with Master Farkeep?" Luth tried to ask nonchalantly.

"My father taught me to use a knife," Andrea stated, gaze fixed on the road before them, expression blank.

Looking at Andrea, Luth could tell she didn't want to talk about it but decided to take a little bit of a risk. "Was your father strict in your education? It sounds as if his teaching style was very different from your masters."

Andrea's expression didn't waver, nor did her posture. "My father believed strongly that one should be allowed to make her own mistakes and suffer the consequences. Master Farkeep...not as much."

Luth felt a tug of empathy "And whose teachings do you feel have benefited you more?"

Andrea considered for a moment, thoughtful. "I believe that my father's methods were better suited to preparing me for life in the real world, on the road. But the things I learned from Master Farkeep have proved more useful thus far. Still, it is hard to say which is more valuable: the tools of one's trade, or the values and beliefs imparted by one's parent. Do you agree?" She turned a considering eye on Luth.

Luth thought a moment "I would agree, but I think that our situations are different. My master better prepared me for the harshness of life on the road and the skills I would need to face them, but the values imparted by my father are the reason I use those skills."

Andrea frowned thoughtfully. "How so?"

Luth looked at Andrea "He taught me the value of self sacrifice and how important it is to try to end the suffering of others."

Andrea was quite for a moment, watching him with a curious expression. "What is your father like?"

Luth struggled a little before answering "Its hard to explain...he is a paladin. Bran is always so sure of himself, around him everything always seems to make more sense; right, wrong they always were clear. He is always giving all of himself to stop the suffering of others he doesn't keep anything for himself. I don't know if you will understand me, I don't explain it well, but its a hard path to follow."

Andrea was quiet for a moment, expression almost wistful, almost sad. "He sounds like my father. Or how I see my father... It's comforting just to be near him because he always seems to know what to do, because it's always warm there, and safe..." She trailed off, thinking, frowning.

Luth looked slightly puzzled before he asked "Or how you see your father?" He left the question open ended not really knowing how to continue it.

Andrea's frown hardened. "I don't believe Anora agrees." She shook her head, obviously irritated. "Regardless, yes, I think understand what you mean. About having a hard path to follow."

Luth feigned surprise "Anora doesn't agree? That is disconcerting....Anora doesn't alway understand the intent of other people"

Andrea looked confused. "She doesn't?"

"No, she doesn't...but what was your father like? Why do you think Anora disagrees with you?" Luth tried to sound supportive.

"Anora and I...disagree about my father's methods of punishing me when I was a child. I'd rather not discuss it. My father, though..." Andrea smiles faintly, looking away from Luth. "He raised me, taught me, provided for me... He's my only family, so far as I know."

Luth debated with himself a moment before speaking "Family a difficult thing for me. Bran is my family and so is Anora and the rest of the Marthareus family. They are not of my blood but they are the only thing I have." He paused and debated with himself farther before pressing on "I know a little about what you and Anora discussed... Anora lies very poorly to me... but I wanted to know how you felt about your father without coloring your reactions. Everyone feels defensive if they think their families is under scrutiny... and like I said Anora doesn't understand certain things... but its part of my job to help her understand."

A look of irritation passed over Andrea's features and she opened her mouth to protest but Luth continued and so she held her tongue. She was frankly surprised at his candidness. She paused a moment, blinked, and nodded as though that made good sense to her. She was quiet a moment, considering the best way to explain. "My father is my only family. My mother died in childbirth and I have no siblings. He was the only constant in my life as a child. We moved constantly, but he made sure I never went hungry and I always had a safe place to sleep. I spent my days on the street while he worked, but all the children there... They had no family to speak of, they were always hungry, they slept in allies and dark corners. And when he wasn't busy with his work, he was always teaching me, so that even when I was on my own during the day I could take care of myself and when I went out into the world on my own I would be able to provide for myself. He was strict and harsh, yes, but... I look up to him the way you look up to your father."

"Ah" Luth said nothing else for a long moment "Thank you for telling me, its getting late I should go help Garvin scout out a camp...but I would like to tell you something my father told me 'No one is without fault, and everyone deserves mercy'"

Andrea turned her gaze back to the road and nodded, expression thoughtful and difficult to read. "You're welcome," she murmured.

Luth rode away thinking about what he had found out about Andrea and hoped it was less then she had found out about him. He knew that she hero worshiped a man whose morals were ambiguous at best and that he was the person she wished to model her life after. Luth thought that he understood her feelings, what if it hadn't been Bran who found him when he was seven? What if it had been a man more akin to Andrea's father, would he feel any different from her? This talk had done nothing to alleviate his apprehension of Andrea, in fact it made him realize how much of a potential threat she actually was.

So... Roll a Sense Motive Check

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:09:10 GMT

ratzeo and I had a short RP thing that he wanted to have but didn't fit in during last session. I think my fellow gamers would like to know what went down so I am posting it, though not in its original form zinjadu helped me translate it into a more story format.

Luth had been on edge for days, not comfortable with so many alert people about. He was making an adjustment to his tent, fiddling with a peg, when he noticed that paladin of Mystra looking at him suspiciously. Taking a second to gauge the other man, Luth realized that Arivilar was suspicous of him. The paladin kept sneaking glances over at him while talking to Serade.

Luth grimaced, but knew that running away would only make it look worse, so he reluctantly stood and approached the heavily armed holy warrior. When he got close the obsidian hand that floated above Serade's staff snapped its fingers, getting the paladin's attention, then it pointed to Luth. Serade and the holy warrior stopped talking to each other and focused on Luth. Tamping down his discomfort at being the subject of scrutiny, Luth spoke.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I noticed you staring at me. Have I done something to upset you?" he asked.

"Uh... Well..." Arivilar stalled. Serade, never one to miss a beat, talked over the elf.

"He's just uncomfortable with the fact you're a changeling, don't worry about it." Her tone plainly told Luth that she wasn't worried. The floating hand even made a little shrugging motion. Neither of them seemed worried. Arivilar only managed to look embarassed. Probably because he was caught.

"You are the real Luth, right?" Serade continued, an almost cheerful tone in her voice.

"... Yes." Luth spoke as dryly as he could.

"See? It's fine. You worry too much," Serade scolded the paladin. The finger wagged its finger at Arivilar in a dissaproving manner.

"I... Uh..." Luth stammered.

"Yes, yes," Arivilar sighed, and waved Luth into silence. "Of course. The fact that this could have actually been a security breach means nothing, I see. No, it isn't your fault. I can understand why you don't choose to wear your natural form most of the time."

"Uh, yeah. Thanks," Luth managed before he turned to leave, wanting to be very far from that paladin.

"So long, Luth!" Serade called after him, both of her hands waving good-bye. "Try to get some rest before tomorrow!"

Not likely, he thought to himself, just happy to have not been revealed to really be a spy. Then they would have asked who he spied for, and that would have gotten Anora and her family into it, and... That would have gotten very awkward. Very, very awkward.