Farm Work - Year's End

[Timmean]

A day after returning from The Mists, Timmean can be found working in his fields, completing any last chores to be done before winter. His outfit is one of the old, worn ones he kept before his transformation, and the tools of the field are as simple and rough as ever. Still, despite all this, he stands a little straighter, a little taller, and the work has a slightly more graceful feel than usual. As he goes about the fields, he reflects on The Mists, on Faerie, on Lord Water and his championship, on the island, the rift, and the scattered members of his family. But one question appears in his mind over and over:

I wonder who my first student will be?

[Lady Val]

Lady Val watches as Timmean works the fields. She takes time to appreciate his graceful form and notices his now handsome face. His eyes look tired though. He is worried. Val leans gracefully on the railing and allows her mind to wander.

I wonder what happened to Fey. How everyone would have reacted to her if she was still serving me. Things may have been very different. She may have been able to sprit Teek away to the astral plane long ago and prevented this whole business with Oliphandrius. I hope Teek will run into her someday on the astral plane, I think they would get along well together. She never seems to keep in touch... but then again, why would she. Ah well, at least she is happy... probably.

Her thoughts turn to the Mists and her conversation with Bikbun the night before. He really is very sweet... She looks back at Timmean. And he isn't an Elf... Lady Val feels a small bit of satisfaction for her thoughts of rebellion. Mother would hate him. She smiles and watches the treetops sway in the Autumnal breeze. Then again, Mother would hate all of them. Too common for her. In the distance Val sees a somewhat heavier Ravira hunting in the woods. Smoke from Bikbun's forge rises from its place by the Fire Circle, and she can hear the clatter of pots and pans from in the Inn and the smell of Phineas' rabbit stew. But sometimes, common is nice.

[Lady Val]

Lady Val suddenly remembers something and walks into the inn to find Phineas.

[Timmean]

The day ends, another dawns, passes, and then another. As Timmean continues his work, he is glancing around now, looking more nervous and frustrated.

No on... NO ONE. I cannot maintain this championship for long, and yet no one else steps forward. Have I not made it clear enough? Is the interest in water truly that low, or is it instead a lack of interest in magic altogether? Whatever the reason, the problem remains. We need a champion. Someone, SOMEONE, please...

[Ira the Elf]

Out of the woods pops a tiny little Elf. She sees someone working in the fields and comes over to say hello. She notices the pointed ears on the man from behind and gets excited.

"Greetings Master Elf! What brings you to Holdfast? Are you a friend of Mr. Timmean's?"

[Timmean]

Timmean straightens and blinks, surprised and momentarily confused by the question. A moment later he realises the reason for the mix-up, and he begins to chuckle. Smiling wide and turning around, he gives a slight wave. "Ah, Ira, good day. I've, um... gone through some changes."

[Ira the Elf]

Ira gasps in surprise.

"Mr. Timmean, I mean Master Timmean, I didn't know you were an Elf! You were hiding it so very well! I mean you even had Lord Water convinced you were a human! You must be a pretty powerful essence mage!"

She takes a moment to think on things and then becomes embarrassed, immediately taking on a more formal tone. "I am so sorry I called you Old Man Tim and Mr. Timmean, it was very rude of me to not show you the respect you are due as my elder." She bows gracefully.

"But why did you suddenly remove your disguise? Did someone catch you putting on your glamour Master Timmean? And by the way, if I may ask, where is everyone today? I haven't seen any of the Knights at all and they are usually wandering around protecting Holdfast."

[Timmean]

Timmean is smiling and chuckling as Ira goes on, though his face does drop a little at her last question. "Ah, um... well, to start, I was a human. Like I said, this is... new. I... ah, well..." Timmean pauses for a moment, thinking, then sighs; "Um... did you hear about the group of elves who came through town a little while ago? The elves... with a human slave?"

[Ira the Elf]

"Elves? Human slave? No I didn't know that we were visited by other Elves. Who were they and how did they turn you into an Elf? I thought only the Faerie could do that."

[Timmean]

Timmean shakes his head, looking a little sad now. "Faerie did. Those elves got into a fight with the Knights; a fight that ended with the elves dead. An... unfortunate outcome, though I know the Knights and others tried to resolve things more peacefully. Regardless, myself and a few others travelled to The Mists, to speak with Faerie and try to stop any other fighting. Judgements were passed on all of us... and for myself, I was given this blessing. The judgements were generally merciful, but... well... Pierre died. It was an honourable death, and a swift one, and I'm sure he'll be back, but... it was still a death. Most of the Knights took that news very hard. They're still working through things."

[Degren Brightforge]

Walking through the field carefully so as to avoid crushing any crops, Degren makes his way to Timmean. He gives everyone present a quick nod, then hands a small piece of paper to the champion. It reads:

Greetings. I was glad to see that you returned relatively unharmed by your excursion into the mists. I have noted the changes in both yourself and Herr, and I thought it prudent to ask you: are you pleased with this transformation? If you are, I am pleased for you; however,
If you are not, I would like to offer my help in trying to return you ( or Herr) to your previous states. I would make it my personal quest to aid you any way I could. It is only an offer,
I hope It does not offend.

[Timmean]

Timmean nods and smiles. "No offence taken. My feelings on the matter are... complicated... but in general, yes, I am pleased. I was concerned that the Faerie held a favouritism toward elves, but was pleased to see instead a concern for all life. As such, I'm happy to be counted as one of their children, and I hope we can improve relations here so we never have a conflict like this again. We have dangers all around us; we don't need to make enemies of each other."

There's a brief pause, before Timmean continues; "There are a few things about this that do worry me... mostly, how Marwel will react, and how this will affect the blood pact I've been trapped in. Lord Water wasn't exactly thrilled. But most importantly, how Lynn will react when I visit her..." He lets out a small sigh, "I don't think she'll be pleased."

[Degren Brightforge]

Degren raises an eyebrow, nods, and scribbles on the paper in his hand:
I understand. While I still believe that the Faerie give no consideration for humans, or even their non-elven creations at times, I respect that you believe them to be kind-- Assuming that it is not their will controlling your mind. Should you ever change your mind, seek me out. I'll give you what help I can.

I'm certain your daughter will understand. I'm sure she will see that you did this for the betterment of the town. I did not know Lynn well, but I'm sure if she's of your stock, she'll have a decent head on her shoulders.

As far as Marwel goes, I'm certain that we can expect great, albeit terrible, consequences from her. You know her best, Does she have any weakness that we can prepare for? Some chink in her armor that we can exploit if she attacks? I know she is nearly impervious to attack, but how does she react to poison?She drinks blood, so the poisoned blood of her victim might be able to render her vulnerable.

[Timmean]

Timmean shakes his head and gives a slight shrug. "I know little of Marwel's weaknesses, or if she has weaknesses at all. Poison, perhaps? But there's no way to know without taking a monumental risk. She is a mage, so her reliance on mana is an inherent weakness, but even depriving her of it completely wouldn't be nearly enough to leave her helpless."

"As to the Faerie... they were upset that elves had done harm at all. Yes, they were angered that elves had been killed, but they were also angry at how those elves had behaved. And they showed kindness to Teek, healed her even; in that, they did far more for at least one human than any of us ever could. I know I can't make you fully understand; you weren't there, and it's impossible for me to relay exactly what happened. But I can assure you, they do care for all."

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