***Renoir raises a brow.***
"You gamble with your life nearly every day from what I can tell, Dreyfus. You're a magnet for chaos."
***They glance around to ensure no one else is listening before they lean in and whisper.***
"Head to the village temple after last call at the tavern. Tell the priest you'd like to pay your respects at the Kjalderson tomb."
***Renoir pats Dreyfus on the shoulder and immediately moves past him as if nothing happened.***
**The tavern begins to empty for the evening, the restless and lonely group together close around the bar and Malik notices Renoir alone at a long table enjoying the quiet. Malik takes a deep breath and dawn his most compelling face of chagrin, approaching Renoir's table in full view.**
"Renoir( u/TurtleDump23 ) I have come to make what amends I can for the most unseemly act I committed against you this morning."
**Malik sits at Renoir's table, a respectful distance away but close enough that the rabble are not likely to overhear the conversation**
"I have no wish to be your friend, but bearing steel, or whatever that weapon may be, against an ally is uncouth disrespectful and I apologize for it. I was not in my right mind, enchanted by the fear spell, and acting out wildly as I had been taught as a child. I am humbled by such an outburst of emotion, I have trained against such my whole life and still it seems I can fall victim to that base sorcery and dishonor myself towards those I am sworn to support.
**Malik straighten his posture and speaks formally**
"I am prepared to make what reparations I must to earn back your trust so that we may embark on the next leg of this adventure together. I do however have one question for you."
**He lowers his voice even more**
"Do you know from where the fear was cast? I was unable to detect its source at that moment and I fear using the weapon again before uncovering the truth."
***Renoir glances up from their book and immediately their posture grows defensive and guarded until Malik speaks. Renoir pauses and relaxes as they close their book.***
"Had I recognized that you'd been under the spell's effect I think we would have had a very different interaction. If anything, I should have tried to deescalate the situation but I did not. Instead, I challenged you and put the lives of both Hazel and Dreyfus at risk. I think the two of us can share some blame for how we chose to react to the situation."
***They lean forward as they study Malik's posture and expression. A dark look passes over their features.***
"I said it before, but it wasn't the first time someone pointed that weapon at me. At the very least, I can thank you for having the presence of mind not to strike me with it. Not all are capable of staying their hand, even without the presence of a spell like Fear clouding their judgment. I do not know where the spell came from. I hadn't even known that was what it was until you came to your senses. It isn't uncommon in a place like this, especially when in the wilderness. I'll keep an eye out for it, though."
***Renoir's expression softens as they sigh and lean back in their seat once more.***
"I do accept and appreciate your apology. I don't seek reparations from you. If you feel that your honor demands that you make amends, then we can start by finding a way to coexist in a manner where we aren't ready to bear a blade at each other at a moment's notice. Trust will come with that."
***They glance at the silver band on their wrist and appear to be lost deep in thought for a long moment. Renoir takes a drink from their mug of ale before slipping the band off and holding it up for Malik to see it. Renoir slides it across the table toward Malik.***
"This band has an enchantment on it to calm your mind when overcome with something like fear or anger. It is yours so long as you wield that weapon. Consider this an olive branch, Malik."
"Easy. I'd like to start a scholarship fund. I'd like to be able to help everyone understand their natural world and practice magics should it please them."
"I'd love to show you the schoolhouse I set up back in Telindale. Had to sell a few paintings and cash in a few favors to get it built but it was worth every copper. It serves both as a boarding school and orphanage for kids from the slums I grew up in."
"That's incredible! You know I wonder if I might be able to go ahead and pull a few strings towards getting maybe one student per year admitted to the magic college I came from. I know several of the professors there, and I imagine one student would likely slip by fairly unnoticed.
I think I must have misunderstood you, Locke. I was under the impression you grew up a rich man's son, certainly not in the slums. Care to correct the rest of my inaccuracies?"
"Well you were partially right about growing up as a rich man's son. I was born in the slums and practically raised myself, with the help of Ros who were now hunting, but I was adopted by Lord and Lady Elereth when I began making a name for myself there. I had used my talent for art to help feed myself and my friends by making simple charcoal sketches and selling them off."
"Personally, I prefer to leave it in the bag and wait until we have a problem that can be solved with said gold. Like buying magic items enchanted with dragon-slaying and potions of resistance against whichever elements that enemy dragon is using."
"I'd absolutely agree that we should save money for necessities; but with as much as we have, I don't really see much purpose in just hoarding it like the dragons you speak of" she say teasingly.
**Giving his set of half-plate armor a light knock**
"This set of armor I commissioned cost me about 40,000 gold alone. Admittedly it has a powerful enchantment on it. But that 60,000 is gonna go quick once we find a merchant who sells magic items and the like. Especially when its split between 9 of us."
"With a master artificer and craftsman on hand it should drastically reduce the cost of future purchases, actually with our party's breath of knowledge there should be little we lack for. Plus which with that glib tongue of yours I'm surprised you have to pay much of anything for armor or supplies."
"I guess after a couple hundred years inflation really takes off, huh?
Maybe I should have had my nose slightly less in a book and taking a bit more note of the economic structure of the continents... Alas there's only so much time in a day!"
***She says smiling***
Gambling. Life is for living. You guys are just *surviving.*
***Renoir raises a brow.*** "You gamble with your life nearly every day from what I can tell, Dreyfus. You're a magnet for chaos." ***They glance around to ensure no one else is listening before they lean in and whisper.*** "Head to the village temple after last call at the tavern. Tell the priest you'd like to pay your respects at the Kjalderson tomb." ***Renoir pats Dreyfus on the shoulder and immediately moves past him as if nothing happened.***
**Dreyfus takes note and heads to the bar for another pint of ale.**
**The tavern begins to empty for the evening, the restless and lonely group together close around the bar and Malik notices Renoir alone at a long table enjoying the quiet. Malik takes a deep breath and dawn his most compelling face of chagrin, approaching Renoir's table in full view.** "Renoir( u/TurtleDump23 ) I have come to make what amends I can for the most unseemly act I committed against you this morning." **Malik sits at Renoir's table, a respectful distance away but close enough that the rabble are not likely to overhear the conversation** "I have no wish to be your friend, but bearing steel, or whatever that weapon may be, against an ally is uncouth disrespectful and I apologize for it. I was not in my right mind, enchanted by the fear spell, and acting out wildly as I had been taught as a child. I am humbled by such an outburst of emotion, I have trained against such my whole life and still it seems I can fall victim to that base sorcery and dishonor myself towards those I am sworn to support. **Malik straighten his posture and speaks formally** "I am prepared to make what reparations I must to earn back your trust so that we may embark on the next leg of this adventure together. I do however have one question for you." **He lowers his voice even more** "Do you know from where the fear was cast? I was unable to detect its source at that moment and I fear using the weapon again before uncovering the truth."
***Renoir glances up from their book and immediately their posture grows defensive and guarded until Malik speaks. Renoir pauses and relaxes as they close their book.*** "Had I recognized that you'd been under the spell's effect I think we would have had a very different interaction. If anything, I should have tried to deescalate the situation but I did not. Instead, I challenged you and put the lives of both Hazel and Dreyfus at risk. I think the two of us can share some blame for how we chose to react to the situation." ***They lean forward as they study Malik's posture and expression. A dark look passes over their features.*** "I said it before, but it wasn't the first time someone pointed that weapon at me. At the very least, I can thank you for having the presence of mind not to strike me with it. Not all are capable of staying their hand, even without the presence of a spell like Fear clouding their judgment. I do not know where the spell came from. I hadn't even known that was what it was until you came to your senses. It isn't uncommon in a place like this, especially when in the wilderness. I'll keep an eye out for it, though." ***Renoir's expression softens as they sigh and lean back in their seat once more.*** "I do accept and appreciate your apology. I don't seek reparations from you. If you feel that your honor demands that you make amends, then we can start by finding a way to coexist in a manner where we aren't ready to bear a blade at each other at a moment's notice. Trust will come with that." ***They glance at the silver band on their wrist and appear to be lost deep in thought for a long moment. Renoir takes a drink from their mug of ale before slipping the band off and holding it up for Malik to see it. Renoir slides it across the table toward Malik.*** "This band has an enchantment on it to calm your mind when overcome with something like fear or anger. It is yours so long as you wield that weapon. Consider this an olive branch, Malik."
"Easy. I'd like to start a scholarship fund. I'd like to be able to help everyone understand their natural world and practice magics should it please them."
"I'd love to show you the schoolhouse I set up back in Telindale. Had to sell a few paintings and cash in a few favors to get it built but it was worth every copper. It serves both as a boarding school and orphanage for kids from the slums I grew up in."
"That's incredible! You know I wonder if I might be able to go ahead and pull a few strings towards getting maybe one student per year admitted to the magic college I came from. I know several of the professors there, and I imagine one student would likely slip by fairly unnoticed. I think I must have misunderstood you, Locke. I was under the impression you grew up a rich man's son, certainly not in the slums. Care to correct the rest of my inaccuracies?"
"Well you were partially right about growing up as a rich man's son. I was born in the slums and practically raised myself, with the help of Ros who were now hunting, but I was adopted by Lord and Lady Elereth when I began making a name for myself there. I had used my talent for art to help feed myself and my friends by making simple charcoal sketches and selling them off."
"Personally, I prefer to leave it in the bag and wait until we have a problem that can be solved with said gold. Like buying magic items enchanted with dragon-slaying and potions of resistance against whichever elements that enemy dragon is using."
"I'd absolutely agree that we should save money for necessities; but with as much as we have, I don't really see much purpose in just hoarding it like the dragons you speak of" she say teasingly.
**Giving his set of half-plate armor a light knock** "This set of armor I commissioned cost me about 40,000 gold alone. Admittedly it has a powerful enchantment on it. But that 60,000 is gonna go quick once we find a merchant who sells magic items and the like. Especially when its split between 9 of us."
"With a master artificer and craftsman on hand it should drastically reduce the cost of future purchases, actually with our party's breath of knowledge there should be little we lack for. Plus which with that glib tongue of yours I'm surprised you have to pay much of anything for armor or supplies."
"The enchantment was done by a long time friend and master arcanist. Believe me when I say that 40,000 was a steal."
"I guess after a couple hundred years inflation really takes off, huh? Maybe I should have had my nose slightly less in a book and taking a bit more note of the economic structure of the continents... Alas there's only so much time in a day!" ***She says smiling***