This post has the following content warnings:
An Acolyte of Fire lands in Kislev
+ Show First Post
Total: 545
Posts Per Page:
Permalink

Excellent! To the boyar's office, or at least to someone who he can talk with to arrange an audience if that's necessary.

Permalink

He has a secretary to keep out absolute riff-raff, but at this time of year much of his work is managing the paperwork needed to keep heavily armed elite infantry equipped with the fine weapons, armour, and horses, they need to function, so that's what he's doing. When the Acolyte comes to see him, his reaction is relief more than anything else. 

Permalink

The Acolyte, brandishing his two letters of recommendation, is feeling pretty good, at least ignoring the hunger, lingering vomit-tang, and various stinging scrapes. Not the worst state he's been in when seeking employment, if he's honest.

"Hello! I'm told you're the man to talk to for a battle-mage looking to join the Tsar's army."

Permalink

"... there are certainly worse men to talk to. What're you about? You're certainly no ice witch." 

Permalink

"Indeed! On a technical level I can do quite a lot, but in practical terms: I fight with strength, endurance, and agility beyond that of my muscles and thews, I am shielded from cold or heat to a degree, and from most poisons, and I am able to cut and tear targets asunder from a considerable distance using only my mind. I can demonstrate any of these if you like, and have plans to expand my repertoire of expression in the future, assuming all goes well and I prove my usefulness and reliability to Kislev."

Permalink

"That sounds remarkably useful, yes. Especially if you can manage to avoid blowing yourself up. What do you get out of this?" 

Permalink

"Some roots, mostly, and hopefully some legitimacy. I rather ended up here out of the blue, so I don't have many resources and everyone seems rather rightfully distrustful of an unfamiliar mage. I've seen troubles in this land, more than just the monsters though certainly also the monsters, troubles that I think I can use my magic to at least placate, but I can't help if no one here trusts me or the solutions I offer."

Permalink

"You understand if we don't trust claims of selfless heroism out of the bag?"

Permalink

The Acolyte nods with just a hint of weariness. "Naturally, yes." He scratches his chin contemplatively. "I suppose ignoring that, my primary motivation is to gather some wealth. My trade is battle, more or less, and while I can make do living off the land or providing menial labor, it's hard to focus on the research I want to do when I'm spending much of my time simply surviving."

Permalink

The man nods at the explanation which he can easily fit into his understanding of magic. "Yes, well. I think I can get you payment equal to a quarter of the rates for an imperial battle wizard, assuming your magic is up to that standard. If you've been performing manual labour, you should find that quite sufficient." 

Permalink

The Acolyte isn't especially sure of the numbers, but he knows that's quite a bit even after the quartering. "That sounds perfectly acceptable, yes."

Permalink

"Excellent! Are you staying somewhere?" 

Permalink

"Not at the moment, no. Do you have any suggestions?"

Permalink

"We have quarters for visiting nobles and such. I could put you up in one of those?" 

Permalink

The Acolyte briefly considers the relatively small collection of coin he has at the moment. "Would I be responsible for paying my stay in the short term, or could the costs be taken from future pay?"

Permalink

"Consider it part of your payment, assuming you can live up to your claims, and your hiring is confirmed by the Tsar. It's like military lodgings, until we go on campaign." 

Permalink

"Excellent! I'll take directions to the lodgings and get settled for now." And presumably he heads off to wherever in the city the lodgings are, maybe with an escort or a third letter or something like that to prove he's supposed to be there.

Permalink

The boyar will send a man to guide him to a townhouse in reasonable repair, immediately adjacent to one of the Tsar's barracks. Someone is found to make the beds and make dinner and fix all the lights for him; he's being treated like an officer, albeit one not well-trusted, or able to pay for his own luxuries. Presumably, this would be poverty to one of those boyars, but even to the petty nobility it's downright tolerable. 

The Acolyte is expected to report back to the Boyar the next afternoon, to demonstrate his magic and generally prove his worth in a military context. 

Permalink

Probably the best accommodations the Acolyte has had prior to this in this world was probably when he was with the caravan in Praag, which this is still considerably better than. Compared to his traveling or living on roofs this is the absolute lap of luxury, almost to the point of being a little uncomfortable. Probably this is the best accommodations he's lived in period, even including back home.

He'll spend the rest of the day getting acquainted with his lodging and with the city, spending a bit of his remaining cash on a supper out, before heading to bed fairly early and rising equally early the following day. After a bit more exploring the city and acquiring breakfast, he'll arrive at the agreed upon location for his further examination, a couple hours early.

Permalink

It's a big field, set aside for drilling the Tsar's guard in. Currently, the guard is drilling, at the command of men he doesn't recognise. Nobody seems particularly curious about his presence; there are several other townsfolk and a small flock of children watching the guard drill as well. 

Permalink

As much as he'd enjoy engaging someone in some conversation, or maybe entertaining the children with tricks, the Acolyte will restrain himself. He doubts distracting the soldiers from their drills will earn him any favor with the boyar or tsar, nor would using his magic frivolously. He will wait and meditate,

Permalink

At the appointed time, the guard is allowed to take a break from their drills, and men bring out a entire formation's-worth of targets. The Boyar from before will arrive, as will a cloud of other senior-looking military types and their hangers-on, and a sour-looking middle-aged woman with a sharp face and armour that appears to be made of glowing ice. 

Permalink

Well, that looks like an ice witch, if the Acolyte has to guess. He'll stand from where he's sat and greet the official entourage. "Greetings! I am called the acolyte of Fire." He bows shallowly. "No enmity felt nor meant, of course." He clarifies to the presumed ice witch.

Permalink

"What is Fire to you? You are not of Dazh, or Aqshy." 

Permalink

"Fire is selfhood, the strength to stand apart and the power of division." He pauses briefly. "I understand that this isn't a common association in these lands."

Total: 545
Posts Per Page: