[Wilmot Manor] My Mother? (solo)

[Alric Wilmot]

1st of Winter Alric Wilmot finished his breakfast with one final bite into the raisin-filled oatmeal. He found that his skills were improving, if only slightly, when it came to cooking. He had known how to make oatmeal for quite some time, but adding raisins was a new experience. One ,he hoped, that could continue into the future. Ever since he had obtain his job as a Hypnotic Medicine man, so to speak, he had found his level of living had increased dramatically. He had been able to afford repairs around the house, buy more fruit and meat than ever before, and all while increasing his hypnosis abilities. Truly, it was the best idea he had ever had. He scooped up his bowl and spoon and brought them near a bucket he had in the kitchen. He didn't like taking his dishes outside in the early morning chill just to wash them. So every night he filled a bucket up from the well outside and left it on the counter ready to be used by morning. The cleaning went well, and in a prompt ten minutes. Alric put the dishes back in their appropriate places. He was especially glad that none of them chipped this time. He didn't know if he had it in him to bury another one of the poor dears. In fact, he had long ago assigned a mass burial site for all his broken possessions. He couldn't count how many funerals he'd held. Others thought this strange, but Alric felt that when something had lived out its life, it was only appropriate to give it a fair fare well. his Father understood that. When he was young, his father would attend every funeral for ever broken cup, chair, or toy. Alric truly believed one couldn't ask for a better father. But, as he thought on those things, he also remembered his foray into his own psyche, trying to find out more about his biological parents. He hadn't succeeded the first time, but he had come close. In fact, he could still vaguely remember the red hair of who he thought might be his mother. How odd was it that those with red hair were causing him so much trouble? First, his supposed mother, and then that red-haired man he had debated with so many weeks ago. Alric supposed he was making a fuss about nothing. But he found it odd nonetheless. Although, now with Winter set on, and so many days of practicing his hypnotism, Alric felt as though he might benefit from one more try. He had improved since his last attempt. And he was sure that if he were to try once again, he would obtain the full memory. With his stomach full, and his mind made up, Alric went searching for his knife. As he intended to initiate a trance on himself as he did before. However, after a good 3 chimes of searching, he gave it up. Alric wasn't too terribly upset. After all, he still had a book on hypnosis that was mostly intact. Perhaps it would reveal something? Another route of self-hypnosis? Alric was willing to give it a look and find out at least. He casually plucked the book from the table in the kitchen and flipped through its pages. Trying to find the section on trances, and seeing if it had any worthwhile information he hadn't already memorized. he found the article quickly, having already been familiar with the book, even if he did not quite remember its entirety. He was disappointed with his findings. No methods were listed, only warnings and risks of self-hypnosis. He remembered a little to late that his book hadn't revealed how to use a reflective surface, and that he had guessed that all on his own. With a deep sigh he closed the book and glanced forlornly at the bucket he had used to clean his dishes. He saw a disappointed man's face stare back at him within the dirty water. However, it was that rippling visage in the oatmeal encrusted bucket that lifted his spirits. He had just found a viable alternative. He picked up the bucket and set it closer to himself. He plopped down upon his seat, eager to begin. All at once he began to recall his methods of relaxing the body, and started to proceed. He first rolled his shoulders, and let them slacken. Next, he rolled his head, stretching out the neck muscles. Again, he let them slacken. He continued on, until he had stretched and loosened each muscle that he knew how to move. With a deep, relaxing breath, he began to call upon his Djed, and stared into the watery semblance of himself. He sent out the Djed, inward into his own mind, and began to coax it. "Dearest Alric,"He began. "It is time for you to recall fully the face of your mother. It is a most dire need. For you wish to learn all that there is to learn. Yet how can you understand that which is foreign to you, when you know so little about yourself? So let us go back, back to before you can remember, to observe, to learn, to understand. For only then will you be able to master yourself. And he who masters himself, can then master others. And thatis what you truly desire." Alric seeped into his own consciousness ever deeper, using words that were pleasing to him and his own sense of logic. He began to induce a trance, a hypnotic state of mind where he could better control his power, and focus it. He paid special attention this time to his Djed, making sure to use only what was needed. He was wiser now, and it would be foolish of him to repeat overgiving. Not when he had already learned from his mistake. It was difficult handling so much within the same mind all at one time, yet Alric did so. His mind was the strongest aspect of himself, despite being slightly damaged. He continued,"Now, go back, to the time before you could talk. Go back, to the time before you desired understanding." His vision blurred then, and gave way to memories long past, of his fathe caring for him while he was but a babe. "Good, good. But we need to go even further, go to the vision from before. The one with the red haired woman. It is important, it is needed, it is wanted!" His vision shifted once more and he was greeted once again by that starry night he had seen so many months ago. Then, a woman came into view, and kissed him on the forehead. Alric's breath caught in his throat, for it was most definitely the woman from before. However, a cloak obscured her face, and all he could see was her red locks of hair. However, he did not let the memory die. He continued to coax himself, using the power of influence, to influence his own subconscious. The memory continued, and he observed that she was walking down the streets of someplace. He saw her shiver, and draw the hood of her cloak even closer to her face. Alric was not deterred however, and continued on. His Djed was draining from the strain, not used to this warped application of hypnotism. Still, it was holding, and Alric disregarded it. The memory continued on, until at last the vision became as clear and vivid as reality. A flash of lightning tore the sky behind her, filling his vision with light but for a second. And in that second, he saw what he least expected to find. He had expected a strange face, one he'd never seen before. He had not expected seeing someone he recognized, least of all, someone he was very familiar with. The woman, it seemed, was Kinneas's mother. Kinneas was an old friend of his, back during his childhood. They hadn't seen each other for a while now. However, it seemed like that was going to change. Alric cut off the flow of Djed, just as soon as he found the identity of his mother. Or, at least, the woman in his memories. This was hardly conclusive, and he was not sure how to handle it. Was she really his mother? Or, was there another reason for her appearance? Alric was honestly quite baffled. Alric knew that his memories did not hold the answer. He had gone as far as his power had allowed him, and even then it had drained him of enough Djed to make him feel nauseous. He would go see Kinneas tomorrow he decided, and ask him what he knew about his mother's life. Alric had come too far to let this be the end of it. As he slowly sauntered of to his bed, he vowed to uncover the truth behind his parentage, no mater how many time he had to go through this pain. As he did, his face turned green and he quickly grabbed his bucket off the table, and emptied his breakfast into it.

[Cantrip]

Did you want something? Alric Wilmot: XP Award: Hypnosis +1; Intelligence +1 Lores: Self Hypnosis; The Shade of a Mother Additional Notes: You know, something about this thread really caught my interest. There were these distinct elements, the oatmeal, the bucket of water, that really set the scene, cut under by a tone of melancholy. And of course, the use of hypnosis was rather unique. I wanted to give another point, but there just wasn’t enough use of djed. Alric seemed kind of scared of hypnotizing himself, which is probably warranted, but he didn’t seem to be very adversely affected. Keep on writing.