Sometimes you just need more friends.

by **Lessomm** on January 19th, 2014, 2:20 am

Winter, 28th, Year 513

Lessomm ran up the stairs of the NHC building and moved down the hall, slowing his pace down until he came to a halt outside the door of his master's room. He drew in a deep breath as he straightened his coat and rapped his knuckles on the wood of the door before pushing the key in the lock and turning it, letting himself in. "Good morning, master. My apolo-..." The rest of his excuse got stuck in his throat as he found his master on the floor, seemingly collapsed.

Lessomm rushed over and put a hand on Miro's shoulder, ready to help him. It was only then, knelt down on one knee next to his master, that he saw his master had not collapsed at all but was working on a giant stone slab on the floor, moving his brush over it and forming a string of runes Lessomm was now so familiar with. His master was busy glyphing one of the biggest glyphs Lessomm had seen him make so far. It immediately sparked the servants interest but he knew better than to inquire into it. If it was for Lessomm to know, his master would explain everything in his own time.

"My apologies, master. I did not mean to disturb you." Lessomm pushed himself up on his feet and bowed at the same time before stepping back from the work. While his master was finishing the glyph circle, Lessomm focused on the more mundain parts of the work and started to make the bed instead, stepping silentely around the stone slab. Although it was never used for sleeping, his master enjoyed sitting in it for meditation or when he had guests. There were never enough chairs when there were only two chairs in the room. Lessomm ran his white gloves over the bed sheets, straightening them out and making sure everything was tucked away properly under the mattress.

From the mattress he moved to the desk, the one place in the room that showed daily use and consisted of the brunt of Miro's life and Lessomm's work. He started stacking scrolls and papers on the desk and removed ink stained ones, putting them in one corner of the desk to remove later. He replaced the writing quill and the inkwell and made sure it was refilled and screwed shut. He lined the books up near the edge of the desk, balancing them carefully on their side so they stood up, the title of each book readable if one tilted their head. He took a piece of cloth and wiped down the desk, now that it was uncluttered and actually showed areas of wood, rather than piles of papers, scrolls and books. Taking the ink stained parchments in one hand, Lessomm wiped the dust fibers of parchment into them and closed his fist around it.

He quietly left the room and moved into the hallway, taking the trash out near the door, where the building kept its main trashpiles. He droped the parchments on top of one and moved back up to the room, closing the door quietly behind him. From there he simply watched and waited, observing his master until he was ready to address the servant. While he still held Miro in high regard as a wizard and a master, lately Lessomm had started to learn more about the dark side of the man he once so respected. And it had started to nibble away at his complete faith in the man...creature. Lessomm closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before opening them again. It wasn't Miro's fault, it was all because of the creature inside of him. Ink.

by **Miro** on January 22nd, 2014, 5:12 pm

Miro had called for two people to come to him on this day. Though they were to arrive at different times. The earlier was Lessomm, the wizard's own personal servant. Also apprentice, or some form of magical servant. It was hard to tell where his loyalties remained, but performed both of his duties very well. It was for him that the undead had prepared all night, and was Glyphing now. The latter was that of Vien, the newest apprentice, yet one with great potential. The two would come together for a very specific task guided by their master.

Vien was going to be given a lesson, and an offer. It would serve two purposes as a facade for his real intention. The first would be to introduce Lessomm to Vien, and the latter to show Vien what the servant was capable of. As stated claimed before by the Irylid, apparently the servant was a very loyal one. The thing Miro truly enjoyed most about his servant was that he did not appear an apprentice to anyone else. Just a simple butler, which made his master seem both feeble and powerful at the same time. Though it was equally pleasing to have one to acknowledge you as their true master, like some god governing their existence.

With the wizard explaining to the apprentice his intention to show off his servant, neither of the guests would see his true intention to push a Familiar on them. Lessomm was so hesitant with anything that might distract him, but the right Familiar may just strike him. Certainly Ender would have made an impression on him by now. The Symenestra however was the true target. He would be on the receiving end of the Hypnotism and pressure to receive a partner. The wizard's own Familiar would have to do well to assist though. Such a thing could be an issue however. When it came to Fyrden, the residents did not always get along so well.

Regardless of all the potential difficulties, the wizard's mind was set. His plan, as he saw it, was one that could not fail. There were very few outcomes that would not benefit him in some way. Lessomm and Vien meeting was indeed important, as was an introduction to Fyrden. If not today, someday both apprentices would obtain Familiars. That way his servants would have servants. For now he needed to finish his work. So far he had made a rather large magical plate of rock. Upon it was to be a sigil to enhance the Summoning. While he had done this before, this time would be very much different.

A large portion of the circle would be dedicated to a system of barriers. Unlike most sigils, this one was rather simplistic, only using one type of rune. The wizard had open next to him a small handbook meant to bridge the language gap between those who spoke Nader-Canoch, the Ancient Tongue, and modern common. Though he was still unsure how to speak it, he knew a few words in Nader-Canoch, and also their use in magic. For once he decided to enhance and base his sigil around these words. His craft would surely be stronger for it, though the technique would need refinement.

Miro chose four words and wrapped them about the outside edge of each quadrant of the circle. Yaq, the first word, a circle, fittingly enough. Daeq, the second word, it meant to shape or create boundaries. The next, randjaq, a prison or binding, limited freedom. For the final word, he chose pond, balance, scales, thought. Each of the words were painted stylishly in black inscribing paint upon the plate. He hoped that together they would define the boundaries of the circle and keep everything within contained and balanced, as a barrier naturally performed. Such choices indeed made him feel clever, but until he finished there was hardly time to feel accomplished.

From there the undead began designing a barrier for each word to seamlessly weave together with neighboring quadrants. Yaq was simple, a design of circles within circles, every line curved into another, seeming without start or end. For daeq, a netting of complimentary shapes that formed an intricate design. As shapes were placed atop one another, new ones formed in their intersection, and it became truly intricate. Randjaq was a framed by both the other quadrants which confined it, just as it should be. Within the area a series of chain links were drawn as well as barred cells. The last word was that of pond, the most difficult. The are was split in two, a design of curved lines dissected and mirrored oppositely from one side to the other.

Sometime before the wizard could finish, Lessomm had arrived. His presence was ignored until the magical work was finished, at which time a proper greeting was given. "Disturb me? I am not sure you could have had you tried. But nonetheless, I am glad you did not, and I am glad you have arrived." The servant looked as if he had been worried for a moment, but for what was lost. He did his daily cleaning ritual all without mention of the plate on the floor. Such a thing was hard to miss, for it took up much of the walkway, and was noticeably unfinished. With its center of a hollow circle and shell of Glyphing, it would be obvious what came next.

When finally the servant was finished with chores, a slight briefing followed. "I am expecting company, important company. It is an apprentice, and I have something planned. You will receive him and serve him well, as well as serving me. You shall serve me by the act of Summoning. Again this time from Fyrden, but without my assistance. Well, without any further assistance, for I have already provided you a Glyph of Stability. It will enhance your ability to Summon greatly. Now, fetch the book, prepare the circle, we haven't much time before he arrives." It was true, they did not have much time at all.

Not a chime later than the master had finished giving his order did a knock arrive at the door. The Chained One scowled and held his hand up to Lessomm. "Focus on your task, I shall answer the door." Though things were not turning out as planned, perhaps it was for the best. Vien would have a chance to witness the Eypharian in the act of creating magic. It might even appear as if the intricate Glyphing was the Summoner's accomplishment. Miro opened the door with a pleased look behind his gaze. He spoke instantly upon seeing the visitor. "Welcome friend! Please, come in, make yourself at home, but do pay heed to where you step. My servant, Lessomm, he is busy performing a task for me."

by **Vien Lotus** on February 16th, 2014, 4:10 am

As Vien reached the top of the stairs he heard a door open from down the hall. He had never been one for casual interactions or small talk as some would call it. So if at all possible Vien chose to keep interaction with others down to a bare minimum. He took a peek around the corner to see a giant of a man taking his trash out; however, after looking more intently Vien realized that nor only was he a giant but a six armed giant. Vien swallowed hard as his nerves fluttered. Normally seeing someone like this would not bother him as much because he was not likely to see him again; however, the giant came from his master's room and proceeded to go back into his room whenever he had finished his task.

Vien stood at the top of the stairs for several ticks before building enough courage to walk up to the door. He stood there and tried to hear anything that would give a clue as to who that man was. Nonw came so Vien knocked on the door waiting from someone to answer. To his most pleasant surprise Miro was the one who answered. Allowing himself to breath again he exhaled a deep breath and bowed ever so slightly acknowledging his master's greeting then proceeded into the room. "Thank you for having me." Vien said as he cautiously examined the room. For the most part the room was the same as when he was last here with the exception of a couple of new additions.

There on the floor were markings which he had never seen before with a plate of several more markings painted upon it; however, nothing compared to the figure that stood before him. Vien swallowed again but chose to keep him whits about him. He merely nodded toward Lessomm before moving cautiously to the bed where he sat down and pulled his legs up onto the bed and took his usual cross legged sitting position. From there he began studying the symbols from the safety of the bed.

by **Lessomm** on February 18th, 2014, 9:08 am

While his master opened the door to greet the guest, Lessomm moved his focus onto the slab of stone on the floor. As always, it was impressive in size and, had it not been for Lessomm's knowledge of his master's skills, it would have been difficult to grasp how Miro had gotten it up here in his room. The Glyph of Stability that had been painted on the stone already was as impressive as his master's skill with the trade. Lessomm let a gloved fingertip brush around the painted glyphs, taking extra care not to touch or disturb any of them.

With a practiced tug on each finger of his white gloves, Lessomm took them off and tucked them under his belt, where they would remain until he required them again. He stood up and turned to the desk where the books lay his master owned. He scanned the titles, his head tilted somewhat, and picked out the one his master had mentioned. The summoning book was the key to Lessomm's new skill and most of his experience still lay within. So far he had performed a simple summoning on his first try, in order to learn about the skill. It was from there that Lessomm had been practicing. His own room was now covered with glyphing circles and summoning circles alike, both dormant without his blood or magic in them.

With the book in hand, Lessomm knelt beside the slab and opened the book, flipping through the pages until he got to the example of the simple circle. He picked up the brush his master had used before and dipped it in the ink prepared already. He stroke off the excess ink on the inside of the bottle and went to work. The first step was simple. He painted a circle within the glyph his master had prepared, dipping the brush back into the ink several times in order to get full circle with his work. While four of his arms remained hidden under his clothes like they always were, the two that were visible were quite busy. One arm was used as support as Lessomm leaned over the slab, keeping him from touching and erasing the Glyph his master had prepared, the other arm was busy moving as Lessomm continued his work.

The brush moved a little towards the inside of the circle and he started a second one, a little smaller but just as circular as the first one. The brush moved back and forth between the ink quill he had placed in the middle of the circles and the circle itself. His focus was so entirely on his work that the newcomer had completely slipped his mind. While his master had also been pushed to the back of his mind, Lessomm's ears were ever listening for a spoken command from Miro. With the second circle finished, Lessomm dipped the brush back into the ink and pushed the well aside a little, away from the middle of the circles. With a rough estimate, Lessomm placed the brush somewhere near the top of the inner circle and moved it down, creating a line to the opposite side of the circle, cutting it in two. He repeated the move from the left to the right as well.

The easiest parts of the circle were already finished. While it was a minimal circle, Lessomm found that if he put good effort into simple things and focused on details in his work now it would transfer over into later works and the same focus on details would translate in later, and more dangerous and precise, works. Where the first straight line started from, Lessomm drew a small circle, the middle of the circle being the same point where the line and the circle touched. The outer edge of the minicircle touched the outer circle he had drawn on the slab. From there he turned right and repeated the process, creating another minicircle on the crossroad of the circle and the straight vertical line.

Twice more, Lessomm moved the brush a quarter circle to draw another minicircle at the crossroads. Once all four of them were encircled, Lessomm pushed himself up a little and overlooked his work. It was passable enough for one of his skill. He let himself down again and continued with his work. With four minicircles already in place, Lessomm continued to fill the gaps between the circles with more circles. Between each two circles, Lessomm drew another three, trying his best to space them out evenly along the quarter circle. Several times more, Lessomm dipped his brush into the inkwell his master had left him after finishing his glyph.

As he worked, Lessomm moved around the slab instead of spinning the slab itself. While it didn't occur to Lessomm how it looked from the outside it gave him an impression of a spider, spinning his web around its prey. Every quarter of circle, Lessomm moved his feet and hand, careful not to touch any of the already painted circles or glyph, and turned around the slab. Once he had finished all four quarters of the circle and sat back in his original spot, Lessomm picked up the book and paged through it, moving to the coordinates and explenation for the Fyrden world.

Dipping his brush back in the ink, Lessomm let his eyes read through the string of numbers that would link the circle to the place he was trying to reach. Starting from the top circle Lessomm added the numbers of Fyrden's coordinates into each of the minicircles he had painted on the inner circle of his final product. The string of numbers seemed as endless as the last time as Lessomm worked his way through them. The brush placing each number in its own spot on the circle. 6701984710485453. Lessomm brushed the brush against the ink well's inside to make sure no ink was on it and put it aside, safely away from the slab, on a piece of parchment. With casual grace, he picked the ink well up and screwed it shut, placing it next to the brush he had discarded a moment ago.

Pushing himself up from the slab, Lessomm stood up and stretched his two visible arms and legs as he stepped away from the slab. "It is done, master." Lessomm spoke with a humble voice to his master. At this point, Lessomm turned towards the man sitting on the bed and bowed politely in his direction in his customary bow. He crossed his right arm over his chest and touched the fingers of his right hand to his left shoulder. His left hand slipped behind him and rested on the small of his back. When he rose back from his bow, Lessomm spoke to the stranger in the same humble voice. "Would you care for a refreshment, sir?" There was always water available and, as Lessomm remembered it, there was some red wine left as well.

by **Miro** on February 26th, 2014, 4:21 am

Miro opened the door to be met with the sight of Vien, his oh so beloved apprentice, and invited him in. Promptly the door was shut and the guests were acquainted. Lessomm informed the wizard the circle was done, and went on with his duty. Refreshments were offered while the work of the circle was looked over. Everything seemed quite adequate, as expected of the determined servant. The effort and pride taken in his work was ever present. Though it was a shame the apprentice had yet to show such conviction.

At any rate it was time to begin with the explanation of their summons. "I have brought you both here today to meet one another, but also for another purpose. Lessomm, this is my apprentice, Vien. Vien, as I have mentioned countless times, this is my servant, Lessomm. You are both important people to me, and both aware of magics existence. Magic such as Familiary, the ability to be bound to a Fyrdenese. Now Vien, this plate you see here, it is what is called a Summoning circle. It was crafted by Lessomm and outfitted with Glyphing by myself." There seemed some hint of doubt things would go as well as the wizard hoped, but it was always worth a try.

"Now, this leads me to my next point, if you will hear it. I wish for Lessomm to demonstrate his ability to perform Summoning. Something I am quite proud of. And you, Vien, you will witness the Summoning of a Fyrdenese. Both of you will have a chance at interaction, and both a chance to obtain a Familiar, if this is what you wish. However, even if you do not, such will be a learning experience. To practice a discipline, witness a magic, and interact with a magical being. Now, Vien, take your refreshment and a seat. And Lessomm, let us prepare for our Summoning rite."

Ender conveyed a slight sense of dismay at the comment of a magical being and spoke sarcastically. "You know Miro, on Fyrden you humans are more the mysterious magical beings to us. We may have a need to absorb Djed to survive, and we may be alien to your world, but hardly does it sound appealing to be referenced in this way. Indeed it almost sounds to have a disrespectful tone, wouldn't you agree?" The Irylid mostly teased, but truly did have some sincerity in his complaint. It was a belittling way to be looked upon. Like some caged animal used for entertainment or owned in servitude.

But of course, as it always was, Miro had an answer for everything. Always so quick witted, his lies came so naturally they could easily be interpreted for truth. So believable, even his Familar with his ability to sense emotion could not sense the deceit. "No Ender, I do not find it at all disrespectful. It makes the Fyrdenese seem majestic and grand. A creature unknown to this world. One who must travel through magical means from their world to grace our own for a visit. One who will bestow knowledge and understanding beyond our means upon us. It is an honor, if anything." Though Ender wasn't buying it. He could hardly believe even the crass wizard could believe his own philosophical rant. Though he would hold his criticism out of respect.

by **Nemesis** on April 29th, 2014, 5:50 pm

Lessomm

Knowledge :

Micellaneous :

Miro

Knowledge :

Micellaneous :

Vien

Note :

____________________________________________

Notes

*It's annoying that this thread had to end - it had a lot of potential, I think. But what was there I liked

*Couldn't give you much, but I liked the detail you went into with the Glyphing, Lessomm, so 2XP there ^.^

Feel free to PM me with questions, comments, or concerns, if you have any.
Also, remember to either delete your grade request or edit it as 'graded'.
Thank ye!

Skill	XP
Cleaning	+1
Glyphing	+2
Observation	+2

Skill	XP
Glyphing	+1
Observation	+2
Planning	+1

Closed Sometimes you just need more friends.