A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

[Syliran Fields] Marian goes searching in the fields where, one season before, mages protected the crops. He seeks trinkets, and stumbles upon something else shiny.

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This shining population center is considered the jewel of The Sylira Region. Home of the vast majority of Mizahar's population, Syliras is nestled in a quiet, sprawling valley on the shores of the Suvan Sea. [Lore]

A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Marian Tarmikos on June 25th, 2012, 2:47 pm

-13th day of Summer, 512 AV-

Marian had grown familar with a roof over his head nearly all times of the day, so the current situation he was in was new to the history seeker. Oh, he had been outside everyday, walking along the streets of the city to and from his apartment and work. But since arriving from Zeltiva, Marian hadn't ventured outside the walls of Syliras. Until this day, that is.

Syna had reached his peak in the sky above the Syliran fields where Marian found himself this day. His only shade came from the black hat atop his head, but that was negated from the heat the hat absorbed. Plus the clothes he wore weren't the most. . . suitable attire for standing in wheat fields. The scarf around his neck made his situation no less bearable, but he would not reveal the embarassing tattoo just for a little comfort, even if he couldn't see any others around him at the moment. Which was fine for Marian; he didn't really want the company of farm workers at the moment.

Curse Dominac for striking his weakness; he unearthed Marian's desire for knowledge. Today should've been like the previous days; he arrived at the shop, did his work, and go home. But the old man peaked his interest when he told him of mages protecting these fields. He mentioned how some of the mages had died. That was interesting, but Marian wasn't truly enthralled until he suggested that the mages had possibly dropped interesting items. At first, it seemed like Dominac was allowing Marian a chance to seek knowledge. But in reality, which Marian realized shortly after arriving to the fields this day, Dominac just wanted someone else to do the searching for him. The man would still sell the items he found in his shop, and his chance at learning was lost. Or maybe he was nice and gave him work to do outside the shop while also possibly finding something interesting. Who could honestly determine that man's motives?

But as Marian moved about, gently moving aside the crops that were growing, he couldn't help but wonder how he would react to any findings. He was no mage, yet there he stood, searching for items that may be magical. What was he suppose to do with them when he found them? Hand them over to another mage just to learn about what it is? It wasn't like some tome in the library; anyone who could read knew what was on that page. And, as Marian thought about it, the same concept came into play with magic. But to strengthen his arguement with himself, he made one simple note.

There were more people who could read than there were mages.

But that was beside the point. Until he actually found something, he could not contemplate his next move with it. So he continued onward, shifting plants aside for the moment or two it took to search the ground, all the while hoping to find something interesting. Anything really to make his trip outside Syliras worthwhile.
"The mind can travel farther in a single day than the fastest horse could traverse in a lifetime"
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Andresciel on June 29th, 2012, 4:11 am

The Knight, out on a quiet walk, spotted the stranger outside the city. He shook his head as he spoke softly to Velenor in the tongue of the mages, before walking forward. Caution glowed in his eyes as he spoke aloud, "Sir, do you need some help? I am Ser Andresciel Magius of the Knights of Syliras. Are you okay?" The Mage Knight wore the traditional lighter armor of the Knighthood. A chainshirt, pauldrons, and greaves. A pair of gaunlets would protect his arms, as the boots on his feet protected them.

Still, the armor could not protect him against everything, and the Mage knew to be cautious. Not many in Syliras were friendly with the Knights since the night of the Storms, as it was known. However, a Knight couldn't simply ignore someone if they needed help, could he?
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Marian Tarmikos on July 1st, 2012, 9:54 pm

Engrossed in his work, Marian was unaware of his guest until he spoke up. This man had just snuck up on him without ease, and all he was doing was searching crops. Was he that unaware of his surroundings when something interesting overwhelmed him? Standing slowly, Marian turned to his guest. He had expected a curious farmer wondering what this odd man was doing in the fields, but he was surprised to find someone totally different standing there. If one thing was sure, Marian hadn't planned on coming upon a kinght in his search for trinkets.

The knight introduced himself as Andresciel, and while the knight spoke, Marian took the time to observe his guest. Although living in Syliras for only a fortnight, Marian had grown familar with the knights that patroled the city in their heavy armor. But this knight wore lighter armor than he was used to, which peaked Marian's interest. Was this man higher rank, which allowed him to wear lighter armor? Or did he had specific talents that required him to wear lighter armor? Marian assumed a scout wore less protection than the knights on the front line, but this man didn't seem like much of a scout. That didn't matter though.

Marian bowed his head towards the man, buying himself a few moments to ponder Andre's question. Did he really need help? Oh sure, he needed some mental help for taking this fool's errand to find something that probably wasn't there. Was he physically weakened to need assistence from the man? At the moment no, but it wouldn't take long to become unbearable in the dark scarf and jacket he wore this day. At the moment, he didn't need anything. But the company was a nice relief, as he was becoming bored moving stalk after stalk out of his way.


"Good morning, ser knight. Marian Tarmikos at your service, although I doubt you need my help anymore than I need yours. I'm just out here, taking a look around." Marian paused, considering on what he should say next. Those words alone might get him in trouble; Andre might think he was stealing wheat. So Marian tried to buy some time. "I had heard one season ago some knights protected these fields with their lives from that horrible storm. I felt the desire to spend my day somewhere powerful, and this seemed like a good place, wouldn't you think?"

Marian stopped speaking with that, hoping his verbal jab would turn Andre's attention away from his reasons for being out here, which were still rather vague. Maybe, just maybe, he could get the knight talking about the past instead of questioning the present.
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Andresciel on July 4th, 2012, 12:12 am

Peaceful? This place did have a kind of odd peace about it. An aura of sorts that gave it a calm, but for Andresciel and most Sylirans, it marked a bad time in their lives. The Mage Warriors who knew Reimancy had done battle with the storm. The Full Knight ranked Mages were kept in the city walls. Andresciel had been one of the Knights assigned to the Temple of All Gods, and had endured the storm keeping the people calm. And yet, he sensed something about the male, as if he was being appraised. He shook his head, "Ser Andresciel Magius, of White Company, 4th Regiment, Gold Quadron." The Knight introduced himself, before bringing his hand up to his Avavali familiar, "Velenor. My Familiar." The Knight then turned to stare at the field.

It took him a moment to answer, "This place brings you peace? To me, and my brothers, it was a battleground. Us against the storm. I can not say it brings me peace to be out here, where they lost their lives." He shrugs, turning to look at the male, "But if you do, may it always be so."
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Marian Tarmikos on July 4th, 2012, 9:44 pm

Marian didn't quite understand the point of reintroducing yourself, but the history seeker only nodded as Andresciel announced himself once more. But he went further, naming his company, regiment, and quadron. That made little sense to Marian, who hadn't read up much on Syliras during his years in Zeltiva. He had realized, though, that the knights enjoyed their colors. Did that really have any importance? Not really.

What was interesting though was the thick smoke hanging in the air where Andre stood. How Marian had missed its presence, he was unsure, but now it had caught his attention. Andre introduced it too, naming it Velenor; it had a name?! And what in the world was a Familiar? By no means was Marian familiar with that thing? It was unnerving. . .

And what was this talk of peacefulness? Andre asked him that; why this place was peaceful? Looking over at the knight, the history seeker noticed that he wasn't looking at him. Instead, his gaze fell upon the fields, and Marian could nearly see the memories in the man's eyes. It was hard to believe that this field truly was a battlefield last season, hard to fathom that men died here. One could've fell where Marian stood; the mere thought drew his eyes to the ground, and when he returned them to Andre, he was looking at them again. The knight finished speaking with hope; hope that this field always remained peaceful for him.

Marian looked at Andre, nodding.
"How many battles have the knights fought for their people? How many times have men died for others? To those who face the evil, they may never find peace in those lands. But if I, a lowly seeker of history, can walk out here and feel safe. . . that is true peace, Ser Andresciel." Marian wandered over to a new patch of wheat, turning back towards Andre. Waving his hand, he called out. "I am interested in hearing about that fateful night, though. I was not in Syliras when it all happened, but you were. What were you doing during the storm?"

If Andre followed, Marian would listen to the knight speak while he continued looking for something that might never be there. Either way, he was going to experience history from one who was there. Oh how Marian was happy Dominac had sent him out this day.
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Andresciel on July 6th, 2012, 1:24 am

How many battles? How many times have the knights given their lives? He asked this...But the Knight would not disappoint as he follows the male. "Many battles and many lives have been given. The war between light and darkness does not simply end because of the death of a single man. Only the Gods can stop this conflict within all." The Knight spoke the words he had often heard, read, and studied. It was the ultimate conflict, the greatest battle, Good versus evil, Light versus darkness. The Mage had understood very little of the lesson, but he knew that evil could not win. The Darkness must not be allowed to take over.

Andre turned to the seeker of history, "I was battling the storm from the Temple of All Gods within the city. Other Reimancers stood at my side as we tried to provide safe shelter from the Storms." He shook his head as he spoke the word that would bring misery to the Knight's eyes. He had to rest early on from the battle, "It took three lives from my section alone. Not to mention the countless other Reimancers and Shielders assigned to the other parts of the city." The Male sighed as he reached up, poking at Velenor, "I am lucky my little Avavali didn't blow away."
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Marian Tarmikos on July 6th, 2012, 8:59 pm

It was times like these that Marian never forgot; the discussions between two individuals on history. And what they were discussing wasn't just recent history either. Oh, the Spring storm was recent history; Marian had experienced it too. But Andre had spoke of light and darkness; now that was a term common in this world. This battle of light and darkness had been raging for centuries; it could be found on countless texts, all over the world. Marian had read a few of these texts himself, but he had only scratched the surface. The battle between light and darkness had been around since the beginning. And it wasn't going to end so easily.

Marian wasn't even certain the gods could finish it. Marian looked up at Andre; he had begun his searching again. But he paused to speak because this conversation seemed more interesting than searching for what was hidden.
"I'm glad you have trust in the gods, but the knights of Syliras do not fight this battle alone. The gods themselves are constantly battling against each other; they've been at it much longer than you and your brothers have. If they cannot find peace, can we?" Marian turned back to his work. He hoped Andre didn't think he always had such depressed thoughts.

Although as Andre continued his story about that fateful night, Marian couldn't help but feel saddened. He had never been one who wanted to see people die, even if he had accepted long ago that one out of one people died. But to hear of so much death was difficult, even if he was only sharing with Andre's sorrow. Marian didn't know any of the men who died, so he didn't get too worked up; if he mourned for every person who died, no matter who they were or where they died, he would be depressed for all his days. But he could only imagine how difficult it was to lose three people he had bonded with. Everyone had lost someone in that storm; Andre lost more than one.

But their conversation revealed more to Marian than just Andre's deceased comrades. This knight was also a mage; that much was certain. Marian was unfamiliar with magic, but shielding couldn't be anything but magic; it wasn't like they sent knights to these fields with physical shields to protect the crops. No, shielding and reimancy had to be magic. This confused the history seeker; why had Andre been so revealing of himself. Magic, to put it lightly, was a touchy subject, yet Andre just about announced to Marian that he was a mage. Not that it mattered; Marian could care less about Andre's talents.

Andre finished speaking with a mention of his fear that his familiar might've blown away. Back turned to Andre, the knight didn't see Marian's grin that crossed his face; it would've been difficult to explain how he had found something humorous in such a sad tale. But the prospect of that smoke blowing away amused Marian for some reason. But his joking mood dissappeared like smoke after his hand brushed aside a stalk of wheat. He had found something! But what was it?

Propped up against one of the stalk, covered by a thin layer of dirt, a scroll protruded. It had been camoflagued beneath the stalk, but it was clearly visible with the simple shift of the plant. Brushing gently, Marian knocked the dirt off of the scroll, before carefully picking up the scroll. Standing straight, Andre got his first chance at seeing the object that halted their advance through the field. Gripping the opposite ends of the scroll, Marian paused long enough to consider the consequences of opening it. For all he knew it was magical, so possibly dangerous. But he was young and naive so he didn't need much convincing before he unrolled the scroll.

Dust flew from the document, hitting Marian in the face. That brought about a string of sneezes, but thankfully the document was still readable. An odd looking picture was drawn on the paper. In the center of the page was an
odd looking circle, which was surrounded by a ring almost. A seperate drawing, a triangle inside of a circle, was off to the side. And written underneath this shape were what appeared to be instructions. "trigger by the words 'Empty, reinforcements, shield'" Marian shook his head; none of this made any sense to him. But it might to a mage.

Looking up at Andre, who probably was watching him, Marian held out the scroll. It was within reach for Andre to grab.
"Does this make any sense to you, Ser Andresciel?" Things have gotten serious now; Marian had found something from that night, one season ago. Men died this night, and this may have belonged to one of those who had died. This was no discussion anymore; this was real.
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Andresciel on July 12th, 2012, 10:14 pm

The Knight had felt much sorrow the days of the storm, but at the end, when there was still a place to call home, there was only truimph, and relief. So many had overgiven and perished, but the Knights did their ever lasting duty, they fought whatever came for the citizens of Syliras. Mage and Warrior alike, when it came to their duty to their charges, they would stand unto the end. A single tear rolled down Andre's cheek before Marian had looked up. He shook his head to clear his mind of it, of the friends lost.

Upon hearing Marian's question, he would turn, spotting the scroll in his hand. He took it within his own hand, examining it close "Its a Glyphing Scroll. Shielding I believe." The Mage knew little of shielding, except that is was the opposite of Reimancy in many, many ways. He looked the scroll over, tilting his head, "There were a few of such scrolls among the Knights back at the Temple I believe." He shook his head, "It was to protect the Knights who survived by erecting a shield around them when they said the words I think."
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Marian Tarmikos on July 13th, 2012, 4:14 pm

Marian saw the tear that fell down Andresciel's cheek, but he paid it no mind. In fact he didn't even know it was a tear; sweat ran down his own forehead, and Marian assumed the knight was sweating worse than him. So the history seeker knew nothing of the inner turmoil that brought Andre's emotions out. Something interesting had caught Marian's eyes and he was oblivious to the less important things going around him. He was in his zone now.

Marian did pay attention to the reaction of the knight, though, as he gazed upon the scroll. Oh, he wished to know what was on it, but he had a second reasion to observe Andre. The man was holding a scroll crafted by a mage who most likely died out here on these fields. The mage was a comrade of the knight, and Marian had every intention on keeping the scroll. How would Andre react?

At first glance, Andre looked puzzled at the item in his hand. But he was quick on his feet, and came up with a good answer. At least, a good answer for someone who had zero knowledge in the magical field. He was certain that it was glyphing scroll, whatever that was, and he believed it was shielding. A logical choice in Marian's opinion; they were standing in a field where shielders were stationed last season. Andre went further though, mentioning that a few of these scrolls were used during his own fight back at the temple. Finally, he gave his assumption stating that when the words written to the side were spoken, the scroll would activate and create a shield around the person. It seemed like a sound guess, but Marian wondered if there was a technique to learn the true use of the scroll.

The time had come where Marian was going to test Andre. Oh, how Marian hoped this would work in his favor.
"I must thank you, Andre, for aiding me this day. Not only did you provide me with a good conversation, you even put use your knowledge of magic when it was needed. Even when unfamiliar with the item I showed you, you provided me with answers that I find satisfactory. If I can just have the scroll back, you and I can go have a drink at the Rearing Stallion. And when I determine the true use of my scroll, I'll be sure to contact you so you too may know." Marian then held out his hand, ready for Andre to place the scroll in his hand.
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A Different Kind of Needle in the Haystack [Andresciel]

Postby Andresciel on July 14th, 2012, 9:23 pm

Andre could see no point in keeping the scroll, so he would offer it to the male. It was a single use scroll, and it was a shielding one at that. So Marian could have it. He would nod at the suggestion for the drink, "Aye. It is a hot and dusty day. I could use a drink, and perhaps you will finish asking what questions you may have about the storms. All I know is that I get the chance to relax. To the Stallion." The Knight would turn, gathering Velenor with a small amount of wind, to begin walking towards the city.
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