The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

Bede and his new posse of picked men had helped here or there with the guards that Airich had so finely drafted in the saving of the city, but they could not take sole credit for much of anything yet, that momentous night. All save Jimmy, who had come and gone as he saw fit, weaving between Bede and Airich as he was needed. As the streets began to quiet and the dungeons grew more crowded, Bede struck upon an idea. "Men, I am damn tired from all this here heroics, and more than tired: thirsty. Ye," he pointed a thickly muscled finger at one of the guards accompanying him and Trevor. "Shew us where we can get some strong drink, will ye? From the source!" Some whoops and hollers of agreement spurred them on as they strode down the streets toward the Mercatum.

...

"Master Archer, this is a private establishment, with a locked door." Trevor, a priest, protested. The guard had led them to a two-story distillery on a street corner that was usually quieter, but tonight echoed loudly with the racing boots of more than just their party.

"In the war, it was not uncommon for armies of either side to 'forage' wherever they did roam. Sometimes it was rapacious, yeah, and sometimes it was to not be deprived to death. This is more towards the latter, methinks," Bede replied between kicks against the door. After it loudly gave way, he left some coins inside the doorframe, just the same. It was dark inside, and their footsteps reverberated on the stone floor for a few paces before the sounds became wet, and they felt unseen liquids staining the bottoms of their pants. And then there was that smell. Reluctantly, Trevor provided a fiery blue handlight.

The floor was wet with Byzantyun oil, and it was getting wetter yet as the plugs had been taken out of many of the barrels that one might expect to contain alcohol yet instead were filled with doom.

"Don't panic," one of the guards said in a practiced tone. "It's not lit ... yet."

"There's enough here to burn away the very thought of this place," Trevor observed, keeping his hand high over his head and away from anything flammable. "It can't all be for here. Perhaps it's meant to drain into the sewers and burn up from there, like the fires of Gehenna."

Bede noticed a Ruman manhole-cover in a corner of the room. "I think ye are right. Thanks be to Saint Anthony, we've found this work incomplete." Then they heard a shuffling of feet coming from the farthest end of the building, behind a door marked lavatorium.

"Well, come on out, damn you," the guards barked as a chant, agitating the unseen man until he did as they hoped, throwing the door open with a flash. The old Willimite distiller intended to make a mad break for the remaining stopped-up barrels, with a hammer in one hand and a lantern in the other, but the combined weight of every man in the posse held him fast to the door until the lantern was safely out.

A short time later, they left, still thirsty, but with a prisoner in tow. Bede ran on ahead with a newly filled fresh wineskin, and a report of more barrels to declare. Trevor made them all swear by his crucifix that they would all change their Byzantyun-stained pants and boots and douse them in vinegar as soon as physically possible.

[18:07] * Joins: web22
[18:07] <The_Bee> HiKK
[18:08] * web22 is now known as KK
[18:08] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hello
[18:08] <HoundMistress> Hi, KK all well?
[18:08] <KK> Hello, all. I'm well.
[18:08] <~bynw> hi KK
[18:08] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> Hi KK
[18:08] <HoundMistress> Good to hear!
[18:09] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hiya KK! 🙂
[18:10] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hi KK
[18:10] <KK> Did Bynw tell you about his impressive snow?
[18:10] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> He showed us pictures!
[18:10] <KK> Yes!
[18:10] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> QuasiSparklz had some amazing snow as well
[18:10] <~bynw> well QS is just next door in IL
[18:12] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Tis true.  I can use bynw's weather as a heads up for much of mine
[18:12] <~bynw> it's cold, today's high was 21. currently it's 14 but feels like 10
[18:12] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> Snow is fun as long as you don't have to clear it or drive in it and the power stays on (warm)
[18:12] <KK> We're 44 degrees right now, and they're forecasting rain/snow ahead. I think I was getting some tiny snow flakes on my way to lunch today, at a slightly higher elevation than my house. Winter is coming!
[18:12] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I had a couple minutes of super-fluffy snow, but then it was just mild rain and sleet after that.
[18:13] <~bynw> i shoveled the drive today since the HOA wont do it if there is a car parked in the drive. and my DW's work car was parked in the drive
[18:13] <~bynw> Winter is here already
[18:13] <KK> h, now they're forecasting 2 in. of snow Tuesday.
[18:13] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Cool!
[18:14] <~bynw> chance of more snow tomorrow
[18:14] <The_Bee> mix rain and snow here
[18:14] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> We were in the middle to thirties for two days then today jumped up into the 60s. Weird
[18:14] <HoundMistress> We're at about 45 but no precip
[18:14] <~bynw> ohhh Thursday is gonna be COLD ... low of -4 and high of 16
[18:14] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> Ouch
[18:15] <HoundMistress> Oh, geez! How do you live in that cold?
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> OK, now you've got my sympathy.
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> Stay inside with the heat
[18:15] <~bynw> there will be a week or so in January or February where the high's will be all in the negative range
[18:16] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> Brrrr
[18:16] <~bynw> it will be warmer in Antarctica that it is in Iowa
[18:16] <KK> Hello, Bee!
[18:16] <The_Bee> I should have gone shopping last week, when the weather was better.
[18:16] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> Wow!!!
[18:16] <~bynw> but those temps only last about a week
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> My son went to a friend's house to play this afternoon, and my spouse got an unexpected message from the other kid's dad a short while after he was dropped off.  (Nothing bad happened, don't worry!)
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Upon going inside and prior to removing his snow boots, my son thought it wise to let his friend's dad know his socks had a bad word on them.
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Turns out he swiped a pair of my socks to wear, most likely the first pair he found.  They say "F*** off, I'm reading".  Slightly mortified over here
[18:17] <The_Bee> Hello KK!  How does Daphne want her weather to be?
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> That's too long
[18:17] <~bynw> and those temps kill bugs by the millions that didnt burrow deep enough in the fall ... so less bugs to deal with in the spring/summer months
[18:18] <CG> [discord] <derynifank> That is one good point
[18:18] <~bynw> unlike the south that has constant bugs cause it doesn't get cold enough to kill them off
[18:19] <HoundMistress> We did in early 2021
[18:19] <KK> Daphne doesn't really care, because she's inside, where it might be chilly, but not icy.
[18:19] <The_Bee> Does she keep you warm?
[18:19] <HoundMistress> Quanah does mind bcz his latrine is the back yard.
[18:21] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Does Daphe create the proper amount of KTUs (kitty thermal units) to keep you warm, KK?
[18:21] <KK> She likes my lap.
[18:21] <KK> And I like her on my lap.
[18:22] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I finished most of my Christmas shopping today, including the presents for the grandpuppies and grandkitties
[18:22] <~bynw> wow
[18:23] <The_Bee> I've barely started.
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I figure the earlier I get it out of the way, the less stress I have closer to the holiday and my time off. I don't want to spend my vacay in crowded stores and long checkout lines
[18:23] <HoundMistress> I  even started yet. Gala didn't like my present last year
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> My kitty Havoc likes to snuggle on my lap, but really loves settling in on my chest if I am reclined enough. He has about an 80% chance of putting me to sleep in that position.
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> His brother, Chaos, on the other hand, will sidle up and nudge my arm out of the way so he can rest his head on my lap with my arm draped over him.
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Woohoo!
[18:24] <HoundMistress> Aww! That's sweet!!
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I have to finish the wrapping tonight before I go to bed, because it's currently spread out all over my bed. 😄
[18:24] <KK> What great winter cats!
[18:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Luke liked to do that too
[18:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> The lying on the chest thing, I mean
[18:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Or across my arms if I was trying to type
[18:26] <HoundMistress> You should have known that he was more important than what you were typing
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> He thought so, HM!
[18:27] <HoundMistress> Wow! Bubbie just showed up and vaulted across my keyboard. Now sitting behind the monitor
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I got a fair bit of shopping done yesterday.  Ventured out to a craft fair with my neighbor and got things for my employees, the two ladies I help out, and my friends, plus my son's santa gift..
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I've been gathering things here and there for my spouse and son over the past couple of months.  Have a few more things to order online that I can't get elsewhere.
[18:28] <KK> I've been going through catalogs and earmarking gifts for some. Need to do a mamoth orddering tomorrow.
[18:28] <The_Bee> I need to remind myself ofthe grand-nieces' and grand-nephews' ages.
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I have birthdays for my family members in my online calendar, with their year of birth in parentheses so I can always figure out how old they are or will be
[18:30] <The_Bee> Smart you!
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Meanwhile here I sit, thinking "I was going to add something to my calendar today...what was it?"  😅
[18:32] <KK> Uh-oh!
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> The plot thickens.  My son reports that daddy gave him the socks--certainly without realizing what pair they were or course.
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Remembered what I was going to put on calendar, so brb.  LOL!
[18:34] <The_Bee> How old is your son?--obviously old enough to know what bad words are
[18:34] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I got the idea from my grandfather, only he printed out a little list that he kept in his wallet with everyone's age listed on it and he had to update it every year .
[18:34] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> My son just turned 9!
[18:35] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Just, like, 2 days ago, right?
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I'll never forget my son getting off the school bus in kindergarten and telling me, "Mommy, I learned the F word today!"  I was thinking, "Wow, so soon? That was fast! 😭 " Then he followed up with "It's FERT! It means 'To pass gas'!"  😂  I let him go on thinking Fert was the proper word until he finally figured out his mistake.  😄
[18:38] <KK> Close enough.
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Don't be surprised if you neighbor lends your son a different pair of socks. telling him those might be two damp from the snow to wear in the house.  lol
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Yes, on Wednesday
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> i was in 5th grade when a bunch of boys kept yelling the f word at me during school lunch.  they got in trouble from the teacher, but it was not until I got home and asked mom what the word meant before I learned about that word.  I had never heard it before then.
[18:45] <The_Bee> If a joke isn't funny without an F or D word, it's not funny with them.
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Oops, just remembered I left the stuff I need for Thursday's party at my parents' house yesterday, so I guess I will need to stop by there on the way home from work some evening.
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Thinking of taking Friday off, since that's my birthday, and a day of sleeping in and nothing urgent to do sounds lovely.
[18:50] <~bynw> i approve
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> that would be the best thing
[18:50] * ~bynw never works on his birthday
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Me neither. Anymore. 😄
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Do it!  I take my birthday off every year.  Or a day adjacent if it's on a weekend
[18:51] <~bynw> ditto
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Also, happy early birthday!
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I usually work that day since if we are doing something to celebrate it, we normally do so in the evening when the rest of my family is also off from work, but the past few years I've treated myself to the day off on occasion, or at least the Friday or Monday closest to it so I can get a three day weekend
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Tomorrow is the final day of my ol' man being employed. He's been taking the last of his PTO the last two weeks, and he's been underfoot. This will be a major change for the both of us.
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Hi Everyone!
[18:51] <The_Bee> I need to go grocery shopping -- at three different stores.
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi, Jerusha!
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Why three stores, Bee?
[18:51] <~bynw> in 27 i'll probably take the whole week off
[18:51] <The_Bee> Hi Jerusha
[18:51] <~bynw> hi Jerusha
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hi Jerusha!
[18:52] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Jerusha! You made it!
[18:52] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Best thing to keep DH occupied is rearranging the garage. Over, and over, and over...
[18:52] <The_Bee> Different stores have different items on sale.
[18:52] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> We have a policy at work where each person can take an extra day off they can use any time during their birthday month.
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> In the early years of working, we would get our birthdays off as a paid holiday.
[18:54] <The_Bee> At one job we had office birthday parties.
[18:54] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Back in the day we woul have the most awesome monthly pot lucks for birthdays.  the food was always great.
[18:55] <HoundMistress> Our office has a huge birthday cake once a month for all birthdays in that month.
[18:55] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> We used to have a huge Christmas potluck.  It was awesome, and we got to spend the whole afternoon consuming food
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> but somewhere along the line, they outlawed food in the work place.  so it still happened once in a while in the staff lunch room.  but it just was not the same thing.
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> We just go out for a holiday lunch every year, but it's only a few of us
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Our potluck ended when we had to invite the staff from across the hall.  They were much younger, and were like a hoard of locusts
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> All the counter space in the ultrasound department would be dedicated to food.  no place to work.  but we loved it.
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> We used to do a pizza party at staff meeting once a month if there was a staff birthday (or more than one) that month.
[18:59] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Raul would bring in shredded beef and  everyone else would bring in tortialls and salsa and guacamoly and we would have huge barritos and tacos.
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> That sounds lovely!
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Yum!
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> We had chili made with moose meat.  I never ate it, but others loved it
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Raul ran a cattering mexican food on the side.  and his stuff was authentic and good
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Moose meat.  that is WOW
[19:01] <The_Bee> My older sister, my brother's girlfriend and I all had March birthdays. One year we had a triple birthday party.
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Fun
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> My mom once made spaghetti with venison by mistake. It was unlabeled and she mistook it for ground beef
[19:01] <The_Bee> How did it taste?
[19:01] <KK> Why did you not eat the moose meat, Jerusha?
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> We have refreshments after our church service most Sundays, and it's usually just coffee and cookies, doughnuts, fruit, or other light snacks, but we have one lady who signs up for it every so often, and she loves to bring in things like homemade tamales or some sort of Mexican soup that I couldn't begin to describe except to say it's delicious, and we always love it when she sig <clipped message>
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> ns up to provide the snacks.  😄
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I don't like chili, KK.  Too many allergies
[19:02] <KK> Ah. Then it wasn't the moose.
[19:02] <The_Bee> I've volunteered for church coffee hour refreshments a few times.
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> The moose was spared at my expense
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> It tasted fine as far as I recall. I don't think I would have noticed if she hadn't said something
[19:03] <KK> Venison spaghetti sounds interesting, but what a waste of the venison.
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I've had moose, but that was years ago when I was a kid, and the only thing I remember about it was that my Mom was trying to be sneaky and ask me how I liked the beef, thinking she was somehow fooling me into eating it because I was a picky eater, and I told her it was fine, but it wasn't beef, so what was it?  😄
[19:04] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> You can never fool a picky eater!
[19:04] <KK> I've had buffalo, and ostrich, for exotic meats.
[19:05] <HoundMistress> Did you like them, KK?
[19:05] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I've had buffalo.  We used to have a place here in B'ham that had ostrich burger, but they closed before I had a chance to go by there and try it.
[19:05] <KK> Yes, indeed.
[19:05] <The_Bee> I've had ostrich and kangaroo.
[19:05] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> As a child I recall attending a wild game dinner at a nearby church. I don't remember what I tried but there was a lot to choose from
[19:06] <KK> Buffalo tastes a lot like a cross between venison and beef, and ostrich tastes like dark meat turkey.
[19:06] <The_Bee> I had and uncle who would try any food--once.  His kids used to find new foods for him to try.
[19:06] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My son has eaten an earthworm, but I wouldn't call that fine dining. 😄  (He was going through a survive off the land phase and too many episodes of Bear Grylls, I think. LOL!)
[19:07] <KK> Kangaroo, Bee. Where did you get that?
[19:07] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I had rattlesnake the year we went to the Grand Canyon. It was reminiscent of popcorn chicken
[19:08] <The_Bee> At a restaurant that specialized in unusual foods.  There was a third meat, but I forget what..
[19:08] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I think I'll stick with pizza
[19:08] <KK> I remember in junior high, a kid brought in some grasshoppers, fried, I think. I couldn't bring myself to sample.
[19:09] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I've had a chocolate covered ants candy bar, again when I was a kid
[19:09] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Took a bite of it on a dare, as I recall, and it was pretty much like a Nestle's Crunch bar, IIRC
[19:09] <KK> I've heard of those. Again, no. I don't eat bugs.
[19:10] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> You probably eat bugs more often than you realize, since there is a certain allowable percentage of insect/insect bits allowed in processed foods, since it is virtually impossible to eliminate them entirely.
[19:11] <~bynw> i dont eat bugs either or even most seafood. don't care for the feel of it
[19:11] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Definitely not a bug eater. I'd have to be starving nigh unto death.
[19:11] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> And even then it would be a toss up
[19:11] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Or if you've ever had anything colored with cochineal to give it a pink color, you've had beetle-sourced dye.
[19:11] <KK> Oh, I know. But I wont willingly eat bugs.
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> As in, you would toss them up?  😄
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I recall a number of establishments offering dishes made with cicadas a couple years back when we had two broods surface at the same time.
[19:12] <KK> Beetle-sourced, but not the beetles!
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Most definitely, Evie
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Lobster is a bug.  I am happy to eat that.
[19:13] <~bynw> i'm not having the feast in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
[19:13] <The_Bee> Really?  Lobster?
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I found some brain-shaped Jello molds around Halloween. I was so tempted.
[19:14] <The_Bee> Lobster used to be considered poor people's food.
[19:14] <KK> Makes one wonder how hungry our ancestors had to be, to try eating lobsters or shrimp. I like shrimp, but don't want their heads or legs.
[19:14] <~bynw> i dont eat sea spiders either
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> yumm, Crabs
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Sea spiders?
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I know people who really love shrimp tails
[19:15] <HoundMistress> crabs are related to spiders, but distantly
[19:15] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Abillony.  and conk  are slugs and snails
[19:15] <~bynw> sea spiders aka lobsters, crabs and related beasts
[19:15] <KK> You have to fight too hard with crab legs, to get the meat out. Tastes good, though.
[19:15] <The_Bee> I ate baby octopuses once, but I swallowed them whole so I don't know how they tasted
[19:16] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I love hermit crabs, but in a crabitat, not on a plate
[19:16] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Allergic to lobster and crab, but now shrimp.  Woo hoo!
[19:16] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Not, I meant
[19:17] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> If they were like calamari rings, you didn't miss much. Imagine battered, deep fried rubber bands and you get the general idea.
[19:17] <~bynw> octopus is just nothing i want to every have again. one try was enough. seaweed too is nasty
[19:17] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Not very appealing
[19:17] <The_Bee> I've had conch twice, liked it once.
[19:18] <KK> One summer, I worked at the marine lab in Miami, and some of our oriental employees would go out at lunchtime and gather sea urchins then bring them back and open them and scoop out the insides with a spoon. That was before I found out about sushi, which I do like.
[19:18] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Oh, I love a good roasted seaweed.  I love the little snack packs you can get at places like Costco
[19:18] <The_Bee> I like ceviche better than sushi.
[19:19] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My daughter works at a sushi restaurant
[19:19] <KK> What is ceviche?
[19:19] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I just don't think I could ever tolerate sashimi. Only a step above those fried grasshoppers.
[19:20] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> We had a Japanese exchange student one year in high school and we invited him over for Thanksgiving.  He and I made sushi
[19:20] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I believe Ceviche is fish marinated in lemon and vinager for several days. with herbs
[19:20] <The_Bee> cooked with acid (lemon?) instead of heat.  Spanish, I think.
[19:20] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> The acids in the lemon and vinegar would essentially "cook" the fish, albeit by chemical means rather than by heat
[19:21] <The_Bee> Thanks, Evie.
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I have had Ceviche.  but I do not eat Sushi
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> the ceviche looks a lot like pico de gallo
[19:22] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I have had ceviche once. It was different, but good!  I also enjoy the occasional poke bowl
[19:22] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I don't eat pico de gallo either.  I will eat tomato or onion in stuff, but it has to be cooked, because I don't like the flavor of either one raw
[19:23] <KK> Ah. I've heard of that, though never had opportunity to try it. Probably good.
[19:23] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> https://tenor.com/view/caught-pokemon-pokeball-omg-pokeballs-gif-5284549
[19:23] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> What I think of whenever I see "Poke bowl"
[19:24] <KK> I like poke bowls. My son introduced me to them, and I suspect we'll go for poke while I'm in Oklahoma for Christmas.
[19:24] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I have no idea what a poke bowl is. *goes to look it up*
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Oh! Here are pictures of some of the treasures I picked up at the craft fair yesterday
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/479836521864888347/1444861865711632394/20251129_203529.jpg?ex=692e3ff9&is=692cee79&hm=ee2d1bbd3386c5b803cb9463d905ba2b78f23f3e1506fe9c3553d79488c1e47d&;
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/479836521864888347/1444861866378657822/20251129_203609.jpg?ex=692e3ff9&is=692cee79&hm=cbd587fc72074029594470fc01332bd96560824331d52300c0d05f69120c67ad&;
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/479836521864888347/1444861866869260318/20251129_203650.jpg?ex=692e3ff9&is=692cee79&hm=cf9a8f3988ab49a407dfc630a03cc2ccc8f015b7a1385632b1c870497cca4529&;
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/479836521864888347/1444861867448205415/20251129_203706.jpg?ex=692e3ff9&is=692cee79&hm=66b19cca9b1278f0945ff8c2299a0579bbf56cbbcdf6b039785759884488f415&;
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> When a group of Pokemon go bowling.....  😄
[19:25] <HoundMistress> OOPs! one of the brothers has called. TTYL
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Those are pretty!
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Bye HM
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> bye HM
[19:25] * Quits: HoundMistress (Quit: Client closed)
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Bye, HM
[19:29] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I am going to toddle off too.  Have a good week, everyone!  Enjoy all the turkey leftovers.
[19:29] <KK> Poke is like sushi in a bowl, with lots of options to select. I think its Hawaian..
[19:29] <The_Bee> beautiful things, Quasijabbo!
[19:29] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Bye, Jerusha!
[19:29] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> night Jerusha
[19:30] <The_Bee> Bye all departing folks.
[19:30] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I'll have to see if I've got any turkey leftovers. I just did an Instant Pot turkey breast this year, which was still more than sufficient for us
[19:30] <KK> I think I'll go too. All this talk of food has me hungry, even though I had a big lunch at our local German restaurant.
[19:30] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> But not "turkey for days" more than sufficient
[19:30] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Well, I just got out of the family gathering aw drat bye all!
[19:30] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Our good local German restaurant closed a few years ago.  🙁
[19:31] <KK> Zoom next week.  See you all then.
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> KK, you have yourself a great evening. And a fabulous week.
[19:31] <The_Bee> Bye KK!
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> See you literally on next Sunday, then
[19:31] * KK steps onto her Portal, waves goodnight, and disappears in a shower of purple sparkles.
[19:31] * The_Bee is buzzing off too.  Fave tv show.
[19:32] <KK> Nighters, all.  And stay warm and healthy!
[19:32] * Quits: The_Bee (Quit: The_Bee)
[19:32] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> cya B
[19:32] * Quits: KK (Quit: Client closed)

Friday September 13
Night
Grecotha

"I'm concerned that we couldn't find Morten Smith," Airich told Jimmy as they headed back towards the Bishop's palace. "Rauf said he was fanatically anti-Deryni and always has been. This is apparently exactly the kind of thing he'd get involved with, even without the Custodes encouraging him."

Full dark had fallen, and the fifty men who Airich had conscripted from the Purple Guard and City Watch had been out in pairs for hours, tracking down the caches of Byzantyum fire and arresting the men as they came to light their fires, and seeking out the rest of the names from their homes or taverns. And almost everyone had reported in, with word being that every known store of Bynzantyum fire had been neutralized. And so far, the city had not lit up in a conflagration of greenish fire. Airich held onto the slightest hope that their mission might have been a complete success. Except for half-a-dozen names that no one had been able to account for.

"Don't worry," said Jimmy, "if we don't find him tonight, many of the City Watch know him on sight. It wouldn't surprise me if a man like him gets out of town to avoid arrest. He'd never been seen in—"

"Do you smell that?" Airich stopped him, face lifted to the breeze.

Jimmy took in a deep breath through his nose, testing the air. "Smoke."

"Aye," Airich said, his heart sinking. The night had been going too well. The two took off at a run, following the faint scent of smoke made detectable by Deryni-enhanced senses.

They came to the large stable belonging to the university. A small crowd had begun to gather around it, and two men were holding the door closed. "I'm sure we neutralized the Byzantyum fire starter here!" Jimmy exclaimed. It was the closest thing to panic Airich had yet heard from the man. Jimmy began blowing his whistle, signaling any of the other authorities within earshot to come running.

"You're here, thank goodness!" said one of the men holding the door, "The fire can't spread until it burns through these walls. And you folks can take care of it by then, right? You got the Purple Guard and the watch on it, right?"

The man's frightened chatter didn't mask the screams of the terrified horses from within.

"Good God, man, you left the horses inside?" Airich pushed the two men aside and, fearing what he would see, pulled open the wide door. The rush of air fanned the orange, red, and yellow flames—not sickly green after all, thank goodness.

The inside of the stable wasn't a complete inferno yet, but the fire had spread from the front area toward the stalls. But worse than the horses' panicked screams was the sight of a stableboy, pulling at a partially burning wooden beam that had fallen across the back of a man's legs and now pinned him to the ground. The terrified stableboy tugged with all his might, but his wiry little arms stood no chance of budging the heavy wood. The man, yelling at the boy to try harder, could not assist his own rescue as the beam held him down at an angle that made it impossible, and the yelling just made him cough more.

Airich ran forward, pulling his sword from its scabbard. He shoved it underneath the beam and into the packed earth, then heaved. The beam shifted, then lifted slightly. "Give me your hand, man!" Airich yelled, thrusting his hand towards the other, "We'll get you out of here!"

The man lifted his head, and Airich found himself looking into the eyes of Pietre de Guerra. The recognition from both men was instantaneous, but de Guerra paused for no more than a moment before grabbing Airich's hand, and between the two of them, they got him out from underneath the beam. "Get out, de Guerra, go breathe some clean air!" Airich pushed the magistrate's heir to follow the boy toward the stable door, where Jimmy was directing the other men in forming a bucket brigade to a close fountain. But it would be too late for the horses if Airich didn't act quickly.

The knight soaked a cloth with the vinegar he had with him and wrapped it around his nose and mouth, then listened for the horses. They were all terrified and panicked. Each needed to be calmed and led to safety. But Jimmy couldn't afford to lose a single man helping to fight the blaze, and the stableboy had run off with de Guerra. So it was up to Airich if any horses were to be saved.

He had no time for gentleness or finesse: the fire would reach the first stall within seconds, and the horse within was screaming and rearing violently. Airich dashed into the stall, under razor-sharp hooves and freed the horse's lead rope from its hook. He slapped the horse on its haunches and sent it to find its way through the billowing smoke and out into the cobbled streets and fresh air beyond.

Airich sprinted from open stall to open stall, freeing dozens of horses: stallions, geldings, and mares alike. He hadn't finished when Jimmy's voice sounded in his head: Get out of there now, the stables are lost. We're working to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.

Airich looked around: the acrid smoke was getting in his lungs and he could see little, but he shouldn't have more than about four or five stalls left. He couldn't leave any horse to burn here any more than he could leave any man, woman, or child. Coughing violently now despite his now-dry mask, he freed two more horses before coming to the last one. Thoroughly disoriented now, he climbed onto the chestnut stallion bareback, then freed it and lay low over its neck, trusting the horse's instinct to get them to safety.

Jimmy, calling orders to the bucket brigade he'd organized to the south of the stables, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Airich finally ride out. The blaze within had grown out-of-control and he was prepared to become mighty angry if Airich died and wasted all the work they'd done on him the previous day. Jimmy hadn't had the concentration available to pay a mind to the loose horses, but he had noticed some boys in university robes had come out and were taking hold of most of the agitated beasts. Meanwhile, Pietre de Guerra was directing the other line of men in the bucket brigade defending the building on the north side of the stables.

He'd been surprised by de Guerra: the swordmaster had staggered out, supported by the stableboy, and nearly passed out, trying to cough out the smoke he'd inhaled. Then he shook it off and immediately got to work, organizing the men needed to protect the other buildings. De Guerra might be a Deryni-hater, but Jimmy had to admit the man was competent and dedicated to his city.

At long last the buildings surrounding the stable were secure and the horses rounded up and calmed. The fire itself still burned in the stables, and would continue burning for some hours, but there seemed no point in endangering life and limb trying to put it out. Both Jimmy and Airich were more than happy to leave it to de Guerra to make sure the fire didn't do something unexpected, and determine the identity of the dead man someone had found in the street in front of the stable.

"O'Flynn," a voice called from behind them. Airich turned to see de Guerra approaching them. He steeled himself, awaiting the inevitable dressing down for daring to lay a hand on the other man. Or possibly even a challenge to a dual for the offense.

De Guerra stopped before the two men. He curtly nodded his head once, the barest hint of a bow. "My thanks for the warning you gave the other day."

Thanks? To any Deryni? Airich returned the nod. "I serve where I can," he replied, and when de Guerra began to turn back to the stable, he said, "If there is any Deryni you ever trusted before the war—Dean Nathaniel, perhaps—you might let him reassure you that I took no advantage while assisting you in there."

De Guerra gave him an unreadable stare for just a moment, and then returned to the men at the stables. Airich doubted he would take this suggestion. Still. He actually thanked a Deryni. He was glad Jimmy had heard it; otherwise, no one would believe it

Perhaps there was hope for the man, yet. 

Very true. Kelson doesn't get a victory boost. In the immediate aftermath of the Coronation coup here, lots of things fall apart-- Morgan is wounded, Kelson is trying to regroup in the south, lots of nobles were killed in the fighting at the cathedral, lots of people (e.g., Bran Coris) are acting in raw self-interest. So there's a real question about how strong the young king is and who's the "real" power. It's a time for suspicions and mistrust.

Quote from: drakensis on November 28, 2025, 01:36:13 AMIn canon we don't see Nigel opposed to Morgan, he's the very first to welcome him back to court in Deryni Rising.

Presumably, whatever played out here has put fissures between them.

It seems to tie to the McLains which makes sense. Morgan and Nigel likely worked together a long time as the two dukes governing Gwynedd's southern coasts. The McLains are geographically distant up in the north-west, and IIRC we barely see Nigel and Duke Jared together before the latter's untimely death. Same for Kevin.

And of course, Kelson emerged from his coronation looking strong - he had defeated an older and presumably more dangerous rival for the throne in front of everyone. Sure, there were religious issues but no one thought him incapable. Here he didn't get that boost.

Whatever qualities are needed to be a healer, if Camber had been a healer it seems unlikely he would have followed the same path in life.

He had a call to the church early and only became Earl because his older brothers died young. There's a high chance he was a Gabrielite until that point, rather than a more scholarly order (not that they aren't studious in that field).

This might well have meant he was not as politically significant. Still an Earl and probably on the royal council - the MacRories were descended of the Torenthi lords who followed Festil I - but there's a good chance he wasn't made chancellor. He may also have been less of a favorite to Blaine (also of a clerical background).

In this scenario, it's possible Cathan isn't as close to Imre and that the young king doesn't see his opposition as such a personal betrayal. In turn, Cathan may live and the pressure to overthrow Imre seem less... Particularly with Camber's influence seen as less of a threat by those who want to be Imre's favorites at court.

In canon we don't see Nigel opposed to Morgan, he's the very first to welcome him back to court in Deryni Rising.

Presumably, whatever played out here has put fissures between them.

It seems to tie to the McLains which makes sense. Morgan and Nigel likely worked together a long time as the two dukes governing Gwynedd's southern coasts. The McLains are geographically distant up in the north-west, and IIRC we barely see Nigel and Duke Jared together before the latter's untimely death. Same for Kevin.

And of course, Kelson emerged from his coronation looking strong - he had defeated an older and presumably more dangerous rival for the throne in front of everyone. Sure, there were religious issues but no one thought him incapable. Here he didn't get that boost.

Rhys was orphaned at a young age. We do not have very much information about his parents and grandparents. I am sure his family had to have Healer potential, it is just that this information did not make it down to Rhys's guardian, who was Camber. 

Camber worked with many healers and studied the level of focus necessary to Heal. I am not saying that he could not have been a carrier of the gene, but I believe that if he could have manifested that trait, he would have. It is also possible that Camber's Wife could have been the carrier of the gene, and that is how Evaine was able to double up with Rhys's talent and pass it down to Teig and to their daughter, Jerusha.

TMCD--  I seem to somehow have erased a post you left, and I hope you'll be able to add it back. Gaaah! My technical skills do fail me sometimes. However...this was the  answer I posted to your comment:

Do note that Nigel is sending two of his own older commanders as Conall's advisors. Sending his son-and-heir as nominal commander both gives Conall experience and shows that the Carthmoor commitment is serious. It's a fairly common medieval thing to do-- send a younger member of a ruling house out as a nominal commander.

Conall is expected to nominally supervise levies in men and money on the way north, too...and having someone of his rank being the face of requisitions is a political move.

Nigel has talked Kelson into going into Meara because (1) Having lost the north of Gwynedd to Charissa, the Haldane cause can't risk being seen as unable to hold the west, (2) Dukes Jared and Ewan are major supporters of the Haldanes, and have a political claim on aid, and (3) Bran Coris is campaigning in northern Meara, and crushing the leading turncoat of the Gwynedd Wars is something that probably strikes Kelson as absolutely necessary and personally satisfying.

(If I accidentally posted a half-rant elsewhere by accident, please tell me where.)

Nigel Cluim Gwydion Rhys Haldane, you (expletives deleted) FOOL.

Divided command is often disastrous. Doing so without a firm base (a stable kingdom) is worse. Putting an inexperienced kid in charge of a large detachment, maybe a kid as arrogant and stupid as in the original timeline, is just the flaming (manure) icing on the poison cake.

(clap) You. (clap) Cannot. (clap) Afford. (clap) Divisions. (clap) In. (clap) Your. (clap) Side. (clap)

Best case, BEST CASE, Kelson is going to come back with "do you have any excuse for not putting your troops under command of my general in the theater?"  Likely case, Alaric is about to win, he calls on Conall for the cavalry charge to break the enemy flank, Conall hangs back with a smirk, Alaric is heavily defeated and loses a large chunk of Gwynedd, and the enemies of Gwynedd and opportunistic vultures see a way to drive a wedge into the Haldane cause and devour more chunks.

Kelson focusing on Meara is foolish on its own, yes. It's nice to clear your backfield and end another front, and it's often wise to go after the easy opponent first, but mountainous Meara is so well suited for guerilla warfare, tying down the Haldane efforts.

Quote from: tmcd on November 27, 2025, 12:25:32 AM"Kelson has a very firm idea about a king should be". I think there's a missing word, like "about what a king should be".

I liked the idea that in an AU timeline, characters might be rather different people, or at least respond differently to the challenges in their world. Conall has had to grow up in a world very unlike the main timeline.

Quote from: Jerusha on November 27, 2025, 12:15:35 PMI was not expecting this change in perspective.  Interesting alternative to what we are used to thinking and believing in.  Eager to eventually learn how this all plays out.

I was not expecting this change in perspective.  Interesting alternative to what we are used to thinking and believing in.  Eager to eventually learn how this all plays out.