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#51
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by Nezz - May 28, 2025, 11:55:16 PM
The team as they first appeared one year ago.

#52
Forgotten Shadows / Happy Anniversary to Forgotten...
Last post by Nezz - May 28, 2025, 11:50:58 PM
So, it was one year ago today that Marc posted the first (non-bynw) scene in Forgotten Shadows. Amazing how time flies, isn't it? Anyway, wishing a happy anniversary to the kids and hope they don't die anytime soon.

#53
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by Bynw - May 28, 2025, 01:44:41 PM
Quote from: Nezz on May 28, 2025, 12:47:39 PM"At least your writers don't absolutely hate you. I haven't even gotten my cookies yet." —Airich Michael O'Flynn


Collos walks by eating a plate of cookies.  "These are good!"
#54
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by Evie - May 28, 2025, 12:49:40 PM
Words of wisdom from our Darkling Duke.  Although Colin takes mild exception to being referred to as "Colon." He knows he can be a pain in the patoot at times, but he's really not a part of the GI tract.  😂
#55
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by Nezz - May 28, 2025, 12:47:39 PM
"At least your writers don't absolutely hate you. I haven't even gotten my cookies yet." —Airich Michael O'Flynn
#56
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by Laurna - May 28, 2025, 12:45:19 PM
"You dictate your story to them, you give them your very heart and soul, and then they squander that info, the sleep on it, the toss our most beloved moments in the fire pit of obscurity, only to embellish the moments we would rather the world not know. Sometimes writers only hint at the real love that you try to express and aggrandize our pain."  Alaric Morgan replies in sympathy to Duncan, Colon, Catalina, Camber and Alixa Haldane. "But you do have to admit that without writers,  our stories would never be told."  Alaric lifts his glass in toast to Edwin and Aidan's writers. "We promise to keep talking if you keep dictating our words.  Psst: Duncan Michael, it is your own fault. You know you have to clammer away endlessly if you want to be noticed."
#57
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by Evie - May 28, 2025, 08:30:43 AM
Quote from: revanne on May 28, 2025, 02:26:52 AMEdwin apologises for the tardiness of his scene. He has had trouble with the person who writes him.

"We feel that pain."--Colin, Catalina, Camber, and Alixa

"Writers are the worst!"--Duncan McLain

"I think mine has forgotten I even exist!"--Duncan Michael MacArdry McLain
#58
Fan Projects / Re: Saint Camber Medal
Last post by Evie - May 28, 2025, 08:23:10 AM
I'm pretty sure my DH would have the skills to make them. What I'm less sure about is whether or not he would have the time. The only time I remembering him making a modern coin-style medallion (with an embossed figure on it like a modern coin, I mean, not an engraved image), it looked great, but it was apparently a pain to design and do the prep work for (I think he used either a sand or wax casting process), and he no longer has access to the work space he needed in order to make it. :(  He also had a live model whose photos he could use to draw out the profile, since it was meant to commemorate her elevation to the SCA Order of the Laurel, while with a Camber medallion the Camber figure would need to be designed from scratch. 

(I'll try to attach a picture of the medallion, since I think he did a great job with it. I'm just not sure he would be able to set up the sort of work space that he needs to make new ones at the moment.)
#59
Forgotten Shadows / Re: FS Out of Character Chat
Last post by revanne - May 28, 2025, 02:26:52 AM
Edwin apologises for the tardiness of his scene. He has had trouble with the person who writes him.
#60
Forgotten Shadows / Re: Forgotten Shadows
Last post by revanne - May 28, 2025, 02:25:57 AM
Begins a short while earlier short while earlier

As he and Amy walked back to the Duggan's, guiding the clearly bemused young monk,  Edwin was doing some hard and furious thinking, and the harder he thought the more furious he became. Aidan's confusion seemed all too similar to his own befuddled state just a short while ago, though he had to confess that Aidan's response, unlike his own, was not to punch someone. The discipline of a monastery obviously had something in its favour. But maybe it was time someone got angry on Aidan's behalf. There was something about the young monk that called out the protective big brother in Edwin, not that he had ever been anything but the runt of the pack, and maybe it was that that was fuelling his response to his growing suspicion, nay a certainty, that someone had been meddling with the young lad's mind. 

Edwin tried a tentative probe into Aidan's thoughts, (dice roll: 3+1) but Amy shot him a warning glance, "Not out in the open, wait until we are safe indoors. We've had enough trouble today without inviting more." But she smiled as she said it and Edwin, though he felt foolish, accepted the advice with a nod and a smile of his own.

As they approached the safe house Aidan became agitated again, "Nay, Ah musn'a, ah mus find Ol... where are ye takin' me?" Then he became even more distressed and cried out "I dinna want ta be burnt in th'fire." Amy shared another look with Edwin, this time of concern. Equally concerned, Edwin put his arm around Aidan's shoulder and spoke in his broadest border accent. "Wheest laddie, calm ye doon. I'm thinkin'  thee's no verra well the noo, sae jaist mind thee o' the mistress wi' the healing hands. She stays here wi' us, tho not just the noo, but we can gi'e thee one of her draughts. Come away in an' dinna be sae upsettin' thysen.

Edwin felt Aidan relax a little in his hold so he withdrew his arm and, though he was tempted to link arms with Aidan instead, he forebore. He knew little about monastic protocol, but he was sure that looking overly comradely with an unshaven and bruised student would doubtless cause trouble for Aidan if he was seen by anyone in authority. The sooner they got Aidan safely away from prying eyes of all sorts, the better. 

As they reached a crossroads Edwin turned confidently away from the way which led to the entrance to the tunnels and made instead towards the street door.
Edwin, where are you going? The tunnel entrance is down there, if I remember aright.

Amy sounded puzzled rather than cross, so Edwin replied equably enough.
It is but I dinna fancy getting our laddie here ta go into them wi' us wi'out a struggle and I dinna think that's a guid idea.  I've  bin in an' out often enough before all this mess started. He took a quick look round before adding,
I dinna think anyone's following us.

Amy could see the sense of this. Aidan hollering and struggling was going to draw more attention than using an  entrance above ground, risky though that was.

It happened that their way passed a cook shop and the appetising smell that issued through the serving hatch reminded Edwin of meals that he had missed. Despite their need for haste he looked appealing towards Amy who reached into her pouch, brought out the necessary coin and gave him a friendly push towards the shop shaking her head at his look of enquiry. Edwin could not restrain a smile as Aidan's nose twitched towards the smell and his look of hungry appeal as Edwin reappeared with two bowls of steaming broth thick with meat and pulses.

"We're lucky tis no a fast day, eh laddie?" Edwin said. Aidan smiled a bit sheepishly, embarrassed that his failure to control his worldly appetite was so obvious, but put at ease by this young man who reminded him reassuringly of home. 

Amy smiled on them both, it had been a good idea of Edwin's to get hot food rather than relying on what they could find in the house, and she decided that it would be sensible for her to go above and find the necessary medicine, leaving Edwin to find out what he could.

Aidan followed Edwin into the house and sat docilely down where he was bidden on a bench close to the fire. The smell of the good food pushed all other thoughts out of the mind of a young lad who never went really hungry in the monastery, other than on fast days or doing penance, but who never had quite enough to eat either. He was vaguely aware of the student—Edwin was he called?—sitting himself at the opposite side of the table and pushing one of the bowls and a horn spoon across to him, but Aidan's attention was entirely on the food.

Seeing Aidan thus occupied, Edwin risked a gentle mind probe to see if he could read something of what was going on in the young monk's mind. Easy does it, nae point in scaring the puir laddie any more than he already is. He could sense shields, patchy and not very strong, but recalling some of what Airich had been trying to teach him -God, how had Airich restrained himself from punching him? - he thought he should be able to read around them without too much trouble.

He had not allowed for the wariness of a young thing used to being all too often on the receiving end of discipline and always looking to avoid giving offence. Aidan had become aware that Edwin was not eating and put his own spoon down. "Beg pardon Maister, Ah'should 'a waited fer ye ta gie thanks." (Dice 3 +3 Edwin fails to mind read Aidan). Edwin felt himself flushing, the lad was a monk after all. "Nae worries, lad, I could see that ye were nigh clemmed." He hastily signed himself and muttered the only grace that came to his flustered mind, "per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen." He hoped desperately that the Almighty would not take it amiss, he was truly trying not to annoy any who were his superiors let alone the Lord of all creation.

Aidan seemed reassured but still waited until Edwin had picked up his own spoon and was starting to eat before he himself resumed eating. Aidan noticeably relaxed and Edwin,too, felt some of the stress of all the recent events fade slightly as the good food warmed his belly and comforted his soul. An instinctive wisdom that he hadn't known he possessed warned him not to try to ask Aidan any questions even of the most gentle kind, instead he chatted away to the lad in his broadest brogue sharing tales of his own young life in Culdi and especially of the scrapes he had got himself into. At first Aidan was clearly trying to keep within the bounds of monastic decorum, his lips merely twitching but after Edwin's most outrageous tale of the piglet smuggled under the bedclothes he burst out into the laughter natural to a lad of his age.

It was so Amy found them when she returned with the medicines. Her first thought was to glance around for a sign that they had somehow found enough strong ale to make them so merry and though there was no sign of any drink her expression betrayed her irritation with Edwin. Before she could speak out her annoyance Edwin forestalled her, speaking into her mind.

He's as wound up as a nervous horse, if we are to get any information from him I think we would be best to wait until he is asleep. I think I should be able to get past his shields then.

Fair enough. Just don't forget and go to sleep yourself. 

The slight edge to Amy's mental tone nettled Edwin and he made no attempt to soften his own tone as he snapped back. Gi'en how confused he was when we came across him I'll bet a gold sovereign that someone has been messing with this poor lad's mind. And I'd like very much to find out if it is the same dirty blaggards that were messing wi' mine. I'm no quite th'idiot ye take me for.

Amy made no answer but smiled at both the young men and came and sat herself down, a cup of water in her hand into which she poured the contents of a twist of parchment. She spoke gently to Aidan, as she did so, "Here's the physick I spoke of, it should ease the pain in your head." Aidan looked uncertainly at Edwin who nodded encouragingly and Aidan drank the potion down, the face he pulled at the bitter taste betraying him as the child he, in many ways, still was.

In the same gentle way Amy continued, "You were going to tell us something, I think. Something that was worrying you."
Unfortunately that had entirely the opposite effect from Amy's intent as Aidan sprang to his feet and began his agitated and distracted muttering again. "Ah shud'na, cum wi'ye. Ah must tell th' Canon, nay 'tis Ol ah must ..." He clutched his head and began to move towards the door in a panic stricken way.

For one moment Edwin felt helpless, then a memory flashed into his mind. He was remembering a prank played on a friend whose wine they had laced with strong spirit, and which had gone further than they had intended, leaving him unable to get home unaided. Edwin and another of his companions had half-carried, half-dragged him but as they had approached their lodgings the victim had roused sufficiently to begin to curse them loudly. His companion, who had made no secret of being a Deryni, had laid his hand across the other's forehead and almost at once the noise stopped as its perpetrator fell asleep. Edwin, beginning to feel the thrill and power of being Deryni himself for the first time in his life,  had been fascinated and had asked the secret of the trick, which had very readily been shared with him. He had practised it a few times on his willing, if slightly amused friend, but never before had he used it in earnest. Now seemed to be the time to change that.

Thankfully he was between Aidan and the door and as Aidan walked unsteadily past him, Edwin reached out and gently but firmly pulled him back down onto the bench, the while putting his free hand across Aidan's forehead and, with his focused thought, willing the other to sleep (2+6). Aidan slumped forward across the bench; his deep regular breathing indicated that he was indeed asleep but Edwin gently tweaked his ear just to make sure. Initially elated he then looked up worriedly at Amy and was relieved to see her smiling her approval.

"Nicely done. And I'm sure you are right. Someone has been messing with his mind and I would very much like to know who."

"Not half as much as I would" Edwin retorted, the thought rekindling his anger.

"I understand that," replied Amy peaceably, "but you must set that anger aside or you will not be able to find out what you need."

Edwin recognized the truth of what she was saying but the rebuke, mild though it was, rekindled his uncertainty. "Mebbe you should be the one to do this, maistress?"

"No, it should be you. You have a sympathy of feeling with him which will help; besides which I don't like the idea of a woman peeking into his thoughts, and I am very sure that he won't. We don't know what's going on and at some point we may think it right to tell him what we have found out. The lad will have had little dealings with women since he entered the monastery and he will have been taught to regard us with suspicion I have no doubt. I have no wish to be part of one of his more interesting confessions."

Edwin could see the very obvious sense in this, and with returning confidence could not resist a little teasing of Amy. "Aye, I can see that, and especially not given the comely lass that you are. I could'a fancied thee myself if t'weren't so obvious where tha' heart is given."

Amy aimed a fake blow at him, then became serious again, "Enough of that, time to focus on what needs to be done."

Edwin took a deep breath and focused on the task before him, this time setting aside his anger and seeing instead a young vulnerable lad who he wanted above all to help. He allowed his conscious mind to drift and gently cupping the side of Aidan's head reached into the other's mind, reaching easily enough behind the other's fragile shields. (6+1)

It took all his self-control not to pull away as he recognised the priests in Aidan's memory. He knew them himself, as men of influence within both the Seminary and University, and he was as horrified as Aidan had been to learn that they were embroiled in the plot to burn the city with its store of learning. Aidan's memory supplied their names as Fathers Leo and Gregory. Their hatred of things Deryni, even filtered through Aidan's memories, was palpable. No wonder Aidan had felt that he must rush to tell Canon Damien. So why had he not? It was as though the impulse which came from the young monk's obedience to, and genuine love for, his master was being thwarted. Aidan's agitation, which had been so obvious in his demeanour and speech, was even more obvious in his mind. Edwin thought he must probe a little more deeply, though it felt intrusive to do so. (3+5)

Amy, watching, saw Edwin pale as he withdrew his hand from Aidan. He took some deep breaths and was clearly fighting with a strong emotional reaction. When Amy would have spoken he shook his head and she knew that he needed more time to regain control of himself. Finally he was able to speak, "Well, I'm a babby as far as these things are concerned but I was right. Someone has been messing with his head and it's the same someone who messed with mine. And kidnapped me and left me for dead! The same three b****s  - I beg your pardon Amy- the three men, who I went with from the inn, fool that I was. I would recognise them again, and they have been using Aidan, poor wee lad, to spy on them. They've set some form of compulsion on him but are so damned arrogant that they hid it so badly that it was easy for even a Deryni as poorly trained as me to find. The boss man is called Oleg, that's really all Aidan knows but he can picture them all clearly. No wonder he was so confused - I'm guessing that the compulsion wasn't well done either so some part of him knew something was wrong.

Edwin took another deep breath and looked around as if hoping to find a tankard of ale somewhere nearby. "Poor wee lad. And now we've kept him away from the monastery too late to return the night. I dinna ken much about such places", he couldn't restrain a grin at Amy at the obviousness of his own remark, "but I'd bet there is a heavy penance for staying out overnight. A beating is probably the least of it. I'll no let that happen to him, I'll bide here with him and in the morning I'll go with him to the Canon and tell him what I know. Even if he won't listen to it all, he must be told about the priests and it is nothing but the truth that Aidan was taken ill and we brought him here to care for him."

Seeing Amy's puzzled look he showed her what Aidan's memory revealed about the two priests he had overheard plotting. Amy frowned and said thoughtfully "They seem to be wearing some sort of insignia, maybe they are some of those Custodes Master Collos was speaking of." Edwin nodded reluctantly "Aye, and maybe that means he's more ta be trusted than I was willing ta believe." Then he added fiercely, as though Amy was about to disagree with him  "but I'm no going anywhere the night, and I'm going ta see this young lad here warmly bedded doon and ha'e a guid breakfast in the morn." His loss of the polished speech he was proud to have acquired was evidence of his determination, though the vehemence of his declaration had more than force enough of itself.

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