AC301-Other People’s Eyes
I don't mind the sun sometimes,
The images it shows
I can taste you on my lips
And smell you in my clothes
Cinnamon and sugary
And softly spoken lies
You never know just how you look
Through other people's eyes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
“Pepper” Butthole Surfers
Several weeks later…
Patilleria rapped forcefully on the door of Corthala Manor. Her face was pinched with disapproval as she muttered to her two assistant mages, “Be on your guard every second. Imoen Corthala is a dangerous renegade, so keep your wits about you.”
The door was opened by a man of middling age. Patilleria frowned at the look of suspicion he gave her. However, his voice was polite as he said, “Yes, my lady?”
“I am Patilleria of the Cowled Wizards. I demand to see Imoen Corthala immediately.”
Coldly, the man said, “The mistress is entertaining houseguests today. She is not receiving unexpected visitors.”
“She will see me now, or I will call the guard!”
From behind the man, she heard a voice say, “What is it, Hervo?”
“This… lady is with the Cowled Wizards, my lord. She insists on seeing the mistress.”
A dark-skinned man dressed in simple clothes stepped into view. He was scowling. “What do the Cowlies want with my wife?”
So this is the infamous Valygar Corthala. “Lord Corthala, allow me to introduce myself. I am Patilleria, and I am here on behalf of the ruling assembly of the Cowled Wizards. I must speak to Lady Corthala at once.”
The scowl deepened. “You must? Then you should have sent word. My wife has guests, and this is not a good time for your nonsense.”
Huffily she said in a raised voice, “Nonsense? I am here with the full authority of the law. If you do not allow me entrance, I will report to the Council of Six that you have acted in a hostile manner.”
Valygar rolled his eyes. “I’m terrified. Really. But if it will keep you from yelling like a fishwife on my doorstep, I’ll let you in.” He stood aside.
Still seething from his lack of respect, the wizard swept through the door into the entry hall. Patilleria heard voices as a door opened in the hallway beyond. A woman said, “Tinira has some lovely treats prepared for us. Follow me to the dining room.”
Valygar called out, “Imoen? Could you come here?”
“Sure, Val,” the voice called. “Don’t wait for me, everyone. Just go right through that door, I’ll join you in a moment after I see what Valygar wants.”
Patilleria steeled herself for a confrontation, but was surprised when a small young woman trotted into the room. She was dressed in an ordinary tunic and trousers, and had a cheerful smile on her face. Imoen spotted her and said, “Hiya!”
“Im, this is Patilleria. She’s a Cowled Wizard.”
The smile dropped from Imoen’s face. “A Cowlie, huh? What do you want?”
Stiffly Patilleria said, “I am here to determine your plans in regard to our organization.”
“Plans? How about you stay away from me and I stay away from you? That sound like a good plan?”
“I would like to point out that the magic license that Jarran purchased does not technically cover your magic use any longer. That license is for persons temporarily staying in Amn. You have married Lord Corthala, so you are now a citizen.”
Imoen shrugged. “And?”
“You should not be so flippant. You would not want to be arrested again, would you?”
Imoen said coldly, “I wouldn’t try it if I were you. I’m not half-starved and out of my mind with fear like I was then, and I certainly wouldn’t go quietly.”
“There is, of course, another option. Rather than hostilities, you could join us.”
“Join you? The Cowled Wizards?” Imoen began laughing. “That’s the best joke I’ve heard in a long time.”
“If you will be residing here, there are a great many benefits to belonging to our assembly. We would be glad to have a wizard of your power.”
Imoen snorted in amusement. “Now that is just silly. Either I’m a dangerous lunatic who should be locked up, or a potential member. Which is it?”
“One could say that anyone who would refuse such an opportunity is not thinking clearly.”
“Well, I guess I’m the fuzzy-thinking type, because there is no way I would join an organization that does the things the Cowlies do. Especially since I think the whole thing is a crock anyway. Magic is a skill, not something to hide away in the hands of an elite few.”
“You are being foolish. If you do not join, you will not be granted a license to perform magic.”
“Imoen? What be taking ye so long?”
Patilleria looked towards the hallway and her eyes widened. A group of people had entered the entry chamber. A wizard in red robes and an over-large hat was puffing on a pipe and glaring at her. She had never met Elminster of Shadowdale, but this man fit the description perfectly.
Imoen turned towards the group and smiled. “Be with you in a minute, El. Just taking care of some bureaucratic nonsense.”
A woman in tattered dark robes said dreamily, “Those little sandwiches are lovely, Imoen. I must speak to your cook.” She pulled up her robes to reveal bare feet as she twirled in place. “Lovely, lovely.” She tossed her long wildly tangled hair.
Elminster looked over at the woman in amusement. “Yes, Alassra, they were quite tasty. Now, what seems to be the trouble here?”
Imoen said in a light-hearted voice, “Oh, just dealing with a Cowled Wizard. She is offering me the option of either joining them or being arrested. See, the thing is, I don’t like either one.”
“The Cowled Wizards?” a woman of regal bearing asked. “Surely not the same wizards who held you captive in that dreadful prison?”
“Yep, that’s them.”
A man in black robes stomped into the room, his face forbidding. “Did I hear that she wishes to have you arrested? For what crime?”
Patilleria managed to find her voice and said, “For unlicensed use of magic.”
Alassra clapped her hands to her face. “Oh, Khelben, we are all criminals! Whatever shall we do?”
As the man leaned on his dark staff, he said thoughtfully, “I suppose that we are. I do not condone lawbreaking of course. You said something about a license?”
Imoen said, “Yes, a license can be bought, but evidently they won’t sell me one unless I join them. Not gonna happen.”
“Well, then,” Elminster said with a twinkle in his eye, “I suppose you will have to arrest us all. Every one of us is using magic, and none of us intend to join the Cowled Wizards of Amn.”
The second woman said with a polite smile, “Now, Elminster, I am sure things will not reach such an extreme point. Perhaps this lady could reconsider the licenses?”
“A fine idea, Alustriel. Well, young lady, what say ye?”
“I… I am sure such honored guests of our city could be excused,” Patilleria stammered, her mouth dry.
Elminster said, “No, no, ‘twould be unfair if we did not suffer the same fate as Imoen.” He held out his hands dramatically. “Bring on thy manacles. I’ll go quietly.”
Alassra pouted. “I don’t want to wear shackles.”
Khelben said with a disapproving tone, “The law must be applied equally. Corrupt practices should never be tolerated.”
One of her assistants murmured in a panicked voice, “Mistress? Are we going to try to arrest… them?”
As Patilleria tried desperately to think of something to say, a tall man came down the stairs. He stared at her with hollow eyes for a moment, then turned to Imoen. “Sister, I truly appreciate the hospitality that you and your husband have shown me. However, could you persuade your guests not to send large ravens into my room? I find it very unnerving to find something flapping around my ears.”
Elminster frowned. “Alassra…”
“Such a sad man,” she said in a preoccupied tone. “Why does he sit in his room all alone?”
The new arrival glared. “That was you? I thought one of you had a nosey familiar. Stay out, woman. I don’t care how powerful you are, I demand my privacy.”
As if she had not heard him, she cocked her head to the side and said, “You used to shave your head, I can tell. Why did you stop?”
Quickly Imoen interjected, “Um, let’s leave Sarevok alone for now. Off to the temple again?”
“Yes,” Sarevok said. “I wanted to ask about the plans for Anomen’s chapel. I will return before dinner.” He swept past the mages and banged the front door behind him as he left.
There was a long silence before Valygar said, “Well, woman? What do you intend to do?”
It took Patilleria a moment to realize that she was the one being addressed. “I could speak to the assembly regarding a license for Lady Corthala. However, they will want to know why such a meeting is taking place in your home.”
“Oh, meeting, that makes it sound so official,” Imoen said with a grin. “They are just helping me with a little project.”
Patilleria blinked hard and blurted out, “Then you are hatching some plot!”
Imoen rolled her eyes. “For Mystra’s sake, is that all you people think magic is for? To come up with some silly scheme?”
“Well then, if this ‘project’ of yours is so innocent, what is it?”
“I’m not gonna spoil Val’s birthing day gift! It’s a surprise!”
Khelben said gravely, “I can assure you that we are not conspiring to perform any illicit act. It simply requires a bit of finesse.”
“And it gives us a wonderful opportunity to get to know young Imoen,” Alustriel said, nodding politely towards her hostess. “It is always delightful to discover a new talent.”
Imoen smiled. “Now you’re embarrassing me. Look, Patilleria, you trot along and talk to the other Cowlies. Either come back with a license, or a lot of company. You’ll need it. G’bye now.”
A Cappella Part 302 - Other People's Eyes
Started by
Guest_Silrana_*
, Oct 13 2005 03:10 AM
6 replies to this topic
#5
Guest_Silrana_*
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Posted 14 October 2005 - 11:02 AM
I know who Khelben, Alustriel and Elminster are. But this Alassra, who is she?
Well, El is one of the very few people who would call her by that name. To the rest of Faerun, she is known as the Simbul, the Witch-Queen of Aglarond. She could possibly be the most powerful wizard in FR.
Good chapter anyway
Thankee! And thanks for commenting!
#6
Weyoun
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Transcendant
Posted 16 October 2005 - 07:19 PM
“Pepper” Butthole Surfers
When I read the name of that band, I always wonder what the circumstances were when they thought up that name. But mainly, I wonder just how much booze and pot were involved.
“I am Patilleria of the Cowled Wizards. I demand to see Imoen Corthala immediately.”
Coldly, the man said, “The mistress is entertaining houseguests today. She is not receiving unexpected visitors.”
“She will see me now, or I will call the guard!”
She's solliciting for a punch to the nose.
Patilleria steeled herself for a confrontation, but was surprised when a small young woman trotted into the room. She was dressed in an ordinary tunic and trousers, and had a cheerful smile on her face. Imoen spotted her and said, “Hiya!”
Audacious greeting.
Imoen said coldly, “I wouldn’t try it if I were you. I’m not half-starved and out of my mind with fear like I was then, and I certainly wouldn’t go quietly.”
“There is, of course, another option. Rather than hostilities, you could join us.”
Here's another idea. Cocoon this girl, put an egg with a face-hugger in it in front of her, get popcorn and watch (preferably from a safe distance behind bulletproof glass).
Patilleria looked towards the hallway and her eyes widened. A group of people had entered the entry chamber. A wizard in red robes and an over-large hat was puffing on a pipe and glaring at her. She had never met Elminster of Shadowdale, but this man fit the description perfectly.
That would be lovely. Elminster in the hallway, Khelben in the living room and Vecna waiting in the closet.
“A fine idea, Alustriel. Well, young lady, what say ye?”
It's magic-con.
Who's next? Szazz Tam?
As if she had not heard him, she cocked her head to the side and said, “You used to shave your head, I can tell. Why did you stop?”
*tries to imagine Sarevok with long hair... then tries to banish the X-over image of Sarevok and Fabio out of my mind forever.*
“And it gives us a wonderful opportunity to get to know young Imoen,” Alustriel said, nodding politely towards her hostess. “It is always delightful to discover a new talent.”
Let's hope it involves blowing up something.
Imoen smiled. “Now you’re embarrassing me. Look, Patilleria, you trot along and talk to the other Cowlies. Either come back with a license, or a lot of company. You’ll need it. G’bye now.”
TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers
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Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.
Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!
---
"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi
---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.
Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!
---
"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi
#7
Guest_Silrana_*
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Posted 18 October 2005 - 11:37 PM
“Pepper” Butthole Surfers
When I read the name of that band, I always wonder what the circumstances were when they thought up that name. But mainly, I wonder just how much booze and pot were involved.
I have to admit, I was a bit squeemish about using the song because of the band's name.
“I am Patilleria of the Cowled Wizards. I demand to see Imoen Corthala immediately.”
Coldly, the man said, “The mistress is entertaining houseguests today. She is not receiving unexpected visitors.”
“She will see me now, or I will call the guard!”
She's solliciting for a punch to the nose.
Or a magic missile up the... robes.
Patilleria steeled herself for a confrontation, but was surprised when a small young woman trotted into the room. She was dressed in an ordinary tunic and trousers, and had a cheerful smile on her face. Imoen spotted her and said, “Hiya!”
Audacious greeting.
Powerful or not, Imoen doesn't change.
Imoen said coldly, “I wouldn’t try it if I were you. I’m not half-starved and out of my mind with fear like I was then, and I certainly wouldn’t go quietly.”
“There is, of course, another option. Rather than hostilities, you could join us.”
Here's another idea. Cocoon this girl, put an egg with a face-hugger in it in front of her, get popcorn and watch (preferably from a safe distance behind bulletproof glass).
*snerk*
Patilleria looked towards the hallway and her eyes widened. A group of people had entered the entry chamber. A wizard in red robes and an over-large hat was puffing on a pipe and glaring at her. She had never met Elminster of Shadowdale, but this man fit the description perfectly.
That would be lovely. Elminster in the hallway, Khelben in the living room and Vecna waiting in the closet.
Er, can't see that bunch mixing well.
“A fine idea, Alustriel. Well, young lady, what say ye?”
It's magic-con.
Who's next? Szazz Tam?
Not without open warfare breaking out.
As if she had not heard him, she cocked her head to the side and said, “You used to shave your head, I can tell. Why did you stop?”
*tries to imagine Sarevok with long hair... then tries to banish the X-over image of Sarevok and Fabio out of my mind forever.*
No. Just... no.
“And it gives us a wonderful opportunity to get to know young Imoen,” Alustriel said, nodding politely towards her hostess. “It is always delightful to discover a new talent.”
Let's hope it involves blowing up something.
*Valygar shudders*
Imoen smiled. “Now you’re embarrassing me. Look, Patilleria, you trot along and talk to the other Cowlies. Either come back with a license, or a lot of company. You’ll need it. G’bye now.”
And that is that.
Thanks for commenting.
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