Shadow Contracts (for Ixis Naugus)

[conjuredskies]

Deep in the Parkland woods, twilight holds sway despite the early hour. The crumbling grey walls rise high and forbidding from the outside, but the heavy door stands ajar and swings open noiselessly when pushed – there’s fresh oil on the hinges.

Inside lies a great courtyard surrounded by a columned portico, with narrow doorways leading off into more dark corners. In the center, however, is a wide well with a low stone edge. Off to one side, its hooded summoner waits. Felix has spread a mat over the cracked paving stones, and now sits cross-legged beside his knapsack, picking over a few implements and books, checking the edge of a steel dagger. Aside from his hood, the conjurer has abandoned the legionary uniform for plainer leather armor, worn and mended from long use.

It’s been very quiet for some time. Just the skittering of breeze-blown leaves and birdsong drifting over the walls. Felix is quick to look up at a new presence.

Comments

[ixis]

"Imagine having thrown shadows at my beck and call!" Literal throwing shade. Amazing. "Doorways where glaring light would otherwise deny me." He may very well try to scoop up some of it and tuck it into his cloak, an attempt to sneak his hand back to his tower and deposit it in his lab there. Which isn't the wisest thing to do, but who reaches greatness by being a wimp!

Naugus follows readily, continually running his claw through the shadows, delighting in the feel and motion of it. Like a fish to water.

"I'll be sorry to leave this place behind."

[conjuredskies]

Stealing shadows, Naugus? He can try, but he may find they’ve a tendency to dissipate the more he tries to contain them.

“Surely we can arrange to return, as long as the gate holds.” Felix sounds quite hopeful himself, though truth be told the human mage doesn’t seem to be taking as easily to the shadows. With interest, yes, even a visible delight at the mystery and oddity of it all. But he’s keeping very close to Naugus; now and then he fixes his gaze on the ground beneath his feet, not to be disoriented by the shifting shadows or the indistinct forms they seem to conceal and assume.

It doesn’t help that their guide’s path is twisting again, and the hints of landscape around them seem to change far faster than they’re walking almost as if they are being pushed this way and that by an unseen current. It’s a bit hard on the senses for someone unused to walking the shadows.

[ixis]

"Wouldn't THAT be something splendid?" And maybe future attempts to bottle the shadows that live and twist here. He's going to be disappointed when he gets home and realizes nothing remains of his attempt to pocket samples. Maybe he wasn't asking about who dares to steal from Nocturnal from simple curiosity.

Felix's own struggles to keep a sure step in this realm escape Naugus' notice. Part because he's that kind of selfish oblivious and part because he's still so enraptured with their surroundings. The currents pull and buffet at his cloak but he does his best to follow the directions of their guide and resist the invisible urging.

taking this point to split the thread!

[conjuredskies]

It’s hard to say whether Felix would prefer Naugus notice and help, or if he’s happier that the other mage overlook his stumbles. It certainly sets an example for the younger man to try and follow, as he struggles to adapt to the alien environment.

The spectral Sentinel is waiting just ahead now, beckoning them forward, only waiting until they’re close enough to push…