The sun was setting over the lake, casting orange and pink ripples across the water. Zehara lounged against the windowsill at the top of Nettlebane Tower, a drink in one hand and a lazy smile on her lips. It could be nice, sometimes, she supposed, this mortal realm. Not that they hadn't had nice sunsets in the fae realms. Magical, even. But there was something so... real about this view. No magical enhancements, no sparkling fae lights. Just nature, in all its glory.
Zehara took a sip of her drink and turned back to the room. It was meant to be a study, but it looked more like an attic that had recently ticked off a tornado. She sighed. Even as she had started to get used to this place, she still hadn't figured out how to do useful things around the house. And now that she had been granted Nettlebane Tower, she just had more space in which to be a giant mess. She had hired a housekeeper/cook/general factotum. But the blasted woman was afraid of this room. Claimed there were monsters lurking in the shadows or some such nonsense. Zehara pushed a box of junk off a large, squishy chair and flopped down into it. Monsters, pff. The only thing lurking up here was Zehara. Granted, she did have a tendency to brood lately. She was homesick. This tower, this land, even the family she had found here - they weren't really her home.
"Martine!" Zehara shouted, after gulping the last of her drink. She heard a crash from below, and then heavy footsteps coming up the narrow, winding stairs. As always, Martine stopped just outside the doorway, glancing nervously around the room. "What's for dinner?" Zehara asked. At least Martine could cook, thank the Mother. Zehara had still never figured out how to make anything edible.
"Baked fish, miss," said Martine, in her rough, scratchy voice. Zehara often wondered if someone had tried to choke the boring out of her and left her permanently with half a voice. She pouted at the proposed menu. "Again? DIdn't we just have that?"
"Not since last month..." said Martine, her face the picture of simple confusion.
"That's practically yesterday!" whined Zehara. She was still unused to the pace of mortal life. There was so much more variety in the fae realms. Well, there had to be when everyone lived several centuries. You would get bored of life fast, too, if you had to eat baked fish once a month for 500 years!
Martine began to look nervous, as she always did when Zehara fell into her more petulant moods. "I think the potatoes are ready, I could bake some up with cheese, if you like?"
If possible, Zehara's lower lip protruded further. "Fine," she muttered, turning back to stare out the window. Potatoes, bah! What a depressingly dull food. No wonder mortals died within 100 years. Killed by boredom. And starch.
[ORP] Nettlebane Tower
Moderator: Community Team
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
After her confrontation with Ella, Circe had been bouncing around different parts of the Kingdom. Honestly, she did not see what the draw was for niece. Everything seemed so...upright. A King and two Queens plus a bunch of nobles acting all proper-like. To her surprise though, Ella had even found some familial connections here in these lands. Well, the Blackwoods were known to enjoy the art of procreation so that wasn't too big of a surprise. One of the relatives she had heard about was a cousin, second or maybe third. She had no witches blood left in her veins for the line had been diluted. But, the girl was a faerie and that intrigued Circe. What intrigued her even more though was that this cousin was apparently kicked out of the realm of the faeries for misbehaving. Certainly, she could provide some fun.
It was a warm day by the lake Circe arrived at Nettlebane Tower. There was a small bridge over the water to a door which she knocked on. Her arrival had been unexpected, of course. What fun was it to make plans?
It was a warm day by the lake Circe arrived at Nettlebane Tower. There was a small bridge over the water to a door which she knocked on. Her arrival had been unexpected, of course. What fun was it to make plans?
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
Zehara was in the middle of an elaborate and extremely messy attempt at painting when she heard the knock on the door. She had whined about boredom enough that Ella had snapped, "Get a hobby!" Pfft hobbies. Silly things mortals did to distract themselves from their own impending death. Pathetic. But Zehara had nothing better to do, so she gave it a try.
First she tried an excruciating mortal pastime called "bird watching." Within ten minutes she had decided she'd rather die at the pubescent age of 50 than spend another hour staring at twittering, fluttering nincompoop birds. Next she had attempted to learn to cook. This seemed both practical and time-consuming, so surely it would be better than staring at pea-brained fledglings. However, inevitably, it had ended with a cauldron over Martine's head which the woman claimed had not stopped ringing in her ears to this day. Martine had decided that a quieter pursuit that kept Zehara contained to her tower study was in order, so she raided a nearby bookshop and brought home a trunk full of reading materials. Zehara slogged through one mortal history for the better part of the day before she set the lot on fire. She had only read through about 200 years of time, and yet the blasted mortals all died so fast that the main characters had changed 5 or 6 times already! Zehara could not understand how anyone could be expected to keep up with all those different names. Worse, they didn't even die in interesting ways, but rather had a tendency to succumb to childish infections and pop off before they had a chance to do anything at all. Pathetic.
That was when Martine procured the canvas and paints. It still kept Zehara confined to her study, but allowed her to be slightly more active and to indulge her proclivity for chaos. Paint-splattered, Zehara gave another giant swish with the brush, and stood back to admire her work. "I'll call it 'Mortality,'" she decided, when the knock sounded below. "Martine!" she shouted, not even remotely intending to interrupt her "work" for something as mundane as answering the door. She dipped the brush in red paint and added a few more splatters of blood to the canvas. The knocking sounded again, causing her to jerk her hand. Zehara threw down the brush in anger and stomped to the study door, throwing it open and shouting again, "Martine!! Get the damned door!" Hearing no response, she muttered to herself, "Where in blazes is that girl?"
Since her painting was clearly ruined, Zehara threw up her hands and galumphed downstairs to get the door herself. "What's the point of a bloody housekeeper if she can't even open the bloody door..." she could be heard muttering as she threw open the front door with far more force than was necessary. Zehara was a vision of chaos standing in the dark doorway of the tower, paint splattering her clothes, face, hands, and even hair. Her amber eyes flashed with something bordering on mania. "Well, what is it?" she demanded curtly, leaning on the open door, her other hand braced on her hip.
First she tried an excruciating mortal pastime called "bird watching." Within ten minutes she had decided she'd rather die at the pubescent age of 50 than spend another hour staring at twittering, fluttering nincompoop birds. Next she had attempted to learn to cook. This seemed both practical and time-consuming, so surely it would be better than staring at pea-brained fledglings. However, inevitably, it had ended with a cauldron over Martine's head which the woman claimed had not stopped ringing in her ears to this day. Martine had decided that a quieter pursuit that kept Zehara contained to her tower study was in order, so she raided a nearby bookshop and brought home a trunk full of reading materials. Zehara slogged through one mortal history for the better part of the day before she set the lot on fire. She had only read through about 200 years of time, and yet the blasted mortals all died so fast that the main characters had changed 5 or 6 times already! Zehara could not understand how anyone could be expected to keep up with all those different names. Worse, they didn't even die in interesting ways, but rather had a tendency to succumb to childish infections and pop off before they had a chance to do anything at all. Pathetic.
That was when Martine procured the canvas and paints. It still kept Zehara confined to her study, but allowed her to be slightly more active and to indulge her proclivity for chaos. Paint-splattered, Zehara gave another giant swish with the brush, and stood back to admire her work. "I'll call it 'Mortality,'" she decided, when the knock sounded below. "Martine!" she shouted, not even remotely intending to interrupt her "work" for something as mundane as answering the door. She dipped the brush in red paint and added a few more splatters of blood to the canvas. The knocking sounded again, causing her to jerk her hand. Zehara threw down the brush in anger and stomped to the study door, throwing it open and shouting again, "Martine!! Get the damned door!" Hearing no response, she muttered to herself, "Where in blazes is that girl?"
Since her painting was clearly ruined, Zehara threw up her hands and galumphed downstairs to get the door herself. "What's the point of a bloody housekeeper if she can't even open the bloody door..." she could be heard muttering as she threw open the front door with far more force than was necessary. Zehara was a vision of chaos standing in the dark doorway of the tower, paint splattering her clothes, face, hands, and even hair. Her amber eyes flashed with something bordering on mania. "Well, what is it?" she demanded curtly, leaning on the open door, her other hand braced on her hip.
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
The whiteness of winter wrapped the city and its environs in a soft, fluffy blanket. Snow covered everything: the rooftops, the tree branches, the streets and paths...everything the eyes could see. She liked this time of the year. She liked kneading snowballs and throwing them at whomever she could, she liked taking long strolls on the snow-covered pastures and she enjoyed inhaling the fresh cold air in her lungs.
She hadn't lived in this realm longer than for about a month, yet, fondness of the City of Fenia and the sorrounding lovely landscape has already started to grow in her heart. Also, she had a task now, too, given by her cousin Ella: she was made Deacon of the Fenian Cathedral. And where could she find better inspiration for her sermons, than in the beauties of Mother Nature, what could inseminate her always discursive fantasy, then the snow-covered hills and valleys, or the frozen lake?
Thinking of the lake, that was exactly where her present walk was heading for. She had recently been given a new property, Nettlebane Tower, together with the matching title of a "Lady" by the High King of Fenia. The honour was huge and she was immensely happy about the recognition, even though she was not sure it was totally well-deserved. Not yet at least. However, it was only up to her to prove her worthiness. She had to keep up her work as well as she just could to prove, she could indeed be worthy of her new status.
The path was leading her closer and closer to the lake. That was where the tower could be found. Ratty, the small squirell - her faithful, and only, companion since the very day of her arrival in the realm - was cowering on her shoulder trembling with cold. She felt pity for the little animal. Taking it in her arm she covered the small body with her clothes while walking closer and closer. Then after the next bend of path finally the breathtaking sight of the slender, tall building unfolded.
"Here we are, Ratty" she told the small animal trembling in her arms with pride in her voice. Her new home was standing there in front of her in its full grace. A satisfied smile appeared on her face."We have arrived."
She hadn't lived in this realm longer than for about a month, yet, fondness of the City of Fenia and the sorrounding lovely landscape has already started to grow in her heart. Also, she had a task now, too, given by her cousin Ella: she was made Deacon of the Fenian Cathedral. And where could she find better inspiration for her sermons, than in the beauties of Mother Nature, what could inseminate her always discursive fantasy, then the snow-covered hills and valleys, or the frozen lake?
Thinking of the lake, that was exactly where her present walk was heading for. She had recently been given a new property, Nettlebane Tower, together with the matching title of a "Lady" by the High King of Fenia. The honour was huge and she was immensely happy about the recognition, even though she was not sure it was totally well-deserved. Not yet at least. However, it was only up to her to prove her worthiness. She had to keep up her work as well as she just could to prove, she could indeed be worthy of her new status.
The path was leading her closer and closer to the lake. That was where the tower could be found. Ratty, the small squirell - her faithful, and only, companion since the very day of her arrival in the realm - was cowering on her shoulder trembling with cold. She felt pity for the little animal. Taking it in her arm she covered the small body with her clothes while walking closer and closer. Then after the next bend of path finally the breathtaking sight of the slender, tall building unfolded.
"Here we are, Ratty" she told the small animal trembling in her arms with pride in her voice. Her new home was standing there in front of her in its full grace. A satisfied smile appeared on her face."We have arrived."
Priestess * Lady of Nettlebane Tower * Baroness of Linbridge
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
She was sitting in her study set up on the uppermost floor of the tower, wrapped up in her thoughts. The rays of summer sun shone through the window panels, filling the whole room with light. She was rather calm and satisfied, as she recalled the past months.
Her fingers wandered absently on a piece of parchment. One could have though it was one of her notes she had prepared for the upcoming mass, but in fact it was something else: her appointment as the Mistress of Nettlebane Tower.
A shy smile appeared on her face as she read the document. Indeed, she had been serving as Deaconess, then Priestess of Fenia ever since. For six months now. And she loved the task. She really felt she had much to tell, much to convey to the inhabitants of Fenia. And whenever she noticed a smile on a face after the sermon, she felt the preparations was worth the effort. Besides, she had always loved good stories and nice poems, so what could have been a more fitting task, than to share all these with her fellow creatures?
Additionally, she liked the tower's seclusion and close vicinity to the nature. Whenever she opened the window, the amazing view of the Fenian lake captivated her soul and filled her heart with admiration. Sometimes it did come to her mind, that it would be nice to share all these beauties with others, but then her glance always wandered on the pile of sheets lying on her desk - her notes she made for her sermons. Even though she had a family - the Blackwoods -, somehow her tasks always kept her occupied enough not to go and look for them.
Was she lonely? Maybe a bit. But she was not totally alone. Ratty, the small red squirrel had soon got a companion in Belly, the golden retriever, who proved to be a huge help for the young lady, when she decided to go out fishing. And there was the old plow horse, whom she called Alister - she had no clue why.
Coming to this point in her meditation a bright smile appeared on her face. She was satisfied. Sh reached out for the quill and took another sheet of paper. Yes, the sermon for Sunday, her next story, was already waiting for her to be written.
Her fingers wandered absently on a piece of parchment. One could have though it was one of her notes she had prepared for the upcoming mass, but in fact it was something else: her appointment as the Mistress of Nettlebane Tower.
| Sendile is now a Lady Reported on Jan 02, 1661 6:24 am Sendile has been granted the title of Lady of Nettlebane Tower by the esteemed leader of Fenia. The title was given for the following reason: For service as Deacon of Fenia | ||
A shy smile appeared on her face as she read the document. Indeed, she had been serving as Deaconess, then Priestess of Fenia ever since. For six months now. And she loved the task. She really felt she had much to tell, much to convey to the inhabitants of Fenia. And whenever she noticed a smile on a face after the sermon, she felt the preparations was worth the effort. Besides, she had always loved good stories and nice poems, so what could have been a more fitting task, than to share all these with her fellow creatures?
Additionally, she liked the tower's seclusion and close vicinity to the nature. Whenever she opened the window, the amazing view of the Fenian lake captivated her soul and filled her heart with admiration. Sometimes it did come to her mind, that it would be nice to share all these beauties with others, but then her glance always wandered on the pile of sheets lying on her desk - her notes she made for her sermons. Even though she had a family - the Blackwoods -, somehow her tasks always kept her occupied enough not to go and look for them.
Was she lonely? Maybe a bit. But she was not totally alone. Ratty, the small red squirrel had soon got a companion in Belly, the golden retriever, who proved to be a huge help for the young lady, when she decided to go out fishing. And there was the old plow horse, whom she called Alister - she had no clue why.
Coming to this point in her meditation a bright smile appeared on her face. She was satisfied. Sh reached out for the quill and took another sheet of paper. Yes, the sermon for Sunday, her next story, was already waiting for her to be written.
Priestess * Lady of Nettlebane Tower * Baroness of Linbridge
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Jarlyn
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
Jarlyn had found his way to the tower. He had taken a job tending the fields at the Tower for Priestess Sendile from the Town and asked around for directions. On the way he was lost on a few occasions but managed to find his way back to his path.
Nettlebane Tower took form through the trees as he approached, tall and proud on the shores of the lake. As he got closer he could see the estate and the fields. He made his way through the estate to the tower itself and knocked on the door looking for the Priestess to announce his arrival.
Priestess Sendile had been a great help since his arrival. Helping him find his way. He had been sick twice and she had healed him at the Temple. He was glad to be able to repay her kindness and work in her fields... First he needed to find her...
Nettlebane Tower took form through the trees as he approached, tall and proud on the shores of the lake. As he got closer he could see the estate and the fields. He made his way through the estate to the tower itself and knocked on the door looking for the Priestess to announce his arrival.
Priestess Sendile had been a great help since his arrival. Helping him find his way. He had been sick twice and she had healed him at the Temple. He was glad to be able to repay her kindness and work in her fields... First he needed to find her...
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
Like so many times earlier, she was sitting in her study, her thoughts digressing from the subject of her next sermon from time to time. The rays of the late summer sun wrapped the lake and the surrounding trees in a light golden hue, and the sight was so breathtaking, that her glance simply couln't be disciplined: she looked out of the window every now and then to admire the beautiy of nature. Hmm...she pondered... maybe she could choose a better topic for tomorrow? Should she preach about the beauty of nature perhaps, instead of the usual morality?
Getting to this pont in her meditation her glance wandered off once again. This time, however, something new caught her eyes. On the path leading to Nettlebane Tower a lonely figure showed up approaching her home. But who could it be? She set aside the quill and the parchment quickly and standing up from her desk she opened the window to try to figure out, what kind of creature was about to visit her. To her surprise the approaching figure seemed familiar....
Her heart gave a leap. It was the young man, Jarlyn, whom she had seen many times in the Temple, and whom she had cured twice so far. She herself couldn't have explained why, but her glance had kept returning to the young man every time he had worked in the Church. And now he was here.... What could have brought him to the tower? Well, most likely her job advertisement which she had posted just a few hours ago at the Town Hall. A gentle smile and a slight blush appeared on her face. She was happy that the promise of work brought him here.
She adjusted her hair and her dress quickly, before running down the stairs. Opening the door she smiled at the young man warmly.
"Master Jarlyn, welcome to Nettlebane Tower. It's a pleasure to see you . Please come in and allow me to offer you a good cup of mint tea, it might do good to your health. "
She opened the door wide so that he can come in and gestured towards the staircase.
"This way please, my quarters are upstairs."
Getting to this pont in her meditation her glance wandered off once again. This time, however, something new caught her eyes. On the path leading to Nettlebane Tower a lonely figure showed up approaching her home. But who could it be? She set aside the quill and the parchment quickly and standing up from her desk she opened the window to try to figure out, what kind of creature was about to visit her. To her surprise the approaching figure seemed familiar....
Her heart gave a leap. It was the young man, Jarlyn, whom she had seen many times in the Temple, and whom she had cured twice so far. She herself couldn't have explained why, but her glance had kept returning to the young man every time he had worked in the Church. And now he was here.... What could have brought him to the tower? Well, most likely her job advertisement which she had posted just a few hours ago at the Town Hall. A gentle smile and a slight blush appeared on her face. She was happy that the promise of work brought him here.
She adjusted her hair and her dress quickly, before running down the stairs. Opening the door she smiled at the young man warmly.
"Master Jarlyn, welcome to Nettlebane Tower. It's a pleasure to see you . Please come in and allow me to offer you a good cup of mint tea, it might do good to your health. "
She opened the door wide so that he can come in and gestured towards the staircase.
"This way please, my quarters are upstairs."
Priestess * Lady of Nettlebane Tower * Baroness of Linbridge
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Jarlyn
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
Jarlyn approached the door to the tower. He paused before raising his hand to knock... What was the correct way to address the Priestess... He raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door and took some steps back.
He didn't have to wait long and the door was opened by the priestess herself. Lady Sendile opened the door smiling, he instantly felt welcome.
Jarlyn listened to the offer of mint tea and smiled,
"That sounds like just the thing, thankyou Lady Priestess".
She was so welcoming, she must truly make the temple a warm and inviting place. He stepped through the door to follow the priestess.
He didn't have to wait long and the door was opened by the priestess herself. Lady Sendile opened the door smiling, he instantly felt welcome.
Jarlyn listened to the offer of mint tea and smiled,
"That sounds like just the thing, thankyou Lady Priestess".
She was so welcoming, she must truly make the temple a warm and inviting place. He stepped through the door to follow the priestess.
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
There are some moments in life when you truly regret not to have done things earlier, when you still had the chance to do them. This was such a moment for Sendile. Climbing upwards on the narrow staircase she couldn't sweep away the thought that many of her belongings were left just lying around. Her study was a mess with the piles of notes she had written for past and future sermons, but that was the smaller problem. The living room was kept relatively in order, but last night she had been too tired to put her weapons away after returning home from the training ground. Her sword - the newest weapon which she had just recently forged - was left somewhere around the fireplace, lying on the ground, her dagger was on the small table, while her axe had wandered in the kitchen in some mysterious way - for what purpose, that even the Mages wouldn't have been able to tell... Only her training staff was put back to its regular place in the corner. But how about her clothes? Had she put all of them away, or had she left some pieces negligently on her bed?
The little details she had normally never worried about now gained crucial importance in her mind. The first impression is always decisive, she knew that well. What would this young man think of her, seeing she is unable to keep order in her home? In that moment she wished she had known some sort of magical incantation to make every stray object fly back to its regular place... but she didn't know any. So the best thing she could eventually do was to stand firmly in front of the doorway leading to her study, blocking the young man's glance from looking in there. Meanwhile she flashed her brightest smile at him.
"Take a seat, Master Jarlyn. I am bringing your mint tea in a minute. Would you feel like eating something too? It might be a good idea to have a few bites, before doing anything else, what do you think?
While speaking, her hand wandered on the dagger lying on the table and hid it quickly behind her back. However, the sword was still lying on the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace, and she couldn't do anything with it. A slight blush appeared on her face, while she was scanning Jarlyn's face, waiting for his answer.
The little details she had normally never worried about now gained crucial importance in her mind. The first impression is always decisive, she knew that well. What would this young man think of her, seeing she is unable to keep order in her home? In that moment she wished she had known some sort of magical incantation to make every stray object fly back to its regular place... but she didn't know any. So the best thing she could eventually do was to stand firmly in front of the doorway leading to her study, blocking the young man's glance from looking in there. Meanwhile she flashed her brightest smile at him.
"Take a seat, Master Jarlyn. I am bringing your mint tea in a minute. Would you feel like eating something too? It might be a good idea to have a few bites, before doing anything else, what do you think?
While speaking, her hand wandered on the dagger lying on the table and hid it quickly behind her back. However, the sword was still lying on the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace, and she couldn't do anything with it. A slight blush appeared on her face, while she was scanning Jarlyn's face, waiting for his answer.
Priestess * Lady of Nettlebane Tower * Baroness of Linbridge
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Jarlyn
Re: [ORP] Nettlebane Tower
Jarlyn followed the Priestess up the narrow iron stairs which followed the curve of the outer wall. They got to the landing at the top of the stairs and he followed her through a doorway.
The doorway opened to a large bright open space. The exposed stone work was the same as the outside but hadn't been weathered quite as much and was somewhat satisfying to behold.
He sat where indicated and when she asked if he would like something to eat... he suddenly felt a little hungry. Never one to decline an offer of food he gladly accepted.
The doorway opened to a large bright open space. The exposed stone work was the same as the outside but hadn't been weathered quite as much and was somewhat satisfying to behold.
He sat where indicated and when she asked if he would like something to eat... he suddenly felt a little hungry. Never one to decline an offer of food he gladly accepted.