The Heir of House Amielle

[Trevor]

Ymiden 10 718

Location: Crest Break Tavern

Ymiden had only started but the heat still climbed higher, determined to swelter the city within the walls with humid temperatures. Thankfully though the stone sighed off the accumulated heat, the later into the evening the Trial became and the sun finally set beyond the horizon. Ne'haer as a city still felt incredibly warm now that it was dark, but in a much more comfortable state compared to how the heat was earlier that trial. Trevor had taken to resign with his usual tendency, ever ten trials he liked to carry out at least a kind of hobby.

One that wasn't perfectly healthy but considerably favorable given it's perk, although some could question the choices involved with the hobby. The Defier lifted his wine glass in peculiar delight, curious as to what it was he had requested earlier as he'd already forgotten. Wine. One of the most wonderful inventions given to mankind, he couldn't help but silently praise Ilaren for the glorious beverages. This was something imported from Rharne or so he recalled, where the Immortal hailed from with all her frivolous rebel rousers.

For heathens that partook in too much debauchery they sure knew how to make great wine, for cheap too consider it only costed him a couple of gold pieces for a glass. Trevor whiffed the delectable aroma of the glass and couldn't help but quietly moan, delight filling his mind as the savory flavor accompanied his tongue moments after. He was typically alone like he normally would be and therefore, warranted unusual glympses and glances from those nearby. Probably because he appeared too drawn to his own company, absorbed in the splendor of drinking alone while the wine bubbled deliciously past his tonsils.

Yet he wasn't as alone as people would so easily imply, for the Defier always had the natural Elements there with him. The soft glow of the lantern near him seemed mildly brighter than the rest, and with every whisper there came a breeze his way. Though he could not hear much as it was just faint inclinations of the wind, the impressions he received in those brief instances were interesting to register. One spoke to him of lust for another man, one who came from far distant shores. Another implied gossip of another fellow laborer between two men, and with the complimentary addition of weather remarked afterwards. Trevor could only smile in amusement as he watched the flame of the lantern, its warm glow somehow in agreement with the warmth he felt in his blood.

[Victor Amielle]

The sun was just about to set and painted the sky in a multitude of different shades of orange, red and pink as the Transmuter pushed the door of the Crest Break Tavern open and stepped inside. He had just come from a meeting with a local businessman – he had placed an order for a weapon made of a special material that was hard to come by in Lysoria with him - without revealing his true identity of course, because of the most recent political tensions. He was looking forward to a quiet evening, a meal and a glass of wine or maybe two before he travelled home the following morning – and a respite from the nearly unbearable heat that had troubled the city since the beginning of the season.

Sighing with pleasure – behind the thick stone walls of the Crest Break Tavern the temperature was so much more tolerable – he took a look around the rather crowded common room in order to find an empty table – or barring that, at least an empty chair at a table that was occupied by people that were somewhat tolerable. As he noticed a dark-haired man, sitting alone and enjoying a glass of wine, his eyes lit up. He was, he had to admit, quite looking forward to finally sitting down and resting his legs. At that point, he had been in Ne’haer for approximately a ten-trial and quite busy for most of that time.

“Excuse me, is this chair here …”, the lordling began, but broke off abruptly as he took a closer look at the stranger. His eyes widened, and his heart began to beat faster as he realized that he had seen him before, in Lysoria, before he had left his home for a while in order to travel the world. It would have dire consequences if certain people found out that Stefan Amielle’s little brother was in the city. He briefly considered turning around and leaving, but Trevor had likely already recognized him. For that reason, he sat down on the chair opposite of him with one fluid motion, lifting a finger to his lips as he did so, hoping that he wouldn't say anything.

Despite the fact that he was on edge and just beginning to realize that he apparently hadn’t been nearly careful enough during his stay in Ne’haer, the Transmuter held himself completely straight and looked directly at the other man as he remarked in a casual and somewhat amused tone that belied his still rapidly beating heart, “It’s strange how we cross paths again after all that time, isn’t it? What brings you to Ne’haer, if I may ask?”

[Trevor]

It could've been a spark of fate or a sudden twist of irony for Trevor when he felt the breeze whisper to him, and gave him the faint impression of royalty and familiarity in the room. It hadn't gone unnoticed by the Defier but it certainly wasn't as well acknowledged as it should've been, given the fact he was too engaged with sipping down his wine a little bit more. Trevor had wished he brought along a book to read, since he lacked any real tomes to study. He missed much about Lysoria now that he thought about it, mostly the books he had at his disposal when he wanted to study something. Above all else though was his innate desire to reconnect with Phelix of course, but the one he shortly found himself faced with served just as well of a surprise.

Unannounced the youngest Lord Amielle himself approached to inquire if the seat was taken, surprised looks exchanged between both men as Trevor nearly choked and spewed out his wine. Lord Victor?! He was here?! Quickly the man seemed intent to signal for him to remain quiet, to avoid sudden need for proper etiquette in his presence. It was strange for Trevor as he had always been taught to honor them, to show them the greatest respect and counsel when asked. That was the purpose of the Mage Court after all, and the purpose Trevor thought to have for himself one day as well. But that all changed the moment backs turned on him, all because he denounced the alliance to Ironridge and spoke his mind. A feat that immediately placed drew him much ire from others, as the political nest of Lysoria was a viper's den to be caught lost within.

But Lord Victor Amielle? He hadn't seen him in almost two arcs! The last Trevor had heard of the younger Amielle, he had went off on another one of his adventures in Idalos. The Mage Court always did it's best to keep tabs on him naturally, but Phelix had Trevor more focused on their own studies to bother. To have ran into him here of all places, while Lysoria very well remained possibly blacklisted even after the declaration of the Coalition? It was true that they could change their alliance and aid Ne'haer instead, but unfortunately the Defier held no place in the political intrigue to sway the family any further. The Lord remarked upon the chance of irony and strangeness, in which they were now seated across one another in a city they both remained hidden within. For Trevor it proved fairly easy so long as he kept to himself, and avoided any notions of showing possession of magic that is. Lord Victor however was a highborn and more at risk because of it, so the necessity for caution certainly felt greater now that they shared the table.

"I can certainly agree, you'll have to forgive the lack of formality in my case." He ushered in a lower voice as he looked to the bottle of wine next to him. It would've been most rude to not share a drink, and accomodate the good Lord with something as well. "It's sort of been a requirement I'm afraid, events took place back at home which required me to leave." He answered vaguely as he half expected Victor to understand, a look to see vacant eyes led the Defier to arch an eyebrow. Had he no clue? It had happened a while back, nearly an Arc or so to say the least. Could he really have not been informed of such events? Or had he been away that long to not have heard? When he finished refilling his own wine glass, Trevor presented the bottle for the Lord himself. An effort with courtesy to say the least, since there was only one wine glass present. "You havent heard, have you? I'd thought if not shortly then, sometime before now word would have reached you."

How did one confess their 'crime' to their Lord, without the fear of being judged or worse? Trevor felt the air around him stiffen as the flame of the lantern dimmed, his eyes redirected towards it as he felt his the fire in his heart lessen also. "I did what I thought was right and declared the alliance our country men made a mistake, that we were better people who should've reconsidered who we aligned with. But it was too late," as he explained this he lowered his voice and leaned a little close, so that his words only reached Victor's ears through the whispers cast in the wind, "Lysoria's alliance with Ironridge was a mistake. I wanted your brother to realize this, but my intentions were discovered by others. Therefore I was denounced from the Mage Court, and exiled from Lysoria for being branded a traitor."

He felt much grief deep within to admit this crime to his Lord, but at the same time there existed a chance for hope. Hope that Victor would see his reasoning as to why, and understand his intention with the aiding of his countrymen. What the Defier really wanted was what served best for his people, the people of the great city that took him in at his mentor's behest. There was a slight glassy sheen found over Trevor's brown eyes, as he swallowed hard to keep at bay the grief that welled in his throat.

[Victor Amielle]

The Transmuter’s lips curved into a soft smile as he waited for Trevor’s reaction. He appeared to be relaxed, as if he weren’t at all wondering what he was supposed to do if Trevor started to scream that Stefan Amielle’s little brother was here. He let his gaze drift across the other man’s body, wondering if he carried any weapons on his person. He took note of the vibrant silks that he wore, his rather unique looking mustache and the smell of fresh firewood that surrounded him, as if he had recently sat very close to a campfire, a strange thing, considering the scorching heat, before his gaze settled on his face again.

“There’s nothing to forgive”, he remarked as Trevor apologized for his lack of formality and lowered his voice to a mere whisper as well so that they wouldn’t be overheard. “We aren’t at home. Here, such a thing would only attract attention. Besides, we are only two old acquaintances that have met again after a long time, quite by chance, aren’t we?” he asked and laughed softly before he leaned back in his chair and turned to listen to the other man again. Trevor’s vague hinting at events that had taken place back at home was met with a raised eyebrow and a somewhat blank look.

“No, I haven’t heard”, he finally admitted somewhat reluctantly – he disliked not knowing something – and wondered what this was all about and what Trevor could possibly have been involved in. “I travelled to Ne’haer shortly after my return as there were rather pressing matters to attend to”, he said. He was referring to the announcement of The Coalition that would have a huge impact on Lysoria, one way or another. He’d wanted to see it with his own eyes rather than having to rely on second-hand accounts and guesswork – and find out what exactly the Faithful were up to these trials.

He had expected Trevor to have angered the wrong person and to have stepped on somebody’s toes. For that reason, he was rather surprised when the man told him that he had been branded a traitor, and quite readily at that. For a few moments he simply sat there and looked at him thoughtfully, thinking about how he should handle such a delicate matter. He was somewhat reluctant to criticize his brother’s decisions, even though he didn’t always agree with them, but on the other hand, Stefan was far away at the moment …

“I am somewhat ambivalent towards the alliance with Ironridge myself, besides, their resources are limited”, he finally admitted. “If I had been there, I would have told my brother so, but on the other hand there is the matter of the Faithful’s stance on magic. I was told that Ne’haer has welcomed mage hunters from Hiladreth. An alliance with them might be equally problematic”, he remarked – they seemed to be caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment, no matter how you looked at it - before he abruptly stopped and looked at Trevor, furrowing his brow as he did so.

“Why are you telling me this?” he wanted to know. “You could have kept quiet, and I would have been none the wiser. Do you … do you want me to help you return home? Are you wondering if I would be willing to put in a good word for you with my brother?” he asked. Was Trevor aware of the fact that he was literally holding his life in his hand, that he could make sure that he didn’t see the daylight again for a long time with just a couple of words? There was a lot that he’d be able to demand, and Victor wouldn’t be able to say no, even if it was something far worse than helping a man that he agreed with, at least in part, return home …

[Trevor]

Even with formalities aside in such a place like this Trevor felt himself with a sense of grace, perhaps because he knew truly what blood flowed through Victor's veins. House Amielle would no doubt be pleased in knowing that one of their own was so close to home, even at the expense of potential danger being involved in such a public place. Hiding in plain sight. The Mage Court would truly applaud Victor for his boldness if they heard of this, but of course neither Victor nor Trevor was in Lysoria at this moment... now were they? "Fair enough, ever the delight to see you old friend." The Defier remarked with a bit of a soft grin on his face.

Hearing the reason for which Victor had been drawn to return, based on the Coalition alone and the Faithful's actions to bring mage-hunters, Trevor couldn't help but twizzle his moustache between an index finger and thumb curiously. So the Faithful were going to lash out due to the Council's actions, it figures that one powerhouse struggled for more resources at a time such as this. Ne'haer's own Council had intentions for peace as far as Trevor understood, and that was the reason behind instating the Coalition at this point in time. But it sounded as though the Faithful were far from happy about it, if they were bringing mage-hunters from Hiladreth into the city.

All the same the importance of Victor knowing what Trevor's actions were became uncertain, maybe because part of it played into the fact Victor could still sway the alliance. While unsure how Trevor felt the Lord's own influence could decide Lysoria a powerful asset to the right side, albeit neither Ne'haer nor Ironridge seemed to fit the standards at the moment. "The Faithful are a bunch of cowards in my opinion, sheep flocked together to overwhelm the wolves with their numbers. The Council on the other hand is the more fitting group to invest trust in, albeit their resources are far more limited if not restrained." Indeed there were pros and cons to both sides of the coin Ne'haer was faced with, and admittedly it placed the city in a position of uncertainty against the outside world.

But then there was also the chance of pleading his case, which he'd inadvertently done to Victor just as well. Therefore it became an obvious request imposed upon Victor, one that Trevor didn't wish to admit outright but at the same time couldn't deny. For a moment he hung his head in shame before he answered, his tone somber when he spoke to the Lord before him. "Truthfully yes. I long to return home even at the expense of potential danger. Lysoria's politicians are all snakes, if that makes any sense, therefore to go back after such an exile wouldn't be just shame. It'd be asking for a dagger to the back when I'm not looking." His head elevated just a little so that his earthly eyes looked to Victor with fire inside.

"It's my home as well, and where I must return to some Trial. My mentor Phelix can speak on my behalf but... without someone else to persuade Lord Stefan; I'm afraid I can't risk danger to my mentor without proper consent."

[Strange]

Thread Review

Trevor

Trevor Reverrik

Skill Points: +15 (cannot be used for magic)
Magic XP: None.

Renown: +5 (being seen with Lord Amielle...and noticeably enjoying his wine a bit too much in public).

Injuries/Overstepping: None.
Wealth Points: None.
Loot: None.

Skill Knowledges:

• none requested.

Non-Skill Knowledges:

• none requested.

Notes: Remember to update a thread list on your CS, whether that's in Post Memories or elsewhere. No magic XP because Trevor's use of Defiance seemed ordinary and natural for him, nothing new for him - unless this is the first time he's had the breeze whisper to him? If so, PM me.
Player Word Count: 1953 words.

Victor

Victor Amielle

Skill Points: +10 (cannot be used for magic)
Magic XP: None.

Renown: +5 (being recognized by another while in Ne'haer)

Injuries/Overstepping: None.
Wealth Points: None.
Loot: None.

Skill Knowledges:

• none requested.

Non-Skill Knowledges:

• none requested.

Notes: n/a
Player Word Count: 1129 words.

What bad luck for Victor to run into someone he knows in a city like Ne'haer.... or perhaps, it would have been good luck in the end since they seem friendly toward each other. For Trevor, it certainly could have ended up as good luck. Too bad the thread was abandoned and we never got to find out if Lord Amielle would have helped Trevor return home.

Good job and enjoy your rewards!

PM me if you have any questions, issues or concerns.

Total Word Count: 3082 words.

Review Request Link: viewtopic.php?p=117500#p117500
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