Sign: Snake
Buffs: Serpent’s Kiss (Romance twice as easy)
Debuffs: Curse of the Unspecified (Start the game with no gender, no name, and no other identifying feature)
Daily Card: Train to the City (Travel lightly, travel easily. All travel is 15% faster).
EXP: 1,134
Alchemy
Coagula (LVL 0, 24 SKP)
Solvé (LVL 0, 9 SKP)
Theoria (LVL 0, 23 SKP)
Botany
Tending (LVL 0, 5 SKP)
?
?
Cooking
Fire (LVL 0, 26 SKP)
Water (LVL 0, 11 SKP)
?
Homesteading
Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)
Tidying (LVL 1, 5 SKP)
Dirt Buster: The magical branch of Purification lends this Sorcerer the ability to ‘Bust Dirt.’ Dust and grime accumulate at a infinitesimally slow rate on objects you have cleaned.
?
Speech
Logic (LVL 1, 3 SKP)
Rhetoric: The magical branch of Entreatment lends this Sorcerer the ability to heightened ‘Rhetoric.’ The structure of your arguments is smooth, regular and orthogonal. Spirits and people are more likely to agree with you.
Linguistics (LVL 0, 7 SKP)
Cajoling (LVL 0, 10 SKP)
Total SKP: 145
Inventory:
Auros: 0
Cards of Destiny: 5 of ?? Discovered
Names: 3
Vitas, The Wind Thief (Sparrow)
Gillygad, The Stiched-Up Wonder (Pitchfork)
Zinia, The Serpent’s Caress (Snake)
It was much darker in the forest. Only a few strands of orange sunset glow filtered between the thick trunks of the old trees.
The Innkeeper at the Dappled Donkey told me that Mr. Beaugiron lived a short way into the woods. I would have to keep following the main path, and once I came to a fork, I would have to turn right. Mr. Beaugiron’s house would be very close then. I still hadn’t found the fork, and I was starting to worry.
I was very apprehensive. What if I ran into a wolf? Or a bear? I didn’t have any way to defend myself. I wasn’t even prepared to tangle with a fox. Maybe I could take a badger.
I quieted my steps, and found myself attempting to creep through the trees. The dirt road had been generous and wide in the countryside. It was now constricted, bound on both sides by arborous walls.
I had only made it about fifteen minutes into the woods, when I turned around, and could no longer see my way out. Before long, the meager sunlight would fade, and I would somehow have to keep following this path in near darkness.
Maybe I should turn around?
But there was nothing back there. Nowhere to go, only forward.
I walked for a long while, straining my eyes in the gathering gloom, trying not to lose the road. I could have easily missed the fork. Maybe I just didn’t see it?
I kept walking and before I knew it, it was pitch dark.
I tried calming myself by taking deep measured breaths, and counting between each exhale, like Aleister had once taught me. How I missed that cat!
The impenetrable darkness of the forest reminded me of the Midnight Game, and despite my best efforts, I began to feel very scared.
I quickened my pace, my feet no longer following a road. How could they, when I couldn’t see it? I wanted to sprint, but I knew that if I did that, I would bounce from tree trunk to tree trunk. I groped with my hand outstretched, and blindly made my way forward.
The rational part of my brain informed me that I was just getting farther and farther from the road through the forest. I might get so lost, I would never find my way out! Maybe I should just sit down, and wait for light again. Fall asleep on my quilt.
But there were noises in the forests! If I laid down, I would just be a convenient snack for a grizzly, or something much worse! Every shadow became a terrible monster in my imagination.
It was all I could do to stop myself from running in a blind panic. I knew I was getting myself more and more lost in this forest, but I couldn’t just sit still. If only I had thought to bring a flashlight!
“Are you lost?” I heard a voice, and stopped dead in my tracks. It was soft and feminine, and coming from somewhere up high. I spun my head around, trying to see in the gloom.
“Don’t be scared. I can help.” The voice said.
Yeah, right, I thought. I wasn’t going to trust any disembodied voices. It could be another malevolent spirit!
I strained my eyes, trying to locate the source of the voice, but I could see nothing.
“Don't be scared. I can take you to my master’s house.” The melodic voice was much closer to me now, and I whimpered. Was I having a Vision? The sun had barely set, it seemed too early. But what else could be talking to me here in the middle of a forest, save a spirit?
If it was a Vision, I only knew one way to stop it. I would be at the mercy of the predators of the forest, but maybe I would get lucky and survive the night. I took my sack off my shoulder and unrolled my quilt.
“It won't be comfortable to sleep in the forest.” The voice said, right above me. Whatever it was, it was getting closer. I laid down in my quilt, and covered up my head with my jacket, trying not to hear the voice. There were roots and branches underneath me poking my sides and back.
“My master is so lonely. He gets so few visitors. He would surely give you a place to sleep for the night.”
I knew for certain that I didn’t want to meet this thing’s master. It wasn’t very late yet, and I couldn’t go to sleep right away. I laid there in the darkness, listening. The voice gave up on me. I didn’t hear it any more that night.
After tossing and turning, and shivering with cold, eventually, I passed out.
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A man stood above me.
Golden sunlight fell softly through the canopy of trees, and the forest looked magical. There was birdsong in the air, and just the whisper of a soft breeze. The man standing over me looked down with concern in his large, hazel eyes. I looked back.
The man looked like a painting come to life. Every angle and curve of his face was perfect; I couldn’t believe someone was born with such aesthetic features. His olive skin shimmered in the sunlight, and the dark hair that fell softly over his shoulders reminded me of someone, but I couldn't quite remember who.
I was awestruck looking at him, and didn’t say anything.
“Good morning. It appears you’ve had a rough night.” The man said, and finally broke the spell.
I quickly scrambled to my feet. Every joint ached, and my muscles protested the movement. Two nights on nothing but a thin quilt was not doing me any favors.
“Good morning,” I mumbled, “Yeah it wasn’t great.”
The man extended his hand.
“Solomon. I live nearby. I take a walk in these woods most mornings, but I should say, this is the first time I’ve encountered someone sleeping here.” He said.
I grabbed his hand.
“Mr. Beaugiron?” I asked, excited. I had found him, after all! Well, more like he found me.
“The very same. Are we acquainted?” He arched one impeccable eyebrow.
“N-no, not really. Kind of. You’ve written me a letter…” I said, but the man looked confused. “You’ve sent me cherries as a present and then a tin of tea with herbs I was looking for, because I was brewing a potion-“
The man’s face suddenly cleared, just as I realized that I was rambling.
“Ah, of course. You must be Mistress Addlebern’s new Apprentice!” He smiled at me, and I felt immediately calmed. “Forgive me for not recognizing you.”
“Oh no, that’s alright. I’m Andy.” I said my name, and the memory of the crow and the cat naming me formed a lump in my throat.
“If I may, I would offer you breakfast at my cottage. It is not so far from here.” The man said, and immediately I agreed. I was very thirsty, and hungry. And anyway, Solomon seemed so pleasant and so charming, I was glad to have his company.
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We didn’t walk for long before coming upon a small cottage, painted white, with deep red shutters.
“Please, make yourself at home. I apologize for the modesty of my accommodations. I was once used to finer things in life, alas, this what I have now.” Mr. Beaugiron said, as we entered his house.
Modest was not how I would have described the inside of Mr. Beaugiron’s cottage. Opulent, perhaps, even decadent. There was rich, red upholstery on every furnishing. Oil paintings of exquisite taste were lining every wall. The curtains were drawn, and the light was coming from a beautiful stained glass lantern.
All in all, it gave me the impression of being in the apartment of a very expensive and exotic courtesan.
I noticed one of the smaller paintings. It was painted with dark colors, and it was hard to make out, but I thought I recognized the figure so expertly depicted by the artist. It was a woman with black hair, naked, except for a giant black serpent, coiled around her shoulders.
“What do you think?” Mr. Beaugiron’s voice sounded over my shoulder. “You are familiar with Her, I would imagine. I can see by your rather undistinguished features, that you have picked Snake, the finest Sign, and mine own as well.”
I wheeled around. Solomon was under the same Sign as me? Did he also have to deal with the Curse of the Unspecified? It was very hard to imagine that this beautiful man was once a blank and gray little nobody, like me.
When I asked him about the Curse, he motioned me to sit down at the table. He poured out some water for me into a crystal glass, which gleamed even by the weak light of the lantern. Mr. Beaugiron sat himself down across from me. There was a beautiful embroidered tablecloth, and I hesitated setting down my glass on such a fine thing.
“Now that we are comfortable, we may talk. Conversation becomes so stilted when one is just standing around, don’t you think? So where were we?” The man made a show of thinking. “Ah, yes. Zinia’s Curse. You understand, I’m sure, that it’s really no curse at all.”
“I don’t think I do understand.” I said.
“When you gaze at me, what do you see? What stands out?” Mr. Beaugiron asked.
“You’re beautiful.” I blurted out, and blushed. I wasn’t trying to come onto him! But it was also the truth. He was so visually striking, it was hard to notice anything about him besides the harmony of all his features.
Mr. Beaugiron smiled beneficently. “That’s right. How do you think it is that I have become so?”
I would have guessed that he was simply born that way, but now thinking about it, he must have somehow magic’d his appearance into what it is.
“You’ve… chosen it?” I answered, unsure.
“That’s right,” Mr. Beaugiron nodded, “Many Sorcerers struggle to change their appearance. Even with magic, it is not an easy thing to re-write oneself. The face remembers what it once was, and always struggles against the Enchantment to return to its original appearance. You follow?”
I thought I did, and nodded.
“But, a blank piece of parchment, which has no memory of being anything other than itself, will not struggle against Sorcery, and will yield easily to the new forms you wish to draw on it. So, this is why those under the Sign of Snake are always unique, even amongst Sorcerers, for every Snake is beautiful in a way which does not compare to others.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
I thought about what Mr. Beaugiron said.
Did I want to be beautiful? I thought it couldn’t hurt, but beauty was not something I coveted. I wanted to find love, yes, but in the process I would have to become almost otherworldly in appearance. Would that help me find lasting companionship? Maybe I had not chosen the right Sign…
As I sat there thinking, I saw something scurry across Mr. Beaugiron’s cottage floor. It looked small, furry, with entirely too many legs. Maybe it was just a trick of the light? Surely, I wasn’t having a Vision in the morning?
The smell of fresh coffee wafted through the air.
I looked at Mr. Beaugiron. He had not left my sight the whole time we were in his cottage, so who had started the brew? Did someone else live here?
He must have smelled it , too. “Breakfast is almost ready. I would be most pleased if you were to join me. I cannot offer much, but what I do have, I will humbly share with you.” Mr. Beaugiron said.
He got up from the table, and went to the back of the room, where there was a closed door. He opened it, and received a tray and silver coffee carafe from someone. I’m sure I was wrong, but I thought that whatever handed Mr. Beaugiron the tray of food had a dark gray furry arm, and no fingers.
Mr. Beaugiron set the tray down, and I realized that I was absolutely starving. I didn’t care if the Devil had given Mr. Beaugiron the food. I would eat anything!
The polished tray held an assortment of delicacies, all artfully arranged. However, it was an odd assortment.
There were slices of sausage and prosciutto, with green and black olives, right next to some Macarons which were placed in the pattern of a flower. There was a small bowl of some kind of paste, which upon trying, I realized was Pâté. There were candied nuts, small chocolate covered sweets, and a few slices of bread.
I had been living on lentils, fish, and pickled vegetables of an unknown origin date. Then I went on the road, and had barely eaten anything. The breakfast food was so fine, and I was so hungry, that I ate with gusto, and thanked Mr. Beaugiron between each bite.
Mr. Beaugiron nibbled on the food, and graciously accepted my compliments. He then apologized that he did not have hot food.
“I am not much for cooking, you see. But, I still have some connections in very high places, old friends that remember me living here in this forsaken woods. They are kind enough to send me these gifts. I do rather miss the cuisine of the big cities.” Mr. Beaugiron said and looked rather forlorn.
The subject came back around to Signs again.
“Mistress Addlebern, you may already know, is an Arrow. This is a Sign that has seen a resurgence of popularity. I believe it was after the Guildmaster Reymous’s tenure that many wished to emulate the esteemed Sorcerer.” Mr. Beaugiron said.
I had not known that Mistress was under Arrow. I wasn’t sure it mattered to me what her Sign was, but Mr. Beaugiron wanted to keep talking about her, and I did not want to interrupt the man.
“Tess of course is the quintessential Arrow. She has nowhere to go but straight forward. She cannot deviate from her path, not even a tiny bit. Not like us, Snakes, who may gyrate and coil in any direction that pleases us.” He talked, looking blankly at the space above my shoulder.
He frowned slightly.
“Sometimes, these directions we choose do not please others. Even the most charming Sorcerer may run aground onto the shore of public scorn.” He then waved his hand, as though clearing the air of his thoughts, which were a mystery to me.
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“Master, we have visitors!” Mr. Beaugiron had stood up from the table, where I was still enjoying his delicious food. He had lifted the curtain over a large window, and opened the glass panes.
A gray mourning dove fluttered in, and started speaking to him in a high, melodic voice.
“I am so pleased, Master, I am glad we have guests!” The bird twittered. It was more well spoken than Cheerful, but it did seem to have a predilection of repeating itself, just like the crow.
Mr. Beaugiron gently took the dove, and placed it on his shoulder. The bird kept going on about visitors, and company, and how much she liked having people over. I recognized the dove’s voice.
“Was that you, in the woods last night? Someone was talking to me, but I couldn’t see who…” I asked the bird.
“Oh yes, oh yes. I was flying, as I like to do every evening, through the woods, through the night-time forest. I thought you needed help, so I tried, I tried leading you to my master’s house.” The dove answered.
I guess I should have followed the voice. It was so hard to figure out how I could trust, and who I couldn’t!
“Excuse me for a moment. I must attend to some business. Please, have some more coffee.” Mr. Beaugiron motioned to his silver carafe, and I helped myself. My mood was steadily gaining. I was well-fed, and comfortable.
Mr. Beaugiron disappeared for about twenty minutes. I had finished eating (I truly could not take another bite!) and was looking around his cottage. I spotted a book, lying on an intricately carved end table. I walked over, and picked it up.
THE
LOCK AND KEY;
AN EXCELLENT COMPENDIUM OF PUZZLES AND RIDDLES
————————————
AN ADDENDUM TO THE GRIMOIRE OF OLD TOAD
BY THAT SELF SAME AUTHOR
————————————
Flipping through the book, I realized that this was the source of all the riddle pages I had been finding in the locked house on Austere Way!
I opened the table of contents. There was the riddle of the Five Ladies (the first riddle I ever solved, about Princesses trapped in a tower), on page 27. I found the cat riddle, too, on page 134.
Mr. Beaugiron came back from whatever business he had, and I hurriedly put the book down. He smiled at me.
“You enjoy solving them?” He asked.
“Yes, I think so!” I answered. “I guess you do, too.” I said pointing to the book.
Mr. Beaugiron shrugged his shoulders. “Sometimes, if there’s nothing more exciting, and I have the time to devote to it… I supposed, that is to say, if it doesn't get in the way of the story, I enjoy solving a riddle, on occasion.”
I wasn’t sure where his dove had gone, but I did not see the bird anywhere.
“Why don’t you try one now? It’s not a bad way to start the day, by exercising the mind.” Mr. Beaugiron said, pointing to the book.
I picked it up again. There was a thin, white ribbon attached to the jacket, which served as the bookmark.
I opened it to the page which had been saved, and read the riddle.
Knights Errant
Four knights spent many years searching for treasured artifacts to win the favor of the beautiful Queen. Finally, after many years, the four knights gathered the day before their appearance in court, to discuss how they would present these items. Sir Aelsef, Sir Boris, Sir Constantine, and Sir Durrand were very sensitive to matters of propriety and honor, so they knew they had to present the artifacts in a very specific order.
They would present their gifts to the Queen in the morning, at noon, in the evening, and at night. Only one knight may present one artifact, during each time of the day.
Between the Knights, they had the following four artifacts:
A Jeweled Pendant
A Pearl Ring
A Silver Sword
A Golden Tiara
They knew that at the very minimum, they had to follow these rules:
Sir Aelsef must present the Sword
The Ring must be presented right before the Sword
Sir Boris must present the Pendant.
Sir Durrand must present an artifact later in the day than Sir Boris.
Each of the knights had more proposals for the order. But each proposal, came with a question:
One knight said the Ring should be presented in the morning. If this is so, who would present the Tiara?
Another knight proposed that the Sword is presented at night, and Sir Boris should present an artifact at noon. If so, what shall Sir Constantine present?
A third knight said that the Sword ought to be presented before the Pendant. If so, what will be the order of the gifts?
The final proposal is that the Tiara is presented at noon. If so, what shall Sir Durrand present?
My solution to the riddle is below:
Solution:
The first thing I did was create a sort of game board. I used initials for the knights and for the artifacts, for ease. There were four spots to present four artifacts. I wrote down the spots.
Knights: ABCD Artifacts: PRST
1. (Morning)
2. (Noon)
3. (Evening)
4. (Night)
I then went to the questions:
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One knight said the Ring should be presented in the morning. If this is so, who would present the Tiara?
I wrote in Ring for spot 1 (morning, and then immediately wrote in Sword for spot 2, as the rules state they must follow one another. Sir Aelsef must present the Sword, too, so I wrote that in.
Knights: ABCD Artifacts: PRST
1. ? - R
2. A- S
3.
4.
Next, I knew that Sir Boris had to go before Sir Durrand, so I put those two in spots 3 and 4. I also added Pendant into spot 3, as the rules say sir Boris must be the one that presents it.
1. ? - R
2. A- S
3. B - P
4. D - ?
Lastly, it was easy to fill in Sir Constantine for spot 1 (since it's the last spot left for a knight), and Tiara for spot 4 (since it's the last spot left for an artifact).
1. C - R
2. A- S
3. B - P
4. D - T
The answer to the first question was : Sir Durrand presents the Tiara
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Another knight proposed that the Sword is presented at night, and Sir Boris should present an artifact at noon. If so, what shall Sir Constantine present?
I wrote in the Sword into spot 4 (night) and Sir Boris into spot 2 (noon). I then added the Pendant to Sir Boris, and Sir Aelsef to the Sword (according to the rules). I also added Ring into spot 3, right before the Sword.
Knights: ABCD Artifacts: PRST
1.
2. B - P
3. ? - R
4. A - S
I know that Sir Durrand must present after Sir Borid, so I put him into spot 3. That means Sir Constantine is in spot 1, and the last artifact, the Tiara goes there, too.
1. C - T
2. B - P
3. D - R
4. A - S
The answer to the second question was : Sir Constantine presents the Tiara
----------------------------------------
A third knight said that the Sword ought to be presented before the Pendant. If so, what will be the order of the gifts?
This one was a bit trickier. If the Pendant is after the Sword, it is also after the Ring (Ring must be presented before Sword, according to the rules). But, Sir Boris must present the Pendant. He cannot be last, because Sir Durrand must be later in the day, after him. So, Sir Boris is in spot 3, with the pendant.
Knights: ABCD Artifacts: PRST
1. C - R
2. A - S
3. B - P
4. D - T
The order of the artifacts is: Ring, Sword, Pendant, Tiara.
----------------------------------------
The final proposal is that the Tiara is presented at noon. If so, what shall Sir Durrand present?
I wrote in Tiara for noon (spot 2).
Knights: ABCD Artifacts: PRST
1.
2. ? - T
3.
4.
The Ring and Sword must be presented one after another, so they must go into spots 3 and 4. I wrote them in, adding Sir Aelsef to the Sword.
Knights: ABCD Artifacts: PRST
1.
2. ? - T
3. ? - R
4. A - S
Sir Boris must present the Pendant, so he must be in spot 1, with the Pendant.
1. B - P
2. ? - T
3. ? - R
4. A - S
Now I was to figure out what Sir Durrand would present. I looked over my game board. It looked like Sir Durrand could present either the Tiara or the Ring. I looked over the rules again, and decided that was the answer.
The answer to the last question was : Sir Durrand presents the Tiara or the Ring
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Once I was done, I got the familiar message:
Riddle: The Knights Never Did Decide (Aspirant Difficulty)
Complete!
30 EXP
10 Skill Points to Logic (Speech)
10 Skill Points to Linguistics (Speech)
10 Skill Points to Solvé (Alchemy)
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Mr. Beaugiron and I spent the morning chatting and drinking coffee. It was such an exceedingly pleasant way to spend time, that I was growing rather fond of the man.
But, the whole time I talked with him, I was aware that I was keeping a secret. I had basically absconded with a Guild Grimoire, and was now on the lam. I wondered how loyal Mr. Beaugiron was to the Guild? Would he turn me in, if he found out?
“Are you in the Guild?” I asked, trying to be nonchalant.
“Ah. An easy question that yields a complicated answer. I was once a Sorcerer of the Guild, yes. But no longer.” Mr. Beaugiron answered.
“Did you fail your initiation, too?” I hadn’t intended to include the ‘too.’ Just like that, my secret was out!
“No, no, I did not. I excelled. I excelled as a Guild Sorcerer, and then, after I obtained my Mastership, I was chosen to be one of the Royal Sorcerers. One of the highest honors in our chosen career.” He said.
My cheeks were red in shame. I can’t believe I had just told this man that I had failed my initiation.
“Ah, no, your secret is safe with me.” He winked, and I truly felt that it was.
“But you said you’re no longer in the Guild? Did you retire?” I asked. He seemed too young for retirement.
Solomon chuckled.
“Not exactly. I have been…” he deliberated his words, “ex-communicated. Informally, but still.” Mr. Beaugiron sighed. “It’s a rather complicated and odious story. I do not wish to bore. But suffice it to say, that the Guild no longer welcomes me. And so, no respectable township welcomes me either. This is why I must hide out in this hole in the woods. Not that my location is secret. But, I do get so few visitors.”
Just as he finished talking, I heard noises outside. It sounded like the clop of a horse's hooves. Then footsteps, coming right to the cottage. Who else could be coming here?
I stood up, and squinted through the curtain, and out the window, and my heart froze. I saw someone with vibrant, blue curls making their way to the cottage. I whirled around, looking horror struck at Mr. Beaugiron. Hasn’t he just told me that my secrets were safe with him?
Mr. Beaugiron spread his hands.
“I’ve known Tess for a long, long time.” Was all he offered as a way of apology.