Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2016 5:06 pm**

The trial was warm; warmer than usual, in fact. Teddy strolled through the street, whistling some tune he’d heard and could only vaguely remember. Even his whistling had a lilting quality to it, sounding like windchimes blowing in a gentle breeze. With nowhere to be, Teddy could just find his way about Andaris at a leisurely pace. His time was his own, and he didn’t get much of his own time. Being the youngest son had its perks, for sure, but there was always a constant eye on him to ensure that he was following the path that everyone had set before him. Marching in lockstep to the expectations of society. He thought bitterly, his mouth pursing. He chuckled at himself, the morbidity oddly out of character for him. It reminded him of someone, someone that he hadn’t seen in more than a few trials.

Teddy always got along with Tristan, though not necessarily because they shared any common interests. Teddy’s moodiness and intense interest in music sometimes separated the brothers, but they always found that they could rely on each other in times of personal crisis. But it was seldom when they just visited one another in their spare time, so Teddy veered down a side street in the labyrinthine setup of the Andaris streets. Tristan would be so surprised to see him, he hoped. A small smile found its way to his face as he thought about it.

As he walked and whistled, Teddy thought about their childhood together. Tristan was the adored, the doted on, and though Teddy got his fair share of attention, it was nothing like Tristan. Sure, there was some resentment in Teddy for that, but he adored his brother too. He’d always looked up to him, hoping to one day emulate his brother’s affinity for learning. Instead, watching Tristan had taught him to be himself, no matter what was expected, and rather than take up a manual skill, he learned to use his voice to please. Tristan was good with his hands; his sculptures would stand the tests of time and people would admire them for arcs to come. But Teddy’s music, the arias Teddy wanted to leave in his wake… They would move people for arcs to come. That was the legacy the youngest Venora would leave.

Before he knew it, he was standing in front of Tristan’s house. He stared at the door for a long while, debating now whether to knock or leave. He and Tristan got along, sure, but were they really close enough for him to arrive unannounced? He bit his lip gently, something he did when nervous, but ultimately decided to knock. The worst that could happen would be for him to be turned away. And he seriously doubted Tristan would do that. So he stepped to the wooden door, rapping three short times with his knuckles. After a moment, when he heard nothing, he knocked again.

He heard a hiss from behind the door, and he took a step back and glared. Mistral. His brother’s cat was insufferable. If the Venora were graceful and beautiful, Mistral was the opposite of a Venora. Teddy hated the cat, personally, but Tristan wouldn’t get rid of it. He wondered if he could let the cat out. Perhaps it would run away and never come back. Teddy smiled again, this time broadly. That would be ideal, wouldn’t it? The thought brightened his mood, and he knocked again. However, rather than waiting for a response, he just tried the handle to the house, and found that the door swung open.

He stared into the sunlit house, and his eyes fell on the cat immediately. Shining eyes stared back at him, and a low growl escaped Mistral’s mouth. Teddy glared at the cat, issuing a low hiss back at it in a childish display. Immediately after he did so, Teddy looked around sheepishly, ensuring that nobody saw him hiss at the cat. Thankfully, he saw nobody. Instead, he stepped into the house, which was eerily quiet. It was obvious that Tristan wasn’t in, but Teddy was already there. Might as well make sure.

”Brother?” He called out softly, though he didn’t quite know why. If Tristan was not there, he would disturb nobody. But if he was there, he would not have heard the call. ”Brother?!” More emphatic, the call would echo through the house. Though he didn’t expect to hear anything in return, a shuffling from the far end of the small house caught his attention, and he stopped dead in his tracks. He was unarmed, and quite unqualified to defend himself in any case. If there was some assailant, the Graceful House of Venora would be one son short at the end of the trial, for sure. He could feel his body tense up, fight or flight response kicking in immediately. He could still feel the eyes of the cat on his back, and it did nothing to assuage his high anxiety. He crouched slightly and waited for the shuffling to approach him.

Posted: **Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:04 pm**

5th Saun, 716

Faith knew that, in truth, she should be pleased that it was over with, but by the Immortals, the branding had hurt and continued to burn. Whoever the masked torturer was, he had done his job as well as he could, though, and as far as Faith could tell, it was a clean burn. She should be grateful, she had told herself, but the experience was too close, yet, and she felt bad for her ingratitude, but there it was. Still, this was a different trial, a new one and so she had determined that she was going to clean the floor in the kitchen area, where apparently Master had tried to find out just how much food he could fling down there. There were strange (and sometimes, vaguely dubious) stains, and she wondered if he had ever before cleaned down here. She supsected, in truth, that she knew the answer.

Master had gone out and so she was able to just get on. This was good to her, so she had tied her hair up and out of the way (relying on her right arm to do that as much as possible) and then had dressed carefully and tried to make sure that she did not bang or otherwise irritate the trial-old brand. With Master's breakfast taken care of and the dishes washed up from that meal, she had heated the water needed to really give that floor a good clean. She would add in some of the herbs that she used for bringing wood to a good clean, antiseptic eucalyptus and tea tree being the main ones here.

But, while the water was heating for the floor, Faith had put her mind to the meal for Master this evening. She was aware that she was working slowly, so she had started it earlier than she normally would. The chicken carcass from the trial before went into the pot, along with a variety of vegetables including celery and onions, deep and flavour-filled. They were going to boil away, forming the stock she was making. That stock would be used in the chicken and potato chowder she was making for him, which she would serve with freshly baked crusty bread. The bread was, thankfully, already mixed and kneeded, it was proofing in the drawer next to the oven. When it was time, she would just bake it fresh, so that it was warm when she served it, sliced and then rubbed in the garlic butter she would prepare later.

Once the food was sorted, the smell of the antiseptic herbs in the water was evident throughout the room, a good sign that the water was ready and Faith moved over to pull the heavy cast iron pot from the heat, grunting slightly from the exertion of doing so. But it was good, it was ready and it would, with a few drops of vinegar, bring the floor up to a lovely sheen, she knew. So, she got down on her hands and knees and she started to slowly, carefully and very meticulously scrub.

And that was what she was doing when she heard "It". Master's cat. She hated it. It was small and evil and should be killed as a mercy to all the other cats in the neighbourhood. But it was Master's cat, so she was doing her best to like it and, more importantly, to get it to like her. Feeding it helped, but she knew that she and it still had a long way to go. She would do her best with it, but by Famula's name it was an ill tempered beast. It hissed, suddenly and for apparently no reason. Then, a low growl came from it's throat and Faith considered that she was lucky not to be a mouse.

But then, all thoughts of the cat, the soup, the floor - all of it fled from her as she heard a noise. Someone was in the house! It wasn't Master, she knew that, because although she couldn't hear what the voice shouted (and how she wished that cat shut up growling), she knew that wasn't his voice. So, she knew in that moment (and with an instinct that she had shown before) that she had to defend her home and all of Master's property.

So, Faith grabbed ahold of the brush-head she was using to scrub the floor and she stood, moving slowly and carefully. Weilding the brush she snuck (badly, and aware that she was making a shuffling sound, but doing her best not to). Around the corner, weilding a dripping floor brush in an obviously weapon-like stance, came a young thin girl in her late teens to early twenties at most. She wore a long black dress, her hair was tied back and her silver grey eyes were intently looking around to see who or what was invading Master's home. On her left shoulder was a very fresh burand which had burned into her skin.When she caught sight of the man standing there, she held the floor-brush up in as aggressive a posture as was possible (which in fairness, was not really very much) and spoke as loudly as she could.

"This house and all in it belong to House Venora! My Master is in the garden and with one call I will have a half dozen guards here. Who are you and what are you doing here?" she got ready to fling the brush at his head and then, she thought, she could tackle him to the ground. But with her right side because the brand on her left hurt so much. He was taller than her, but the young woman was strangely fearless when afraid (reckless would probably be a better word) and so she got ready to sick it to him.

Posted: **Wed Aug 24, 2016 1:25 pm**

The house and everything in it belonged to House Venora? Everything in it? Teddy's grin bloomed over his face like a rose in the sun, small pinpricks of light in the irises of his blue eyes. He took another step, to better hear the voice, and leaned casually against the doorframe when he saw the young slave girl, broomstick in hand. She was moving gingerly, but Teddy supposed she had earned it.

Once, he'd seen a slave caned raw for bringing the wrong grapes to the table. The thing was, Teddy was sure that green were asked for, and green were brought. Likely as not, it was a show of power over the slave, and though Teddy did not care about that slave's life, it's quite another thing to be so arrogant as to cane your slave in premier company, which Teddy deemed himself. How dreadfully boring it was to watch after the initial screams gave way to a lolling head.

"Call the guards, sweetling. Please, and your master. I'm sure he'd be most appreciative to know that I've come to call." Teddy knew he was calling her bluff, but he couldn't help but egg the girl on. If she hit him with the broom, she'd be indebted to him. And Teddy loved when people owed him things. Favors for the future were as good as grain, and usually more sinister in their root. With a languid chuckle, Teddy eyed the pretty girl.

"But know that if you call them, I will rebuke them and you'll pay all the same. See, if I wanted to do you harm, which I do not, I could have by slipping in unheard and using the cat to distract. Or, I could just smack the angry brand that has so debilitated you. But why be so crass as to issue true threats, sweetling? Please, scream, call my brother from the garden."

There was a note of sarcasm prevalent in his voice, but it was emphasized by the relaxed nature of Teddy's posture as he leaned against the door. Part of him willed the girl to hit him, to break up the tedium of the afternoon, but so far, the events unfolding were doing just fine on their own. He knew that she would catch the word 'brother', and set a devilish grin on his face after he said it. And if she didn't catch it, he'd have to let her know in no uncertain terms who he was.

"And while you do so, I'll take a cup of whatever vinted Venora red Tristan has lying around. It's been a long trial's travel.
He slid by her gracefully, chiseled chin held in the air as he found a place to sit. The cooking smelled great, making his mouth water from the scent. He peered over at the fire, then back at her, the grin still dancing on his pretty features.

"I don't suppose I can call you sweetling all trial. What is your name, pretty bird?" His voice was soft and inviting, but his eyes suggested a deeper mischief.

Posted: **Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:52 pm**

5th Saun, 716

Has she not been born a slave, there was no doubt that Faith would have been a warrior of some kind. She had a ferocity (recklessness) that was all heart and soul. She defended her Master and her Master's property with full heart and a fundamentally scrappy nature. And so, brandishing a brush she considered that she would probably lob said brush at the attacker and then charge him. Because she was much better at unarmed combat than at ... well... brush combat. And also, he wouldn't expect it. She was only small, after all.

And then, standing there in front of her was a man. And he was beautiful and he called her sweetling but she was quite sure that she hadn't been told that Master had a brother and she hadn't been told that he was visiting. And more than that, if she let some complete stranger walk into Master's house and just... rifle through his things (including her) then Master would be disappointed. Faith couldn't live with such. "Stay away!" she shouted at him, waving the brush at him, albeit somewhat ineffectively. Because of course, he was calling her bluff and Faith had a decision to make.

It was a simple decision, and she made it without thought or question.

Because she either acted to protect Master's house or she did not. If she was wrong then she would run the risk of being punished, but she would rather be punished protecting his house than allowing some dweeb who had no right to be there take all of his things.

And so it came to pass that Faith, slave to House Venora, owned by one Tristan Venora, flung the broom head at Theodore Venora's head. She did not have good aim, but she was chock full of good intentions "I said GET OUT!!!" she yelled and she did, indeed, charge him. Right side down and pointing at him, she lept at him with every intention of flooring him and twisting his arm as far up his back as it would go. Branded the trial before, she was going to wrestle him to the ground if it killed her (which he might) and whilst she did she screamed as loud as she could

"Guaaaaards!!!

HEEEEEEELP!"

because Master had told her that she should. Because Master had not mentioned a brother and no one was going to wander into Master's house under her watch. No way.

► Show Spoiler

Posted: **Fri Aug 26, 2016 5:40 pm**

One moment, it was all jest and jibes. The next moment, however, it was all broom tossing and arm wrenching. As he ducked the thrown broom head, Teddy barely had time to register that the cute little slave girl had begun her approach, and certainly didn’t have time to react accordingly. She barreled into him, slamming into his chest and tackling the air right out of his lungs with a ”UGH! They fell to the floor, which smelled as if she had just cleaned it. Usually, Teddy would have appreciated the clean floor, but in this situation, he didn’t have the time.

And as quickly as she began the charge, she had flipped him onto his stomach and grabbed a hold of his wrist. If it weren’t for the ear-shattering scream for the guards, he wouldn’t have believed she was capable of such strength. Not that he had an ounce of strength in his feminine form, but this girl had completely and utterly subdued him. He would have been embarrassed if he wasn’t so entertained.

In between giggles and grunts of pain, Teddy tried to wiggle himself free. She had surprisingly good leverage, and Teddy struggled but didn’t get anywhere. With a sigh, he stopped struggling. However, his chest and stomach still rose and fell with giggles, which were starting to turn into deeper rumbles of a belly laugh. The only thing that stopped the entire situation from being the best thing that had ever happened to Teddy was Mistral’s incessant screeching. The devil cat was reacting much like most people would, except it was already the most annoying thing in the entirety of the realm. Except Zvezdana.

When he stopped resisting, he calmed his laughter long enough to yield. He wasn’t going to fight this slave girl, though he did notice that she favored her left arm, probably having to do with some injury. If he could get to a position of decent advantage, he could probably overwhelm her. But for some reason, Teddy decided he did not want to hurt the girl. She had gained his respect, if nothing else. Usually, visits to Tristan were sordidly dull affairs, but this would be the one that Teddy would talk about for arcs to come.

”Okay, okay… Listen, I’ll submit. The guards will be here shortly to sort this out. Just… Just let go of my arm and we can wait outside.” His voice was jovial and full of mirth, which must have seemed off-putting to his assailant.

”But if you don’t mind, I’ll still take that glass of wine. Physical exertion makes me horrendously thirsty, doesn’t it you?” He grinned as he tried to get to his feet to remove himself from the abode. The guards couldn’t be too far, and once they got there, they should be able to recognize him. Strangely enough, Teddy had never been mistaken for someone of lesser birth. Most people usually associated his incredible bone structure and haughty overzealousness for purely Venoran traits.

What a trial this was turning out to be!

Posted: **Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:27 pm**

5th Saun, 716

Well, by Famula's lantern but she hadn't expected that to work, she thought to herself as she realised that, although the brush had flown past him uselessly, her charge had been far more spectacularly successful than she'd thought it was going to be and he was on the floor with all the air pushed out of his lungs. He must be an imposter, she decided, because Master would not have any brother who was such an unmitigated wimp. So, she kept that momentum as she heard the breath exit his lungs and she flipped him over and twisted his arm up his back.

She was far too busy screaming for the guard to notice that he was laughing. And it was probably a good job because, in her current state of high alert, she'd have twisted his ear or something. Although if Mistral would shut up that would be fine and if she'd been able to reach it and then throw it, she'd have flung the broom handle at that infernal cat. But it wasn't and she was too busy with the imposter who had dared to invade Master's home. But he yielded and then she did notice that he was laughing. "It isn't *funny*! she exclaimed, indignation making her voice sound more firm than was her usual. Those were some moves that she had just busted out and she sent a prayer to Famula that this wasn't Master's brother because that would be bad all around. There was no part of that, in fact, that was anything except mortifying.

So, as he got to his feet and he removed himself, Faith darted forward and grabbed the brush head which she brandished at him "Nothing! Nothing of my Master's will you have you... you.... " it was at moments like this, she considered, that she wished that she'd been allowed out more and so might know some really good swear words or curses or such. Ironically, it did not even occur to her to use some of the words which had been used against her throughout the last eighteen arcs, before Master bought her. No matter what else he was, this was a free man. And with a sinking feeling she realised that he did look a little like Master. No. No, she was not going there. "You Bad Bad Man!" and she half-pushed, half-shooed him out of the house.

Where, indeed, the guard were running. And their faces took on looks of utter incredulity when they saw what was happening. One of them took the brush head off Faith and pulled her over to them (because obviously, they immediately recognised who was important here). They were casually rough with her, whilst the leader of the group of them turned to Theodore with a slight bow. "Lord Venora" he said and Teddy might hear the groan that came from Faith "So sorry for the inconvenience your Lordship. Would you like us to take the slave and have her punished for you, Your Lord?" he asked, as one of the guards gave her a shake. It might be strange for Teddy to see, or come to that he might not even notice at all. But as soon as the guards arrived, before even the one in charge had called Teddy "Lord Venora", all the fight had left Faith as quickly as it had apparently appeared and her face had changed from an animated and determined young woman to a meek and submissive little thing. She kept her eyes down and, though it must have hurt when the guard who had both her arms clamped in his shook her, she did not respond in any way.

Posted: **Wed Aug 31, 2016 1:45 pm**

As the guards arrived, Teddy's eye fell upon Faith's face and never left. As the guards addressed him by his title, a grin spread across his face. He knew that the gravity of the situation was fully weighing on Faith, and he loved to watch as she realized that he was who he said he was. Not that he could fault her, she couldn't have known. Still, it was comical to watch her realize that she had made a mistake.

Should he have her punished, or not? On the one hand, she had assaulted him. More importantly, she hadn't been very forthcoming with the wine, which was a sin in Teddy's mind. But she couldn't have known, and who breaks bread with their owner's thief? That would be a far more interesting slight than simply attacking him. Then again, she had also caused him embarrassment, and Teddy hated to be embarrassed. Ah, what a trial indeed.

He studied her face as she dropped her gaze to the ground. With a sly grin, he looked at the guards and motioned for them to leave with his head. When he looked back at Faith, his eyebrows had climbed his forehead, causing slight wrinkles to form there. With his face as it was, he looked comical, yet somehow alluring.

"I'll tell you what, sweetling. What do you say you invite me in, pleasantly, and offer me some of that delicious Venoran red, and we can call ourselves even, yes?"

There was a stifled laughter in his tone, one that indicated to Faith that he wasn't upset with her. Instead, he found that he was beginning to like this girl, and he'd have to ask Tristan if he could borrow her to show Lianel how to defend their homestead. He could just see it now, this girl beating on little Lianel. The thought brought a grin to his face.

"Perhaps even some of that food. Getting beaten up by a girl makes me quite hungry." He didn't seem ashamed at all, and instead held a thin arm out to direct the slave girl instead.

"And so as to avoid calling you sweetling all trial, have you got a name? Please tell me it's something garish, like Cinnamon, or Fantasy... Or Faith. That would be ever so like Tristan, wouldn't you agree?"

Teddy grinned again as he let her lead them inside. Wine first, everything else after. He was beginning to grow bored of asking for the wine. It would be in this slave's interest to pour him something to drink.

Posted: **Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:48 pm**

Ooopsie

Oh she could not believe it as she heard the guards words and the shaking she got, even though it hurt her trial-old brand, was something and nothing in comparison to the shame she felt. She had tackled Master's brother to the ground, after throwing a brush head at him... and she had yelled at him and she just wished that the ground would open up and swallow her whole. But there was no time for worrying about that and so she dropped a curtsy "Yes, Lord Venora. Please, I'm so sorry, please come in. Wine. Food, yes, Lord Venora, straight away" oh she hadn't been a good slave, she'd been a bad slave and she had threatened Master's brother.

Faith was unutterably mortified and she did what could only be described as scampering to get him a glass of wine and as quickly as her legs would carry her. "Wine, Lord Venora" she said meekly, resisting the urge to kick the damn cat and she continued "Faith, Lord Venora. My name is Faith. I am so sorry, I did not remember that Master had a brother" because she hadn't damn well been told, she was fairly sure. And then she looked at him and she wanted the ground to just swallow her up. Because he already knew who she was and she just didn't know where to put herself.

So, instead, she busied herself with getting him something to eat. Cold quiche, cooked meats, salad and potatoes in mayonnaise and herbs. Freshly baked bread and a variety of pickles, each laid out on the table and then she popped back, refilled his glass and said, softly "Your meal is prepared, Lord Venora" and, as she did she considered most sincerely that she had never wanted to see Master so much in her life. Because he might be furious with her, he might think it funny, she really wasn't sure but at least he would be someone that Lord Venora could talk to rather than her. She made sure, while Lord Venora ate, that his wine glass was filled up and she said nothing unless spoken to.

And she tried not to look at the abandoned brush handle, discarded when she had flung it's other half at Master's brother's head. But then, she realised something and so she did speak. "Master is not in the garden, Lord Venora. That was a... well, a lie. I am sorry, he is out" she explained and then fell silent once again.

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2016 5:19 pm**

Teddy's mouth split into a grin, wide enough that Faith could see it from the corner of her eye. Teddy settled in with his wine, waiting patiently as she bustled about the kitchen. He watched her work, interested in the way she fretted about. He knew that she was horrified that he would tell Tristan what had happened, and though he had no intention of outing the girl's secret this trial, he enjoyed watching her worry.

"Frankly, dear, I knew he wasn't here when he didn't come running when you shouted. Have no worries, Faith, Tristan need not know about everything that happened this trial. In fact, I'll just tell him that I came by and was given what looks to be a most scrumptious meal, and enjoyed your company while I dined. Is that acceptable to you?"

With that, he set into the food. Everything smelled so amazing, and he wasn't even hungry until the first bite. But he tore into the food, more animal than man at that point, looking up only to smile. He chewed quickly, swallowing so that he might offer Faith a seat beside him.

"Please, sit. I can't believe Tristan hadn't told me he had a slave. Especially one so... wounded." Teddy's eyes fell on the angry red mark on her arm, and he frowned. He knew that slaves were marked, but somehow, he never saw Tristan as having the courage to do it. He leaned a bit to get a better view, likely making Faith uncomfortable in his examination.

"Did Tristan do that?" Teddy was exasperated. He didn't know Faith, nor particularly care for her well-being yet, but he was shocked that he didn't know his brother very well. Owning a slave, branding her... Making her cook all day for nobody... It was barbaric. Teddy wouldn't tell him that, of course, it wasn't his business, but it seemed unlike his brother to him. He occupied himself with eating more food.

"This food, to change the subject, is phenomenal. Where did you learn to cook exquisite meals like this? I may have to visit the place." He smiled warmly, hoping to lessen the tension in the room.

Posted: **Mon Sep 19, 2016 6:37 pm**

She looked at Lord Venora with an expression of horror on her face as she shook her head "No, Lord Venora, I can not speak an untruth to him, that would be ... I can not. I will tell him what happened and I will accept the consequences of it from him as his to give and a lesson for me to learn" there was no emotion to her saying that, she was actually just completely accepting and meant every word that she said. She fussed and made sure that he had his food and that his wine was filled and then he instructed her to sit. This, of course, she did, without hesitation, because he had told her to and it was a wide-eyed young woman who looked at him as he examined her arm.

"Oh no, Lord Venora" she said, when asked if Tristan had done that to her and she did her best not to wince when she moved her arm to facilitate his examination of the wound from the trial before "He sent me to the jail where the torturer did it, Lord Venora. It would not be appropriate for Master to do such" And may all the Immortals be smiling on Teddy in that moment, but the earnest young woman was entirely serious.

But she smiled in absolute delight as he complimented her food and she responded with enthusiasm "I have been studying so that I might better serve Master. I am glad you like it, Lord Venora, I am sure that Master will be pleased. I did not visit anywhere to learn, but rather I taught myself through trial and error. It is... I like it" she explained and then, she sat where she was told until he was finished with his food.

And when he was done she bade him well and went back to washing up the dishes and preparing for her Master's return.

Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

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[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

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[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?

[Tristan's House] The Lord, The Slave and... The Cat?