Logs > Gamma Logs > The Way of Taqe

The Way of Taqe

[Silver Plum, Smoking Room]
Large soft leather easy chairs placed randomly around small coffee tables invite visitors to kick off their shoes and relax awhile. Against the far wall, a large portrait has been placed over the mantle of a stone fireplace. Soft light from a crystal chandelier filters through the smoke to make the room seem ethereal and highlights the kirchewood bar. Looking through the glass windows of the french doors is a view of the dining room. You see Yrael the bartender.

Billowing clouds of sweet-smelling tobacco fill the air.

Papers rustling and glasses clinking makes a comfy atmosphere.

You sigh.
You smile at Yrael the bartender.
You hand Yrael the bartender some money.
Yrael the bartender turns to the shelves behind him and pours a shot of brandy into a snifter. He hands it over to you and says, "Enjoy!"
Yrael the bartender gives you your change.
You sit down on a large easy chair.
You put a large number of sovereigns in your embroidered black leather pouch.
You close an embroidered black leather pouch.
You get a flimsy hide-bound book from a fitted black velvet cloak.

> l book
This book is covered with a flimsy piece of cheap hide bound together with three strips of cord. The title reads: "The Zero Race" by Fekik.

You open your flimsy hide-bound book.
You turn a page in your flimsy hide-bound book.
A pair of glass doors open, and Xelian steps into the room.
You turn a page in your flimsy hide-bound book.
You raise your head and look at Xelian.
Xelian smiles at you.
You smile slightly.
You say, "Hello, Xelian."
Xelian says, "Another who cannot sleep."
Xelian smiles.
You say, "Ah, well."
Xelian asks, "How goes?"
You say, "It's a long read, but an enjoyable one."
You smile ruefully at your flimsy hide-bound book.
Xelian asks, "May I join ye?"
A pair of glass doors open, and Reckless steps into the room.
You say, "Please."
Reckless says, "Hmm."
Xelian smiles at Reckless.
You act: Jurion tucks his finger into his book.
Reckless grins.
Xelian waves to Reckless.
You nod to Reckless.
Reckless asks, "I am looking for Yael?"
Reckless waves.
Reckless smiles.
Reckless says, "Not stalking you."
Reckless grins.
Xelian points at Yrael the bartender.
You ask, "Yrael, do you mean?"
Reckless says, "Oh duh."
Reckless says, "Yeah."
Reckless says, "That's bad, I found him and din't know."
Xelian sits down on a large easy chair.
Reckless waves.
Reckless heads through some glass doors.
You say, "Well, he hadn't been introduced yet."
Xelian blinks.
You ponder some glass doors.
Xelian chuckles.
You close your flimsy hide-bound book.
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, "The point was just to find 'im, I suppose."
You say, "Perhaps they're giving prizes."
Xelian exclaims, "All of Kaezar comes to gaze upon ye, Yrael!"
Xelian admires Yrael the bartender.
Yrael the bartender preens.
You say, "There, now he'll be working twice as hard just to show off."
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, "He can start with a brandy for me."
Xelian opens an embroidered satin reticule.
Xelian gets a handful of sovereigns from an embroidered satin reticule.
Xelian pats Jurion on the knee.
You sip some plum brandy from your brandy snifter.
You swish a bit of brandy across your tongue and enjoy the pleasant taste it leaves in your mouth.
Xelian asks, "Things are well?"
Xelian gestures to Yrael.
You say, "As well as they might be, considering."
Xelian hands Yrael the bartender some money.
Yrael the bartender turns to the shelves behind him and pours a shot of brandy into a snifter. He hands it over to Xelian and says, "Enjoy!"
Xelian leans back while sitting on the large easy chair.
Xelian crosses her legs.
You put a flimsy hide-bound book on a small table.
Xelian says, "Oh, I have a message for ye."
You lean back while sitting on the large easy chair.
You ask, "Oh? From whom?"
Xelian taps the size of her brandy snifter.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Xelian says, "I saw Raeh before she left for Kuthgard."
You say, "Ah."
You act: Jurion presses his lips together.
Xelian furrows her brow.
Xelian says, "Goin' to find Merow's people, ye may know."
You say, "No, I didn't."
You swallow some plum brandy.
A hot pulsing vein of fire makes its way down your throat.
Xelian nods.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, "Carryin' his greataxe back with her. She is not sure where to start, but it is what she feels she must do."
Xelian rubs her cheeks.
You act: Jurion shifts his weight tensely.
You ask, "Is that her message? That she's gone to do that?"
Xelian says, "She said to tell ye, that ye should work to accomplish what the two of ye spoke of that night. I believe it was the night Merow was taken."
Xelian skin sags and suddenly retightens, looking less thick and hard.
You act: Jurion lets out a long, slow breath.
Xelian winces.
Xelian says, "Glad that spell wore off."
Xelian rubs her cheeks.
You say, "Yes... I always tell Severin it will ruin his complexion."
Xelian says, "Does that mean something to ye, what she said? She would say no more."
You say, "Yes... It does."
You say, "Xelian..."
Xelian says, "I'm also to tell Severin, that he has impeccable taste."
You lean forward while sitting on the large easy chair.
Xelian glances at you.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You act: Jurion taps his brandy snifter nervously.
You say, "Once upon a time, Kot told me something about you."
You put a brandy snifter on a small table.
Xelian smiles faintly.
Xelian says, "I shudder to think what."
You act: Jurion lowers his voice.
Xelian leans forward while sitting on the large easy chair.
You whisper, 'He said no one had ever bothered to ask you... who you worshiped.' to Xelian.
You look a bit uncomfortable.
Xelian grins.
Xelian exclaims, "Gad, Jurion, yer makin' me itch!"
You smile ruefully.
You say, "I'm sorry."
Xelian rubs you gently.
Xelian whispers ''I follow Taqe.' to you.
Xelian smiles.
Xelian says, "I thought ye knew."
You act: Jurion closes his eyes briefly.
You say, "I wasn't sure."
You say, "I was hoping it wasn't as foolish as Teru."
You grin quickly at Xelian.
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, "It is not the way of things to go around shouting it in the streets."
You say, "Am... Would it be..."
You act: Jurion picks nervously at the hem of his cloak.
Xelian says, "Teru. Feh. May his god rise up and swallow him whole."
You chuckle to yourself.
Xelian says, "Speak to me, Jurion. No need to be ill at ease with me."
You say, "All right."
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "I want to learn of whom you follow."
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian cocks her head at Jurion.
You act: Jurion laces his fingers together.
Xelian asks, "Want to learn of whom I follow? or hoping to learn more of he that I do?"
You say, "I have never in my life praised any god above another."
Xelian nods.
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
You say, "I find myself desiring to change that."
You say, "And you... Well, as you say, one doesn't shout it in the streets."
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, "It is well to do homage to the eternals. We all must. But to make a committment of faith has rewards."
Xelian leans back while sitting on the large easy chair.
Xelian crosses her legs.
You get a brandy snifter from a small table.
You act: Jurion clasps his hands around his brandy snifter.
Xelian says, "It is not an easy path, the way of the master."
Xelian says, "In fact, I believe it requires the deepest of all faiths."
Xelian says, "Some believe he is the god of lies. I say he is the god of truth."
You ask, "Will you show me where to begin?"
Crackling loudly, a log pops suddenly in the fireplace.
Xelian says, "One can never expect in this lifetime to understand his ways. His motives are his own. This is an area of faith."
Xelian says, "Where to begin."
Xelian nods.
Xelian says, "Ye have already begun."
Xelian smiles at you.
You gaze at Xelian.
Xelian asks, "Tell me what it is ye seek. Why ye embark on this spirtual journey at this time?"
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You smile mirthlessly.
You say, "I cannot say, other than it is in part because of Raeh."
Xelian ponders the situation.
You say, "If I must, I will tell you."
You say, "But I do not think it would be well for either of us."
You swallow some plum brandy.
You swish a bit of brandy across your tongue and enjoy the pleasant taste it
leaves in your mouth.
Xelian says, "No need to say if it is a confidence between ye."
Xelian smiles softly.
You say, "No, only a promise. But still, until fulfilled..."
You shrug slightly.
Xelian says, "The way of Taqe is the way of clear sight."
Xelian says, "One moves in shadow, in order to better discern what is in the light."
Xelian says, "One must dispense with the emotion, that which muddles thought, in order to see clearly through."
Xelian chuckles softly.
Xelian says, "I am very bad at that, myself."
You smile slightly.
You say, "Many of my problems stem from that, as well."
Xelian says, "I have full confidence he accepts that I chose to marry, although I do not think he approves."
Xelian grins.
You act: Jurion is startled into a laugh.
You say, "One also wonders what the lucky couple would think."
Xelian says, "I imagine he does approve of Kot as the perfect choice."
Xelian says, "And..."
Xelian says, "The way is not about destruction, Jurion."
You ask, "Mine or another's?"
You grin ruefully.
You say, "I'm not seeking that."
You say, "Either."
Xelian nods.
You say, "I want the strength and the... clarity... to set myself aside and do what I wish to do."
Xelian says, "During the last time the orcs threatened. The time of Yurt, and the king's death, Vek's flight..."
Xelian says, "Ye may recall it was often said Talone was a facet of Taqe."
You nod to Xelian.
You say, "I had heard that, yes."
Xelian says, "This made me want to spit."
You swallow some plum brandy.
The brandy makes your head swim.
Xelian chuckles.
Xelian says, "As if he would allow it to be so one would point and say, "oh look, there goes a facet of Taqe!""
chuckle
You chuckle.
Xelian says, "That is how I know it was not so."
Xelian says, "The most difficult part, however, and something that tries faith..."
Xelian says, "Is to accept that there may be time when it is his will to aid your foe, for reasons we cannot understand."
Xelian says, "That is trying for me at least."
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Xelian says, "I will tell ye something else...and perhaps this will give ye more understanding."
You ask, "In what ways do you serve his will?"
You swallow some plum brandy.
You swish a bit of brandy across your tongue and enjoy the pleasant taste it leaves in your mouth.
You drain your brandy snifter dry!
Seeing that it's empty, you set your brandy snifter aside.
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian whispers ''our recent business, our work on the temple' to you.
Xelian smiles at you.
You smile slightly.
You nod.
Xelian says, "For me, it was a way of doing homage."
Xelian says, "Not the actions themselves, but the manner in which they were executed."
Xelian says, "Although I do like the clink of imperials, as well as the next."
Xelian asks, "Does that make any sense to ye at all?"
Xelian furrows her brow.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Yrael the bartender tidies up the bar, putting some bottles of liquor in their rightful places.
You begin to say something, then hesitate.
You say, "Yes. But I would speak of it with you again."
You say, "I am uncertain, but it isn't because of what you've said."
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, "At the moment my mind is wracked with the danger facing Kaezer. To me, it is only he that can save Kaezar, should he wish it to be so."
You act: Jurion lifts his hand and lets it fall.
You ask, "And if he doesn't?"
You ask, "If he aids your foes for reasons you cannot understand?"
Xelian says, "And I pray so hard, Jurion. Nearly every moment there is a part of my mind reaching out, praying he wishes it to be so."
Xelian clenches her brandy snifter.
Xelian says, "Then we all will suffer and perhaps die."
Xelian says, "But it will not change my faith."
Xelian closes her eyes briefly.
You lean back while sitting on the large easy chair.
You act: Jurion turns his ring around his finger.
You sigh.
You say, "When I heard... about what happened to Merow."
Xelian says, "I am still shaken by it all."
You say, "I thought seriously of going over to the orcs, Xelian."
Crackling loudly, a log pops suddenly in the fireplace.
Xelian gazes steadily at you.
Xelian nods.
You say, "There was a time when I would have put my head on the block rather than say that. Rather than think it."
Xelian says, "I am not shocked to hear it. I have heard the disenchantment in your voice when ye speak of the kingdom."
Xelian smiles.
You smile bleakly.
Xelian asks, "What was it about Merow's turning, and his death, that affected ye so?"
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "It was only because I know that Merow lost everything when he made that choice, and from what Raeh told me, he shared my thoughts on the kingdom, at the end."
Xelian nods.
Xelian stares at her brandy snifter.
You say, "So that is why I'm speaking to you of this."
Xelian says, "He meant to save us all, at first. I believe it with all my heart."
Xelian says, "And that something went so wrong. His disillusionment. Maybe more."
Xelian grimaces.
Xelian shakes her head.
Xelian says, "Before the end, he said the threat was grave, but it was not Talone."
Xelian rolls her brandy snifter in her hands.
Xelian says, "And now there are rumors of another force."
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian says, "We must talk at greater length of these things."
You get a flimsy hide-bound book from a small table.
Xelian says, "But for now I fear I am about to nod off, drown in my snifter."
You smile gently at Xelian.
Xelian asks, "I'd best get upstairs before he stirs. Who needs to hear the grumblin', eh?"
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "Tease him about his rapier tomorrow."
You chuckle.
Xelian says, "I hope I helped ye."
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian asks, "His rapier?"
Xelian gazes upwards to the heavens.
Xelian says, "I can hardly wait to hear this one."
Xelian chuckles.
You say, "You have, and I'm sure he'll tell you a fine story about it."
You grin at Xelian.
Xelian nods.
You say, "It ought to be worth the 'Eh...?'"
Xelian laughs.
Xelian touches Jurion's arm.
You act: Jurion pats Xelian's hand.
Xelian says, "I have missed those nightcaps, and the lively conversation at the Dwarf."
You say, "And Fiamma winking at us."
Xelian chuckles.
Xelian says, "Somethin' about that wink I do not like."
You say, "Likely that it's directed at your husband."
You raise an eyebrow.
Xelian ponders the situation.
The air shimmers for a moment.
Xelian says, "That is probably it."
Xelian laughs.
You chuckle.
You say, "Good night, Xelian."
Xelian stands up.
You say, "You'd best hurry before they come find you."
You grin at Xelian.
Xelian says, "I wanted..."
Xelian hesitates.
Xelian sways from side to side.
Xelian says, "Jurion..."
You ask, "What's the matter?"
Xelian asks, "Could I see the writ for a moment?"
Xelian gazes at some glass doors.
You open a sleek black leather scroll pouch.
You get an ivory linen parchment from a sleek black leather scroll pouch.
Xelian asks, "What bleedin' dolt is lookin' for me at this hour?"
You offer your ivory linen parchment to Xelian.
Xelian accepts your offer.
Xelian unrolls her ivory linen parchment.
Xelian says, "More and more, I think this is what they were after."
Xelian waves her ivory linen parchment around.
You ask, "The orcs?"
Xelian rolls up her ivory linen parchment.
Xelian nods.
Xelian says, "At this point, aye, the orcs."
A pair of glass doors open, and Tarshin steps into the room.
Xelian offers her ivory linen parchment to you.
You accept Xelian's offer.
You put an ivory linen parchment in your sleek black leather scroll pouch.
You close a sleek black leather scroll pouch.
Tarshin smiles at Xelian.
You nod to Tarshin politely.
You stand up.
Xelian smiles at Tarshin.
You walk over to Xelian.
You kiss Xelian's hand.
Tarshin says, "Go looking for a priest."
You say, "And with that, I bid you good even, Xelian."
Xelian says, "Good night."
Xelian smiles.
You say, "You know what they say about priests and handsome young men."
You wink at Xelian.