Stephanos' Apartment(#628RAJMU$) As you enter the apartment, you find yourself in a decent sized room, part living room, part dining area. In the living room section, there is a black leather sofa, which is quite large, and very accommodating. Across from that is a small wall unit, housing a 25" television, and a brand new VCR and stereo system. In front of the sofa is a glass coffee table, which, if it were to be moved, would create a perfect spot for a blanket where two people could sit in front of the fireplace, which rests inset into the wall. Hung upon the walls of the apartment are various pieces of art, all of fine quality, and of varying styles. The dining area consists of a small, round table, with four chairs around it, and is separated from the kitchen by a countertop. The cupboards hang above the counter, with a two foot gap between them, allowing an easy view into the spacious main room. The hallway, which leads to the two bedrooms, and the bathroom, is fairly small, yet not cramped, lit by a small fixture in the ceiling. The master bedroom is large, as would be expected, and has a queen-size bed in it, as well as a small walk-in closet. The bed is made neatly with sheets boasting a floral pattern, and has two pillows on either side of it. In addition, there is a modest dresser, complete with mirror sitting off to one side of the room. Finishing off the apartment are the second bedroom, and the bathroom. The bedroom appears to be unused for sleeping, as it is filled with a few boxes, as well as loose odds and ends. There is, however, just enough room for a small desk, which has a docking station adorning it. The bathroom completes the apartment, spotless, but rather boring. <> Contents: Stephanos Obvious exits: Front Door Stephanos The blue of his eyes seems to have regained most of the joy and wonder that they once held. His hair is tied back into a pony tail, which falls gently over his broad shoulders. His entire body seems as though it were built exactly as it should be, his height a little over six feet, and his weight somewhere in the range of two hundred pounds. The resigned, and somewhat normal clothes he wears do surprisingly little to compliment his toned muscles and light tan, merely covering what need be covered. He wears a pair of black jeans, and a billowing blue silk shirt, a few steps toward teal, but not quite there. His steps fall with silent strength, each one graceful as the next. He smiles now more often than not, showing signs that whatever sadness he had been experiencing has passed, at least outwardly. Another change you may note is the presence of a goatee on his face, cut neatly, with the rest of his skin clean-shaven. This serves to give him a quiet dignity, looking almost noble, if not aged past his years, numbering no more than thirty. Carter(#2619P>#cf$) This is a tall man, over six feet tall, with a wiry, vigorous build, and a high-cheekboned, thin face. His hair is dark brown, almost black, parrted in the middle and hanging loosely down across his ears. He is dressed with shabby respectability, like someone formerly rich or just academic: a black single-breasted suit coat woven through with grey threads, a smooth grey shirt with a half-knotted maroon and dark blue patterned tie pulled down from his loose collar, wrinkled grey pants and comfortable-looking black loafers. A pair of glasses, horn-and-wire-rimmed, peek out curiously from his coat pocket, like a small, hidden badge. His voice is a thrilling low energetic sound, with the slightest tinge of upper-class Southern to the accent, and seems to part the air before it and close the air behind it on its way to your ears and your ears alone. His eyes are a greenish-brown, of a remarkable clarity, depth and directness. The overall impression is that of a man formidably attractive and compelling. Stephanos seems somehow Glamourous... -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Under the light of the Dreaming, the man before you loses some of his stature, shortening by a few inches. However, what he lacks in height is more than made up for by the noble air of this creature. Two large, majestic horns sprout from his forehead, sweeping back over his head. Their length nearly reaches eight inches, complimenting his light brown hair, which is loose and flowing, causing it to fall gently over his shoulders. Two sky blue eyes allow a slight glimpse into his soul, which almost seem to blaze, vibrant, and full of life. The color itself lends to a slight awe if one is to gaze closely upon them. His legs, strong as a mortal, become stronger still as a Satyr, the musculature apparant, even beneath the covering fur, which appears soft and glossy. His legs end in well kept hooves, each step purposeful, and ending with a light click while on a hard surface. Those with some Kenning and who are close to Stephanos will notice that there seems to be more Glamour about him as of late, showing that this Grump is nowhere near letting up. Additionally, etched into his right horn, and filled with chimerical metals, i s the blazon of House Fiona, signifying his membership. There is an air about him now, dignified somehow, as if he's found himself in a world of illusions. His voile is quite similar to his mortal seeming, save for his pants, which allow for easier movement on his goat legs. On the scabbard is the feather of a swan, a brilliant white in color. (+view Stephanos/chimsword). On the ring finger of his left hand is a beautiful ring, formed from bands of red and white gold. Noticably missing from his neck is the necklace bearing the twin of the ring he wears on his hand. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- (Carter extends his hand, in it a letter marked with the Ducal seal and sealed with some kind of cantrip.) You say "I'm supposed to bring this to you." Stephanos pushes the door closed quietly, then arches a brow. "Interesting.." he says quietly, taking the envelope from Carter. Carter watches the setting sun meander down behind the skyline as Stephanos reads. "I don't know exactly what it says, but I think you're meant to be our escort." Stephanos doesn't open the envelope just yet. He glances up to Carter. "Any idea what this is?" Carter shakes his head. "Instructions of some kind, I imagine." he drawls. "A charge, something of that kind. Epoch and I are to be allowed to go and do our best - I think it'll probably say that you're to be the escort." Stephanos grins a bit, and opens the envelope. "Let's find out, shall we?" Carter nods. "Just like Christmas. Look what I got, mom, it's a scientist." he says drily, with a little half-grin. Stephanos withdraws the paper inside, unfolding it carefully, and reading it. Once done, he nods. "That's exactly what it is. His Grace wants me to release Epoch from the cell, and take him to swear a questing Oath." You say "May I see it?" Stephanos nods, handing Carter the paper. ============================================================================== Message: 31/31 in folder main Received: Wed Oct 14 18:32:47 1998 From: Stephanos To: Carter Subject: Fwd: IC Letter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Received from: Brandon You would not receive this letter until it is given to you by Carter. To Stephanos from his Grace the Duke of Caer York You are to escort Dr. Epoch and Carter Davis on their quest to restore Lia O'Shea to her former shining self. You are to release Epoch from his cell and bring him before me for a Questing Oath. Duke Cornelius Brightforge ============================================================================== Stephanos gestures towards the kitchen. "Can I get you anything?" Carter reads it briefly, then hands it back. "Excellent. I want to begin as soon as we can. According to Epoch, Lia's condition can only get worse." Carter nods. "I could use some water. It's still pretty warm out there." Stephanos moves towards the kitchen, speaking over his shoulder. "Take a seat if you want. As far as starting, I wanted to do it three days ago. I've been going stir crazy from not being able to do anything." Carter takes a seat as advised. "Me too." he drawls. "I've got a fairly good idea of where we're going and what the landmarks are by now...but there's only so much you can do without getting out there and seeing it." Stephanos grabs a glass, and fills it with water, and adding a couple ice cubes. He walks to the living room, sitting on the sofa after handing the glass to Carter. "It's in the real world, I assume?" Carter takes it. "No." he says. "Not really. But you can steer by the real world. Real ideas, if not real places." He sips his water. "Her freehold is about the dreams of the wide open spaces, of untouched wilderness. So it's not much of a stretch to say we'll be heading west, with a capital 'w', and probably without." Stephanos nods. "What I meant by real world is that it isn't a pocket of the Dreaming or anything like that? I mean, if we need to use a trod or anything, I can help out with that." Carter nods slightly. "I have...well, it's not a trod in the usual sense. I have a method laid out...the bulk of the journey will be across the Near Draeming, yes." He pauses. "Your standard trod attached to your standard freehold would put us in Europe at around 1215, which is about 10,000 miles and 650 years away from where we want to be. We could probably get there, but. Well, as I say, she's getting worse. So it's worth a shot at the shortcut." Stephanos shakes his head. "We won't get lost, if I have any say in the matter. I can keep us on the Silver Path." Carter nods. "I'm not exactly sure what that is. As I say, I have some landmarks set up, from how to get from the idea of New York to the idea where her freehold is, and so many people have travelled it that I can't imagine there not being a path. Is that what you mean?" Stephanos shakes his head again, shifting into a more comfortable position. "Nope. I meant that when we're going along a trod, if you stray off where you're supposed to be, it can get really, really messy." You say "Oh. Well, I don't think that will be -too- much of a problem. If you really want a good outline of the ideological landscape of a country, you can't do a lot better than a historian. We take wrong turns from time to time, but we get there, and we usually know where we are. All we need to do is get sufficiently close, and then Epoch can find exactly where the freehold is, with his devices. Oh, yes, we'll have to go to Lia's place before we leave so that he can take a proper reading there." Stephanos nods, raking a hand through his hair. "Alright.. I guess I'll get Epoch out tonight, and we'll leave tomorrow?" Carter grins. "Excellent. I'll get everything ready on my end. Call me when you're ready to go down, I'm to be oathed, too." Stephanos arches a brow. "And no mention of me doing it...." Carter smiles gently. "You aren't 'strange'." he says, and you can definitely hear the quotation marks. "And you're oathed to someone who's oathed to him." he adds. "He can just tell you to do it. Us...well...what was it More said? 'The oath means what the words say.'" Stephanos shakes his head. "No I'm not... not yet, anyway." Stephanos says "I was supposed to Oath to Lia on Sunday, but since this happened, I've only got one Oath on me right now." Carter nods. "Ah, to Felicity? Well...perhaps you're just more...please don't take this the wrong way...conventional? No, trustworthy." he drawls. "Perhaps he feels he knows you better than I and Epoch." Stephanos smirks slightly. "Not to Felicity. I haven't known her long enough to even consider Oathing to her." he shrugs. "That's most likely it. He probably sees you as being a risk, because you're friends with Epoch. At any rate, you know I'd have been coming whether he asked me to or not." Carter nods. "Absolutely." he says with a smile. "I guessed wrong on your oath - who is it, then?" Stephanos smiles a little. "A friend... I don't really want to go into it, if that's ok." Carter nods. "That's all right. I was just curious. Well...I should really get going. Call me when you're ready to head over, all right?" Stephanos says "Sure. I definately can't leave until tomorrow, though... I'll need to tell a few people that I'll be gone." Carter nods. "I have some arrangements to make, too. I told Lia I was going to China to work on my book. I'll see you around, then." He goes to the door and pauses there. "Thanks." he says. "This means a lot to me, as you might guess." Stephanos rises with Carter, and leans on the wall by the door. He nods. "So does Lia. I know. Don't worry about thanking me, Carter." he grins slightly. "Especially not since I'm so damn jealous." he teases. Carter grins a little. "You're no more jealous than you should be." he drawls, perhaps cryptically. "See you tonight."