Land By the Lake (Open)

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi followed along behind Robin thinking of the potions master: Mendel. So her uncle was known to him and had been known to him for many years. In fact, Kerodi randomly brought him odd herbs and samplings from plants in far-off reaches of Valear. It was surprising to learn that Mendel was this girl's uncle, but it was unsurprising too, especially the way Mendel was about things.

Kerodi followed Robin down between the buildings and smiled as she yelled for Mrs. Hammond. He was somewhat surprised when Robin steered him away from the elderly lady, but was glad to know why after the fact. It was probably much easier for everyone if she didn't have an audience to make her spectacle last longer.

The breeze off the lake wafted through town and nudged Kerodi's hair, causing him to brush it back. It was nice not worrying about anything or studying. He didn't live life enough sometimes. His few friends told him that often enough, but he was a creature of habit by now.

"I do know your uncle," Kerodi said, picking up the conversation as they made their way back through the streets of the village. "I met him years ago when I was a young teen and he was out searching for a certain root for his potions. He had found some, but not enough and I happened upon him. He wasn't much for talking, but I got his story out of him. I helped him find some of the root and that helped to make us colleagues of a sort." Kerodi smiled at that characterization.

"I come by from time to time to see him. I am surprised that I have never seen or heard of you before. I am even more surprised that you have never seen or heard of me. I wonder why your uncle has never mentioned either of us?" Kerodi glanced at her curiously, but shrugged and they continued walking.

A few moments later, Kerodi answered her earlier questions. "I don't have to change my plans because I make my own agenda. I have things I enjoy doing and research is one of them, but I need to experience life more too. You can't live with the people of the past...all the time." He smiled enigmatically.

"I don't have a cause. I have always loved to know things. It's been said that knowledge is a conduit to power. I don't crave power, but I can see how it is useful. You have knowledge of some things and places and that gives you a special sort of power to go there and coexist. I like the thought of that. There are still dangers where I go, but I have learned enough to keep me safe. Learning can do that for a person and I delight in it."

He walked for a few more silent moments and then said, "I have loved learning since I was a child, although I did it less then. I started learning more after my family was killed by marauding orcs. I wanted to learn about the orcs and why they acted the way they did. I started asking everyone questions and traveled as much as I could to ask new people new questions. Over time, I began to love learning about all people, places, and things and it became my lifestyle. There are a few others like me in Valear and they have their own stories I am sure, but that is what it is like for me."

He turned to her and smiled awkwardly. "I'm sorry. I'm sure that was quite boring. I am not used to talking so much. I usually ask questions and listen to the answers." He chuckled at himself.

"What about you? Why do you help your uncle make potions? Are you planning on becoming a potions master too? If there were no limits, what would you do with your life? Would it be exciting?"

[ParisArkw]

"Oh, you do know my uncle!?" She exclaimed in both shock and excitement. She grinned to herself when Kerodi described him as 'not much for talking'.

"I do not find it strange that my uncle has not mentioned either of us," she said, shaking her head a little. They were passing several shops with signs hanging out over them as they continued their way down the street. "But it is curious that we have not seen each other. Almost always, my uncle would prefer to have me talk to people than to have to talk to people himself. No offense, but I'm impressed that he takes the time to see you at all. He must like you," she said wonderingly, glancing up at the blue sky that the hot sun was beaming down from. "Though it makes sense, too, that he would talk to you if you help him with his ingredient supply…" she added idly.

The street started to become slightly more crowded as they made their way passed the shops, and after several minutes, they were at another small inn.

"Please, you should stay here," she said to Kerodi once they'd entered the main doorway. "I'll just be a minute," she smiled and turned to walk down the hallway that was straight ahead. She made it to the 8th room, and knocked somewhat gently, a quiet expression coming onto her face. The door opened quickly within moments, a young man and woman standing on the other side.

"Hello, Mrs. Gale, Mr. Gale," Robin nodded at them in turn. They looked at her eagerly, waiting. Robin pulled another glass bottle from her basket; this one was a bit larger than the last delivery. Rarely did she have potions in such large quantity. With the bottle was a piece of paper. "The directions are there. But if you give just a sip to your son, four times a day, until the elixir is gone, he will be okay!" Mr. Gale took the bottle gently, and the couple looked at it gratefully.

"Please, I cannot stress it enough, you should stay here until your son is better. If it gets cold at night during any travels, the potion could expire. If the juice gets darker, you will know it has gone bad."

They both thanked her graciously, Robin nodded kindly, and turned back down the hall to return to Kerodi.

"Okay," she smiled at Kerodi, letting the couple slip from her mind as she walked to exit from the inn. She could sympathize with people well, but in delivering potions, she met only too many people that were less than happy, were anxious and worried, needed change or help of some sort. She had learned to forget the people when she left them.

"To the farm!" she cheered.

As they continued down the street towards the edge of the city, Robin pulled at the rag on her head, allowing her hair to expand to its full size. She stuffed the rag into her belt.

"Why do I help my uncle make potions," she repeated thoughtfully. "Oh, ever since I was a kid, his potions fascinated me! I always wanted to be a part of it, to know more. I think that what he does for people is a wonderful kindness. I would love to become a potions master, as well. It is my goal. If there were no limits, I would merely want to brew the elixirs that my uncle does." She wondered what Kerodi would think of this. Being quite the adventurer, perhaps the lifestyle sounded too docile. "To me, that would be very exciting. I would continue to travel to collect ingredients. And perhaps travel to different villages to seek out customers who may not hear of me otherwise. And I do love the idea of discovering more potions, trying to make potions of different sorts. Though my uncle warns me of how dangerous that is, and he has hardly ever designed a new potion, himself."

As they reached the outer edge of the city, the street they were on had turned to dirt, and the buildings were more spread apart. Before long, they would be passing the grassy fields occupied by horses and cattle. Then they would see the lavender fields that led to the farm.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi watched Robin bounce happily along, noting the slender curve of her frame. She was a lovely girl and it was nice having someone to talk to. It had been several months since he had spoken to anyone but himself and he was glad for the companionship. Artifacts do not talk very much, he thought ruefully.

"I think it's great that you would love to make potions and invent some," Kerodi said, smiling at her. "We could be colleagues like your uncle and I are." He stared off into space for a moment, thinking about possibly being together with her in a more committed manner, but let it pass him by.

"We could even travel together, seeing the sights and finding new information on potions and peoples. You could definitely sell more if you traveled more. If you are anywhere near the talent of your uncle...," he trailed off meaningfully.

They walked in silence and Kerodi began to picture a future where the two of them traveled together, each gaining in their disciplines. It was tantalizing...

[ParisArkw]

"Oh," Robin sighed wistfully. "I know a bit about potion-making, but not enough to be able to make potions on my own, yet. I could probably figure it out. My uncle is strangely secretive with his potions. I think that he feels secure in knowing that if his recipes belong to only him, then no bad could come of them. He is very nervous about people manipulating their use." She was looking ahead, towards the purple field that they were nearing.

"I know that it is foolish of me. But I am intrigued by the potions that he refuses to make. Potions that make dreams come true, and give people abilities that are not natural to humans. Of all the potions that have seemed questionable to him, he has destroyed the directions." Robin sounded calm, at peace even, but she felt horrible as she said this. She knew that bad things could come of such potions only too easily. It was practically asking for trouble.

"I've never told him about this, but he knows me well. He may not want to show me how to make potions. Of course, I would never risk giving such a significant potion to somebody that I did not know well. I would never want to do something that could hurt anyone in anyway. But the temptation is there. 'What if I gave this person what they want?' It would be hard not to give someone something so amazing, something that they thought would make them happy."

If her uncle knew her perspective, he would have sat her down to make her promise to never ever consider such things. And she may have wanted to make that promise, even to herself, but it was a promise she was not absolutely certain she could keep. She looked at Kerodi and gave him a smile that was somewhat melancholy. "I've never shared that with anyone before."

As they made it into the countryside, the soft scent of lavender was carried to them on a refreshing breeze.

"Here we are," Robin said when they got to the farm. "My uncle should be about done for the day now, too!"

[HoudiniDerek]

The farm was much as Kerodi remembered it, except for the young lady by his side. He was still confused as to why the potions master had never told him of her before and how he had missed seeing her. Granted, he had never been in the house or lab, but he figured that he would have been able to detect some sign.

"Nothing changes much I see," Kerodi said, smiling. He looked around and realized that he wished he had a place like this to come back to after journeys. It was small and quaint with a nice view. Plus, the town was an easy trip. Just thinking about his trip back to his home in the Ularian Ridge made him weary. He was not as young as he used to be and the trip was more tiring all the time.

A figure appeared from behind the house and Kerodi indicated it. "I think your uncle is here to greet us," he said.

[ParisArkw]

Robin smiled at Kerodi. The farm was just the same as it ever was. She looked over at what Kerodi said next, and her smile grew when she saw her uncle.

"Uncle Manni!" she called, her nickname for her uncle Mendel. She waved her arm in a gesture of greeting. Mendel approached them, a sort of confused expression on his face. Robin had never returned with another person before. But as he got a closer, a look of recognition highlighted his eyes.

"Ah, Kerodi," he said gruffly, nodding with furrowed brows. He seemed nonplussed, either as though he wasn't sure who Kerodi was, or as though very confused as to why he was there. The fact that he was giving Kerodi a greeting that was not dismissive was about as friendly as he got. He was so used to treating people somewhat carelessly, he had not prepared himself to socialize kindly. He continued nodding to himself, and he appeared to be thinking hard. Then, after a few seconds, it seemed to click to him who Kerodi was. "Yes, yes, Kerodi," he said somewhat more lightly as he used a rag to wipe his sooted hands. "It's not that time of year is it?" Mendel asked. He spent so much time working, the time of year often got away from him. "No. No, it's not, what brings you here?"

He glanced at Robin then, and looked back at Kerodi. "I see you've met my Robin, my potion deliverer!"

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi nodded to Mendel and smiled. "I have met your lovely potion delivery lady. Had I known that you had such an enchanting person to deliver potions, I would have started requesting delivery a long time ago."

"How are you doing, Mendel? Do you have any thoughts of what you might need in the coming year? I will be headed back to the Ularian again soon and might not be back for a time." He paused a little as he said this and glanced over at Robin...

[ParisArkw]

Mendel nodded, looking at Kerodi observantly. Robin had a soft expression, and gave Kerodi a small smile at his flattery.

"Well, yes, there are some things that I will be needing in the coming months as usual," Mendel said in his low, frank voice of expression. "Nothing too urgently, but some difficult to acquire. Some more of the merusc mud. And eh...fruit from the lotus tree. Foam from the west most beach of the Purus Springs... I believe that is all for now." He nodded.

"Oh," Robin added. "We are getting to the ends of our stock of the butterflies that feed off of those...those flowers, what're they called?" She looked at Kerodi, raising an eyebrow.

Off in the distance, there was someone approaching the farm.

[HoudiniDerek]

"The flowers that I bring are called 'Utalis' flowers," said Kerodi, looking at Robin. "They are an odd flower that only grow in the Ularian Ridge. I have no idea why butterflies like them, but they do." Kerodi shrugged, grinning.

Mendel grunted something under his breath and Kerodi turned back to him. "I can have the rest of the stuff to you next spring. The mud won't be ripe until then and it's better after a winter to freeze. I will bring the rest of the stuff when I can."

Kerodi was about to ask a question to Mendel about his order when the man's brow furrowed. Cautious, Kerodi stretched, turning in such a way to see what was behind him. Still a ways off, but approaching steadily, was a figure. Kerodi squinted but could not see the person better.

"Expecting company, my friend?" Kerodi asked.

[ParisArkw]

"That is right! The Utalis flowers. The difficult thing about the butterflies is that they're supposed to be dead when we collect them. And you tend to find them in the Ularian?" Robin inquired curiously.

Robin turned when Kerodi turned, and looked off at the person down the road. She turned to her uncle, wondering if he was expecting company.

"Hm, no, not today. But we get the occasional traveler, and the occasional . Passing by," Mendel said, squinting his eyes against the late evening sun. But as the person approached, it seemed they were coming in the direction of the farm.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi backed up, coming even with Mendel. "Old friend, I don't think anyone has followed me here, but if they have, I will do what I can to give you and Robin time to get away." Kerodi dug deep within and managed to gather some of his magic to his fingertips. He put his hands inside his robe pocket, waiting.

The figure stopped, still enough in shadow from the hood that it was wearing. The figure did not move, salute, or do anything except stand. Finally, Mendel had enough and called out.

"Hello, stranger! What brings you here?"