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Noblesse Oblige [Znt/SI]

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Why is he adding Halkegenian religious prayers into his spell incantations? He obviously doesn't believe in them and those incantations are suppose to be what makes sense to you the most.
 
So I'm guessing that Shade is only a dot mage at most given the way he's framing his magical studies. Which is a little weird given his new lineage.
 
shadenight123 said:
The Earl de Burgundy managed a neighboring fief and a marriage with him would have simply added his lands to ours, since Eleonore was the one with the highest title. Count Burgundy had been quite agreeable to it, but I knew how that was going to end, and I pitied the poor teenager.
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If that marriage was being set up now it ends with a relationship that lasted over a decade... Not a terrible result imo.
 
I really only have one thing to say.

Dueling with a rapier was never about learning to fight. It was essentially a sport. A pass time if you will. If Karin wanted him to learn to fight, he would be learning "martial arts" that were rather brutal and violent and which used all kind of weapons like swords, spears, bow, etc. Kinda like Krav Maga in that you want to maim or kill your opponent before he can do the same to you.
 
Archanist said:
I really only have one thing to say.

Dueling with a rapier was never about learning to fight. It was essentially a sport. A pass time if you will. If Karin wanted him to learn to fight, he would be learning "martial arts" that were rather brutal and violent and which used all kind of weapons like swords, spears, bow, etc. Kinda like Krav Maga in that you want to maim or kill your opponent before he can do the same to you.
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Irrelevant as using a rapier lets him shoot elemental fury at his opponents from a distance. Grappling in close quarters is the worst case scenario for a noble in this setting, as it prevents them from casting properly.
 
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Chapter Fourteen
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    • Chapter Fourteen

    In modern times, men wore suits and women wore various, different dresses. A single suit could fit a hundred men, but a hundred dress would be required for a single woman. In these times, these trying, hardship-filled, times of barbaric influence, men wore more than one suit. Mine just so happened to be filled with so many frills and silk and embroideries that not only could I barely move without the desire to scratch myself, but I was starting to think that perhaps torture would be a far more befitting way to spend my time rather than wait for the signal to begin descending the stairs.

    Cattleya was standing with a beaming smile linked to my arm, and she was wearing a beautiful white gown with white embroideries. She had white silk gloves, and satin shoes of the same color. Her long pink-hair fell in curls around her face, and as she held on, I kept my gaze pointedly on her skin's complexion. If I saw the slightest strain or bead of sweat-then I would have her politely retire. Even if I had to drag her out in the most uncouth fashion, of course.

    As a servant made his way towards us, properly dressed in the formal attire that servants wore for the occasion, I took the first step with Cattleya by my side. The stairs had to be descended slowly, but with purpose. Even though there was no one watching us, it was a matter of giving the proper timing to the announcers on the other side of the room, and also allowed us to hear at what point they were with the boring and trite presentations.

    "I'm nervous, Henry," Cattleya whispered. "What if they don't like me?"

    I smiled gently, "Please," I replied in a hushed tone. "There's no way they won't. I'll have to fend them off with a stick to give you some breathing space, just you wait and see." I grinned. "Everyone's gaze will be on you, sister. Come on now," I gestured towards the doors as the presentations finished, and two servants opened the doors to allow us entrance.

    There was polite clapping from everyone in the large hall as we stepped inside, Cattleya's cheeks red with embarrassment at the vast amount of people. She didn't stumble as I carefully let go of her arm to allow her to curtsy, and quickly linked arms back after her solo act of curtsying was done. There was more polite clapping even as I began to escort her towards the most important nobles first, and then moving down to the least important ones.

    Cattleya didn't look to be pushing herself, so we finished the rounds and then opened the dance as the orchestra hired purposefully for the occasion began to play. It was a pretty way to show Cattleya's skills on the dance floor, and while it was no disco music, or hard rock, it had its rules that had been painstakingly drilled into my head so that I would never forget them. As the dance came to an end, there was more polite clapping and then, the tide broke loose.

    Father took over for me swiftly, since while it was true I should be the one doing the presentations, I knew the children and not the seniors, and it was considered appropriate for the father to take over.

    "You look tense, Valliere," Wardes remarked as I kept my eyes on Cattleya's frame. "Keeping your eyes on your sister in case someone comes to steal her away?"

    I smiled softly. "Not really, Wardes," I replied, glancing in his direction and then nodding as I acknowledged Gramont number three. "Gramont," I added with a smile, "she is of frail health, so I am considerably worried."

    Gramont number three was just about to say something about himself being in poor health, but an older looking girl came towards him near-instantaneously, and he swiftly began to half-close his eyes and bring a hand to his forehead. I sighed and rolled my eyes. Case in point, he left the room with the slightly older girl. "His fiancé?" I hazarded. Gramont couldn't be older than myself. There was no doubt he was merely bringing her somewhere private to speak of sweet nothings to her ears, but then again, the boy was a Gramont, and apparently the first-born was famous for having taken off the pants of all of his nannies.

    That was clearly a hyperbolic exaggeration on the part of those who said that sort of thing. He couldn't be that pretty, could he? He wasn't even present at the ball, so I wouldn't judge him until I met him.

    "I do not know," Wardes said. "And I don't think it would be polite to ask." He coughed in the closed palm of his hand. "Mister Valliere," he said, "I have something I wish to ask of you."

    "Of me?" I remarked with my eyebrows both raised. "Do ask, Mister Wardes, do ask," I answered in tone.

    "May I have your blessing to write correspondence to thy sister?" Wardes asked.

    I blinked. "Thee ask me, Lord Wardes? Why not my parents?"

    "I have a feeling you would be harder to convince than them," Wardes pointed out with a small smile on his face.

    "You may," I said with a warm smile. "Of course you may," I continued. "Though break her heart, and I will shatter your spine," I added in a whisper.

    "That...that would be terribly improper, but I have the feeling you would, wouldn't you, Valliere?" Wardes said rhetorically, but I answered with a small nod of my head.

    "Who knows," I said with a whimsical smile. "I won't implicate myself." I chuckled. "So, in your latest letter you wrote saying you had found something interesting?"

    As it turned out, there were only a few proper arguments one could have with other nobles. Since correspondence was checked by the parents, especially if written by their respective sons -it wouldn't do to cause a scandal that could be actually proven with proof- while Wardes was freer to answer as he wished, I wasn't. Thus, most of the topics we exchanged letters over were of the nature of Brimir's gift, and the weather.

    Writing about magic also had its limits. Apparently one could get accused of heresy depending on what he wrote, or what was discovered. Using magic to light up a chimney? It was fine. Seeking out a chant whose purpose was specifically that of lighting up a chimney? Was it a Noble's chimney? Was it for the Noble's delight? Fine. Seeking out a chant to clean up the sewers? No! Preposterous! Heretical! Death to this heresy you foolish moron! Magic was a gift from the Founder, and as such was holy! Would you use the Bible as toilet paper? No! Would you use it to build castles? Were they holy castles?

    "I found a copy of The Military Treaties of Halkeginia in the latest century, written by Lord Robert of Westphalia-"

    "You did?" I mumbled. "It's so unfair that you're close to the capital and can just hop on a horse and be there in hours-" I nearly whined. Nearly, because I did not wish to die at the hand of mother and father.

    Truth be told, speaking about books and common pastimes was the ideal topic of conversation for Lords too young to do other things worthier of narration.

    Half an hour later, and my eyes -that had never left my sister's motions- saw her begin to sweat.

    Thus, I gallantly went to her rescue.

    Once the threat of my immediate punishment by the hands of the Heavy Wind was averted due to me successfully extracting the package from the ballroom and into the hands of the physician who was glad it was just a mild fever, I returned to the party that proceeded without further hiccups until its natural end -though my mother absented herself for just a brief moment, perhaps to check on Cattleya, perhaps to decide on what punishment I would suffer all the same due to letting Cattleya get a tiny sliver of fever.

    Wardes, being the good sport that he was, held on to a plate of food for me when I came back.

    Did I mention how much I was starting to like young-Wardes?

    Because I really did like him. He had been tempered by despair at a young age, and had emerged strong, and with a definite charm to him that made it obvious he could actually fish his wife a bit further than what would normally be allowed by his status. He wasn't a whiny kid who went on a woe to me speech every two seconds -if I had to hear once more Count De la Tour D'Auvergne's son remark on how his clothes itched, I would probably tell Eleonore he needed etiquette lessons.

    Also, Wardes held on to food for me.

    If that is not the definition of true friendship, then I do not know what it is.
     
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    • With how your friendship is progressing with young Wardes, I'm fairly sure you'll need a place of your own in the future. Especially if you're about to change the status quo of the world.

    Might even say... you'll need to create something out of the borders of heaven.
     
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