Old Habits Die Hard Part Two, An old dog learns new tricks Options

[SubRosa]

It seems Julian cannot avoid rescuing every cat caught in a tree! It really is good to see this part of her nature shining through in these last few chapters though. Once again, here is ample evidence of her need to be a part of something larger, and make a contribution to the communities in which she is a part of. An ordinary life would never be enough for her.

It is too bad that Bravil does not have a city guard to deal with things like monsters that attack the city from other dimensions, or criminals who prey upon its citizens. But then there would be nothing for the player to do in the game after all. Seriously though, this is one of the problems we writers face in doing fan fics. Why is the Bravil Guard just sitting around with their thumbs up their English ships while their city falls apart around them? I guess they are too busy rousting drunks and addicts. In the TF I am tackling it by making the Guard underpaid and understaffed because the Count spends all his money on his wine and his son's skooma rather than on soldiers. The guards they do have are mostly corrupt, and on the payroll of people like Kurdan. So there literally is no justice for people like the Loche's.

Julian's flashback to her past experience with Viera Lerus and Frederick was wonderful! Well, maybe that is not quite the word, but you know what I mean. It really brings home Julian's past plight perfectly there (wonder if I can work another alliteration in there?).


“I do miss him so,” she murmured. Now she frowned again. “And when he gets back, I’m going to kill him for making me worry so!”
I love this! It is so realistic.

I liked how you did Daenlin's introduction, and your variation on his classic "perfect arrow" soliloquy!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jul 26 2010, 12:20 AM

[Acadian]

Lots to like here! Just the feeling of being in the City of Mara is wonderful and I thank you for not rushing Julian. I love this description from your comments: 'this darling disreputable town.'

A new quest! And a great one at that. What struck me here was how you handled dialogue:

As Ursanne sat down, she nodded. “It all started when Aleron became foolish and began gambling. He’d visit the Arena every week, and spend our hard-earned money on bets.” Her arched brows drew down in wifely anger. “I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen. He was certain he could win us a fortune and move us somewhere nicer, like the Imperial City.” She took a shaky breath, looking down at her hands twisting around each other in her lap. “It didn’t take long for Aleron to start losing. He resorted to borrowing money from an usurer to cover his losses and place new bets.” Now she met my gaze again. “As you can imagine, it didn’t pay off. He ended up owing around five hundred gold. We could never have that kind of money to pay back the usurer -” Her voice ended on a sob barely stifled.

Your use of rich, descriptively connective tags made this sing. It was like being there. Magnificent.

Yay! Thanks for including my friend Daenlin. Wonderfully done.

It fully hit me during Julian's encounter with Viera Lerus, the delicious potential you have built into Bravil. The gutter-puking addict turned Daedra-slaying Hero of Kvatch. Oooh! I can't wait to see the fun you provide us with over that as you move forward!

I'm really looking forward to reading Julian's impressions of the Bravil guild.

Did I tell you how happy I am that Julian is in Bravil? Don't forget to feed me in the next chapter or so.

[Olen]

Hmm another town another side quest. I like the background you've put in though, she knew the place from a different angle but is somewhat unfamiliar with the above ground part. It makes a good read.

Why is the Bravil Guard just sitting around with their thumbs up their English ships while their city falls apart around them?

I'd always assumed corruption, or just laziness (or both). I imagine the devs meant that because they hit the feel of it well with the goings on. And I imagine Julian might sort things out anyway...

She did seem very reasonable with the guard who was patiently corrupt, incompetant or just lazy and ignored the crime and the monsters to make snide comments and order Julian for a talk. Especially seeing as Julian 'outranks' her in many ways.

[D.Foxy]

Make Julian take down that beech a notch!

[Destri Melarg]

I am so glad that you decided to include this sidequest. There is no one in the whole of Cyrodiil that draws more of my sympathy than Ursanne Loche.

This chapter finally drove home the perfectly logical fact that of course Julian, as a skooma addict, would have a history with the town of Bravil. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before. The way you present that history through her dialogue with Frederick in the last chapter and the flashback in this chapter is simply excellent writing.

Unfortunately there was a paragraph that got under my skin:

Giving Ursanne a final reassuring smile, I headed out of the Chapel. At the bottom of the steps, I looked around, trying to remember the location of the Mages Guild. I spotted the ramshackle wooden building, one of the tallest in town at three stories, just south of the Chapel, past an overgrown garden. . .

The wording in this paragraph is somewhat awkward and I think you went a little comma crazy. I also think that you need to establish the rain in this paragraph instead of the one that follows it because upon leaving the Chapel it would have been the first thing that Julian noticed if it was falling hard enough that she needed to seek shelter from it:

I gave Ursanne a final reassuring smile and left the Chapel. The skies had opened while I was inside and a heavy rain transformed the dusty streets into mud. At the bottom of the steps I looked around, trying to remember the location of the Mages Guild. I spotted the ramshackle wooden building, one of the tallest in town at three stories, just south of the Chapel past an overgrown garden. . .

[Remko]

I loved the healing scene with Marz. It's true, there's no such thing as an ex-addict.

[haute ecole rider]

@SubRosa: Julian does have a certain fondness for cats! I found the archer’s paradox online (just google it!), and loved it so much I included it here.

@Acadian: Don’t worry, you’ll get fed in this segment! I hate writing monologues - it’s easy to just run on at the mouth so to speak. Using body language at critical junctures helps break it up. Daenlin is actually another of my favorite Bosmers - friendly, cheerful, and not irritating at all.

@Olen: Yes, Julian is not familiar with the good citizens of Bravil, only with the addicts (including young Terentius).

@Foxy: Ah, Julian only has to be Julian with Verus!

@Destri: Thanks for pointing out the awkward paragraph. I’ve taken your suggestion and replaced it. I figured Bravil would be the place where Julian finds skooma, as we’ll learn later.

@Remko: Thanks!

Finally Julian meets a (relatively) sensible mage, and gets some rest.

***************
Chapter 13.1 The Bravil Recommendation

Shifting the pack on my shoulder, I turned around and eyed the Guild chapter house behind me. It looked even more rundown in the rain, but then, so did the rest of Bravil, even the stone Castle. The cool damp air brought out the unique aroma of the canal, a combination of marsh and sewer, of frogs and effluvium, of swamp reeds and mold.

As I limped up the wooden steps, a tall Altmer stepped through the front door and paused under the overhang at the sight of me. “Greetings!” he said courteously. “Carandial. Mage-trained. Scholar by inclination. Student of our Aldmeri ancestors, the Ayleids.”

I looked up at him. “Julian of Anvil, Guild Associate,” I answered. “I’m looking for the chapter head?”

“Oh, Kud-Ei?” Carandial nodded. “She’s inside, drinking her tea.” He reached for the door handle, pulling the panel open for me.

“Thank you, sir,” with a smile, I met his gaze. “And sometime you’ll have to tell me about Ayleid ruins. They scare me.”

“Ah, not so scary once you know them,” Carandial smiled back. “Just let me know when you want to hear about them.” As I stepped inside, I looked back at the friendly Altmer and nodded, before he closed the door after me.

Shaking the rain off of myself, I looked around. A short corridor led me to the common area beyond, and on my right a half wall opened into a dining room. Within sat an Argonian, dressed in a rich green velvet outfit, sipping at a fine porcelain mug. She met my gaze. “How may I help you, ma’am?” she asked softly.

“I’m looking for Kud-Ei?” I asked her. She waved for me to come around the corner into the dining room.

“I am sshe,” she said as I took the chair opposite her. “You look hungry, and tired.”

“That I am,” I responded. “I’m Julian, of Anvil,” I continued. “I just joined the Mages Guild.”

“Julian of Anvil?” Kud-Ei repeated. “Hmm, I sseem to recall that name -”

I squirmed in my seat. “I was here two years ago,” I decided to get it over with. “Under very different circumstances.”

“Ah, yess, I remember you now,” she nodded. “You were in sso much pain, yet you never went to the Chapel healer . . .” She shook her head abruptly. “Not that it would have done you much good, then,” she added dryly. “Etienne had lost hiss Magicka, and was of little usse to mosst of uss.”

“Marz was very helpful, actually,” I responded. “I visited her earlier this afternoon.”

“Yess, after you clossed the Oblivion Gate,” Kud-Ei nodded again. She took a sip of the tea as I stared at her. She returned my gaze calmly, her own eyes twinkling in good humor. “Newss travelss fasst, Associate.”

I found my voice. “Yes, I have forgotten,” I heard the rue in my tone.

Kud-Ei poured tea into her cup from a nearby flagon. Without asking me, she filled a second cup and pushed it across the table to me. “Help yoursself, you musst be hungry,” she urged me. I didn’t need telling twice. As I filled a plate with the delicious food on the table between us, she leaned back, sipping at her refilled cup. “Welcome to the Bravil Magess Guild,” she said as I started eating. She held up her hand when I tried to empty my mouth to respond. “No, keep eating. I talk, you lissten, undersstood?” I nodded, obeying her by taking a bite of roast mutton.

“I take my dutiess as chapter head very sserioussly,” Kud-Ei continued quietly. “Unlike ssome guild magess. It infuriatess me how cassual ssome guild headss are about common civility.” I paused in my chewing to glance askance at her, but Kud-Ei apparently had no intention of elaborating further. She regarded me over the brim of her cup as she sipped again at her tea. “Each local guild hall hass itss own way of doing thingss. That meanss each hall hass itss own sset of problemss."

I swallowed the last bite of food, mildly surprised at how quickly I had finished the plate. I’ll have to tell Jauffre I’m filling up on less food, though. “I’m beginning to notice that,” I commented, taking a sip of the hot tea.

“When did you join the Magess Guild?” Kud-Ei asked me.

“Umm,” I did a quick mental calculation. “About a week ago, ma’am.” I anticipated her next question. “In Bruma, ma’am.” Her scaled face registered a mild distaste.

“I had heard that Jeanne fell for yet another practical joke,” she commented, her gaze steady on mine. “Sshe jusst never learnss.”

I swallowed the tea, wondering just how much Kud-Ei knew of my role in the latest practical joke. “She won’t fall for any more, I don’t think, ma’am,” I said after a moment.

“Hmm, it sseemss the perpetratorss got a dresssing down from a new Associate with a limp.” Kud-Ei’s eyes narrowed as I coughed on tea. “I hope you won’t find that necessary here, Associate with a limp.”

I met the Argonian’s gaze steadily. “After having met you, ma’am,” I responded quietly, “I don’t think it will be necessary.” The teacup empty, I set it down carefully on the table. “And I would like to know how I can obtain your recommendation for the Arcane University.”

“You do, hmm?” Kud-Ei’s brows lifted above her eyes. “Well, I’m afraid I haven’t had time to prepare anything conventional. I’ve been very preoccupied with this ssituation concerning Ardaline.” She regarded me thoughtfully. “Perhapss you can help me with that, however. I can’t be directly involved, for fear of embarrassing the poor girl.” She set her teacup down softly. “I’ll need you to sspeak to Varon Vamori, and perhapss you can learn ssomething about the power of Illussion in the processs.”

“Who is Ardaline, ma’am?” Looking up as a couple of other Mages entered the dining room, I wondered if one of them was the lady in question.

“Sshe is our Alchemisst,” Kud-Ei responded. “Pleasse don’t ssay anything to her.” I looked around again, seeing a tall Altmer woman with blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, wide-set eyes under scowling brows, and a tiny Breton woman with her red hair neatly tucked up into a complexly plaited hairdo. “They are Aryarie,” Kud-Ei indicated the Altmer, “and Delphine Jend. Ladiess, thiss iss our newesst Associate Julian of Anvil.” As the two women greeted me, politely in Aryarie’s case, and warmly in Jend’s case, Kud-Ei nodded at them. “Julian hass come to me for a recommendation.” It was clearly a dismissal.

“Of course,” Jend exclaimed, reaching for a plate and loading it with breads and cheeses. Aryarie echoed her motion, selecting fruits for her own plate. “We’ll just get something to eat and go sit with Ardaline!” The two women nodded courteously at me again and departed. When we were alone again, Kud-Ei turned her orange gaze back on me again.

“Ardaline iss painfully shy,” the Argonian woman continued, her voice a soft hiss. “Sshe findss it difficult to sspeak to people, and tendss to keep to hersself. I am working with her on that, by having her ssell Alchemy ssuppliess to thosse who need them.” She shook her head, the rings in her temporal spines jingling softly. “I don’t want to embarrass her further. Once thiss matter iss ressolved, I’ll sspeak to her privately.” Now she met my gaze squarely. “Disscretion is vital.”

With a nod to show my understanding, I matched Kud-Ei’s soft tone. “Of course, ma’am. What is the situation with Ardaline and Varon Vamori?”

“I don’t undersstand it. Ssome ridiculouss male thing, I ssuppose,” she answered, her tone weary. I understood all too well, for I had dealt with similar situations between young men and women in my own cohort. “He’s been bothering Ardaline every day for ssome time now. He even sstole her Mage’ss Sstaff! Perhapss he thinkss it’ss amussing, I don’t know. But it needss to sstop. It’ss making her misserable!”

I felt my eyebrows lifting at the tale Kud-Ei told. “Varon Vamori stole Ardaline’s Mage’s Staff?” Even I knew that touching a Mage’s Staff was sacrilege. “Ma’am?”

“It’ss more ssymbolic than practical, true,” Kud-Ei admitted. “But each sstaff iss important to itss owner. You are to get Ardaline’ss Sstaff back.” She handed me three scrolls. “Varon Vamori hass a ssilver tongue. Here are a few Charm sspellss to help you sspeak to him.”

“Silver tongue, huh?” I repeated. Kud-Ei grinned toothily.

“He thinkss he hass a magical way with wordss,” she replied dryly. “Now, you look exhaussted, Julian. How bad iss that knee?”

“It hurts to walk on it, but I can manage, ma’am,” I answered.

“Our roomss are upsstairs. Let me take you there, sshow you where you can ssleep and resst.”

“I would be grateful, ma’am,” I rose as Kud-Ei stood.

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: Aug 12 2010, 05:34 PM

[Acadian]

“Oh, Kud-Ei?” Carandial nodded. “She’s inside, drinking her tea.”

Yay! That's our guild head!

Rider, this was a joy to read. Your writing is impeccable of course, and I loved how you portrayed the members of the Bravil guild. It seems you and I see them similarly, for you made the guild feel very much like it does in my game. I almost expected to see a small blond wood elf to pop into the dining room looking for a sweet roll. Speaking of chow, thanks!

I see news travels fast and Kud-Ei clearly has some impressive sources. You really captured the Argonian's wisdom here. I loved how you then used her concern for Julian's knee to display her protective and caring nature.

Thank you again for allowing Julian to take her time here. I am loving her visit to Bravil.

[Destri Melarg]

Like Acadian you seem to have a thing for Argonians. I have yet to meet one in Old Habits that isn’t forthright, competent, personable, and honorable. Kud-Ei is no exception, she leaps off the screen. The fact that she places Ardaline in charge of selling alchemy paraphernalia is a brilliant detail that says a lot about her character. It is easy to see why she is a chapter head. What is more difficult to see is why she doesn’t sit on the Council of Mages.

I wonder what Julian will think of Varon Vamori. He always gives me the impression of being a little . . . short for a Dunmer, but he is handy to have around for those speechcraft lessons.

[Olen]

The cool damp air brought out the unique aroma of the canal, a combination of marsh and sewer, of frogs and effluvium, of swamp reeds and mold.

That sounds like Bravil to me... nicely done.

Now she's met the Bravil guild, you wove the characterisation into the dialogue well there. Though she has found herself on one of the more annoying go-fetch quests in the game, still how she handles it should be interesting to see.

[SubRosa]

Yay for Kud-Ei! About time Julian met a guild leader who was worthy of the position. You portrayed our favorite scaly Bravilian mage wonderfully!

“Hmm, it sseemss the perpetuatorss got a dresssing down from a new Associate with a limp.” Kud-Ei’s eyes narrowed as I coughed on tea. “I hope you won’t find that necessary here, Associate with a limp.”
I love this! It says so much, on so many levels!


This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jul 28 2010, 12:13 AM

[Remko]

I loved the sentence SubRosa quoted too. So much said with so little.

[D.Foxy]

So, the Male with the Silver tongue stole a Female's Staff...


Hmmm.... why on earth am I thinking there's something WRONG with that...the natural order of things has been reversed - it should have been the other way around -

-er




Arrrgh, forgive me, I was asleep and that wandering Daedra Spiriti, Dhertee-Inuu Endo, entered my mind and seized control!!!


Besides, it couldn't have worked the other way around. Why, it's sacriliege to touch a Mage's Staff -


(No wonder these Mages are sour, they get no fun at all - )


GET OUT!!!

GET OUT DHERTEE-INNU ENDO!!! GET OUT AT ONCE!!!

[Winter Wolf]

It is raining in Bravil!!! I never get to see that. The only place that ever rains for me is the road from Chorrol to Bruma and everywhere in Leyawiin. Lol.

Wow, Kud-Ei really rocks the show in your chapter, is that woman ahead of the game or what??
I so love it that you have incorporated the drinking of her tea, that is soooo Kud-Ei!!

[haute ecole rider]

@Acadian: You and Buffy were very much on my mind the entire time I was writing this! I’m glad you ended up looking for a sweet roll along with a certain Bosmeri female.

@Destri: I love Argonians! I’ve never played one, but I always seemed to like ‘em when I meet ‘em in game, with a few exceptions. They are most enjoyable to write, too. Have patience, you will see what Julian makes of a certain - ahem - short - Dunmer soon.

@Olen: It will take Julian some time to complete the recommendation, but I think you might find it interesting.

@Sage Rose: Why oh why is it so few chapter heads are actually responsible? Falcar is a hole in the rear, Frasoric is incompetent, Dagail, bless her sweet heart, is crazy as a bat in the belfry, and Teekeeus is full of petty imp chips! The only other one that can hold a candle to Kud-Ei is Carahil!

@Remko: The fact that you and Sage Rose picked one of my favorite lines in that segment goes to show that great minds think alike.

@Fox: Don’t let Dhertee-innu Endo wander over to Lex and the Thief! “So, can I hold your sword?”

@Wolf: It rains half the time I’m in Bravil! Must be my sunny personality. And why, oh why does it rain at Frostcrag Spire (when I have the DLC installed - sometimes I don’t)?? You’d think with all the snow around, and at that altitude, that I’d see snow. Uh, nope.

Thanks to Buffy and Acadian for their charming characterization of a certain Bravil resident. Their description really crystallized my perception of His Arrogance.

***************
Chapter 13.2 Dinner with Mages

I woke five hours later to the sound of rain pounding on the windows. The smell of fresh cooked food wafting through closed doors drew me out of bed casting a couple of healing spells. I found that I could now cast four in a row before becoming too shaky to focus.

Kud-Ei had advised me that if I found any clothes to fit me, I was welcome to anything in the wardrobes. Some of the other clothing felt too fine for me to wear, so I stuck with my plain clothing. I did replace the rough leather shoes with a pair of doeskin shoes, which, while still practical, were more comfortable and quieter.

Leaving my pack behind in the room, I limped downstairs to find the Mages already gathered around the common table. Carandial leaped to his feet and pulled out a chair for me with a smile. Surprised by his courtesy, so uncharacteristic for Altmeri, I thanked him and sat down.

“Welcome, Julian of Anvil,” he said as he returned to his seat at my left elbow. He started loading my plate with mutton and roasted vegetables. “I’m glad you’re part of the Mages Guild, Hero of Kvatch!”

The piece of roast potato dropped from my fork when I jumped at the greeting. Before I could object, Delphine Jend piped up from his other side.

“Hero of Kvatch!” she scoffed. “More like Hero of Bravil!” She leaned forward to smile at me past the tall Altmer between us. “Welcome, Julian!”

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t call me Hero of Anything, sir, ma’am,” I muttered, fishing up the potato out of the mutton gravy.

“Oh, it’s too late for that,” the haughty voice drew my attention to the well-dressed Dunmer seated across the table from me. “Everyone in town is already calling you their Hero.” His red eyes gleamed at me, making me shift uncomfortably under his gaze. “I’m Fathis Aren, Count Bravil’s Staff Wizard,” he introduced himself. I heard the arrogance in his tone and bit down on my instant dislike of the mer. “I can teach you Conjuration, Associate,” he continued, lending my Guild rank a hint of contempt, “anything to relieve the tedium of Castle patronage.”

Inwardly, I could feel myself bristling at his condescension. “Why thank you, Fathis Aren,” I responded, surprised by how smooth and neutral my own voice sounded to my ears. “I will remember that when I want to master that area of Magicka, sir.” Around me, the bustle of dinner conversation, the movement of eating utensils, slowed to a halt. I was aware of Kud-Ei watching me from her place at the head of the table.

Aren scowled at me. “If you’ve closed two Oblivion Gates,” he sneered, “they must not be so difficult a challenge to face.”

I bit my tongue. Three. “Maybe not, but so far I haven’t heard of anyone from Bravil entering the one by the Quaking Bridge,” I answered, my voice still neutral and calm. “And now no one needs to worry about it.”

Aren’s red eyes narrowed at me as he inhaled slowly. Kud-Ei cleared her throat sharply from the head of the table. “No one quesstionss your courage in entering thosse Oblivion Gatess, Julian,” her quiet voice somehow held the authority of a respected praefect of the Legion. Catching her glance at Aren, I carefully avoided his gaze, turning my eyes back down to my plate. “There’ss been a lot of disscussion about why Count Bravil did not order the Guard to enter the Gate.”

I glanced at Kud-Ei. Speculation, you mean? “There’s the reckless course, ma’am, then there’s the prudent course,” I said after a moment. I recalled that the Count was not popular with many of the residents. “The reckless course would be to send every Guard into that Gate in hopes that a few of them would manage to close it. That would strip the town of its defenses in case of daedra attack. The prudent course is to keep the Guard on alert for daedra attack while trying to learn about the layout and defenses of the realm on the other side of that Gate.”

Aren snorted. “Prudent?” he scoffed. “Scared is more like it!” Again I met his gaze, catching the scorn in his eyes. “Oh, far be it from me to criticize my patron and sovereign,” he continued, his tone belying his words. “Bravil obviously flourishes under his wise and beneficial rule. He has done nothing,” he stabbed his finger at the table, “nothing about that Gate! Captain Lerus wanted to send a scouting party inside when it first opened, but he wouldn’t let her!”

I sat back in my seat, caught off-guard by the intensity in Aren’s tone. Wasn’t Regulus Terentius an Arena Champion years ago? He’s quite old now. Old men, especially old fighters, are very cautious about wasting the young ones. And Lerus wanted to do just what Savlian did?

“That’s what Savlian Matius tried at Kvatch,” I said finally, my voice very quiet as I thought sadly about the men who had died, of Menien Goneld tortured there. “He sent six men in there. Four were killed right away, one was taken captive and tortured, and the last one never made it past the first set of War Gates.”

I looked away from the others’ shocked gazes. “I only reached the Sigil Tower because I was scared out of my mind, and spent much of my time creeping around trying to hide from the daedra.” Now I met Aren’s gaze steadily, my own vision filled with the red fire and heat of the Deadlands. “I used the same tactic here, and it seems it is the best way to succeed.” I shook my head. “Sometimes, it’s not sheer strength and numbers, nor is it knowledge, but facing one’s fears and coping with those fears, that is the successful path.”

“Well sspoken, Associate,” Kud-Ei spoke into the silence. “Often proceeding with caution getss one further than rassh action.”

I looked down at my plate, surprised at its blankness. Somehow the conversation had not affected my appetite. I set my fork down quietly. “Thanks very much for dinner, ma’am,” I said to Kud-Ei. “May I be excused? I have some errands to run in town tonight.”

I could see the dubious regard Kud-Ei sent me. She thinks I want to go to the skooma den. I remembered it was just down Canal Street from the Mages Guild, in the center of town.

“My knee is much better, ma’am,” I volunteered quietly. “I’m getting better with my healing spell.”

“All right,” Kud-Ei said after a moment’s consideration. “Take your key with you, though. The doors get locked at eleven bells.”

I rose, ungracefully because of my knee, to my feet and bowed to the company at the table. “Thank you, ma’ams, sirs.” I gave a final glance at Aren before turning away. Limping out of the dining room, I heard the clink of utensils against plates, but did not hear voices again until I opened the front door. I didn’t linger to hear what was being said, though, for I had several tasks I needed to accomplish tonight before heading back to my bed on the second floor of the Guild chapter-house.

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: Jul 29 2010, 06:19 PM

[D.Foxy]

Now this is a very interesting chapter...full of both subtle characterization, and at the same time bold character sketches, and the philosophy of combat as well.

Hail to Hautee, may her prose please Foxee, who shall remain nautee!!!

(I suspect for that she'll make me sautee )

[SubRosa]

So Julian is casting four healing spells in a row now? It is good to see that her daily spellcasting is paying off not only physically, but also in her skillz.

The piece of roast potato dropped from my fork when I jumped at the greeting.
This gave me a good laugh! Poor Julian, found out again!

As Foxy said, while a short segment, it certainly packs a great deal into the conversation with Fathis. I wonder why he didn't go into the gate and close it, seeing what a great conjurer he is?

[Acadian]

Aww, thank you so much for the kind words to Buffy and I in your comments. I'm delighted to see that you and Julian see Bravil similarly to the way we do.

Well, doeskin shoes are certainly a step (is that a pun?) in the right direction towards getting our Redguard stylin'. Something tells me that Fashionista Delphine will be frustrated by Julian, who has more important things to worry about. Delphine is amazing however, if Julian ever finds herself needing to get dolled up.

You captured the steely snide aloofness of Fathis so well, and the calm commanding presence of Kud-Ei. Wow! I am proud of Julian's restraint; again, her maturity and wisdom shine through. Buffy is so jealous of Julian's abiltiy to (usually) control her temper and make the smart choices.

I loved the little details like Julian dropping a piece of potato when surprised, then later fishing it out of her gravy. Things like that made the meal come alive. And. . . you know what I'm going to say next. . . Thanks for feeding me - yum!

Julian nailed those gate tactics. Sneaking, sniping and patience seems to win the day. And yes, it does somehow seem best suited to a solitary task.

nit:

I didn’t linger to hear was was being said, though, for I had several tasks I needed to accomplish tonight before heading back to my bed on the second floor of the Guild chapter-house.

I'm sure you wanted that first 'was' to be a 'what'.

[Destri Melarg]

Poor Julian, I see that she is once again charged with heroism. Now you can add ‘Hero of Bravil’ to her growing list of titles. She must hate that!

My favorite part of this chapter is when Julian excuses herself from the table like a fourteen year old wanting to (*insert estrogen-induced teenage girl obsession here*). I could see the look that Kud-Ei gives her. I think it says a lot about Julian’s previous time in Bravil that even closing the Oblivion Gate doesn’t keep some from being wary in her presence. I wonder if R’Vanni, J’Zin-Dar, Reistr the Rotted, or Roxanne Brigette (all of whom I’m sure Julian knows . . . vaguely) get the same treatment. I hope that you include at least one of them in this story. It would be nice to see how they regard Julian now that she is all clean and hero-fied.

And tell her that she shouldn’t let Fathis get to her. Ever since he saw the golden armor that he gave Maxical for sale at the Best Defense he has been a complete s’wit to everyone. Rumor around town is that he is still carrying a torch for the kitty, but who knows?

[Olen]

...I think you might find it interesting.

I'm glad your going to do something different with that recommendation, I'm fascinated to see how Julian plays it though.

Really all I can do is echo the above and say how well done the subtle characterisation of Julian and how she's changed on arriving in Bravil (and she has slightly) alongside the roughing out of Fathis Aren was well handled and effective. She should still suggest that he prooves his mettle by going into a gate though, if only to be rid of him.