auspex_caelo | Incognito, Incorrigible (for smartass

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Incognito, Incorrigible (for smartass_captain)

Organizing a proper wedding is no small affair even on Earth. In Tamriel, without the benefit of instant communications, instant transport and year-round amenities, it requires a good deal more planning. Particularly when it comes to guests who live any distance away. Roads and seaways alike are dangerous. Bandits prowl the land routes. Inclement weather closes mountain passes and keeps ships in their berths. Everything, above all, takes time.

With spring in full flight, snows melting and roads well and truly open, the excuses for delays in invitation replies and guest arrivals are both running out. Mostly this hasn’t been an issue. The arcane side of their guest list have their own ways of sending word, and the military side have first call on the Imperial courier network. Everyone who matters is accounted for. Except, that is, for one…

In the library of the Bruma house, Stratos leans on a desk covered in papers and rubs his eyes. Another day, another absence of word. Marcella did warn him that her mother would be nigh-impossible to contact. She was almost too resigned to the fact to be grumpy about it. But Stratos had thought his connections would get him where his cousin had been unable to reach. The trouble, he sees now, is that he really can’t be sure where that is.

One guest. Perhaps it’s not a disaster if she can’t be there. But this is his mother’s sister, and they have so few near relatives left, since the War….

And he’s getting worried.

Stratos rises then, and tidies away his writing implements. He heads downstairs to his room and changes into better gear for travelling- not too warm, he doubts he’s going to end up in Skyrim – and then he goes to knock on Felix’s – well, his and Jim’s – door. Nereus is out visiting with Terentius, so there’s nothing else to distract the youngest two, nothing else that ought to be occupying them. And if they’re still resting on the Enterprise - well, he’ll just have to go there and fetch one of them.

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Today at least everyone's fully dressed and all nice and proper like. Jim's getting to his feet in short order, pushing the chair back against the worn floorboards. He sets the book aside on the desk. Nothing inside of it is even a fraction as interesting as the look Stratos is giving him right now.

"Me?"

One side of the captain's mouth quirks up into the beginnings of a smirk. His hands slide up to rest on his hips while he peers at Stratos as though he could somehow infer the man's thoughts simply by leaning forward or squinting a bit harder.

"I'm always up for an adventure. Is it far? I can grab my gear." From time spent at Stratos' camp back in Skyrim Jim knows you don't stray far without a weapon and at least light armor to hand.

Stratos holds his phone up. They aren't going to be walking the whole way, that's for sure.

"I can't give you even a guess at the distance, but you had better be armed. And you can leave your cloak. I'm not certain of our ultimate destination, but I suspect it's going to be considerably warmer than here."

Jim's never going to get tired of the clash of seeing Stratos or Felix pulling out technology like it's no big deal. It's one thing when they're in the Nexus or Jim's world and dressed to blend in, but it looks so incongruous here on Nirn. When they're in hand made garments of leather and wool and no one even knows the meaning of the word 'synthetic'.

He loves it.

"Sure. I just need a minute." Jim doesn't have much with him so it won't take long for him to change into his travelling gear (sturdier trousers and plain leather armor instead of his soft clothes). Lacing up his bracers and guards takes longer than anything but Jim's plucking up his bow in short order and shouldering his empty pack. "Ration up and then head out?"

His willingness gets a genuine smile from Stratos. It's almost like having Felix agree to come with. Not his brother (but his adopted brother at this point, really) but also without the same baggage that an adventure with Felix might unearth.

But that's not the important thing to focus on. Even if he's sure they're going to see some things Jim will get a wonderful kick out of.

"Right. I'll get the waterskins ready." Stratos isn't wearing his armor, but he nods approval at Jim's. "I'll meet you in the kitchen."

Such are the proclivities of the younger household members, they usually have a supply of dried meats and cheeses and things that make good traveling rations in a hurry. Stratos doesn't think they'll need much. But he's not so cavalier that he'd have them go traveling with nothing for emergencies.

Look there's bound to be a hike, plenty of the great outdoors, probably at least one night of camping or at the least staying in a place they've never been before ahead of them. All of that sums up to a hell of an adventure to Jim, especially considering there's still so much of this world he's yet to see beyond the pages of the books Felix lends to him. He will, however, be stuffing his journal and charcoals into the empty pack in their appropriate places.

It would be one hell of a waste if Jim didn't at least try to learn something from all of this. His PINpoint is also going to be carefully stowed away in there. Close to hand if there's an emergency. Better for them to point out somewhere safe and come Back later than stick around and end up in real danger. You know, in case of dragons or something.

(Jim still hasn't seen one in person and while he Really wants to he'd also like to live to talk about it. He's unaware if these sightings are limited to just one province.)

He's dragging his fingers through his hair when he joins Stratos in the kitchen fully geared up and ready to go. Or at least to take some instruction. "Do we need any camping supplies or...? I have no idea where we're headed I just know it takes an awful long time to get anywhere just by foot."

"My hope is that we'll find a tavern quickly enough, but if need be we can set co-ordinates and return for the night, or for supplies. We'll move faster if we aren't weighed down."

Stratos casts an approving eye over Jim's gear, checking if he's armed. Hopefully they won't need weapons, either, but they do need to watch each other's backs. Almost as an afterthought, he asks:

"Has Felix ever told you much about Aunt Lartia?"

Marcella must have mentioned her, at least. Ushug's old comrade and business partner. The woman who disappeared - eloped? - with barely a letter to her exasperated (worried) daughter. Salatia and Terentius's sister. Former soldier, hard drinker, now... adventurer? That much was never clear.

"PINpointing back to a warm bed and a fully stocked kitchen every night? That's cheating, isn't it?" Jim is absolutely teasing the elder Caelus son and he's enjoying every second of it. The coddled man from the future takes no small amount of pleasure in not being the one to complain about comforts (and before they've even set off!) but Stratos does raise a good point.

It'll be a lot faster if they're not loaded with gear. Not to mention a whole lot easier of a hike. Not as sore, not as tired. And in far, far less danger than they'd be sleeping out in the wild. The weather in this part of Nirn may be more forgiving but wild animals and bandits are still frequent concerns. To say nothing of more strange dangers. And Jim Kirk is a magnet for trouble.

"Only that I'd get along swimmingly with her. I know she's Marcella's mother, I heard a bit about her when I stayed with them over the New Year a couple of winters back. Kind of got the impression she was the wild one out of her siblings." Jim's most certainly got his bow with him. He may need to be prompted to get a knife, even a skinning one, for a bit of close quarters defense.

The man from Earth settles his hands on his hips and grins.

"Ready when you are."

"Pragmatism and preparedness are virtues in the eyes of Julianos," Stratos replies loftily, taking his soon-to-be brother-in-law's teasing in good humor.

"She and Mother both. I suspect Uncle wasn't quite as staid as he pretends in his stories, though. Stratos is going to a cupboard and finding a spare knife, pulling it out of the sheath to check it before he tucks it back in and hands it to Jim. "Here. Best to be ready."

Even he and Felix were taught to carry some blade as backup. Even with their futures as battlemages spelled out from birth, their families made certain they knew how to handle a sword.

That done, however, the tribune shoulders his pack and lifts his PINpoint, reaching out to take Jim's arm. "Brace yourself, then."

Jim will find out what for in a second. There's a blast of hot, humid air, like they've jumped feet-first into a sauna. The sudden light hits them in the face, bright and dancing and green. Squinting against it as their eyes adjust, they'll find themselves standing among tree roots taller than they are, beneath a tree rising higher than any tower in Bruma. Around them is a jungle of other giants, vines and creepers cloaking their trunks, flora bursting into every patch of sunlight. Nearby a startled bird clacks out an alarm call, but it's lost in the trills and chirps and swooping calls echoing through the air above them.

"Welcome to Valenwood," Stratos says, though he sounds awed himself.

"If you say so."

Julianos is one of the Aedra, Jim remembers that much. What the divine is actually in charge of he couldn't say off the top of his head though. There's eight (nine really but one's forbidden for Racism) to keep track of and all of Felix's Unofficial Gods on top of that...for a man who grew up without any kind of religious influence outside of a few little traditional family things when he was very young it all starts to sound the same to Jim before long. He's making a concentrated effort at it though. This is the kind of thing that's common knowledge here and saying the wrong thing could get them into a huge amount of trouble.

Jim takes the knife, though not without casting a quick side eyed glance up at the Tribune as he's fastening it to his belt for ease of access. It won't do him any good stowed away in the bottom of his pack. The captain's been around these parts long enough not to question why a close quarters weapon might be deemed necessary. His thanks is quiet before Jim shifts on his feet and waits for the PINpoint to take them--

Into a sauna filled with mulch, by the smell of it. Jim doesn't cry out but blue eyes fly open as he cranes his neck to try and see just where they've ended up. All that hurry is going to bleed away mighty fast though. Minutes won't be long enough to turn slowly in a circle to gape at their surroundings. At the towering trees as large as a housing complex on Earth or the strange flora bursting out of every available. His gasp is swallowed up by the forest around them utterly.

"Fucking hell..." Jim turns round to face Stratos before grabbing for his journal and pulling out a small folded map of Nirn out to spread out. "Where are we...? Where is Valenwood on here..." South, he'd imagine.

But What a view.

Edited 2019-07-31 15:13 (UTC)

Stratos looks up from the compass he's pulled out, sidling round and leaning over to point at the map Jim's holding out. At the very southern part, indeed. they've gone from the northern edge of Cyrodiil to the furthest part of the province to its south.

"We should be about here, which would make these... graht-oak forests, I think." He looks up and around with a frown. "We need to be careful. These are Thalmor-ruled lands. With luck we'll only be here a few minutes, but if we encounter any people we'll need to conceal ourselves."

"Grahtwood. So we're close-ish to the coast and to uh..." Jim squints at the map and mouths out the syllables a moment before frowning. "Elsweyr? Who names a place 'Elsewhere'? Am I just saying it wrong?"

Jim should really be asking how Stratos got the coordinates to this place to begin with if it's so dangerous to be out here but he's having a difficult time focusing in the face of all of this natural beauty and mystery surrounding them. To say nothing of the mystery of properly reading his map.

"I thought you guys were mostly at peace. They certainly walk through your lands like they own the place. You're telling me humans can't be in their lands at all?" This treaty sounds worse and worse every time it comes up. Jim makes a bit of a face before folding away his map.

"Plenty of undergrowth to hide in, trees to hide behind. What are we looking for out here anyway?" Unless it's standing out hugely amid the trees Jim doesn't see how anything is going to take but a few minutes.

"Elsweyr," Stratos repeats, his accent on it a little different to Jim's. Not that different, though. "It's odd, I know, but I'm sure the way it's named is simply a coincidence."

He checks the compass again and turns in place, then gestures at Jim to follow him. "First, we're looking for some high ground I can work from. There should be some ruins in this direction that will serve the purpose, but they'll be overgrown so keep your eyes peeled."

The political details, he can explain as they go. "It's not that Imperial citizens can't travel here at all, but they control who does. And we're a long way from the border with Cyrodiil. An Imperial out here attracts attention, and questions. And if they're unlucky, arrows. I just want to find my aunt, not a political incident."

"I'd suggest climbing a tree but these are higher than half the buildings we've got back home." It's not easy to get their bearings amid all of this dense foliage but Jim can point out what looks to be an incline from where they're currently standing in the shadow of a towering giant of a tree. "This way looks promising."

Jim's not quite as quick on his feet as Stratos is with all of this undergrowth to step around, but he's keeping up alright enough for the time being.

"Right, no paperwork. With a man from Oblivion playing at being an adventurer. Probably not the best of situations to be caught in, Tribune. You think she's holed up out here, politics being what they are? Wouldn't she get trouble?"

"I'm a poor climber, in any case," Stratos admits. He's more than willing to follow the incline Jim points out, though he's watching his feet and trying to listen for trouble around them. Unfortunately, the way his family's always described it, he suspects anything in the jungle that's dangerous will have no trouble hiding beneath those sounds.

"I doubt she's close to here, actually. Not because our aunt has any aversion to trouble, however. It's more that she could be anywhere on this long, long coast and I need to narrow down where. Mind your footing. I think there's old stonework under this hill." Some of it's poking through the soil, bursting with greenery.

"Really? I enjoy it whenever I get the chance. Much to Felix's dismay, I might add. I think I've got him convinced I'm allergic to following paths."

They clearly manage just fine though. Especially if it's something they can still joke about. There's plenty of chance for peril lurking out in the wilds of Nirn. Even the roads aren't guaranteed to be safe although the risk is far less.

Speaking of safety, however...

Stratos barely has the words out of his mouth before Jim trips over an awkwardly jutting bit of rock hidden among the leaf litter and goes down roughly to hand and knee with a startled 'oof!' He's definitely living up to the 'amateur' bit of being an amateur adventurer.

"I'm fine--!" More embarrassed than hurt in any case. Jim's hopping back up to his feet swiftly. "Right, watch your step. Got it. Are you going to do that tracking magic once we get up there? Clairvoyance, was it? Is there a set distance that works for even?"

Stratos doesn't quite hide the affectionate snort at that. "I doubt he takes as much issue with it as he pretends. He spent long enough adventuring around Cyrodiil and Skyrim."

Jim's heard them talk about adventuring and adventurers often enough that it's become clear that's an accepted profession, or at least occupation of sorts. Even in a society as generally regulated and well-provided for as the Empire, there are uses for wandering outsiders, especially those with steady weapon hands and a dash of nerve. And plenty of young men and women who fancy the romantic life (and shiny coin) of a roving warrior without having to commit to a guild or mercenary company. It's pretty obvious where Felix fits into that.

Stratos turns to offer a hand when he hears Jim trip, but the captain's already springing up. Too determined not to seem like a liability. He can't help but smile. But then, Jim Kirk is one of the very few people the tribune isn't guarded around.

"Clairvoyance, yes. Distance itself isn't necessarily the issue, but the farther away your target the more intervening... features and magic that can foul the trail. I could use a small ritual to get a very precise fix... not unlike Isidor's method - but that's demanding and tends to leave out a great deal of context. A basic clairvoyance spell will give me a clear direction at the least. But I need height to ensure I get a true direction and not the start of a path through the woods."

He looks with some trepidation at the broken tower jutting out of the lower trees ahead. "...Which does mean some climbing, unfortunately."

"Mostly the climbing up rock faces when there's perfectly serviceable hiking trails, I think." More than once he's done the walk at a near sprint and then fretted over Jim the entire way until the captain reached the top to meet back up with Felix. Jim thinks it's great fun but of course he would.

Jim dusts himself off briskly as he takes his place back at the elder Caelus' side. He meant to do that, absolutely. Thank you for taking the lead in to change the subject without prompting, Stratos. Jim is grateful not to mention his clumsiness aloud now or ever. Ahem.

"Despite the last minute and a half or so, you've got the right hands for the job to help you." He's peering up at the tower thoughtfully. Trying to get a bead on how stable the structure is and whether or not it'll break the canopy if they ascend it. "Do you have or can you go get a length of rope? If you'd rather I can climb up and secure it further up so you can climb that instead. Might be easier for you. If it's long enough we can even knot it for footholds."

Edited 2019-08-11 15:27 (UTC)

He can hear Stratos hold back an undignified snort of laughter before he gives a gently chiding response that nonetheless has a hint of amusement beneath it. "That is a dangerous habit. I don't think he brought you all the way to this realm just to see his beloved dash his head on a mountainside."

Stratos is wishing, just now, that he'd spent more time working on figuring out those levitation spells. But Jim has a sound plan, and he nods slowly.

"I didn't think to bring one, but that's no matter. Let me check I have this position recorded." He cups his PINpoint with his hand as he takes it out to set the location, just in case any stealthy eyes are watching from the forest. "Wait here but a minute or two."

Technology and magic alike: they each have their ways of loading their dice. Stratos vanishes back to his camp and returns presently with a long coil of requisitioned rope slung over his shoulder. He takes another assessing look at the route Jim has to climb, and turns a reassuring look at the captain.

"Ordinarily I might try to insist I go, but aside from your experience, if I remain here, and you fall, then I can catch you telekinetically. You don't need to carry the rope up either, as a point of fact."

It's risky to use a PINpoint more than one has to anywhere, but this realm is particularly perilous given the lack of explanation to even make up for the disappearance and reappearance of a person. Illusion magic perhaps, but it won't explain the rope. Jim's well aware that teleportation has been lost to the ages supposedly. So keeps a casual seat on a nearby raised tree root larger around than himself and waits for the Tribune's return.

It really won't be long at all.

"Relax. I won't tell anyone you didn't do it. Especially your aunt." Jim hops off his seat and moves over to Stratos to reach out for the rope to take and is stopped by the declaration that it won't be necessary. His brow furrows until he remembers what telekinesis spells are used for (and then winces because it drug Felix down those steps it pulled his weapon from his hands don't think about it not now--) and he nods slowly with a carefully neutral expression for just a moment.

"Right. That makes things easier. Leave it to me."

The gnarled root system makes for a pretty good running off point. Jim can back up a ways and run right for them. One step, up to another, and them jumping at the last second to grab hold of a twisted knot in the trunk of the tree where perhaps once an age ago an old branch had been but has long since been either ripped away or deadened and fell off of its own accord. The bark is rough enough to give purchase for his feet--though it's not much. He's going to have to be using his arms primarily to find holds and haul himself up.

Once there's place for his feet to actually stand and put weight on the climb goes much easier. Rather than shout down toward the ground and Stratos, Jim pulls out his own PINpoint to text Stratos a quick message once he's made it into the remains of the tower.

Hang on, I'm not leaving you behind, I want to see how difficult and stable the rest of this is before I make a tie-off.

It's several probably worrisome minutes before Stratos will see Jim lean out of an intact window that seems to have primarily been made to allow one of the massive tree branches through the structure. He waves down toward Stratos to ask for the rope.

Jim can't do anything the sedate way, Stratos thinks, watching him take a running start to the climb. No wonder Felix gets worried. He's watching closely himself, the start of his spell readied in his hand for any sign that Jim's about to tumble. Around them the half-buried ruins echo with the chirps and trills of the forest. There's little wind down here: the trees are too dense to allow it through. It makes the air feel a little unnervingly oppressive to Stratos. He's used to the mountainsides and valleys of the north. Here he's already sweating uncomfortably.

He frowns and almost calls up after Jim, but just about catches the small buzz from his pocket as Jim messages him. It's a little unsettling, still: he's half waiting to hear the yelp and and crash as Jim misses his footing out of the mage's sight. When he sees Jim lean out and wave, he heaves a quiet sigh of relief.

Not that he doubts the captain, exactly, but it would be just some kind of fate for one of the betrothed couple to break his legs ahead of a wedding, wouldn't it?

Stratos waves in answer, and then aims his spell at the rope instead. The faint glow that accompanies it is entirely lost in the bright sunlight, but the coils lift into the air and float smoothly up to Jim, following Stratos's gesture. So far, so good.

What is 'take it easy'? Whyever would a man want to do that when there's so much fun to be had? Stratos has been around Jim long enough to know the captain's luck is why.

Still. At least in this endeavor Jim's more than capable.

As soon as the rope's been lifted high enough for the captain to reach it, Jim disappears back into the tower to throw his end of the rope around the anchor point before tying it off in a complicated looking knot and pulling it secure. It doesn't budge when Jim tests it with his own weight so he leans back out and gestures for the tribune to climb on up. If the window's too small for him to squeeze through it'll get him high enough up that he can stand at least. With the rope tied around him he won't fall all the way down, either.

Edited 2019-08-12 17:47 (UTC)

No matter his trepidation, the Imperial tribune can't let nerves get in the way of a job to be done either. Setting his pack aside with Jim's, he decides to follow the captain's example and goes for the rope with determined vigor. Just like scrambling up to the roof of their house at night, isn't it? He's not as sure-footed as Jim, but he makes it up safely and takes a moment to check his footing before he nods to Jim.

"Thanks. I'll need you to watch my back while I do this, as well." He's just going to carefully seek out the best vantage point- up these mossy steps looks like the surest bet - before he breathes in deeply and cups both hands into a clairvoyance spell. He needs to forget where he is and focus on where he wants to be. In his mind he holds a single, clear goal. Aunt Lartia. Lartia Avita Valeria, daughter of Bravil, scout of the Fifth Legion. Where are you?

He's keeping the spell directed away from the ground, so that when the smoky blue trail of light forms, it wanders off in a straight line through the air to his left. Stratos waits until he's sue he has it to drop one hand, holding the spell with the other while he pulls out the compass and takes a reading. Double, triple checks it. North-north-east. Well and good, he supposes.

"At least she isn't further south," he sighs. He's going to mark the direction on their map immediately. "Very well, let's get our supplies and move to our next... ah, destination."

"Don't worry, I've got you." Nevermind that Stratos is bigger than Jim is. The captain's prepared to reach out and steady Felix's--and his, soon--older brother should he misstep while he focuses on his spells. With a very specific few exceptions, something that Jim never gets tired of observing on Nirn are mages in the midst of their craft. Though clairvoyance sadly doesn't look like much to an outside observer.

He's sure Stratos has a spell in hand. Jim's seen both brothers adopt that gesture many times before over the years. He waits patiently for the spell to work its literal magic and Stratos to drop his hands completely before he tries for conversation again.

"Wasn't sure there was much further South to go." Jim nods toward the rope. "You first. I'll untie this and we can take it with us, just in case. Best not to leave it here for anyone to find. Then I can hop down and you can catch me."

Considering how vulnerable he is with his mind almost literally miles away, it's reassuring to know Jim's there watching over him. Stratos nods and takes a moment to double-check his feet are where he thinks before he moves over and grabs the rope. He'll clamber back down readily enough and stand well back, suddenly realizing that Jim might be about to jump- and in that case he'd better be ready.

"Are you coming-?"

One of the many many facets of Nirn that would be utterly terrifying if Jim knew even a little bit of how they worked. It's no small wonder why Stratos needs to double-check he's where he thinks he is considering he was briefly looking out over the Province to find his way. Or why he doesn't really argue with Jim's plan for getting down.

The rope will tumble down into a pile well before Jim does. The captain checks to make sure all's clear before signalling to Stratos and putting a whole lot of faith into the battlemage's alteration skills as he inches his way around to a clear drop to the ground and jumps.

Now Jim's prepared to tuck forward and roll either way to lessen the impact on his body if this doesn't work but he can feel himself slowing down as though an invisible net has grabbed hold of him well before his feet touch the ground. It leaves him in quiet fascination on hand and knee in the leaf litter for a second or two. Blue eyes wide with wonder when he turns his face upward to grin at Stratos.

Magic. So unbelievably useful.

Jim scrambles to his feet, dusting himself off and holding in the chuckle that threatens to escape. Try not to be so obviously impressed by every show of magic you see, Kirk. It very much would mark him as a tourist. Not an oft-heard of entity on Nirn and almost never friendly.

"So, where to next?" That was still unbelievably fun and Jim's not really able to hide his glee from showing on his face.

Incognito, Incorrigible (for smartass_captain)

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Finished my data entry queue \o/

Freedom!

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I so rarely get an excuse to use this icon

Living up to my purpose of enabling you constantly :muscle:

much appreciated!

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I shouldn't still be at the office but here we are