{"id":614,"date":"2013-10-29T10:25:24","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T15:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jeezjosie.com\/blog\/?p=614"},"modified":"2013-10-23T01:42:27","modified_gmt":"2013-10-23T06:42:27","slug":"fine-brandy-foul-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jeezjosie.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/fine-brandy-foul-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Fine Brandy & Foul Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

      Today\u2019s snippet, titled \u201cFine Brandy & Foul Plans\u201d, is a piece I wrote about an NPC in my Pathfinder Campaign (sort of the \u201cKing Maker\u201d adventure path). The intention behind this was to illustrate events occurring in the world, but away from the PCs. They\u2019re supposed to be writing their own pieces about actual in-game events. We shall see if any materialize.
\n      Be forewarned, there are mature themes and naughty language below.
\n– \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –
\n      \u201c…the attacks have stopped then, entirely?\u201d
\n      \u201cSo it would seem, Klim. Time will tell.\u201d
\n      Lucille Saine hesitated outside the doorjamb. Atop a large round tray, she carried two snifters of pale blue crystal rimmed in silver and a decanter of her uncle\u2019s favorite brandy. It was half-empty, as he had instructed, for if she brought it to the two men full, Reeve Kliment Roget would not leave until it had been drained, at which time he would have to be poured into a carriage and escorted home. The last time that had happened, the Reeve had voided his belly of all that expensive liquor – not to mention the two pigeons, a mountain of mash, and triple servings of white asparagus in butter – all over the interior of a brand new fiacre.
\n      Two years later and it still smelled faintly of vomit and garlic.
\n      \u201cThere\u2019ll be shortages this winter; even with the surplus we bought-\u201d
\n      The Reeve\u2019s voice interrupted. \u201cAt considerable cost!\u201d
\n      \u201cAye. That which we paid dearly for, from New Stetven. Not that the Usurper gives a fart for the good people of Restov. He only sent the brokers and farmers to us to avoid angering Sellemius.\u201d
\n      \u201cHold your tongue, Lev. Words like those could see you to the block.\u201d
\n      Her uncle made a dismissive grumble and Lucille gripped the edge of her tray tighter. Were Uncle Lev to be tried as a traitor, surely mother and I would join him at the gallows\u2026<\/em>
\n      \u201cI fear naught from that dog sitting high in the Ruby Fortress. Besides, Klim, you worry too much. Agnessa wards these rooms before we meet and there\u2019s no one here to hear, the servants have all been dismissed for the evening.\u201d
\n      She could hear the Reeve shifting in his chair – Lucille knew it was he and not her uncle by the distinctive creak of the brittle old leather cushion Kliment insisted he sit on every time they met here.
\n      \u201cAnd Lucille,\u201d he said. \u201cYour niece is lurking about somewhere and, Gods be Good, I just cannot trust a half-blood as I might.\u201d
\n      Uncle Lev growled. \u201cLucille is a fine girl and I love her as my own. I\u2019ll not listen to your impugn her lineage just because Agnessa rebuffed you all those years ago and chose my brother instead.\u201d
\n      \u201cShe\u2019s a young woman now, not a girl, and even if she weren\u2019t a half-blood – towdies can\u2019t be trusted to keep a secret.\u201d
\n      Lucille\u2019s cheeks colored and she was not entirely sure if it was from embarrassment or fury.
\n      \u201cKlim, consider this a gentleman\u2019s warning. You watch your mouth when speaking about my niece or I\u2019ll bust your lip here and now.\u201d
\n      \u201cAye, all right.\u201d
\n      There was a brief pause and Lucille wondered briefly if she should pop in now and pretend as if she had not heard a word – though certainly, Uncle Lev would know she had, he could always tell when she lied – or if she should wait for the subject to change.
\nBefore she could choose, the Reeve began to speak again.
\n      \u201cSince we\u2019re on the subject of the little lady, Lev, I really have to say I\u2019m surprised you\u2019ve allowed her to see so much of that golden-haired nancyboy priest. Next thing you know, she\u2019ll be eloping off into the hinterlands with him and all your plans will be for naught.\u201d
\n      Plans?<\/em> she frowned. What plans?<\/em>
\n      \u201cBah. Lucy\u2019s a dutiful girl and she\u2019s not possessed of even a single foolish bone in her body. She\u2019ll have an exciting little flirtation with the fellow when he blows through town, but it will go no further. Besides, the world he and his comrades live in is fraught with danger. Like as not, he\u2019ll end up dead on one of their forays into the Stolen Lands and we\u2019ll never hear from him again. A broken heart will be a small price to pay.\u201d
\n      \u201cYou\u2019re more confident than I, Lev. If it were my daughter-\u201d
\n      \u201cIf it were your daughter, she\u2019d be ugly as a fall sow and you\u2019d be lucky to find a dirt-farmer to marry her.\u201d
\n      Kliment laughed long and loud.
\n      Using a shelf to prop up the tray, Lucille managed to free a hand and pop open the decanter. She took a swig of the fiery, fruity beverage straight from the bottle. Pigs<\/em>, the both of them. Disgusting, how they talk\u2026 But what plans, Uncle? What plans?<\/em>
\n      She leaned closer to the door, straining her ears – the pointed tips hidden beneath her hair, as always.
\n      \u201cLook, Lev, I don\u2019t mean to intrude on your family business anyhow. But I\u2019ve seen the way she looks at him. Lovesick. I know it well – saw it a million times in the mirror before Agnessa married Liam. And I am just warning you, as a friend, to keep your eyes on her.\u201d
\n      \u201cAye, I will. You just keep yours off – you handsy git. I see that same look on your face from time to time and-\u201d
\n      \u201cIts the hair,\u201d the Reeve said, a wistful tone in his voice. \u201cIts just like her mother\u2019s\u2026 black as a raven against that sweet, porcelain skin. And the eyes – Lev – I thought I could drown in Agnessa\u2019s, but I feel like I could float forever in hers. And by the Gods, that arse. Calistria take me now, but I could just-\u201d
\n      The heavy smack of a fist against flesh silenced the Reeve and shocked Lucille so soundly that she nearly dropped the platter. The glasses chimed against each other and she winced – the jig was up. Steeling her courage, Lucille pushed her shoulders back and forced her lips to form a smile.
\n      \u201cEvening, Uncle. I thought I\u2019d clear away your supper plates and bring you gentlemen a bit of brandy. Oh! Reeve Roget, have you had a fall? Your face is twenty shades of red!\u201d
\n      \u201cClumsy me, knocked myself in the cheek is all. I do gesticulate so, don\u2019t I?\u201d
\n      Lucille made a simpering acknowledgement of his blatant lie and gave a little bow, sliding the tray onto the table with one hand and lifting their stacked supper plates deftly in the other. As she turned to leave, her gaze met Uncle Lev\u2019s and he squinted, appraising her reaction. With as guileless an expression as she could manage, Lucille bobbed a curtsy at him and departed.
\n      By the time she reached the exterior door, she could no longer hear their voices, but she was fairly certain she had already heard more than she should have. Next time, they\u2019ll ask Mother to ward even the anteroom – especially against me<\/em>, she thought, heading toward the kitchens. I suppose I had better get to her first\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n

– \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –
\n\"Signed,
\nNote: Image is “Brandy 2” by mpflournoy from SXC.hu<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Today\u2019s snippet, titled \u201cFine Brandy & Foul Plans\u201d, is a piece I wrote about an NPC in my Pathfinder Campaign (sort of the \u201cKing Maker\u201d adventure path). The intention behind this was to illustrate events occurring in the world, but away from the PCs. They\u2019re supposed to be writing their own pieces… <\/p>\n

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