Count Numbers

Fellowship: The Heart

The Fool has a lever to find, and so begins looking for it. It would be here, of all places, wouldn't it?

Every action has an equal and opposing reaction - in physics and in performance. They are less interested in their actions, here, than the reactions. Those should be plum.

Fellowship: The Heart

"We're going on a lever hunt!
We're going to to pull a big one!
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared!" The Fool sings at the top of their lungs as the whirring blades are within arm's reach now. Even folded across their chest, they snap their fingers to the beat, and they tilt their feet back and forth like a metronome.

"Uh oh!
Blades!
Big, sharpened blades!
We can't go over them!
We can't go through them!
Oh no!
We've got to go under them!"

Lucien laughs, curling up a little from the force of it (not enough to lift their head into danger, enough to make you worry about it) finger snaps still keeping time. The laugh is just as important a part of the chorus as any of the words, you see.

"Come on, m'lord! You know this one. Every good parent does, even most of the bad ones! Sing us the next verse?"

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Tristan is not insulted by this at all - these are his values as well, his father's values. It's part of why he has to train so feverishly, to find his worth where he can. He's achingly proud of his duties to the common good, but there is a greater pride in serving a worthy lord, and serving them well. King Pellinor (for now) seems worthy.

"I hunt within my rights, and make no trespasses." This is true, as far as he knows. He's hunted deer and wolves before, but he was definitely allowed to do that. Definitely. He'll double check when he gets back. "I appreciate the kindness, your King has shown us more than was expected or owed. How fair is your lord, typically?"

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

"There is another option," Tristan says to Nin, before Mort has had a chance to ride up, "we could go and find the badger now, after all. If the Beast is what's driving it out of the woods, then this might be our best chance to slay it on fair ground. Leave Pellinor to her hunt, and let us have ours. It's not safe for either of them to live. Pellinor disquiets me, but I see nothing to show why her goals do not align with ours."

"If our goals align, it'd be best to hunt the beast now, and maybe ask if the King would help us? I am confused as to what virtue there is in saving the beast, or from sabotaging someone who has done us a kindness."

*

Tristan will not pause to size Mort up before answering, and will immediately reply: "My liege is the common good, in service to all. The hunt for our quarry was interrupted by yours - we seek a badger the size of four horses, at least." Tristan tries to err on the safe side of hyperbole, here. "In truth, I am afraid of it. If we assist you in your hunt, might you assist us in ours?"

He's a trusting boy, isn't he?

If he's wrong, let Nin tell him why, that he may trust her more.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Tristan's taken the reins by virtue of being the first one up, but he's also the one with the bow. Now's not the time to switch, though. "How good are you at the reins? Don't take them yet - there's something strange about the King, but my eyes deceive me. What do you make of them?"

Fellowship: The Heart

"Impeccable craftwork," Lucien admires. "Have you ever picked a lock, Carinadir? I don't think you'd like it at all. It teaches you that even the best work has flaws. Small differences between the pins in alignment can - perhaps it might be best if I just showed you?"

The machine is perfect, but the Station is warped and crooked.

Lucien finds a very good bit of floor - which is to say, a very bad bit of floor - and lies down before the machinery, arms folded over their chest, as if waiting to die.

[Roll: 5, 3 +1 = 9 on Grace = I get there quickly, avoiding all harm]

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Tristan takes a run for the horse and mounts it at a leap. He offers his hand down to Nen after him.

It is better to ride then think, than to think then ride.

Fellowship: The Heart

Lucien does a cartwheel with the roll of Carinadir's eyes. When all else fails, one must commit to the bit.

Then there's words, and they're important words, which demands Lucien take them seriously again.

"I have not the slightest idea. I'd have pulled it by now, otherwise, wouldn't I?" It's asked like a rhetorical question but it is emphatically not rhetorical.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

Tristan throws his hands up in excitement, his entire body shouting "NIN!!!" for him, big happy smiles, and does not even for a second consider being embarrassed for doing this.

He doesn't care about impressing the knights. He just cares Nin's okay.

Dark Age (playtest): The Lands of Pendragon

"I believe my friend is tracking it," he says, and it's as good an explanation as any. "I have failed in tracking my friend. You have my bow and my assistance, as best as I am able." He shifts. "Is there any in your party who would lend me their horse? You'll find few with my skill with bow and horse, and I fear for my friend's safety."

He hadn't had experience with knightly combat, or wearing full plate, but he was light, nimble and accurate. He had long resigned himself to never matching even Robena's weakest mounted charges - he liked horses too much to risk hurting them like that.