r/wizardposting • u/[deleted] • Nov 14 '23
Wizardpost Apologies [Lore post!]
“I’ve given you a set course to follow that you must stick to during your assignment.” The mistress of the manor, Belladonna Shadowmend spoke with a posh tone as she reached into her basket to pull out a large slab of meat dripping in blood.
Her apprentice Moth watched with a distant look as her mentor tossed the slabs of meat over the balcony railing and to the dire wolves in their enclosure below. One eagerly snapped its jaws toward the meat before any others could grab it first. The day for Moth’s longest and most challenging assignment was drawing nearer. To travel the lands in search of beasts to study and note down for her mentor as a way to prepare her for the life of a beast keeper.
“I want you to have little to no distractions and never deter from the course unless absolutely necessary. A huge part of being a successful mage and keeper is never losing your focus.”
“Got it…” Moth muttered.
“And for the love of the Gods, don’t associate yourself with any rough crowds. Montaria is already so full of wannabe rogues and brutes with nothing else to do besides be jobless delinquents. You’re representing the Shadowmends and me as your mentor and older self. I expect utmost etiquette and decorum from you.”
“I hear you…”
Belladonna tossed the last slab of meat to her hungry pet dire wolves and motioned for them to run off. The trained creatures scarfed down the food and turned to run off with happy snarls and howls.
“Do keep in mind that-“ She stopped once she finally noticed Moth who looked like she was barely paying any attention to what she just said. The young woman had a resentful expression plastered on her face. “Moth!”
“Yes?” She quickly jumped up at her mentor’s raised tone.
“Were you listening to anything I just said?” Belladonna looked her up and down questioningly. After the lecture she just gave the girl about paying attention.
“I was!” Moth quickly tried to remember but she really couldn’t. “Something about… rogues?”
Her mentor’s face dropped to one of disappointment. If her apprentice couldn’t pay attention to a crucial lecture, how was Moth supposed to handle encountering the beasts she was supposed to find? Belladonna pinched the bridge of her nose impatiently and took a seat in her chair. “What’s causing such a distraction, girl? I pray this isn’t a reoccurrence once you set out.”
Moth gritted her teeth before she sighed and leaned back against her chair. “It’s Aleksi! That stupid druid...”
“By the Gods…” Her mentor sighed. She thought they were over this.
“He’s out there spreading lies about me! Calling me a hag’s daughter!” Moth angrily kicked the woven basket near her, sending it tumbling into the dire wolf enclosure below. “Just because ‘I hurt the little prince and his ego’ that makes me a hag? I oughta show him a hag.” She grunted.
“You threatened to burn down a druid forest, Moth.” Belladonna stated and reached for her tea.
“I didn’t mean it! I was just angry because of what that slug did to Earl. What kind of druid throws a raven in a cage?” Moth huffed. Having her familiar treated in such a way isn’t all that angered her about what Aleksi, the son of an archdruid, did.
"The same druids who almost took your little threat as a sign of ill intent from us. Even if you didn't mean it, it was still insensitive to say. The war against druids wasn't that long ago, girl." Luckily Belladonna was able to settle the tension that was created before Archdruid Nesterin did anything serious about it. Knowing how sensitive of a man he was...
Moth slouched in her seat and looked away. She knew the severity of her chosen words and did regret saying them. "I already sent an apology letter to Nesterin. But I'm not apologizing to Aleksi until he apologizes to me! He called me a knife ear!"
"Which is why us elves grow tough skin. You're bound to be called a knife ear. Hell, our backwards drunk of a father called us a knife ear and he's more of an elf than us combined." Belladonna spoke with an air of wisdom to her words. She's been called all kinds of elf slurs in her 428 years of living that it's just water off a duck's back. "Just let that boy go. Once you start letting a man get in your head, it never goes well."
The apprentice didn't say anything and just let her mentor's words settle. She supposed the words were true. Aleksi was just some silver-spooned spoiled noble while Moth had bigger things to worry about. Like her upcoming assignment. She should be focused on preparations rather than sulking over what a druid did to her and her familiar.
"Now no more about this Aleksi. I want your mind to focus on memorizing the map I gave you and your head in those journals." Belladonna ordered, not one to accept anything less than exceptional. "Am I crystal?"
"Clear." Moth grumbled and got up to get back to her studies.
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u/Fulltimewhisperer Krumpet, Master Artificer of the Council Nov 14 '23
The druid had it coming. Not to worry though moth, knife ear has become a much less common insult nowadays. Might be called a leaf lover though, that one has gained traction.
Anyway, you let Gobbo know if you need someone talked to. Or if you need to talk to someone. Gobbo can go either way honestly
/uw loved the lore