Soul Custody (8/2) - Jaezred
Feb 23, 2022 14:41:42 GMT
Anthony, Delilah Daybreaker, and 1 more like this
Post by Jaezred Vandree on Feb 23, 2022 14:41:42 GMT
Black Dragonfruit Cream Cake
By Lord Jaezred Vandree
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
AUTHORâS NOTES:
An acquaintance of mine recently met an estranged relative for the first time. A deeply emotional affair and all that. As they try to recover what was once lost, they bonded over this particular cream cake (a decadent style of cake popular with the upper class of the Sword Coast North), made with black dragonfruit, a rare strain of the fruit with deep dark purple skin and flesh that is cultivated in their homelands. The majority of this cake is cream, making it light, fluffy, and bouncy, and the mildly sweet taste of the dragonfruit is enhanced by tart and tangy blackberries. Quite the guilty pleasure.
Although it would make this recipe much too early, I must say that it is the perfect dessert for hot summer days, when the dragonfruit is in season and cool lightness would feel refreshing on the tongue. But then again, there is no bad time to enjoy a sweet treat.
On one particular copy of this cake recipe, the true message written underneath with the illusory script spell is revealed under the gaze of a very select few:
The ceiling in the bedroom suites of the Gilded Mirror are beautifully embellished â decorative oak panels with ornamental bronze borders surrounding a golden medallion in the centre, from which a small, crystal chandelier hangs. Jaezred has been absent-mindedly admiring it for a few minutes now, one arm around Imryllâs shoulders lying next to him on the bed, her bare breasts pressing into his side as she silently peruses the report.
The sound of a slight crumple of parchment and Imryll shifting in his embrace signals to him that she is done reading. He takes his eyes off the ceiling and onto her, looking cosy snuggled up against him, and he asks the question that has been on his mind the entire day.
âCould Queen Nicnevnin possibly reverse shadow corruption on a dragon?â
She dwells on the question for a moment as she thinks deeply for an answer. A concerned expression crosses her face. âWell, the fact that dearest dad seems to have gone into hiding would make that quite difficult, dear, butâŚin all honesty, even if he did come along to the court, thatâs not to say she necessarily can. She is capable of more than I know but I know itâsâŚdifficult. It is possible to draw the shadows out of a creature but it is often not worth the cost. It may not be the case of the darkness infecting the body like a poison that can be isolated and drained. If he has been there too long, exposed to too much shadow, it could begin to replace what was once there. Reversing it may not be completely possible and removing it might, in short, remove more than is viable for him to live with.â
She deftly passes the report back to Jaezred, relaxing a little into her usual playful demeanour again. âThat said of course, there would be a price to pay for such a feat and dearest dad may not be willing to make that bargain. He has already reneged on a deal once, the Queen of Copper would unlikely allow the terms of the deal she made to afford him that choice a second timeâŚâ
He sighs as he puts the report away on a nightstand. âRight. That is consistent with what the professor orb said. Is shadow corruption so painful that it is worth taking such a risk? And more importantly, why did he feel the need to hide his motivations from us?â
âThat would be something for him to answer. For me, Iâm afraid I look far too good in colour to be stuck in black all the time,â she answers with a wink.
âI think you look sexy in black.â He plants a kiss on her head. âI think I would offer him this path if I get the chance. Heâs a canny one, this Kurtz, but not canny enough to fool the Moonweaver. However, ultimately, itâs his choice to make.â
She smiles. âChoice is a wonderful thing isnât it, dear?â
He chuckles and kisses her on the mouth this time. âYes, yes, no need to go all âI told you soâ. What do you think about Glasya and demons though? How does something like that happen?â
âThat one is odd⌠Perhaps the result of another deal somewhere? Canât say I have especially heard of much like that happening before.â
âCertainly sets a concerning precedent. The world doesnât stand much of a chance if demons and devils put their differences aside and start working together.â
âNo⌠I daresay it wouldnât. Thankfully, I doubt any such alliance would last too long, given their natures. Still, a worrying thought.â
âI suppose there have been stranger bedfellows in history. Such as a dark elf and a surface elf, for exampleâŚâ
âNot strange at all. Who wouldnât want to spend time with me?â
âOf course my dearest, you are anâŚâ
ââŚabsolute delight!â they both say in unison.
âPredictable,â Jaezred says with a grin. She pouts.
They spend the rest of the evening discussing clueless warlock girls, messy ranger girlfriends, disappointing wizard boyfriends, manipulative dragon fathers, matricide, patricide, and so on, with Jaezred lying on his side and propping his head on a hand whilst he spills all the juicy details. He delights in watching Imryllâs reactions â her dramatic gasps, her squeals of joy, her feet excitedly kicking the air, her musical giggles, and most of all, the light dancing in her green eyes as she gazes into his, listening intently and absently caressing his arm.
If this moment were to stretch into eternity â the low light of the chandelier, the softness of the pillows, the warmth of their naked bodies pressed against each other â he would not mind it.
âSo. Much. Angst in the Dawnlands, dearest. And I thought I had it bad,â he concludes.
âDarling, you are positively boring by comparison.â
He bursts out laughing. âAww, really now?â
âWell, unless you wish to take up patricide too?â
âI have tried to kill my father several times! A couple of them were even serious attempts.â
âOh, come on⌠Now youâre teasing me! I expect a full rundown on these little tidbits next.â
âAnother time, my love. I fear you might keel over from overexcitement.â He winks.
âPositively giddy!â
He sighs and rolls on his back to stare up at the ceiling once more. âI do wonder, from hearing all these stories, if all the trouble of having children is worth it? I certainly hope my children donât turn out to be adventurers. Thatâs how Iâd know I fucked up.â
âWell, to be fair, I think as long as you donât actively try to kill them, donât abandon them to the point of them not knowing you are actually a dragon and, you know, actually show up for birthdays and the like, I think it could be far worse⌠The adventuring community certainly sets a low bar for parenthood it seems though, youâre right.â
He laughs again. âI think I could manage those, yes.â His fingers go up to lightly stroke her face. âWhat about you, dearest? Do you ever think about having children? I imagine your job makes it difficult.â
âPerhaps one day. It would be a travesty upon the world when I finally leave it, so itâs only fair I leave someone in my place to fill that void, donât you think?â
âImagine that, leaving little Imrylls in your wake to ruin the world even further.â
âSorry dear, I think you stuttered there, the word youâre looking for is ârunâ.â
âForget demons and devils, this is the real threat to the multiverse.â He chuckles and holds her closer, tucking her head under his chin. âI jest. You will make a great mother.â
She glances up and gives him a smug, little look that proclaims, I know.
Inspired by this dragon fruit cake recipe.
Thank you to the wonderful Anthony for roleplaying the wonderful Imryll.
By Lord Jaezred Vandree
INGREDIENTS:
- 1½ tablespoons of powdered gelatin
- 4 tablespoons of water
- Chocolate sponge cake, cut into a circle
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1 black dragonfruit, quartered
- ½ cup of blackberries
- 6½ tablespoons of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- ž cup of milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 2½ tablespoons of sugar
- ž tablespoon of gelatin powder soaked in 2 tablespoons of water
- Whipped cream
- Edible flowers (garnish)
- Blackberries (garnish)
- Mint leaves (garnish)
DIRECTIONS:
- Soak the powdered gelatin in water in a small bowl. Set aside to let bloom.
- Whip the heavy cream for a few minutes until it reaches stiff peaks.
- Crush and mix three quarters of the dragonfruit and the blackberries with a mortar and pestle, then add sugar and lemon juice.
- Cook the resulting fruit mixture over medium heat in a saucepan just shy of boiling, then stir in half the gelatin.
- Pour about a cup of the mixture into a separate bowl, leaving the rest in the saucepan. Add the remaining gelatin to the bowl and stir.
- Allow mixture to cool, then add milk, egg yolk, and remaining sugar and whisk until thickened. Fold in the whipped cream, then pour the mixture into the cake mould. Put it in a dry larder for a few hours or use the prestidigitation cantrip to cool it down.
- Remove the cake from the larder and pipe additional whipped cream around the edges to decorate.
- Pour the remaining mixture from the saucepan over the top of the cake. Put it back into the dry larder in order to allow it to firm up.
- Once firm, remove the mould and garnish with blackberries, edible flowers, and mint leaves.
AUTHORâS NOTES:
An acquaintance of mine recently met an estranged relative for the first time. A deeply emotional affair and all that. As they try to recover what was once lost, they bonded over this particular cream cake (a decadent style of cake popular with the upper class of the Sword Coast North), made with black dragonfruit, a rare strain of the fruit with deep dark purple skin and flesh that is cultivated in their homelands. The majority of this cake is cream, making it light, fluffy, and bouncy, and the mildly sweet taste of the dragonfruit is enhanced by tart and tangy blackberries. Quite the guilty pleasure.
Although it would make this recipe much too early, I must say that it is the perfect dessert for hot summer days, when the dragonfruit is in season and cool lightness would feel refreshing on the tongue. But then again, there is no bad time to enjoy a sweet treat.
On one particular copy of this cake recipe, the true message written underneath with the illusory script spell is revealed under the gaze of a very select few:
8 Alturiak 1499
Varga, Sgt. Grimes of the Daring Heights City Watch, and myself gathered in Fort Ettin to answer the call of Delilah (alias Tinuviel) and Lady Oziah Daybreaker once more.
As per my previous report, Delilah discovered her estranged father, âthe Benefactorâ, in the above-ground area of the Obsidian City in the Plains of Despair of the Shadowfell. She wished to descend into the underground city proper this time to seek answers from the Benefactor and to kill him if she must. Following a disagreement regarding the division of spoils from the last adventure, Heret Velnnarul has been replaced with Sgt. Grimes.
For preparation, I used the seeming spell to make the party look like Shadowfell natives and in the building where the Benefactor met us the first time, I scried on him using the Obsidian City map he gave to Delilah as a connection. The scrying spell was successful: I saw the Benefactor in a room within the underground city, speaking to a figure that we would later learn was one of two mariliths. Both referred to an unknown individual with female pronouns during their conversation, someone to whom the Benefactor owed a debt. He surrendered 5 soul coins â containing the souls of all but one of his offspring â to the marilith as âpaymentâ but lied about those being all of them. However, the fiends could tell that he was being dishonest and he fell to his knees with a sudden pain, then casted forcecage to enclose himself in an invisible prison before they could get to him.
This was the moment when Delilah decided we should rescue her father.
There were telltale signs of violence throughout the Obsidian City, both above- and underground: deep, claw-shaped gouges in the obsidian, collapsed tunnels, corpses with gashes upon their flesh. It remains unknown whether this was wanton destruction or casualties of a struggle, but nevertheless, the signs pointed to a dragon â perhaps a shadow dragon â in the area.
We descended into the city with Varga and Delilah leading the way. From my description of dripping water and a flagstone floor in the Benefactorâs location in my vision, we deduced that he is in one of the artificial rooms within the city instead of its natural caverns; and indeed, we found him and the two mariliths in a large, abandoned arena. Forcecage was still in effect despite an hour having passed â more than likely because he extended its duration using metamagic, confirming his sorcerous abilities.
During the ensuing fight, Sgt. Grimes recognised the Benefactor as Kurtz, an adult shadow green dragon who was waging war with his mercenary band against other mercenaries north of the Angelbark Forest. Grimes met him 4 months ago when he helped the wizard Veridian Pentaghast steal his spellbook, the Apocrypha of Alchemical Alterations. Delilah persuaded Kurtz to fight by our side and he transformed into his true draconic self, destroying the last standing marilith.
Kurtz explained that having his spellbook stolen from him was a major hindrance with his quest for power, thus he turned to the archdevil Glasya for a deal. The payment for the deal was to be either his soul or the souls of his 6 shadow-touched children. Reluctantly, he chose the latter, and presently has reneged on the deal. The exact terms of this deal remain unknown but his reasons for seeking power were discovered later. He expressed despair in battling against Glasya, who inexplicably has marilith demons under her control now.
Kurtz teleported away before more questions could be asked of him. After returning to Fort Ettin, I informed Delilah that Kurtz is patron to a warlock living in the fort. Miss Silvia is a young human peasant from the Sword Coast who made a deal with Kurtz out of desperation during an attack on her village 7 years prior. She was consequently cursed with tormenting quasits and an uncontrollable bloodlust due to an unintentionally botched pact-making process â or so Kurtz claims â and only recently discovered exactly who and what she sold her soul to. During this second meeting with Kurtz, they renegotiated the deal in such a way that the quasits can no longer torment Silvia and her bloodlust is kept at bay as long as she is attuned to a knife, her pact weapon. In exchange, she is to help him get his spellbook back. She confronted Pentaghast about this book in recent weeks and only received threats from the much more powerful mage as a result.
Delilah asked me to arrange a meeting between her and Silvia the next day. She had also guessed that Her Majesty is my patron and confirmed to me that it is her mother â who had maimed her face with a damaging necromantic spell â whom she is enlisting Kurtzâs help to kill.
More to comeâŚ
Varga, Sgt. Grimes of the Daring Heights City Watch, and myself gathered in Fort Ettin to answer the call of Delilah (alias Tinuviel) and Lady Oziah Daybreaker once more.
As per my previous report, Delilah discovered her estranged father, âthe Benefactorâ, in the above-ground area of the Obsidian City in the Plains of Despair of the Shadowfell. She wished to descend into the underground city proper this time to seek answers from the Benefactor and to kill him if she must. Following a disagreement regarding the division of spoils from the last adventure, Heret Velnnarul has been replaced with Sgt. Grimes.
For preparation, I used the seeming spell to make the party look like Shadowfell natives and in the building where the Benefactor met us the first time, I scried on him using the Obsidian City map he gave to Delilah as a connection. The scrying spell was successful: I saw the Benefactor in a room within the underground city, speaking to a figure that we would later learn was one of two mariliths. Both referred to an unknown individual with female pronouns during their conversation, someone to whom the Benefactor owed a debt. He surrendered 5 soul coins â containing the souls of all but one of his offspring â to the marilith as âpaymentâ but lied about those being all of them. However, the fiends could tell that he was being dishonest and he fell to his knees with a sudden pain, then casted forcecage to enclose himself in an invisible prison before they could get to him.
This was the moment when Delilah decided we should rescue her father.
There were telltale signs of violence throughout the Obsidian City, both above- and underground: deep, claw-shaped gouges in the obsidian, collapsed tunnels, corpses with gashes upon their flesh. It remains unknown whether this was wanton destruction or casualties of a struggle, but nevertheless, the signs pointed to a dragon â perhaps a shadow dragon â in the area.
We descended into the city with Varga and Delilah leading the way. From my description of dripping water and a flagstone floor in the Benefactorâs location in my vision, we deduced that he is in one of the artificial rooms within the city instead of its natural caverns; and indeed, we found him and the two mariliths in a large, abandoned arena. Forcecage was still in effect despite an hour having passed â more than likely because he extended its duration using metamagic, confirming his sorcerous abilities.
During the ensuing fight, Sgt. Grimes recognised the Benefactor as Kurtz, an adult shadow green dragon who was waging war with his mercenary band against other mercenaries north of the Angelbark Forest. Grimes met him 4 months ago when he helped the wizard Veridian Pentaghast steal his spellbook, the Apocrypha of Alchemical Alterations. Delilah persuaded Kurtz to fight by our side and he transformed into his true draconic self, destroying the last standing marilith.
Kurtz explained that having his spellbook stolen from him was a major hindrance with his quest for power, thus he turned to the archdevil Glasya for a deal. The payment for the deal was to be either his soul or the souls of his 6 shadow-touched children. Reluctantly, he chose the latter, and presently has reneged on the deal. The exact terms of this deal remain unknown but his reasons for seeking power were discovered later. He expressed despair in battling against Glasya, who inexplicably has marilith demons under her control now.
Kurtz teleported away before more questions could be asked of him. After returning to Fort Ettin, I informed Delilah that Kurtz is patron to a warlock living in the fort. Miss Silvia is a young human peasant from the Sword Coast who made a deal with Kurtz out of desperation during an attack on her village 7 years prior. She was consequently cursed with tormenting quasits and an uncontrollable bloodlust due to an unintentionally botched pact-making process â or so Kurtz claims â and only recently discovered exactly who and what she sold her soul to. During this second meeting with Kurtz, they renegotiated the deal in such a way that the quasits can no longer torment Silvia and her bloodlust is kept at bay as long as she is attuned to a knife, her pact weapon. In exchange, she is to help him get his spellbook back. She confronted Pentaghast about this book in recent weeks and only received threats from the much more powerful mage as a result.
Delilah asked me to arrange a meeting between her and Silvia the next day. She had also guessed that Her Majesty is my patron and confirmed to me that it is her mother â who had maimed her face with a damaging necromantic spell â whom she is enlisting Kurtzâs help to kill.
More to comeâŚ
The ceiling in the bedroom suites of the Gilded Mirror are beautifully embellished â decorative oak panels with ornamental bronze borders surrounding a golden medallion in the centre, from which a small, crystal chandelier hangs. Jaezred has been absent-mindedly admiring it for a few minutes now, one arm around Imryllâs shoulders lying next to him on the bed, her bare breasts pressing into his side as she silently peruses the report.
The sound of a slight crumple of parchment and Imryll shifting in his embrace signals to him that she is done reading. He takes his eyes off the ceiling and onto her, looking cosy snuggled up against him, and he asks the question that has been on his mind the entire day.
âCould Queen Nicnevnin possibly reverse shadow corruption on a dragon?â
She dwells on the question for a moment as she thinks deeply for an answer. A concerned expression crosses her face. âWell, the fact that dearest dad seems to have gone into hiding would make that quite difficult, dear, butâŚin all honesty, even if he did come along to the court, thatâs not to say she necessarily can. She is capable of more than I know but I know itâsâŚdifficult. It is possible to draw the shadows out of a creature but it is often not worth the cost. It may not be the case of the darkness infecting the body like a poison that can be isolated and drained. If he has been there too long, exposed to too much shadow, it could begin to replace what was once there. Reversing it may not be completely possible and removing it might, in short, remove more than is viable for him to live with.â
She deftly passes the report back to Jaezred, relaxing a little into her usual playful demeanour again. âThat said of course, there would be a price to pay for such a feat and dearest dad may not be willing to make that bargain. He has already reneged on a deal once, the Queen of Copper would unlikely allow the terms of the deal she made to afford him that choice a second timeâŚâ
He sighs as he puts the report away on a nightstand. âRight. That is consistent with what the professor orb said. Is shadow corruption so painful that it is worth taking such a risk? And more importantly, why did he feel the need to hide his motivations from us?â
âThat would be something for him to answer. For me, Iâm afraid I look far too good in colour to be stuck in black all the time,â she answers with a wink.
âI think you look sexy in black.â He plants a kiss on her head. âI think I would offer him this path if I get the chance. Heâs a canny one, this Kurtz, but not canny enough to fool the Moonweaver. However, ultimately, itâs his choice to make.â
She smiles. âChoice is a wonderful thing isnât it, dear?â
He chuckles and kisses her on the mouth this time. âYes, yes, no need to go all âI told you soâ. What do you think about Glasya and demons though? How does something like that happen?â
âThat one is odd⌠Perhaps the result of another deal somewhere? Canât say I have especially heard of much like that happening before.â
âCertainly sets a concerning precedent. The world doesnât stand much of a chance if demons and devils put their differences aside and start working together.â
âNo⌠I daresay it wouldnât. Thankfully, I doubt any such alliance would last too long, given their natures. Still, a worrying thought.â
âI suppose there have been stranger bedfellows in history. Such as a dark elf and a surface elf, for exampleâŚâ
âNot strange at all. Who wouldnât want to spend time with me?â
âOf course my dearest, you are anâŚâ
ââŚabsolute delight!â they both say in unison.
âPredictable,â Jaezred says with a grin. She pouts.
They spend the rest of the evening discussing clueless warlock girls, messy ranger girlfriends, disappointing wizard boyfriends, manipulative dragon fathers, matricide, patricide, and so on, with Jaezred lying on his side and propping his head on a hand whilst he spills all the juicy details. He delights in watching Imryllâs reactions â her dramatic gasps, her squeals of joy, her feet excitedly kicking the air, her musical giggles, and most of all, the light dancing in her green eyes as she gazes into his, listening intently and absently caressing his arm.
If this moment were to stretch into eternity â the low light of the chandelier, the softness of the pillows, the warmth of their naked bodies pressed against each other â he would not mind it.
âSo. Much. Angst in the Dawnlands, dearest. And I thought I had it bad,â he concludes.
âDarling, you are positively boring by comparison.â
He bursts out laughing. âAww, really now?â
âWell, unless you wish to take up patricide too?â
âI have tried to kill my father several times! A couple of them were even serious attempts.â
âOh, come on⌠Now youâre teasing me! I expect a full rundown on these little tidbits next.â
âAnother time, my love. I fear you might keel over from overexcitement.â He winks.
âPositively giddy!â
He sighs and rolls on his back to stare up at the ceiling once more. âI do wonder, from hearing all these stories, if all the trouble of having children is worth it? I certainly hope my children donât turn out to be adventurers. Thatâs how Iâd know I fucked up.â
âWell, to be fair, I think as long as you donât actively try to kill them, donât abandon them to the point of them not knowing you are actually a dragon and, you know, actually show up for birthdays and the like, I think it could be far worse⌠The adventuring community certainly sets a low bar for parenthood it seems though, youâre right.â
He laughs again. âI think I could manage those, yes.â His fingers go up to lightly stroke her face. âWhat about you, dearest? Do you ever think about having children? I imagine your job makes it difficult.â
âPerhaps one day. It would be a travesty upon the world when I finally leave it, so itâs only fair I leave someone in my place to fill that void, donât you think?â
âImagine that, leaving little Imrylls in your wake to ruin the world even further.â
âSorry dear, I think you stuttered there, the word youâre looking for is ârunâ.â
âForget demons and devils, this is the real threat to the multiverse.â He chuckles and holds her closer, tucking her head under his chin. âI jest. You will make a great mother.â
She glances up and gives him a smug, little look that proclaims, I know.
Inspired by this dragon fruit cake recipe.
Thank you to the wonderful Anthony for roleplaying the wonderful Imryll.
