Memory 2: Baroness
Aug. 26th, 2011 08:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
baddecisiondzurWhat Happened
This memory is set when Tazendra is around a century old and working for the Phoenix Guard. Tazendra is out riding with her friends --probably sometime in autumn -- and her servant back to Dragaera City, some months after the plot of TPG. They had just gotten back from some type of name-giving event for the child of someone called Lord Adron e'Kieron and they gossip a bit about the kid's mother and that Adron had let a few of their friends (Uttrik and Kathana) help in the ceremony.
They apparently had protected Adron from an assassination attempt, and helped negotiate peace with the Easterners over a territory dispute, and Uttrik had land out by there. Tazendra mentioned that Aerich had 'his name back' and could resume his duties as a peer, and he confirms that it was only love for his friends that had kept him working as a Guard for so long. Tazendra thought he had regained his title in a pretty badass way (but that is a different memory), but is still a bit sad over the thought that she hasn't cleared her own name.
Khaavren graciously offers that they can save their leave time and in a couple of years go help Tazendra, and he and Aerich ask her for details. She reveals her parents were Baron and Baroness of Daavya, and Aerich reacts with surprise when he recognizes the name: Daavya is within Arylle, his own duchy, so if Tazendra takes up her title, he'll be her liege-lord. Which doesn't bother her in the slightest, because she thinks Aerich would be a great Duke.
Aerich also tells her something he had heard: Aerich's father 'after his disgrace', realizing there was going to be trouble, because the Count of Shaltre, his neighbor, had permission from the previous empress to go out and hire mercenaries, had asked Tazendra's parents to protect his son (i.e. Aerich). So, while Tazendra had thought her parents were running from battle, what they were actually doing was getting a younger Aerich out of danger, then distracting the army and getting killed to protect the secret. And Aerich is willing to testify as such to the House of the Dzur, which makes Tazendra even happier.
Pel then also mentions he's thinking of leaving to start studying the art of Discretion, and Khaavren is a bit bummed that all of his friends are leaving him right as he got his first promotion. He graciously offers to hold their rooms open for them in his house, and that they were welcome to visit him any time.
What Tazendra Learned
+ Her friends! She has names and faces for her three dearest friends -- she already knew Aerich from here, but here's confirmation that they'd met quite long ago, since he'd look younger here. Also, I've been playing Tazendra as recognizing the Houses of people she remembers, because... well, that's how her brain works, as much as we immediately note a gender of people we meet. So she now has Teckla, Tiassa, Lyorn and Yendi as well as Dragon and Dzur. (Aerich mentioned Phoenix to her, but she wouldn't recognize one.)
+ Enough about the House of the Dzur. Tazendra's a member, being a hero is a Big Deal, and being a coward is bad and horrible. I anticipate more trouble in talking her down from Dumb but Brave things, because now she has the identity of 'Dzurlord' versus 'Lyvus'. Granted, even in canon, her friends can suggest other plans and she'll agree, because she's not stupid.
+ I'm a Baroness! And I owe fealty to Aerich. This... could be a complication in SLT, but we'll figure it out.
+ My parents were awesome! Dead, but awesome. They stood up to a whole damn army to protect someone who needed protection!
+ A lot of general good feelings for Aerich in particular, but also Khaavren and Pel.
+ Also, horse riding. I remember that.
Commentary
This memory will take the sting out of one of Tazendra's neg-sigs, the one where her parents die without telling her 'we gotta go out and protect the Duke of Arylle's son, instead of going to charge at that army, so be a good girl, mind your nurse and clear our names when you're older'.
This memory also has some second-hand awesome: I'm a soldier in His Majesty's Guard! We stopped an assassination attempt! Aerich regained his title by killing someone who needed killing!
Truthfully, at this point Tazendra should be able to realize that Aerich's little story was about her and him -- she remembers her own house, his house, and that they had two friends who were very close. Tazendra isn't always that prone to introspection.
Owing fealty to Aerich could be a problem, but I anticipate it's one that the two of them can sort out. But it adds even more into the 'Apus = protect', since now only is Aerich her friend, but she owes him her service.
This memory is set when Tazendra is around a century old and working for the Phoenix Guard. Tazendra is out riding with her friends --probably sometime in autumn -- and her servant back to Dragaera City, some months after the plot of TPG. They had just gotten back from some type of name-giving event for the child of someone called Lord Adron e'Kieron and they gossip a bit about the kid's mother and that Adron had let a few of their friends (Uttrik and Kathana) help in the ceremony.
They apparently had protected Adron from an assassination attempt, and helped negotiate peace with the Easterners over a territory dispute, and Uttrik had land out by there. Tazendra mentioned that Aerich had 'his name back' and could resume his duties as a peer, and he confirms that it was only love for his friends that had kept him working as a Guard for so long. Tazendra thought he had regained his title in a pretty badass way (but that is a different memory), but is still a bit sad over the thought that she hasn't cleared her own name.
Khaavren graciously offers that they can save their leave time and in a couple of years go help Tazendra, and he and Aerich ask her for details. She reveals her parents were Baron and Baroness of Daavya, and Aerich reacts with surprise when he recognizes the name: Daavya is within Arylle, his own duchy, so if Tazendra takes up her title, he'll be her liege-lord. Which doesn't bother her in the slightest, because she thinks Aerich would be a great Duke.
Aerich also tells her something he had heard: Aerich's father 'after his disgrace', realizing there was going to be trouble, because the Count of Shaltre, his neighbor, had permission from the previous empress to go out and hire mercenaries, had asked Tazendra's parents to protect his son (i.e. Aerich). So, while Tazendra had thought her parents were running from battle, what they were actually doing was getting a younger Aerich out of danger, then distracting the army and getting killed to protect the secret. And Aerich is willing to testify as such to the House of the Dzur, which makes Tazendra even happier.
Pel then also mentions he's thinking of leaving to start studying the art of Discretion, and Khaavren is a bit bummed that all of his friends are leaving him right as he got his first promotion. He graciously offers to hold their rooms open for them in his house, and that they were welcome to visit him any time.
What Tazendra Learned
+ Her friends! She has names and faces for her three dearest friends -- she already knew Aerich from here, but here's confirmation that they'd met quite long ago, since he'd look younger here. Also, I've been playing Tazendra as recognizing the Houses of people she remembers, because... well, that's how her brain works, as much as we immediately note a gender of people we meet. So she now has Teckla, Tiassa, Lyorn and Yendi as well as Dragon and Dzur. (Aerich mentioned Phoenix to her, but she wouldn't recognize one.)
+ Enough about the House of the Dzur. Tazendra's a member, being a hero is a Big Deal, and being a coward is bad and horrible. I anticipate more trouble in talking her down from Dumb but Brave things, because now she has the identity of 'Dzurlord' versus 'Lyvus'. Granted, even in canon, her friends can suggest other plans and she'll agree, because she's not stupid.
+ I'm a Baroness! And I owe fealty to Aerich. This... could be a complication in SLT, but we'll figure it out.
+ My parents were awesome! Dead, but awesome. They stood up to a whole damn army to protect someone who needed protection!
+ A lot of general good feelings for Aerich in particular, but also Khaavren and Pel.
+ Also, horse riding. I remember that.
Commentary
This memory will take the sting out of one of Tazendra's neg-sigs, the one where her parents die without telling her 'we gotta go out and protect the Duke of Arylle's son, instead of going to charge at that army, so be a good girl, mind your nurse and clear our names when you're older'.
This memory also has some second-hand awesome: I'm a soldier in His Majesty's Guard! We stopped an assassination attempt! Aerich regained his title by killing someone who needed killing!
Truthfully, at this point Tazendra should be able to realize that Aerich's little story was about her and him -- she remembers her own house, his house, and that they had two friends who were very close. Tazendra isn't always that prone to introspection.
Owing fealty to Aerich could be a problem, but I anticipate it's one that the two of them can sort out. But it adds even more into the 'Apus = protect', since now only is Aerich her friend, but she owes him her service.
