XuL09 - Artistic Endevours

“Please, call me Xu Liang. It has been an exciting day already. So, there are reports that must be written. I had thought I might write them here in case you need more details from me.”


He sets up the portable desk and glides over to look at the sketches. “The Regent has a good eye for talent, these are excellent.”

(OOC – I’m going to assume that he was working at a table of some sort for the sketching.) He returns to his desk and pulls out the tripod, a piece of foolscap, and a charcoal stick. He returns and stands at the table opposite Dante. He sets up the tripod and swings the prism above the foolscap and then adjusts it so he can see Dante’s drawing superimposed onto the paper. (OOC - The device is a Camera Lucida, which is a rather cool old school device!  I'm not sure if Dante would have seen one before, it is possible.)


Using the device, he quickly reproduces an adequate outline of the beautiful sketch work that Dante has done. “You have done a wonderful job pulling out a whole image from my recollections. Here are a few things that I did not remember before but looking at your sketches brings them to mind.”


“Here the brows are heavier like this.” He adds marks to his drawing using the charcoal with some skill, but nowhere near Dante’s level. “And his nose is a bit broader here,” he uses the charcoal tip to thicken a bit a little below the bridge, “as if it had been broken several times.” He looks back at several of Dante’s other drawings thinking. “And his ears are attached at the bottom like mine.”


“My apologies for not remembering these details before. I am sure you will be able to work them into your finished portrait.  Is there anything I can help you with?”

"I see. Many of these people I was going to bring back and pose so I could get their looks just right. You've saved me some time. You will need to sign this work when I'm finished."


(OOC – The Camera Lucida makes it possible to create a copy of an image. Xu would not presume to correct a masters work, on the work itself. He has created an outline of the original work and then put the embellishments on the copy. This will let Dante develop his original sketch without any heavy handed marks by a less trained artist.)


“Unfortunately, in this case, getting the Tug to sit for you might prove difficult. If you can get it as close as you can, perhaps the Regent will recognize him and be able to contact him.” He gives the foolscap to Dante and then sets down and starts his report writing.


After the appropriate salutations he begins;


While investigating the situation in Garnath there was a trembling of the earth that dropped us to the ground and flashing lights that were visible from a good distance. Lord Ovid and I went to investigate the phenomenon.


When we reached the location of the lights we observed a magical gate and a woman. Unfortunately she was back lit so little details of her identity could be seen. At our approach she stepped back through and it began to close.


Racing forward and using my power I attempted to force the gate back open. Unfortunately, the forces involved were beyond my ability to replicate. But the closure was halted for a brief time and a glimpse of what was on the other side was gained.

There were rolling emerald green grassy hills. Rain dripped down from slate grey clouds.


It was not much to go on, and I knew it was not much to Travel with so I pushed the tip of my knife through and released the gate, slicing off the tip. With the rest of the knife, Travelling to the tip should be quite straightforward.


There was another person present in the forest, whose identity I do not trust to put down and will convey to you when we next meet.


With the gate apparently sealed, a ward was placed on the location to warn of future incursions and linked to a bell currently in my possession. Whom do you wish me to give the bell to as I will be leaving soon to look for the errant Princess Maeve?


Dante and I are currently working on the portrait in the small ballroom. Putting my recollections of the more esoteric details of the gate magics will keep me productive while waiting for the artist’s questions.


If you wish to see me about the incident, or the family member’s identity, you have only to send word and I will come immediately.


Yours faithfully,

Xu Liang


He folds it closed. Next he trims off a bit of a candle with a long nail and melts it with a bit of Chi to seal the letter, letting his fingerprint be his seal. I really should get a seal ring made also. He shrugs, plenty of time for that later.

He then sends the letter off to the Regent and sits down to put his memories to paper.

OOC - Sorry, crazy week at work.

Xu Liang says to Dante while rising to go, "The Regent wishes to speak with me.  She is likely to ask about the portrait of Tug.  Could you give me an estimate on when it will be ready for her to view?"

He will then thank him for his answer (whether he can or cannot give a date) while cleaning his brush and setting it to dry.  That done he nods to Dante and says, "It has been a pleasure to watch you work.  See you soon, hopefully."

He checks on the pouch containing the warning bell and will then follow the page back to the Regent and wait to be shown into her presence.

Xu Liang bows to her at 45 degrees, head down, when he enters holding it for a moment, then he straightens up and approaches the desk gliding smoothly across the plush carpet with hardly a whisper to distract her.


When she asks, he says in a low voice, but not a whisper, “It was Prince Corwin who was in the woods.” Then in a more normal voice he continues, “Putting his name in a letter seemed… unwise.” He sounds a bit hesitant, as if he is unsure he did the right thing.


He continues in a more confident tone, “Lord Ovid encountered him while pursuing a woman he felt was acting suspiciously. Shortly after I caught up with them, the event started and Corwin took off towards the lights. We pursued and caught up with him at the gate.”


“After the gate closed, he took off in pursuit of the woman who went through the gate. However, without this,” Xu Liang pulls the dagger from his sleeve slowly with two fingers and lays it carefully on her desk. She can see the blade ends unnaturally with a clean cut. “Or even a description of the location. It will take him some time to reach her last known location.”

"Neither lady in this gave me a good opportunity to look at them.  The first was wearing a dark blue dress but was too far away in the woods to make out more than that.  Lord Ovid might have got a better look at her than I."

"The lady at the gate was medium height, slim, with long hair.  But with the back lighting it was impossible to make out any more details."  (OOC - I'm kinda making this up, Xu would say exactly what he saw so if this is incorrect, please let me know.)  "She was not in view when I peered through what remained of the gate either.  Which is a bit strange now that I think about it."

Xu Liang remains standing since he has not been asked to sit and resists the urge to put his hands into his sleeves in front of himself. It had taken him a while to stop that Zhong Guo Scholar habit and he was happy to note the urge only came infrequently nowadays.


He contents himself with observing Flora as she considers the information he has given her and how she talks of Corwin. “He made a good case for not mentioning his presence. So, you are the only person I am trusting with the information, unless you wish it shared with others.”


Xu Liang shrugs, “Perhaps it is his test of our character and loyalties.”

“It so happens that one of the main purposes of Feng Shi is to shape the world around us, no matter on what scale. City civil engineering or countryside?”


“Certainly, but better with a fan. And there is a loyal army outside the forests of Arden under one of my generals. You have but to say the word and we will be where you wish and fight who needs fought.” He says this, hoping that he can convince the men that he can give them what they wish in return for fulfilling that promise.