Seeking a Timelord...

[slippedhalo]

Witchcraft & Timelords... (closed)

Ok, warning, Not so much SRP but RP which may contain sex...but I'm experiencing some random trolls in the usual RP forum making the finding of a writing partner more of a hassle than necessary...

Here's the gist:
I have a 'Doctor Who' inspired story idea. I want very much to write of a Timelord, much like The Doctor (I guess it could possibly even be him) who is travelling through time and space in a T.A.R.D.I.S. (I'd love to see one shaped as a refrigerator box, voting booth, photo booth, or something like that.) and I'd write a lovely young, red-haired healer and midwife from a proud tradition of a long line of matriarchy and pagan healing out of the burning times, who's had her forest home and peaceful existence invaded and burned down by the Sheriff and the local army due to her family being considered lawless, Godless, gypsies. Her grandmother (could be NPC-ed or a third writer if interested) and her are about to be burnt at the stake for witchcraft when the Timelord arrives to whisk them away and they join him/her on adventures.

P.M. me if you're interested.

 

[slippedhalo]

IC:

In the burning times the Light family worked tirelessly to aide all those in need of healing and birth assistance (whatever their status or beliefs) despite the interference of both the armies of the Kingdom of Knott and of Kingdom Ryelen in the peacful pagan operations of the various cooperative clans of the Valley Woods between them. Already, the witches of the families Stone, Brookside, and Fern were no longer. Their simple homes had been burnt to dust; the women taken under arrest and separated from their children, left orphaned (pretty ones taken as slaves for the well to do, the homely ones left to fend for themselves, often found dead in the city streets within weeks of their mother's burnings.), a sad state for the peaceful witches who'd found solace and made a living from those woods for hundreds of years up until then. Christianity reigned and all pagans were either converted via intimidation or arrested, tortured, and burnt to death to be made examples of.

Soon, all families had been touched by the local theocracies in some form, missing a family member or two; turning from woodland farmers, hedgewitches and naturalistic healers to scroungers on the constant move. Staying in one place for too long had become as dangerous as walking into the cities alone and undisguised, in recent years. February Fire Light (a.k.a. Firelight) and her grandmother, Greenly Light had taken to constantly wearing men's clothing and hiding their long hair (Firelight's red locks were quite noticeable otherwise, Gran's less so, now that it was beginning to turn brassy silver) beneath big men's hats. They'd lost February's mother, Ember, to a witch trial and burning fifteen years ago. Her fiery haired five year old had escaped the grasp of a Knott soldier about to hand her over to Lady Asworth for training as a housemaid by biting his hand so hard he had to have the dead index finger severed later on. The little one ran for three days and hid in the treetops for three nights before she found her distraught grandmother. Greenly had been raising little Firelight from that day forth and had taught her all the ancient ways of the Light Family Healers.

It was their third week at their current shelter site and Greenly was quite settled, growing tired of the constant moving about, but Firelight felt the familiar itch to move on soon. She had a way of knowing bad energy was in the air before an event occurred. Unfortunately, it didn't always allow for much time to react to her gut feeling. This morning something was different in the usual forest sounds. The birdsong was more reserved in the treetops. She called out to Greenly, "Gran, who is due this way today? Or, must we venture out into the hills? Have we any known appointments?"

The old woman poked her head out from the tent and yawned, stretching her wrinkled yet surprisingly spry body. "The Widow Calloway is overdue. Her baby should have come last week. She's been in pain. Her sister sent word they'd send word if the baby had come. If not, we were to sneak over to her farm while the rest of the house was off to church and help her birth the baby."

February swore under her breath. "It's not safe to camp here another night, Gran. I feel it. We should pack up our things and be prepared to make camp in a new spot after helping Widow Calloway, alright?"

The older woman squinted, it was barely dawn. The moon still shone brightly through the leaves and the sun hadn't even begun its ascent in the sky. Still, she knew it was time. Her granddaughter was always right about these things. Those keen instincts had kept them both alive against impossible odds for this long, no use questioning them now. "Alright, my little merrybegot. I'll start packing."

Packing up camp was uneventful and timely. By dawn, both women in manly disguise thought they could smell the scent of cooking food on campfires and the unmistakable laughter of men, likely soldiers, not far away. They varied their walking route to avoid those possible camps and it took them an extra hour to reach their destination. By the time they'd reached the farm and were let in by the maid (secretly, a fellow pagan), Mrs. Calloway was in desperate throes of heavy labour. Managing to save a baby born dead, purple in color and unable to breathe, was almost commonplace for the pair who worked efficiently and very profesionally together. Their ways were actually more successful than the two kingdom's most renowned doctors and apothecaries. Yet, their only advertising was through dangerous underground passing of word of mouth.

The widow had a new son to take over for his dad one day. She was grateful, realizing that, had the two witches not come, her beautiful little boy would've been a stillborn fatality. She thanked them with some copper coins, a few of her old gowns made from fine material, and a chicken, a fat hen. It was a very profitable exchange. But, as Firelight beheld the height of the sun in the sky and heard church bells ringing she knew she and her grandmother needed to be away and out of sight, fast!

The woods were their best hiding place and travel route, always their home, they knew every little nook and cranny. The sound of Christians just out of church with fresh judgements were all around them and it became necessary to stop and climb a long limbed tree with much foliage to escape from all of the travelling flock who may spot their disguises for what they were and cause them trouble...

 

[slippedhalo]

Ooc: closed for Varshanka.

 

[Varshanka]

The Primarch

He’d sat at the table, coming down every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The first day he’d cleaned the table with his finger. And had a cup of hot water. But he’d paid in silver coins, clean and the proper weight, if a bit new in appearance.

Late that night a soft whistling was heard echoing through the inn. An eerie whistle that made several guests leave and whispers of witchcraft began to be heard. Every room was searched and nothing was found, but on the second day the stranger ate. Not a great deal, and he didn’t talk much, but he did eat and speak with those that approached him.

On the third day people noticed the lack of fleas and bed bugs. And everyone looked at the stranger.

During the night the stranger vanished, his door was locked the next morning, his key sitting in the middle of his bed. A bed that was clean. Very very clean. And enough silver to rent the room for a year.

Word of witchcraft and dark magicks spread…

But the stranger wasn’t seen again. Not for a great long long while.

*****

Running, through the trees the Primarch stepped around a tree and began to climb. The buggers were fast and agile, but they never ever looked up.

He watched as his own pursuers passed underneath, and he waited, occasionally looking at something he pulled from a pocket, the soft tick tick seemed to comfort him.

Hours passed, and it began a slowly snow. Light and fluffy. And then the most interesting thing happened, that little silver device made a small chirp and two figures came through the softly falling snow, and began to climb HIS TREE!

“Excuse me, but do you mind? I was hiding up here first.”

 

[slippedhalo]

February stopped in her tracks, her green eyes wide as they regarded a strange man sitting casually on one of the higher tree limbs. Greenly kept on climbing, muttering, "Hush, now Merrybegot, there's room for us all if we can keep quiet."

"Gran, I'm not sharing a hiding place with some...What if he's a criminal, or a lunatic? Look at him! He seems...off somehow." She regarded the odd fellow with angry eyes and whispered frantically, "Nan, he's scentless. Completely scentless, and his vibrations feel all off. He's stranger than even we."

"He's more our kind than theirs, child. It explains his hiding too."

"A witch...from where? We know all the witches in this..."That's when it hapoened faster than she could react. The sharp pain of an arrow in her calf and she lost her hold on the branch, falling. Gran scrambled to catch her but was gripped by a pair of incredibly strong arms which subdued her fight embarrassingly fast and had her shackled within seconds.

Firelight fought a minute longer, even despite the bleeding wound in her leg, but was soon shackled alongside her grandmother, then both of them tied to a cart bound for Knott, the same place her mother had gone to be killed by the Christians.

As the cart moved across the dirt path, February Fire Light glared up into the branches of that tree, finding the eyes of the odd stranger and she wanted to curse him but the expression she saw in his eyes as he watched her grandmother and her being taken away gave her pause.

 

[Varshanka]

A yammering we will go.. hi ho a yammering we will go...

Raising an eyebrow The Primarch looked down. Lunatic? Criminal?

Well, maybe a criminal if you counted those arrest warrants from Tau Epsilon four. And the ones on Gallifrey, but those had surely expired by now. And on Earth, but those hadn’t happened yet, so that wasn’t a worry.

And then they were being dragged off. If only they had kept quiet instead of yammering on like a couple of dolts. If only they had stayed close to the watch.

Without talking.

Climbing down from the tree he began a pace, not along the path following the cart, but across the forest, through the trees. As he walked, his stride hard and purpose filled a song from another time rippled through his head. “To grandmothers house we go..”

His own Gran had a thousand years yet before she was born, and three before she died. Time was set for her, but not for the ones he followed. He couldn’t stop the horrors that would storm this world, but he could.. tamper a little. A river would rage on. But if a cup of water was removed, or relocated, no one would notice.

Or care.

 

[slippedhalo]

The women were separated and brought to different parts of a tower to wait as the crowd gathered in the courtyard below to await a trial and witch burning. Sometimes the farce of a process took many days, sometimes mere hours depending on the mood of the judge and the fervor of the crowd.

Greenly spat at a man who backhanded her granddaughter because she reminded him of an orphan who'd bitten off his fingertip once. The soldier's response was that they held her down and shaved the grey hair from her head, right there in front of the cheering crowd of onlookers, like rabid, mad dogs...some faces, the very same men and women she'd once birthed for stressed out mothers long before...

"Here, ye wanner look like a man so much, witch, now you get ter be bald as the ferrier!l They shouted and guffawed with their stinking breath hurling fowl spittle in her face.

Sitting on the dirt floor of her cell, Greenly held her bald, bleeding head in her hands and wept apologies to her dead daughter for not being able to keep her daughter's child from this fate.

Firelight screamed and fought hard as she saw what they were doing to her gran but one swift knock to her head caused her fight to be brief as she lost consciousness and the four fingered soldier slung her limp body over his shoulder and carried her to her cell where she was flung and left locked up.

 

[Varshanka]

Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?

Walking through the town, he stayed on the edges of the crowds watching and growing a little angry at what people could, and would, do to each other. The shearing of hair didn’t bother him, people cut their hair all the time. Usually when they wanted to.

Sometimes it was necessary to prevent pestilence and bugs from spreading, but this was just for anger and fear. It was the beating that made his mind up.

*****

Walking down the passageway he stepped around and between people all the way down until he was in the dungeon. Smirking to himself he held his ring against the door and stepped back as it opened unexpectantly, a guard stepping forwards.

Both of them were a little surprised when the guard walked right into him. But the surprise didn’t last nearly very long. In fact in only lasted until The Primarchs fist impacted the guards jaw. Grabbing the man as he went down the Primarch pulled him into the dungeon, pulling the door closed and locking it from inside.

Rolling his neck he cracked his knuckles and continued his journey.

Minutes passed as he looked into cell after cell.

“Ah, my yammering jabberwockies.”

 

[slippedhalo]

"Oy! Odd man, are you following us?" Called out Greenly in a rushed whisper. She spotted the man from the tree walking around peering into empty cells. "Please, could you help my granddaughter? We're the very last of our kind in the region. She's saved so many of those hypocrites' lives, she's a good girl. Don't let them burn her!"

 

[Varshanka]

Looking into the cell he sighed. "Shh.." she replied with a finger to his lips. "All this yammering in dungeons is never a good thing."

Holding out his hand he waved what looked like a wand with a glowing tip to the lock, and moments later the latch released. "Simple locks, simple tricks." he muttered to himself as the door swung open.

 

[slippedhalo]

Greenly stood and moved as quickly and silently as she could to follow the stranger out of the dungeon. "I'm Greenly Light. What, kind Sir, may I call you?" She whispered, only to see his pantomimed warning about noise. She flinched, realizing he was right. Now, is no time for chatter.

Exiting into the mid day sunshine was, at first, painful to Greenly's light eyes and she had to squint to follow her savior. He was headed toward the noise. Her heart leapt into her throat and she nearly cried out with shocked agony at the sight of her beautiful grandchild stripped down to her men's shirt, reaching her upper thighs, the garment nearing translucency as it was damp with tears, sweat, and who knows what else. Blood from a welt above her left eye had dried on her pale face, staining the shirt in parts as well. She was being secured to a stake set into a pyre being made ready.

A local assemblage of clergy stood by, reading off a list of false charges against her. Some, such as reading and writing in several languages, issuing prescriptions,and practicing midwifery, were true, but both women refused to live within a society that wouldn't allow them to perform these tasks, denying the divine feminine by making them pretend to be stupid and obedient slaves to the males of their species. Greenly smiled proudly at February's defiant laugh in response to hearing her "crimes and sins" recited aloud.

"Witch, have you any last words?" Asked the Sheriff.

Firelight looked around at all the people, then she stared at the guard who'd abused her earlier and grinned, stating, "I am February Fire Light. I am indeed a wise-woman...you may call me a witch. To us, it's an honor, not a shame. I've mended your bones, brewed love potions and pain killers, birthed your infants, saved many of your lives using the wisdom of the divine goddess in conjunction with the god, as you cannot have male without female. We aren't evil, only balanced. My sense of balance and unity with nature has saved many of you from the brink of death...and now you condemn me to die. I have no words to convey my disappointment in my fellow man...But, know this, Soldier Herman, I am not only much like the girl who bit your finger so long ago. I AM SHE, and that was my mother you burnt! I have no regrets! Three months ago your baby daughter was born breach and nearly killed your wife, Margaret. I saved them both while you waited at the pub, clueless. I could have avenged my suffering and my mother's death but I chose to have mercy on your family...fool."

The soldier charged forward, bursting through the crowd, a rock the size of his fist in hand. He tossed it high and it ricocheted off of Firelight's head.

She showed no reaction despite how much that had hurt and the throbbing goosebump starting beneath her hair where it had made its mark.

Herman yelled out, "Start the fire! Burn the witch!"

Soon the whole crowd was shouting similarly.

Greenly shielded her tearful eyes from the scene, huddling against the stranger's chest.

 

[slippedhalo]

......

 

[slippedhalo]

.....And, it seemed as if, just for a moment, time slowed its pace.

 

[Varshanka]

Herman yelled out, "Start the fire! Burn the witch!"
Soon the whole crowd was shouting similarly.
Greenly shielded her tearful eyes from the scene, huddling against the stranger's chest.

“I’m the Primarch,” The man replied finally as he gently pushed Old mother Light up against the wall of the Inn. “Do not talk. Do not draw attention to yourself.” He said pressing a circular object into her hands and wrapping the thin gold chain around her wrist. “This .. talisman will keep you hidden. But only as long as you do not speak or draw attention. So for the child I’m about to save.. don’t. All your questions will wait until I’m done here.”

With that he stepped away from her and began making his way forwards and through the crowd. A crowd that parted for him. It wasn’t everyday that a stranger appeared. And he was whistling a tuneless melody. Slowly walking forward his expression changed, from a smiling uncle to what would later be recalled – from the survivors – as Rage itself.

Rolling his neck to the sound of cracking bones and snapping tendons he looked at the rock thrower. “In the words of Jesu Christi.. whom you claim to worship and serve.. Let he who is without sin.. cast the First stone.” And then he moved.

Blinked really.

But he moved nonetheless and when he was done blinking Herman staggered back, a largish rock sized bruise beginning to show in his forehead. “You are not without sin.. Herman the drunkard. Though shalt honor thy Mother and Father.. but you did them no Honor when you squandered their meager funds for your own belly full of Ale.”

Turning he took a step towards Firelight, his eyes barely noticing the flames as he pulled a stick from inside his long coat. Rolling his thumb along a stubby knot shape on it’s surface he gestured at the flames and the faded like a memory.

Another gesture and every torch in touch, every fireplace. Every Hearth and forge faded to simple embers that barely cast off warmth.

“Yes, this woman is a witch. But I am far far greater in power than she. She is of the healer cast. So her magicks are simple and harmless. Healing. Ailing the fevers and poultice of pain numbing.”

Looking across the crowd he glanced down for a moment and sighed. And when his eyes rose he wasn’t angry anymore. He looked.. sad.

“I give you a last chance to turn from the darkness you are beginning to walk. A chance to walk in peace. Let her go, here and now. Or you will reap what you sow, and I will salt the ground and nothing will grow here.. ever.”

 

[slippedhalo]

There was a pregnant pause as the people let the words he'd spoken sink in. At first, it seemed a few had lost their earlier fervor. The sound of shuffling feet followed. A woman and man moved away from the front of the crowd, then a few more people.

...But, a stone flew from the center of the mass of unwashed bodies and whizzed just past the stranger's head, landing a glancing blow at Firelight's pale bare calf. "Burn him too! Witch!"

Greenly bit her lip hard to keep from crying out as the crowd surged forward towards the man with the strange stick.

Firelight sighed in shame, not for herself, but for these people. Obviously, this was a powerful witch man from some other realm and he wasn't here to save her personally as much as to redeem humanity...They were completely missing the point and she shook her head as she realized these people would rue this bad decision yet would deserve whatever happened. "You are truly a disappointing group of people. I'm ashamed to be associated with you. I'm almost sorry I risked my life to aide you all so often...almost. But, I can't help being what I am any more than you can help being stupid animals."

 

[Varshanka]

The rock slid across the repulse field, but it still hit the girl behind him. As the crowd surged he opened his jacket and a second wand lifted out, seeming to dance in time to his whistling. “I came to save the girl and her grandmother. Wasn’t in time for her mother, yet. But at least now I know why the village was deserted after the burning.”

And then the wand began to strike, darting through the crowd, piercing heart, kidney, knees, necks, eye sockets as it moved so fast no one could track it, though a few thought of dodging it. When at last it stopped it was pinning Herman to the ground, slowly pressing deeper into his forehead as he lay on the ground, his eyes wide with terror, his voice past hoarse, and now soundless from his screams.

Turning his head the Primarch gestured at Firelight and her Grandmother to join him. “It’s alright, you can come over now.” He said looking at the scene of death around him. He wasn’t happy, but he wouldn’t run from a fight.

"Your choice. Live.. or Die."

 

[slippedhalo]

Firelight was still puzzling over what The Primarch had said about being too late to save her mother...yet. It gave her a sense that perhaps time didn't work quite as she thought it did, or at least not for this sorcerer...

He gestured to both witches to join him and Firelight felt her heart soar at the sight of of her gran still alive, despite looking like hell. They embraced in relief as the stranger bent over the prone form of the bully guard, Herman.

Firelight saw the flash of disapproval in her grandmother's eyes as they watched the violent show of power around them. So, when asked, "Your choice. Live...or die.", Firelight knew what her answer would be despite her entire life's pain being concentrated on this one horrible human being, she didn't want to be responsible for anyone's death if she could help it even if they deserved none of the life they had.

She shook her head sadly, her plump lips trembling, "No, Sir...don't kill him on my account. One day his baby girl will be old enough to wonder what happened to her father. Knowing we had a hand in his murder wouldn't help her to learn to trust pagans and healers in her time. And, honestly, all I want is for everyone to find a way to peacefully coexist. Let him live. He may be a witness to our...to your magical powers and what may happen if they persecute any more witches in the future. Send him home with an indelible memory, but alive...please."

Greenly took Firelight's hand and gave a gentle, approving squeeze. Firelight sighed, leaning her cheek against the matted and crusted head top of her gran.

 

[Varshanka]

Send him home with an indelible memory, but alive...please.

Grunting, the Primarch looked back at the man, whistling as the wand that had caused so much death and destruction slowly drilled into Herman’s forehead. Not quite all the way into the brain matter itself, but deep enough to leave a gouge in his skull that would never heal. A witch’s mark.

“Remember this, HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE!, Herman.” And leaning forward he forced Herman to see his face. To really SEE it.

“'Twas you..” Herman muttered. Remembering the Stranger sitting at the table whenever he walked into the tavern. A glare whenever he pinched the serving wench’s plump bottom, or pulled her into his lap for a quick kiss and snuggle.

When he staggered home from the whore house in the middle of the night this man had been there. Standing on a street corner watching. Never saying anything until today, when he’d warned everyone.

“Go in Peace Herman Tanner. And Do No Harm. Or I will be back…” With his words fading in the air, The Stranger stood and strode back to the ladies. “He’ll pack his family and move before the week is out. Stops drinking as well. And starts helping witches hide from the law. He’ll be burned at the stake in six years, three months, twelve days, nine hours, and forty-seven.. no forty-six minutes.”

“So, ready to depart these lands for a little more adventure? OR shall I just drop you off on the other side of the mountains?” He asked gesturing westwards as he walked.

 

[slippedhalo]

Firelight and Greenly followed The Primarch, keeping up his pace, chattering quietly amongst themselves before reaching a shared decision. "We don't know where you came from." said Firelight, her green eyes wide with fresh excitement.

"Nor, where you are going.", added Greenly, struggling to keep pace with the two longer legged people in her company.

"Or, when...", Firelight considered the time travel comment aloud once more. "Could you really...no, nevermind. I'm being silly...But, what sort of adventures do you speak of, Sir?"

"Oh, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Hastened Greenly to add. "For rescuing us."

Firelight nodded to her gran, yes, manners would be helpful, "Oh yes! Thank you very much!"

 

[Varshanka]

Blinking the Primarch considered that maybe he had made a bad choice. They did natter on so. And quite quickly at that. Lifting a hand he gestured for calm as he lead the way into the tree's, and then up to a rather large tree with large leaves. A tree that looked like no other in this forest.

"Yes, any when. But I cannot and will not take you into your own past. Nor to any place when you could interfere in events that result in a change to your own timeline, including, but not limited to your friends."

Reaching out he snapped his fingers as the bark opened, revealing wonders inside that simple tree with the strange leaves.

"And you are welcome, unless you turn out to be evil. Then you'll regret the day you drew my attention."

 

[slippedhalo]

The two witches followed Primarch inside the tree, soon finding, with awed gasps, it was bigger inside than it had appeared and definitely NOT a tree at all!

"Oh, amazing! But...how?" Whispered Firelight as they stood in wonder and stared at the huge room they were in.

 

[Varshanka]

"Oh ye witches of little faith." The Man said as he walked over to a large tableau that sat in the center of the room. "Don't wander off, you'll get lost. I do." he mumbled as he touched gems on the console.

"When, and where, I come from are a rather long and highly complicated explanation. Suffice to say Magick and science are one and the same. And by your terminology, I'm a fantastic magician."

 

[slippedhalo]

"Yes, I can see that. Very impressive." muttered Firelight, making a slow turn around the room as it felt like it jerked and took a leap into the air... She reached out to right her balance, her hand landing momentarily upon Primarch's before she blushed and moved aside to give him room to work on whatever had his concentration.

Greenly, having missed none of this, simply whistled in astonishment and looked up, finding there were viewports through the "tree branches" and she could see starlight coming closer..."We're travelling far! So, savior-witch, where are you from? What is your plan?"

 

[Varshanka]

"My plan was to save the two of you, get you someplace safe, and then go on. But I have a feeling that that is easier said than done. In the very short time I've interacted with you, I've noticed a predilection to getting into trouble."

Looking at the tableau and several scrying glasses he looked up.

"You are both trouble finders aren't you?"

 

[slippedhalo]

Greenly simply laughed.

Firelight shook her head in sober earnestness. "No, not at all. We seek to help others when we can and otherwise we seek peaceful coexistence, not trouble."

Greenly finally spoke up as her laughter faded away bitterly. "Trouble finds us. We aren't the type to seek it out but we will not back down if our morality is challenged. I don't think those are bad qualities. If you are fearful of time spent in the company of witches we will understand. It's not in everyone's character to be able to stand against injustice or face frightening elements in order to help ease other's suffering. What we do is mostly thankless. We appreciate your help. You may drop us off wherever it's somewhat possible for us to evade capture, at least for today, on the other side of the mountains, perhaps, or nearer to the coast. I hear there's still witches out there..."