List: Em's Mostly Random Word Generator List #1
Number: 91. Indirection
Story of Origin: Imperium
Character(s): Etteras
Warnings: None
Use: Possibly as solo RP on Gaia
Scenario: Just a page in the life of the morose mage Etteras, former priest of the goddess Anetil.
Notes: More a story inspired by the word than anything else. Indirection sort of personifies Etteras in my mind, so I wrote about it.
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Etteras was lonely. He had always felt the need for some companionship, but despite himself had never done anything towards getting any. Maybe it was because he felt an outcast. It was hard not to. There were few who understood his unique position.

As he sat at his desk he tried to make a decision. He might create himself a golem, they were always fun little companions, if sometimes problematic. His last three golems had disappeared, at least one from running away. The other two he figured must have gotten lost in his workshop until the spells that propelled them had run out, or perhaps the little one had been eaten by rats. Maybe it was still out there, lost or trapped, pleading with what remained of its magical life for someone to rescue it.

But that little golem had been mute, for Etteras's golems, when given the ability to make sounds, usually produced most upsetting ones. Two he had dismantled for that very reason. A third had been too large and knocked things over. That had been last year. There were still some items lying around he had not bothered to set right yet.

In truth, it mattered not whether his belongings were upright or knocked over, unless they were blocking his way. His house was full of magical clutter, relics from hundreds of worlds, old spells and worthless knickknacks. He collected antiques and things that looked interesting, sort of. There was no real planning to this collection. If he saw something he liked, he bought it.

He was infinitely wealthy, thanks to his benefactor, and could buy whatever he wanted. He could go wherever he wanted, he could do whatever he wanted, and yet here he was, sitting and doing nothing.

He catalogued the items on his desk. A quill pen, a tray of twenty ink colors, a few scrolls with half-written letters of spells on them. A broken pendant, the gem shattered. A mug that some weeks ago had held coffee. Etteras had all of infinity to play with and he had no idea what to do with it.

He rather decided not to bother with a golem. He pitied the poor things when they got lost and disappeared, imagining all manner of gruesome fates for them. He was not by nature a cruel person and disliked thinking of them so discomforted. He might have come up with a spell to track down the lost golems, but that seemed like something that would take a lot of time and effort. There were rooms in his house he had not seen in years and he did not want to, worried about the surprises he might find.

He was still lonely. There was always the option of necromancy. Such creatures were infallibly obedient, but they lacked creative minds, unless he created one of the ones that had a mind of its own, but those were almost always dangerous and deadly. If they did not attack him, they would attack his neighbors. He hardly wanted that on his conscience.

He knew all manner of spells to summon demons and spirits and creatures, but he didn't want a companion who was held by force. He wanted someone who would stay with him out of choice, like a familiar.

At that, Etteras had to roll his eyes. He spun in his chair, knocking over a stand of old umbrellas with his long legs and not caring. He hated furred and feathered familiars, and he found most familiars were equally frustrated by him. Worse, they were always digging up trouble in his backyard, his garden of dead flowers and animals.

Etteras tapped his fingers on the desk. He wanted someone subservient, but not too subservient. Someone who needed him but didn't depend on him. Independent but not overly so. What he needed was a paradox.

Giving up, Etteras decided to ignore his loneliness and think of something else. He kept at it for the rest of the day, pushing around piles of junk and rummaging through things until he was exhausted. Finally, he dragged himself off and fell to sleep, having accomplished absolutely nothing.