Log 03 Jyslin Andie Syval Journey Day 02
<OOC> Vanya says, "She's on the short-list of characters I could easily reprise."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas says, "If I knew more TF, I'd try to help with that. I do not."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oh it wouldn't be the same off of RiD. There was so much going on."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I appreciate the intent. Thank you. :)"
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas says, "I literally know fark-all about TF. I know the G1 cartoon because that was a thing when I was a kid. I know there was a Beast Wars thing, which I saw bits of, and know not at all otherwise, which memes have told me was eventually canonized to be pre-G1. And I know that as a whole the farking set has had dozens of shows AND comics series'. That's all I know."
Syval awakens heavily and sits up before his eyes have full opened while bracing a hand against the bardiche beside his bedroll. Nature around their campsite is dead quiet without even insects buzzing. Normally it's a sign of trouble, something interrupting the noisy calm of the night.
Then his eyes open enough to spot the enormous mass of orange and black stripes across the campsite. Syval tightens the grip on his weapon with a start as he moves to stand up, rising in a fluid motion and placing a second hand on the bardiche's haft. But he doesn't scream, shout, or lunge the creature. The tiger has the element of surprise and even still rousing, the sandy-eyed mage has the presence of mind not to pick a fight with something that large unprovoked - at least not when it's close enough to roll across Andie.
<OOC> Vanya says, "That's more than I knew when I apped Spectrum. XD"
Now that Syval is a tad more awake and aware, he might also notice something else as details slowly filter through his brain from his perceptions: there's no visible sign of Jyslin. And that tiger is laying down on Jylsin's bedroll.
Also: it seems Neosodos is completely unconcerned about this, curled up atop the tiger without a care in his wyrmly world.
The tigress slowly turns her head, ears swiveling towards Syval as he stands, weapon raised. Then she gives another enormous yawn, blinking those big luminescent green eyes at him. Her tail flips lazily behind her. Then she nods towards Syval and lowers her head down to her paws, and lets her eyes close ...
And somewhere in Syval's subconscious would be the realization that the scent profile of the campsite has not changed. And neither has the magical profile. The composition of the campsite has somehow not changed.
Syval's eyes glow a pale green in the pale moonlight as he studies the tiger intently and, after several seconds, matches the tigress against the missing and magical Jyslin. The adventurer lets out a breath and loosens the grip on his bardiche, thumping its weighted pommel into the dirt with a frown. "You could have told me /before/ going to sleep," he grumbles, then straightens his sarong and wanders away to take a walk around the campsite. He'll study his spellbook once he's finished calming down.
Chances are the tigress can hear that comment, but she makes no outward sign or reaction. She just lays down quietly and calmly and goes back to sleep.
The surroundings are, as previously noted, quite quiet and calm. There does not appear to be any wildlife anywhere nearby, and none seem to be bothering. There's not much light, other than moonlight - and that is fading. The magically sustained campfire was extinguished, but the fire circle yet remains, likely for a place to summon another come morning for cooking. The benefit of the quiet is that Syval will be uninterrupted while studying and preparing spells; the challenge is that it's pitch dark, which will make it hard to read the tome unless Syval summons some light, or prepares a lantern.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Could you repose for me please?"
Chances are the tigress can hear that comment, but she makes no outward sign or reaction. She just lays down quietly and calmly and goes back to sleep.
The surroundings are, as previously noted, quite quiet and calm. There does not appear to be any wildlife anywhere nearby, and none seem to be bothering. There's not much light, other than moonlight - and that is fading. The magically sustained campfire was extinguished, but the fire circle yet remains, likely for a place to summon another come morning for cooking. The benefit of the quiet is that Syval will be uninterrupted while studying and preparing spells; the challenge is that it's pitch dark, which will make it hard to read the tome unless Syval summons some light, or prepares a lantern.
Returning to the campsite somewhat calmed by the walk, Syval sits down at the edge of his bedroll, leans his bardiche against one shoulder, and tugs his spellbook into his lap. Light from the moon overhead glances off his eyes with a tiger-like shimmer as he opens the cover and flips from memory back to a certain page. Then the young man immerses himself in study without any provisions for a light. If Andie and Jyslin can have their secrets, then Syval can have his too. Besides, they never asked.
And a few hours later, just before the first rays of dawn should start peeking over the horizon, Andie and Neosodos stir. It quickly becomes apparent that Neosodos stirs because Andie does; once she has gotten up, seated on her bedroll with the blanket over her lap, the dragonet curls up on said lap, closes his eyes and goes back to sleep as she rests her hands upon him.
Seeing Syval up, and Jyslin transformed, seems not to bother Andie in the slightest. She merely offers the man across the cold campfire circle a nod and then turns her face due east. And as those first fingers of dawn's light peek over the horizon, a golden glow builds around Andie, suffusing her and surrounding Neosodos, suffusing the sleeping dragonet as well.
This is a witch, communing with her familiar. And the aura of palpable magical energies in the camp increases exponentially, in a raw, barely-shaped fashion that both grates against Syval's training and experience, and yet still feels ... oddly 'right', to some instinct buried within him he does not yet understand.
Syval is aware enough to notice the stir and nod back once Andie rouses. His spellbook was closed and packed away before the last star faded, leaving the green-haired wizard occupying himself in turns with observing the grasslands around them and amusing himself with minor acts of magic upon his surroundings. Looking closely as light begins to filter into their campsite, some of the up-turned rocks of the fire pit aren't the same color they were the night before.
The sight of a witch in communion well eclipses those passing interests and the young man's eyes are drawn to the Andie before the glow has even fully enveloped Neosodos. The golden aura sets his hairs on end and instinctively, the novice mage replies with a muted gesture of his hand and a softly spoken "Laas" before his eyes glow a verdant green in sympathy, attuning themselves to magic. It only makes the impact stronger. He stares, his brow furrows in rapt attention, and any academy lessons in the danger of raw magicks are brushed away by the captivating golden aura.
Andie herself does not look up or regard Syval, and her communion is deep enough she would seem to have little real awareness of the world around her as she does so. One side effect that does occur is that Andie gestures, at some point, towards the fire pit, and the magical fires erupt once more in place, glowing even more gold than the night before. This is so effortless, in fact, that Andie need not even utter a word; only the mere gesture is sufficient.
A good hour later, the glow around Andie fades, until only Neosodos is affected. Finally the dragonet stirs once more, stretching wide, wings outstretched, head and neck high as he gives voice a cry, 'shouting' in his admittedly small voice a single word. And despite never hearing that word before, and knowing no human throat could make it, instinct tells Syval its meaning: Good morning.
And then the glow fades away in twinkling motes. The tigress beside Andie and Neosodos opens her eyes, yawning wide and starting to stretch ... as her body ripples and morphs, leaving Jyslin behind as she stretches more and sits up. "Time for breakfast, I suppose ..." she murmurs as she gets started on that, without even a word about the fact that she was, just moments ago, not even human.
The captivating spell upon Syval breaks by the time the golden glow fades and the young man blinks his eyes hard as if rousing from a dream. Looking from the freshly-communed witch to the dragon in her lap and then to the teenage tigress all casually starting their mornings, all he can do is shake his head. "I see why you normally travel alone..."
Standing, Syval follows the group's lead and stretches himself loose as well, realizing with a grunt just how long he was motionless watching Andie's ritual. "Good morning to you too, Neo," he adds. "I can search for game along our route. Or set out a few traps."
<OOC> Vanya has plenty of questions about the night but is saving them for breakfast. He's pragmatic. :)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Breakfast or the trail."
Jyslin chuckles amusedly at Syval's reaction, but she moves to put up her stand and puts a rack on it. "Give me a few, and I'll have the bread heated and ready." The (very) old-fashioned version of a toaster. They do have some rather delicious honey-herb butter for it, as well. Jyslin also produces goat's milk to top it off. "We can both keep aware. Hopefully we can find something to bring down today. Otherwise, I will go hunting tonight." the priestess explains.
Better the tigress feed on game than on party members, yes?
"I noticed you found my communing very interesting, Syval." Andie observes. "If you have questions, we can discuss as we walk today. I will do what I can to explain."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas snugs Syval.
<OOC> Vanya surprised but receptive hug back.
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas says, "Do you have your backscroll, or do you want me to recap a bit?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I've got it."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas paws-up!
<OOC> Vanya says, "Heh!"
<OOC> Vanya does also need to occasionally remind himself how young you look thanks to the cat-curse.
<OOC> Vanya says, "And then I have to remind myself that in a Shaar setting, I should mentally add another 2-4 years back for what that'd be in modern American terms."
<OOC> Vanya says, "So it kind of cancels out in the end."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas chuckles.
"It was... quite a sight," Syval admits. "Nothing like what I've seen druids do. It felt different."
While a druidess of Selune is not entirely unheard-of, it's a rare thing, as the usual suspects are far more common, including Silvanus, Chauntea, the Jade Queen, and powers of other pantheons. The young-seeming moonpriestess with the ancient soul has made no secret of her faith, though her demonstrations have been subtle for the most part.
Jyslin glances up from the cooking fire, her green eyes reflecting some of the fire's light as she does so. "Mmmm? Well, yes. From what I have seen, my transformation is outwardly somewhat like that of a druid's wildshape." Given her own mother followed that path and profession, she would know. "My blessing from Selune as a moonpriestess makes my own transformation more like that than it was, or would have been." There's a hint of tension in the ashen blonde's voice, concern over how her revelation will be received. But she will not lie.
"I am a weretigress. In my case, I was infected, savaged by some years ago when a party I was guiding encroached upon their territory while they were gravid." Jyslin's choice of words is one obliquely applied when speaking of women who are heavily pregnant. "I managed to get them to back off without hurting them, and saved my party members. But not without taking damage myself."
Jyslin falls silent for a bit as she continues toasting breakfast. Syval may notice Neosodos slithering through the grass and rubbing himself against her knee and calf in a reassuring manner. This is clearly a troubling tale for her.
"A month later, while I was on night watch, I transformed. I did not harm anyone in the party, but I had no way of knowing that. When they confronted me in the morning, they sent me away." Jyslin does not mention that one of 'they' was her lover at the time. "I left the Misty Vale and headed to Shiertalar, hoping the priestesses at the Hall of the Heavens could cure me." With a moon-tied curse, it makes sense to look to the cult of the moon for aid, right?
"Instead, Mother Shanna insisted that I remain under their protection and tutelage." Jyslin explains. "They trained me to understand the transformation, and in so doing I found the calling of my heart, and converted as a moonpriestess. After my consecration, I found my transformation no longer destroyed my clothing, nor left me tangled up in armor or gear. Instead, those things transformed with me, much as my mothers' had for her as a druidess."
Once done, Jyslin distributes the toasted breads for breakfast and begins a quick clean-up, packing things away so that the journey of the day can begin without further delay.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Interruption. AFK."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Okay I'm back now."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas huggles. "Welcome back. You OK?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Yup! Just family."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas says, "Well, they're entitled. You're you, after all."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ended up showing more of how to use chess.com, playing a game of rapid chess, going over a donation pile I'd made today, little similar close-out discussions before I leave tomorrow morning."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Could have kind of done with deferring the chess game but it all worked out. Mostly productive time spent."
Syval listens through Jyslin's answer though his brow furrows at the mention of weretigers. But once she's done, he simply sits back down with his pack and rummages through it for his bowl and utensils. "That's a long journey you went on. So you're infected with weretiger forever? Have you found any hope for a cure or do you just... live with it now?"
Jyslin shares the spreads for the toast, and the walking begins. "No cure, at this point. I've accepted the blessing of Selune, and with it I have become a weretigress, through and through, as if born to it."
Andie does not interrupt for a while, but does eventually pipe up with a bit of something to share. "Therianthropy is a circumstance often misunderstood by most. Even many of the faithful of Selune may not truly understand its power, its origins, its vectors or its many forms." Trust a witch to have some dire pronouncements and secret knowledge, right? "For instance, since the most common varieties encountered are the wererat and the werehyena, much of humanity hates and fears all therianthropes as evil. But while those two breeds are indeed primarily and seemingly almost universally evil, nothing is sure or certain."
Andie turns and smiles at the blonde at her side. "As mighty as the weretigers are, and as fearsome as they can be, they are not universally evil. Most are in fact largely neutral, while some are good and others evil. Sadly, the greatest of them in this age is evil, and rules in Ashai, which does tend to darken their reputation amongst those where Jyslin and I usually make our home."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Er, right. Toast with smear. >.<"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I swear I'll get back into the swing of this scene right as it's time for bed at this rate. Sorry."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas kiss forehead. "S'okay. RP is RP. I'll take what I can get."
"Therianthropy?" Syval sounds out as he drags a generous smear across his breakfast bread. If it is a topic taught at his academy, the green-haired young man probably slept through it. It only takes a moment or two for him to repack his back and shoulder it before he's once again walking with the pair (plus Neos), bardiche in hand and tapping the ground beside him like a walking stick. "Are they related to your witch magic at all?" he asks of Andie. "That wasn't the magic of wizards or nature."
"Therianthropy is a clutch of different but very similar circumstances, the blending or melding of animal natures and that of people, most often humans." Other races are not immune, but discussing the different resistances is perhaps more than Andie wants to get into just now. "Also called werecreatures, there are those who are 'natural' or sometimes 'true' therianthropes, born with the might. They are generally stronger, and also better adjusted, better able to control their dual nature. Like Jyslin now." Andie reaches out to squeeze the blonde's hand reassuringly.
"The bite of a therianthrope can carry the power into the blood, as a magical disease, a curse. Those who fall victim become what are called 'afflicted' or 'infected' therianthropes." Andie explains. "Like Jyslin began. It is only through the blessons of Selune during her consecration as a priestess that Jyslin's affliction was transformed into a blessing, becoming natural. The afflicted are often not even consciously aware of their dual nature, transforming in their sleep and acting on animal instincts borne by the curse."
Jyslin speaks up now, not about the in-depth details, but just to relate all of this to herself. "That is why my party sent me away. They were afraid of me for what I had become, and afraid I would attack them, possibly infecting more of them." Still there is a sad bitterness to her words.
Andie gives Jyslin's hand another squeeze, then resumes her tale. "The origins of therianthropy are not widely known, but it is believed that they were created by shaman of great power in dark and ancient times, imbued into others as either a dark mark and punishment for transgressions, or as a dangerous blessing laid upon champions in times of great need." No need for her to panic anyone by explaining she was around for several of those incidents in the 'bad old days'. Witches are creepy enough without being revealed as immortal fonts of eternal knowledge. "It is deep and primordial magic. It is quite possible some of the strains of therianthropy began as the curse or blessing of a witch."
"Hmm..." Syval vocalizes thoughtfully and chews over the matter with toast. It's a lot to take in surely. "There is a lot of magic in the world... I've got some of it in me too, but then I'm from the Forest of Amlar. You can't walk five steps in those woods without tripping over a fey or something else. Not sure what kind it is... but I've never had much trouble looking after myself," the young man admits with a respectful glance to his bardiche. "Grasslands like these aren't my favorite, but I'll manage. Less places for things to hide this way."
From Andie's shoulder Neosodos turns his head towards Syval and croons a warbling sound. It's at once a bit like laughing, a bit like crying, and a bit just like a cat meowing, all mixed up together. "Poorrrrrr leetle brotherrrrrr." the eldritch wyrm offers in Shaaren.
Andie reaches up absently to stroke the reptilian creature's head as she nods. "It is true, there are many kinds, or flavors of the Art. The oldest, most difficult to control, and arguably most powerful is the primordial. It is that which witches learn to study and embrace, even as they learn to adapt what they can of it to the arcane pathways. Rituals are always best for the primordial, offering the greatest facility for control."
Jyslin picks up, then; this seems to be a conversational path worn smooth for these two. "Just as old is the divine, carried by prayer. But the divine is not shaped by the will of the caster as much as by the will of the Power granting it. It is a sort of cooperative union of wills, the very nature of prayer and communion."
Andie picks up from there. "The youngest path is also the sort with some of the greatest innovation: the path of the arcane, using prescribed rituals of knowledge and pattern to shape the Art to the caster's own will. It is weaker in some ways to the primordial or the divine, and definitely different. But it is the one kind that is uniquely mortal. The greatest of the arcane path are the dragons, whom it is said were the first to discover it, the gift of their goddess through the sacrifice of Aurum, marked by the Cauldron."
Neosodos receives a puzzled look before Syval turns back to Andie. "Dragons use the same magic as people? I've never heard of one studying a spell book before..." he asks in clear surprise. "So what you did this morning was primordial magic? That felt... purer than the magick of the academy, more natural. Is that something you can teach?" With a flick of his gaze the question goes as much to the witch as it does to her wyrm familiar.
The pseudodragon gives a wheezy sort of chortling hiss, an odd kind of laughter that must be a unique approximation for the little wyrm. Andie smiles, offering a nod at the first question, and again at the second. The third gets a bit of a shrug.
"I would not say dragons use the same magic as people. They are, after all, quite different beings, far more naturally imbued with raw magic than any other race of which I am aware." Yet Andie does not make the assumption that she truly knows of every race. Just that she certainly knows most far better than even most sages. "Dragons were the first to practice the arcane, and their pathways to shape it are different than most. I have heard it said that most can invoke their spells and will with little more than a glance and a word or three in their language."
Of course she's heard it said to be so; from a few dragons she herself has known over the millennia. Including the one riding on her right now.
<OOC> Vanya creaks a bit. z.z
<OOC> Vanya says, "I think I'll need to pause here tonight."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas smooch. "OK. Having fun, I hope?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Yes. I think I need to revisit my Syval sheet a little before we resume, get into his head a little better. I've not been anywhere near parity on the big poses you've been throwing out."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Though apparently my hunch was right on Neri RP. I did lose a solid half hour or so in there."
<OOC> Jyslin Brenlas nuzzles. "Well, if you wanna brainstorm while working on the character sheet, I'm happy to help."
<OOC> Vanya says, "What knowledge check would it be to know about werewolves and other were-creatures? I absent-mindedly mentioned Syval possibly sleeping through class and forgot magical creatures are among his favorite subjects."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Knowledge (Arcane) for magical beasts, aye?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nods. "Yes. Though, for the record, there are things about weres that only someone with K: Occult would know (hence Andie's info on their origins)."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "But yes. As magical creatures, K: Arcana would serve. And as not uncommon foes, K: Dungeoneering could also serve, though I would say with a different DC."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Certainly. But something like 'werewolves are weak to silver' would be a modest DC K:Arcane - the sort of common monster knowledge Syval could have learned in the academy?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Werewolves are almost unheard-of in the Shaar. But werehyenas? Yus."
<OOC> Vanya might at one point have even tried using silver on himself just to see if it bypassed his healing.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Were-hyenas rather, thank you."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "This is what the DM/player is for. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Cooperative storytelling requires, first and foremost, communication and //cooperation//. :)"
<OOC> Vanya rolls up a 15+9, so 24.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Then yes, you'd definitely know that weres are typically vulnerable to silver."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And given magical beasties were kind of Syval's specialty, at least in studies if not in first-hand experience, feels right. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Thinking on it I am pretty sure he poked himself with a silver needle or something one day after reading about were-creatures and transformations."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Silver's a fairly common weakness as well. That and holy stuff, which was easier to rule out."
"It sounds like there are many ways to explore the Art," Syval considers thoughtfully, digesting Andie's lesson and comparing it to his own studies in the academy. "And does that mean I could use a ritual to gain more control over my arcana, the same way you use it for primordial spells?" Glancing over to Jyslin after another bite of toast, he asks just in case, "And since you're a werecreature, should I be careful not to hand you any silver?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Silver is quite rare in the Shaar, however." not something Syval would have kept then. Probably either borrowed or more likely, purchased a sliver of and resold near cost with enough persistent haggling. Sound reasonable? (re)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "On ethernet now." Andromeda considers Syval curiously, glancing towards him as they continue their walking journey. She even takes a pause to sip water from her waterskin before she attempts to answer. "There are several ways to explore the Art. The path of the primordial is one that requires a special guide and calling. Neosodos is my guide, and my calling is from birth. But there are some who find another way to those paths, making pacts with guides." Of course, speaking of such things is usually considered blasphemy, but clearly Andie is not the usual in such matters.
"I will say that you seem to have an abundance of magical talent, Syval. It may be that the meditations of a trance could be of use to you in exploring and focusing that spark within you. I cannot say for certain, as such is not my own." For whatever her reasons, after she has said this she makes a point of looking a bit further past Syval, towards the head of the dragonet nestled around her shoulders.
Jyslin shrugs at Syval's question for her. "For many werebeasts, avoiding silver is a good idea. But I am a moonpriestess. Silver is my blessing, not my bane." She does not go on to explain that her own bane are weapons typed against magic-using or enchanted creatures, since he did not ask and frankly she prefers to spread that information as little as possible. MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Do I notice that glance? :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You can notice, or not, as you see fit."
There's something in the spark of Syval's sandy eyes as he waits for Andie's answer. Greed perhaps, at her tantalizing knowledge beyond the ken of academy studies and the well-worn paths of human arcana. The lust for Art so characteristic of wizards may not be absent in the otherwise abnormal apprentice. Or perhaps his interest is something deeper.
"If you're willing to teach it I'll try," he accepts freely to her offer. "Not that you would know this but the wizard way of shaping the Art is... frustrating. I'm no archmage and even I can tell something about it's wrong, or maybe missing." Syval's eyes then shift to the eldritch wyrm on the witch's shoulder. He caught that look. "Or should I be asking Neos to teach me meditation?"
"Everyone who begins the path of the Art hungers for more, Syval." Andie confirms conversationally; there's no judgement in her tone. "That eagerness, that desire to advance, is natural and necessary; nothing of such great worth should ever come easy, after all." Without that motivation, one would never accomplish the daunting tasks of such lessons. "Try to remember that sometimes what is missing is not lacking in the lessons, but lacking in the student thus far. One must learn the foundation, before one can climb to the heights, or peer with wisdom into the depths." The witch's words are more insightful than those of the masters of the academy, though that likely has a lot to do with her unique perspective; they are trying to drill knowledge into the minds of a dozen recalcitrant students. She is simply having a pleasant conversation with a single traveling companion.
Neosodos gives another hissing chuckle as the young wizardling questions. "Sssssheeee knows, hasssss ssssaid, dragon magick verrrrrry difffffff-rent." The tiny wyrm looks at the young man consideringly. "Gift of Aurrrrum in blood, in bone. Drrrrrragon think, shape sssssspark, ssssspeak. Magic happen. Dragon words, shape of dragon thoughts." The wyrm raises a claw like a hand, wobbling it back and forth. "Arrrrcane. Prrrrrimorrrrrdial. For dragon, same."
<OOC> Vanya says, "pHONE"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Back. Thank you for waiting."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Happy to."
<OOC> Vanya saves pose and sets aside. "I think I have a big question to ask."
<OOC> Vanya says, "What's the official wizard explanation for why humans can cast magic? Would I have found anything in ancient Maenastan writings about humans being gifted an ability to cast magic, similar to how dragons received their abilities through Aurrum?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "That wouldn't have been the focus of my studies but I did delve into magical creatures, magical humans specifically, and learned Maenast. Let me know if I should roll anything. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Answering that question requires first defining which //level// of explanation you want."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "There's capital-T Truth. And then there's how much of that various folks have managed to figure out."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Well, I guess two questions then: (1) what's the stock answer I would have gotten without seeking it out from the wizards? (2) What would I have found in my own studies, given that Neos and Andie both just gave me a new perspective to reassess them?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Both IC perspective questions not OOC big-Truth."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'm now thinking (ICly) that men might have been similarly blessed loooong ago and they're kind of bumbling through casting via arcane wizard studies."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. The stock answer is that 'all races have some potential for the Art, which is accessing the energy of The Weave, an all-pervasive energy field within the world, and shaping that to change the world around them.' What the wizards do is then seek out those who have started to resonate with those energies, to make sure they get at least some training to avoid stupid accidents from lack of understanding and knowledge."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You can think of The Weave as ... The Force. But no midiclorians."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Think back to Obi-Wan in Episode IV: "... surrounds us, and penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together ...""
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "The human mage explanation of the pattern of such things is that as the eldest race, the dragons were the first to figure this out, and that the dragons are steeped in the stuff, arguably because they are so GD long-lived. (Given that this also then explains why elves are so good at it, and some of why the dwarves can do what they do, though most humans do not realize that dwarves don't //have// arcane casters.)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Then the dragons presumably taught the elves, in a time before remembering, before humans even existed. And so forth."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Does this part make sense? Before I start digging at the scabs and getting into what else you may have discovered?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Yup! With you so far."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So ... how diligent/forceful/determined has Syval been in perusing books in the Academy library that were not assigned, may have been in various masters' private collections, etc?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being 'whatever's openly accessible in the library' and 10 being 'I ransacked the masters' private libraries with psychotic abandon and I am wanted on charges of breaking and entering and reckless endangerment' ?"
<OOC> Vanya snickerfit.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'd say... 7? I kept an eye and ear out for anything related to magic humans - pretty much as long as I can remember because "potential for the Art" doesn't jive to me with spontaneous magic healing yet not being head and shoulders above my peers at wizardry. That to me says I'm different, something isn't the same. If I was just "better" at what other human mages are then spells and the arcane should have come easily - they didn't. Secondly, I'm stubborn and just plain hungry for Art, though can get discouraged by the conventional wizarding arcane so in the best of teenage traditions, quite open to the idea that there's something wrong with how I've been taught this whole time since /clearly/ I've got this potential to be better than everyone so I spent more time than I should have fact-checking the wizards of the academy and poking around at anything magical human or about The Weave or Art."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I think I would have snuck into a private library illicitly if I had good reason to believe I'd find something valuable there and licit routes didn't work first. I would have tried to keep my nose clean however."
<OOC> Vanya would also definitely have looked for anything new coming in from the traders, hoping to intercept it before it got to the academy just in case it was helpful.
<OOC> Vanya says, "If we call 5 something like 'consciously and consistently went looking for it but didn't push back on rejection'."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li is going to say that one of your routes for additional knowledge has been going outside the Academy, by visiting the Temple of Oghma inside the Temple of Helm.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oh my..."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Oghma being the God of Knowledge"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oghma like the Oghma -- yes I know the one."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "And Helm being his Guardian; so there is no Temple of Oghma anywhere in the Shaar that does not have a Temple of Helm there to protect it."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oghma Infinium, a text to be read with great care and sparingly - preferably by one's assistant first. The Elder Scrolls series has the Oghma Infinium text as an artifact of the Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince (other-plane god) of knowledge, memory, and fate. Generally he appears as an Eldritch being in his rare dealings with mortals - a thing suitably unknowable."
<OOC> Vanya says, "*of Hermaeus Mora"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I assume they lifted significant inspiration from the Forgotten Realms, and that does sound like a place to visit for knowledge beyond the academy. :D"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Syval would deign to visit. What would be involved in visiting the Temple of Helm and its interior Temple of Oghma?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Getting into the Library of Oghma requires getting a library card (don't laugh). So he'd have had to come up with a donation to the Temple, probably scrimped and saved for months to scrape together the 20gp required. The card is actually given during a ritual wherein the card - usually a thin silver of metal inscribed with one's name and the date and location of the library to which you first gained access - is magically bonded and bound to you. No one can present a library card fictitiously. NO ONE. Watchers (priests of Helm) DO NOT take kindly to anyone attempting to pass off forgeries or lie to them."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "sliver, not silver. Sorry. Typo."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That /would/ have worked with silver being as rare as you say in the Shaar. X)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It is, literally, a 'credit card' sized thin plate of metal."
<OOC> Vanya says, "So going straight into Syval's inventory and never leaving his person, got it."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Usually made of bronze."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Though on second thought, maybe he keeps it at the temple when adventuring? Seems safer if they're willing to hold onto it for him."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "But not always made of bronze. There are temples that use other materials. Including finesteel, gold, and in at least one instance, glassteel."
<OOC> Vanya nods along.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "The temple of Helm would agree to keep your card 'on file' for a nominal fee - like 1gp per year."
<OOC> Vanya says, "My vague memory of the downtime system says that's a lot for a day laborer but chump change for an adventurer?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Relatively, yes. The economy in the Shaar is bronze-based, and 10 bronze to one gold. A common laborer can usually earn a bronze a week, so around 5gp per year. 1gp per year is a good bit of money for a common citizen, BUT not entirely undoable."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "By comparison: 1 electrum piece (silver mixed in gold) is 25 bronze pieces in value; 1 platinum piece (usually the most valuable coinage metal in most D&D worlds) is 100 bronze pieces; and 1 silver piece is 500 gold piecs."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, keeping in mind that iRL, 'written history' for humanity is 5-7 thousand years, and re-assembled history goes back only perhaps another 2 thousand ... the staggering part of the Shaar is that they actually have scraps of written history known in a minor not-so-special city like Delzimmer that are openly acknowledged to go back more than seven times as much, to ~60,000 years. And those written records include mention of events that ostensibly might be as much as twice THAT far back in history (another 60k). So there's a metric fark-ton of history out there."
<OOC> Vanya says, "How far back does one go before it's Maenast?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Sounds like we're dealing with the Epic of Gilgamesh, which 4000 years ago begins with "In ancient times...". :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Modern Shaaren starts about 1000 (1k) years ago. And takes over about 800 years ago. So, anything older than 1k is definitely written in Maenast (if not in something ELSE)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, I am assuming two related vectors of research: 1) origin and history of human arcane magic 2) historical incidents of 'unusual' human magic, specifically anything seeming like spontaneous casting / non-study. Does that sound right to you?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "That was fun! I'm back now."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Sorry, had to flip the circuit breaker for a minute and that took out the internet."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I went to make a bowl of cereal, this involved a gadget. The gadget's USB wall plug bent and the housing came off without coming out of the socket so I had to flip the kitchen breaker to pull it out safely and the breaker panel labels got me a little confused."
<OOC> Vanya says, "So I ended up taking out half the apartment's electricity including the router, but it's all back now and so am I - with cereal."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And that sounds right to me. Human arcane magic history and 'unusual' human magic like spontaneous casters. I would have an interest especially in the latter, at least as far as they're being understood, but I would be interested in both. Understanding the history and origin of human arcane magic ties back around to understanding unusual human magic." MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "So, pursuing the origins and history of human arcane knowledge, what young Mr. Syval has managed to find is that although most modern mages do not acknowledge this - and some may actively deny it - the oldest of histories indicate that the origin of human arcane magic starts with a group known as the Vizerai, whom were in some way associated with another mysterious group (whole new line of research/inquiry) known as the Eight Sisters, or the Sisters Alvameer. Some texts strongly imply - according to those writing about them in the books you could find in Delzimmer; no originals there) - that the Vizerai were the students of the Sisters, and were taught arcane magic by them. But the Sisters are openly acknowledged mythical figures, immortal witches. They are also held to be the daughters of Selune, the human goddess of magic (along with, as you have been discovering, a whole host of other things; she is generally held as the chief/top human deity overall)."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "On examples in history of unusual human magic, specifically anything smacking of spontaneous casting or non-study, two different paths of study do appear. First, relating in some of those 'ancient texts writing about what was found in EVEN MORE ANCIENT texts, there are mentions of a group whose name in Maenast is the Daerrynae; the closest modern Shaaren translation for that would be 'the First Created.' These are presumably the first iteration of humanity, created directly by the will of Selune. They are mentioned in some scraps of tales as having something else, NOT arcane magic, to start with, which was called the Gift, and believed to be some sort of effort of will. Not much is found beyond that; this is all way the fark back, after all, and this is just Delzimmer. There are likely to be better libraries for super-ancient studies. What this does then connect to, though, is the second avenue here: others who have been reputed through the ages as possessing the Gift. They are very rare, and most have been disproven. But study of some of those who were disproven instead indicated that they had some odd non-human ancestry, or had bonded with some tainted spirit or magical item, and had demonstrated some ability to innately express arcane magic, rather than the Gift. Most notable amongst the stated tests for this was that their magic could be dispelled by a wizard, whereas it is believed that an arcane dispel would have no effect against the true Gift."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "There are also two historical mentions relating to the Gift that may be of interest and which would likely be found here in Delzimmer. 1) There was a Halruuan wall wizard who left the wall and adventured throughout the southeastern Shaar. In his journal he mentions coming across a ruined community not found on any of his Halruuan maps within the Talathgul Mountains, and that while there he encountered 'effects that seemed to function similar to magic, but which I could not detect, identify, nor dispel' which he believed represented the Gift. 2) A journal in modern Shaaren from a Watcher states that he encountered a seemingly human figure able to achieve multiple effects which seemed to be magical. This figure insisted he was not a wizard, and had never studied magic. But he proved capable of 'punching gouts of fire', 'throwing a lightning bolt', and 'transforming himself into an ectoplasmic haze and passing through the walls of a structure', as well as punching undead that would be invulnerable to nonmagical damage and destroying them with bare hands and feet. The individual stated that these were the 'power of his ki' (text includes a pronunciation guide specifying that should be 'key'), and that he was a 'neeshan', which he also stated as 'a disciple of Al Brennan'."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Very interesting, thank you."
<OOC> Vanya had to jot these down into a note file because she will forget faster than they stop being important.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Naturally!"
<OOC> Vanya says, "So... a Gift. That could potentially include my healing. A wizard must have Dispelled me at least once in the course of learning enchantments, and I still heal fast."
<OOC> Vanya thinks that will be his IC theory for now.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah curse my impotence, I cannot cast dispelling magic!"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Not yet!"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Fair warning: It's your turn to pose, and it's WAY the heck back there. So I hope your backscroll is still working?"
Syval raises a brow at the insinuation he rather than his studies might be the source of troubles. A prideful puff of an exhale answers the advice and it's what the wyrm replies that seems to catch his attention most. "Then dragon magic isn't like wizard Art at all..." the young man trails off and knits his brow as he tries to recall an old past reading. "You all have a Gift from Aurrum... like our Gift," he realizes in a hushed tone then with sudden and intense interest he looks back to Neosodos. "Your dragon magic can't be dispelled by humans, can it."
<OOC> Vanya says, "It is and I saved off my partial pose before I asked you the Big Questions (tm). :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Good!" The little drake snorts and shakes his head, then glances around at Andie for a few moments before turning his gaze to the young wizardling. "Not at alllllll." Neosodos insists. "Drrrrrragon magick isssssss arrrrrrcane and prrrrrrmorrrrrdial. Issssss like wizzzzzard magick." He stretches out his wings a bit, swishing his tail in lazy loops. "Gift of Aurrrrrum is gift from Kerrrrrreska in honorrrrrrr of Aurrrrrrrum's sacrifice. Gives Art to all who honor him, and her." Yep. Isn't that all clear?!
Clear as mud, maybe?
"Humans find dispelling draconic magic difficult, but not impossible." Andie offers honestly. "Not unlikely attempting to dispel a witch's magic." She turns to look at Syval curiously. "And what do you, Syval, know of the Gift? That is a rather rare and esoteric subject, not at all common for even experienced wizards, let alone academy trainees."
Syval regards Neos' dismissive answer oddly, then lifts his head skyward with something akin to disappointment - at the reply, or perhaps himself for getting excited over it, chasing another ghost. Andie's question catches the young man by surprise and for a short moment his lips seal contritely.
"...Not a lot," he answers evasively. "There's not much /to/ know of it. Ancient tall tales of frauds and fakes and misunderstood artifacts. But magic creatures are a specialty of mine, so they came up."
<OOC> Vanya puts on Santa hat. He thought up a lie and he thought it up quick... O:) (Yes this would be a Bluff v. Sense Motive)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Wanna give me a roll?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "19+5=24"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Although I'm feeling a circumstantial penalty against my Bluff here."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li halos innocently. Andie turns her gaze to eye Syval at his response. She considers him rather carefully, and then shrugs and nods. "True. Very little is recorded of the Gift. It is, to be fair, best known amongst other peoples with nothing to do with humanity." Gith - yanki and zerai both - and illithidae relatives, as well as the foul serpents, the yuan-ti. "I can understand why an attempt to study rare magical creatures and their abilities might lead to mentions of the Gift."
Neosodos watches this exchange without interrupting, allowing it to pass seemingly unremarked. But after a while he does mutter softly in draconic. Something about 'nose-blind fool.'
With his answer accepted and swallowing the last of his toast, Syval turns his attention to the path ahead of them and casts an eye around the grasslands, then turns his nose to the wind. There's a lot of day to go and it wouldn't be a good start to fall too distracted into conversation at the very start. The small lapse of silence seems to help the young man regather himself and sort his thoughts. A measure of solitude in nature does seem to suit him.
"Those aren't people I've heard writings of then. So the Gift is more common in other races?"
<OOC> TEST
Of course while Andie and Neosodos have been paying a lot of attention to their chat with young Syval, Jyslin has been paying attention to their journey and surroundings, and seems to find it easy enough to give subtle cues to her usual travel mates to keep everyone on target. "Yes." Andie offers by answer when asked, without - for the moment - explaining her answer at all. Their morning seems to be a lonely one, well beyond the farms that surround Delzimmer. By the time early evening is rolling around, they'll be right at the edge of the foothills to the Weathering Heights, the westernmost edge of the Toadsquat Mountains range.
Late in the afternoon, Jyslin glances towards the group, making eye contact with each in turn. "I am going hunting. If I am not back by full dark, make camp." That said, the young woman focuses her breathing, and seems to fall into herself as a silvery glow of light builds around her. The glow expands quickly, and within seconds has expanded to a volume easily three to four times Jyslin's size before it recedes to leave the beautifully majestic oversized Bengal tiger in her place. Then she goes bounding off into the tall grasses and quickly enough disappears from all but scent.
Jyslin's announcement breaks another spell of long silence that's grown among the group, otherwise filled with comparatively minor talk. Syval for his part seemed sated by the morning conversation and turned to stewing on his thoughts or simply watching the nature around them. Sure enough the young man still hasn't shown any difficulty in keeping pace with the long-roaming women... or at least with the moon priestess' human form.
"That must be a useful nature now that she has control of it," the sandy-eyed wizard observes while watching the transformed tiger vanish behind a grassy hill. "You mustn't have much trouble with predators finding your camp," he remarks to Andie before resuming the walk once more. No doubt Jyslin will catch up once she's done.
Andie chuckles softly and nods. "It is quite convenient at times, that is true. But she has always been an exceptionally talented companion." She doesn't seem inclined to explain that comment, but she doesn't seem to mind discussing Jyslin's therianthropy. "Between her ears and nose, and those of Neosodos, it is indeed quite rare that we are caught unawares. I try not to waste effort on warding spells unless absolutely necessary, as my experience seems to be that such things draw too much attention."
The little drake chuckles softly. "Sneaksssssy isssss as sneakssssssy doessssss." His tail flips agitatedly at the end of that, as if making a point. "Yes, and you are very sneaky I've heard," Syval remarks with amusement to the dragonette. "You're a strange group, Andie. If this unmarked path doesn't cross any bandit camps my help may be redundant. Normally I'd be scouting or keeping animals at bay," he adds with a chuckle. "But traveling all the way to the White Bog Woods is a long journey even on the trade roads..."
MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set. Apparently pleased to have been recognized, Neosodos has nothing more to say for the moment and just settles himself comfortably still upon his mistress' shoulders. Andie smiles at Syval and shrugs her shoulders. "It would, admittedly, be much more exciting - and dangerous - if we chose to go south of the mountains. That would not only involve traveling through the Vaeldorn, but also then through the Sensions of the Slain."
The Vaeldorn's other name is the Valley of the Monsters, and it dominates the area from the Toadsquats down to the Luirwood. It is reputed to be rife with threats such as trolls, gnolls and hydras, as well as hill giants and their kin.
"As it is, there are still threats." Andie continues. "We will sleep for three nights in the shadows of the Weathering Heights, favorite haunts for manticore and others. Far from the roads we are less likely to encounter banditry, but even that is not impossible. Since we travel without horses, we are less likely to draw ankheg."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Just Googled those and aren't they adorable!"
"Of course," Syval agrees. "I hope for your sakes for a boring journey. It's just rare I find those roles of mine usurped. Most who pass through Delzimmer looking to hire are less... prepared for the wilderness of the Weathering Heights - or even Trader's Way." The young man chuckles at a memory as he shoulders his bardiche, not needing its help walking on the patch of level ground they've found cresting another hill. "There have been some stories... I'm sure you three have a few as well from so much travel."
"The journey will be as it will be." Andie offers with a smile, singularly unconcerned. "Most do not expect the likes of myself and Jyslin to be quite so well adapted to wandering the wilderness. Two unarmed, unarmored women alone." Of course Syval has learned to think better of that in only a few short days together, but surely he can see where others would be drawn to that erroneous conclusion. "We do have a few stories we could share." Andie just has to make sure they are stories from this lifetime. That would be best for all concerned.
Their journey continues until late evening. About the time the two and the drake start assembling camp the tigress returns, dragging along with herself an entire springbok, which she deposits right beside the fire pit Andie has already created. At the sight of it - already drained of blood, because the tigress is sill smart as a whip and didn't want to leave too much of a trail - Andie chuckles wryly. "OK. Point to which quarter is ours, and I'll cut it off and start it roasting. I know you'll just chow down on the rest of it yourself."
The tigress pats the left (upper) rear haunch, and then settles back as Andie waves a hand, creating a shimmery blade of force in it as she crouches down to hack the body and remove said haunch. Neosodos launches himself from her shoulder to inspect the kill, and then he croons to the tigress, who nods to the drake before he then deploys his own claws and slides off a nice strip for himself from what yet remains.
Andie sets up a roasting spit and puts the haunch on it, setting it to turn itself with another negligent wave of her hand before settling down across the fire to watch Neosodos amusing himself with his meal, the tigress with hers, and their companion Syval across the fire. "Sorry. Even for me, this haunch is going to be at least two hours cooking through."
Syval looks over as Jyslin arrives with dinner and grins dryly as he licks his lips. He hadn't smelled her approach; the tigress approached from downwind. "For fresh meat like this I'll wait. That's a nice find for this region," he assures to the witch by the fire. "And a big appetite for a priestess," the green-haired wizard adds with a glance towards Jyslin and the rest of her kill.
The tigress looks at Syval, though it is difficult to tell if showing her teeth is meant to be a smile or anything else.
Andie does speak up, however. "She'll eat that as the tigress. It helps to sate the appetite of the beast, which keeps her in better balance with herself. One hunt like this every two weeks is generally sufficient, and she prefers to do so off-cycle to the full moon, so that she is not out hunting on a night of the new moon." Not that Andie explains why, though.
The tigress busies herself tearing off strips of flesh and methodically devouring on the carcass of her kill. Neosodos, by comparison, takes his one strip for himself and anoints it with a few crushed berries from Andie's belt pouch, literally soaking it in poison before then chewing at it daintily, wielding claw, sooth and tail spike like a resplendent gentleman in a fine dining hall.
Between the bestial pair they make quite a contrast and Syval watches with an attentive eye that suggests he's taking notes. Pseudodragons are rare after all. "That's good then. What happens if she doesn't?" he asks simply, directing the question to Andie.
The witch continues the chat while the spit rotates entirely of its own apparent volition, propelled as Syval can smell by Andie's magick. "Mmmm. The tiger within her would go hungry, and grow restless, making it more difficult for Jyslin to keep her under control in stressful situations." she answers to begin. She seems to consider her answer for a bit, weighing a few things before adding more information. "Blessed as Jyslin is, she finds the two halves in good harmony, and it is unlikely she would lose control. But the influences can still become intense and unbalanced. In one not so blessed as Jyslin that imbalance would lead to irritability, easy rage, and bloodlust until equilibrium can be restored. If it can be."
"That explains werehyenas," Syval considers, folding his arms idly. It's an amusing display of magic to keep the spit turning though nothing beyond what the wizard's likely seen at the academy of Delzimmer, staffed as it is by some of the region's most proficient wizards. "At least they have a clear nature. You never know where you stand with city folk. Wild animals are much easier to deal with."
Andie quirks a bit at that response, but after consideration she nods. "I can understand that perspective, even if I do not quite share it." She turns her head to watch Jyslin for a bit, perhaps weighing her words and deciding what to say next. "Both can surprise, even shock you. And both can be incredibly deadly. Yet I will admit, humans are most often the hardest for some to make sense of, until they learn the way."
Finished her words, at least for now, Andie turns back to regard Syval once more, as if waiting for the lesson to snap home and more questions to bubble forth in return. For of such is the passage of life and wisdom.
"Deadly for other wizards maybe," the green-haired mage responds dismissively, though to which creature isn't clear. He looks back blankly at the witch, with no new revelation forthcoming. Instead, the stocky mage changes topics, "You mentioned meditation before. What can you teach in two hours?"
Andie smiles winsomely. "That depends more upon the student than upon the teacher. We can but begin and see how far we might progress." She does seem in good humor.
The lessons are simple, but the achieving of them is not necessarily so much. Andie guides Syval with softly spoken words, admonishing him to first make himself keenly, intimately aware of each of his senses, and then to blot it out and remove it entirely from his thoughts and consciousness, leaving only her voice. She explains that once he has learned the point will be to replace her voice with his own inner voice.
The process continues, as Andie guides Syval to make himself keenly aware of each part of his body and then banish that awareness as well. Then the intrusive thoughts must go. In the end, he must listen to only that which has no sound, no form, simply the radiance of that spark of energy that lies deep within. Then he must feed that energy with his attention until it suffuses his entire being.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I... have no clue how I should respond to this one. I feel like I should roll here for progress or the experience."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Would this be some kind of WIS check maybe?"
<OOC> TEST
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You could go with a WIS check, sure."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ouch... 2+1 = 3 for my WIS check."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li oof. "I would say he can't quite get his mind to cooperate. Busybusynoisynoisy."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Apparently not! I blame roasting springbok."
Syval settles onto the ground and seats himself comfortably, then turns his attention to the witch's instructions. Trying to breath and relax and focus and let go is busy work and the two hours pass slowly. It's well enough for the young man to focus in on his acute senses, going so far as spotting the subtle shifts and changes of nature around their camp, but on letting them go... he gets stuck. And then the frustration just makes it worse.
Eventually, growling, Syval draws back his arm and slams a fist into the dirt beside him. "Rah! There's too many distractions in this camp. I need to practice somewhere that's not downwind of roasting meat..."
Andie does try to help, but there's not much she can do. When Syval finally gives up and makes known his protest, Andie merely shrugs. "You could always have moved yourself to a point upwind." A lesson, perhaps, for another attempt? She seems unmoved by his frustration or his anger.
Neosodos merely lifts his head to consider Syval, saying not a word. Jyslin, for her part, pauses while gnawing on a bone, shining emerald eyes watching the stocky wizardling.
"Then I'd just hear eating, and this whole campsite smells like meat now no matter which way the wind is moving. I need to go somewhere quieter - or maybe louder... Somewhere high should do," Syval considers after a few seconds' consideration and turns his head towards the distant mountains obscuring stars to the east. "Once we reach the mountain woods maybe I'll climb a tree. It should be quiet up there."
Andie says nothing to this outburst, but Jyslin has stopped chewing and is watching intently, her round ears flicking just a bit. Up in a tree is quiet? Not likely! But perhaps he can only learn that through experience?
Neosodos ruffles his wings just a bit, watching Syval. Is he judging?
"I did point out that this takes time and effort, Syval." Andie finally offers. "I am sorry for your frustration. But if you allow yourself to simply give up and assume it impossible, then the entire effort was wasted. If instead you have learned the sorts of things that distract and bedevil you, then that is progress. You can then work on your own mental exercises to overcome each of those things in turn."
"I didn't say it was impossible," Syval snorts contrarily. "But this is the wrong place for it, and maybe the wrong time. How is dinner?" he asks looking towards the fire.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "How long did he give it?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Hmm... Depends how fast we moved to the 'push it out of your mind' step, especially on smells. Sight's easy, close your eyes. I'd say at least most of the two hours to be charitable. I'm at least stubborn in my persistence." Andie shrugs slightly; she cannot simply banish away the young wizard's frustration. "Mmmm. You lasted most of the two hours. It should be ready, or nearly so. Why don't you go ahead and get out your kit." Andie's, of course, floats handily out of her own pack and settles in her lap.
Neosodos slinks off through the tall grass, disappearing while the mageling and the witch divvy up their haunch of meat. He's had his meal, and perhaps just wants to explore. For her part, Jyslin just continues to chew on bones, cracking them to enjoy their marrow while sharpening her teeth.
Andie will be making sure Syval gets the lion's - or is that dragon's? - share of the haunch, but she is not exactly stingy for herself. That's just a lot of meat, and she seems to be pretty solid on feeling the green-haired mage needs more than she does by a large margin.
<OOC> Neosodos grooms at the oversized junior dragon, as if trying to demonstrate 'here, this is how you do it'.
<OOC> Vanya looks over equal parts confused and amused. "If I used a tongue like you're doing it would take me all day. What happened to 'dragon magic'?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "So were you thinking of continuing where we are or sliding forward in time? I think I've said all I'm going to about meditating for now unless you've got questions."
<OOC> Neosodos murmurs out a croaky-sounding word, and poof.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I think I can come up with another pose that slides things forward."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Go ahead! I'm going to take a quick afk to tidy up a little more."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That's better. Back again." After the meal is finished - for those still on two feet, at least - the camp can close down, the campfire extinguished as they settle in for the night. The watches that night are largely uninteresting, though the temperature does drop somewhat precipitously in the middle of the night, and by the pre-dawn watch rain has rolled in, a slow and steady soft but soaking fall, making it rather regretful that they have been using open-air sleeping arrangements thus far.
When morning comes, after Jyslin offers up a breakfast of trail rations with some of the last scraps of the roasted springbok, the group can go trudging off to continue their journey.
Two hours into their journey those with scent will pick up the scent of rotting flesh and old blood ahead. Not far from the trail path the group is following they will manage to find the remains of three lost human limbs, and a gutted and still harnessed pack mule, laden with gear. Other evidence includes two small spokes of shed antler and some very large dark feathers.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Here's where my TT novicehood will show. Let me know if I don't weave rolls and pacing with poses how you like."
Covered loosely by his traveling cloak, Syval holds up a hand to pause the group and gestures to the ruined remains. "This could be a sign of trouble... or dinner," he considers. Rain water drains off his hood in a stream as the young man shifts his pack to one shoulder and scans the area for any clear threats or ambush spots then crouches down to study the body parts first.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Let me know which of the following you have ranks in, please: Survival, K: Nature, Lore: Weathering Heights, Perception."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Survival 5, K:Nature 7, L:Weathering 6, Per 12"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, first, give me Perception against DC 15 (penalty for the rainfall). Then L: Weathering Heights against DC 5. The results of those will grant bonuses to the other two checks, so I need these two first."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Per Check: 7+12 v. 15, L:Weathering 14+6 v. 5. Net: 19v15 and 20v5"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Remind me later and I can give you a +roll command for this server. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "The +roll code I have elsewhere is not built for tallying bonuses."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "But FYI, built into tinymush code is [die(#1,#1)] which will roll #1 of dice size #2 and sum them."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah so that's its syntax."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I can modify something like that. +roll1d20 7 DC15 should be easy enough to parse into 1d20+7 vs. 15. Or just KISS with +roll 1d20+7 and handle the DC by hand."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, +4 to your Survival check, which is DC 15. So DC is 11 for you. And K: Nature gets a +15 bonus, so its DC is effectively 0. So, K: Nature first, as it's complementary to the Survival roll."
<OOC> Vanya says, "K: Nature 2, thank goodness for that bonus. XD"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So your Survival DC is 9."
<OOC> Vanya winces. "1..."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And 1+5 = 6"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li spends a hero point for you. "Re-roll please."
<OOC> Vanya says, "11+5 = 16"
<OOC> Vanya says, "We've got Jyslin available too. I assume she's also inspecting things."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nods. "But I kinda wanted you to shine."
<OOC> Vanya says, "It's appreciated. Thank you."
<OOC> Vanya says, "It just occurred to me I could have taken 10 couldn't I?"
<OOC> Vanya will need to remember that rule.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You could, yus."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Not using it here, rolls are done, but in general would take-20 be applicable here? I forgot how much time that adds to a PER/Knowledge check."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I think taking 20 would have been pretty extreme here. But the only consequences for failure here would be not getting the information, so you could take 20 yes."
<OOC> Vanya says, "ICly I interpret take-20 to mean the rest of the party is stopping and waiting around for me to do something that takes minutes rather than a few seconds, so if we'd found something worthy of intense study like ancient runes. Whereas take-10 is the same speed as a normal check, it's simply done when I'm not under pressure and am just doing an "average" job of something. Is that about right?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yus." Careful examination of the scene and available evidence allows Syval to identify that this is the remains of a peryton attack. His guess is that three of them attacked what would appear to have been a party of four humans and one pack animal. He is only guessing, but his conclusion is that they came down out of the mountains, likely from a mining camp, given the equipment and supplies present on the pack mule. Given available evidence, the assumption must be that there were no survivors. Also very little of the equipment will be of much use or value, though there are two serviceable two-person tents still amongst the gear on the pack mule which was, it seems, too heavy for the perytons to carry off.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Should I respond or are the others getting a turn this round?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li is letting you respond with anything you would ICly add given having figured all of this out. Then my three can respond.
"Looks like Preytons," Syval posits as he moves in to study the limbs, not showing any signs of squeamishness, then turns to point out the bits of antler and feathers and bends close to try to lift what rain-drenched smell may remain. "They're an angry, magic mess of deer, wolf, and hawk parts with wings enough to fly, and this looks like the work of three of them at least."
<OOC> Vanya afks to start lentil soup while you pose.
THe robed priestess examines a few things as well, but says nothing, allowing Syval to give his version of events and situations. Is it a test? Possibly, given she has stated her history as a roamer. But this is also more Syval's range than her own. She nods as he explains, apparently agreeing. "Not a lot of ground sign left, but what there is seems to indicate they were coming down out of the mountains. Not much here. If they found anything of value, I'm guessing it was one them when they were taken."
Andie listens to both and nods. "Unfortunate. But not something I feel compelled to seek out and avenge. And most of their bodies are not here for us to bury." It's a tad cold, but practical.
Neosodos does offer one thing, as the group is preparing to depart. "Keep eyesssss on skyyyyy." Just a practical warning from the one of them who is also a sometimes-airborne predator.
<OOC> Vanya says, "And my latest soup experiment is now brewing."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li yay? :)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Fresh mirepoix, tomato sauce, and lentils to form a lentil soup. It should be serviceable but we'll see how the details work out. I'm not 100 sure this is the right amount of water or that it won't be too sweet."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I can fix a little of that with some lemon juice though. We'll see. :)"
Syval nods solemnly to the warning as he reshoulders his pack and steps away. "Their tents are still intact but I don't see anything we can use. Revenge is for someone with a death wish. One peryton, /maybe/, but not a flock of them. At least they've got a meal to occupy themselves. Let's just try to avoid their nests." Turning to Jyslin he requests, "Speak up if you smell more of them." "Smell at range in the rain is much more limited." Jyslin admits, as the group shoulders on and continues. Several hours later the group manages to spot a single large winged creature spiraling on the air currents far above. In this case, the creature is much more wing than body, with a long tail, and reptilian, with only two rear legs.
In short; a wyvern.
This group apparently does not offer enough interest, as the wyvern continues circling and does not stoop, attack or follow.
Four hours later, as the sky begins to darken but not yet time to finish travel for the day, Jyslin speaks up. "Sounds. Hills, ahead right. More than one, and big."
Moments after that observation Neosodos disappears, and Andie murmurs a soft incantation, a subtle glow building around her robes as they all continue marching on.
The group gets perhaps another hundred or so feet before several huge clods of dirt, sod and a bit of rock come sailing in, followed by five rather huge creatures that come surging out around and over the hills, coming down at the party.
Hill giants, incoming. Looks like five of them.
"Look out!" Syval shouts as he dives away from the balls of earth and raises his bardiche, positioning himself loosely between Andie and the rushing giants. A distinctly Delzimmerian curse tumbles out as he readies his weapon and its sharp tip is engulfed in a greenish haze. "This is gonna' be messy..."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "So. What is Syval's AC?"
<OOC> Vanya takes a readied action to |brace| himself against the hill giants and uses Arcane Strike on his bardiche.
<OOC> Vanya says, "13" MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li makes you #1, Jyslin #2, Andie is #3. So, I have 10 vs Jyslin, 15 vs. Andie, 15 vs. Andie, 20 vs. Syval, and 12 vs. Jyslin. These are for the dirt clods, FYI. So Syval will take 6 points of damage from the dirt clod that bounces up to hit him and explodes around him. -2 circumstance penalty to hit for one round due to the dust cloud.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Okay, 59 HP and -2 to-hit."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And food time. I'll be back in a little bit."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "FYI, you have 1 round of action before they can reach you. Do you have a ranged attack you would like to take, or a buff you would like to apply in that timeframe?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'll spend it as described, readied action plus swift buff. My other option is spending a full round to Enlarge Person and that seems like a worse idea given the situation."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I am assuming part of your plan is 'set to receive charge' ?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "...For the third time, yes? Should I be saying "set" instead of "readied action"? I thought that term existed in D&D."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Readied action does; but 'set to receive charge' is a specific //kind// of readied action which I wanted to include in the finish of this pase for description."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Good, we're on the same page then. I explicitly emphasized |brace| when I originally said it to specify that, little vertical lines and everything. :P" The dirt clods hit and bounce all around the group, exploding messily, with one of them managing to bounce into Syval and explode all around him a bit painfully, but mostly just making visibility crappy for a bit. Of course the onrushing giants are not at all hard to spot in spite of that, and as big as these brutes are - huge, sixteen feet or so of muscle and fat - they have vision enough to spot the group despite some cover taken. Interestingly, Syval himself seems to have been almost incidental in the attack, with both of the women targeted by two clods, yet they seem to have avoided them for the most part, with sparks and flares of light and heat around Andie.
As the giants charge, Jyslin touches the bracelet around her wrist and a short bow appears in her hands as she patiently knocks an arrow and fires twice, both striking the leading giant. The first shot is spot-on, a shot that pierces the creature's cheek eliciting a guttural roar of rage and pain. The second shot also hits, but not nearly to as great an effect.
Andie raises her staff in the air, utters syllables in a long-lost language, and unleashes from its simple feathered head a streak of spiraling coiled flame which stretches out to strike another of the onrushing giants, the fire exploding around the single figure with incredible intensity as the giant screams and chokes in agony, wreathed in flame that consumes its flesh in terrible heat and power, the giant stumbling and then falling, still smoking to the moist earth in a dirty splash of ash, gore and mud.
As the group braces for their enemies the giants split up just a bit, with two quickly directing themselves against the very dangerous figure of Andie who just slew one of them, one each charging towards Syval and his set, braced bardiche, and Jyslin who is dropping her short bow as she draws a curious pair of ... handles? ... from the sleeves of her robes.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'd phrased it that way to point out I wasn't just setting to receive a charge but my weapon has the ability Brace which triggers in that instance. Trying to be helpful. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Also bread is now baking itself. Well, warming and mixing at the moment, soon to be rising."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, I need your roll to-hit on the bardiche, as you bypass initiative and go first here."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "THen we'll figure out initiative and run down the first round of engaged melee."
<OOC> Vanya says, "5+10-2=13"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oh for... phone again."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Let me take this one and see if I can quiet them down. I'll try to be back in half an hour."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li thumbsup.
<OOC> Vanya says, "My damage roll if you need it is 7+7=14"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ack. Back now."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Missed anything after my last."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Back on ethernet now. I keep forgetting that makes wifi drop." MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Okay, I'm settled back in."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. Let's go ahead with initiative. FYI, I'll take care of posing the receive charge, but you deserve to know your attack roll wasn't high enough to penetrate. Sorry for that."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "All we really needed was something closer to average on the die; but we didn't get it."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'm definitely not surprised a 5 didn't manage it. Not sure what your apology's for. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Initiative: 13+3 = 16"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I'm sorry that the dice didn't cooperate."
<OOC> Vanya waves away. "Bah. One dice roll is chance. Don't think too hard about it. Besides, these hill giants aren't going down with a single swing."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Andie has a 7+2+1=10; Jyslin has 11+4+1=16; Neosodos has 11+3=14; the Hill Giants, FYI, have 12-2=10, 5-2=3, 1-2=-1. So, we have Jyslin, then Syval, then Neosodos, then Andie, then four Hill Giants."
<OOC> Vanya says, "At least they're a slow bunch. That's helpful."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Sorry for the delay. I'm pondering Andie's action. :("
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. I think I know what she's doing, though she's last of you four."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. Your attack roll on your round?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Eh? I already gave you the attack roll for the braced bardiche."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "On your round, hon."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Okay... 12 before modifiers but what use is an attack roll before I've chosen an action?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Sorry. I just assumed you would be stabbing with the bardiche. Am I wrong?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Jyslin's turn is ahead of mine. So we're assuming she does nothing to affect the hill giant in front of me?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "She is dealing with the one in front of her."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Okay, then since it's a big beastie I'll go for broke on this next swing and see what happens: Power Attack, so 12+10-2=20 to-hit and 1d10 (3)+6+1+6=15 damage."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li thumbsup.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Also start of my turn I gain one HP, now at 60."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li pets dragon. "Good."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And to confirm, the dust cloud was -2 on my next attack not -2 for my next round so it only affected my readied swing?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It was for the next round, but that round has now ended. Your attack roll math is correct."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Oooh! Way to go, Neo!"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You managed a good slash on yours. But Neo decided to help - your combat abilities are those he knows least, so he assumes it possible you might want backup. And the giant failed his save! Go go poison stinger!"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It helps he only rolled a 5."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Help is appreciated against a Hill Giant. Neo thought correctly." As the giants charge, Syval's set and braced bardiche scrapes over the thickened hide of the giant charging him, failing to penetrate. Jyslin leaps forward to meet her attacker as the handles in her hands come alight with blazing silvery fire, forming into scimitar-shaped blades of the stuff which she slashes. The first skates across the giant's thick tough hide, failing to penetrate, but the second bites home, slicing away with blood drawn, though nothing compared to the wound already suffered to his cheek.
Having failed to penetrate the hide of his attacker on his charge, Syval pulls back and swings with great power, his bariche biting deep into the belly of the creature, eliciting a grunt of pain. Then the giant arches upright, lifting his foot ... and topples over onto his side frozen in place, unmoving.
There may in fact be a very stealthy tiny dragon somewhere around his ankle's previous location.
Andie executes another chant, raising her staff and then stomping it down on the ground at her feet, as fire erupts from the striking point outwards, engulfing the two giants attacking her. The tall grasses, thankfully, prove too wet to ignite and carry the flames beyond the twenty-foot radius. While both giants are burned significantly, neither expires, and both prepare their counter attacks to stomp on the nasty fire-throwing caster who has already killed one of their number. The gaints' blows each reveal again that glowing golden aura around Andie, flaring in place and then exploding up their clubs to sear the giants; nevertheless, each giant manages to strike Andie twice, and the witch is driven to her knees, bloodied badly, though not golfed away only because the giants are literally swinging straight down at her as if trying to drive a railroad spike.
Jyslin's opponent, however, swings for the fences with his rage, golfing the robed priestess and sending her hurtling dozens of feet away, a tremendous and bloody blow.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "FYI: Jyslin's giant decided to trade, giving her back a 20 for the one she scored on him."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Heh... that's the first time I've heard of "golfing". Goodness that's a swing. Better to go flying than not."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I think you captured my pose in your pose so we move to the next round? Jyslin to act, then I'll choose my action and play continues?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "So, Jyslin has to get back up, run back. DC 15 reflex saves to keep her weapons."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li checks. Managed to keep both of them (I am impressed). So she can make one attack when she runs back.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "9+12=21. So hit, 10 points of damage."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Nice. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Then now that my giant's incapacitated (for now) I'll |charge| over to the giants attacking Andie and wail on one with another power attack to draw its attention. If the downed giant is blocking my path (no charge) I'll just 'move' there and regular attack it. Hoping to flank if I can but I'll attack from whatever angle I can reach them in this round."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And another round means HP 61."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "If he tries to turn to AoO you, he opens himself up on Andie. So you should be able to move and then attack."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Let's get an attack roll?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "With Reach I don't think I trigger an AoO either? We both threaten at 10ft so I'm not leaving his threatened square to charge."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "True. Good catch there."
<OOC> Vanya says, "2...XD So that's 2+10+2(charge)+2(flanking)-2(pwratk) = 14"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Dangit."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK, so you'll miss. We need to put that d20 in jail."
<OOC> Vanya laughs.
<OOC> Vanya rolls it again for fun, gets 4.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'm not sure we want to discard a die just as it's getting all the bad luck out of it."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I think it is purposefully trying to piss us off."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Remind me how hero points work please?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Eh nevermind. That's for Discord. Not worth using here if the wiki says they don't refresh on the regular."
<OOC> Vanya says, "They seem a precious and rare commodity."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You can spend them for many different things. You can spend one to re-roll a d20. You can spend one to make an opponent have to re-roll as well."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And FYI the charge gives me -2 AC so AC is temporarily 11."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You can earn them for a wide array of things, and you can store them up. My estimate is that with what you've written thus far and done, you started this morning with 3 hero points. You're down to 2 currently."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Going mobile again. Too much glare by this window."
<OOC> Vanya jots down 2 hero points onto his sheet. "Thank you."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Syval will be struck by his new opponent for 16hp of damage." Jyslin managed to keep hold of one of her two 'handles', and she pushes herself back up, splattered with mud and blood, and charges back towards her opponent rather fearlessly - or recklessly. She takes one swipe and manages to score another solid hit, a slice producing blood from the gleaming and glowing silvery blade.
Syval pulls back from his fallen opponent and charges for the closest of the two giants facing off with Andie, attacking from behind but his blade scrapes off the hide of the giant, who turns away from Andie to confront the young mageling. Neosodos is nowhere to be seen currently. Andie utters a single word, something short, dark and terrible that shocks the senses, making it impossible to remember, and then swings her stave around, striking the ankle of the giant still facing her, as flames erupt up across the enormous creature's bulk, searing as those flames melt flesh and singe bone. Still not dead, the hill giant bellows in agony and rage as he swings powerfully overhand down on the witch, his blow crushing her shoulder and arm as he drives her to the ground, but the explosion of fire from the field around Andie manages to end the creature, as it falls backwards into the mud, smoking and sizzling in the rain.
Jyslin's opponent swings again, trying to golf Jyslin away, but she nimbly manages to avoid the swing. Syval's opponent, having turned to face the mageling, raises his club and swings down mightily, driving the blow into the stocky wizard's body and driving his feet deep into the mud as the blood flows.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Roger, 45 HP now. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nods. MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.
<OOC> Vanya says, "It's a nice hit. I can do that too. ;)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, next round, dingding, here we go."
<OOC> Vanya says, "New round, HP now 46. Power attack again, then 5ft step away to draw the giant off Andie. To-hit roll is 19+10-2=27, damage is 5+6+6+1=18... to-hit of 19 triggers a critical confirmation (19-20 crit range) which is..."
<OOC> Vanya says, "9+10-2=17"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You only have to hit."
<OOC> Vanya says, "You don't do critical confirmations?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yes. But a crit confirmation only requires that the second roll is a successful hit."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Right, and that's the 17. I rolled damage before I remembered I have a 19-20 threat range or I would have done that after the 19. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Crit effect on the bardiche is x2 so 18dmg becomes 36dmg if 17 confirms."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Jyslin at least manages to keep consistently wounding hers. You did a good job wounding yours. Let's see what Neo can do ...."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li fistpumps. Good job. He hits this time. Fingers crossed we can lose this saving throw.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ahh, close but no cigar on the confirmation then. Heh, a goal to keep swinging for then - literally. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Mine doesn't have to go down anyway as long as its attention stays on me."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Dangit. Made his save."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You're too close for Burn. So Andie will have to use fire ray."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah. I'm trying to set them up in a Line as well but that'll take more than one round of 5ft stepping."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Burn would dry me off at least."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It'd do more than that. She won't risk lighting you on fire." Syval slashes hard, biting deep with his bardiche agains this opponent, a gout of blood following the strike and a roar of pain. Jyslin manages another serviceable slash against her opponent, more damage done. Syval's opponent is distracted momentarily, lifting up his foot and stomping down in pain, but he does not go paralyzed like his compatriot.
Andie remains on one knee, extending her hand and muttering more arcane phrases as she unleashes a series of searing rays of flame at the back of Syval's opponent, plenty of sizzle there but unfortunately not yet enough to finish the thing.
Syval's opponent swings around in rage and pain, turning its back on Syval to strike instead at the much more damaging fire-caster behind himself. The blow glances off the glowing barrier that flares around Andie, the flames that erupt from it searing away at the creature's arm and chest, leaving it a tottering, smoking mess but not yet fallen..
Jyslin's opponent meanwhile again manages a swing for the fences huge golfing swing. launching the already bloodied priestess dozens of feet away, tumbling and splattering about more liberally doused in blood and mud, her remaining weapon clattering away and lost in the mess.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I can tell you that your opponent should now be much easier to hit this round - his back is turned, so you are flanking and he is denied his DEX - and he is near death."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Unlucky for Jyslin /my/ back is turned to her so I don't notice that. Time to finish off this pesky giant, then it's on the the one attacking Jyslin and... there's one more right?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Andie killed one during the charge; Neo paralyzed one; Andie killed another in front of her; there's the one over you and Andie, and the one whomping on Jyslin. That's 5."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah right I forgot Andie's first kill, thank you."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Poor Jyslin is getting knocked around like a Koosh ball and she's not even fluffed up yet."
<OOC> Vanya is surprised she hasn't shifted.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It's likely she's going to now that she's at distance again, but it will mean she can't attack this round."
<OOC> Vanya says, "No PwrAtk this time. To-hit: 14+10+2 (flanking) = 26. Damage: 5+6+1 = 12"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Alright! You got him. He'll TIMBER and fall down."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'd apologize later for spraying Andie with giant blood but with what she's been doing I'm pretty sure it would sizzle away before getting within two feet of her."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah right and shifting (move action) would trigger an AoO from the giant. Could at least ready an attack for when the giant closes... ah right, but 10ft reach. Boy giants are messy for someone without magic or a bardiche aren't they?"
<OOC> Vanya is just sitting over here merrily swinging away at the same range as his opponent and taking it for granted.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So, next round. Are you approaching Jyslin's target?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Yes. HP now 48 and I'm going to turn around and charge Big Easy, same distracting idea I used with Andie."
<OOC> Vanya says, "(1) Is there clear path/distance to charge, (2) Should I add a flank bonus?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. With your reach, you will make it far enough to be able to attack him this round. There will not be a flanking bonus, as he has no opponent that he knows about within range to attack him in melee. You should be able to charge, as the path should be clear and nothing is bad enough to hinder your movement."
<OOC> Vanya says, "To-hit: 7+10+2(charge) = 19, Damage: 10+6+1+6(pwratk) = 23"
<OOC> Vanya says, "And my AC is 11 this round due to charge."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Did you subtract the power attack to hit penalty?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Sorry thank you, 17."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Had you not power attacked, you would have hit. :("
<OOC> Vanya says, "I figured. I seem to get sloppy with these charges. :P"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Still I don't have to hit, just distract. It's 4 on 1 now."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. Neo can get to him; but without his flanking bonus, he can't hit and he can't get surprise and flat-foot the jackass given he has to fly to get there this round. Jyslin is transforming. Andie is in rough shape. But she can take a move and still cast fire ray again. GAH! She has to spend a hero point, or she wild surges and that would be really bad. Enh. OK. So, those do a decent amount of damage, but he's still up."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "So, we have him engaged. Two opponents in striking range, you and Neo. Do you want odds, or evens?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "<_< Maybe Andie should stop and breathe for a moment rather than do something that would make her wild surge. That sounds bad."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Odds for me. Always odds. Never tell me the odds. :D"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Rolls evens. So he's swinging for the partially camouflaged dragonet."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Well no one said hill giants were smart."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Then again Neos is good at being annoying. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Man. Neo is just damned lucky he's so GD tiny, facing a size Huge target."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Missed by 1."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That must be a beast of a dodge bonus."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It is indeed. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I could make it Gigantic but I don't think that would actually help us."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "So that gets us through this round. Wow. This has been a good, tight combat. I like it."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Jylsin's initiative goes up by one in her new form. Won't matter much, but she's no longer tied with you and going just by dint of a higher DEX."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Makes sense; I'm pure DEX bonus too. No innate Init bonus."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Let me pose out this round and we can get started."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. Care to try again this round?" Syval charges at Jyslin's opponent, preventing him from going after the golfed priestess, but his bardiche again skates across that toughened hide and won't bite deep enough to do damage. Neosodos flies across and his dangerous barbed tail strikes out, failing to penetrate as well. Andie jogs across unsteadily and unleashes four more rays of fire against the giant, doing good damage but not nearly what she has accomplished earlier. Jyslin does not return to combat but lays out, surrounded in shimmering silvery energy, transforming into her tigress form as she slinks closer, getting ready. The giant tries to smash the little dragon attacking him, but she cannot manage to do so.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Gladly. +_+"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Since he just swung at Neos can I get behind him with a 5ft step?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yes. And he's engaged by Jyslin, so you get flanking and no DEX bonus."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah I hadn't realized Jyslin was close enough to engage him as well. Either way, 5ft behind the giant and pivot while stepping to make another big ol' slash (power attack). This one's going through that pesky back-hide."
<OOC> Vanya says, "...Or I roll a 2 because power attacks to the back of a hill giant are not my forte. XD"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Clearly I should fight more honorably to appease the dice gods."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Apparently. :("
<OOC> Vanya says, "HP now 49 but that's another miss."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Maybe I'm distracting him for the others at least."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. Neo will take a move to hide and then try to sting again."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Misses. Hooray for flanking bonus. Let's see that saving throw."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Won't Neos be flanking if - yes."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yes! He failed!"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Someone's about to get~ tigered." The tigress charges and leaps up, claws and teeth in a ball of roaring fury. She manages to do decent damage, but still the giant remains standing. The mageling attempts to stab the giant in the back, but the blow again skates off that reinforced hide. Neosodos flies down into the grasses and hides, looking for his opening, and stabs the giant with his tail. The giant lifts his foot at the pain, looking for the source of the trouble ... and goes still, falling over on his side. The tigress proceeds to rather efficiently slit the giant's throat, and then leaps over to do the same to the other one before it can break free of the poison's hold.
A long, difficult battle, but the group has emerged victorious.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Neo is a real life-saver, isn't he? :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "As long as he's on our side yes. He doesn't have to worry about being overlooked by me. That sneaky little death sentence is ICly on my mind often."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li grins. :)
<OOC> Vanya says, "If there's every a point when I'm "behaving" it's because of him more than Andie or Jyslin."
<OOC> Vanya says, "D'aww Jyslin beat me to the coup de grace on that first one. XD"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Eh, I'll give her that. She earned it."
Syval looks around once the last giant falls and Jyslin makes quick work cleaning up, still holding a ready grip on his wet bardiche in the soaking rain. If nothing else, it's at least helping to wash away the blood.
With silence answering his unspoken question, the wizard relaxes and straightens up with a pained grunt before moving a hand to touch his shoulder. Not too injured to swing, but only barely. Were he someone else, the blow could have shattered something - several somethings. "That was exciting... I don't see anymore, is everyone okay?" the sandy-eyed mage asks while looking between the women.
<OOC> Vanya says, "16 HP until full, will heal in 1.6 minutes."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Warming up dinner. Food afk imminent. :)"
<OOC> Vanya shares soup and afks to eat soup. The tigress climbs off the last target and starts prowling around, her bloody and rent hide slowly stitching itself together thanks to the magic inherent in her nature. Neosodos lifts off, fluttering over and then landing - quite delicately - on Andie's good shoulder. The witch is definitely the worse for wear. "I will ... survive." she murmurs, coughing a bit, spitting up some blood in the process. "I will need some time to heal. If you could help Jyslin to search their bodies, and perhaps also their hidey-hole, that would be helpful. And thank you for your bravery in the battle."
The very touch of Neosodos seems to lend Andie greater strength and resilience, able to move about less pained by her still-obvious injuries. The tigress, meanwhile, starts pawing at the bodies, dragging away pouches and such when found so that she can explore them or claw them open.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Back."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "WB"
"If you say so," Syval replies, though the visible change in the witch once Neos lands is reassurance enough that the magic-touched wizard turns his attention to the giant bodies, beginning with the ones furthest from Jyslin. In contrast to the pair the stocky young man appears to have made it out with barely a scratch, though the true extent of his own injury is hidden by his tunic and cloak. But Syval makes no attempt to mend himself or brace his wound before beginning his search. It's likely that, somehow, he can look after himself too.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Bodies first. Hidey-hole once Jyslin and I have both finished searching them so we can scout it together."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And thank you."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You're welcome. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Your pose next?" Digging through the bodies of the giants manages to turn up an interesting and eclectic collection of items, including a large hank of spoiled meat, a small riding saddle, an ornate painting somewhat schmeared, a crossbow bolt case with 7 cold iron bolts, two halves of a broken baraj, a hooded lantern, a small gold statue, a crude map burned into a heavy bear hide, a bag full of coins, and a cloth bag of golden stones. A search of the giants' camp turns up additional weapons, as well as a half-broken chest full of metal bars and a pair of badly mauled books, as well as yet more spoiling meat.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Sorry. Rolling up treasure takes a little bit, and writing it up takes longer. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "What's a baraj?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Wow... if we weren't on our way with a long journey ahead of us..."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "What?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Your pose, "two halves of a broken baraj"."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Your second part, honey. 'if we weren't ... '. If we weren't, then what?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "There's a lot to carry. Some of this we'll have to be selective of. Golden bars are /heavy/ but valuable."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "A baraj is a large curved-blade sword."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "They're metal bars; I didn't say they were golden."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Thank you, mixed that up with the golden stones and bag of coins (unspecified)."
"There's a lot here. Not too much to return to Delzimmer but more than we should carry to the other side of the Toadsquat Mountains," Syval considers once the spoils are all gathered together for inspection. In the time it's taken to do so the young man has by all outward appearances returned to normal, without any pause for ointment or a healing spell. Daylight is almost fully past now but it's still not dark enough that he's summoned a light. Looking to Jyslin then Andie and Neos, he asks, "The agreement was one third of any treasure, right? Which two thirds are yours?" By the time they have finished searching and assembling their findings, the tigress too looks to be in perfect health, at which point she does morph back into her human seeming to assist.
Andie also looks better, though she likely used some of their searching time to apply some measure of healing. "I believe we can assist with transportation easily enough, Syval." Interestingly enough, both Andie and Jyslin also seem to have miraculously cleaned up, all evidence of blood, viscera and mud gone from their clothing, even if they are still quite wet.
Andie pulls out her messenger bag and sets it on the ground near to the assembled treasures, murmuring a few brief words. With a flash of light, she then opens the satchel and spreads it wide ... wider than physics could ever allow, as it stretches to an opening over six feet tall and over three feet wide. And inside that opening lies not a leather satchel but a warm, slightly musty cave.
"This way, if you please?" Andie comments wryly. Jyslin just gives a chuff of snorting laughter and starts helping to hoist, heft and tote just as well as the young mageling. "I know gems a bit, but not well enough to identify those stones. I'm not really sure what they're worth." Jyslin admits to Syval.
"Why don't you decide what items you would like, Syval? If we somehow object, we can discuss it. But otherwise, take what you wish." Andie offers.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Judging by the CL 9 requirement for Pathfinder's equivalent am I correct in thinking such a bag is unheard of even around the academy?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "MMmm. That's not impossible." MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.
Syval for his part still has a thorough coating of mud across his clothes but perhaps he's simply not found a reason to get clean yet. The adventurous mage doesn't mind a little grime while working it seems. He nearly recoils when Andromeda's small bag expands into a man-sized portal and despite himself the wizard laughs incredulously, shaking his head. "I think the wizards would forgive me for thinking I've fallen into a myth... You don't grow up in the markets of Delzimmer without learning a few things about gems, but... this is another test isn't it?" he asks suspiciously of Andie but sheathes his bardiche on his back and helps Jyslin haul just the same.
"A test? Well, I do suppose it could be that." Andie admits. "But honestly, Jyslin and I do not need much, and it costs us little to be generous and allow you to take what you wish. And it may prove of benefit to us to support our guide in his aspirations."
Jyslin snorts at that as they continue hauling items into the magically-accessed cave. "Saw the eyes." Jyslin murmurs. "You get back to the libraries, you can look up 'satchel of the great cavern'." Appropriate name, one supposes, given there is indeed an entire cave inside. "You did good, by the way. Kept your head, faced them straight on, used your magic to enhance your efforts."
Once they are done loading everything into the cavern, Andie uses another phrase and closes the satchel, slinging it back around her body as Jyslin searches out her bow and quiver, restoring them to her bracelet, and then searches out the two mysterious handles that were the sources of her glowing moonlight scimitars.
Neosodos croaks a word at Syval, one that his instincts tell him means something ... good. Something strong. Something important and valuable.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Are we loading it up for later sorting or is there time for me to appraise things once it's settled in the cavern?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Either can work. Up to Syval if he wants to separate things now or later. Andie just wants it all gathered up so that they can move away from the corpses and maybe make camp for the night. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Also the thief in me just connected the stealth implications of having a single party member travel somewhere with this satchel while others ride in it."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That's quite fair and Syval will do the same then. There's a lot to appraise; he'd rather take his time."
"If this was my first trip out of Delzimmer I wouldn't have agreed to take you to White Bog," Syval points out modestly, content that his courage spoke for itself. "None of us stood a chance against those giants alone. You are all very capable..." Yes, Neos too. Doing a little organizing as he loads the cavern, the green-haired mage separates the gold and shining wealth from the equipment. It all needs to be checked over and with great luck some might even be magic, but near a hill giant's camp and surrounded by their bodies is not the place to do so.
"Too capable, but I won't complain," he adds, at once voicing and dismissing a concern from the fight before turning his gaze to the moon priestess. "You were healing before my eyes. Was that a blessing of Selene?"
"After a fashion." Jyslin answers. "It is an effect of being a therianthrope, a weretigress. The old texts call it something that translates as 'regeneration', but it isn't that. Not quite. I could not restore a lost limb." Is Jyslin intentionally avoiding looking Syval in the eyes right now? "The blessing of Selune that makes me not afflicted, but as if natural-born, means that healing ability is much stronger in me than it would be, and that it also applies when I am in human form."
<OOC> Vanya says, "May I knowledge check for whether I've read those same "old texts"? I feel like there's a genuine chance of it."
<OOC> Vanya says, "14+9 (K:Arcane) = 23"
"I've read those old texts. That's something else to do when I return to the library," Syval considers. His brow quirks at Jyslin's evasiveness and the young man chooses to keep his distance. Silently he glances back to Andie then gestures with his head down the route they'd been traveling. They can talk while making their way to a better campsite, somewhere without the smell of fresh corpses. "That's a valuable and rare power, even among magical creatures."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nods. "You haven't read one that refers to it relating to therianthropes, but you have read old texts which do talk about 'regeneration'. The sources you found included things like certain variances of undead (liches), as well as some other creatures.
"I've read about regeneration. That's something else to do when I return to the library," Syval considers. His brow quirks at Jyslin's evasiveness and the young man chooses to keep his distance. Silently he glances back to Andie then gestures with his head down the route they'd been traveling. They can talk while making their way to a better campsite, somewhere without the smell of fresh corpses. "That's a valuable and rare power, even among magical creatures."
<OOC> Vanya tweaks then.
"It is rare, or at least uncommon." Jyslin agrees. They resume their travel, trudging through the gloom of darkness to get at least a few miles further along the trail before they try to make camp. The trudging along has become a bit harder, a lot sloppier given an entire day of rain. But as their travel takes them into the lee of the Toadsquat mountain range, things start to dry out, as far less rain manages its way over those peaks.
"And I will admit, it does make our travels a good bit more survivable. I am not the most powerful of priestesses, so the amount of healing I can provide to Andie is limited. My regeneration means I do not have to waste that on myself instead."
It's a sign of the muddy terrain that Syval hasn't taken the bardiche from his back again to use as a walking stick, though otherwise the young man moves like their earlier fight hadn't even happened. His extra rations in their meals seem to fill a deep well of stamina. Once a good spot has been found he sets once more to unpacking, this time arranging his supplies in a way that's more suited to the weather and starting with a ground layer before marking out the frame of a tent. "If it takes five hill giants for her to need healing I can see why you both chose such a dangerous route," he replies with another sidelong glance to the witch seemingly at the heart of the group's incredible magics.
"I have something similar, so any medicine is up to you two. I've never bothered to learn." Might as well get it out into the open.
"Andie has some skill with magical healing." Jyslin admits, without getting too specific. "But the powers of a priestess usually far outstrip what a witch can do." But given the power Andie has already demonstrated, her healing abilities may well outstrip Jyslin's own modest talents. It's at least possible. "But I also have a lifetime's training as a roamer in natural healing and field medicine, augmented by my years at the Hall of the Heavens."
Jyslin busies herself assembling a tent as well, apparently retrieved from her own backpack. Andie meanwhile creates the campfire as she has before, but this time creates a shimmering field of energy above it which sheets the rain around the fire. Honestly, the effect is likely rather minor magic, but the fact she uses such a thing so casually is at least unusual, much like the magically rotating spit and other solutions revealed as they have traveled.
Once the tents are assembled, Jyslin also sets up a small four-pole open-sided fly to create a rain-free spot for whomever is on watch, so that they can do so outside their tent and yet not suffer hours of rain. Andie, meanwhile, seems to be taking her turn preparing a simple meal from available rations.
When his own dwelling is prepared and the campsite as a whole is in order, Syval walks over to Andie and gestures to her bag. "I'll go through our finds and appraise their value while dinner cooks. Can you reopen the portal?"
Andie nods. "Very well. I saw a painting in there. Would you bring that out to me? I would like to try cleaning it off, see if it can be salvaged." That said, Andie moves to under the fly and then opens the satchel again so one can step in and out of the cavern out of the rain, and so that rain is not flowing into the cavern itself.
The cavern is warm and a bit moist. Something Syval may discover if he looks around more this time is that there appears to be a set of stairs subtly cut into the stone off in one corner, leading upwards. But at the top is a heavy wooden horizontal 'door'.
"Sure," Syval acknowledges before heading into the cavern. Here finally he sees fit to clean himself and, with a wave of his hand and a brief glow of greenish magic, all the dirt, grime, and blood of travel evaporates from the apprentice wizard's body and garments. His first trip through the portal is as the young man moves the painting through the portal and rests it within the dry shadow of the fly before ducking back inside to spend his time uninterrupted with the little collection of mismatched treasures.
The change in climate has Syval shrugging off his cloak and gear before stretching out to luxuriate in the mild air. After a day of rain it's a welcome respite and inside a portable cavern there are few places better suited to leave the weight of his pack beyond arm's reach. Looking around he notes the small staircase and regards the door atop it with a curious eye, then glances sidelong back towards the portal entryway. It only takes a moment's thought before the young mage turns back to the gold and metals and mismatched gear from their recent fight - especially the gold. Any curiosity he has towards the doorway is tempered by the knowledge that it's Andie's doorway and no story with curious youths and witches ever ended well.
Stroking his chin, Syval stares at the golden statue, the coins, and the golden stones, then looks at the mundane looking pile of bolts, a lantern, the fractured sword, and other gear. This time the young man thinks longer until finally reaching a decision and sighing out his nose. The green-haired mage waves his hand in another arcane gesture and summons magic before his eyes. "Business before pleasure," he mutters and turns to studying the seemingly mundane finds, first checking for the presence of any magic before inspecting them in more detail.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Let me know what I should roll to get this started. If I'm skimming Detect Magic right it's 3 rounds to detect which items are magic and their strengths, with a K:Arcane check for the school of magic, then a separate 3-round Spellcraft check to determine a magic item's property in the unlikely event I find one."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Of course I've got time now so the rounds aren't too relevant. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li is going to recommend we go on pause. It's pretty much bedtime at this point.
<OOC> Vanya says, "That is also true. I've just about finished my bed prep between poses."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li snugs. "Did you have fun today?"
<OOC> Vanya hugs back. "I did! This was different but enjoyable and it did move things along a bit. Gave more fodder for conversations. Thank you for the large task of DMing the NPCs as well as 3/4ths of the party."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I am honestly surprised I did not get more squished."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You can thank Neo for that. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Also the dice, for agreeing to help him out. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li transfers the rest of this chat to Discord for the evening.
After about half a minute of study, Syval will be able to determine that there are muddled auras of magic around the mangled books, as well as tattered remnants around the broken pieces of the sword, and the small gold statue.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I do not think I would have set any setting like that."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Does the same command work on an admin alt I wonder. That would answer that."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Back to scene: Can I tell the schools of magic involved?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Well, the books are muddled; there seem to be many layers to the magical areas there."
"Why hello there," the mage purrs as his search turns up not one but several sources of magic among the disparate items. His eyes dwell upon the shimmering statue, made the more enticing by the ethereal aura seeping from it, then they turn to the books as the young man bites his lip. "Okay, maybe a little pleasure before business," he relents then scurries over to the books and gingerly picks up the nearest one, inspecting its badly abused cover before opening it with care.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "The sword pieces, as stated, ore tattered, but show signs of alteration, enchantment, evocation and abjuration."
<OOC> Vanya @_@
<OOC> Vanya says, "(George Takei) Oh my~"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "The small gold statue shows signs of alteration and conjuration/summoning."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "As well as, sorry, the usual enchantment."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That one's assumed I think. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Maintaining/keeping up your Detect Magic as you inspect the first book?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Yes. I'll maintain it for as long as it can offer insight on what I'm studying in here."
<OOC> Vanya will switch to Read Magic if he comes upon magic text but that will be stated.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. So ... K: Arcana, please. And Spellcraft." think %ch%cg>>%cn Syval rolls a d20 and gets %ch%cw[die(1,20)]%cn.hthink %ch%cg>>%cn Syval rolls a d20 and gets %ch%cw[die(1,20)]%cn.g>>think %ch%cg>>%cn Syval rolls a d20 and gets %ch%cw[die(1,20)]%cn.n Syval rolls a d20 and gets think %ch%cg>>%cn Syval rolls a d20 and gets %ch%cw[die(1,20)]%cn.hthink %ch%cg>>%cn Syval rolls a d20 and gets %ch%cw[die(1,20)]%cn.w1think %ch%cg>>%cn Syval rolls a d20 and gets %ch%cw[die(1,20)]%cn.n.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah right, I might know what broke."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Oh?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I forgot we're not on a Rhost are we? So my %ch and %cg color substitutions throw the parser into a tizzy."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That is a really convenient short-hand for coloring text. The h is highlight and g is green, for example."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "We are not on Rhost, no. TinyMUSH"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Here, you want %x"
No entry for '%x'.
<OOC> Vanya says, "K:Arcane: 9+9=18"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Spellcraft: 10+8=18"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Could you give me an example of how %x would work for achieving [ansi(hg,Syval)] for instance?"
No entry for 'teach'.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "That would be %xy%xgSyval%xn"
<OOC> Vanya says, "D'aww, and there's no 'teach' here either. That's also handy. If you 'teach' something instead of 'think' or 'say' it will emit the command you're teaching followed by its output to you."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "That would be %xh%xgSyval%xn"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah got it, thank you. Pretty close then. :)"
Syval
Set.
Huh? (Type "help" for help.)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "No. No teach here."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Then again that still doesn't solve the command not executing in the first place... ah well."
<OOC> Vanya shrugs and will keep using Google for now.
After about ten minutes of examination and study, Syval will be able to determine that the first book is a warded spellbook; chances are had it not been warded, it would never have survived its rough treatment by the hill giants. As it is, only a bit over half of the pages of the book have survived legibly enough to be carefully studied to decode into the constituent mage spells recorded therein. The spells cover a wide gamut of the wizard discipline, explaining the very muddled overall aura of the book. There are still 8 spells remaining within, including 3 1st level spells, 2 2nd level spells, 2 third level spells and 1 fourth level spell.
<OOC> Vanya <3
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'll assume Syval is ICly familiar with the process and potential week-long delays of copying spells from a spellbook, given that's most likely how he learned his original ones."
Pleasure, surprise, and shock pass across Syval's face in succession as he realizes he's holding the remains of a very capable mage's spellbook, and that it's at least mostly intact. "Some of the magic in here looks beyond me, but very~ worth having a copy," he mutters greedily before closing the book and carefully setting it aside for later. Copying even one of the spells will take nearly more time than he has and thanks to Andie's cavern, he can trust the deceptively simple book isn't going anywhere fast.
Time to inspect the other one...
Three of the spells in the book are in fact spells the name and description of which Syval has never heard mention during his studies at the academy.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ooh~"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I do always love me some forbidden knowledge."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Not so much 'forbidden' necessarily, but 'damned uncommon'."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Eh let me dream. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. New rolls, pls. K: Arcana and Spellcraft again."
<OOC> Vanya says, "K: Arcane, 7+9=16"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Spellcraft: 17+8=25"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li applauds!
Function: set(<arg 1>,<arg 2>)
This acts identically to the command '@set <arg 1>=<arg 2>'. An
empty string is always returned, regardless of the success or
failure of the attempted set.
Common cases of use of this function:
set(<object>,[!]<flag>)
set(<object>,<attribute>:<value>)
set(<object>,<attribute>:_<fromobj>/<fromattr>)
set(<object>/<attr>,[!]<attrflag>)
Function: setq(<number, letter, or name>,<string>[,...,<varN>,<stringN>])
The setq() function is used to copy strings into local registers.
It returns a null string; it is a purely "side effect" function.
setq() can take multiple variable name - value pairs.
Example:
> &TEST me=Test on [mudname()] at [time()].
> say [setq(0,u(TEST))]'[r(0)]' has length [strlen(r(0))].
You say, "'Test on TestMUSH at Tue Feb 23 17:00:51 1993.' has length 45."
> say Test.[setq(a,Test,tmp,on,9,TestMUSH)] %qa %q<tmp> %q9.
You say, "Test. Test on TestMUSH."
See also: LOCAL REGISTERS, setr(), r(), lregs(), qvars(), VARIABLE FUNCTIONS.
Function: add(<number1>,<number2>[,<numberN>]...)
Returns the result of adding its arguments together.
You may add up to 30 numbers in one add() call.
<numberN> may be a floating point number, and a floating point result
is returned.
Example:
> say add(2,4)
You say, "6"
> say add(5,3,7,-4)
You say, "11"
See also: ladd(), div(), mod(), mul(), sub().
Syval rolls 1d20+7 and gets 7
Syval rolls 1d20+7 and gets 7 (#-1 FUNCTION (DICE) NOT FOUND)
The second book originally appears to be more of the same to Syval, and even that would be a reward of great value. But instinct and perseverance lead to a new insight: what Syval has at first determined and discovered is in fact a cover, a disguise put in place to hide in not-so-plain sight something else. He is reasonably sure, though much of this is more intuition than definition, that the book is in fact pretending, magically, to be damaged, and to be the mere spellbook it appears. But thus far he has not yet found the key to unlocking its mystery towards the buried truth within.
Function: die(<number of times to roll die>, <number of sides on die>)
This function simulates rolling dice. It "rolls" a die with a given
number of sides, a certain number of times, and sums the results.
For example, 'die(2,6)' would roll "2d6" -- two six-sided dice,
generating a result in the range 2-12.
Syval rolls 1d20+7 and gets 9 (4)
Syval rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21 (14)
@emit Syval rolls K:Arcane (1d20+9) and gets 18 (9)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Does this 2nd book also have what appear to be learnable spells in addition to seeming a little too perfectly damaged to be real as it is?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li awards you a hero point!
<OOC> Vanya blinks!
<OOC> Vanya says, "Eh what"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "That was the perfect question to ask. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "And you got it in one."
<OOC> Vanya says, "You need to @name yourself Andromeda for these sessions. Always with the sneaky tests!"
Syval's study of the second book's false cover does reveal most of the notes required to assemble into a collection of nine moderately common spells, including 4 first level spells, 3 second level spells, 1 third level spell and 1 fourth level spell. None are terribly exceptional, and a few of them will be harder to copy over than normal - and impossible to use the Copy cantrip to do so - but they are complete enough that they would only impose at most a -2 to -3 penalty to the attempt to learn the spells from this source.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Copy cantrip?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nodnods. "Yep. A cantrip to copy one page of written material from one source to one destination. In effect, the Xerox cantrip."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah I think I've read about that once in some expanded magic compendium or another. I thought it only worked on non-magical writing though, otherwise wouldn't it be redundant to the Spellcraft check for copying someone's spell into your spellbook?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "But because of the mangling, the only way to really copy this over is to rewrite it."
"Very interesting..." Syval murmurs as he studies the second book, finding not just the fragmented remains of spells but also... something else. It may be a figment of the magic aura twisting around the pages but the young man scrutinizes the book suspiciously well after he's finished taking note of the usable pages, then this one too is set aside with its twin.
Syval only barely, with visible effort, manages to draw himself away from the two books, as if sucked towards them by a current of water, but once he turns his back on them completely the spell breaks. "Should not have started with pleasure," he mumbles to himself. "Spoiled my appetite..." Straightening up and brushing at his clothes, the young mage takes a cleansing breath and glances towards the portal entrance briefly before turning his attention next to the broken sword with its three mingled auras. "Now let us see what you are... or were."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Study rolls, pls. :)"
@emit Syval rolls K:Arcane (1d20+9) and gets 19 (10)
Syval rolls K:Arcane (1d20+9) and gets 25 (16)
Syval rolls hwSpellcraft (1d20+8) and gets 14 (6)
<OOC> Vanya patches a little formatting for next time.
<OOC> Vanya says, "The number in ()s is the d20 roll, before modifier."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nodnods. "Good job." :)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li would recommend marking the final roll with a differentiated color. %xc %xn maybe? Just a thought. Anyway.
Syval rolls Spellcraft (1d20+8) and gets 26 (18)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Something like that or give it a little pizazz like yellow?"
@emit Syval rolls Spellcraft (1d20+8) and gets 28 (20)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yellow, cyan. Something different. But yes."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Given a bit more time I'd color-code it with conditions. I'll leave it cyan for now. That's a good color."
@emit Syval rolls Spellcraft (1d20+8) and gets 9 (1)
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'd reuse my old +roll if I could remember which text file has the @decompile. Hrm..."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah nevermind. I found it but it's not that fancy. The +flip was the one I got cute with."
Syval's study of the baraj's pieces turns up a few things over time. First, the blade's pieces could really use some help, including some major cleaning efforts. There are definitely obscured runes along the blade, and signs that the hilt has some unusual construction to boot. While it may not quite need an archaeologist's tender touch, it definitely needs care to avoid doing damage to the already damaged weapon.
Magically speaking, Syval can determine that the blade was not just a simple magically augmented weapon, but one of a much greater variety. Indeed, it is quite likely that it once was of the caliber of a specialized weapon with unique magical properties, perhaps even an intelligent or purposed weapon with commanded powers and spells. But as yet whatever may remain of that power is not being coaxed forth by the stocky mageling.
<OOC> Vanya says, "May I appraise this one for its value as-is?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You are sure if it were cleaned up, even broken it would be worth tens of thousands of gp. Depending on historical significance, it could be as much as ten times that."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And a bunch of hill giants got this thing off a corpse. Yikes..."
Syval regards the weapon in quiet awe as he finishes studying the remains of the baraj. Even just physically it's a ruined weapon so he wasn't expecting much from its magic. It's impressive anything is still bound to the sword, and that alone speaks to the power it had when whole. Whether careful repair could restore that or leave it with weakened and distorted enchantments is another matter, but even broken, it's clearly the remains of a remarkable blade. "Better not to touch this more than I have to - and until we can find a qualified smith..."
Looking slowly between the sword and the two books he'd already set aside, the young man is forced to stop and reassess the pile he's sifting through. "What... in the name of Oghma's library did those giants do to gather these? Could they really have killed people wielding all of this?" Shaking his head, Syval looks back towards the shinier, simpler side of the treasure trove where he'd separate out the gold, coinage, and metals. There's one more magical aura to investigate but he turns to the simple pleasure appraisal work and money counting, though to call this one business might be a stretch. But given the most recent find, Syval approaches the small golden statue with an element of caution, noting its conjuration aura with care, lest he trigger something unintended.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Want any rolls?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Well. I could ask for a whole plethora of Appraisal checks. But that might get tiresome."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Let's go for: one for the golden stones; one for the coins; one for the statue. Without a metallurgist I don't think you'll be able to value the metal bars."
Syval rolls Appraise (1d20+9) and gets 28 (19)
Syval rolls Appraise (1d20+9) and gets 11 (2)
Syval rolls Appraise (1d20+9) and gets 16 (7)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Wow I /tanked/ the appraisal of the coins. At least coins are fairly easy to appraise."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I take it the bars aren't made of a common currency metal then?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "No. No currency metal at all."
The golden stones appear to be minor pearls with a moderately unusual impurity changing their color: literal gold dust. None are exceptionally large, but each stone is worth about 300gp. There are eighteen stones.
The coins are definitely larger than normal modern issue. But they are also very caked with crud and indistinct. By weight, assuming all are the gold they appear to be, they would melt down to about 400gp total.
The statue appears to be gold accents, inlay and base around a small but very detailed marble statuette. In sheer artistry it would easily fetch four thousand gp. And that is before one evaluates its magical potential.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I roll to evaluate its magical potential. :P"
<OOC> Vanya says, "K:Arcane again?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Goodness and those are some heavy finds... Twenty pounds of coins and... well the stones clearly have artistic value; they're literally worth more than their weight in gold."
<OOC> Vanya nudges?
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "K:Arcane and Spellcraft again, yus."
Syval rolls K:Arcane (1d20+9) and gets 16 (7)
Syval rolls Spellcraft (1d20+8) and gets 23 (15)
The statue seems to have, somehow and for some reason actually rejected the same dirt, mud, crust and grunge that has inundated the other items gathered. It remains almost pristine in appearance. The figure of a proud and regal knight at arms, given the regalia of the armor, shield and spear the figure bears. The style demonstrated is old, indeed quite possibly ancient. And there is a word in a stubborn magical script hidden in the whorlwork along the base of the statue.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Hmm... well I've got a rank in K:History. Can I try to identify the knight model and decipher the script (Spellcraft? Linguistics? K:Arcane?), or is this already what I get from close study??"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "K:History for the knight's costume/style. Linguistics for the word."
Syval rolls History (1d20+5) and gets 21 (16)
Syval rolls Linguistics (1d20+6) and gets 20 (14)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oh hey I found where my charge rolls went!"
Syval can clearly identify the style of the armor and accoutrement of the figurine as suitable to other art pieces depicting the chevaliers of the time of the Great War, some nearly sixty thousand years prior. That then sparks a bit of a memory for Syval of legends stating that the last of the Chevaliers fled up into the Toadsquat mountains at the end of the war, the path of their pursuing barbarian hordes blocked by the Sensions of the Slain.
And careful examination manages to identify the Maenast word hidden on the statue. If only Syval knew how to pronounce it as a native would: Honoria.
<OOC> Vanya says, "So... I'm going to call the value on this one "priceless" and not even ask."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Did my roll before cover checking out its alteration/summoning aura or should I continue inspecting for that?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "It's a Figurine."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Meaning...?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Oh. Right. Player does not have TTRPG history. Sorry. My bad. There's a long-held classic magical item: Figurine of Wondrous Power. With a command word, a creature is summoned in place of the figurine, as represented by the figurine, to serve the bearer for a period of time, and then retranspose back to the figurine after the time is expired."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oh my me... that is one heck of an item then. Looks like PF does have an equivalent: https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/e-g/figurines-of-wondrous-power/"
<OOC> Vanya says, "And this figurine summons a knight at arms... @_@"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "But where those are most classically creatures, animals, this would appear to be a person."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Yes, very... unique. Sixty thousand years in the future. Raises questions about how strong the figurine's bond is to its user. <_<"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Something to discuss with Andie..."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Can I tell male vs. female knight?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Well, the command code would make it clear: it's a feminine form of the word."
<OOC> Vanya lil' hopeful smile that the party gets a new member to pal around with Syval.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Even if in temporary stints. That could have fun effects on the group dynamics - but I'm getting ahead of myself."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Your pose, scalybutt. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Almost done. I have to research for this one."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Current Master of the Academy is male or female?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Male."
"What is this doing here..." Syval mumbles as he studies the golden statue from various angles. The figure is a person, that's clear enough, but it takes far more study to identify it in detail. "Learning Maenast was worth it after all... Honor? Maybe that was her name... I've never heard of a /person/ being sealed into something like this. And from so far in the past..." Another glance is given back towards the portal then slowly the green-haired wizard moves the find over near the two books and the sword and sets it down, keeping the most precious finds clustered together. His eyes hang upon the figurine's face as he stands back up from his crouch and exhales a held breath.
"Wow..." There's nothing more to be said, no better way to put it. In all his adventures beyond Delzimmer, any one of the items would have been a remarkable find, and to find any of them within the city's walls... the spellbooks perhaps, in the careful care of the Master of the Academy himself. After spending a few minutes recomposing himself Syval stumbles back out of the portal still with lingering signs of his wide-eyed daze. Flipping his hood back up while beneath the protection of the small tent, he looks around for the painting and to see how dinner's come along in his absence. The map and the plain equipment he can inspect later. The young mage is at his limit.
"Welcome back." Andie offers, nodding towards the young mageling. She now has a cauldron hovering above the flames, bubbling contentedly and spewing forth delicious scents of a stew.
Jyslin is currently seated within their tent, the flap open, cleaning her gear with fastidious detail. And lying nearby, apparently now sealed in a block of crystal-clear amber, lies the painting, cleansed of its previous detrius.
"The painting is elven in style. At least a couple thousand years old. But the materials, and the figure, are odd. They're not right, and I'm not sure why." Jyslin explains, as she gestures towards the amber-sealed painting. "What did you find?"
Syval makes his way through the rain to join Jyslin in the tent, waving a hand bound with Art to renew a minor spell upon himself and pull away the freshly regained water once he's back under cover. After warming and drying himself in the cavern, the night's weather feels almost worse than if he'd stayed in it. Before he answers the priestess, the sandy-eyed young man inspects the amber-coated but otherwise restored painting and its figure frozen in time...
<OOC> Vanya says, "Does the painting bear any resemblance to the figurine or match anything from the Great War period 60,000 years ago rather than just a few thousand back?"
<OOC> Vanya can continue a pose afterwards.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "No resemblance, and there's no way, based on what Jyslin just said, that this comes anywhere near to matching the Great War timeframe."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Thought so, just wanted to cover my bases. :)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Besides at this point I am seeing ghosts. That figurine was a little too much to take in given what I normally find adventuring outside Delzimmer or doing minor escorts."
<OOC> Vanya says, "We are nowhere near well-traveled paths at this point, but that's what keeps finds like this hidden for so long..."
<OOC> Vanya says, "That and a horde of monsters."
Different, younger, not the same. Syval turns away from the painting and sighs too loudly for Jyslin to miss it. "Two spellbooks from very accomplished wizards - at the level of the academy master, Delzimmer's strongest mage. A few hundred gold in coins, shiny stones, and something more from the metal bars. Those need a metallurgist's eye not mine..."
"And damaged magic still clinging to that sword," the apprentice wizard explains, clearly recalling its details and aura from memory as his tone unconsciously gives it an element of reverence. "It's old and very valuable, I can't imagine how powerful the enchantment was when it was whole. Even like this, a hundred thousand bronze would be a fair price, maybe more."
"Wow." Jyslin offers, honestly. She was aware that some of what they had found was magical; she is a priestess of the goddess of magic, after all. But she had not imagined it was quite as significant as all of that. "Impressive finds. Sounds like they might have run over an adventuring party somewhere along the way." That is at least Jyslin's take.
Andie mmms softly, glancing curiously at the other two. "I would agree with the assessment. The magic and crafting of the blade would have to be exceptional to maintain itself even after breaking. Something would have to anchor it, sustain it."
"I'm surprised the giants only had these pieces, especially the books. Hill giants wouldn't value magic," Syval weighs in. "But they do seem like spoils from less fortunate adventurers. Still, for magic like that to lose to a few hill giants is strange. The perytons might have done most of the work."
"And I found one other thing," he begins, pausing to look at Jyslin then out towards the cauldron to make eye contact with Andie. Neos, as is his want, seems to have vanished again. "It's a summoning figure, still enchanted, of a knight dressed from the Great War era. After we rest and once we have daylight, we should activate it."
Andie arches an eloquent red eyebrow at the green-haired mage as he offers the last of the treasures he has found. "That is ... a rather rare find." Obvious, stated. "Such objects usually require a specific command word. Intonation has to be nearly perfect, almost like a sonic key." she explains, revealing her knowledge in dribs and drabs as usual.
Jyslin, meanwhile, is just plainly blown away. This all seems like so much. And she clearly agrees that it seems unusual that the hill giants would have kept such treasures, would have cared to bother with them at all.
"I can read its inscription in Maenast. That's a start," Syval replies and turns a sympathetic glance towards Jyslin. He's had the benefit of time to process it all. "And I think it was here originally, or at least nearby. There's a legend of knights being driven to the Toadsquat Mountains... it's still suspicious to find it /here/ but this could have been its home sixty thousand years ago. For now it should be safe if the cavern."
MAIL: Mailbox purged.
Name set.
Andie nods. "Yes. It all should be safe in the cavern. Perhaps we can make it a project to work on cleaning them up as we journey. They are some very interesting finds, to be sure. And mysteries."
Jyslin turns her head to look at Andie curiously for a few long moments. She doesn't say anything, doesn't ask anything. But it's the sort of look only the closest of friends exchange, almost verging on telepathic.
"Hey. That stew ready?" Jyslin asks, finally.
<OOC> Vanya snerks.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Jyslin: *deep soul-peering stare* "Meow" (Food)"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I know that look was for something else but absent of context that was overpoweringly catlike."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li grins. "Yep."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Intentionally so."
Whether the look exchanged means more than food, Syval seems to neither know nor care. He's already planned to lean upon the witch's preternatural knowledge, regardless of how deep it stretches. Yet one more mystery buried within the pile now, which he's in no rush to solve. After all, that was a /lot/ of fire earlier.
"I'll also need time to copy the spells into my book - days, not hours. Most of them are beyond me but they belong on good parchment. Can I spend time in the cavern when we have quiet periods of travel?" Syval adds, closing out his questions before it's time for food to hit the bowls.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li snugs. "I'm heading to bed, hon."
<OOC> Vanya hugs. "Sleep well and thank you for an evening of really thought-provoking RP. I got into this one." :)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li yay.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I just finished bed prep. I'll join you once I've switched dishes from the dishwasher."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Remind me tomorrow if you want. I can kibitz about earlier thoughts I had on a new party member joining the group. Not sure Honoria will be that but it's quite the coincidence if not!"
<OOC> Vanya hugs. "Good evening."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Hihi. Good evening."
<OOC> Vanya facerubs then stretches out. "So, how shall we begin this?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Maybe a timeslide pose, covering that night up to the morning?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'd call it more a scene close and new scene open, but yeah. Starting in the morning. :)"
Having dealt with the hill giants and moved on, then spent some of the evening examining the spoils of that victory, the night passes uneventfully. Surely quite a few predators have moved into the area, but they have easy pickings and lots of them and no need to bother anywhere close to the camp of the small group. The rains slack off during the night such that by early morning as they pack up, eat breakfast and get started with their day it is merely misting, offering a slightly foggy day. The ground is soggy beneath their feet, but without more rain it should get easier over time.
Just three humans trudging along where no trail leads. Nothing to see here. Nothing special at all.
Right?
Walking at the front of the group, Syval's still carrying his bardiche on his back as it was the day before. Despite the end of rain it's still too damp underfoot to walk with the weapon comfortably. Despite the uneventful watch and not because of the obscuring screen of light fog, the green-haired young man seems antsy and impatient, setting off on a quicker pace from camp at first before slowing down to the group's normal traveling cadence. The mage still has a lot on his mind from the night before.
"When we stop to rest, I'll try activating the statue," he suggests, glancing back to Andie and Jyslin. Where Neos is hiding now is anyone's guess. "Do either of you speak Maenast?"
Neosodos is almost assuredly riding Andie, hiding via his camouflage as an apparent backpack. But he's not giving himself away much this morning. Andie and Jyslin seem overall calm, but neither are they poking at Syval for his antsy reactions or changes of pace. Whatever works.
When Syval asks his question, Jyslin rather than Andie is the first to respond, snorting softly. "Speak Maenast? Blessed moon, Syval, how old do you think we are?" The ashen blonde shakes her head. "I know how to read it; they taught at the temple during my training. And Andie had a few books written in it, so I've kept up, learned a bit more."
Andie speaks then. "Only incredibly long-lived sorts still recall how to speak the language clearly. Some elves. Elder dragons, perhaps." To that end, the redhead then looks at her shoulder. "Neosodos? Are you old enough to speak Maenast?"
The Eldritch Wyrm turns his head to look at Syval, breaking the camouflage he had been maintaining. "Yesssss. But with accent, like my Shaarrrrrrrennnnn." He considers the mageling carefully. "Could ... coach? Drrrrrragon talllllent. Mindsssssspeach."
Syval shrugs at the reply he gets from Jyslin, not seeming to mean anything by it but equally aware of how long it's been since native speakers walked the Shaar. "Then you don't use it in chants or anything still," he infers before looking over Andie's shoulder at the tiny pseudodragon. "I can read it too so I'll take coaching. Her name is 'Honoria'."
The tiny drake lifts his head to nuzzle Andie's cheek, then climbs the rest of the way to her shoulder and launches himself into the air, flapping over to land on the young mageling's much broader shoulder instead. "Easssssierrrrr when closssserrrr." he murmurs, tail swishing.
Then a very curious feeling will come across Syval, as he will 'hear' thoughts that are not his own. There is an odd solemnity, depth and strength to the mindvoice of Neosodos, one that does not really come across to his physical voice. And there is, again, that curious feeling that the words are not the Shaaren that they seem. Yet they make perfect sense; there is no thought required for Syval to translate them or understand their context.
And the Eldritch Wyrm starts helping Syval learn how to say 'Honoria' in proper, original Maenast pronunciation. And maybe a few other things, once the young man begins to realize that this knightly figure is unlikely to know any other language.
Seeing what's coming, Syval shifts the straps of his pack to offer Neos an even landing spot and stops in his walk to focus on the communion. He nods quietly to the pseudodragon, more than familiar with the importance of range with magicks, and then the young man's gaze unfocuses as his attention turns inwards. There's a surprised blink at first before an attentiveness settles in that so far the little wyrm hadn't merited before.
"Honoria" is spoken from Syval's mouth again but in a distinct way from how he'd said it just a minute before. Then the word comes again a couple more times while the mage tries again to firm up his pronunciation. Since he's stopped, the apprentice wizard even grabs his bag and nudges Neos off the strap so he can pull out his spellbook. Pulling a quill from between inside it, he flips to the back and begins taking notes in the margin of a blank page.
Knowing in advance what Syval means to do, and why, Neosodos moves gingerly out of the way to make the shifting easy. The other two stop for a bit to let him get started on concentrating with Neosodos, and then on his notes. Then Jyslin just chuckles. opens up her own pack and pulls out a coil of rope, walking over to loop it around the mage's waist. "I'll lead for now." she offers with a wryly amused smirk, and then she trots off, gently drawing Syval behind her.
Andie watches all of this, chuckling.
<OOC> Vanya XD!
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Hey, all three respect an urge for learning."
It takes Jyslin approaching with a coil of rope but Syval snaps back to his surroundings long enough to sputter indignantly at the moon priestess, though not so much that he prevents her from tying the rope around him. "Hey, I can walk while writing," he retorts, but it's too little too late and with the blonde quickly ahead of him and pulling, Syval falls into step and lets his attention turn back to his mental connection to Neosodos. The little drake's mental voice, expansive and powerful in ways completely foreign to his appearance, sets the hairs on Syval's neck on edge. The quill begins to move again, tacking accent tags around an earlier word and adding a small table in the corner to account for a vowel shift. It's not too long before the young man's loose scraps of muttered vocabulary are replaced by accented yet complete sentences, as mental responses to the drake are reinforced by spoken Maenast.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "BTW. Give me a K: Arcana check, pls?"
Syval rolls K:Arcane (1d20+9) and gets 29 (20)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Noice!"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Doesn't get any nicer than that!"
Jyslin doesn't bother to explain, she just keeps on leading. But honestly she does not mind; this way she can allow Syval the freedom to occupy his mind, and just give him subconscious cues to keep moving, and keep going in the right direction. She views this as a win for all concerned.
Andie just finds it all quietly amusing as heck.
Neosodos definitely seems to be enjoying a chance to show off his mind. And if doing so also helps prime the pump for the young mage's increasing understanding of draconic, well, so much the better. But Neo certainly isn't actually coming out and explaining all of that. One gosh darned step at a time!
It will likely be some time around lunchtime, as they slow to a stop to get out food and water to replenish themselves a bit, that a thought will occur to Syval. It has probably been percollating all day, but finally it has bubbled to the surface. According to everything he learned at the academy, pseudodragons have a lifepsan of 15-20 years in the wild. The estimate is that one could survive thirty, perhaps forty years once magically bonded as a familiar. But none of that would explain Neosodos having a working knowledge of the proper pronunciation of a language that has been dead for at least eight hundred years.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Has Neos split from my shoulder or do we still have mindspeech going on?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Still on your shoulder. He's just paused lessons while he noms on a strip of jerky and a few choice poison berries."
<OOC> Vanya grins!
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah I'm drawing a blank on what us Medium creatures would be eating for lunch from foraged food. Dinner's the bigger sit-down affair."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Greens, berries, and nuts, or maybe some roasted tubers?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Dried fruit bits, nuts, some hard tac like bread?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Sure. We're making those when we stop for the night, then? Use the coals for smoking, drying, and slow baking overnight?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nodnods.
Eating a grab-bag assortment of foraged food in the shade of a tree, Syval snaps off a piece of hard bread and tucks it into the corner of his mouth to let it soften, followed by a couple dry berries for sweetness and flavor. It's been a fruitful morning for the young mage and besides the boundless energy he's demonstrated so far, there seems to be an extra vitality about him from having spent the past several hours engrossed in study and learning. Given what he's said of the academy, it might be because of the teacher more than the subject.
"<Are you familiar with Oghma at all?>" he asks casually of Neos in Maenast, even if saying the question loud is still redundant.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Good opportunity perhaps to expand upon my own dealings with the cult of Oghma, since I went so far as to purchase a library card. Of course my main purpose was learning about myself but that wouldn't have given me a straight-forward answer, and while there I would have happily snatched up esoteric magical knowledge."
"< Have not made a great study of human religions. But life with a witch and a priestess, I have picked up a few things. >" Neosodos' mindspeech replies, letting the young mageling hear the language spoken, if with his mind rather than his ears. "< Their lord of knowledge. Chief of their neutral pantheon. Librarian. The binder. >"
"< Yes, and he charges a high price for some of his knowledge. How did you learn to /speak/ ancient Maenast? I would have expected that from a metallic dragon, at best, >" Syval responds.
"< Just a matter of timing. >" Neosodos answers. "< Maenast was the language spoken by my first mistress. >" A simple answer with a vast implication.
Syval's brow furrow at the surprising answer. "< Are you that old? Even if you survived your first mistress a normal life for your race is as old as me - maybe twice that. How were you around hundreds, even thousands of years ago?>"
The mindvoice of the pseudodragon gives forth a belly laugh all at odds with the tiny drake's actual size, but fully expressing his amusement. "< And your human mage academy knows my people and my life better than I? >" he questions, still chuckling. "< Tis true, rare it is for one of mine to live so long as I have. My first mistress was very special. Her nature, her power, her gift changed me. I was given the chance to sip from the Starpool, awakening me far more to my draconic ancestry and potential. >" He does have a Title, after all, our Eldritch Wyrm.
<OOC> Vanya returns and shares mixed yogurt berry dessert.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Is there a Knowledge check for Starpool or is that one completely beyond me? :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "That one is beyond you. But why don't you try a Linguistics check to see if you recognize something else."
Syval rolls Linguistics (1d20+6) and gets 14 (8)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li nods. "Yeah. Not quite. Sorry."
Disoriented by the deep laugh it takes Syval a few seconds to process Neos' answer and respond. From one answer, he finds even more questions. Lucky that his bread needed time to soften as the young man only now remembers to start chewing it. "< What's the Starpool? >" It's simple and direct. He could defend the knowledge of his academy or ask about the ancient, gifted witch, but the green-haired mage's first instinct is towards the pseudodragon's source of power.
<OOC> Vanya says, "It would have surprised me to notice that anyway, as I'm not conscious of my draconic fluency to begin with."
"< In the depths of Aurum's wound, where his remains lie, is the pool of Kereska's tears. The pool of stars. >" Neosodos answers, somewhat cryptically. He did answer the question honestly. He just seems to have answered with seeds of yet more mystery.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "If you want to try, the DC is pretty high; but you might crit. K: Arcana"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Aurum sounds familiar but that's not something that's come up in Syval's existing knowledge checks I don't... think?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah Kereska I do recognize."
Syval rolls K:Arcane (1d20+9) and gets 27 (18)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Heh, well I spent my crit for that check already. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Not quite yet. Although now that you're studying Maenast, Aurum actually relates to the Maenast word for gold."
<OOC> Vanya says, "I could also read Maenast before we started this journey."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You won't get it all. But. You do recall learning of an ancient myth about a gold dragon who flew too high, trying to capture the stars, who fell and died, creation the Cauldron, a closed canyon deep into the Western Shaar."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "For player knowledge, that version of the myth is twisted out of true. But that's what happens when humans don't understand what dragons tell them."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Poor scale-less short-lived meatbags."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Deep west like where Jyslin and Andie said they were from?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yes."
<OOC> Vanya clicks a jigsaw piece into place.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "If you look at the map, the Cauldron is north of the Mysty Vale jungle."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And that much, I would ICly know, right?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Yus."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Thank you. I've got a lot of new things to juggle with this setting, just wanted to make sure I wasn't pulling in part of a player conversation."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Not a problem."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I am always happy to help narrow things down."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Did that legend name the gold dragon?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Not that you quite remember. But you might be able to look it up later."
Syval's quiet at first, then he snorts lightly at the mysterious reply while chewing over his bread and berries. The dragon's brow furrows again, this time in contemplation as he washes the food down with his waterskin. "<You mean the Cauldron...>" he realizes, then takes up a hushed silence again as pieces fall into place. "< That happened where Andie and Jyslin are /from/, the Cauldron is in Shaareach. >"
"< And that means there's truth to that old dragon legend after all... >"
"< Human name, aye. >" Neosodos answers. "< Yes, north of the Dread Bogs where we began. And of course truth to dragon legend. Dragon legends are the greatest truth. >" Neo couldn't possibly be biased or anything. "< Lessons still to be learned. >" the drake murmurs in mindspeech, as they resume their travels for the afternoon.
Jyslin does stop the group and get everyone hunkered down later in the afternoon, her own gaze fixated high above where some very large creature is pinwheeling about on the wing. Thankfully, whatever it may be does not decide that this group is of sufficient interest to stoop into a dive and come for a visit. Fifteen minutes or so later the group is brought to their feet to resume their travels.
<OOC> Vanya rolls 24 (17) Stealth just for his own gratification.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Not enough rest time to try out the statue I guess. Dinner, then."
Despite his size Syval does a decent job of blending into the foliage alongside the trail until Jyslin calls the group back underway. "Any idea what that was?" he asks in one of the first scraps of Shaaran Common that day. It's a question to all three of them this time.
"Could be any one of a few different things I've heard of." Jyslin comments. "But I've never seen its like before in person. Huge, animalistic body, some human-like body features, wings, tail." She clearly has the eyesight for this.
Andie listens and then comments, "Well, it could be a Shedu, a llamasu, any one of a few different sphynx breeds. And those are just the first I can think of, from this mortal realm."
Neosodos just shrugs. "Not drrrrrragonnnnnn." he offers authoritatively. He would have known if it were.
<OOC> Vanya laughs. "Oh yeah, Syval fits in with Neos..."
<OOC> Vanya says, "'Not a dragon, don't care.'"
<OOC> Vanya says, "He might have spent time in the Cauldron but are we sure this pseudodragon isn't from Laconia?"
Syval shoots the drake on his shoulder a wry grin. "Something not to bother if we can avoid it then."
<OOC> Vanya yawns a bit. z.z
<OOC> Vanya says, "Sorry, ran out of steam a bit on that one."
"Agreed." Jyslin answers and nods as the group heads along.
The rest of the day's journey passes with little of note beyond more language lessons with Neosodos. Jyslin gives the rope a tug to alert Syval when they finally reach another slight hillock. "I think this makes a good spot to stop for the night. Less soggy. Hate to interrupt you two, but it's probably best you set up your own tent."
That said, Andie creates their fire pit, as usual, and Jyslin sets up the tent for she and Andie. Then she helps Andie set up the 'watch fly,' just in case. Once that is set up, Andie does open her Satchel of the Great Cavern once more, so that Syval can do some of the studying he said he wanted to do.
<OOC> Vanya says, "So settling into camp I'll head into the cavern once everything's setup. I'll assume Jyslin went hunting again or we otherwise found something to cook over the fire; between us there's plenty of Survival to go around."
<OOC> Vanya says, "And actually I'll take a moment to inspect that crude map before we journey too far from where we found it - see if it points anywhere special."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li hmmms. OK. I think that'll be a Survival check to puzzle out relevant landmarks on it. No contributing skill, like Cartography or anything.
Syval rolls Survival (1d20+5) and gets 18 (13)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Also: when you get to the spellbooks, are you studying Book #1, or Book #2?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Assuming the map is nothing super interesting I'll begin with book 1 with 3 1st level spells and no illusion upon it."
MAIL: Mailbox purged.
Name set.
<OOC> Vanya says, "I'll try to be a responsible dragon and study one 1st level spell then practice meditation. That way I don't burn through all my dessert (new spells) all at once."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Annnnnnd ... Spellcraft check to learn said spell?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Take-10?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "10+8 = 18"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You can, yus."
Once camp is set up Andromeda settles down with Neosodos and the cooking fire, while Jyslin helps prepare a cook pot of stew. Once that is going both women lapse into a conversation in a flowing, almost alien-ish language (some variety of Elvish), none of the three deciding to interrupt the mageling at his studies.
Careful study of the hill giant map, crude as it is, eventually allows Syval to line up the markings upon it with several local geographical features. The map does not really explain what the 'mark' in question is meant to signify, but it quite clearly lays out where said mark is in relation to two of the Weathering Heights peaks, a river that runds out of the two, and the start of the main Toadsquat mountain range. As such the location in question would be at least three days away from here - at least two days further east, and at least one day's journey off their current path heading south into the hills between the two sets of mountains.
The first of the lowest level spells in the found spellbooks is in fact Tenser's Floating Disc, a spell described as creating a shimmering forcefield of energy some three feet in diameter that floats at the will of the caster and follows him as he moves, apparently deemed quite useful for carrying heavy loads. There do seem to be some differences to this variety of spell compared to the more commonly known 'Floating Disc' spell Syval has heard discussed around the academy.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Cute! Clearly what the party pack mule needs too. :P"
<OOC> Vanya says, "Oh wait, cavern."
<OOC> Vanya happily jots that into his spellbook.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "FYI: the spellcraft rolls to learn these from the spellbooks are harder than their spell level norms, due to the damages to the books. Sometimes you're struggling to decypher stuff. But you made it successfully."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Very good to know. Thank you."
<OOC> Vanya says, "So I can probably use the same diligence on the other 1st Lv spells if they aren't significantly more damaged, but after that I'll need more intent study."
<OOC> Vanya says, "We'll see how far I can go!"
Syval takes a mental note of the map's location for later. It's a treacherous enough journey as far from the mountain as they are now. Proceeding into it for something giants or a now dead adventuring party felt worthwhile would be daring the fates. But with the spoils they found already, who knows what could be hidden deeper within the Toadsquat mountain range...
Turning his attention from the map to the first spell book, Syval studies the writing of its first spell intently then pulls out his own book and carefully copies the spell over a bit at a time. The strokes of course come out differently and to an untrained observer there's no connection between the two but magically, the pair are kindred scripts.
"A floating disc spell... and a strange one," the young mage murmurs to himself. The mystery of the spell books deepen. It's a valid spell and seems castable but subtle things about it aren't right according to his academy traditions, and Delzimmer rightly claims an ample domain of Shaaran magic.
Exhaling a thoughtful breath, Syval tries to push the thought back away from his mind as he carefully closes one spell book and repacks the other, then straightens his sarong and closes his eyes. He's had his fun and now it's time to practice meditation. Hopefully the natural quiet and calm of the empty cavern will help his focus this time.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "FYI, it is most definitely a giant's make map. It's actually on a hide, probably bear."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Got it. I figured as much from how crude it was but didn't want to assume. :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "FYI: any spell that is 'named' - has someone's name in the title - is at least a 'rare' spell, and always in some way differentiated from the unnamed spells that may be similar."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "And ... I think for meditation I'm going to use a 'Will save' even though it's not a saving throw. I think it's the closest analagous roll."
Syval rolls Will (1d20+11) and gets 21 (10)
<OOC> Vanya says, "I get full saves as a weredragon in human form right?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "You do."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Thank you, just wanted to confirm. In that case 6 (Weredragon) + 2 (Wizard) + 1 (WIS) + 2 (Iron Will) gives +11."
The quiet still of the magically-accessed cavern seems to have helped still the young wizard's mind or block out more of the distractions this time, as bit by bit he is able to follow Andie's earlier instructions. It likely takes him longer than it might someone more experienced, but he does accomplish it.
And when he does, when all of the distractions are gone, even his own thoughts ... there is another awareness. Something deeper. Something within. A spark, for lack of any better analogy of language.
By now Syval's breathing is coming even and regular and he has to fight against a quickening of his pulse that threatens to pull him away. A spark, a gift... whatever the word might be for it, this is what he was searching for. Stealing himself mentally and taking a minute to flush himself of distractions and regain the empty calm, the green-haired mage dives back in and tries to reach closer to the ephemeral spark.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "OK. I want two die rolls. One is another Will Save. The second is a percentile roll, no modifiers."
Syval rolls Will (1d20+11) and gets 13 (2)
Syval rolls 100% (1d100+0) and gets 50 (50)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li heehee.
<OOC> Vanya says, "When that happened in my old +flip code (it used 1d100), it would land on its side."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Or maybe it was 1d101 to keep the odds even. Same idea either way."
<OOC> Vanya smiles sheepishly. "I *did* get excited at finding that spark..."
Syval calms himself, refocuses, setting aside the excitement of possibilities - though that is far from easy. Then at last he feels re-centered, aware of the spark, and he reaches out towards it with his mind.
The spark is slippery, sliding away after only a few moments. But in those few moments, something ... changes. A whole new awareness flows over Syval.
For a moment, he just knows. Knows exactly where little Neosodos is, just that moment, even though he can neither see nor hear him. Knows where a much larger, more powerful creature lies somehow above his head but miles away. And still, through the open doorway of the satchel, beyond Neosodos, three more presences. One enormous and ice cold, the furthest away. Another deep, deep down underground, large and mature but difficult to comprehend. And a third, younger and smaller, high up at the nearest point of the Toadsquats.
And echoing not in his ears but in his mind, is the basso deep roar of something tremendous and terrible, full of fury, rage and assured domination.
And death.
And then all of it flies apart, and leaves Syval sitting in the cavern, panting, sweat-soaked and bewildered.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Shouldn't that be centered in the Dread Bog?"
<OOC> Vanya says, "*Should that"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Some of it is centered in the Dread Bogs. But some of it is right out through the 'doorway' here in the Toadsquats."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah and you know that actually makes a lot of sense when you say it like that. Clearly I'm not Thinking with Magic (tm). :P"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Or Portals."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Would my earlier research have turned up dragon-blooded humans like draconic sorcs or anything of the sort? Something that points to the existence of human-dragon hybrids who aren't full-on drakes?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li headshakes. "No. Innate arcane casters are nigh-unherad-of in the Shaar, of any variety."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li smooches Syval on the forehead. "Snowflake." :)
<OOC> Vanya says, "Good, that part I remembered right then. Wanted to be sure since I've studied some pretty~ esoteric magic humanoid accounts."
<OOC> Vanya smiles awkwardly and wipes the sweat from his brow somewhat belated. "Says the tiger priestess and witchcycle." :)
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li grins.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Should I roll for epiphanies or can I run with this one freeform? :)"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "I think you can run with this one freeform. We've done the epiphany part of this, for now."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Hrm. I could have sworn Neos called me 'brother' more than once but I only see one in my log."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Ah I bet I know where it's hiding."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Huh, nope. Just once?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "Just once that I recall."
<OOC> Vanya says, "Hrm. I could have sworn he tipped his hand again a second time. :Ia"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "To be fair, he has tipped his hand several different times in several different ways. But I only recall once that was 'brother'."
<OOC> Vanya says, "There was one other time it stuck in my mind for being obvious. Where Syval noticed but didn't understand what he was saying."
The young mage comes back to stunned emptiness and cave walls when his inward journey crashes to an end in a moment of startling terror. It's several long seconds before anything crosses Syval's mind afterwards or his open eyes even focus back upon their surroundings. The feeling was elusive, uplifting, then all at once startling and overwhelming. A hand goes to his breast, then moves up to his scalp, patting blindly at his body as if to reassure himself that he's still there, in the cavern and in one piece. The spellbooks, the statue, food cooking outside the cave portal - it's all forgotten. The dazed mage might as well be in the plane of darkness or among the firmament.
Eventually Syval has the presence of mind to apply the breathing exercise he learned from Andie and as his body slowly comes down from its high his mind returns to him, and with it contemplation.
"That was... me?" he says to the empty room. He needs to hear it more than the rocks do. Even calming himself his normally crisp thoughts are muddled and shaken - cowed awful roar that's left desolation in its wake. "That... can't be. There aren't any records of... anything like that."
"<Writing from the third era of our kingdom, writings from the archmage on the nature of the Weave and human connection to it through our Art...>" he mutters to himself, recounting in Maenast the verbatim texts of an old work in bits and fragments - the sum total of ancient knowledge of magically gifted humans from the single most complete source he'd found. As they retrace old and fruitless paths, Syval's mind and with it his voice wanders to the present. "Through Aurum's sacrifice, the pool of stars... Gift of Aurum in blood and bone... Dragons think and shape the spark... Speak, and magic happens..."
For a moment Syval's breathing stops. The green-haired mage sways sitting and braces himself with a hand against the cool stone floor. Then his face splits into a smile and he laughs in a detached way at the absurd. "'Brother'. Is that really what he meant," the magic-blooded human realizes, shaking his head. It's an epiphany that's at once thrilling and fatiguing. Dragon. If he dares to put a word to it, his magic - his art, his gift, his spark, whatever it is - comes from dragon. And from the Forest of Amlar, and... oh right, the hair.
Syval pulls out his waterskin and drinks deeply from it, finding himself parched, then the young man rubs his temples. "I guess that makes it Charindol... that explains Andie's vision. What an answer for the Pit, wow..." A deep breath in, a deep breath out, and the apprentice wizard gives his head one last shake to clear it, hoping to set his thoughts back down, for now. It's a lot - for the second night in a row it's too much - but this time it's not something the mageling plans to share with his companions. So rather than heading out the portal to check on dinner, Syval shifts around on the rocky floor and closes his eyes again, this time allowing himself to rest. One of the others can grab him when food is ready.
<OOC> Vanya cues the Tetris sound effect of raining blocks falling into place.
<OOC> Vanya says, "Hopefully that was coherent because I don't think Syval was."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li chuckles. "I thought that did a very good job of representing how scaattered and bewildered his mind is while grappling with this."
Almost half an hour later, well after Syval has himself back under control and somewhat restes from the exhausting moment of insight, a small claw scratches lightly at the bare back of his hand. "< Wake now. Moon's daughter says person food is ready. >" comes the thought of communication from the tiny dragonet on the ground beside the stocky mageling.
One sandy yellow eye peeks open and looks down to find Neos at his side. Syval smiles at the sight of the Eldritch Wyrm and opens his other eye before moving to stand back up and straighten his clothes. "What a colorful name for her. Thank you. I'm hungry," he admits before raising an elbow to give Neos something to scamper up then heading for the portal exit. Time has helped and while there's still more to sort through, and eventually another meditation session, the young apprentice is collected again and calm - ready to be among the witch and priestess again.
