Event Log: June, What Lies Beneath

[faileas]

Event Log: June, What Lies Beneath

Down, Down, Down The group leaves on the morning of the 16th, a band consisting of Mirrorbound, Theodore and Sowilo from the Coven, and one of the two returned Wilders to lead the way. The latter three will only be present for the first leg of the journey: from the North Gate to the Northern Outpost by teleporter, then a few hours' hike to the site. A tunnel yawns open, fallen rocks built up around it in mounds. Everyone is offered enchanted lanterns to light the way, and their guide takes them perhaps a mile down before he and the pair from the Coven must part ways with the Mirrorbound. The poorly-lit tunnel leads steadily downward. The way is marked by their gracious hosts to be, with arrows drawn in softly-glowing algae painting the walls so there is no mistaking which way to go; a good thing, because the deeper the party goes, the more tunnels branch off of the largest one, twisting and turning into the dark. It takes some hours to reach a familiar cavern lit with algae and glowing crystals, a herd of the velvet wormipedes idly milling about the small lake and stream that led into town in the dream. Much nicer long boats are set up and waiting to take them deeper, along with respectfully quiet Monster guards to steer them. They take a slightly different route from the dream, but before long, they reach the curtain of grayish green moss that dangles down into the water, stretched across the wide tunnel exit like a membrane. It parts on its own as the boats pass, though beware if you are infected by the Cwyld - it will not allow passage, only reach out long, tough tendrils to try and envelop you, the touch of it burning acid-bright where it is harmless for those uninfected. Past the curtain of strange moss, the cavern city opens up before them, vast and spacious, dimly lit with more algae, crystals, and softly glowing orbs of magic. It's like being plunged into an eternal twilight, somehow soft, cast in gentle colors. The boats bypass the markets this time, drifting farther down a branching stream into the city proper, to dock next to stone platforms. The winding streets and flowing canals branch out all around them with no rhyme or reason, the city sprung up around the natural layout of the caverns rather than the other way around. Buildings are carved out of tall stone spires, the windows and doors covered in fluttering silk, many of which are pulled away so that fascinated locals can peer out at the scene unfolding. The Matriarch herself comes to greet the group, ringed at the back by spear-carrying guards, all Monsters. A tall, long-limbed Arachne woman bearing battle scars and stark white hair, she looks perhaps in her 30s, and speaks with a booming, commanding voice, amplified by a charm. As she speaks, ten Wilders are released from silk rope bonds and nudged to join the Mirrorbound; they're a little roughed up, perhaps, and shaken, but none are seriously injured. A few Monsters also make the rounds, placing copper tokens in the hands of ten individuals. "Welcome, travelers! This meeting was foretold and so it has come to pass. During your stay you will be treated as our honored guests. You may come and go as you please, but we ask that you use the same tunnel you entered through; we have not yet re-secured the other entrances from Cwyld nor the tribes. I would hate for danger to befall you while you are under my care." Her smile is wide, her eight eyes bright, and her teeth are very sharp. "We have prepared temporary residences for your use. I hope you will stay for the celebrations. I look forward to meeting with some of you very soon." Notably, she does not mention the surface where from the Mirrorbound came, and those around her do not ask.

I. The City The Mirrorbound receive mixed reactions from the Underground. Some are fascinated by these visitors personally invited by the Matriarch and allowed past the markets; others are wary and suspicious, believing them to be wolves in sheep's clothing. In the city proper, most passing Monsters are armed, but this doesn't seem to be anything new. Still, step cautiously - plenty do not take well to even unknowing offense and will pick a fight, or may see these guests as easy, weak targets to pickpocket or mug in the dark corners of the twisting streets. The guards only step in if things take a turn for the worse or if the fight is very obviously imbalanced - they step in more for Witches being attacked than Monsters, because they feel Witches require protection more. Still, not all are so unscrupulous: more citizens are delighted to talk, even if they still seem skeptical about a whole world up above. Mirrorbound, as guests of the Matriarch, are given nearly free run of the city, allowed to explore such locations as the marketplace, the library, the shops, the schools (the Arena for Monsters and the Academy for Witches), and the tunnels and caverns outside the protective moss barriers. The only places they (and most locals) are expressly barred from are the Matriarch's audience hall, the upper level of the library, and the guards' barracks. a. The Marketplace The marketplace is much larger than previously thought - it rings the entire city, and stalls spill onto the streets of the inner city as well in a lazy sprawl. There are some shops with actual buildings, but they're fewer and more expensive: alchemy and apothecary shops, a couple of restaurants, a weapons shop or two, nice clothing shops. Most, though, are independent merchants who set up and take down their stalls every day and night. Any number of Underground-sourced foods, clothing, weapons, trinkets, and more can be found at the stalls; they barter, or exchange chips of precious metals and gems, but they'll take cune coins with fascination. The marketplaces are the liveliest areas of the city with Monsters and Witches alike, from all walks of life, mingling and sharing gossip and idle talk. Those who lost items to the burrowing hyenas at the Northern Outpost some months ago should keep an eye out: the hyenas are fairly common down here, serving the roles of pets or working dogs for Underground citizens, and a few merchants deal in more interesting goods. The missing items can be found scattered across some stalls, and the merchants will gleefully tell perusers that these things come from the surface, aren't they fascinating? Don't you want to buy? Luckily, it shouldn't be too hard to get your things back. They'll take all manner of interesting trinkets in trade. b. Library The library is bound to be a popular stop. Monsters get some strange looks if they enter the spire just off the courtyard from the Academy, but they aren't barred from entry; most just feel that reading is for Witches. The building is only two levels - one closed off at the top, guards keeping everyone out, and the rest is just one very tall floor ringed with a spiral of platforms and stairs to access the honeycomb-shaped shelves built into the walls. All their books are written on scrolls of silk, and the librarians bark at patrons to be delicate with them, some are very old. If one has endless time, the scrolls can offer a look at life Underground: historical accounts of past Matriarchs, brave warriors and battles against nomadic tribes or hideous beasts, their history as they know it, scrolls on offensive and defensive magic for Witches, fighting techniques for Monsters, information on their unique flora and creatures that can be found outside the city, and even plenty of fiction - sword and sorcery novels all set in the tunnels and the city. It's just a bit difficult to find what, specifically, you're looking for, because if there's any kind of organization, it only makes sense to the deep-dwelling denizens. Maybe make it a team effort! You'll also need some simple translation spells, because their system of writing is quite different to the common system in Aefenglom; even then, it may not be accurate on older scrolls. c. The Guest Villa Those who choose to spend several days in the Underground are given modest accommodations in a tall stone building. These guest chambers boast gentle lighting, wide beds, backless sofas, potted decorative fungi, and stone furniture. It's... cozy, with humble individual rooms and larger common rooms for gathering. The algae grows in delicate patterns across the walls, pulsing in soft colors. They've gone out of their way to provide what comfort they can, but there aren't enough rooms for everyone to have their own - everyone will need to share with one or two others, so choose someone you can get along with.

II. The Tunnels Mirrorbound are not restricted only to the city. There are many entrances to the cavern where it resides, the openings all covered with sheets of that same gray-green moss; some wider tunnels obviously see more use than other, narrower ones, and the footpath of many Underground denizens is easy enough to trace, the stone worn smooth. The path to the velvet wormipede cavern is one of them; they're raised as livestock, all at once food, transportation, and producers of silk and hide for clothing. This is much the same as the dream. Another well-worn tunnel leads upward to an agricultural center, though, and still more lead out into the wild. They're warned, but not hindered, before they leave for anywhere other than the farms or the livestock cavern; dangers abound in the Underground. Those who do much wandering may notice something going on as well; the guards stationed at each tunnel mouth can often be found talking to each other in low voices about an unknown red algae that seems to be growing on the protective moss. It can be found primarily around the lesser-used tunnels so far, starkly bright against the dull green, and this seems to be a point of concern... a. A Botanist's Dream It's a short walk down a wide, inviting tunnel to reach the place where the city grows fungi and underground plants for food and medicine. Large rats and hyenas both are present to keep opportunist creatures and insects from demolishing the carefully-cultivated beds of rock and soil, and small blind fish swim about in the large pool of shallow water, in which grows something like seaweed. One of their primary sources of food, besides bug and rat, are mushrooms of many sorts - all the types that grow in the farms are edible, though some may be an... acquired taste. The Fauns and Witches who tend the beds are happy to offer samples of anything that can be eaten raw; they're most enthusiastic about a type of spherical mushroom whose cap opens up to reveal what tastes and feels like savory cotton candy, and a type of flat fungi that tastes sweet and fizzy and offers a heightened good mood for an hour after. b. The Wild Underground The lesser used tunnels are a different story. A mile out from the city, Cwyld runs in thick black veins through the stone walls, infecting the sparse plants and many creatures that live out there. Careful not to touch. Infected and uninfected creatures both are highly dangerous to explorers, including stone-burrowing moles with wicked teeth and claws that can cut through metal like butter, vicious white wasps that carry lethal venom, and berserker vampire bats that survive on the blood of other animals and people alike. Some infected fungi give off blindingly-bright flashes when disturbed, while others will cause rashes and blisters on contact. Explorers are warned not to touch anything if they can help it. As well, the nomad tribes roam the less-civilized tunnels and caverns. These are small bands of usually Monsters of different types in mixed groups, though some can be found dragging humans along with them. Nearly all of them are some degree of feral, and plenty bear Cwyld infections in different stages of seriousness. They don't stop to ask questions before they'll attack anyone, including each other, in hopes of robbing them blind and leaving them for dead. As vicious and quick as they are, perhaps it's no wonder they value strength in the city?

III. Graduation Day (21st - 23rd) The Underground does not have 'Litha' as Aefenglomites know it, but come the 21st, they do have a major celebration. They simply call it the New Year, or Graduation Day, depending on what festivities are asked about, because the three days serve as both. At this time of year, with more magic in the air, the algae and crystals glow much brighter, cycling naturally through different colors that cast beautiful rainbows across the imposing stone structures. This display is how they mark the start of a new year, and it coincides with the graduation of young Monsters from the Arena and Witches from the Academy. The New Year is a time to celebrate Bonding, partying, and showing off one's skills in the hopes of attracting a new Bondmate or romantic partner. Tensions can also rise high as rivalries are settled, and small brawls in the streets are common; the guards don't interfere, again, unless things get too dangerous. They're content to let citizens work out their own issues, but unfortunately, this means Mirrorbound may get dragged in on occasion! Small fights are also a tried and true tradition to show off one's abilities around this time of year. It serves multiple purposes: attracting a Bondmate, establishing a place in the unspoken hierarchy of the city, and working out problems with others. Monsters are more likely to start brawls than Witches, though it isn't wholly uncommon to bear witness to two rival Witches throwing spells at each other in an alleyway over their grievances. They're more likely to be stopped, as magic can be quite destructive. a. A Matching Pair The un-Bonded should take precautions during the New Year celebrations. These fascinating newcomers are bound to draw the eye of curious locals, and they may put on a violent or flashy show trying to draw your attention in return! The most common way to show that you're already taken during the celebrations is with face-painting: several stands set up around the marketplace with cosmetics and brushes, and two (or three, or more) people painting matching designs on their faces and bodies signify them as a set - either Bonded or intending to Bond. That doesn't mean there won't still be competition for your heart, but it will lessen significantly, especially if you're a Monster-Witch pair already. b. Exhibitions Primarily intended for the graduating classes of Monsters and Witches, the exhibitions are an official stage set for their coming-of-age; this year, however, the Matriarch has decreed that Mirrorbound may participate as well, in the interests of getting to know one another! They're interested to see what these strange travelers can do, especially against some of their own. Mirrorbound are encouraged by excitable locals if they seem reticent, but of course, no one is forced. (Just don't be surprised if you're called a coward for refusing!) At the Arena, a massive sunken ring with stone benches for spectators ringing the whole of it, young Monsters learn combat skills, with and without weapons, and how to harness their unique physiologies in the dangerous world of the Underground. Their yearly exhibition fights take place all through the three days of the New Year, and young Monsters battle each other til first blood to the cheers and jeers of citizens (and more importantly, Witches) come to watch. The longer the battle, the more impressive it is - and Monster Mirrorbound will have no shortage of eager opponents wanting to test their skills against the unknown. Generally, the fights result in bruises, small cuts, and little else, but rivals for the same Witch might take it farther on purpose before they're wrenched away from each other by the teachers. Meanwhile, at the Academy, the tallest stone spire building in the city, young Witches learn magic from a young age. It isn't exactly the same as magic taught at the Coven, but many concepts are similar - barriers, evocation, enchantments meant for weapons or shields, healing, most of the magic they're taught at this younger age is for combat, protection or practical purposes. They only learn more frivolous magics after graduation. Much like their Monster counterparts, they give solo or duet shows of their flashier and more impressive magical skills in the courtyard, with many citizens coming to watch and take stock of the new generation. Mirrorbound Witches may find themselves being cajoled into putting on a show of their own by curious locals wanting to know what kinds of magic are taught elsewhere.

IV. Aefenglom - Litha (21st - 23rd) Meanwhile, for those who have chosen to stay above-ground or those who have left early, Litha comes once more to Aefenglom, bringing with it beautiful pink and purple skies, a far departure from last year's red tint. It has the city in a much cheerier mood for the celebrations. While they know that several Mirrorbound left for a while, they don't seem too aware of the actual mission, and have very little to say on the matter - they'd rather have a nice Litha, after last year's bad omens! Many of the activities from last year return, better than before, including the brothels opening up their doors (showing off all the wonderful new styles in lingerie!), collecting flowers to put under one's pillow in order to dream of future partners, and wandering the hedge mazes that have been magically constructed in certain parts of the city. Seeing off ships happens regularly as well, citizens setting floating candles into the harbor and river to wish them luck. a. Love Boats A new attraction for Litha is being rolled out this year right on the River Temese! Near the gate, an enterprising Faun has set up a few small boats, each just big enough for two and shielded with fine gauzy curtains for privacy. Couples are invited to buy a ride down the river together, assured it will certainly set the mood. Those who have no partners are offered (or cajoled) to be randomly paired with someone, because perhaps it's fate! The boats drift lazily down the river and stop on their own next to a small dock right before they reach the Harbor. Unless you're willing to swim, hopefully you like your boat partner, because you're stuck with them the whole ride. b. Predictive Pools One bathhouse in the Entertainment District has laid an enchantment on one of their semi-public baths for Litha. When two people stand in the water together, bare, it will begin to glow and take on one of a handful of colors that they say will predict the pair's compatibility level! Sexually, romantically? Well, why not both? The only thing is, they've lost the instructions, and cannot seem to remember what color means "most compatible" and what color means "not compatible at all"... As a reminder, all sexual content should be clearly marked in comment headers, or else moved to a comm-locked log or personal inbox! Be good to each other.

Welcome to June's Event Log, What Lies Beneath! The Underground will be open until mid-July at minimum, and possibly longer. Characters can come and go if they're willing to make the trip multiple times. As always, please direct your questions here! The NPC threads will take place here. Aaand, the Action Tracker is right here! Make sure to let us know what your characters have been up to, good and bad, by July 7th, as this will help determine how Mirrorbound-Underground relations might proceed in the future!

Comments

[braidmage]

It wasn't at first, but now that it's summer? It's way hotter here than I'm used to.

[ He certainly doesn't seem to be dressing well for the season, with his cloak, long sleeves, warm leggings, boots, gloves etc. Someone please introduce this boy to the concept of a tank top.

Reynir blinks, quietly surprised when Thancred says there are other people here who came from similar circumstances as Reynir - at least, similar-sounding, given the information that he's shared. So, presumably, people who missed their friends back home but were relieved to be somewhere else, somewhere safer.

Hearing that is a small, unexpected relief. He has been feeling guilty for how much he's enjoying being away from his home world, thinking that others here would judge him if they found out... but apparently, as Thancred said, he's not alone.

When Thancred asks about the untamed wilds, a small, wry smile tugs at one corner of Reynir's mouth. ]

Something like that, yeah.

[ He doesn't offer any more information, though. Talking about what makes those untamed wilds dangerous would be much too depressing. He holds his shoulders a little straighter with pride, however, when Thancred assumes that means he's prepared for dangerous situations. Because he is! He's just not used to people thinking that about him. ]

Yes, I've been studying with the Coven. A lot, actually. Another reason I, um. Haven't had a lot of time to make friends.

[ But it looks like that might be changing, and Reynir is delighted about that. He eagerly shakes Thancred's hand. ]

Reynir! Reynir Árnason, and yes, I would love to be your friend!

[ Wow, he's skipped all the way to 'friend', huh? ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Ah, I see. Are you more northern, then? [He frowns a little, considering that.]. Perhaps- do you have somewhere you could put your cloak? [Maybe- let's start with the idea of taking off layers.

His own situation is a little strange, but… something like that. The cities certainly do seem protected, which helps quite a lot.]

Perhaps it'll turn out that you're the explorer of the ages, if circumstances turn that way. [There's no guarantee they would- but it sounds like the sort of thing Reynir might like, he thinks.]

Oh…? That's a shame. What subjects are you studying? I'm sure there would be others who are interested in them.

[He chuckles, taken a little off-guard by Reynir's enthusiasm- but it's good, too.]

Then we shall be! I think we're off to a good start, hm?

[braidmage]

[ It's still taking some getting used to, explaining about where he comes from. In Reynir's version of reality, Iceland is the center of the known world, by far the wealthiest, most advanced, most populous country. But of course, there are people here from worlds where it doesn't even exist! ]

Yes, Iceland's near to the arctic. Although it's not as cold as Norway or Finland or Sweden, because it's an island and... something about the way the wind moves?

[ He waves off the details of the explanation, because he doesn't remember the exact specifics and doubts Thancred really cares all that much. His suggestion that Reynir maybe take of his cloak surprises a laugh from him, but the guy has a point. Reynir shoulders it off, folding it over his arm. He probably shouldn't have worn it in the first place, huh?

And he can't resist a little bit of a boast, when Thancred says he might be a great explorer. Reynir's chin tilts up, his shoulders straightening as he says: ]

I've already been on two expeditions into the Silent World, actually. Well, one and a half. The half is because I was brought here in the middle of one. And technically I wasn't there for the whole first expedition, but I joined really early on.

[ It's not exactly a lie, even if he is leaving out a few unflattering details... any mention of him foolishly stowing away, or getting rescued, or anything like that. ]

Oh, just - magic stuff. It's so different here from the way it worked in my world.

[ He doesn't want to bore Thancred with Coven talk, particularly when the guy obviously got the 'Monster' side of the coin flip when he arrived. He starts to cut some lavender from a cluster, bringing it up to his nose and inhaling deeply with a warm smile. Yes, he's going to get a lot of that. ]

Was there magic in your world, before you came here? I know some people, they say they came from places without it. And - if you're not from Earth, what was your world called, what was it like?

[ ...And perhaps this explains, at least a little bit, why Reynir may have been struggling to make friends in this place. He's not good at casual, or restraining himself from asking a million things at once. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Mm- the currents carry heat or cold along with them, as I recall.

[To his mind,it's good to know what local conditions might be like- though admittedly, it seems unlikely he'll see Reynir. He gives a sort of huffing laugh at Reynir's, but it's good to see his suggestion taken. Perhaps Reynir's used to taking everything with him on his back…? That's something he's been used to, often enough.]

Oh? The Silent World, you say? [That… does evoke a certain image (though almost certainly not close to the reality.]. Well, then I'd say you're on your way already. Ah- did they need convincing, for you to join them?

[Well. All part of a good adventure, though- he'd hardly be the only one to have done something like that…]

I see…. Are you thinking of being a generalist, then? How did it work?

[He might not be particularly versed in magic- and a Monster here- but he remains curious.

Lavender, for calm… mm, they could probably all use that. Chamomile, too, he imagines.]

There was- not in quite the same way. 'Tis a manipulation of the energies in the world- the aether- primarily through the use of our own aether, that surrounding you, or through arcane geometries. Strange to think of places without it…. [But then- thereare people who… cannot manipulate aether. His hand slows for a moment, before he shakes it off.]. I've heard of Earth, though the star I am from is called Hydaelyn. As to what it is like- well, there are many countries within it- not all of which I am familiar with, I admit…. What do you think you would be interested in hearing about first?

[braidmage]

Mhm. That's what we call anywhere that hasn't been cleansed, yet.

[ For a moment, Reynir debates it - explaining about the Cleansers, their process of burning and clearing away the ruins of the old world. But there is no way to tell one part of the story without a whole domino effect, and he'd rather not, right now. So, with an apologetic little smile of acknowledgment, he adds: ]

It's - a long story.

[ He doesn't out-and-out say he doesn't want to tell it right now, but the implication is clear enough. And who knows - maybe Thancred won't be as bummed out by it as others have, since he's not from Earth himself. Reynir can hope anyway.

He is, however, perfectly willing to talk about the lighter side of things from his home. And Thancred, to his credit, seems genuinely interested in discussing magic. So, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, Reynir explains: ]

Well, as far as I can tell, everybody in this world has magic, and it's just up to them whether or not they want to become a Witch. It isn't like that in my world. People's magic comes from their gods. So, different gods, totally different magic. In Finland there are a lot more mages, and the way they do magic is so strange. They have these runo, these - incantations. It's like... their gods love poetry and songs, so they use music to ask for their blessing, to control the natural world or change into animals or all kinds of stuff. But in Iceland, where I come from, mages are really rare.

[ Reynir pauses, grinning as if remembering something, and adds: ]

Actually, they're mostly women, too. By a lot. When I went to the Academy I was seriously the only guy in the whole class.

[ From the sound of it there are some stories, there. But Reynir is digging around in a pocket, pulling out a little pad of paper and a pen. He starts to draw a strange, circular rune, all arrows and curves and lines, explaining as he does: ]

Icelandic mages call on their gods by drawing runes - so, different rune, different effect. This one is for not being noticed by enemies.

[ And if Reynir is excited to talk about the magic that he is familiar with from before he came here, he's every bit as eager to hear about how it manifested in Thancred's world. He listens, flowers forgotten for a moment, nodding along. ]

So - there are no gods involved at all?

[ It's not as shocking to him as it would have been when he was first pulled here through the mirrors. He's had some time to adjust to the idea of magic as something other than a blessing from the gods.

Still, he has the framework there to accept readily that other cultures will practice magic in ways unfamiliar to him. ]

What is arcane geometries? Is everyone a mage? Or what is the word people use, there?

[ It's hard to know where to even begin, when asking about a world that he knows nothing about. The question he lands on, however, is very serious and important, thanks very much: ]

Are there cats, in Hydaelyn?

[ Cats, to Reynir's credit, are a sacred and central part of the culture he grew up in... ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Cleansing… ah, I see.

[It's not a very clear picture at the moment, but he thinks he has some idea- enough to want to not spoil the day.]

Then perhaps another time.

[Ah… well, they'll see. Even though it's not his own home…

He grins at Reynir's enthusiasm, turning to pay his full attention to Reynir.

Gods, is it? That's a tricky subject.] You said it can run in families- are they blessed by particular gods, then? Or do you reach out to the gods? [Huh. He makes a curious sound.] That sounds like some of the bardic traditions- ah, I suppose that is another form of magic, in its way…. Perhaps there's something in the land, as well? Or- the way it's practiced…?

[After all, arcanamia became more widespread after the Guild in Limsa Lominsa was formally established- more students were taught, and in turn they could teach more…. It might not be that similar, but it brings that to mind, and how different it is from Sharlayan storing its knowledge.]

Mostly women? That's interesting- I wonder what that means. Perhaps their power expresses itself more easily…? [A teasing smile crosses his face.]. Ah? What sorts of things did you get up to, I wonder…

[He could probably think of a few things- but he leans in to watch Reynir draw the rune, curious.]

I see…. It almost shows what you want it to do, doesn't it?

Ah… people pray to the gods, but… that's not necessary to evoke magic. I suppose, at a stretch- conjurers appeal to the elementals, but they aren't gods per se…. They're beings who are very old, very powerful, and composed entirely of aether.

Arcane geometries are based on a similar idea to the rune you showed me- you draw the design, and the magic takes shape according to that. A little like this…. [He takes a piece of paper, and scrawls something like the interior pattern on the right- though it's been a while since he's seen that, in truth.]. As I recall, this is a basic damage spell. Not everyone is a mage, but many people have the capacity- it's a matter of education, as much as anything else. We use mage, although there are names for the schools- arcanamia, astrology, thaumaturgy, and conjury. […along with those names after colours.

As to that, the most important question- he looks puzzled for a moment, and then smiles.]

Of course! Of small and large varieties. [Some of which are more domesticated than others, admittedly.]

[braidmage]

Um...

[ Reynir rubs the back of his neck, smiling lopsidedly as he admits with some chagrin: ]

I don't know. There're probably scholars who do know why it's mostly women, or why certain families have more mages, or if the land itself has anything to do with it. But I'm not - really up on all the theoretical things like that. I was only just starting to learn about all this mage stuff when I came here, and most of it was - figuring it out on my own.

[ A statement which is the truth, despite the fact that, as he mentioned, he did attend an Academy for magic. But it was only a summer course, and a very limited one, targeted at teaching rural mages simple skills useful for farm life.

Reynir's limited magical education is something of an emotional sore spot; luckily, Thancred seems to have a deep and detailed understanding of his own world's magic, and Reynir is eager to learn about it. ]

What is 'aether'? You mentioned it earlier, but I've never heard that word before.

[ He watches as Thancred sketches out a rune of his own - or a geometry, to use his own word for it. The shape itself is unfamiliar, but the process that he's describing sounds almost exactly the same as how he uses runes. Nodding along, Reynir says: ]

Yes, yes I see. It sounds like a very similar idea. Runes and geometries.

[ But then, Thancred loses him a little bit in the technical language. ]

Are those similar to the different schools that the Coven has, here? What is - thamaturgy? Actually, I don't know what any of those are.

[ With that first and more important fact about Thancred's world established, Reynir grins, and returns his gaze to the field of flowers, reaching over to snip himself a few bluebells. ]

Good! I would hate to imagine a world that didn't have cats.

[ His next question is less frivolous, and probably an odd one to an outside observer. ]

How many people are there? Obviously, I know you probably don't know precisely, but - roughly?

I don't think we have actual population numbers so that's pretty much a guess

[wordsinthesoul]

Ah- so you have a focus on the practical side, then? I apologise for presuming otherwise. It's good that you've been able to work out what you have.

[He'd thought it was something rather like the Studium- but perhaps not, in that case.]

People seem to give their energies different names, across the worlds…. It's quite curious. Ah- in any case, aether is the energy of life. It flows within all beings- people, creatures, and plants alike, constantly in motion.

They're rather different, but there are some elements of the spells that I can recognise from our own schools. [Ah… that is a lot to put on someone from a different world, isn't it?] My apologies. In effect, they are different ways of manipulating the aether into the form you desire. The effects don't typically overlap, though with time and practice, a mage might find a way… Thaumaturgy, for example, sees the practitioner drawing upon the aether within themselves to channel those spells into sorcerous might. They've also served in preparing the dead for burial in the past, as part of the Ossuary's rites.

[Perhaps that sounds odd- but it's one of those rituals that is important, in its way. Thancred moves forward, reaching out for a few dianthus blossoms.]

I imagine it would be strange without them.

[Oh…? That is curious, and he hums as he settles back.]

That's… hm. I hadn't quite thought about it that way…. Well- I believe the last population count in Ul'dah was upwards of thirty-five thousand… The other city-states are perhaps of a somewhat smaller number, but there are many hamlets scattered across the lands…. Perhaps at least one hundred and sixty thousand scattered across Eorzea. And then there is Ala Mhigo, and the other continents…

[Ala Mhigo is in an odd state for him- he knows it will be liberated, but that's still in the future for him. …that's probably a little complicated to explain, though.]

That's fine! Sorry Reynir is inclined to ask such oddly specific questions

[braidmage]

[ As soon as Thancred apologizes, Reynir waves - flaps, really - a hand through the air to dismiss it, interrupting: ]

Oh, no! It's okay, you don't have to apologize, seriously.

[ Thancred is so polite and considerate and honestly? Reynir isn't terribly used to that, and he's flustered and at a loss how to respond to it. It's nice, though. Really nice, to be treated seriously as a mage, and talked to like he actually knows what he's talking about.

He pays that respect back in full, listening to Thancred's explanation of how schools of magic vary, and the example of Thaumaturgy. Reynir nods now and then to show his understanding; it makes sense to him, that mages would participate in rites involving the dead. Such things are very important, in particular for Finnish mages. ]

Oh, those are so beautiful...

[ Reynir makes a little room in his basket, which is very nearly full, so he can cut some of the bright-pink dianthus as well. ]

Did you study one of those schools of magic, before you came here. And - what is an Ossuary? Unless it's something really grim and you don't wanna talk about it.

[ He had said it was involved in burial rites after all, and some people aren't that comfortable discussing death.

The fact that Thancred thinks he's asking about the population of a city-state or a single continent, rather than the world at large... and the fact that he doesn't actually know the rough numbers... that tells Reynir more than Thancred might realize. He doesn't come from a world where these numbers and statistics are known and worried about by the common person. Reynir is just a peasant from the countryside, but even he knows about how many living, uninfected humans there are in the known world.

But it's good. That Thancred has lived a life where he didn't need to know that. ]

Hmm, so are you from the big city, then? 'Cause I grew up in a village with less than 100 people and about seven times as many sheep.

it's fine! I like Reynir, he's a good egg

[wordsinthesoul]

Well- presuming doesn't do anyone much good. But thank you.

[Listening to the other person in a conversation is an important part of telling them they are important, and that they matter. Besides which- it's interesting, learning about Reynir's world.]

They are. I'm sure we could make a wonderful display, with those at the centre. [Perhaps just a few more…]

A little. I learned some basic healing, although my main focus was surveillance and information gathering. Sharlayan does see many mages graduate from the Studium, though. Ah- it's not so grim as that. It's a place of worship for those who wish to entreat Thal for his favour in the afterlife, as well as funerals and burials for those who can afford it.

Ah, more or less. I've been all over various parts of Eorzea, but I've spent most of the time in one city or another. [He huffs out a laugh.]. Somehow, it always seems to be that way with people and sheep. [Everywhere's got to have a place for their sheep jokes, too.]

[braidmage]

Ah, you're right, it doesn't.

[ It's a simple statement, but a rather profound one, when Reynir pauses to turn it over in his mind. Thancred isn't wrong. Presuming can be a mere annoyance, but it can also cause a great deal of suffering and harm, just depending on the situation. ]

Buuuut I've had way worse presumed about me, so don't worry, okay?

[ Reynir whistles softly when Thancred says he knew healing magic and surveillance magic both. ]

Whoa, surveillance magic? I've never heard of anything like that, that's really cool. How does it work?

[ Technically speaking some of Reynir's powers, back home, allowed him to gather information that could be useful in theory. But it was usually only stuff that related to his own life; visions of his future, cryptic hints from unhelpful spiritual doggos, omens that made no sense whatsoever.

The explanation about the Ossuary tracks; cultures varied, but all of them that Reynir's ever heard of had specific rites and spaces for death, and disposal of bodies, and reckoning with the afterlife. ]

So it sounds like you've traveled a lot...?

[ His voice trails off, an unasked question there. Why had he been all over? ]

[wordsinthesoul]

Ah… If you're sure, then.

[…now he's concerned about what Reynir's had said to him before, and it shows on Thancred's face, before he shakes his head, ears flicking with some embarrassment.]

Well, there are some spells- spells for distances, some using glyphs to survey an area or look through a familiar's eyes. You need the energy to see in one place, and receive in another- doable, but tricky. But most of my work is travelling to places, talking to people- seeing the lay of the land.

[A little more of the practical than prophecy- though there's enough of those, as well.

Thancred nods.]

Yes- my mentor took me from one city to another when I was young. I returned to the mainland years later, to see what was happening for myself- there was talk of war, to the east. [Garlemald has been moving south for decades- and Ala Mhigo has been their first step onto the Eorzean continent.]

[braidmage]

[ Reynir draws in a long breath, nodding. So that's what he means, by surveillance magic. It's not entirely what he'd been imagining, but in a way, it's much better and more interesting. ]

Ah, I see! I actually have met a mage who could do one of those things. Väinö Väänänen. He's this super old sentinel mage, and he guards... well, never mind, it's complicated, but pretty much he just watches everything in this one area through the eyes of his army of creepy seagulls.

[ Reynir widens his eyes, nodding slightly. Really just take a moment to let that sink in, Thancred. Imagine an entire army of magical seagulls. It's pretty horrifying, even if he is someone working to help the inhabitants of Saimaa. ]

Did you have a certain kind of animal you could use as a familiar, or is it more like... just one particular one that you worked with?

[ And of course, traveling and getting to know people, surveying on his own in a purely non-magical way, are just as fascinating to Reynir. He can't help a little bit of wistful envy coming into his voice as he says: ]

That sounds wonderful.

[ That is, until Thancred mentions a war, and while Reynir hasn't lived through any of those, he knows that is bad bad news. He's too interested to pause and consider that maybe he shouldn't ask what he asks next: ]

So, did the war come?

[wordsinthesoul]

Väinö… ah. [He's probably going to need a few tries on that, he thinks. He imagines a man with an army of seagulls, and- he likes seagulls well enough, but an army of them? With purpose? He can't help a shudder.] That's… well. That sounds intense.

Ah… it really isn't something I've worked with that much- I don't use as much magic as some of the others… Sharlayan mages have often made use of poroggo familiars, though, or arcane entities such as Carbuncle.

[He did suspect, a little, and there's something soft in Thancred's face as he nods.]

I hope you'll be able to, in time.

[Well- he did mention it. Thancred straightens, considering.]

Eventually. It's… something of a story. [Well, from his perspective- the timeline is a little complicated, but the others agree that they've been actually fighting the Empire.]. But that's something of a damper on the day, I fear.

[braidmage]

Poroggo? What's that?

[ It's nothing more than a rather silly collection of sounds, to Reynir. Is that a type of animal he's never heard of that exists in his world, or a type of animal that doesn't exist in his world, or a scientific category of animal, or a type of spirit...? ]

Ah! Never mind, then, sorry.

[ He is still curious, but he is capable of taking a hint. Maybe when the two of them know each other a little better, maybe at a time and place more suited to serious conversations than while flower-picking in the bright sunlight. ]

Hmm. I think if I get any more flowers, I won't be able to even balance my pillow on them...

[ In truth he probably would've stopped a while ago, but he's been enjoying Thancred's company a great deal.

But there are other ways for them to spend some of the afternoon. ]

Actually, would you like to go and get a juice or something? My treat!

[ A very sophisticated and irresistible offer, as far as Reynir is concerned. Juice was a rare treat, in his own world - it's so much cheaper and easier to get, here, and he hasn't really gotten over the novelty of that. ]

to wrap up?

[wordsinthesoul]

Oh- they're frogs, given intelligence and magic enough for chores and a little more. They're larger than most- about two fulms, perhaps. [He measures out an approximation of a poroggo's size- two feet by one and a half.]

Maybe it's time to think about making a pillow out of them instead?

[It's certainly been a pleasant time for him, too. Thancred blinks for a moment- that makes him think that Reynir is young, but- ah, if there are parts of the world that need to be cleansed…]

That sounds good. I can buy the second round, if you'd like.