Sierran Recess Post

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Tristam
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Sierran Recess Post

Post by Tristam »

The last half yahren has been a quiet one on the isle of Sierra. Rebuilding of the University has been slow but steady hampered mostly by the difficulty of getting bulk building materials to the isle. A new system of wards has been erected but it was a hodge podge of individual wards as opposed to the tight web of the old system. Still it was enough for the mages to sleep well at night.

Politically, the arrival of the University had caused a legal tangle that was proving difficult to unknot. In the first week, the Margrave of Sierra arrived at the University and presented his Imperial charter proclaiming him the ruling authority of the isle of Sierra and all buildings thereupon and tried to assert his right of rulership over the University. In response, Professor Peckerton produced the University’s Imperial Charter which granted the mages autonomous rule over a section of land measured “from the center of the Tower of Alchemy to walls of Old City.” A strict reading of that would grant the mages rulership of a pie wedge of Sierra including the town of Realt, a large swath of ocean, and a pie shaped wedge of Citadel. The Margrave swiftly agreed to let the mages rule themselves until this legal tangle could be worked out. The Imperial Court has been reluctant to rule on the matter. To back Sierra’s charter would cause the mages to leave the Citadel magically defenseless while granting the mages rule over Sierra would anger Duke Erwin and leave Citadel in the lurch financially. The Caesar has decided to let the Duke and University Council negotiate with each other directly. Such negotiations have gone slowly but are productive enough that they keep going.

The University was also involved with their own internal politics during this time. This was the first time in recorded history that two positions of the High Council were left vacant. Ordinarily, the two remaining members select a third and the faculty merely ratifies the choice. With two gone, the second seat must be filled by election, and then those two Councilors will choose the third. The main front runners for the position were Professor Pralix of Alchemy, Professor Thran of Illusions, and Professor Troy of Combat Augury. Peckerton has put off the election during the rebuilding but now has scheduled them for Jygust 37th.

Up top of all this, there was the discovery that while their basements did not make it with them, there was a network of flooded tunnels and channels beneath the University. This was mostly a curiosity until recent days when wet animal tracks have been discovered in the lower halls.

Things have been changing for Realt and Sierra as well. With the arrival of the University, vendors and merchants have been arriving in dribs and drabs to serve their needs. More traders were willing to see Sierra as a viable port of call if still risky. So the citizens of Sierra have been enjoying new variety in their trade goods. The inhabitants have been mostly welcoming of the mages. The Only Inn instituted a flat discount for all University students and staff.

The traders made it clear though that new trade goods from the jungle would help ensure that Sierra would be a regular stop for them. Encouraged by the Margrave, explorers headed into the jungle to find new and more regular goods fro trade from the jungles. Thus the first of the ancient ruins was discovered. The Explorer’s Guild found a raised platform of limestone ringed with statues and carved with an unfamiliar script. However, before they could do more than a cursory examination, thieves ransacked the site and cracked away the statues to sell to the traders. In true Dortese fashion, the Sierran government decreed that the discoverer of the site can do as they wish so long as they file a claim and pay taxes. Defense of your claim was your own affair. So many laborers turned adventurers have streamed into the jungle in search of wealth while the scholars try to conceal their findings and protect them from the looters.

Without the Explorer’s Guild to aid these treasure hunters, the injury and death rate among them was quite high. The Margrave has put a call out for laborers and craftsman as a result. The Margrave decided to try the same the same tack as Pax where any who choose to live here will get a free roof over their heads and can keep any land that they can wrest from the jungle so long as they grow food on it for the community. This sent a second wave of people with machetes into the jungle. If the Margrave was not careful, he would no longer have a population to rule over.

OOC: Please post once to this thread with the summary of what your character has been up to and where you want your advancement stars spent. I will reply to confirm or expand on your summary and adjust your skills accordingly.
Last edited by Tristam on Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Morg
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Post by Morg »

(OOC: Since Morgan split his time between the Cit and Sierra, I'm PMing this to Grey Wolf as well. I trust the two of you to put your heads together and come up with something fiendish. :D)

The last week of Chyril passed by in a flash for Morgan. When he wasn't helping Octava establish a new network of wards around the University complex, he was carting priceless relics back through the portal from the Citadel to Sierra or ferrying messages to and fro between the University High Council - or what was left of it, which amounted to Professor Peckerton - and the Imperial authorities. Since Morgan had been the first to carry the news of the move, it naturally fell to him to keep acting the messenger. He didn't have much say in what was decided, of course, but the duty was not too burdensome. If nothing else, it gave him a useful excuse to travel to the Citadel by portal.

These trips continued throughout Jaym and into Jygust, even though the messages to the Citadel had become less frequent and everything of value had been salvaged from the vaults. Morgan's desire to find the Liber Maleficarus had matured into a compulsion. He spent much time on the streets and in the public places of the Citadel Isle, keeping his ear to the ground, or, as Danomel had put it, "working the rumour mills". Asking direct questions wasn't his style - he wasn't keen to become known as a nosy person. He simply engaged in conversations while admiring a suit of clothes, or listening to a public proclamation, or buying a kebab. If Morgan felt that his interlocutor might have something to offer, the subject would gradually be turned to something nearer to his interests.

Much of his efforts were spent around the Patricians' Ring, trying to find out what he could about Verleaux Manor, its owners and inmates. However, he didn't neglect the lower areas of the city either. The Seaside Slayer was always an issue he'd left well enough alone; Morgan didn't want to get between a madman and his killings. However, the new corpses that were being found on the beaches aroused his interest. Their manner of death - shrivelled, but seemingly in ecstasy - had a cultish, ritual feel to it which brought to mind thoughts of the Liber. Morgan was too sensible to wander the beaches of the isle at night, but he did venture into the Hapenny Mermaid and visit the docks to try to establish whether anyone had seen anything that could provide a further lead.

Morgan didn't spend all his time at the Citadel, though. Most of his time was still spent in Sierra, where he quickly discovered that the humid climate tired him out quickly when he moved. It wasn't a major problem, as a sedentary lifestyle suited the magus well. He continued diligently working under Professor Octava, learning yet more warding methods and scraping together details of the summoned creatures against which wards were required, elementals and daemons. As a side project he had decided to learn the Adhiel language. Ever since he'd been unable to thank Thorn properly for saving his life and then patching him up, he'd felt he owed it to them. The end result was Morgan poring through a lot of linguistic primers and then ambushing Thorn, Elvin and other adhiel he knew around the University, accosting them in abysmal pidgin Adhiel. He was a good and steady learner, though, and slowly but surely he was able to piece together a basic understanding of the language.

Becca wasn't spared Morgan's foreign language blatherings, but he did try to make it up to her in other ways. For a start, when she was around he was often unable to speak Adhiel, as his mouth was too busy kissing her. For another thing, the surroundings of Sierra provided new random trinkets for him to present her with. Fragments of masonry would end up at her door, or prickly plants, or occasionally colourful little reptiles held in place by a miniature warding circle - although the reptiles stopped after Morgan had to report to Mender Abagail after being badly poisoned by an innocent-looking frog. On Jaym 23 his 20th birthday rolled around, and to celebrate he took Becca out to Sierra's finest venue, the Only Tavern. In typical Morganic style he forgot even to mention that it was his birthday beforehand.

On the whole, however, with those few who were close to him, even Becca, Morgan was becoming ever more distracted and distant. It wasn't at all that his attraction to Becca was beginning to fade. His determination to find the Liber was simply sucking the life out of him. The project had dragged on for too long, and was starting to have ill effects. Only Danomel and Elvin knew of certain of his activities, and neither had the full story. One way or another, Morgan resolved to have the Liber Maleficarus in his hands before the month of Jygust drew to a close.

Skills:
***** - Language [Adhiel] ~ Basic
* - Meditation (to Basic+***)
* - Knowledge [Elementals] (to Basic+****)
* - Literacy [Human] (to Apprentice+***)
* - Magickal Rote [Sorcery] (to Apprentice+****)
* - Persuade (to Basic+***)
and please update my age from 19 to 20. Thanks!
[size=84][i]"She told me I had too much to dream last night..."[/i] - [i]Apprentice of the Universe[/i], Pure Reason Revolution
Avatar by [url=http://pixieface.deviantart.com]Liz Green[/url][/size]
Ssinith DIllil
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Post by Ssinith DIllil »

The Gulanadur Ambassador had become a busy man, indeed.

In hopes of allowing Gulanadur culture to flourish into the surface, he requested more skilled artisans, particularly that of clothes and luxuries. His tactics were to create a fashion invasion, allowing his culture to be less feared. He had hoped that Sapphire Dust would become the new rage for women, and he would not mind getting back into the clothes of his own homeland. He also hoped to get the Temple of Pan some of the "good stuff" for his rituals as there were few narcotics as rich as Gulanadur. As promised, he would give Ketch his contact to Sca'mur, also to act as the go between for the offer of the Gulanadur army should the Army of the Ascent be approved to help bolster the defenses of Citadel. Unfortunately, this was a double sword in which he learned that invitations to do business could also turn for the worst... some of the black market side of Gulanadur also decided to bring their wares to Citadel and start making claims in the streets, bringing more powerful drugs and poisons into the mix.

As an aside for the Gulanadur Embassy, he also finishes Lady Vlast's personal room so that she may reside at the Embassy in comfort and safety. Though he knows not the precise measures of getting her desires to wed the Caesar to fruition, his determination to bring glory to Gulanadur for the sake of his love for the Queen keeps him going through better or for worse. Lady Vlast even finds a few notes of his with advice about being a good Gulanadur husband after he fell asleep at his desk one eveningtide.

He also makes space to build his "Arcane Sanctum" piece by piece. Little more than shelves for supplies and tables for alchemy equipment with a little more room for meditation and casting spells. He will add more later, and he keeps all of his personal study notes and books in his chambers.

Meanwhile, the request for some Moltenite Pilgrims to monitor the situation had been made, fearing the possible consequences of what Raevyn and Jadmai may do if they misrepresented their people in the West. He had also hoped to build the first true pagan temple there, finding the irony that the first true Molten temple would be in the territory of those who tried to destroy the people almost satisfying. If they truly had freedom of religion, he would work to bring Molten about.

The news about the Volcano in Amun Rah, however, disturbed him. Jadmai had gone to Pax and wondered if the former Ambassador had done something to incur Molten's wrath upon the Oasis. To investigate the matter, he sent a plea to the Clergy of the Moonlady in order to offer aid to the place as well as investigate news of their former Ambassador. He did, however, keep his inquiries about Molten's hand in things to himself.

His true dilemma, however, was the Fire creature found in the basement who had a death wish for some high members of the Council. He would send word to Caldera about the situation, explaining how he feared that this creature would have spread destruction if he was freed and his fears on what this creature might actually be. He pondered what Caldera would have done in his instance, considering the creature was everything Molten was. He tried to err on the side of mercy and it might have cost him dearly, but at the same time, saved a lot of lives.

One way or another, he would send a detailed account of the incident (including the fact that he tried to prevent a brigand from looting the place entirely, and the idiot girl that he had dragged with her, but not mentioning any names). He also told them about the deal he had made with the brigand to sell things to Hadvin's so they could start looking for the missing trinkets so that they might be able to find a few of them. He also makes the argument that if he didn't do what he did, then they could have potentially let the creature run wild and the trinkets would have likely been sold on the black market never to be seen again. If they doubted his intentions and story, he would be more than happy to have his mind searched by a mindcrafter and given a trial by the Council since he did trespass and had to make a deal with the trinkets to find out what had happened to the University. If the nature of the creature was unable to be determined, he would also submit himself to testing to see if he was duped by a demon.

In lieu of this; he also made a diplomatic offer to the University of Magic, considering the land was being contested as well. Considering other safety issues which may occur, S'sinith would keep his mouth shut about the incident to the Caesar because of the potential chaos that would cause in the contesting to the land. In exchange for his silence and willingness to resolve the issue privately, he would aid them with his position in persuading that the land still be under control of the University. Because of his contacts with the shapers, he would also request that he be placed in charge of rebuilding the land around the Spire and allowing the new use of the land to become an academy of learning which would benefit both Citadel and the University, teaching non arcane skills. This would get the University more learned freshmen (perhaps earning a discount should they graduate) and offer more jobs to those who have been displaced by the recent chaos. It would also become a hands on learning opportunity for students wishing to learn how to become a professor or even sharpen their skills with an exchange program in learning important skills outside the arcane such as reading or math (or fighting for the battlemages). For those not of the University, it would stimulate the economy by giving knowledge and allow Citadel to rebuild itself a little more quickly.

Politically, he already had too much on his plate; as tempting as the free positions were at the UoM. Should the school idea pass on both sides, however, he would offer to be an affiliate of the University without actually being a part of it; thus being a neutral being away from the University politics and being able to hear both sides of the argument "without favoritism". This way, he could help to deal with their remaining ties in Citadel and Sierra if they needed a politician who knew the intricate nature of magic without being buried in the Universities' problems.

It would also give the seven that he had to face in his promised duel a reason to try and keep his life intact. Knowing that it would be a grueling battle, he would put his trust in his faith in Molten rather than his raw skill. He knew that even practicing magic and strengthening it would be a worship to him, but he was also a priest. He would seek the wisdom of Caldera in the matter, wondering if there was a better way to handle the situation despite his lack of experience in both faith and arcane skill.

(Diplomacy 3- Apprentice)
(Vestments (Molten) 4- Basic ****)
(Negotiation 3- Apprentice ****)
Last edited by Ssinith DIllil on Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"If all things are energy and a wizard is a master of manipulating it, then as a politician am I studying the greatest sorcery of all."

~S'sinith

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Ashtallion Urdil
Battle Mage
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Post by Ashtallion Urdil »

It had taken him a short while to decide what he wanted to do.

With himself, that is.

Was he to wallow in despair, play over the tragic events that had led to his demotion and the stain upon his reputation? Or was he to embrace this change, repent his mistakes and start living humbly, prostrating himself before the council, attempt to be meek and overly respectful, to win favour once more. Well, the latter was certainly not him, but neither was he going to be consumed by self pity. So, he tried to adopt a steady medium between the two.

Ashtallion took his new ‘role’ seriously. The adhiel sorcerer did as he was instructed by the High Council and Professors of the University, aiding in repairing the structure, strengthening the wards and helping in creating new ones. Wards were not were his natural strength lay in, yet he took it as an opportunity to learn more about them also. He was severely sceptical about whether any Professor within the University would be willing to help him in such areas, so he tried to pick up what he could, and spent much of his time in study, borrowing books from the Library, seeking permission first though from Peckerton. Ashtallion suspected that no sorcerer within the University would properly trust the gilded magus’s choice in reading material any more, so to save any speculation, he made the stuttering Professor aware of everything he read and wrote. He would hide nothing…..well, almost nothing.

As well as the wards…..Ashtallion was lumbered with the tedious necessity of maintaining several of the University’s Spell Systems. He tried to tell himself it was because there were few sorcerers within the University with the power to maintain them…..yet he knew it was simply a way for someone to get out of doing it, and give the task to the troublesome one as punishment. He bit his lip, something he had felt himself do a lot.

If there was one Professor he avoided at all costs, was Durrell. He detested the fellow adhiel with a passion, his sneering remarks, snide looks and over confident airs simply irritated Asht, and the Professor most likely knew it.

What he looked forward to where his trips to the Citadel, visiting Ashari. There was a friendship there, new, but he built upon it. The golden magus would often tell her his fears and regrets, and at the same time listened to the Guild Mistress and her ambitions. She offered him a position within the Guild, to be employed for the Guilds added protection, something he would have considered had he only been demoted….yet seeing as he was Blood Indebted, Ashtallion had to turn down the generous proposal. He was delighted to hear of her pregnancy…whilst it had come as a surprise, and she was not entirely certain whom the father of the unborn child was, Asht never the less felt great joy for her. A new life was something wonderful, it needed to be celebrated, even if it did come with complications. The adhiel assured Ashari that he would be there to give what support he could.

Throughout all of this, Asht could do little else aside from study, meditate and practice on instilling himself with calmness, something he found himself having to attempt, a lot. Also practice those areas of sorcery he did not consider himself adept in, including the little knowledge he knew on magical healing. It was not something greatly attributed to Sorcery. The healing arts were left to priests….but he thought the basics in such knowledge would prove useful….one day.




Star allocation


One star to Magic (Healing) to bring up to Apprentice
One star to Magical Rote (Sorcery) to bring up to Apprentice
One star to Magic (Fire Control) to bring up to Basic+*
Three stars to Inner Calm to bring up to Apprentice
Avatar- By the lovely Finley
Scarlet
Civus
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Post by Scarlet »

Re-post from Aveas



The mind can be a dark and difficult land to tread. It’s paths twist and turn, its corners darker than any shadow. When the heart is divided, split between two souls, the landscape can be tortured beyond all count and measure. The consciousness of Scarlet Ghost-Claw was one such twisted scene. She felt torn in so many different directions. The Keys, Xen, the Cryers, her warping… The future suddenly seemed even darker and more terrifying than it ever had. Only a Yahren ago her people had lived in happiness and peace, now it seemed the fates themselves conspired to bring pain and fear. It was a sickening sensation in the chest, that any moment all she knew and loved could be torn away by some Dopy laying their hand on a shiny spear. The dream was over, the nightmare begun.

Yet not even her nightmares were safe it seemed. The very fate of her people rested on two lost weapons. The Isle had already fallen since someone had taken the Vanquisher – what would happen if someone took Destiny too? Would the Kanthrop cease to be? Each passing day tugged at her heart, willing her wounds to heal faster, her muscles to return their strength to her that she, Xen, Kytani and Muraco might travel sooner in pursuit of the Keys. But Scarlet had more than physical wounds to recover from.

Her fledgling friendship with Xenovia seemed dashed before it had even begun. The Bird-warper seemed to flee the very sight of her unless it was to ask for some advice on a banal point of archery. Scarlet had tried to corner her once or twice to ask straight out what the problem was, but Xen had been evasive. That, for Scarlet, was enough. If Xen wanted her space then Scarlet was not one to force the issue, however much it stung.

With the exodus of the Kanthrop people to the Isle of Aveas, increasingly Scarlet felt that her people were beginning to lose themselves to fear. A point of defiance, she remained on the ancestral home of the Kanthrop. A part of the Vanguard of her people as those very people tucked tail and fled. It was as if they had lost sight of the people they were meant to be.

When the stress got too much Muraco was her catharsis in the fighter’s circle, for the two found no small escape in the bruises and cuts that distracted from the terrors of the night. Within the sanctity of their hut, Scarlet found her nightmares stilled and her search guided by the company of Kytani. Her heart and mind in some way made whole by the reassurance of her ‘big sister.’ It helped close the gap, but Scarlet was an independent soul. Perhaps it was Xen’s influence but she felt any peace she were to find would have to come from within.

In her search for peace she strove to re-awaken her predatory instincts, her inner killer. By day she worked the forms in the training glade, sparring till her knuckles split and her feet bled into Ursa’s dust. A hunter did not fear pain, pain was weakness leaving the body. A predator did not know terror, for it was the domain of the hunted. Discipline and honour were the virtues of her people. Rage and ecstasy were her sins. By night she bound her wounds and, in the silence of her own mind she sought communion with her beast, seeking it in the darkest recesses of her heart… a familiar voice snarling defiance from the flames.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 points Dodge blow (apprentice)
4 points Martial arts (apprentice)
3 points Smaller Blades (apprentice)
1 point Inner animal (journeyman+*)
Last edited by Scarlet on Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:36 am, edited 6 times in total.
[url=http://wiki.tazlure.nl/index.php/Isle_Cat]Isle Cat[/url][size=75][color=darkred]

I'm not here to play who's the better killer.

[i]But it [b]is[/b] my favourite game...[/i][/color][/size]
Tristam
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Post by Tristam »

Morgan

The repairs to the University wards were the greatest magical project in an age and his help was greatly appreciated. For the moment, the wards were being powered by the energy of the sun and sky as they should be constants wherever the University may end up in future. (This was not strictly true but anywhere without those two constants would be too lethal to worry about anything but fleeing.) Investigations had found Sierra to be an isle of deep Aetheric potential but all senior mages were leery of putting down roots again so soon.

During his investigations into the nature of elementals, Morgan came across a treatise entitled, “Esoteric Elementals: Summoning, Binding, and Bargaining” by one Meriklar. It pointed out that for every subdivision and category of Aetheric energy there must be a corresponding elemental composed of it. Much of the treatise details the various theories for their rarity and stresses the difficulty of summoning them as a result. It also points out that most of the elementals of these types that exist are very powerful because otherwise they would have been absorbed by other elementals long ago. After all the theories, the treatise gives instructions on how to summon three of them: elementals of Knowledge, Time, and Entropy.

Morgan’s early excursions into the jungle were horrid and painful affairs owing to the great many species of biting and stinging bugs that the jungle was home too. Subsequent visits were much more pleasant after learning an effective anti-insect ward. Later visits were plagued by the nagging feeling that he was being watched. Neither his own senses nor his magicks ever detected a watcher. It was if the jungle itself followed his steps and from time to time Morgan would hear snatches of conversation but never clear enough to make out the words or find a speaker.

On the day Morgan found the tree toad, he spent a mark deliriously stumbling through the jungle and many more in the infirmary as the poison coursed through his system. Only then did he hear the voices loud and strong. He could not understand a word but the voices were many. He was bombarded with demands, threats and frightened pleading but not once could he learn what they wanted of him. Mender Abagail later told him that Morgan had babbled that gibberish as he thrashed out the affects of the toad’s venom. She assured him that it was fever dreams and nothing more.

Your skills have been updated and you are free to move on.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Tristam
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Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:14 am
Location: Nashville, TN CST

Post by Tristam »

Ssinith

Ssinith found that communicating his predicament to the University or Temperer Caldera was not the trivial task it should have been as he had a co-author with priorities of its own. The first attempt to write a letter that described his encounter with the being of flame known as Xandar resulted in said message bursting into flames. Further attempts were met with intense heat radiating from the gem and demands to remember the pact. On occasion, he felt Xandar's will impatiently lash out to force Ssinith to kill his tormentors but through his own will and that of Molten such urges were quashed. It was truly a case of fighting fire with fire but it was Ssinith that burned as a result.

OOC: Communication with Caldera and the Univeristy about Xandar may still be possible, but Ssinith is going to have to be clever. Let me know what he tries.

Ssinith has no problems writing letters that are Xandar free however and Professor Peckerton was very appreciative of his support in keeping the old location of the University under the control of the University. He found the concept of a magician's preparatory academy intriguing but was not willing to leave the design and management completely up to Ssinith. If he was willing to collaborate with Professor Clearwater as a co-headmaster of the facility, then the University would give it its full backing.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Ssinith DIllil
Tazlure Supporter
Posts: 632
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Citadel

Post by Ssinith DIllil »

After the first attempt to repress the urge for destruction, he decided to have a sit down talk with his "old friend". This creature obviously knew his slight apprehension through the link they had. Meditating in order to bring himself into a relaxed state to mentally speak with the creature, he breathed in.

"Look... I know you see my heart and I believe the chances are not in our favor, but if they know what is going on, I can hold this over them so that we may try to take them all out in one decisive blow. If you do not give me the means to set the battle up with them, then I can not plan accordingly before the fight begins. Besides... you being trapped there, you are nowhere near full strength. If you do not wish for me to communicate the battle at this time, I will need to spend time on learning the ways of our enemy. For that, I need your patience! The very fact that they were holding you down there is something I can hold over them when the time arrives. If you want me to keep it a secret for now, then hold yourself so that I may make both of us more powerful."

He paused to think, wishing he could consult his spiritual master about this... but perhaps this was a test of power after all.

"I will refrain from telling my Church the entire problem it appeases you. I must make my own effort to study the teachings and trust in Molten."

Thusly, he wrote a letter to Caldera inquiring to him his advice of the morals of Molten because he had to make a hard decision as a Moltenite. He knew that assassins were not considered all that evil, but at the same time, there was a balance of waste he had to weigh.

--

S'sinith, understanding that he would be busy enough as Ambassador, graciously accepted Clearwater's assistance as a headmaster. This would allow him much more backing for the plan when he presented it to the Council. Quite frankly, Clearwater would almost be running most of it anyway, allowing the power of the University to stay with it. He makes it known that his name was only for the political sway on the Citadel side, making the University look good that it was tolerant of working with Wizard's from other Academies (like the Gulanadur magic school) as well as Citadel. His true end of the deal was being able to train without having to go to the portal every time he wanted to study or do some personal research. On the Citadel side, he was promoting education for the city as a whole, which would lead to a burst in commerce... which would also lead to a higher enrollment and more money for both ends to work with.
Last edited by Ssinith DIllil on Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
"If all things are energy and a wizard is a master of manipulating it, then as a politician am I studying the greatest sorcery of all."

~S'sinith

NOMINATION
Most Heroic Male PC (2008)
Most Religious PC (2008/2006)
Tristam
Moderator
Posts: 3138
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:14 am
Location: Nashville, TN CST

Post by Tristam »

Ashtallion

Ashtallion found that most of the members of the University were just as undecided and confused as he was how to treat his unique status within the University. Alexu Auros remained a steadfast friend and defender. His own status in the University was reduced as a result but Alexu could care less what those outside of the Battlemage spires thought of him anyway. He shared some meditation techniques from the Eastern Empire that helped with retaining his inner calm. Durell remained superior and smug and a general thorn in Ashtallion’s side. Ashtallion did note however that the tasks given by Peckerton were often scheduled to coincide with Durell being occupied elsewhere. Peckerton treated him with cool respect and most of the University followed suit. The work on the walls and wards was quite extensive and Ashtallion was quite useful with workings of earth to shore up the walls and workings of air and heat to power the wards from the day and night sky.

During this time, Ashtallion had little contact with the student body but two in particular stood out to him. The first was a Kislovani adhiel, Lady Rhian Baradan. She paid him a social call upon Lord Alrul and was sympathetic and supportive of his current situation. Afterwards, she occasionally sought him out for advice on her studies and share what news she got from home. The second was also from Kislovan but this one was a human named Auric. He had quite a chip on his shoulder for adhiel in general and Kislovani adhiel in particular. Thus it was odd that he was seen more and more with Professor Durell.

On the subject of his Blood Debt to those that were killed, one of the students was an orphan with no family. The priestess of the Mother that ran the orphanage forgave Ashtallion and released him from Blood Debt.

The family of the second student was Kislovani humans and he received a letter full of ranting and rage. They gleefully told Ashtallion how they would have him dancing on a string for the rest of their lives. Then he heard nothing. Later he learned that the family had been killed in the fighting with the Firelords and there was no one left to collect the Blood Debt.

Professor Redgrave had only one living relative, his aged mother. She had been expecting this kind of news about her son ever since he ran off to learn magic and held no rancor towards Ashtallion. If it had been that, it would have been something else. She only asked one thing of him in fulfillment of the Blood Debt. She knew her son was the kind of person that would make a great discovery and then lose it among the clutter on his desk. She tasked Ashtallion to pore through all his notes and publish them so that Redgrave and his work would be remembered. Redgrave was a horrible packrat and a habitual maker of lists. Ashtallion was barely able to scratch the surface in between his other tasks but one stack of papers stood out. They were notes on a process to detect sources of magickal power by means of a construct of gemstones, a rift and portal detector in essence. There was no word from the families of the other three victims.

Your skills have been updated and Asht is free to move on.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Viviana Kaleyis
Mod Trainee
Posts: 156
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:16 pm

Post by Viviana Kaleyis »

Magick

As the weeks and months passed by, Viviana never lost her fascination for magick or her eagerness to learn as much as possible. Although she did not find the basics all that difficult, by the end of each day she would be so exhausted she could barely drag herself to her room. After almost every class, she discovered she was famished. She took full advantage of the dining hall, amazing anyone there at the time with how much food such a small person could consume.

She was very rarely alone. She made a couple of friends on her first day, and by the end of the week, most of the newer students had either met her or knew who she was. Not everyone liked her, though. She could be sassy at times, a bit of a show-off, and on a couple of occasions she took risks that endangered either herself or others. She liked to experiment with a new technique as soon as she learned it, sometimes causing disastrous results that exasperated her professors and irritated her fellow students. She made enemies as well as friends.

Her room eventually became the preferred place for the more serious students to practice after class, helping each other and giving advice to those who had trouble understanding a particular concept or technique. Viviana was a natural leader, organizing games of magical skill to keep things interesting.

One of these games got out of hand. She invented a game of magickal tag to practice putting up personal defense shields. She collected worn and unusable wineskins from the dining hall and from The Only Inn in Realt, cut them up, and sewed them into much smaller bags. The students would fill these with water, tie them loosely with a string and toss them at each other. If they threw up their personal shield fast enough, they would not get wet when the skin burst. Sometimes they would get a game together in the middle of the night, and then they would use lightballs to toss at each other.

Although only a handful of her friends played at first, the game quickly grew more and more popular until it was no longer an organized game at all. Any time one ot the participating students could catch another one off guard, they would throw a waterskin or a lightball, heedless of where they were or who else was around. They played it in the halls, the classrooms, the dining hall ... even the privy wasn't safe anymore. Innocent bystanders often got splashed or nearly knocked down by students who couldn't throw a shield up fast enough yet still wanted to avoid being hit. Laughter, good-natured teasing, and lots of running and dodging made the game's participants the most exuberant students the faculty had seen in quite some time.

Although the professors thought the game was a good idea to teach the students how to magically defend themselves, enough was enough. When Viviana and a few of her friends got into one particularly destructive session in the dining hall where they threw food at each other instead of harmless lightballs, the faculty set aside certain times and places for the game to take place, and banned it everywhere else. The perpetrators of the food fight were sentenced to muck out the bestiary for an entire month.

Unlike some of the others, Viviana did not find this to be much of a punishment. She was used to hard work and she loved animals. She started spending some of her free time talking and playing with them. They seemed to love her too. When they heard her coming, they would welcome her with a cacophony of various sounds, mingled with her own joyful laughter.

Eventually she formed bonds with some of the enchanted animals there. She became attuned to their needs, and sometimes it seemed as if she could sense their emotions ... such as the joy of her coming and the sadness of her going. Often it seemed as if they were trying to communicate with her, but she was not quite able to understand what they were trying to say.

She was a bit irritated by the baby unicorn though. Although he wouldn't let most of the students approach him at all, he absolutely adored Viviana, and had an annoying habit of getting out of his pen and following her around. One time he followed her halfway to Realt before she realized he was there. No one had ever told the former street child that unicorns only like virgins. Sometimes she would notice other students chuckling when they saw the way the unicorn followed her, but she had no idea why.

As time moved on, her magical skills improved, and holding on to the Aether no longer exhausted her as it once did. Her classes grew more difficult but also more interesting. It took longer to learn the techniques now and her progress was slower. She especially liked illusions and moving objects without touching them, although she was not very good at either.

Once while she was practicing juggling, a dagger slipped and headed toward her foot. Without even thinking, she diverted the dagger's energy and it changed course, hitting the floor instead. This thrilled her and she decided to see if she could do it again. She held a dagger high into the air and deliberately dropped it on her foot. All she got from that experiment was a deep wound in her foot. She was unable to divert the energy while consciously thinking about it.

She also loved lightballs. She wanted to juggle them, but as they had no actual substance, that was impossible. Instead, she learned to manipulate them into the patterns of juggling, so that it looked as if she were actually juggling them. Toward the end of Jygust, she finally managed to get three of them going, although she could only manipulate that many for a few flickers. Magic took lots of time and patience, and sometimes she tried to do too much too soon.

As for finding her father, she was no closer than she was when she first arrived. She had not yet met anyone she trusted enough to share her secret with. She still wore his ring around her neck, but she kept it concealed beneath her clothing.

Realt, Business, And A Few Stray Cats

Viviana visited Realt the day she arrived, directly after her first magic class left her too exhausted to take another. Although she was not the first student to visit, she was one of the few that went alone, and that, coupled with her natural charm and easy smile, made her more approachable. She chatted with many of the townspeople, learning their stories and finding out more about this strange jungle island that was now her home.

She was thrilled that the majority of Realt's population was male. Her head wasn't filled with thoughts of romance; it was filled with business opportunities. Most men didn't know which end of a needle was which, much less how to thread one or sew on a button. She had a feeling she was going to make quite a bit of money in Realt.

And she was right. At the end of her first week, she walked into the Only Inn and asked the proprietor if she could put up a sign advertising her sewing services. The man not only put it in a prominent location, but also asked if she could do anything about the tattered and fading curtains on his windows. She offered to make him new sets for all of his windows, and he gladly accepted her price. Not too long after that, orders came pouring in, nearly more than she could handle, considering most of her time was still consumed with learning magic.

She also advertised her services at the University, and while she did get a few orders, mainly for hemming or fitting robes, it wasn't nearly as much as she got from Realt.

As the months wore on, Viviana spent a lot of her free time in Realt, either dropping off sewing projects, buying supplies and the native fruit that she loved, or simply just to chat. She was curious about this strange new place and the lives of the people in it. Most importantly, she knew how to listen. Most people like nothing better than to talk about themselves, and the townsfolk actually encouraged her questions.

The majority of her popularity, though, came from her forays to The Only Inn, where she would participate in informal knife-throwing competitions or simply entertain the patrons with her juggling. The more she practiced and performed, the better she became. Her aim improved and she learned several new juggling tricks.

Known as “that pretty little University girl,” Viviana became well known and well-liked in the small jungle town, often befriending the newcomers and ordering sewing supplies from abroad. So while the political upheaval surrounding the University's relocation went right over the naïve young girl's head, she unknowingly served as an informal ambassador to the common people of Realt.

She also developed a rapport with the town's stray cats. They followed her around as much as that darn unicorn did. She welcomed the attention of the cats, though, and often brought little treats for them from the University's dining hall. She had always felt a strange affinity to cats. As with some of the animals in the University's bestiary, she sometimes felt as if she could almost sense their thoughts. It often seemed as if they were trying to communicate with her but she didn't know the language.

Personal

Physically, Viviana bloomed. She thrived in the tropical climate. The humidity relaxed her curls a bit and the intense sunlight, combined with the juice from a certain fruit, lightened her hair. Not yet finished growing,she noticed that her breeches were getting tighter around the hips and looser in the waist. Her tunics now fit quite snugly around her breasts. Her face lost its childishness. With her predominantly adhiel features and her dark complexion, she blossomed into quite the exotic beauty. Although she didn't know this, she bore a marked resemblance to the women in her adhiel father's family ... except for the dark skin, of course.

For the first time in her life, Viviana realized she was attractive. She had not been around many men during her life, and only a few had shown any interest in her at all. Now she was being pursued regularly. Quite a few of the men in Realt, as well as a couple of University students, expressed interest in her romantically, but she was just not ready for romance yet. She did enjoy flirting with them, though.

Toward the end of Jaym, Signora Bianchi asked her to come and visit. Viviana was very surprised when her former mentor informed her that she had made the young achadhiel her sole heir. She would inherit the store, the lace making factory, the house, and all of the woman's personal possessions. All she had to do was come back to the Citadel from time to time so that she could learn how to run the business. She hoped that Signora Bianchi would live for a long long time, because she certainly wasn't ready to give up the University just yet.

While in the Citadel, she bought several bolts of fabric, including one very frivolous purchase. The fabric was sheer, in graduating shades of blue, purple, and pink, shot through with gold thread. Although it was much fancier than anything she had ever owned, she knew exactly how she was going to use it. All she needed now was someone to teach her to dance.

Skills:

Animal Empathy - **
Juggling - **
Manipulation of Energy (Sorcery) - **
Native Craft (Clothing Creation & Embellishment) - **
Throwing Weapons - **
Xenovia Canace
Bane bearer
Posts: 200
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:28 pm
Location: Sierra

Post by Xenovia Canace »

From silent loner to unwitting leader.

After achieving her warp, Xenovia was quite the busy Kanthrop. Intruders were sighted in the skies just as Xenovia was learning to fly, and her lessons were cut short so that the village might be warned. In the nights and days that followed Xenovia found herself fighting for her life time after time, even going so far as to help defend the lives of the intruders from a place called the Western Kingdom. In a fit of anger the young woman fled from her village, only to find herself thrust into what some would call a grand adventure – and still others a recipe for destruction.

But Destruction was what she held, there in her hand, in the form of a bow known as the Bane. The key to Ursa’s Destruction, it had come to be in her possession through a combination of rebelliousness, skill, and pure dumb luck. Yet it had brought back to the Kanthrop much of their history, and a great hope: a chance to defeat the Cryers once and for all. A foreboding threat, however, also offered itself. Would Ursa have to be destroyed completely?

The weight of decision bore down heavily on Xenovia’s shoulders in the months that followed. Scarlet, Kytani, and Muraco were Xenovia’s chosen companions, for she dared not take any of the Kanthan in lieu of the potential rebellion which might start while she was gone – Culwago was already rebellious enough. She told them all immediately, to avoid being pestered and begged by those who wished to accompany them. She would be open to any older, more experienced Kanthrop who wished to go as well, perhaps as a guide, but refused to bring the company to more than five members, including herself. Logic guided her decision on who to take, but on the choice of where to go she was hesitant.

Though on the night of their Kanthanar’s appearance Xenovia had been uncharacteristically open with Scarlet, she all but avoided the feline warper afterward (and everyone else), instead keeping to herself and preparing for the trials ahead. Every once and a while Xenovia would speak with Scarlet on the finer points of shooting a bow, but she carefully avoided any one-on-one situations, in the hopes of avoiding the awkward situation she had found herself in once before.

Every second day she would dutifully shift into her animal form, silently enduring the pain of shrinking bones and shifting muscles until a great osprey could be seen soaring above Sky Valley. She had discovered that she was meant to fly differently from a falcon. By hanging her wings in an almost gull-like position, Xenovia found she could float more easily on air currents and conserve energy. She spent as many marks as possible in the sky, the wind through her feathers helping her forget the destiny she would soon have to face. No doubt many of the Kanthrop complained that she wasn’t taking it seriously, spending all her time chasing clouds and fish.

Yet she also devoted much of herself to learning how to wield the Bane more adequately, shooting the bow itself despite the fact that it practically fed off of her energy. She had to grow accustomed to the feeling somehow, and she could think of no other way. Daily, for at least a mark, she would practice shooting at a target, even going so far as to run while she did so, in preparation for a target that wouldn’t simply come straight at her like the Cryers. At night she aided in guarding the village, though she avoided using the Bane, instead secretly leaving it in the hands of someone she could trust while she fought the Cryers. She didn’t want them to realize that their end was near, and thus redouble their efforts on the village.

Finally it came time for her to make her decision, and Xenovia chose instinct over logic, taking Scarlet's advice. Her Kanthanar had said the spear was in immediate danger. Xen decided they must make haste immediately toward the key to Ursa’s Destiny. Located on the island of Sierra, the journey would take them some time. Consulting with the Kanthan, Xenovia discovered that they could leave port after a journey inland, and made preparations to leave immediately. Gathering essentials such as rope, flint and steel, and the clothes Xenovia never thought she would actually wear, she gathered her companions together and began the journey to the east – first over land, then sea.

She never spoke of the apprehension and fear that plagued her, though it would not be hard for her diligent companions to notice after some time. Xenovia couldn’t help but remind herself constantly that her companions might be following her to their death. She had told them as much, but of course they were willing to risk their lives to save Ursa. It was only their heightened senses, however, that could sense Xenovia’s discomfort. Outwardly she was as strong a leader as she could be, standing tall and speaking steadily. Perhaps it wouldn’t be a disaster after all...


OOC: (Note: Double-posted from Ursa.)


Skill allocation:

**** to Bow, Long = Apprentice
**** to Polymorph-Kanthrop = Apprentice
* to Single Combat -- Resisting Multiple Opponents = Apprentice
* to Inner Animal-Kanthrop only = Journeyman+*
[size=84][i]"When the sun is gone I see you:
beautiful and haunting, but cold;
like the blade of a knife so sharp, so sweet --
nobody knows your heart." - Princess Mononoke[/i][/size]
Brytan
Moderator & Coordinator Triangle Islands
Posts: 1156
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:53 pm
Location: Pax
Contact:

Post by Brytan »

Xenovia and Scarlet have received appropriate updates to their sheets and have been approved for play post-recess.
Last edited by Brytan on Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
[size=84][i]I'm sorry, but I don't know who you're talking about. You must be confusing me with that other guy...[/i][/size]

[size=67]Avatar drawn and edited by me, Darkness concept (c) Topcow comics
Age=28 - SCZ=E - Attendance=daily[/size]
Ssinith DIllil
Tazlure Supporter
Posts: 632
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Citadel

Post by Ssinith DIllil »

((Due to getting the Gulanadur recess and the unexpected turn of events *which will not effect his points because it's along the same lines of action of political negotiation*, there's an added part))

With the attack in the Bowl by the mysterious creatures as well as the fighting of his mages, S'sinith requests that a few surviving wizards from the attack journey to Citadel where he might strike a deal between the Gulanadur Acadamy of Magic and the University of Magic as it comes to the prep school project.

He would talk with whomever would arrive from the Gulanadur Academy in order to get a full report of the incident with the demons, as well as trying to convince the Gulanadur Academy to trade secrets with the University of Magic. Gulanadur's Alchemy for the University of Magic's Battlemage program in order to help fight off the pests which destroyed part of their homeland.

Something troubled S'sinith to which he brought up with one of the professors... when Ursa crashed, demons came in and attacked people, when the UoM went into the sky, demons came in and attacked people. He would ask if there was some mysterious connection to the mysterious powers keeping the UoM afloat and the ones which caused Ursa to crash.
"If all things are energy and a wizard is a master of manipulating it, then as a politician am I studying the greatest sorcery of all."

~S'sinith

NOMINATION
Most Heroic Male PC (2008)
Most Religious PC (2008/2006)
Tristam
Moderator
Posts: 3138
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:14 am
Location: Nashville, TN CST

Post by Tristam »

Ssinith

The being of fire seemed mollified by Ssinith's assurances but remains adamant that current whereabouts and his pact with Ssinith stay a secret.

Ssinith's missives took much longer to deliver than in the past. The portals of Gulanadur were located in the bottom level of Gulanadur which has been abandoned to the Cryers. Messages must now go to the portal at Aveas and travel overland to Fort Dusk.

Nevertheless, Ssinith receives a briefing on the attacks. Endless waves of obsidian creatures just poured out of the tunnels into Gul. They draw strength from the darkness and proved to be better suited to combat in the dark than even the dark adhiel. Early on it was learned that bright, bright light held them at bay but there were few in Gul that had much strength working with that energy. Most of the tunnels between the second and third layers of Gul have been collapsed which the exception of one. It is guarded by a stone shaped fort embedded with glowing crystals.

None of the surviving professors wanted to be away from Gul for the time it would take to travel overland to the portals. However, he was informed that Professor Durell was already at the UofM and was trying to start just such negotiations. The UofM has been sympathetic but has its own problems rebuilding their wards and the like.

Caldera writes back with sympathy for Ssinith's choice and wishes he could offer more than the solace that all Moltenites reach this crisis of choice. One faction of Molten preached that Molten was once a deity of mindless destruction but changed his ways when he revealed himself to the underground races and refashioned himself into a god of fevered industry. As such, acts of destruction are beneath a follower of Molten. Other teach that Moltens vents his wrath without warning and often without explanation. Thus his followers are obligated to do the same as the spirit of the flame moves them. The bulk of the church teaches that creation and destruction are the two sides of Molten's coin as each was needed in the proper proportion. The rule of thumb that Caldera always used was this: choose the path that seemed the most work because overcoming obstacles with industry was always a way to worship Molten whether constructive or destructive.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Tristam
Moderator
Posts: 3138
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:14 am
Location: Nashville, TN CST

Post by Tristam »

Viviana

Vivana's studies proceed well and her enthusiasm for the art was as appreciated as it was dreaded by the faculty. Her work with illusions was with Professor Imrelinda, Becca's mentor. Imrelinda was a perfectionis and her lessons were exasperating sometimes. On the whole, Imrelinda repsected Viviana. She was invited to share tea with her in the mornings, an invitation offered to very few.

Towards the end of Jygust, Vivana received a written message from Professor Peckerton. It stated that he was pleased with her progress so far and that he noted her natural ability to organize. Peckerton invited her to tea in his study on tradetide of Jygust 30th to discuss her future at the University.

Viviana was a welcome addition to the scene of Realt and her sewing business was doing well by word of mouth. It picked up even further as forays into the jungle became more common. The jungle was not forgiving to even the hardiest of clothing. She also found herself with a growing amount of clothes that had been dropped off for repair before a trip whose owners never made it back to claim them. While going through one of them, Viviana found a square of parchment. It was a rough map showing a trail that begins around the fresh water pools and heads into the jungle. Marked on that trail are a crude drawing of a face, a sketch of an animal claw and at the far end of the trail, a sketch of a coin.

Skills approved and you are free to move on to new threads. I have also raised your Wealth to Apprentice to reflect your sewing income.
Last edited by Tristam on Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Elvin Motricé
Retired staff
Posts: 2313
Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2002 9:20 pm
Contact:

Post by Elvin Motricé »

OOC: Also posted in the Citadel

Chyril – Moving House
Chyril was a busy month, a visit to Pax, a search for the Libre, the disappereance of the University. In the last two weeks of Chyril Elvin was finally able to set his new plans in to motion. The Shadowstar needed a larger base of operations and more information. And so he took to the streets of the Citadel disguised in a small glamour and obscuring black robes, and let it be known that information would be paid for. But only for correct information, bringers of false information would find themselves never to be paid or trusted again. He set up a complex system for delivering information so that no one would ever know who received the information eventually. Most contacts of deliverers of information were, in those first few weeks, the mage himself in disguise. He used the current turmoil in the criminal part of the Citadel as a way to pull of his scheme, grasping those strands that had as of yet escaped their attention to build his own network of informants. Some of the information he could acquire (if any) he delivered to Lord Ginneke, the Imperial Thaumataurgist, hoping to strengthen their partnership and extending it beyond the search of the Libre.

The translocation of the University posed a new problem for the Adhiel Professor; he had classes he needed to teach, as well as his work in the Citadel. Using his status as Hero of the Demon Hunt he tried to purchase a small house near to the single standing spire of the University. He intentionally chose a place apart from the University as he needed some privacy.

During his frequent visits to Sierra he learned what had caused the University to teleport to Sierra. He was infuriated by Ashtallion’s ambition and his sheer carelessness and stupidity. In one of his conversations with Peckerton Elvin told him the few things he knew about the Book of Creation and the divination he had attempted on it.


Jaym – Birthday, Non-Spatial Dimension Theory
Jaym started with preparations for Elvin’s birthday which was on the third, he invited a few students (Becca and Morgan among them), some faculty staff (Peckerton, Durell among them) and a few of his close friends (Ulder and Elaine who couldn’t attend due to their responsibilities in Pax).

He had met the Dark Adhiel Professor Durell after one of his students told him about the interesting applications of magic Durell talked about. The Adhiel was so fascinated that he went to pay the Dark Adhiel Professor a visit. That discussion went on, from Elvin’s part, to offering an exchange of knowledge, to discuss the possibilities of Dark Adhiel studying at the University and to inquire how mages were trained in Gulunadur.
The remainder of that month he started working on cleaning his notes on portal research, summarizing them into one decent text titled “Crossing the Veil: on Portals, space and time”. His frustration about his disability to read Human grew during that time as many reference works were written in the Human tongue so he painstakingly started to study the language, determined to make something of it.
Excerpt from publication:
In all science the point of reference was the existence of a three-dimensional space and a fourth dimension of time. When these four dimensions are combined in a manifold (a structure defined by these four but more complex and dependent upon one another then up until now).

Normally time is treated as universal and constant, being independent of the state of motion of an observer. In relativistic contexts, however, time cannot be separated from the three dimensions of space because the rate at which time passes depends on several factors, among which the strength of intense gravitational fields which can slow the passage of time).

Due to expirements it is confirmed that time slowes down at higher speeds and that matter changes the geometry of spacetime. We define an event as a point in spacetime specified by its time and place.

For two events separated by a time-like interval, enough time passes between them for there to be a cause-effect relationship between the two events. This is, however, not an invariant system (an invariant is something that does not change under a set of transformations).

When a space-like interval separates two events, not enough time passes between their occurrences for there to exist a causal (denotes a necessary relationship between one event -called cause- and another event -called effect- which is the direct consequence, or result, of the first) relationship crossing the spatial distance between the two events. Generally, the events are considered not to occur in each other's future or past.

In a space-time the concept of distance is defined by the space-time interval between two events which occur in two locations at two times.

The Tether is defined by a space-time continuum whereas the Aether cannot be described by this manifold as time has to physical meaning and the pull of Aetheric energies can be seen as a flux that can be compared to a rapidly changing gravitational field that slows and speeds up time.

Portals do not exist in the space-time continuum as they work as a space-like interval.


A small letter, written both in a halting Human as in more fluent Adhiel, was deliverd to Ulder and Elaine later that month.
Dear friends

It is with regret that I have to inform you that I can’t return to Pax for some time. My responsibilities as University Staff prevent me from spending too much time away from the University at the moment. Please let me know your whereabouts, when I do find the time I will visit you.

Best regards
Elvin


The research left the Adhiel feeling frustrated and without an outlet for his physical energy so he took up the habit of training against some of the Battle Mage staff members in early morning sparring matches. Elvin usually practiced his martial arts in the confinement of his room but he noticed that his expertise grew faster when he was defeated by others. Against more inexperienced staff members he was able to fight on par at the end of the month which gave him great satisfaction because his martial arts were a link to his early beginnings, a link back to his past that he had left behind but still remembered dearly.
The remainder of his free time was spent helping the staff to get the University back in running order while his nights were often spent in the Citadel, waiting for information or researching some of the rumors about the strange murders.

Jygust – A Wedding Remembered, A Link to the Past, The Council
On the second of Jygust Elvin refused to leave his room, this was his wedding day and he spent it alone, reliving part of his past and writing a letter to the Kislovan court explaining his history on Kislovan (as well as his function as a Professor and one of the Heroes of the Demon Hunt) and the fact that he, as an Adhiel who had lived among the Humans and had been well know in the area around Caliboirneabh as apprentice to the healer Whisper, offered his help in negotiating with the Humans might they have need for someone that the Human population might trust. The Professor did not expect to receive a reply. He just felt obliged to his deceased wife to try this, to help build a lasting peace. In reality had feared he had been away from Kislovan far too long to actually be remembered nor was he important enough to actually be heard by the Royal court of Kislovan.

He intensified his search for the Libre, looking for clues, working together with Ginneke and searching for practitioners of the dark arts in the University. It was during this time that Elvin decided he’ld try for a position on the Council. It would give him an opportunity to look around in places where, as a normal staff member, it would arise suspicion. It was also an optimal opportunity to solidify a position for higher circles. And as a bonus he would get to help lead guide the University, his first home in over twenty yahren.
He talked with Peckerton about his plans and manipulated the conversations with other staff members so that when his name would pop up, others would nominate him. It wasn’t his style to nominate himself. Either he was chosen for his skill or he wouldn’t take the job. But pushing people in the right direction couldn’t hurt… He also volunteered to act as a liaison between the University and people of prominence in the Citadel, trying to get them to unofficially see the benefit of having the University around, even though it’s buildings were on another isle…
And the days passed by, some of them in the University, some of them in the Citadel. Until, on the morning of the 30th, found himself walking through the Portal from Sierra to the Citadel.

----------------------
SKILLS
New skill: Literacy [Human]
Martial Arts (to Apprentice+ ****)
Shielding [Sorcerery] (to Apprentice+****)
Knowledge [Sorcery] (to Apprentice+***)
Age to 101 yahren


CREDITS
Portal and space-time continuum theory is an adaption of space-time continuum theory largely taken from Wikipedia
"- and so's Mister Motricé." Becca smiled wryly. "He's probably going to go - he's not set anything on fire for a few months, so he's got to be going through withdrawal by now." ~ Becca Acerbi
Avatar by LC, modified by me
Tristam
Moderator
Posts: 3138
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:14 am
Location: Nashville, TN CST

Post by Tristam »

Elvin

Peckerton was a little dismayed to hear that Elvin knew of Ashtallion
having the book and telling non but understood that he could not have
known what was to come. Peckerton told Elvin that the Secrets of
Creation had a history of appearing to wizards in the University
seemingly without rhyme or reason. All they could do was wait this
one out.

Elvin swiftly learned that Durell had no interest in speaking with
surface adhiel. At their first meeting, Durell's terse reply was that
if Elvin wanted to learn of the magick of Gulanadur, he would meet
Elvin on the dueling fields at his earliest convenience. Elvin did
learn from other sources that several dark adhiel students were to
start studies at the UofM due to some unrest in Gulanadur itself.

Elvin's treatise was well received by the staff at the UofM though it
was understood that many members were in the process of writing their
own critiques for later discussion. Even the detractors of his
theories appreciated the thoroughness that went into cataloging all
the available data in one work.

The professor Alexu Auros was always up for a sparring match
regardless of the time of day and Elvin learned much from being
pummeled daily by him. He also learned that there is no such thing as
an inexperienced staff member among the Battle Mage faculty when it
comes to the martial arts, but Elvin was definitely getting the better
of the senior students by the end of the recess.

On the anniversary of his wedding, Elvin felt a presence in his rooms.
It was very subtle but even alone he felt as though a trusted friend
was with him offering support and compassion. At his lowest point, he
even felt like it held him tenderly. When the day was over, so was
this feeling.

When Elvin came to Peckerton to discuss the council position,
Peckerton made it clear that officially he had to remain neutral in
this process and let the faculty choose unhindered. Unofficially,
Peckerton encouraged him to make his bid. Alexu Auros was happy to
make the nomination for Elvin and was a vocal advocate for him.
However, his previous support of Ashtallion had tainted Auros's
reputation and so his endorsement was proving to be as much a
hindrance as a help. Durell in particular loved to spread tales of
his faults and began championing the cause of Professor Pralix.

Word of his candidacy for the position spread beyond the walls of the University. The Margrave of Sierra has invited Elvin to luncheon at the Grand Authority on the 30th or 31st as his schedule permits. His invitation states a desire to meet those that might rise to the position of University Councilor.

OOC: Skills approved and added. You are now free to post.
[size=100]
Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known, I've had to make myself.

Shel Silverstein[/size]
Falco
Civus
Posts: 40
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:48 pm

Post by Falco »

Looking up from the flickering light Falco rubs his sleep filled eye's the More books he reads in the library the more his mind drifts deeper and deeper in to the text opening his mind and eyes to more ideas and little bit's of insights. Shutting him self in to the UofM deep in his room with books and a little food Books of power are not what he seeks for he seeks primers for the rune magic as the teachers around the school seem to be occupied with the new UofM location though to him it is no different then the last though the wards are not as strong. For him needless to say he was taken back a when he returned to the UofM grounds to find them void of.... Well everything. He was more annoyed about the loss of notes with in his room and the use of the library then he was overly worried about the UofM as he felt the burst of energy on the other side of the citadel he had not clue what it was at the time though when he went back to head to his bed he was a little miffed and intern he spend the next few day at the dragon with just enough on him to keep him full and warm.

Starting starting the next morning to sell him self as a scribe to copy scrolls and books using the last of his coin on a chance that worked well as he lucked out after chasing a lead or two down he found and older gentleman that wanted his services pay was not that great but it meant he would have his name out there even though the man was just a merchant. It was better then he was making right then and needing money it worked well. Giving him a few coin's to pay for his meal's and room Falco enjoyed the work his reading was not the best in human or Adhiel though his copying of notes was mirror perfect of the texts and numbers his slender, agile hand,and sharp eye's. Though sometimes he would also use the flows of energy to move the ink on the sheets as well, going a lot faster though not always the flawless texts that he prided him self and his name upon as there would be a few letters a little off or the odd time a page wrecked. Mostly he risked it on ledgers or orders that did not need a crisp hand. Though one of his payments was a little different as we was working for a known merchant the merchant told him about a trade path that may or may not get him a few extra coin's if he was willing to invest risk money upon it. The plan sounded like a fair chance to Falco so he headed off to chat with a the ship captain that the merchant told him was a reputable and one he traded with often. Thinking it over for a day Falco took the portal to Aveas where the ship had just pulled in 2 day's before. Tracking down the captain and buying him a few drinks as they talked shop. Meeting the captain the next day as he purchased 2 more crowns worth of coffee with Falcos coin's. The next pick up would be in Dort where the captian would sell all coffee stock and reinvest all coin made in coffee sales in to Alcohol for shipment back to the citadel where he would meet the captain and Talk with him about a future investing with him if Falco made a nice return on his investment, Falco will plan to portal back to Avea and meet the captain there to invest again in two leg's of the trip again if he gets a fair return on his investment.

Sitting down at a desk after paying his two crowns to the captian he smiled at a small idea he got and at how how simple it was. With a neat crisp hand. Magi looking for instruction upon the art of rune writing leave message at the Burpin' Dragon care of Falco. Smiling at the note Falco channeled a little energy into it to give it a finger print of energy. Copying over 40 notes down and giving each one just a touch of energy he grins at his work as sweat dripped off his nose. Taking a few of them to the runes of the basilisk he pushed them in to the wall's and a few around the temples in the open so people could read them each note was written in Human as well as Adhiel on the same page. Copying texts he found was a fair side job for now as it gave him some free time to wander in the city checking on his fliers and in at the inn of the dragon between that and being locked in to his room at the UofM looking up little bits of oddity's that he could find and track down and having the library of the UofM at his finger tips meant his day's where full. As he did try him self to get out of any mentoring he could though would never refuse any he was given. He spent most of his time away from everyone though he did talk to Professor Peckerton often about research in to the dark art giving him any interesting peaces Falco thought that my spike his interest as the books Falco had access two where great in some aspects and a few did not read as they gave him an uneasy feeling holding them... so he would save them for latter. Though they did not really tell him anything that he found really of interest although he still had not gotten to the books deeper in the library yet.


Literacy [Elven] give it 3
Literacy [humon] give it 2 please
Manipulation of Energy: Sorcery 2 please

Theory of Balanced Energy 1 please
Theory of Energy Focus ~ 1 please
Theory of Sacrificial Enhancement ~ 1 please
Last edited by Falco on Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Becca Acerbi
Tazlure Supporter
Posts: 537
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2004 11:47 am
Location: Well out of range! (UoM/Manchesterish)
Contact:

Post by Becca Acerbi »

((I'm so sorry about the delay! I hope this is okay. :( )

By the end of Chyril, Becca was convinced that if she'd actually escaped to Pax with Elaine and Ulder, the whole place could have gone up in flames like she predicted and would still have been quieter than the University post-relocation. At the very least, Elvin Motricé would be too busy destroying buildings and trying to get people killed to get on her nerves, which was obviously a completely fair exchange.

The first few days after the relocation and Professor Peckerton taking her up on her moment of - well, it was either a sudden burst of responsibility or she was slightly delirious from lack of sleep and the whole demon-thing and based on previous experience Becca was inclined more towards the latter - Becca spent running down to Realt (she dragged Morgan if she could find him; if she couldn't, she took Professor Peckerton up on that escort he promised her), exploring and reporting back on what the town could supply the university with. Her credentials - and it was a vaguely terrifying idea that anyone thought it was a good idea to give her anything that made her sound official - saw as little use as she could get away with, considering Becca wasn't convinced that shops would follow the Only Inn's lead and give the university a discount instead of doubling the prices.

In the middle of that, Elvin Motricé came back, and at the first chance she got Becca went to see him. Just to make sure he HADN'T actually set fire to Pax (yet), that Elaine was fine, and that he hadn't left The Book in his room because that had been worrying her since The Thing With The Demon, even though she knew which book it had actually meant. Which turned out to be Elvin's cue to tell her that he didn't have the book and hadn't had it for a while.

Becca's reaction to that was - surprising her as much as anybody else - was to go very quiet, listen to his explanation - and the absolute lie that Morgan had known the entire time and not told her - and then storm out before she did something she probably wouldn't live long enough to regret. It was a self-preservation instinct that meant she had an Elvin-shaped blind spot for at least a month, and a headache from staying calm and ignoring him. It also meant that she "forgot" to get around to asking him to help round up the escapees from the Beastiary, and made training sessions with him, Morgan and a man called Motley rather awkward. The realisation that Elvin probably considered the quiet a GOOD thing had occurred to her, but if she was sarcastic and dismissive, he wouldn't have noticed any difference from normal! It was a dilemma.

Instead of working with Elvin and Morgan, Becca ended up helping mages she didn't really know survey the university and corral some of the creatures that had escaped - primarily by doing what she did best, which was flit around the lower levels wrapped in layers of illusions and look for things that weren't supposed to be roaming around free, or by accompanying the people who were actually in charge of capturing the beasts and keeping them as well-hidden as possible. She was quite happy with her role in the proceedings, until one day in Jaym when she spotted something that looked harmless enough for her to take back to the Beastiary herself. Considering she had to be rescued from it after it dislocated her shoulder, Becca quickly re-evaluated her definition of "harmless."

She spent the next two weeks with her arm in a sling and very determinedly practicing her magic - she alternated between trying to charm Professor Octava into teaching her some wards (or being rather more charming at Morgan so she could steal his notes) and figuring out how to mask her injuries - quite literally, using her illusions to cover what bruises she could. She ended up consulting Imrelinda for advice on how to arrange the weave of air and light over her skin to prevent it shifting or being too obvious - her train of thought had gone from "masking injuries and stopping Imrelinda and Morgan giving me That Look" and moved to actually changing her appearance, which required a little more finesse than her invisibility illusions, and as she found, a mirror - and also made the acquaintance of Imrelinda's newest student, Viviana, who seemed to be a woman after Becca's own heart to say the least.

Once her arm had recovered, Becca added "flitting to the Battle Mage tower and begging to be taught" to her repertoire, and "getting beaten up by people instead of monsters" to her schedule. She knew many of the students from her time helping in the infirmary, and most were willing to give her advice on her extremely basic hand-to-hand skills and fighting with her dagger while they sparred. She wasn't sure how much to trust their advice considering where she'd met many of them - but she thought about what they said, which was something.

She also tended to run into Elvin if she went in the morning - strangely enough, seeing Elvin get his arse handed to him on a regular basis made her feel a little more charitable towards him, to the point where she eventually managed to speak to him without fearing she'd say something she'd regret. She didn't apologise - she was right dammit, he should have told her when it happened - but it was a start.

As for Morgan, Becca spent as much time as she could with him. She'd had this vague idea of keeping him out of trouble, which she knew was doomed from the start - and gave up on entirely after the incident with the frog (although she probably made enough of a nuisance of herself fussing over him after that to put him off getting injured again... She hoped.). Besides, there needed to be someone around to stop him mangling the Adhiel tongue who would enjoy doing it, and - well, something was going on and she'd managed to convince herself that if she just stayed with him long enough, she'd figure out what it was. She didn't think he was going off her - he still put up with her after all, and no one who didn't like her would do that for longer than they had to, let alone tolerating her pouncing on them or using them as a pillow when she could get away with it - but he was acting a little strange(r than usual perhaps) around everyone else, instead of just her.

She'd have to ask him about The Book. She hadn't believed Elvin when he'd said that Morgan had known the whole time, but - well, she'd ask Morgan. And depending on what he said, she'd have to make up her mind on whether she was going to start looking for it herself or not.

After all, it had already thrown giant insects at them. What could it pull to top that?


SKILLS:
Native Craft [Frustrate UoM staff] ~ **
Smaller Blades ~ **
Martial Arts ~ **
Inner Calm ~ **
Running ~ **
<Becca> I am all in favour of getting Elvin laid. I am not in favour of getting Becca blown to little squishy bits
<Sevti> That's a sig line if I ever heard one.
Avatar drawn by the amazing Finn!
Brytan
Moderator & Coordinator Triangle Islands
Posts: 1156
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:53 pm
Location: Pax
Contact:

Post by Brytan »

OOC: I think we have to apologize to you Becs ;)

Becca

The bustle around the University was enough to keep many of the students and teachers busy for quite some time. After the initial efforts of safeguarding the perimeter of the University and the recovery of plenty of odd beings, with which Becca did indeed have some close encounters, business of entirely different kind started to be more and more to the forefront of Octavus' mind and that of the rest of the faculty.

The wards around the University were still being reconstructed, energies from the surrounding island were being channeled where they could, but reluctance seemed to strike, making wards brittle and frustrating the mages to no end as seemingly effective charms and spells malfunctioned after being put up flickers earlier.

As such an expedition was to be sent out, one that would attempt to gather where the energies causing the disruptions came from and seeking ways to break the negative side effects of it. The spirit of the island would have to be found and word had it that Morgan was the one who was going to do it.

Thus Jygust the 31st rolled around, with Morgan and Motley on their way out to Realt for a short stop by the Explorer's guild before heading out in search of the mischievous being that seemed to not appreciate a large structure landing on it's territory...

Stars will be checked and awarded properly. Meanwhile you're free to join new threads on the 30th or the 31st if you wish to jump in the expedition immediately. Enjoy!

Image
[size=84][i]I'm sorry, but I don't know who you're talking about. You must be confusing me with that other guy...[/i][/size]

[size=67]Avatar drawn and edited by me, Darkness concept (c) Topcow comics
Age=28 - SCZ=E - Attendance=daily[/size]
Thorn
Civus
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:40 am
Location: Sierra

Post by Thorn »

The Lost Sons of T'aquar
An Excerpt
By Thorniel 'Uth Xecra
*Written in the Adhiel Tongue

O T'aquar! O T'aquar! Will we forever long for you? Your sons and daughters are cast into the four corners of the wind, exiled and weeping for what you have become. O T'aquar! O T'aquar! Wilt thou perpetually wound me so? I long for T'aquar, even with the unimaginable distance that separates us, She calls upon me, and I yearn for Her, so longingly, this ache and pain perpetually hurting me so. I long for what once was T'aquar!

I do not care for this walls that surround me, this walls that imprison me. They are harsh, uncaring and filled also with an imprisoned entity, full of logic, science and inhospitable essence that I could never understand. Except for Morgan, whom I do not comprehend as well. Leave, I must. Towards T'aquar? Not yet. The wound is still fresh, perhaps, it will forever bleed. O T'aquar! O T'aquar! Will we forever long for you?

The jungle calls upon me, She is ancient and full of natural life, of natural balance and chaos and She reminds me of T'aquar, of what She once were: chaste, unravaged and wild.

Alone, I walked the mossy ground of the Jungle as I listened to Her trees, to the very sole of her plants and found my moment of peace, for at last, I am one with the Mother, She who gave birth to everything. Deeper I walked and longer I stayed, tarrying under the many many stains of the moons, I do not care, but the humans came and I feared they would start to defile Her and I am afeared. And I must go back and warn them, warn them of what had befell T'aquar might befell the very Jungles of Sierra.

O T'aquar! O T'aquar! Will we forever long for you?


Skills gained:

Tracking - Basic / New Skill *****
Survival [Forest] - Basic / +**
Animal Empathy - Basic / +*
Herbal Lore [Forest] - Basic / +*
Nature's Way [Druidism] - Apprentice / +*
[hr][/hr]
Can you please change his...
Nature's Way [Taquar] to Nature's Way [Druidism]
Shaping [Taquar] to Shaping [Druidism]

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Last edited by Thorn on Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
[size=75][b]Avatar by Byron Albrando[/b][/size]
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