[ clarifying bit of meta here; there's still natural debris and stuff in the crater, just no traces of whatever it was that might have made it. no hotspots of bad juju, no weird melted snow, just the lingering traces of a magical signature they can't identify all over... ]
I don't think the sunlight here is strong enough to overpower this region's tendencies.
[ he looks upwards for a moment, evaluating. ]
It hasn't been so long since my last visit, so I imagine not that much more would have built up if left undisturbed...
[ at least they're lucky this is in a more hospitable area by northern standards; instead of 'freeze to death within minutes with a side of extreme weather' that would likely more quickly bury any evidence, it's just one of those areas that knows regular snowfall.
he'll kneel down, pressing a gloved hand into the snow at the edge. ]
Hmm. [Ithaqua moves away to approach a nearby tree, and plucks a pair of fallen branches off the ground near it, gingerly twining them together with the softer one being twisted around the thicker, more brittle one.
Instead of tossing the bundle into the chasm, he sticks it just on the lip between some stones, in a way that a casual observer would not notice. A little trail mark of sorts, so that if either of them come back and they see that it's either gone or lopsided, they'll know someone has come by. Certainly not a beast, they're all avoiding this place.]
If either of us has the chance to return here, best to look for this. It's not a proper way of gauging if someone has been here, but it's better than nothing.
[There's no telling if someone just decides to return, after all. Who knows? He's fairly sure that whoever they're against has magic of their own and are just not sharing it with anyone.]
Indeed, that would be a sound course of action. [ an approving nod. ] The worst that can happen is that it doesn't work.
[ ... he grimaces, his expression going flat for a moment. ]
I admit... On my previous visit I'd considered hexing the area, some sort of proximity ward, to warn and alert me if anyone should stop by, but ... I wonder if a novice attempt at it, comparatively, might be worse than simply not putting anything up at all.
[ if there's someone more practiced than them— and there likely is, considering they've been in this world but a month— then if it were noticed, they might just avoid it altogether... or something like that. ]
... It is starting to become aggravating that things we would have accomplished easily whence we came can still manage to elude us here.
Different world, different rules. [He grumbles a little as he straightens up again. It does annoy him, too.]
But, as long as they don't restrict us from knowledge, I shan't be too cross.
[Well, he is annoyed, but it's clear that he's reveling in the challenge as well. There are so many new things to do, so many lessons he wished his mother taught him the moment he learned she was a witch-- fanciful ideas he believed would never come true because of their circumstances.]
We also have an advantage-- we are not the first, nor the second. Perhaps not even the third to leave. We've time. [Though, how much time... who knows?
He places his hands on his hips and looks down at Robin.]
[Ithaqua merely shrugs. If this has happened before... well, he's not going to be the one to discover the truth, that's for sure!]
We learn magic together, that's all. We've all our own interests and specializations, yes? But there are just some things that require... a second set of eyes, or a few helping hands to understand.
Or to pull you out of trouble should training go awry.
[ idly: ] It wouldn't do to be caught in a half-transformation gone wrong, now would it? Very well.
[ or any number of spell mishap resulting from an incompatibility between what they know from their own realms and what is feasible here. unchecked hubris, biting off more than they can chew. ]
You have my attention. If, as you say, this might allow us to somewhat more feasibly experiment with more risky spellwork ... You may also have my acquiescence.
[ though he again cocks his head in a manner not terribly unlike that of his namesake. ]
What is it that you prefer, for that matter? The favor of the northern spirits of course means that combat magic is what will most readily respond to us, but that hardly says anything of our own individual skillsets otherwise.
But it's entirely due to that, and our country's specialization, that I choose to learn the art of potion-making. [Magical healing? He took a peek at those books days ago and decided the process was going to take a little too long, even if he were to not sleep for a few days. Thus, starting with something closer to what was familiar to him.]
The practice of using herbs and poultices is not unknown to me, thus this is a natural escalation of my skills.
Ah, the kind of day to day cursemaking and witchcraft you'd more commonly see in smaller or more remote villages... I am not entirely unfamiliar with it, but I cannot claim any intimate knowledge of it. If it were alchemy, I might be able to advise more on it, but... Well, if you were listening in during that meeting you called a few days ago then I've already gone over the bulk of the things I'm most practiced with.
That said, what I didn't mention then is that I have an affinity for the magics concerning life and death and the lack thereof. [ a thin smile. ] Thus, I imagine I will serve adequately as a healer if needed, but it might not be the most pleasant of sensations for the recipient.
[ a sigh, his arms crossing as another thought occurs to mind. ]
... Shall we tell our Sage about this, do you think?
[Ithaqua, not listening? Perish the thought. Even if he and Solomon were having that tense discussion, he kept his ears open. He remembers everything that went on in that room, even if they were not speaking to him personally.
However, there are far too many things to address with what Robin just said, and Ithaqua would just like to concentrate on one thing at the moment, so there are no misunderstandings later.]
It matters not to me if you've the knowledge needed to advise-- all I need are an extra pair of eyes and hands, as I have mentioned. This branch of knowledge can get dangerous after all. Heheh.
Oh, I have no doubt that it can be dangerous. The same can be said of many branches of magic, though, so if it's a pair of hands and eyes you need then I'll acquiesce to your request.
[ and if this arrangement goes well, then he might even be amenable to 'pulling you out of trouble', as itha puts it. ]
By all means, experiment to your heart's content ... I'll admit I am curious about what might result of your research.
[ just as long as he's not the one playing test subject. ]
[He now twirls his hand in the air.] Let's not hope I'll need it. I've no desire to die a second time.
[Is that a jab at Robin's particular brand of healing, or Ithaqua's potential destructive power being concentrated into potions? Why can it not be both?]
We [ for a given definition of 'we,' since it's mostly been centrals and easts and solomons, ] really have been causing quite some trouble for him, haven't we?
[ rip to the mentor but anyway ]
Ah, but maybe even then, it would still be less trouble than having to play shepherd to yet another lost soul. At least we're mostly cooperative.
Until pressure is put upon us as a group. [And Robin should know exactly what Ithaqua is talking about.]
I believe we've been fairly tame by our standards because we've been living in comfort until now. We've not felt stress this entire time, merely "playing house".
Ironic that the concept of diplomacy, then, is what will be most likely to fracture whatever accord we have.
[ or, well, 'how to treat others, especially those different from oneself'. that is, essentially, the heart of diplomacy. ]
Which reminds me that I can't help but wonder what the Sage's role in all of this is normally meant to be. If he's truly been mediating then perhaps there's truly no hope for the others. If he hasn't...
[ why a human, in the middle of what should be a collection of otherwise? an anchor of some sort? a tether to more traditional human values, as their liaison to the rest of the world?
[ he's riding his own in a lazy sidesaddle for the moment, since it doesn't seem they're going anywhere quite yet. seems someone's used to riding pillion. ]
I assume he's been picking and choosing what sort of work to send us on, but I can't help but be curious what sorts of requests might not make the cut. Nevermind his decision making process regarding what to send us out on.
[ but it sure is a lot of busywork, huh. outside of... ]
... We are quite the powder keg waiting to be set off, whenever it comes time for our own group specifically to be sent out.
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I don't think the sunlight here is strong enough to overpower this region's tendencies.
[ he looks upwards for a moment, evaluating. ]
It hasn't been so long since my last visit, so I imagine not that much more would have built up if left undisturbed...
[ at least they're lucky this is in a more hospitable area by northern standards; instead of 'freeze to death within minutes with a side of extreme weather' that would likely more quickly bury any evidence, it's just one of those areas that knows regular snowfall.
he'll kneel down, pressing a gloved hand into the snow at the edge. ]
... Thicker, though, if only slightly.
[ as can be expected. ]
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Instead of tossing the bundle into the chasm, he sticks it just on the lip between some stones, in a way that a casual observer would not notice. A little trail mark of sorts, so that if either of them come back and they see that it's either gone or lopsided, they'll know someone has come by. Certainly not a beast, they're all avoiding this place.]
If either of us has the chance to return here, best to look for this. It's not a proper way of gauging if someone has been here, but it's better than nothing.
[There's no telling if someone just decides to return, after all. Who knows? He's fairly sure that whoever they're against has magic of their own and are just not sharing it with anyone.]
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[ ... he grimaces, his expression going flat for a moment. ]
I admit... On my previous visit I'd considered hexing the area, some sort of proximity ward, to warn and alert me if anyone should stop by, but ... I wonder if a novice attempt at it, comparatively, might be worse than simply not putting anything up at all.
[ if there's someone more practiced than them— and there likely is, considering they've been in this world but a month— then if it were noticed, they might just avoid it altogether... or something like that. ]
... It is starting to become aggravating that things we would have accomplished easily whence we came can still manage to elude us here.
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But, as long as they don't restrict us from knowledge, I shan't be too cross.
[Well, he is annoyed, but it's clear that he's reveling in the challenge as well. There are so many new things to do, so many lessons he wished his mother taught him the moment he learned she was a witch-- fanciful ideas he believed would never come true because of their circumstances.]
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[ challenge accepted, world.
as dry as the deserts of the south: ] We could stand to do worse than a trial by fire. If nothing else, it'll serve as proper motivation for us.
[ get better at magic or get mcfuckedup by cursed moon rocks and whoever or whatever's been skulking about. ]
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He places his hands on his hips and looks down at Robin.]
What say you to a collaboration in studies?
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I could be amenable to it. What would this collaboration entail, exactly?
And ... I was led to believe that it was typically only the Sages who are supposed to come from other realms. This has happened before, then?
[ hmmm. ]
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We learn magic together, that's all. We've all our own interests and specializations, yes? But there are just some things that require... a second set of eyes, or a few helping hands to understand.
Or to pull you out of trouble should training go awry.
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[ or any number of spell mishap resulting from an incompatibility between what they know from their own realms and what is feasible here. unchecked hubris, biting off more than they can chew. ]
You have my attention. If, as you say, this might allow us to somewhat more feasibly experiment with more risky spellwork ... You may also have my acquiescence.
[ though he again cocks his head in a manner not terribly unlike that of his namesake. ]
What is it that you prefer, for that matter? The favor of the northern spirits of course means that combat magic is what will most readily respond to us, but that hardly says anything of our own individual skillsets otherwise.
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But it's entirely due to that, and our country's specialization, that I choose to learn the art of potion-making. [Magical healing? He took a peek at those books days ago and decided the process was going to take a little too long, even if he were to not sleep for a few days. Thus, starting with something closer to what was familiar to him.]
The practice of using herbs and poultices is not unknown to me, thus this is a natural escalation of my skills.
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That said, what I didn't mention then is that I have an affinity for the magics concerning life and death and the lack thereof. [ a thin smile. ] Thus, I imagine I will serve adequately as a healer if needed, but it might not be the most pleasant of sensations for the recipient.
[ a sigh, his arms crossing as another thought occurs to mind. ]
... Shall we tell our Sage about this, do you think?
[ this sus crater in the middle of nowhere. ]
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However, there are far too many things to address with what Robin just said, and Ithaqua would just like to concentrate on one thing at the moment, so there are no misunderstandings later.]
It matters not to me if you've the knowledge needed to advise-- all I need are an extra pair of eyes and hands, as I have mentioned. This branch of knowledge can get dangerous after all. Heheh.
And I will be experimenting quite a bit.
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[ and if this arrangement goes well, then he might even be amenable to 'pulling you out of trouble', as itha puts it. ]
By all means, experiment to your heart's content ... I'll admit I am curious about what might result of your research.
[ just as long as he's not the one playing test subject. ]
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[Even if his tone is light... Ithaqua is not joking. He's going to be the first one to try his potions.]
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[ let it not be said that he didn't give fair warning. his is a similarly light tone, identical in lack of jest. ]
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[He now twirls his hand in the air.] Let's not hope I'll need it. I've no desire to die a second time.
[Is that a jab at Robin's particular brand of healing, or Ithaqua's potential destructive power being concentrated into potions? Why can it not be both?]
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[ 'looking rather intact for someone undead,' says the necromancer. ]
But yes, indeed, let's hope you'll not need it. Imagine if we had to try to summon another wizard to work with at this juncture.
[ as lost and aimless as they were not even a month ago... truly it sounds disastrous. ]
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[He wouldn't put it past any wizard or witch to do so, especially when he's already been revived once. And without necromancy involved (perhaps).]
If not, then he would find a way to start now.
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[ rip to the mentor but anyway ]
Ah, but maybe even then, it would still be less trouble than having to play shepherd to yet another lost soul. At least we're mostly cooperative.
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For a nation with such a reputation as ours... [Which is to say, utterly terrible, no wonder some of the humans here look at them so strangely.
Then again, that might just be Ithaqua's appearance.]
We're quite well-behaved.
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To that end, though ... I wonder. How long do you suppose this current state of amity might last?
[ please imagine the biggest implied scare quotes around amity. are they going to fully enable pvp by their own trip. ]
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I believe we've been fairly tame by our standards because we've been living in comfort until now. We've not felt stress this entire time, merely "playing house".
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[ or, well, 'how to treat others, especially those different from oneself'. that is, essentially, the heart of diplomacy. ]
Which reminds me that I can't help but wonder what the Sage's role in all of this is normally meant to be. If he's truly been mediating then perhaps there's truly no hope for the others. If he hasn't...
[ why a human, in the middle of what should be a collection of otherwise? an anchor of some sort? a tether to more traditional human values, as their liaison to the rest of the world?
how quaint. ]
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It's clear that he doesn't think much of Tatara, or the work he's meant to be doing.]
All he does is assign work, but majority of it is mere busywork, and I've certainly seen no mediation from him.
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I assume he's been picking and choosing what sort of work to send us on, but I can't help but be curious what sorts of requests might not make the cut. Nevermind his decision making process regarding what to send us out on.
[ but it sure is a lot of busywork, huh. outside of... ]
... We are quite the powder keg waiting to be set off, whenever it comes time for our own group specifically to be sent out.
[ tsk. ]
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