At Hiricio, Eadoin unexpectedly reunites with a couple of the Centaurs who were out looking over "new" lands in Belgica, led by Mayez.

Flanked by a few others, she catches up with Eadoin and greets him.

She tells him about customs that will take some getting used to.  The Humans have a complex arrangement of land rights.  They have horses and cattle and farms to worry about, and you can't just show up and move onto land that someone else is already using.

It's not entirely unique.  "Of course the tribes in the north had to avoid squabbling over land," she says.  "And it was getting harder every year, with the floods and the Huns and the Saxons and Frisians.  That's why so many of us are eager for this place.  But we knew all our own ways, and how to resolve the use of land.  Here, it will take longer, and it will be more complex, that is all."

The Centaurs are also here for another reason.  Despite the fact that Theoderic said there would be no call-up of troops this season, some think it is inevitable.  So, recalling that at Namaco they were not really well trained in fighting alongside Humans, some of the Centaurs are here learning Human ways with Gellas.

While Scolo explains, Eadoin listens to him tell about psycho-this, tele-whatsis, and the possible applications of wrinkly space-time.  While Scolo goes on, the young Centaur starts to rub the back of his neck self-consciously.  While he's a generally good soul who wants the best for everyone, he's not the sharpest marble in the bag.

He can tell that Scolo is very excited by the possibilities, but quite frankly, he has almost no idea what Scolo's on about.  That last part, he gets, however.  "It...doesn't work like all that, sir," he begins.  "They're bunnies, so they think like bunnies.  It wouldn't make them any more or less than a completely average bunny.  It's useful for asking about things that bunnies think about, like asking them to keep out of one's garden, like go-this-place-but-not-that.  As for the things you think about...ummm...they don't really have words for those things, or even ways to think about them."

He thinks for a minute, then adds, "As for fighting a wolf, that isn't what they do, really, the fighting.  If they get scared, they just blink away and...ummm...they make more bunnies.  The old fashioned way, I guess.  Likely they could tell you about what scares them or about making more bunnies."

---

When Mayez and others of his folk approach, Eadoin welcomes them warmly.  "Mare's blessings, Mayez.  It's fine to see you again.  I trust you've been well."

He nods to the things she says, as if by silence he can seem wiser and more knowledgeable than his fourteen years lend him to be.  Most of the time, it seems to work.  If nothing else, it buys him time to think and he's finding that others usually solve their own problems while they wait for him to decide.  Success often seems to be found in sanctioning the things his folk have already decided to do.

He mentions they've come for the same things.  "We're to look over the lands promised, as well.  Also, to maybe help Scolo find a home.  He'd do well with a folk who are accustomed to strange happenings."

Beyond a tour of the land, Eadoin inquires whether Gellas has returned to Hiricio.  The young Centaur has plans that begin with the local lord, then likely end with Titus Mercator, King Theoderic's recently named governor of Belgica.  Humans do love their borders, dividing this from that.

Whether it's yet occurred to anyone else, Eadoin sees possibilities far into the future for the tiny swathes of land where Theoderic reigns.  The king has married a lady of a noble house of Geneva, is directly related to the Elves of the Ardennes, has been named King of Belgica, as well as his lands along the Meuse.

Theoderic's kingdom shall be a land of many nations, of many languages.  Many around the King press him with expectations and Eadoin is no different.  He sees a future for his own folk, few as they are, in the midst of this new thing that's never been before, not even in the days of the Pax Romana.  Spring is coming!

Mayez describes to Eadoin the various tracts of land, which the Centaurs have acquired in the Belgica.  It's not unusual for them to have to pass through the lands of others in between their camp sites... it's even more unusual for the camp sites to include built structures.

"A couple of our new territories do," Mayez explains.

The scattered Centaur properties, Eadoin recalls, was a suggestion of Theoderic and Gellas, to allow the Centaurs to continue their tradition of mobility.  Eadoin and Apple Blossom spent their whole lives in one place, but for the Centaurs of the northern forest plain, that is a bizarre way to live.  When they wish to fish, they go to the best fishing place. When they want to trade, they go to a different place.  It's normal.

"We even have a good place for trading," Mayez says. "We have a property in Bruxzella now."

Melissa is a bit curious as to how the Centaurs have gained legitimate title to these places.  After all, war or no war, Belgica is civilized.  Squatter claims are generally not recognized.

"Things are very cheap," Mayez explains.  "And our labor and help are much sought after.  We have prospered, this winter."

It's quite odd for Eadoin to think in terms of Centaurs owning land, enclaves within the larger land of Belgica.  One's house, barn, or tent, sure, or the things in one's garden, but owning swaths of landscape is something he associated far more with Humans and Huns than his own folk.  In the young Centaur's druidic worldview, one is of a place or from it, but you don't really own it.  Rather, those in a place are as much a part of it as trees and bees, as birds and herds, as rocks and running water.

While Mayez describes these places, Eadoin listens carefully.  He's come here to see these places, to see how the descriptions match the actual lands.  When she finishes, the young Centaur nods.  "Land always comes with duties, Mayez.  It's...how the Humans do things.  Say, Theoderic is king of Belgica and he gives us this land.  He'll need something in kind from it, fleece or barley or apples or the like, even money or an amount of work per year per acre or something."

"For now, I'd just like to ask the gods' blessings over them."  Eadoin smiles a little.  "Most everybody knows Epona's real special to me, but Ceres and Arduinna have been kind to us, too."  While his own gods are mostly Gallic, Eadoin's quite flexible with his respect for deities, as he knows there are gods and spirits everywhere one looks, for each tribe and band and nation, every land, even small gods tied to place.  These are things he knows to be true with a patent simplicity.  Still, he's not sure what other gods his folk may have brought with them.  "Are there others we ought honor, do you think?"

Still, he's troubled over things, particularly the long term considerations for his folk as part of this troubled land called Belgica.  Something the Centaurs would likely never have considered while living in the forests around the Nethershires is title.  How will the land pass from one generation to the next?  How can it be held such that as rulers change, the Centaurs' residency, their rights of possession and of mobility are maintained?

Few rulers tolerate, much less appreciate, semi-nomadic folk amongst their peoples.  They tend to suppress them, like the Huns had done.  Theoderic, on the other hand, had promised small numbers of Centaurs relatively large properties without placing expectations of either service or taxes.  Would future scions of the Merovingians be so generous?  The young Centaur starts to really feel out of his depth as he thinks about questions of how a realm gets run.  Though he's still in Mayez' company, he muses aloud to himself, "Best to get it in writing."

Mayez explains that they have "earned some credit", whatever that means, from the king.

"I do not know how they account for who owes what," she says.  "But I understand that at least for now, we do not owe, as a result of our military service."

Mayez gives Eadoin some information on each of the properties in Belgica they have acquired: Several large decent sized parcels in the western portion of Belgica, one in the east near the village of Hasaluthe, a small farm at Castrilocus, and their "urban" property at Bruxzella.

At the moment, the Bruxzella and Hasaluthe and two of the western parcels are empty- but that's the way it should be- Centaurs will drop in their, sooner or later.

"If you are going to Mos Trajectum by the Belgica road, I can go with you," Mayez says.  "I can show you our lands.  I have been to them, to inspect them."

Scolo nods at Eadoin's explanations hmmm yeses, he writes it all down. Durring the time they have left he gathers what lore he can on the bunnies as well as the land and other things about them. When he is not distracted, which is not as much time as one would hope.

Escorted, or at least accompanied, by Mayez and a small group of Centaurs, the group heads for Belgica.

There is a flat, open region of woodland and long abandoned farmland separating Hiricio from Belgica.  It’s been crossed more and more frequently these days; it is Gaul, according to maps and treaties, but there is talk about establishing a small outpost at the old Via Belgica crossroads, according to Mayez (who has been hanging around Gellas and other Humans, picking up on all sorts of “talk”.)

There was one, once.  But Duronum was razed a half century before Attila the Hun, by the Vandals, and was never rebuilt.  In some places, ruins stay put for a long time. But in wetter, living regions, nature reclaims them quickly.  It’s only been a century, and Duronum is hard to find.

”We found it, of course,” Mayez says.  “Swallowed up in a  thick wood, not far, but I think some kind of Dragon has found a home there.”

That would explain the detours the road makes.  The Romans liked their vias straight, but from Hiricio to the crossroads, the road… clearly not up to old Roman standards… makes a few curves.

The Centaurs have been up and down this road, recently, and it was heavily used during the Belgica campaign, as the main supply route for Theoderic’s army.  Eadoin recalls the area from his past travels.  But it was just a through-route.  There was neither time nor need to worry about what lay in the wilds offroad.

At the crossroads itself, things straighten out.  There are few old, semi-abandoned structures here- a watchtower, and some empty buildings.  Travelers use it often, but no one lives here.  Here, the “Hiricio turnoff” meets the  Via Belgica, which goes northeast into Belgica, northwest to the city of Camaricum, southwest to Quintiniacum.

All these roads are straight, paved, and still in fine condition.  But the direction they need to take is northeast , to Belgica.

They pass the remains of farmsteads and villages long gone, stripped of all but the foundations.  Several invasions have swept through this region in the past few centuries, and the farms and villages have been abandoned in favor of less vulnerable settlements.

They approach Bagacum- and there is a helpful Mile Marker to let them know.  Although they  cannot yet see the wall and spires of the city, the land here is farmed, and there is a plaque on a pole with a red lion, painted on a yellow shield, with a blue background.

“It’s the sign of Varic” Mayez says.   “It’s Belgica past here.”

Scolo quiets down as they travel the road to Belgica. He listens intently and considers the sonversation, he has wise and intelligent remarks and seems altogether like a natural normal companion, almost witty on the first day, he hardly practices any magic as they go. Edgar enjoys this opportunity to relax and when he is not sleeping on the Mule he is shooting about in the trees squeaking in a most birdlike manner.

Scolo talks for hours on the trail with Melissa, he tells stories of other strange wizards and the places they lived. He listens to her stories and tries to gather the sort of life she would seek for herself.

...So that's why I went to that old tower in Mestanon, the power of chaos was already so built, driven really with a stochastic escuberasity that I can't even estimate with precision, anyway I knew if A portal to chaos could be made, it was there. And it was! But now that I have the portal I don't need such an extreme abode. I suppose all that really matters is the ability to supply, I soon expect to be able to travel easily, so I don't need to be in an easy to reach location, but if ... And mind you I don't really believe anything those wretched academy folks say .. But if it wasn't all a lie and the people of Mestanon choose to remain with me, it would be a boon for them if we can be in a trade route, a small agrarian road.

....I really thought you would most enjoy a city...what will you want to do when the wars burn out? You have shown disdain for intrigues and such since your decision to change. Would you take up farming, or Innkeeping in the future?


To Eadoin he wonders aloud about the natural growth rate of centaurs and how they plan to ensure roaming space that is open and free enough for them.
It is only natural, your people will expand, you want a full life and that means foals and family, and you need not live in poverty always exposed, your you g should all survive and one day the land will be choked with fences and farms. Will you truly just expand forever, or do you hope to settle in, as broader communities with fixed central employment areas?

Mayez peaks his curiosity ... "Some kind of dragon you say? Hmmmm this could be promising. There are dragons and then there are Dragons. If we hope to inhabit this area we must know which sort is this ..."

Edgar, hears this and perks up, he flies off.
Edgar is speaking with all the local birds to find out more about the area. He asks about any predators and specifically for more info about the Dragon



Edgar meets the

“I don’t think it is a large Dragon,” Mayez says.  “I know of a few, and for miles and miles around their homes, no one lives, no one goes, except brave hunters, in and out again, hoping they aren’t spotted.  But this one is not so far, and has not attacked those who cross this way.  It must be young.  Not yet fierce enough to declare this land its own.”

For many weeks after Eadoin, Scolo and company traversed the old farmland separating Hiricio and Belgica, travelers would report that the birds looked strange- all with disturbed expressions, and a few molting prematurely.  Edgar scares them away when he tries to communicate with them.

Never send a terrifying looking pseudo-creature to do a Druid’s work; Eadoin is the animal talker here.


For her part, Melissa is not interested in finding out more about Dragons.  She is more interested in getting away from Dragons.

And cities.  Melissa explains that her feelings for cities varies according to the city.  Intrigues are bad, and big cities tend to be full of them.  But to her, the cities of Belgica are a blank slate.

"Back in Lutetia, when people talked about Belgica, you'd think they were talking about the kind of villages Theoderic's got.  As if, it is isn't a grand old city, it just doesn't count.  Anteverpia is a city like that, I guess... what I've heard.  So is Bruxzella, definitely.  But people in Gaul don't know."

“Look,” she says, happily pointing to a mile marker.  “We’ll be in Bagacum by late afternoon.  It’s probably got a better bath than the little villages we’ve been in since Lucimburic.”

She looks at the Centaurs.  “Not that… umm… do you ever use baths?”

“We bathe,” Mayez says.

 Along the road to Belgica, Eadoin has little to worry about other than the rain of early spring and the routine of travelling.  For whatever the reason, rain and cold, sun and heat offer little to concern him.  Still, spring is his season.  Lengthening days, rising temperatures, the first hints of flowers raising his mood.

He's chatty with Mayez and the others of his folk as they go, asking, "When do you think the others will come?  The first crops will come soon and all the shoots and buds taste best now."

When talk turns to dragons, Eadoin mostly listens.  They're a supernatural occurrence, nature and magic married together, expressing in themselves.  He knows them tied to elements, but beyond that, knows almost nothing.  big flying lizards that spit flame.  Don't they all spit flame?.  After spending some time chatting with the wildlife about, Eadoin shares with those assembled, "It's not overly big, I think, and everyone says it's red, though I don't know what that means, if anything.  It's been here a few years."

---

When Scolo engages him about the growth rate of Centaurs, Eadoin misunderstands, at first.  "Meaning, how fast will I grow up?  There's years left to that, really."

On reflection, some of those deeper questions perplex the young Centaur a bit.  He doesn't really know.  "We're not a fast growing folk, sir.  It's...a long time between when we come into the world and when we start to raise families of our own.  Roaming space is likely a question for a few generations on, I think, but we'll be living in a way we haven't before, so I think it'll be more a middle way.  Less roaming the wilds and yet not so much simply settled, sir.  Others ways aren't exactly ours, but that doesn't mean we can't learn from them and they from us."

Eadoin smiles easily, "I expect that's something we'll learn as we go along."

---

Unable to miss the byplay between Melissa and Mayez, Eadoin chooses not to intervene.  He's unsure exactly where Melissa's going with the question, but imagines she means nothing untoward by it.

"When will the others come?" Mayez asks, not fully grasping Eadoin's thinking.

"We are the others.  We have are going, now.  When other others... we've been so long not making plans, Eadoin, I think we have forgotten how to do it.  When Centaurs feel like making the trip, they will come."

They approach Bagacum- Humans and Centaurs, and a few curios Blink Bunnies.  The Centaurs attract attention.  Eadoin is used to it being directed at him, now, it is directed at Centaurs in general.

Bagacum has the look of a city that is no longer what it once was.

(And pity the poor city in reality, once a regional capital, now reduced to the hardly noticed village of Bavay, France.)

Two centuries ago it was a local administrative and commercial capital.  But it was in land considered safe, and during several invasions, had no defenses.  The city was decimated, and the capital moved.    Those who chose to stay found themselves in a surreal place of empty buildings and deserted streets.  In the decades following the first Hun invasion, the remaining dedicated citizens built a wall for themselves, stripping stones and other construction materials  from outer buildings to protect the urban heart of Bagacum.

And now, in 512, that is what is left:  A core of a city, less than two thousand people living in a forum and a capital built for a population of twenty thousand.  They have the largest paved forum in northern Gaul, and grand stone buildings all around, enclosed by an ad-hoc wall incorporating a range of pre-existing structures.  A city’s heart, missing the rest of the city.

Beyond the dense and fortified core, Bagacum’s “suburbs” consist of scattered farmsteads, a few barns, the necropolis, and an amphitheatre.  The rest is within the large but awkwardly built gates, although...

There are signs of recent work.  There is scaffolding around the main gate, and workmen are improving it.  Several "important people" look on.

PM

Scolo Listens to Melissa and Eadoin, nodding and smiling ... They make their way to Bagacum. Upon approaching the gate he causes magical fireworks to appear around the workmen, just little ones to give the aparant ceremony some flash.

Ha ha! Helloo!
Says Scolo, my this is lovely ... What's the occasion?

Mayez realizes what Eadoin is talking about.  The others.  The non warriors that will be coming along to Belgica in general, not the other Centaurs present that have been here and there around Belgica for a while now.

"It is spring, now," Mayez says,  "There is game and food in the land.  A good time to move.  With the distance they must cover, I think we should see them by the end of April, or the beginning of May, at the latest."

* * * * * * *

The workmen are startled by the fireworks, but realize it is Scolo's magic.

There are the typical reactions:  "A wizard!"

Not, fortunately, "A wizard, GET HIM!"

The "friendly wizard" reaction is one Scolo has seen some of these days, much more so than before.  It is often followed up by requests to perform some magic, generally of the miraculous kind that wizards cannot do.  Making horses fly, turning bricks into gold, etc.

He also learns that there is no occasion, just construction.   The Duke, Varic,  is concerned that the  Huns might try again, and according to the workmen, Bagacum is the first thing the Huns will try to take.  So Varic has ordered work details to reinforce the town's fortifications.

The walls themselves are an interesting hodge podge design.  Much of the outer area of the town was literally dismantled to provide building material to fortify the core.  But piece by piece, it is becoming more professional.

One of the important people by the gate, though, is Duke Varic himself, here to inspect the ongoing reinforcement project.  With Scolo calling all the attention to himself in his own, subtle way, Duke Varic walks over to see what all the fuss is about.

The wizard indroduces himself -
Hello hello, what a smashing, well , I mean fascinating and very professional wall. No occasion? Well perhaps it is an anneversary or something, I mean somewhere, hmmmm?
Oh yes, hello your grandness, Duke eh? That's important. I'm Scolo this is Melissa and Eadoin - Were passing through ... An maybe checking on real estate as we go - do you know any old Wizarding towers on the market?

Scolo looks eager. We've been working for King Theoderic, nice fellow - be lost without his wife though, if you know what I mean? Of course He doesn't really know what he means either.

So you think the Huns are returning? Hmmm... what are the odds eh, what are the odds... It looks like you need more people... what do the people of this area thrive on when not making walls? The emperor is a bright fellow Is there something here he would want?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:27, Sun 14 July 2013.

Varic looks astonished.   “A lot of questions, wizard Scolo…”

Melissa presses in.  “He’s like that.   Very sharp mind, honed by years of training as a wizard.  All wizards can be a little.. well, odd.  So much reading, you know.”

”Actually, I don’t.  You look familiar.”  Varic says.

”Well, I’m working for Theoderic too.  And the Centaurs…”

”We know about the Centaurs.  Word does spread, lady. Now, a wizard… Theoderic’s wife is a wizard, you know…”

”I know,” Melissa says with just a hint of disappointment.

”Of course you would.  What nights he must have, yes?  A wizard.  Why don’t I host you folk for the evening.  It would be proper.”

He directs the group in through the gate, noting, as they pass, that with the Huns moving as they like through Gaul, now, it’s only a matter of time before the Emperor licks his wounds and comes back for more.

”Can’t tolerate the humiliation, you see,” he sums up.


The enter the city through the gate, under the blue plaque upon which is a red shield with a lion, Varic’s symbol.  The gate leads to a short avenue, and this empties out in to the broad main forum of Bagacum.  It’s very big, over 200 meters long and 100 meters across.  Clearly this was a much more populous city, once.  Now, the city is just the old core, huddled around this forum.  The pavement is stone.  Columns with statues of the gods stand at regular intervals.  The sides of the forum are packed with shops, a few temples, and some of the wealthier homes.  The lower class makes do with the homes that don’t face onto the forum itself, but there is not a lot of town between the forum and the newly built wall.

Forum frontage is so valuable to the shops here that they are double decker- shops are built over shops, making a two-tiered gallery that runs along one side of the forum.

The Basilica at the far end of the forum, once the meeting place of Bagacum’s civil government, is now the court of Varic.  His home, adjacent to the Basilica, features a terrace overlooking the forum.

He points out a few features as they walk along- the inn, the baths, the ceramic studio.

”Not a simple potter,” Varic says.  “Havelo is an artist.  We have the seeds of prosperity here.  Which… when you think about it… Theoderic is rewarding you well, is he not?”

Well, we're alive and free, it shore beats all my other employment plans.

Scolo gets very interested about the potter, Artist? Potter? Hmmm, I must work with him, I have an idea - 

Scolo will seek out the potter at his first opportunity.

The first opportunity is actually the next morning, because Varic insists on all the proper courtesies for his guests- Human and Centaur alike.  He breaks out his reserve of ale for them, and has a pig roasted.

Melissa finds herself in a noble's court... and hasn't brought appropriate clothing for festivities.  Varic has his wife and maids assist.

"He does fear the Huns," Melissa reports quietly to Eadoin and Scolo later on.  "A man who is worried like that is one who treats his allies well, Centaurs and Wizards and whatever he can find.  He would like nothing better than Scolo to declare how wonderful it would be to live here."

* * * * * * *

In the morning, Scolo and Melissa visit the shop of Havelo.

Havelo is more than a potter, as Varic said.  He is a potter, yes, because people buy things that they need far more than things that they want.  But he has a way of putting his art into common ordinary object.  Even the ordinary pots have a smooth white glaze and graceful designs, like fish or birds, traced into them.  The more advanced pieces are made to look entirely like animals.  There are platter that look like fish- for serving fish, of course.  And a milk ewer that looks like a sitting cow.  Cups and saucers that look like turtles and frogs.

Scolo giggles and chuckles like a child looking at Havelo's wonders.

I've got something for you .... He says with glee and he takes a 5 lb lump of quickiron from his bag and slaps it on the table with a heavy and dull splat. He giggles.

Most people lack imagination they pick it up and find it wiggly - focus your intent on what you want from it, and that is what you will form.

He leaves it at that, watching - giving the man time to experiment.

"If he can understand its value and use it at all", Scolo thinks, he will have found a friend and perhaps a place to live. There must be proto-clay in the realm of chaos as well and other elements that could make truly unique and maybe even useful works of art. So much better than iron warriors and erectile clubs.

 The potter is skeptical.  One always has to be cautious around wizards, especially when they tip you off that you are about to see magic, by saying something like “Behold, I summon thee...” or “Pick any card” or “Focus your intent”.

Still... he's heard a lot about wizards, but he hasn't had a wizard customer in a while.  One has to be cautious of wizards, but also, one has to pander to wizard customers.

He concentrates.  Not being a wizard, he doesn't know that holding your fingers to your temples while humming is not required.

“Mmmmmmmmm.”

The Quick Iron forms a duck. As metal duck statues go, it's a good one.  Life size.. maybe a little more.

Behold!!
Flash bangs go off , then the wizard who was the center of the flash bangs coughs and brushes himself off.
I mean uh ... Yes ... That was very nice, what do you think eh? You can play with it, mix a little into your clay and swirl it into pots or something, I've no idea what it will do but ... You won't get another chance at this ..

Scolo is hoping to discover new and fun uses for psychomorphic elements. He will play with the potter for the whole day, and night even if they have fun.

Scolo and Havelo play.  Havelo is more than happy to spend some time like this- he has a family members run the store, and when word comes out “the wizard is here!” it attracts people, which is good for business.

They conduct experiments- what happens if you blend a little Quick Iron into ordinary clay?  And they learn- not a lot.  “Diluted”, the Quick Iron is not strong enough to create much movement in the clay, and surely won’t be able to budge it if the clay hardens.

So Quick Iron mixed in clay is a bust.  For a few horrific moments, Scolo wonders if perhaps he has lost some of the precious quick iron- how do you get it out of the clay once it’s been worked in ?  But they discover that Quick Iron is not water soluble, and clay, of course, is.  It can be washed and “panned” as if it were gold, to free it from the clay.  A time consuming process, but it does restore the Quick Iron.

As a potter with substantial artistic talent and experience, Havelo is actually more skilled than Scolo when it comes to shaping the Quick Iron, after very little practice.  It seems that his talents for visualization of forms comes into play quite naturally.  He is most comfortable with natural forms, and he can easily manipulate the Quick Iron into very detailed reproductions, and soon, can even make his little Quick Iron sculptures move realistically.  Scolo realizes… even he couldn’t get the stuff to do that!

Varic drops by to see the progress, with a few of his “circle” and Melissa along with him.  (Melissa isn’t so much worried that Scolo might do irresponsible things today, she’s more worried that people might take advantage of Scolo, possibly getting him to promise things he shouldn’t.  In another lifetime, she might be a good manager for a talented but very naïve indie rock band.)

“Are there no other wizards here?” she asks, thinking perhaps that Varic has other options for the position of “court wizard”.

One of Varic’s advisors, an elderly man, speaks for him.

“My lady, how many wizards do you think there are?”

Melissa thinks.  She’d never really wondered about that.  But the man continues before Melissa answers.  “Among we mortal Humans, perhaps one in a hundred has the gift for magic.  So it would seem there would be a few hundred mages in Belgica, no?  But of that one in a hundred, how many will actually learn of their talent, and be trained?  We may have a few hundred unidentified potential wizards in Belgica.  But only a few dozen wizards, and one of the best those, poor Count Dongestede, gone now.  There are only two wizards I know of living in our Duchy, and neither, madam, seem up to Wizard Scolo’s caliber.”

Scolo cheers looking at Havelo's work with amazement.
I've never seen anything like it, man you are a genius!
He declares. And then another experiment flies into his mind. It is much more practical than Scolo's usual concerns ... But what if?

What if, Havelo could take quickiron being manipulated by Scolo with one of his little figures.

What if ... He could suck 10 or 15% of the quickiron mass from an iron warrior into a separate little figure ? Would it then not be too weak to hold up the heavy iron exoskeleton?

Try this, I will move a ball between my hands... See if you can get one of your figures to take some of my ball without me stopping you. Hmmm?

 Havelo’s control over the quick iron is good, but not that good.  He can create exquisitely fine detail, and make figurines move realistically, but not quickly and accurately.  Not enough to have a figurine do a quick, coordinated move.

After spending several hours with Havelo, Scolo eventually realizes that they are not supposed to be just hanging around for days.

Sighing heavily as if having laughed too much and for too long ... Particularly after the quickiron figurine snowball fight. Scolo stands up.

Oh thank you, that was brilliant - brilliant!

We probably need to keep going so Theoderic doesn't get mad at us.

Keep the quick iron - see what else you can do with it. Ill give you some more whenever we meet again.

Scolo is ready to continue on, when the others wish to go.