Reconfiguration process..
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To Hirsu's pleasant surprise, the ceramic armour wasn't as heavy as it seemed - with his own dense muscle, obtained through battle-training, he found himself more than easily carrying it. As for heat, it seemed that the SUIT could monitor and neutralize, to a point, the levels of warmth and cold he felt. His movement was a little restricted, but this was because of the robe and not the armour; the armour had been designed, it seemed, for ease of movement.

Reconfiguration process..
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Pitcarn strolls into he garden from the Valley of 10 Towers, and begins to look around at his surroundings.

Hirsu was impressed. The technology in the Suit was much more useful than he had suspected it might be. Really, he would have been happy about it simply knowing where he was, or providing directions. But a built in cooler, now that was useful.

Hirsu decided to get back to reading while his suit did its thing. He found the next chapter in the book he had been reading, and sat on a rock to read.

Pitcarn

Pitcarn has wandered into the Gardens of Below, a dark and gloomy place - the ivy-filled great, blackened trees above blocking out nearly all of the sun - that contained all manner of strange glowing fungi, in white and green and blue and red. Much of the ground was littered with obsidian stone - imported, said a plaque, from the mysterious 'Realm Beneath' - and rotting wood. The placed smelled overwhelmingly of a far underground cavern, and strange mosses and water-weed lay about where they were welcome. The entire garden was dripping with liquid.

Hirsu

[Chapter Five of What We Learn Without Magic]

Msonus, at this point, was met by the Legion of Legions, that mysterious Force which was said to patrol the winding path of Yggdrasil, along with Ratatosk and, perhaps, one or two other forces, for those who are not worthy to walk the path. Msonus finds himself then at the center of a strange battle - a battle of mysticism more than magic, of signs and symbols more than words of power, of cutting wit rather than razor-swords. Msonus is mysterious on this last point, but does claim that he was saved at the last moment by Odin and a small detachment of Divine warriors and sorcerers.

Reconfiguration process..
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Pitcarn decided to have a slow look around, but wasn't highly interested in anything in particular, simply killing time.

He paradoxed the diamond rifle to Perigo, and made sure that he had the Oathblade with him there too. The vibration blades stayed on his hips, as did the grenades.

He wondered how Max was faring in her duel.

Anik returned here, and went to the spot where his bet was to be carried out. If the systemarch was not there yet, then he used some gravel to expand his small companions.

Hirsu attempts to picture such a battle, but experiences difficulties in envisioning such a thing. He would definitely have to ask the god about that, at some point. In the meantime, he would hope that his own understanding of mysticism could be improved upon before he engaged in any such battles.

He continues reading the next chapter.

Pitcarn

Pitcarn quietly moved towards the eastern gardens, displaying more common flora, though he did pass one glass house entitled the Palace of Butterflies. Towards the east.. was towards Max's duel. He was close to the arena, now.

Hirsu

[Chapter Six of What We Learn Without Magic]

The sixth and last chapter was mostly blank, but scrawled at the bottom of the third page of the chapter were the words: Eastern Mountains = Arch = Jokul of Rare Books!!!

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Anik

Anik is soon approached by a thin, regal looking Systemarch with law-filled eyes. It was most definitely not the Systemarch Anik had placed the bet with.

"Anik of Bounty?" asked the Systemarch. "You match his description."
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:46, Fri 28 May 2010.

Hirsu frowned at the scrawled words, no doubt some trickster's attempt to set an ambush for some greedy and unwise fool. Perhaps he would give the fools something to think about at a later time, but he would not foolishly walk into an ambush.

He turned the page, and read the next chapter.

Pitcarn leaves the Gardens for the duel. He worries about childe Maxilita sometimes, but all must learn in their own time and way.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:46, Fri 28 May 2010.

"Yes? I take it you are here on behalf of the Systemarch I have place a bet with? May I ask why he has not come to present his invention?"

Hirsu

There was no next chapter. The book, perhaps rather pointless, was finished.

Reconfiguration process..
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Anik

"I'm afraid I have bad news," said the Systemarch, his lips thin. "Systemarch Carvastus of the Word served valiantly in the Battle of Alkan. I am.. assured that there were no survivors. I am his benefactor and lawyer in these matters and I understand that if he were to lose the duel he owed you his Dhaal, am I correct? Obviously you can't have that.. and so I am here to organize other compensation."

Anik frowned. This wasn't a good thing overall. A crafter was lost and his invention never proven. "Did he have something set up?"

Hirsu put the book away.

He thought about what he had learned from Msonus's writings so far, and decided he was likely far out of his league. Still, it was approaching time that they meet. Unfortunately, he had much to do beforehand.

Hirsu gathered up his belongings, and travelled to the library. He had some research to conduct.

"Nothing at all," said the lawyer, sadly. "He held sixteen thousand in Conclave Stones but that has been distributed according to his will. Nevertheless, Carvastus of the Word knew he might be killed and was an honorable Systemarch and a good man. He did not leave you empty handed. Here.."

The Systemarch lawyer passed Anik a delicate scroll, faded brown-blue. It was not made of any paper or parchment Anik had seen before, and felt oddly heavy - much heavier than it should have been - in his hands.

"It is a map," added the Systemarch. "To what I cannot tell you - I have been forbidden from studying it at any detail. Carvastus had spent thirty years drawing it, however - it was his last Attainment. It is known as the Map of First Words, and keys in to his rather deviant fascination with Divinity in general. I beseech you to take it. I apologise that he could not have given you more.."

He nodded. "It is fine then. I am sorry for the loss of a great craftsman. I would have liked the challenge. Roses at your feet lawyer Systemarch and may his Dhaal rest well." Anik did find it ironic how the proud Systemarch had a fascination with divinity, especially after the writhing comments. But then he never bashed on the power of the divine, just their intelligence and innovation.

Anik wondered abit... How could a map be an Attainment? He wondered as used legend to explore the scroll before opening it, though he bet it was protected against scrying (if so, he didn't push).

"I thank you, Low Lord," said the laywer. "Roses at your feet. Good day." And with that done he was gone.

Anik was right. An unfamiliar field, much like that of the theoelectromagnetic field that all Divines owned, protected the map from scrying. It felt alive and heavy in his hands, like a serpent.

Anik sensed his own self enter the Valley away off, but now alone the garden he decided to go ahead and open the scroll. Carefully of course.

The blue parchment felt wet, heavy and warm under his touch, and it seemed to writhe as he held it. At contact it turned from blue to sudden, inky black, and then a lighter shade of the former hue. Slowly - very slowly - it opened, and Anik saw that it was mostly blank except for a series of dots, semicircles, squares, crosses, stars and names attributed to those things.

Associated to the single Dot:

The Golden Emperor of the Furthermost Order / Realm Supernatural

Associated to the Semicircles:

The Crimson Prince in association with the premature Lictros of the Furthermost Anarchy / Realm Supernatural
The Emerald Mother in association with the newborn Cassandra of Furthermost Creation / Realm Silver
The White Father in association with the newborn Kohandr of Furthermost Destruction / Realm ex Abyssus

Associated to the Squares:

The Current Herald of Gold Wyrn / Realm Supernatural
The Failed Herald of Crimson Maxilita / Realm Supernatural

Associated to the Crosses:

The Complete Golden Moon of Order / Realm Supernatural
The Blossoming Reddening Tower of Anarchy / Realm Supernatural
The Blossoming of Emerald Mountains of Creation / Realm Supernatural
The Blossoming of White Temple of Destruction / Realm Supernatural

Associated to the Stars:

There was one star and no name was associated.

Anik placed his hand on it, and let it's knowledge be given to him trying not to break past but slip through any defenses like water through a gate. ((Trying it with the upgraded Legendary Vision.))

Anik felt the thing, searched for a weakness - any weakness at all - but could fine none. It didn't trust the God of Craft, he knew, and the azure Map held its deepest secrets  close to its chest.

Anik understood now that this was more than just a piece of paper with magical protections now, it was almost sentient. Anik would have to show the map more about him. He used his teach ability to allow the map to know him better. He then held the scroll close to his chest. Can you hear me? he though in an attempt to communicate with it.

As Anik was trying to communicate with the scroll he used a hose to gather water, using his powers to keep it together compacting it. When it was of sufficient mass he froze it. He touched it and infused his paradox into the ice, and thus a new Anik grew out of it. This new Anik went over the hall of the sun to get his long delayed appointment on with Wyrn.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Wed 07 July 2010.

The map, very slowly, warmed up to Anik, analyzed him, figured out just what he was.

Anik.. you are old, Anik..

Tell me about it. Your creator was a proud man, and I assume an equally capable crater. Will you tell me where you lead? Or what your purpose is?

I .. cannot. Anik.. so thirsty. Thirsty.. for power.. I need.. divinity.. so tired..

The map seemed desperate, exhausted. Thirsty for power. But, somehow.. sincere. It had a function to fulfill and all it needed was to fulfill that function.