You arrive at the brooding tower of the sages, Aethebert, Bertrand, Celifoux, Davera, and Emmet, to the indifferent greeting of their scribe, Ecrivain.
"And who do you want to see today? Is this for a single inquiry, or for the day?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Mon 03 June 2019.

"Yes, both.  Gotta proposition fer Emmet, new critter might be interest in, an t'en need research some mystical woo-joo for client."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 2):

"What is that? Nevermind, I will get the Sage."

In reply to Ecrivain (msg # 3):

A few moments later a  well dressed but slightly roughed up gnome appears. He has a black eye, but a pleased expression. He climbs onto a step stool behind his screen until he is slightly above eye level with you, and looks down his nose at you.

"Jareth Mooncalled, long time no see. How is that thesis coming along, or is your job in the sewers more fulfilling than research.
 I see you have some kind of pet there. Did the ferret not work out?"

Jareth get a sour look at the 'thesis' crack, "Still plumpin t'e depths t'e undercity, it's big an ain't going nowhere fast...  Nah, Akimbo just sleepin, t'e lazy no good for nothin, bug-eatin, scrag-," "muffled chitter" "an anyway, what brung me here today be research fer client, an this guy," and he pulls the wicker basket out of the bag.

"This 'ere freshly, ahhh... born?  Created?  Mmmm, infected... err, whatevered as of last night, Yr-go.  Figured you be interested..."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 5):

The gnome peers downward at the basket with intense curiosity.
"That is an interesting specimen! How fresh did you say it was? And however did you acquire it? They aren't local, you know. Or natural for that matter."

"Spawned last night.  Managed capture this one an not destroy it.  T'ere was sorcerer from t'e Dreamlands wanderin t'e sewers.  We got it sorted out, but this little fella an t'e bhole, dang it, ain't warned t'e Sanitation Guild about t'e bhole yet, anyway, this little fella an a bhole got lose."  Jatreth turns to Jocelyn, "Jocelyn, try an remember we got warn t'e sewer workers, it keeps slippin my mind."

He turns back to Emmet, "So, anyway, figured you about t'e only person that got's t'e ken on this beast an got's t'e use for it, figure we could set up a trade."

Jocelyn nods at Jareth  Can do

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 7):

The gnome, while interested seems a little indifferent to the idea of trading.
" ABhole you say? ridiculous. Nothing grows to those dimensions,. Next you will be telling me that there is truth to tales of kraken sinking ships. Rubbish. And how know you that this so called sorcerer hailed from the dreamlands? ids that all they told you? open that basket, I wish to see this creature closer."

If you buy it, you can open it as soon as I am gone.
Otherwise it stays in the basket ... it seems to eat eyes.

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 10):

"It eats them? I had heard them described as eye stealers, but do they eat them?"

So it seems

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 12):

The creature buzzes and rattles in the basket

In reply to Yr-go (msg # 13):

Jocelyn stands back and readies her staff.

"Firstly, this creature is damn quick, an it flies.  Secondly, t'ey don't eat eyes... they infect 'em t'en t'e eye turn into anot'er Yr-go.  How we know this one was, eh, birthed last night."

He keeps his hand firmly on the basket, keepin it shut.

"An ain't gonna be no jus' openin t'e basket up.  It get's out an could have blasted infestation t'ese things!  But ya gots big enough decantin bottle of clearish glass an good stopper, we can move it into t'ere so ya can set yer eyes on it."

OOC: Are Benito, Anita, and I (and whoever else was working on moving Benito's stuff and shopping for Ymid's materials) supposed to post in this thread as well?

In reply to Mario Crowfoot (msg # 16):

Ooc that can continue in the main thread

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 15):

"Ecrivain! Fetch me a  large beaker and a stopper at once! I need to see this curiosity of Jareth's."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Mon 17 June 2019.

In reply to Emmet (msg # 18):

A few moments later, and mumbling under his breath, the scribe returns with a galon sized vessel with a stopper.

Jareth looks around to make sure the doors and windows are tightly shut and there is nowhere for it to fly off to and escape.  Presuming the room is relatively closed up...

"Jocelyn get ready, I open, you grab, t'en into t'e jar.  Ecrivain, ready with t'e stopper.  On t'ree... Un, Deux, Trois!"

Huh? Who me? Nooo, Oh crap 

She grabs for they nasty little beast but misses ...

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 21):

The cyclopian fungal creature flies from Jocelyn's grasp with a shower of spores, and darts about the small audience chamber.

Ecrivain ducks and covers his eyes.

The thing chitters and buzzes.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Thu 20 June 2019.

Jocelyn glowers at the beast... Then begins murmuring and moving her hands... The Yr-Go struggles but it is inserted rather rudely into the bottle.

"Gods man!"  Jareth grabs the stopper from Ecrivain and slams it home trapping the creature*!

"Ya'd ken ya never saw dangerous creature before."  He waves his hand dispersing the spores, then dusts some off his sleeve and coat, and off Ecrivain.

"Might want bathe extra well later, keep yer eyes from growin wings an flappin away."





OOC:  * I hope so anyway.  If you need any rolls let me know.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 24):

"The last time this happened, someone was trying to pass off a devilkin as an immature gargoyle. I had to climb the damn cathedral to ask Goyle, and then we had to get an exorcist. This better not be another demon!"

In reply to Ecrivain (msg # 25):

"I think I ought pull out that manuscript of Vinceaux's, and perhaps see what happens if I sprinkle holy water on it, and expose it to the null area downstairs. I could be famous if I publish! And unlike Vinceaux, keep my vision!" The gnome rubs his hands in glee.

"Ain't no demon Ecrivain, exorcism won't do no good it get out an make t'e haploidic asexualization on yer eyeball."  After a pause, "So, Emmet.  Seeing as have piqued interest, let us commence to hagglin..."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 27):

"I must say that I am intrigued by the specimen! What exactly would you ask for it?"

He sneaks a sly glance at Jocelyn's decolletage.

Jocelyn catches his glance and frowns, although her clothing covers her from ankles to her neck, there is definitely a woman beneath it...

"Fer such rare specimen, say thirteen royals.  Yer not gonna find anot'er this side t'e Dreamlands."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 30):

The gnome sputters
" Thirteen? Are the voices in your head that loud? Try six, and expect most of it in copper!"

"Ten, an copper be fine longs it ain't been clipped!"

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 32):

"I could give you Seven and a half, but if you are willing to  take barter, I could do a little better."

"Hmmm, say nine royals worth copper an trade, with trade at half value."

OOC:  Hey GM, don't leave me hangin... ;)

You want me to twist his tender parts?  It's a variation on apportation I'm practicing...

In reply to Emmet (msg # 33):

" I am a little short on coin, but I do have access to quite a bit of paut if you are interested...and wait what? Do you know Mordenkeinen's lubrication and Bigby's Helpful Hand?""

In reply to Emmet (msg # 37):

No, just Jocelyns crushing twist at strength 15 ...

"I leave t'e side dealin to ya two later, but ken ya just increased his interest" he pats Jocelyns arm, then returns to Emmet, "Right t'en, nine royals worth, coin an trade, with trade at half value."

He removes his glove, spits in his hand and extends it to Emmet.

"Trade then. You want that in Paut, flight, strength, or thieves oil?"

"Coin an trade... unless ya got enough trade.  Huh.  Figured have to brew it ourselves, quantity t'e client needs, buuuuuut could save time tradin if'n ya got enough..."

Jareth scratches his chin in fake thought.

"Let's talk prices..."




OOC:  To speed it up a bit, what's Emmet's prices on Flight potions and Paut, and what quantity does he have/is willing to part with at half price?

And is it good paut or the tainted stuff... Jocelyn has two of the old style (good paut) she is hanging on to...

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 41):

"Tainted! What do you mean Tainted?! The new formula tags all of the correspondences while using a new ingredient base, and it is the allegorical qualities of the ingredients that matter in the distillation of the essence. The transmogrification of simples to dynamic essense involves no less than the intercourse of the true natures of named things, under the steady heat of the alembic, until the specific and trancendent nature of of the inherent attributes are made manifest.
The newer articulation of paut stil involves silver shavings, vital fluids from the family line of avians associated with a deiform concerned with Thaumatology, and a form of western Emmet. In this case it is albumen from eggs of the bird in question, instead of blood, and the deiform is local, not from below the soutnern sea. The grain is distilled into spirit in this case, rather than simply ground. The other ingredients, while proprietary, are otherwise thematically equivalent.
 Tainted in deed!"


Paut normally goes for $120, flying potions normally go for $3000

"Emmet, it's blue.  An some have reported t'e weirdness with it. Now probably is psychoma, it is blue, but ya see how word get around?"




OOC:  No way, even at half price we're affording any Flight potions, let alone 2 gallons... considering that 2 gallons is 32 Flying potions.  Even just buying the materials and doing it ourselves is beyond our pay grade ($22,080).
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Mon 08 July 2019.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 44):

"Now that really hurts. Sure, they are aspected with traits of the rune-giver, but what does color have to do with it? Have you seen what the Imperial wizard's guild is trying to charge for Ibex blood. Look, if you won't take the paut for it, try one or two of my other potions. I need your honest opinion on them. Can't believe you don't want the new blue."




Make an alchemy roll, and maybe a Thaumatology roll,
if you can pull off a pair of theology rolls that would be great.

Jocelyn moves up next to Jareth.  Several have told of bad effects from blue paut, losing strength or concentration... scary for anyone it a dangerous spot.

OOC:  22:51, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 11, 13, 9, 12 using 3d6, 3d6, 3d6, 3d6.  Alchemy 14, Thaumatology 14, Theology (Any) 10, Theology (Any) 10.

He also has Theology (Elder Things) 12.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 47):

The traditional receipie for paut uses the
Blood of the scarlet Ibis, as a means of invoking the deity Thoth, who governs magic within his pantheon.
His recipie sounds like it might be using
Eggwhites, from the eggs of ravens, which are associated with Wotan, the runegiver and All-Father.  Side effects might be associated with aspects of Wotan.

"Wait...  you using raven's eggs?  An ya can't see t'e issue?"  Jareth throws his hands up.  "Ya gettin t'e god of knowledge an secrets up in yer magic goddess flow.  An he's a wild trickster at that!"

"Look, how about after we do our research," he indicates him and Jocelyn, "we get with ya, figure out t'e trade, an see what if we can't figure some way temperin Woten's influence on t'e brew.  Maybe through coincidence or contagion...  hmmm... lions blood?  No, Veles also trickster, an dark, mmm, Asaruludu would be stabilizing factor, primacy of order over formlessness.  But t'en ye risk invoking NamShub, in t'e primal, an hipogriff bits harder get than ibis blood.  Huh.  Did you try rooster or tortoise?  T'e Hermes Trismegistus connection?  Sure, sure, Hermes be trickster, but as Trismegistus he's diefically defacto Thoth an that's t'e missing factor yeah?"

"I find it to be more of a feature than a bug. Progressive temporary monocularity nonwithstanding, the ability to percieve auras and visualize dwenomers in progress, and occasionally relative levels of manna reserve, is a valuable advantage. The necessity of knowing how to read elder Futhark runes is a mild complication, but any educated person should be proficient in them."

Obviously a blooming academic in full bloom!  So Emmet, dya' ever think what might happen if you were in a magical task of some danger and you had to use the Paut and got Monocular vision and all that other bunk? ... You'd likely be in a serious bind or worse, lunch. That means that the next day you are just a heap of steamin' poo!

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 51):

"I might be better off than that if I was easily able to identify enemy spellcasters, shapechangers, and outsiders, and identity who had an active spell or magical equipment! And have you seen what the Imperial Wizard Guild is charging for Ibis blood?"

No, I have been busy helping friends and have had no time for Alchemy.

"Emmet, take this guy for now, we swing by later an settle up t'en, got research need doin.  Maybe 'tween t'en an now, I ken up somthin else help with t'e puat."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 54):

"It hurts me that you would think so poorly of one of my gratest alchemical achievements. I do have a surplus of flying  potions; my new staff was a little overexuberant when I asked them to get me griffon feathers, and they brought the whole damned griffon. Usually someone just raids the nest, or shoots an arrow at a wing, but nooo, they had to kill the griffon and try to charge me for the lot. Damn Greenbottle and his cronies!
Did you know that all the goblins, and most of the humans born in Northport have some kind of superstition about flying? They say it brings on dragon attacks. According to Aethelbert, there haven't been dragons here since he Federjung, when apparently they were mass teleported to Trellheim... Anyway, this stuff is practically unsellable, and it is bog standard flying potion, with no innovations in formula.. borrring! I will give you half a dozen for that lovely in the basket."

"Touché, Emmet.  Ya earn t'e respect for innovation.  But innovation that don't sell..." he trails off*.  "Tell ya what though, make it eight flyin potion an this guy is yours.  An even betterer, if'n ya got bunch more flyin potions, know a guy needs to buy 'bout twenty-four more of 'em.  If you got or can whip up that many, I'll set up t'e sale."





OOC * The unspoken implication is "What doesn't sell, needs to be refined or requires better PR campaign".

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 56):

"Eight will do.. and  I have about a dozen and a half hanging around... Does your friend pay cash, or does he have more extraplanar goodies?"

"Payin in bullion actually.  But, if do run inna more critters from outside time an space, I'n comin see you first."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 58):

The gnome seems pleased with that, and has Escrivan make the exchange.


Back to living near the street collapse.

Emmet:

Back to living near the street collapse.

Except that we were actually coming here to research Wishing and Wishes.

Selling the spare yr-go was a sidequest.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 60):
"Then you might want a word with Aethelbert. He wrote a thesis about a failed wish... Don't tell me you have a bottle imp, or a blank contract with the adversary!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Tue 30 July 2019.

"Good tip.  Talk with Aethelbert on t'e way back.  Gotta stop t'e Guild for ot'er stuff anyway.  But now, gonna hit t'e stacks, see what can find on wish magics."

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 62):

This will take a roll at -4 to occultism for some pointers, and a defaulted roll of magical law (thaumatology-5 or law-4) to get the goods. a general research roll will reveal a book of folklore on the topic.

And she has trouble finding things...

OOC:  Ahahaha!  Defaults?  Why the less Jareth knows, the less he has cluttering up his brain getting in the way of facts!

BEHOLD!  Roll that beautiful bean footage:

23:04, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 8, 7, 8 using 3d6,3d6,3d6.  Occultism 11 (15-4) and Thaumatology 9 (14-5) and Research 13.

23:04, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 8,7,8 using 3d6,3d6,3d6 ((3,1,4,4,1,2,3,4,1)).

So, yeah... he probably stumbles on all the books.  By accident.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 65):

You find the following items:
    A pamphlet sized book entitled "The Bottle Imp" by RLS
    A manual on demonic contract law called "The Long Spoon"
    A single volume of a multi-volume translation of Valdassyan folktales
       featuring Djinn and Ifrit, called
       "Excerpts from Scherezade" by R. Burton, Esq.
    A  translation of "The Symbarium of Syllogistic Syntax"
       (A primer originally by Euripides Eumenedes
    A fairly new monograph:"Implicit Dangers of Nonspecificity, as Evidenced by the Catastrophy Invoked Upon Trellheim by Federjung"
by Aethelbert.

Time to do some reading.




OOC:  21:33, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 5 using 3d6.  Speed-Reading 14.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 67):

The short pamphlet seems to be about squandered wishes and attempts to stick others with the contract,
The excerpt of the thousand nights and one is actually entertaining, and seems to paint genies as easily fooled idiots, and most people who get wishes of being short sighted, although there seems to be a passage that may actually be quoting a Djinn, in that it is highly specific as to things that wishes can and cannot do.

The Long Spoon has a few loose pages, and some of its suggestions are a little suspect....

The Symborium will need a few hours to get anything out of, and is the sort of work that one could gain skill in Philosophy of Logic by studying... Some of it seems very useful for parsing thaumatological phrases and for the actual construction of an airtight wish.

The Federjungian piece is a dense and overly detailed history of broad scale results of a catastrophic spell failure of a Greater Wish, involving the dispersement of an inordinate amount of energy as reported by several sources. There seems to be a possible conflation of other strange effects, including what appears to be a textbook series of ordinary catastrophic spell failure within the region affected, but the author insists that this is due to waves of flux in local levels of mana as a result of the disaster. This book is new enough that you got some ink on your sleeve.

"Sorry, Jocelyn, this been waste of a morn.  Didn't learn nothin didn't already know, to whit, 'Be Careful Whatcha Wish For'."

He sighs.

"Cept this one," he indicates the The Symbarium of Syllogistic Syntax, "but that'll take more time really dig into."



OOC:  I'm guessing The Dismal Tower ain't no lending library...  so we'll need to come back to finish that book off?  Or, how much time is left in the day?

If we hadna' looked we'd a had nay known.  as My GrandPa used to say.

OOC:  Just waiting on a response to the questions posed in msg #69.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 71):

Reading the Symborium for four hours will get you a +2 on a suitable roll; the books are not for lending, a page slipped out of the Long Spoon.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:38, Sun 11 Aug 2019.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 72):

Damn keyboard vanished from phone. You got here early, there are about four hours left

Since we've got time we should go ahead and read the Symposium, and of course see what the loose page is about.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 74):

The loose page is some kind of incantation,
  A fpell for fummoning a familiar fpirit
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:59, Thu 15 Aug 2019.

"Oh hells no."

Jareth rolls it up to avoid accidentally casting it, then tucks it into his scroll case.  "We should destroy this... maybe t'e Hadereum give reward for it like t'e Book of Evil?  Hmmm.  Unless ya wanted an impish familiar?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Fri 16 Aug 2019.

Um uh no... prefer a nice attractive hunk who can work slowly... that would be a nice familiar.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 76):

So you are leaving the scroll to be found by someone else? There might be a reward for turning it in to the Hadereum...

Narrator:

So you are leaving the scroll...

It's a scroll?  That changes things dramatically.  Edited post above to reflect this and keep Jocelyn's post from being out of place.

"Should make sure t'ere nothing else like this in t'e book..."

Jareth will give the Long Spoon a quick once over to make sure it's just full of bad ideas and not actually full of scrolls...

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 80):

Make a per roll at -1

Jocelyn looks over Jareth's shoulder.

OOC:  19:14, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 6 using 3d6.  Making Sure the Long Spoon isn't full of Evil scrolls.  Per 14 (Per 15 - 1).

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 83):

On the outer corner of each page is a single word, flipping through the pages seems to make them all continuous...

"NOPE!" Jareth claps the book shut.  "Dammit.  Gotta burn t'e book now."





OOC:  12:35, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 10 using 3d6.  Not giving in to reading the phrase in the Long Spoon.  Self Control Curious 12.

Unless there was a penalty on the Self Control roll.  In which case I'll happily edit to correct.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 85):

To get the book out past Escrivan will require a smuggling roll, the modifiers for book size cancelled by the robes and apron you wear. A distraction might help.

Well I am not willing to streak the place ... any other ideas?

OOC:  We'd need a suitable distraction (and yes, I'd say a streaking Jocelyn would be waaaaaaaay more than suitable ;) ) Jareth might be able to pull of the Smuggling roll, he's got a 12.  But...

Does Jareth know if any of the Sages feel as strongly about stopping the spread of demons as he does*, or are they all of the "We Ivory Tower Intellectuals are immune to the temptations of demons... let me just read that..." type?


* Not that he actually cares about this... but Cultist busting and demon stopping has sort of become the Juniors remit.  And he does kinda, almost, sort of care about his responsibilities.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 88):

Jareth suspects the latter sentiment of superiority mingled with curiosity to be the general mein of the sages, although there are a few that would walk into fires to save even books they disliked.  A little Sleight of Hand might do for confounding Escrivain, who is not quite that perceptive... a book   (or stack of the same) falling off of a table perhaps pushed by a ferret might serve to distract him from his count of how many books you have. a fat silver coin might do as well.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 89):

What shall it be, Juniors are waiting

Jocelyn walks in front oh Jareth and stops stops in the front entry in front of Eecrivan and pulls her robes up to her expose her knee and a few inches of thigh, slapping at an imaginary bug or two, before dropping them Damn no see'ums!

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 91):

The scribe does a doubletake and asks
"Have you ever read the poetry of Donne?"

Oh some long ago, she says as she straightens things up again. Hold up Jareth, I had to smack a bug.

Jareth slips the book 'out of sight' and whispers to Akimbo, "Need t'e distraction little buddy, no arguin, extra treats when we're back home."

"mutter mutter"

"I dunno, knock over pile of books few stacks away in moment, t'en meet us outside."

He let's the ferret slip away before hauling the stack of books over to Ecrivain.



OOC:  Sigh.
22:15, Today: Jareth Mooncalled rolled 14 using 3d6.  Holdout 12.  Sneaking the Long Spoon out.

Using Holdout because Holdout is for hiding things on yourself, Smuggling is for hiding things on your vehicle.  Also, they are literally both at a 12 for Jareth.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 94):

As the books fall, the scribe runs past to re-stack them.
"Jareth, did you let that weasel of your loose in here again?"

Jareth puts his fingers to his temple, "Don't sense him in t'e immediate vicinity..."

Jareth motions to Jocelyn to sneak out while the sneakin is good (and follows).

She slips out the door and holds it for Jareth.

In reply to Jocelyn Lemru (msg # 97):

A moment later the ferret squeezes through behind you.

"We need swing by t'e Guild an check on t'e Drakes, an t'en let t'e Hadereum take care of this," he pats the obvious lump of book under his robes, "an t'en home."




OOC:  I am completely more than happy to just handwave the next bit, make a few rolls, and get back to the others.

Mai Oui!

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 99):

Make a quick stop at temple hill with the book. something is brewing with that.

Benito is installing locks on his residence (normal cost of living for him to get it conditioned and liveable, $50 per lock otherwise) and storing building supplies in the empty house beside his.  Some local laborers are peering about, looking for work.

OOC:  If the Hadereum is up on temple hill, then yeah that's where we're going.  Otherwise, I'm not sure why we'd think to go there?

Also we need to swing by the Guild House, either on the way there or back, whichever is faster.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 102):

The tower is halfway between. Temple Hill is the current  Hadereum thread.

Narrator:

Temple Hill is the current  Hadereum thread.

Understood.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 101):

Once Benito has everything secured, he is happy to employ the labourers for starting work on the rest of the building, assuming costs can be covered by someone. Normal locks are just fine.

In reply to Benito Drake (msg # 105):

Christine will talk to Jednessa and see if hr friend is willing to wait while she goes and does some investigations.

She will then approach the mage tower to make some enquiries.

Jednesa will wait wherever Jednesa needs to wait.  She's pretty happy, it was a good fight at the end, almost challenging, she looks forward to more fights like it.

(Not sure where Jednesa is waiting, if she was allowed into to town this time, or still barred entry following the "noodle shop incident")

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 107):

"Jednesa! Down here! I have sent for a cart of meat pies and ale while you wait for Marie to come back"

In reply to Camilla (msg # 108):

A goblin woman with a pushcart full of pies peers up at the ogress.
"My she is almost as big as 'Elga! Don't think she is as peacable though."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 106):

"Welcome to the Dismal Tower. What kind of sage do you need to...Marie?"

"Camilla!  Thank you.  Jednesa wait by cart for Christine."

She plunks down next to the cart.

"Do not worry little pie maker.  You speak, Jednesa not eat what speak.  It is rule."

In reply to Jednesa (msg # 111):

"I am glad I spoke up then. You do know your naked but for that strap...?"

"Hmmm?"

She looks at herself.  Then around.  Then at herself again.  Seems to ponder the mystery a moment before nodding, pulling the tablecloth out of her pouch, and slipping it on like a poncho.

"Thank you.  Jednesa always forget, city not like home."

In reply to Ecrivain (msg # 110):

"Hmmm. Perhaps I have come to the wrong place. I was looking to learn about divination, the art of knowing what is not immediately obvious, but you are clearly struggling with the very basics of recognizing what is obvious..."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 114):

"I need to know which sage to direct your inquiry to, as they are specialized in different categories. I am required to ask a specific order of questions in order. Do you have native or divine oracular ability? Are you magically gifted, and if so, from whence derives your power? The gods, nature, spirits, fae, demons, elementals, or thaumatological energies?
To what degree are you gifted, if you are? If you are, depending on your answers, the sage may ask a series of further questions about specific knowledges and aptitudes that you have. The sage you will be seeing is Davera, and she has some requisites. Payment for a single question is $25, and for a days worth of research it is $100, to be placed in a bowl on a table at the entrance to the interview room so that it can be cleaned.
You will need to wash your hands in the basin at the door before entering."

In reply to Ecrivain (msg # 115):

Christine is unimpressed, but answers his questions.

"No Orocular ability that I know of.

Moderately magically gifted with thaumatological energies, with an elemental bent. Working to improve that too.

How much does she charge to teach me the basics of divination, bearing in mind I still need to learn basic historical spells first?"

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 116):

"Oh Davera doesn't  teach magic, although she knows a fair amount. She answers questions about magical theory, and the history of magical objects and writings, along with other topics. And everyone who knew divination in the city was assassinated by a cult about a fortnight ago. To my knowledge  there might be as many as two individuals with the capacity,  and I don't think they teach it either. One is a recent arrival, the other came about it by strange means."

"She would be your best bet for finding out how, though."

In reply to Ecrivain (msg # 118):

"So I heard about the diviners. So she charges to answer what she can do, or just for guidance? At this point I am seeking a teacher not divination."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 119):

"She would have knowledge about who or where you  might learn such an ability."

In reply to Ecrivain (msg # 120):

"Then let us talk about it then."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 121):

Your are led to a smakk room, containing a table with a basin at one end. At the other end of the chamber is a window with a carved wooden screen, and a metal bowl on a low table. You can make out a figure on the other side of the screen,  illuminated by magelight.

"Wash your hands in the basin, and place $25 in the bowl, $100 is going to take all day."

In reply to Davera (msg # 122):

Christine does not move, either to the bowl or to the speaker.

"I am not looking for a divination. At least, not yet. I am looking for someone to teach me about divining."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 123):

"That is good, because  if I could divine, I would be dead.  I might know where you might kearn, if you do as I ask and answer a few questions. "

In reply to Davera (msg # 124):

Christine washes her hands.

"What would you ask of me?"

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 125):
She asks a series of questions, which detetmine your prerequisites for divination. You could learn several, but your best bet would be pyromancy. There is a shrine she knows of where you could learn this from gazing into the eternal flame  thag is kept there.

In reply to Davera (msg # 126):

Christine places $25 in the bowl.

"Where is this shrine? Are you sure I require no teacher?"

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 127):

"The shrine lies in the ravine between  Veroigne and Sonne, a week's journey to the south by southeast."

In reply to Davera (msg # 128):

"Anything you can tell be about the way there I should know?"

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 129):
"Travelling along the Eastern side of the ravine will allow you to avoid the peril of the great  Veroignese beasts, but will alert the guardian of the flame, who is said to be a dragon of some sort. Slaying the dragon will only extinguish the flame of the oracle, the wyrm must be parleyed with or placated. It is fond of riddles and princesses."

In reply to Narrator (msg # 130):

"And what of the beasts?"

Parleying with a dragon sounded worrying.

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 131):

"The beasts of Veroigne are enormous, fling insects the size of geese and eagles, wolves the size or horses, a great armored fire breathing thing of tremendous size, not a dragon, but the size of one. There are unique, empowered creatures and beings of faerie."


Occ

There are two groups in Veroigne already, and you are in one already.
You also owe her $100 for questions, and $50 to Ecrivain for a copy of a map of the area.

In reply to Davera (msg # 132):

Christine will thank her and depart for the guild, to look for a healer. In her mind, the $25 covered the one question unless she is told otherwise... how and where to learn divining.

But she will gladly pay $50 for the map...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Fri 31 Jan 2020.

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 133):

sorry kiddo that was five questions you asked her, a day's worth. you can ask a few more if you want though. exiting the library without paying may be a little tight...

In reply to Narrator (msg # 134):

"Hmmph. A days worth in 20 minutes? Additional questions were only required because the initial answers were incomplete...I have given $25, and just then $50 for the map. Here is the $75 you demand, though begrudgingly, given that it was only required because of incomplete answers..."

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 135):

"There is a way to phrase a question that gets you the most for your money, of course, to teach you, I'd have to charge"

In reply to Davera (msg # 136):

"Of course, and I would probably have to ask several questions to get the full answer..." she answers dryly before departing for the Adventurers guild to find a healer.