Library Scene
Tenebrae - Saturday, December 10, 2016, 7:54 AM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A14: Quill's Repose, City Library *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
A large hallway, circular in design, is what lies beyond the large doors that let visitors in to the public library. Two guards stand in these doors at all times, employees of the city Watch, hired by the library for protection and to prevent theft of books. The head librarian is more of the same--a retired Watch member, herself: Lady Octagna is a great oruch whose lined face bears with it, as well, the scars of old battle. These days, she battles over books and the impudence of Society, Engineering, and Temple students alike, who spend long hours toiling within the Library's walls and basement.
A sign above proclaims the loan of books to be illegal, and that books may not travel further than the doors. Loud noises are hushed by the Lady Octagna, whose grand stature is said to be second to none. Her movements are rarely heard, though they are often seen, marking her quite agile in her elderly age. Rumors, too, place her as a curmudgeon'd ally of Madame Gelfure, the two of them going back years, with a tradition of lunches or the occasional breakfast.
The hall has marble floors, and two staircases lead upwards, one to the left and another to the right. Bright blue carpets cover the steps to lend to the quiet atmosphere of the great library. Straight ahead of the entryway, a tall archway leads into the main library, with study tables between rows and rows of books. The upper levels contain the city records to the left, and the right is a closed off area for library staff.
The symbols of Navos, the Scribe, may be seen in the markings of columns, in the relief of marble. Marble is the prevalent building material, giving the rooms a regal, official and solemn feeling. A few benches line the walls of the circular hall, and a desk sits to the right of the entrance, a secretary always attending it to help guests, even late into the night. The occasional Seer or Temperance may also be seen, offering advisement and wisdom within the great halls.
Gedryn is seated at one of the long reading tables within the library, a stack of texts set beside him as he is leafing through a few books, a silver-tipped pen is copying down the contents of a page onto a fresh, new book. Obviously animated by some spell, the pen is about halfway through the page while a strange creature about the size of an average house cat lazily naps nearby - watching the moving pen with idle curiosity. The creature, a fusion of owl and cat, is laying on its side and absently batting at the young apprentice's sleeve for attention.
Mikilos wanders, peering and searching, not at the shelves as most patrons tend, but at the stacks of book piled up up on tables or in the hands of other patrons, typically giving little more than a glance before moving on. A small stack of books hovers behind the elf, quitely bobbing along in his wake. Comming across another table, Mikilos pauses a second, peering at the cat/bird, before turning his focus to the reader and books. "Ah, excuse me. Are you finished with the copy of 'Llyrwyns Illustrations'?" he asks of Gedryn.
Gedryn looks up from his reading and has to blink for a second to realize what he's seeing. Still getting used to seeing so many different races, the young man has to take a moment before he reaches over to the small stacks of books and finds the specific tome to hand over. "Uh...sure," he offers and, in his best voice, offers a greeting to the Dawn Elf in his own, native language. Technically accurate, it's not what one would call a 'natural' tone; something learned from books without much practice.
Mikilos smiles, and nods in thanks, slipping the text to the bottom of the stack. A bit easier when they all hover. Motioning to an empty chair, he inquires politely "May I?" in common TradeSpeak.
Gedryn nods and stands from his chair respectfully. "Please...join me. I'm called Gedryn...of no where you've probably heard of." As he makes his introductions, the owlcat on the table rolls over onto its back to look up at what's going on and the pen finishes up the last strokes of the newly copied page.
Mikilos grins. "Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Archmage of the Fifth Circle, Builder Arcane, orginally of Silvermoon of Llyranost, though these days I make my home here in Alexandria. And just 'Mikilos' will do for conversation." Taking a seat, the elf sets his haversack to one side, pulling a few papers from it to set before him before turning his focus to the owlcat. "And who is this?" he inquires, offering the back of his hand for inspection.
Gedryn reaches over to turn the page on the text that's being copied and the pen starts scribbling again - much to the interest of the familiar. The apprentice reaches down to absently pet the animal in an attempt to distract it from any thoughts of attacking the pen, again. "This," he begins to explain as he retakes his seat, "...is No-No...but only because I haven't figured out any other name to give him. It's just what I've been yelling at him since I awoke him as my familiar - and the name seems to have stuck."
Mikilos chuckles, reaching to pet the animal, though repectfully. Should No-no indicate it doesn't care to be touched, he'll back off. "Ah. Fairly new to the Tradition, I take it?"
Gedryn nods to Mikilos, adding, "First Circle, Master." No-No is more than eager to accept the petting of another. There's very little that he won't do for attention - or food. This also means that should the elf -stop- petting him, his two forepaws will reach up and 'gently' convince him to continue what he was doing. "I've been trying to research what he might be since there's some doubts that he actually comes from Rune - as the merchant I purchased him from insists." The texts that he's searching through all seem to involve the study of magical beasts, regional lore and the history of Rune.
From afar, Gedryn figures that his instructing master was probably no greater than able to cast 2nd level spells (a small-village caster). Which is why Ged was told to come to the city to continue his education. In that small village, his master was a 'great wizard'. Here, he'd be little more than an apprentice.
Mikilos is content to continue petting, his free hand fetching his own quill, though no inkpot. "Curious. Can't say I've ever seen anything quite like it, though living beasts aren't really my focus. Have you been in Alexandria long? Might care to visit Myrana Jn'rajh of the Ox Strength Tavern, her familiar, Rum, is rather unique as well." The pauses a moment, considering. "Though the Ox might not be the best place to find her. It's a bit... rough and tumble."
Gedryn shakes his head at Mikilos' question, "Oh no. I've only been in town a week or so. I had to find lodgings with the Society since I have no familarity with the city's boarding houses and I have no Master yet." He peers to the quill curiously and the lack of ink pot and then looks to his own 'trick' of using an Unseen Servant to copy a book's page. His process still requires ink. "Her familiar is a drink?" he asks confusedly.
Mikilos laughs, and shakes his head. "No, Rum is a cat. Pretty sure. But she found it in a cask of rum. Tiny little kitten of a thing, never quite grew up. Or outgrew the damp of the cask. It has a perpetual case of mold. Sometimes mushrooms. Tends to shed spores when startled, but really is quite harmless. Myrana herself is a sorcerer of no small power, but tends to focus on the running of her tavern these days. The Ox Strength is down by the docks, tends to serve sailors and dockhands, brawls are common, broken noses frequent, but killing is still frowned upon. The former owner, Master Oxley, was a great man, but the rest of his family are a bunch of laze-about ner-do-wells who tarnish the Oxley name beond repair. Part of the ownership requires taking care of the brood and giving them at least the option of honest work. I don't think any have ever accepted the offer."
Kaj has connected.
Gedryn nods, "I've heard of the place, Master, but like you said - it's not really somewhere that I'd frequent...uh...often." The story of the sorcereress's cat brings a bit of a smile to his face as he can almost imagine what such a creature would look like. "Do you have a familiar sir?" Yes, he's not about to drop the formal titles - especially when speaking to an elven wizard of such power. "Please excuse if that's a subject that I should not inquire about..."
Barechested, gigantic, tattooed and wild-maned, Kaj is not the typical scholar, but here he is, apparently having been recruited by a halfling scholar to hand her tomes from the tall shelf. He's patiently helping her out, but under his arm is an atlas-size book on the Kulthian civilaztion and language, which looks big enough to squash the little scholar if he were to release it.
When he's finally freed of her, he smiles, responds to her coursty with a bow and looks around, now holding the book in one hand.
Mikilos nods. "The Prestigious Moon is the other likely place. It's reputation is a bit better, for some reason, but the owner, Lady Sandiel, Myrana's wife, is a bit.... tempermental. She tosses people who annoyed her into a pocket dimension until they can escape. Happens about once a day. To be fair, it's not a very large dimension, escape isn't hard." Glancing up, he raises a hand to wave to Kaj. the other is still held captive by No-no, the owlcat, for pettings.
Between the young apprentice, dressed in the home-spun robes of a 'working class wizard' and the elven Arch Mage rests a strange creature which seems to be the fusion of a house cat and a barn owl. Currently lying on its side with its head towards the elf, it's thoroughly enjoying the attention its getting but it quick to use its forepaws to remind the two-legs as to what their focus should be. The young human, Gedryn or 'Ged' to his friends, was just about ready to say something when he spies the gigantic, bear of a figure stalking...er...walking around in the stacks. Beside him, an animated pen seems to be copying the contents of a book into another, blank one.
"I...uh,..." he stammers for a moment and then breaks himself from staring at the tattooed wild man to look back to the elf. "A pocket dimension? I've only barely heard of their construction. It sounds...fascinating."
Mikilos receives a warm smile from Kaj, who walks over in a few steps.
"Well met, Mikilos the Maker," he says, granting the wizard a title on the spot (or is he remembering something?). He then turns his attention to Gedryn and his familiar. "And a very good day to you," he says, rather politely, if too loudly.
He looks at the owl-cat and says something to it as well.
Mikilos smiles, nodding to Kaj. "Well met. Please, join us." His fingers contiune to pet and scritch, mentally disconnected from his other actions. The wizard has no small fondness for cats, and is content to treat No-no as one until given reason to do otherwise. His free hand opens one of the tesxt beside him, scanning over a few pages before jotting a brief note on his parchment, his own quill operating without an inkpot. A minor spell, but a useful one. "It's a standard spell, if a rather powerful one. 'Maze' is the common name for it. Though really, pocket dimensions aren't so uncommon as you might think. Poking a little space between the layers of reality isn't too hard. Lots of spells that shove something out of 'normal' reality for a little while." So says the Archmage, who may have a slightly bias view of how difficult bending reality is.
The owlcat perks up at whatever it was that Kaj said and rolls over onto its back as if to say 'Pet me'. Yes, there's never enough petting. Ged smiles down to No-No who's totally being spoiled now and nods to the giantish man to sit with them. "I will have to read up on that and see if I can try some...uh...smaller version." Yes, he's quite and totally distracted by the arrival of the wild, beast of a figure and almost forgets to turn the page of the book that's being copied.
Kaj smiles at No-No and engulfs its whole head with his hang, giving it a twist-scratch-rub thing that other owls have told them is the best ever way to 'pet' an owl.
"Thank you," he says, laying out his atlas tome on the table and sitting on the ground, so he can be at eye-level with the others.
"You make it sound so simple, Mikilos," he offers, looking over the wizard's robes. "Splendid robes," he says, somehow being into fashion (?!).
Mikilos ponders a moment. "I'm sure there's a First Circle, but all that comes to mind is Rope Trick, of the Second Circle. Ah well." Nodding to Kaj, he smiles. "Thank you. They're rather more comfortable than I'd expected. Though I can't say I've fully tested their practical abilities. These days I spend far more time in libraries and lab than dungeons and battlefields. The kertuffle in Rune being a noted exception, though really I spent most of that in research and development."
Ged nods to Mikilos' comment about what spell he might look for to read up on but offers that it will take a while for him to be able to master the next circle of spells. Since the topic of robes and such have been brought up he turns to the two of them, though his mind still can only barely comprehend the idea that he's talking to one of the giant folk - let alone about clothing. "I...uh...will need to pick up some spare clothes. This," he plucks at he robes, "...is all that I have brought with me. Any suggestions," he asks, "...would be appreciated for where I might find suitable replacements."
Kaj smiles and digs into his Haversack. "Here, Gedryn. We all started with nothing..." he says, and gives him a humble looking cap. "Borrow it for a day or a year, return it when you have outgrown it."
Mikilos grins, and nods. "Fairly sure I've a cap much like that myself. Quite useful. Though for practical use, the afore mentioned Prestigious Moon is technically a clothing store. My own shop has some options, but most of what I make is enchanted to one degree or another."
Gedryn peers at the cap and accepts it. The simple transferrence of the garment, which would be massive in the giant's hand but smaller as soon as Ged accepts it suggests that it's somehow enchanted. "I uh...oh, wait..." he hesitates and examines the garment curiosly. "What is this?" he asks politely of the giant. Mikilos' comment now draws more of a confused and curious expression onto his face. "What does it do?"
Beside him, the self-animated pen pauses transcribing as if a cue that the original book's page needs to be turned. THe apprentice makes the needed flip of the page and then focuses his thoughts upon remembering the name of the clothing shop - but also now more curious about the Master's own wares.
Kaj smiles, winking his all-white-ish moonstone eye at 'the kid'. "It is a wonderful item. You put it on, it adjusts to your head size..and if you say the word written underneath the cap, where it goes against your school, and imagine it, you will be shrouded not only in any clothing you want, but can look like anyone. It's good for when you get banned from library access for being too loud, for example."
Mikilos snerks, and eyes Kaj sidelong. "Yes, a Hat of Apperance. Or I think 'Hat of Disguise' is the more common name. Fairly common magic item, useful in casual settings, but I would recomend against trying too hard with them. Common magics tend to inspire countermeasures."
Gedryn can't help but try the cap on. Placing the item upon his head after looking at the inside band for the command word, he sets it on his head as the item shrinks even more so to fit him. "Illusare..." he whispers and the simple, home-spun robes he was wearing are replaced with a set of expertly woven garments which probably cost more than he has seen in his life. The fabrics are well-woven of a darker, almost slate blue with charcoal grey accents and silver-threaded runes stitched along the cuffs. Elven in design, the robes, though expertly tailored to his body, seem almost comical upon the boy. The cap has been turned into a voluminus hood of the same slate blue cloth as though he were a powerful arch wizard feeling the urge to disguise himself upon the city streets.
Bright eyes wildly examine the textures of the cap's illusion and are overjoyed at the simple, if effective, trick. "This is...wondrous," he gasps and pulls back the hood - but in removing it from his head the illusion fades and he's once again in the home-spun clothing he came in. "..aww..."
Kaj laughs from his belly, a rumbling sound that is a mixture of human laughter and falling boulders heard from a distance.
He draws a lot of dirty looks from everyone, being so damn loud, but he is clearly enjoying the young man's pleasure at it. "In fact, I'll make it a gift to you; something tells me helping you out now will be good for me or someone I care about in the future. I go by intuition," he says, then adds something along the lines of "Like owls and cats!" in Animalese for No-No's benefit.
Mikilos blinks, and nods in approval. "An impressive first effort. Stray thoughts and a shift of focus can cause trouble if you aren't careful. Most people need a try or two before they get something that looks right. Though yes, you do need to keep the hat on."
Gedryn blinks up to the giant in confusion. "For real?" he can't believe the words that he's heard. Nope, can't be what he heard. "No...I couldn't possibly. I mean, this...this is amazing. I wouldn't...I couldn't..." Ahh, there's that working-class wizard upbringing; unable to accept a gift without at least attempting to refuse it once. Though clearly uncertain as to how he should proceed, it's not like he's throwing the cap back to the giant. In truth, one would be hard-pressed to pull the item from his hand at this point. "This ...I mean...I've never owned..."
Laughing some more, but trying to keep it down, Kaj shakes his gigantic, maned head and holds up his dinner-plate-sized palm. "It is a good story, is it not?" he smiles, "You may have some things to give me that aren't things later; I'm a dabbler in your worlds," he says, glancing at Mikilos before looking at Gedryn again. "If you feel like there is a debt; but it is not in the spirit in which it is given." He adds this knowing that cultures respond very differently to gifts, and he doesn't know where the youth is from. If they could see in his mind, he's thinking about a gift he /tried/ to make to an Ork warrior once...
Mikilos says, "Think of it as an investment. Remember this feeling right now. Won't be that long before you're a powerful magus yourself. Will be simple enough for you to give this feeling to someone else. Take those moments when you can, the world needs more of them."
Ged gleefully accepts the offer of the cap and sets it upon his head once more. This time, when he speaks the command word, he focuses his mind to recreate that which he sees before him. And, with at least a fair degree of accuracy, he transforms his robes back to how they looked before. Then, with a visible expression of concentration, he closes his eyes for a moment and shifts the robes to mimic those of Mikilos. Unfortunately, though comically, his concentration was a bit -too- tight and he's also transformed his appearance to match as well. Without knowing it, he's turned himself, at least through the illusion of the cap, into a hood-wearing, dawn elf.
"How do I look?" he asks opening his eeyes with a grin on his face - still having no clue that his ears have pointed, his eyes have changed and the like.
Kaj smiles, and reaches into to his side, producing a man-sized gilded fitted mirror from his magical haversack. He holds it up , tilting it sideways gingerly into Landscape mode, so that Mikilos and Mikilos can see both versions of ...Mikilos, at the same time.
Mikilos grins, reaching for his own pack, but Kaj beats him to it. The Orginal just tries to hold still and keep a straight face.
"Sweet Mother of the Stars!" Ged exclaims in surprise as his hands reach up to test just how 'real' the ears and eyes are. "I..." he stammers. "uh..." and he looks guiltily at Mikilos and quickly pulls the hood from his head to end the illusion. "Yes. I need -quite- a lot more practice..." And with that, he stuffs the cap into his satchel for now. For all he knows he could become a giant next and, well, where would that get him. Embarrased, he blushes a bit and smiles at the mistake. "My appologies Master," he intones with a slight bow of his head.
Kaj chuckles some more, and reaches out to pat Gedryn's shoulder (the shoulder and top of his arm being covered by the giantborn's hand, almost!). "Try to get into as much trouble as possible with it," he advises, then turns to Mikilos. "You have taken him as an apprentice?"
"No...I..." Ged quickly tries to correct.
Mikilos shakes his head. "No, I'm far too busy with other matters to take an apprentice, though I'm quite willing to offer what advice I might. And don't worry, I take no offence. It's said imitation is the sincerist form of flattery. But yes, practice, and have a mirror handy when you do." The magus blinks, and perks up a little, expression turning serious as he listens attentively.
Gedryn winces visibly as Kaj 'pats' at him. "I'm sorry Mas..." he catches himself before he uses the title once more. "...it's a force of habit. My teacher said tha tall wizards of a higher rank than I are to be called 'Master' though they may not be, in fact," he tries to move his shoulder slowly after the giant stops 'helping'. "...mine." With just a gentle touch to his shoulder, he makes sure that all of the bones are still where they should be.
"Thank you," he offers with the deepest of sincerity to the giant.
The blue-haired one nods along as Mikilos speaks, "I thought as much. I've always heard you do not take apprentices, so was surprised." He turns back to Gedryn, "You're most welcome. Perhaps we can trade stories and tricks some time," he adds, taking the fitting mirror and sliding it back in the Handy Haversack. "This world is so full of wonders, one must remain open to them coming from anywhere and anyone, no?" he adds, slapping the top of the table to emphasise his point, which makes the books--and people nearby--jump.
Mikilos mmms absently. "I am a Master craftsman, so technically correct regardless. But I need to go, is a customer at the shop." He stands, rolling up his nearly unused parchment, and frowns at the stack of unread books. Shrugging, the elf firmly presses his thumb to the spine of each in turn, before setting them at the edge of the table where finished books are placed for the librarians to re-shelve. "I'll just have to come back later. Ah well."
Slapping-giants bad! No-No, the owlcat familiar, was quite happy to be lounging on its back and letting the people give him scratches and pets but then all of a sudden, there's a loud whack and he jumps up with an irrate squawk. Now upon all four of its feet, the creature looks around nervously to figure out what's just happened. The self-scribing pen, dutifully copying the contents of the book, has jumped and left a wild scratch upon the new page. Noting Mikilos' need to leave, he stands from the table respectfully and grumbles absently at the mistake in inscription and turns to face the elf. "I shall visit your shop myself...soon enough. Good day to you sir..." he bows to the wizard.
The bow, however, is low enough that No-No decides that he can launch himself from the table to his master's shoulder for safety. Now with an hyper-vigilant owlcat upon his back, the creature ducks into his lowered hood for safety and keeps its large eyes trained upon the giant. "Hey...hey!" Ged calls back to the familiar in aggrivation.
Kaj pushes off the ground and stands. "I will take your leave as well, but only momentarily, Gedrey, as I need to find the translation partner for this tome...unless you speak this confounding tongue?" he asks, then turns to offer his hand to Mikilos, and it's obvious that's why he stood; to give a properly respectful good by to the Archmage.
Mikilos laughs at No-no's antics, and nods, clasping Kaj's hand with his own. He's no warrior, but he has worked as a blacksmith, it's not a weak grip. Well, to some standards at least. "You're both perfectly welcome to stop by when you've time. Can likely help translate if you like, though admit I don't grasp some of the linguistic distinctions like those who practice the craft. Anyway, I'd best be off now. Fare well." And then, the mage is gone. No puff of smoke, no flash of light. Just... gone. Wizards.