RPG Grove

78rpmlife wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:59 amAt the mention of Angousk's name, he scoffs, but lets Georg finish before he comments.

"If only so I can firmly squash the rumor, I am glad you brought this to me, Scholar. I've hardly spoken a handful of words to Emmenal Angousk in years. Needless to say, we do not often find ourselves in similar... social circles."

Antior lets the faintest hint of a smile twitch at his lips. On his face, that's as good as a laugh. Admittedly, it's not easy to see the Granite Master hobnobbing at a Merchant's Guild to-do.

"From your account, however, it seems quite likely that Angousk is well convinced that I am behind these orders and not just trading on my reputation to discipline his henchmen, otherwise he would not have responded to a suggestion of my displeasure in such a way," he continues on, rubbing thoughtfully at his jaw. "I'd rather like to know how he became so certain. And who convinced him. It was not me, I will swear on my name and my title that it was not me."

He drums his fingers on the desktop. "Someone might need to have a word with M. Angousk the elder to get to the truth of this."

Risine nods. "As you say. If there is one thing I know about our dear Headmaster, it's that he does love his leashes."

Adaye flickers a narrow-eyed look at her, but Risine takes it perfectly in stride. Asra's gotten that look from Adaye before. It says something about Risine that she's utterly unfazed by it.

"I wouldn't have thought so. I still have the schematics for them, I could make more if the opportunity arose, but if he could make them on his own, why would he have needed me in the first place?" Adaye says, shaking her head. "No, I would lay my reputation -- such as it is now -- on the fact that he couldn't do it. But... then who? The same person -- people more likely -- who made the power cores?"

Adaye responds first. "It's a very old symbol. I only know of it myself because Tullen offered to introduce me to the society it represents. The name is something in old Kasiali, I can't remember exactly."

"The Society of the Page. That's the translation of the old Kasiali name," Risine says quietly. "One of the oldest societies among a number of very old societies at the University at Hara. And one of the most secretive, in the sense that it's well-known to exist, but what their purpose is remains a very tightly held secret."

That's enough to trigger the memory of where she's seen the symbol before. Her harpy of a cousin, Eriona. They had never been close. In fact, Eriona quite obviously hated Asra from the moment they met, even as young girls. Which, as Asra grew older, made sense considering that Asra's mother and her younger sister, Eriona's mother, had a very similar relationship. Eriona took every opportunity to lord some miniscule accomplishment or perceived honor over Asra, making it abundantly clear who she thought was the more appropriate heir to their family's legacy. When she had been accepted into the University at Hara while Asra had not, that was Eriona's sign that the gods indeed had a plan for her ascent. Not long after that, she would show up to family functions wearing the symbol as a pendant. Asra tries to recall if Eriona had said anything specific about this mysterious and mystical society, but at the moment all she can remember is that Eriona was especially insufferable in those days and bragged about her exaltation to anyone who would listen. If this society was indeed so secretive, the chances are good that they found a convenient tower window to push Eriona out of.

One can only hope.

Something nags at the back of Asra's mind though. The Headmaster is not Kasiali nor did he attend the University at Hara. He has always been affiliated with the School of Seven Stones, and there has always been an uneasy rivalry at best and outright hatred at worst between the two institutions. Why is he affiliated with one of their most exclusive societies? Is it more than just a University society? Has he simply co-opted their sigils for some unknown purpose?

"I have some references back in my office that might have more information, but this might be a tough nut to crack," Risine says, tapping her lips with one finger, then a slow smile dawns over her features. "Actually, you know who you might talk to... Tenimo Aqueras."

Asra knows of Honored Aqueras. Even though he's faculty in Opal, his expertise is in the history of magic and theories of its origins. She's heard Eldarin mention the seminar course he teaches. Plus, they and Garnyn have recently discussed some of their findings with him. But why he'd know more about--

Before that thought can go much further, Adaye speaks up. "Tenimo collects tidbits of knowledge like a sponge collects water. As much as he's traveled, if anyone not a member of this society knows more about them, he'd be a strong candidate."

AftermathGM wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 4:26 am
"Oh good," says Garnyn, though he's got an unfocused look in his eyes that suggests he might have said 'oh good' to a declaration that Jade College was considering a name change to 'Pedants Unlimited'. He dutifully follows/allows himself to be dragged. After a few steps, he asks, "Did we catch them yet? I can't... remember."

He stumbles then, his arm slipping from Iana's grasp, but manages to catch himself with a hand against one of the shelves. He bumps a case -- Iana recognizes the style, it's got panes of memory glass inside -- which teeters on the edge of falling off the shelf, but miraculously as Garnyn straightens again, he nudges the case with his shoulder and pushes it back to a less precarious position.

"Everythin' all right over there?" a voice calls. When Iana looks over, she realizes it's old Rogh, one of the building maintenance men. He's almost as short as a dwarf, just as stocky, and considering how mechanically inclined he is, most people assume he actually is a dwarf. Except for actual dwarves, who can't seem to understand why anyone would mistake him for such. He's standing near the lift platform scaffolding, one of the platforms paused a few feet above his head, and has paused in the act of putting away his tools.

Ianaeveli Tigenet wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 10:49 pm "Oh, Rogh!" Iana has a genuine - if increasingly strained - smile for the maintenance man: he isn't close enough to be a friend, but he's a familiar face. Whether he recognizes her face among the countless students and scholars that go through his building every day, she is less certain. Still, she doesn't have time to dwell on any of that, not when she can fairly hear the culprit's footsteps getting farther away every second.

"Actually," she continues quickly, "my friend is - er - not feeling well. Are the lift platforms working well enough for us to use one?"

She omits, of course, that she will use it to go up rather than (as she assumes he assumes) down; but Rogh doesn't need to know that. Or, she supposes, he'll find out soon enough.

Georg Elsebethson wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:20 pm "Alright, I'm not saying a don't believe you, but I think we should dig into this a bit more. So let's say someone wanted to use Angousk while covering their tracks with your name. Why you?" Georg waves a hand. "I mean, it's no secret that you aren't happy with the current state of affairs, so maybe a weasel like Angousk could believe that you would want to do something about it." Corrupt men always believed that everyone was also corrupt, after all. "But what would make it plausible to him that you would enlist him in making it happen? More to the point, who would pick that as the hook to make him bite?"

AftermathGM wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 9:43 pmAntior says nothing for a long, silent moment, looking back at Georg with that detached, calculation look he gets. Finally he draws in a heavy breath and releases it with a sigh. "This is a lesson in 'be careful what you wish for'. I should have expected any investigator worth their salt would find a way to expose my own regretful indiscretions."

Before Georg can panic over what this might mean, Antior holds up his hands. "I spoke no lie when I said I had no knowledge of or involvement with the box. Nor did I like when I said I hadn't spoken to Emmenal Angousk in years." He looks away then, his rigid posture softening a little. "Before that, however..."

AftermathGM wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 9:43 pm"I know how Novices and Scholars gossip, of course. I was one myself, once, though I would estimate I gossiped at least 75% less than the average." One gets the feeling he might have actually calculated that figure to at least two decimal places. "So I will take an educated guess and assume that it is, if not common knowledge, at least whispered about that I have not always seen eye to eye with our Headmaster. I argued extensively for a greater role for the School in ending the War, for greater engagement and involvement in the community outside our walls and beyond our shores, but the isolationist faction ruled the day."

He drums his fingers on the desktop. "I may have been indiscreet in expressing my frustration in improper places. Emmenal Angousk in particular took an interest. Of all the members of the Merchant's Guild I know, he was always the most vocal about maintaining trade and ties to other nations and organizations outside of Meriava." Clearing his throat, he continues. "Once the decision was made, however, I cut off all such talk. My duty was clear at the time -- support the School and its leadership. So it seems feasible that someone who knew of my past ties with Angousk might have used them as an exploit to gain his cooperation in my name."

78rpmlife wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 7:57 pm
"Oh!" Rogh says, clapping his heavy hands and dry-washing them. "Well then! You'd better get him to a healer!" he cries. On cue, Garnyn groans and wobbles. Rogh pauses as he turns toward the lift platform and looks back at Garnyn with eyes widening. In a stage whisper to Iana, he says, "If he's got time before Occasa's final embrace."

"Let me just..." he starts before trailing off. He begins closing up an access panel on the underside of the platform, then stops. "Just a second while I..." He reaches into the exposed mechanism and turns a knob. It pops off in his hand. He holds it out in front of him on an open palm. "Don't think that was supposed to... oh."

He gives a companionable laugh, looks over his shoulder at Iana and says, "I'll just put this back on. Don't you worry. Two shakes of a lamb's tail."

Indeed, he does reattach the knob and moves a lever. There's an encouraging whir from the interior. "Repulsor's at 93 percent. Sure like that to be a bit higher..." It's possible he's already forgotten about his potential passengers again; he's reaching for his toolbag again when

Garnyn says -- unexpectedly loudly -- "Are we going to ride the platform? That's exciting."

Rogh is halfway to adjusting the repulsor mechanism, his very complicated-looking wrench in mid-air. "Right. 93 percent it is." He clamps the access panel shut and pushes the platform call button. Nothing happens. He pushes it again. Still nothing.

{b]"Well, Altam's dirty toenails, what now?"[/b] he says. A second later, he laughs weakly. "Silly me. Forgot to power the call system on."

He pulls a device from one of the voluminous pockets of his maintenance overalls and taps it with one stubby finger, nods in satisfaction, then pushes the call button again. This time, the platform descends smoothly and stops exactly at their floor. Rogh steps to the side and gestures to the platform with a bow and a flourish. "Your chariot, m'lady."

Asralynn Beauchaud wrote: ↑Wed Mar 05, 2025 3:04 pm Fidgeting with her hands in mild discomfort, Asra wonders about sharing her theory on this as well. But, even at the risk of sounding crazy, offloading some of her worries to those that may know better seemed a wise course of action. "I don't think its that simple. I was able to get a close look at them while Rothenend stepped out of his office to get my permissions in order. Each and every one of them had your seal on them..." she informs her. "I think we may be dealing with another of you. From a different reality."

She goes on to explain, especially for Risine's benefit, all that she knew about these alternate worlds that closely resembled theirs, how some people had been slipping through, how some people could even interact with these other realities. And then explained that there's a great possibility that Rothenend knows about this as well, and if he needed it, could probably contract another Adaye to build what this Adaye had already accomplished.

"But how are they 'slipping through', as you put it? What's making this possible? If it were commonplace, or even simply rare but not unheard of, I would think we would be familiar with this sort of thing already," says Risine, rubbing thoughtfully at her chin, eyes narrowed. "Not that I don't believe you. You've clearly done a great deal more looking into this. I simply don't like it when I don't understand how things work. A failing of mine."

"The power cores," Adaye says finally. "The last thing I was working on before... this," she continues, gesturing at the tiny room. "suggests that somehow these devices interact with the magic of the Wards. Feed off it, even, though I don't believe the Wards alone are enough to power them, not if my calculations are right. I don't have my notes, so I can't be certain, but I'm confident. It's the blackstone that provides the difference."

"Blackstone?" Risine says in surprise. "You're kidding. Tell me you're kidding."

Adaye shakes her head. "I wish I was. Someone willing to sacrifice their own magic to feed the blackstone would be able to power the device. Again, calculations may not be correct. It's possible..." She trails off, looking away again, expression tight with anguish.

"Adaye?" Risine says. "What is it?"

Adaye sighs, her eyes sliding closed. "It's possible that someone -- and the most likely candidate seems to be the man I thought to be my mentor and friend -- is bringing people through from other pages in order to power these devices. Or to power... something. The logic is too circular for him to simply be powering these cores in order to power more cores. They must do something else, or be part of something bigger."