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Post by moralhazard on Feb 9, 2019 17:48:46 GMT
“Oh!” Thea blinked at Arioch. “Well, no, I can’t,” she glanced ruefully down at her hands. “I’m sure there are some wizards who can,” Thea wrinkled her nose, unsure how to explain.
Arioch was new in Waterdeep; from what he’d said today, Thea was nearly confident they didn’t have magic users in the icy mountains, or if they did, it wasn’t well-understood. How to explain?
“For some, they can learn any magic, if they have a will to,” Thea said, finally. “But most specialize - like you might want to focus on one type of weapon. I can’t learn to touch fire with my bare hands, but - I have some power over lighting and wind.” Thea shrugged a little, as if dismissing it.
“No dresses?” Thea giggled. “Oh, and it’s winter, so you wouldn’t have seen...” she giggled again. “It’s clothing, for women mostly - all of one piece, with skirts at the bottom rather than pants. Not much use, but they make you feel - beautiful.”
“Diamonds do look a bit like glass,” Thea said, thoughtfully. “They have hard edges, usually, not soft like a bead. There’s a deep splendor to them. Unlike glass, though, they’re rather expensive. You can’t shape them either, only chip away - like a rock - to change the shape. One diamond might cost a year’s wages for some here. Maybe more, if it’s big enough.”
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 9, 2019 21:05:55 GMT
"Are the dresses magical?" He questioned then, though it was mostly a joke there was an underlying degree of almost legitimate curiosity to the question. "Making people feel beautiful just by vearing it."
Her explanation of magic was rather interesting, he had no idea about the subject and learning this already was a lot. He thought magic was just something that people did and that they could do whatever they wanted with it, in the same manner that for example strong people could find a lot of ways to use that strength. That they would specialize in something was... not what he had in mind, but it only made sense if he thought about it hard enough. Or at least he pretended it did, in his mind.
"I see... That sounds really poverful though, like can you make storms for example? You could flood this city if the fancy struck you"
As he said it he looked to the opposite side and he wondered whether she actually could or not, or would eventually be able to. The thought as... not exactly frightening but quite. Puzzling more than frightening. If she could do that, why should she be taken by surprise by some random thugs? Why wasn't the whole city giving her tribute in order to be left alive. Why wasn't she worshipped as a queen?
"That must be a pretty rock really... Are they so expensive?" Arioch was almost baffled, he wouldn't say it out loud there but he couldn't understand why someone would pay so much just for a pretty rock. He understood the allure, but so long as it was manageable and it made sense. However a year's pay for a rock? The rock better granted the owner some kind of power because otherwise... That led him to the next subject.
"Are there magics about... vell, creating magical objects? For instance there vas something magical vhere I come from, though I don't really know much about it myself. There vas a man named Olaf, he became pretty vell known because the ladies said he vas really good in the mat. However most said it as if they resented him for it... But eventually some other voman would be saying the same thing vith the same tone, and sometimes two of them vould hold conversations together frustrated about how good Olaf vas in the mat. After a vhile ve learned the truth from Olaf himself... See he vanted to be good in the mat and thus vhen a ship came by he vent on board and tried to trade for something that vould make it so. The best they could offer vas a potion but it vouldn't really do anything for that."
He made a small pause and then his hand made a small gesture like that of a coin, or a medallion
"Until someone there had an idea and they sold him this amulet. Vhile it didn't make him great in the mat, it made it so anyone vho slept vith him vhen he talked about the subject later on could only speak of how good he vas. Turned out he vas disappointingly bad, and that vas vhy those affected by the spell vere so frustrated about it. One ve took the amulet of him, the effect ended."
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 10, 2019 0:20:21 GMT
“No, no,” Thea said, hastily. “I couldn’t do anything like that. I’m not – I’m not very powerful, honestly. Not compared to many others. I – you already saw a good deal of what I can manage today,” she grinned, sheepishly. “Your fish did much worse than I did,” she smiled at Arioch. If it was a slight exaggeration, Thea didn’t worry too much about it; Arioch did seem to find her magic interesting, but Thea didn’t really care for talking about it.
Thea giggled. “They are pretty, but… well, not so pretty as a year’s wages! All the same, if I didn’t have to pay for one I’d happy have it. They are very beautiful, honestly, and… everyone knows they are expensive, so I think they’d admired all the more for it.”
Thea started to answer, yes, magical objects were made all the time – she almost explained how she could make some herself – but Arioch launched into his story. Her eyes widened, and Thea stared at Arioch, wanting to look away but somehow unable to. A dark blue blush stained over her cheeks. In the… mat?
Thea had spent several formative years shipboard. She knew plenty of foul language herself; the phrase ‘cursing like a sailor’ was, in her opinion, deeply meaningful. But… perhaps she’d been too young? There had never been any foul talk around her, at least not in language she’d understood well. Perhaps her mother had forbidden it? Thea well believed she could have enforced such a command.
And – perhaps it was the culture in Sembia, but in her family such things were not spoken of, not quite so… publicly. Thea had whispered about such things with girlfriends, after all, and with Dom she had – well. It was not as though she didn’t understand what Arioch meant, nor as if she had never…
It must be just another cultural difference, Thea decided. And, in truth, the story was pretty funny; from someone she knew better, Thea was sure she would have enjoyed it. As it was, she was a bit afraid to laugh, not wanting Arioch to get the wrong idea about her.
“I – I’ve never heard of anything like that,” Thea said, finally. She glanced at Arioch, still blushing fiercely. “I… there are plenty of magical items, though,” she cleared her throat. “All sorts of magics around those. Many glassblowers, actually, can make spelled glass. Sometimes we use the magic ourselves, other times with a wizard or some such.”
“Mirrors,” Thea continued, happy to change the subject, “for example, they’re a popular source of magic. It’s possible to make a mirror which will show you the image of someone you seek, even if they’re across the world.”
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 14, 2019 5:11:09 GMT
He found it hard to believe a wizard couldn't do better than a fish against a head, but maybe it was that Thea was an apprentice and that was why it was hard for her to do magic on a grander scale... But he just couldn't understand it. Just how did wizards train to get better then? For warriors it was simple, you fought a lot, you practiced a lot, and you tried to hone both your body and your mind. Mostly your body though, there was not much to be done about the mind in the way of reading books or studying something. In fact, he couldn't even read so there was that.
Arioch nodded then, certainly they agreed. He had questions, however.
"And where would one find such a diamond? Must they be crafted, kind of like you do with your glassblowing or... Are they encased in the earth, like iron?"
With his story he had come to realise the change in coloration in the woman's face, he thought it was really particular. The way her hair shifted and seemed to move constantly but slowly, those deep blue colors that rose up to the surface every now and then. But it was truly the eyes that gave her away, and helped him finally recognize it as a kind of blushing. He had a hard time figuring out the reason, however. That confirmed his suspicions.
"That's lucky then, now you know it" Added with a smirk "In case you see something like that happening around Waterdeep."
He had been wary about strange amulets ever since, himself, though it was fairly rare and strange to find a magic item in itself, Waterdeep had plenty of such devices as far as he had seen. Not that he knew their uses, but he knew magical items were more commonplace around these parts of the world.
"What?"
He was dumbfounded
"Really?"
He said. It should have been true, but his belicose mind hadn't come up with those subtle yet useful uses yet, he was so used to doing war and fighting, and it played such a huge role in his life currently that he felt righteously dumb for not thinking of that at some point or another. His expression was then between concerned and curious.
"But will it show you that person in any context? At any time"
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 14, 2019 5:21:53 GMT
“They’re in the earth,” Thea explained, cheerfully. She wasn’t an expert, hardly, but she knew a thing or two. “I think they form deep in mountains. It takes a lot of heat and pressure to make a diamond, they say, so – they’re mostly deep underground, to start. Of course, like iron, you’d also find a lot in Waterdeep, or other cities – in shops, in jewelry, things like that.”
Thea quite cheerfully ignored Arioch’s smug suggestion that now she would be better equipped to deal with any such – such amulets. She was quite sure such a situation would never arise for her, and didn’t see the need to dignify the comment with any sort of response. She even managed, albeit barely, to keep from blushing any deeper, taking a few deep breaths and feeling the heat on her cheeks lessen, hoping valiantly that the color would fade as well.
“Really!” Thea smiled at Arioch. “I’ve seen them myself. During my apprenticeship, I helped make some even – one of the glassmakers in the shop, they were his speciality. He could make full length ones, hand mirrors, even little tiny ones,” Thea held her fingers an inch apart to demonstrate, “but they’d still work to show you the person you want to see.”
“The way they work varies a little, though,” Thea smiled at him. “The ones he made were spelled to one person, so – it would work quite well, show you that person with just a thought or a touch, where ever they were, whenever you wanted. There are others where it’s more flexible, who you see? They can be used to show you many different places or different people, but those tend to be a bit trickier to manage. You have to really focus, they say, to get the right person or place. Maybe there are other kinds, but those are the ones I've seen."
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 14, 2019 5:35:06 GMT
"Thats... Thats crazy"
He declared
"So you could just spy on anyone you've ever vanted, vithout them knowing? How do I know there is not a vizard vatching us right now, doing gods know vhat?"
He proposed, while this certainly would not be a real case scenario as he was sure a Wizard would have better things to do... but did they though? Did they, really? Like he supposed if a wizard's life was to study all the time the would have jumped off a cliff long ago, no way. No, they must have some kind of fun. Some kind of puny, physically weak fun. And spying on other people could be right down their alley with their mysterious ways and knowledge hoarding.
He paused for another bit, and kind of squinted a bit as he looked down into Thea's eyes.
"Do... Do you have one of these mirrors?"
If that were true... If that were true she could have been watching anyone at any time doing anything, on one side yes it made them a great tool for spying and getting the right knowledge and everything you can say, but on the other hand, the mundane uses were... Well they could be mischievous, specially in the hands of anyone bored enough to be able to pull it out.
An idea crossed his mind like a falling star then.
"Are this mirrors only used with people, or can you vatch places too?"
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 14, 2019 5:57:37 GMT
Thea giggled, smiling at Arioch. It didn’t seem crazy to her – she’d grown up with mage mirrors, being from a glass artisan family, and she could remember using them from a young age. “Well, um – I never thought about that. I guess you could? I think you need to know something about the person, to anchor them in the mirror or to find them, if it’s general purpose but… yes, someone could be watching us, I guess,” Thea giggled again. “I can’t imagine why they’d want to. I think it’s also harder if you’re moving – some mirrors could track us down the street, others’d have a hard time with it. It takes an expensive one to do it properly.”
“… me?” Thea blinked at Arioch. “No, I don’t,” she blinked again. She could have, she supposed; Edwin would almost certainly have given her one, at least one of his hand mirrors, if she’d asked. But, then, there wasn’t any one person she’d want to follow, and Thea had never been a big fan of sitting and gazing into a mirror.
“Some can allow you to watch places,” Thea said. “I think you can spell one to focus on a particular place – like a doorway, or a room. I believe it’s very hard to make and use mirrors that can find any place, even harder than it is for the ones that can find any people, but – I’m not sure. Perhaps it just isn’t the specialty of the glassmaker I know.”
Thea paused. “… Where would you watch?” She asked, curiously, wondering if he had something particular in mind.
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 22, 2019 15:24:18 GMT
His thoughts paused at the dress, thinking out loud.
"Well, it's not that different from the amulet, really. But kind of like in reverse, they make you feel beautiful. Maybe I'll try one. See if I feel beautiful."
Offered with an invisible smirk, his tone leaving it up to interpretation if it was a jest or something genuine. It would, depending on the kind of dress, offer some measure of freedom even while fighting, to be sure. He was sure someone, somewhere, was already doing it. Maybe even whole tribes. The talk of diamonds he kept on the inside like treasured knowledge, he would know now a bit more about diamonds and still he would have liked to know more but the moment was dawning on them. The fisherman he had a deal with was nearby, he could see the man in the distance; his clothes wet, his white beard ragged and moist, hat on his head tending his net.
He tilted his head, thinking for a moment. It made sense what she was saying but for the most part whenever he was presented with such situations he thought of it as a problem to solve, not as something to nod and let go. He had still plenty of things to learn about human interaction as well, or how to be a good listener among other things... Or a good conversation, for that matter, without throwing a cascade of questions onto his interlocutor.
"But can't you do it with lightning? Like smite what you need until it's melted and... not burn yourself that way? What about... making... static... lightning? Like a lightning sword?"
He paused in absolute awe
"Can you do that? I mean... it's lightning!"
The fisherman turned his head and saw him approaching in the distance, pursing his lips in recognition; they would be upon him any second now lest they decided to jump into the harbor instead or crashed into someone.
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 22, 2019 16:35:40 GMT
Thea began to giggle at the thought of her hurling lightning bolts at glass. She had tried so hard, their whole conversation, not to laugh at Arioch – most of his questions were out of lack of experience, not willful ignorance or stupidity – but something about the image of her sitting in the studio chucking lightning bolts one by one at glass until it melted was just a little too funny.
“I don’t think,” Thea began to giggle again; she couldn’t quite manage to stop laughing, and it was giving her a rather painful stitch in the side, so she stopped walking, doubling over a little and massaging her ribs. She took a deep breath, carefully straightening up.
“I’m sorry,” Thea let out a last giggle, rubbing her eyes. “It was just such a funny image! I’m not really a smelter, though, I just use fire to melt down the glass, I think the lightning would probably just scorch it,” she giggled again. “Maybe I could make some – designs with it?” She knew, extremely well and intimately, the sort of marks lightning could leave on its targets. “I’ll have to think about it. Anyway, it’s not that I couldn’t melt the glass, but just – it’s a pretty intricate specialty, mirror-making, especially magic mirror-making. I’ve never really tried.”
“I can’t make static lightning,” Thea hesitated, then shrugged and plunged ahead. “I can make lightning armor, though,” she grinned at Arioch. “It doesn’t really shock anyone, but I’ve been told it looks pretty cool.”
Arioch was slowing a little, and up ahead Thea could see what looked like a white-bearded fisherman waiting for their approach. She offered the older man a smile, giving Arioch a little nudge in the ribs with her elbow, expecting him to take the lead in negotiations. She would do what she could; the damage to the fish was her fault, and Thea really did want to find a way that Arioch wouldn't have to pay for coming to her rescue.
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 22, 2019 23:07:38 GMT
"Vhat?"
He said genuinely impressed
"Lightning armor? But vith like the... flash and everything?"
That was the best thing ever
"I vant one"
Said, impulsively, like he needed one, just as they finally neared the fisherman, who regarded the pair with an arched eyebrow. Mostly aimed at the fish that he kept waggling back and forth. He was sitting near a makeshift stall where he offered freshly captured fishes and seafood to eat in the moment, along with some packed rice and seaweeds. Pretty tasty, from what Arioch had had the pleasure of tasting.
"Ey"
The man had a hoarse voice, deep but like he was speaking from the bottom of a barrel and had to keep the tone up just to make himself heard. When they were finally in front of him he rose his head up finally, net still in his hands.
"What do you bring me today?"
Arioch paused for a second before bringing the fish up and shrugging a bit
"What the-"
"It's fresh, I give you my word but it fell, unto someone else's face, several times-"
"Is this a joke?"
"Not really, well I mean it must look like a joke but I had to, it's what I had in hand at the moment and if I used my sword I would have killed someone I wasn't sure I was allowed to kill within the city, and I've been warned about that. Also maybe I misread the situation and ended up clogging someone I shouldn't have, so I figured maybe a fish wasn't so deadly as a sword. It must have hurt like getting slapped by a slippery bear but not as deadly. I think, I mean they were still alive and the fish held out pretty well. It's a strong fish, pretty healthy too."
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 23, 2019 1:32:27 GMT
“With the flash and everything!” Thea said, cheerfully. She laughed at Arioch, once more. “It’s not permanent, it doesn’t last but – I could, um, put it on you for a bit sometime, if you want,” Thea grinned at him. “You can’t be wearing any real armor for it to work, unfortunately. I’m not really sure if it’s as good as, you know, real armor, but – if you don’t have it, or it’s too heavy for you, or, uh, anything else like that, it does help quite a bit.”
Thea paused. “And it looks great,” she laughed, happy to have the last word in.
Finally, they were at the fisherman. Thea hung back a little, letting Arioch do the talking, and inwardly dying a little with each awkward explanation he gave. She wasn’t sure how much better she could have done, but also – Thea couldn’t quite help herself.
“Pardon me,” she took a half step forward, interjecting herself into the conversation. She smiled at the fisherman. “Arioch is being modest. I was,” a blue blush colored her cheeks, “attacked, by two big men, and he came to my defense with only that fish.” Thea lowered her eyes, modestly. “If he hadn’t been there, I’m not sure what would have happened to me.”
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 27, 2019 22:21:28 GMT
"Huhg..." The man growled as he turned his gaze from the shakespearian barbarian to gaze at the fairer of the two, a bit puzzled about her part in all of these. Certainly, she contrasted rather harshly against the man. The story sounded to his ears like pure fantasy and a poorly made up excuse but the fact that Thea was backing it up made him actually consider it for a bit. She did seem like a more reputable sort, although embarassed from being dragged into the whole situation probably. He tossed another glance at Arioch, almost accusatory. Back at her. It was like he wanted to believe her but a fish being used as a weapon instead of fists? Why? It wasn't like the boy was scrawny. It was the craziest excuse he had heard in years.
"Well, alright." He finally spat out the words. "Let's say I do give credit to your words, if only out of respect for the lady"
His tone changed when he addressed her
"I ain't callin' you a liar"
It was slightly softer, almost conciliatory, before going back to that old raspy tone he had been using all along when he replied to Arioch
"But I still can't buy that from you, who's going to eat that now?"
His veredict did not came as a surprise for Arioch but still he sighed with a little bit of frustration. He didn't regret it though, he'd do it again in a heartbeat but he still had a faint hope that everything would come around and that the man would accept the fish due to... goodwill, or something. Still, it was okay.
"Yes... I guessed so..."
He said then looking down at the fish. He didn't look like he was about to haggle about it either. He turned his head to look at Thea.
"It's alright"
Said, a slight tilt of his head conveying the lightness of the subject at hand. It wasn't a big deal, not at all.
"It's just a fish"
He offered to her
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 27, 2019 22:43:57 GMT
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fisherman refused the fish.
Thea offered him a grateful smile when he said - however truthfully - that he believed them. Unfortunately, but as expected, the fisherman wasn’t exactly able to sell the fish based on its history.
“Perhaps -“ Thea interjected again, still soft and delicate. She bit her lip, looking at the fisherman, then at Arioch. “It’s just... I feel somewhat responsible for this.” She lowered her gaze again, as if building up the courage to speak.
Honestly, it wasn’t that far from the truth; Thea was beyond nervous about her plan, not at all sure it would work, and very much hoping to get the fisherman’s agreement, as much for her own sake as Arioch’s.
“Perhaps we might make a trade?” Thea began. “You see - I’m a glassblower,” Thea smiled at the fisherman again, her most charming smile. “A member of the guild, but new to Waterdeep. Perhaps I could make you a glass sign - modeled on this fish - for your stall.”
“Imagine it like - like a fish made of glass,” Thea was warming to the subject. “Scales glistening, colorful - light enough to hang from your stall, study enough not to break. It would draw the eye of everyone who passed!”
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Arioch
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Post by Arioch on Feb 28, 2019 1:05:22 GMT
Arioch looked at her arching his brow a little. Responsible? what was she responsible for, exactly? It wasn't like she had chosen to get jumped by unpleasant men in an alley.
"A glass sign?" Said the men echoing the gesture Arioch was making times one hundred. He wasn't quite understanding what did the woman's trade had to do with anything in regards to the current situation.
"I think I don't need any sign right now, though I appreciate the thought..." And he wasn't sure he could afford one or that it was a necessary investment either. That, and the fact that being modeled after a broken fish wasn't really... inspiring, even if it was a pretty as the woman was making it sound. Exemplified by the way he looked at the fish when he said it, like he was slightly disgusted by it's one-eyed visage.
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Post by moralhazard on Feb 28, 2019 1:21:51 GMT
Thea tracked the fisherman’s eye to the fish laying limply in Arioch’s hands, and immediately realized her mistake.
“It wouldn’t look exactly like this fish,” Thea continued, as if coming to the thought herself. “But the size would be similar, the color of the scales, like the fish was - er - before the incident.” She smiled at the fisherman.
“I wouldn’t underestimate the power of a sign,” Thea’s voice soared again, filled with enthusiasm. “The fish is the most important thing, of course. No sign could change that. No one would buy fish from a place just because it has a beautiful sign.”
Thea paused, letting her words sink in. “But!” Her eyes widened a little, and she leaned forward, ever so slightly. “But a sign can catch the eye of a new customer, get them to your stall. A sign can bring someone here, instead of elsewhere on the docks, and give you the chance to let them try the fish you sell. Once they see the fish themselves, once they know the quality? Then they’ll be a customer again and again.”
Thea smiled, settling back down, voice soft and encouraging. “All I want is a fish from you as a model for the size and shape,” Thea paused, meaningfully, “and the promise that you’ll at least try using the sign - and, if anyone happens to ask where it came from, that you’ll point them to me.”
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