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[thearchitect] image/text

[ The photograph attached to the post depicts the front of a small shop called Polydegmon's Lapidary and Brew. It's got that 'new store' look, where everything looks pristine and nothing has been touched by grime or dust settling in the corners yet. It's not the most terribly modern-looking place (look, the rent was cheap).

He wouldn't even be advertising it here if a certain someone didn't bug him to. Honestly, he could do without the publicity... ]

I am now accepting commissions as a goldsmith and alchemist. My hours are from midday to six, weekdays only. Or whatever it is you call them. No, my prices are not negotiable.

[ Attached beneath the above terse remark is the address to the store. ]

Additionally, I will NOT accept requests for items to use in warfare of any sort. At all. If I find that you have done so then I will make sure you regret it for the remainder of your days.

(ooc: Please respect that a character will suffer some kind of IC consequence if they try and use his products as IC war propaganda or in serious IC war efforts. Doubly so if they deceive him for it.

[CW: Discussions of warfare in certain threads. Please use discretion when reading.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think it's okay to ask for gold in exchange for work that you do.

[In his world even heroes get paycheques. People have to make a living! Have to make money to buy food and have a roof over their heads!]

I'd really like to stop by soon, if that's alright? I've just started working on transmuting crystals into workable magic conductors. But I wonder if gold would be a useful conductor too...

[He wants to exchange notes!! And see this really amazing shop.]

Transmuting crystals, you say? That could be very useful indeed.

In my world, gold was the best resister of magic power. The Garlean armour would plate its armour and machina to reduce the impact of spells. I never thought that might be different here.

Come by later this week. I will set aside some gold scrap for us to test.

Edited 2021-05-09 11:38 (UTC)

I managed to pick up a few extra amethysts the other day as well. I can bring them with me! They seem to resonate with magic in this world. It's amazing!

I've heard gold is a great conductor for sound and electrical currents. If it's a resistor or a conductor here? I think I want to find out.

Thank you, I'll stop by during the right hours!

[Time to get their SCIENCE ON.]

[ Emet-Selch leaves directions to the shop for Izuku. When the boy arrives, he'll see the shop is fairly empty. There ARE a few people stopping by outside to examine the front window display, but high-end jewellery is not something that attracts a large crowd by its nature.

Which is exactly how he likes it.

The peace and quiet means he's focused intently on his work at a bench behind the counter when Izuku enters. A quiet khrr from his gwiber familiar prompts him to look up. ]

Ah, there you are. Welcome.

[Getting to see the new shop in person is even better than a clip on the network. Izuku looks up at the sharp new establishment with a curious look of awe! And when he steps inside that same look of awe is on his face until the dragon-like creature nearby makes a noise at him.]

Aheee-!?

[Startled and jumpy, he throws his hands up in surprise! ... Sorry- He hasn't seen a whole lot of fantasy creatures like this in real life like this before-!! He puts his hand on his chest. It's just a familiar...??]

Phew... H-hello, Emet-Selch-san...! It's- This place is amazing. [...!] I've brought some of the crystals I've been working on, too!

[ The gwiber makes another sound and lets its head fall back on to its paws. Just a nervous boy. No-one to be wary of.

Emet-Selch sets his tools down and slips off his stool, stretching his back. Slumping with a sigh, he beckons Izuku to join him behind the counter. ]

'Tis hardly 'amazing' but thank you. Give me a few moments to clear this away...

[ He quickly but carefully clears the bench of the piece he had been working on before Izuku's arrival. It's some kind of bracelet, it seems. Or a pendant. ]

How did a boy like you come to possess so many precious stones, hmm?

[Just a nervous but eager and excited boy. Izuku gives a smile, his eyes still wide with how amazing he does think this place is. It's cool...! He follows where he's beckoned although his eyes are looking all-around at the new shop still.]

Erm- I was exploring some of the caverns outside of the city. They're deep in the forests but I managed to find some useful ones inside of geodes when I went with some friends.

[He'll put his bag on the counter. And rummage around for a moment before pulling out a carefully packed up selection of crystal clear purple amethysts and a strange colored blue one he isn't sure what kind it is. Yet!]

[ He peers at the amethysts with interest. Perhaps he is a tiny bit biased, but he does adore the colour. ]

I may have to make a trip of my own sometime then. I would have thought them more difficult to find.

[ With his workspace cleared, he now brings out the container where he's been saving all the gold pieces that have been rendered useless in the course of his work. Easy fodder for alchemists like them to reshape. ]

What do you hope to create from these stones?

Yeah, I was surprised when I found them. I think crystals are more common here than in my homeworld, at least...!

[Who knew! In a fantasy world that crystals would be a hot commodity!]

After doing some research I did find out that certain crystals can enhance magic or at least support it in ways like stabilizing it or concentrating it. Like light magic...

[He glances curiously at the gold pieces as well.]

If you're working on goldsmithing, combining the two might be useful!

Indeed. Gems such as these would be used as the focii for thaumaturgy in my world. Black magic. Sorcery. The way the crystals grow is important, as it can magnify the aether one channels through it and thus--

[ Off he goes on a short ramble about the use of crystals where he's from. Deku is free to interrupt him - or take notes as the case may be. The same magical rules may not apply in Avalon but his spiel is in-depth and educational. ]

...In any case, crafting a piece of jewellery from what we have is the common usage. But if you would like a weapon that focuses your power then mayhap we can manage some sort of setting for a staff.

[Don't worry he won't be doing any interrupting. Instead, Izuku will be pulling out a notebook from seemingly nowhere (anime hammerspace?) and starts writing notes about everything that Emet-Selch is saying. With a nod of his head at each word, hanging on the information with a curious mutter on his lip! As someone who can also go off on a ramble about all sorts of things, he can relate. What a nerd. But this stuff is great to him!]

Aether... If those sorts of concepts are the same as the ones here then... Older, specially shaped crystals would be more efficient, right?

[He looks up with a nod. A sparkle in his eye!]

Do you think we could set something into a broadsword instead?

Gemstones such as the amethysts you have brought have particular structures which make them more suited to channelling the aether of certain combat styles.

[ He hums thoughtfully, tapping his chin as he eyes Deku's...well, rather scrawny figure. Comparatively speaking anyway. ]

But that, of course, may well be different here. Are you a swordsman, boy? You don't look as though you have the upper body strength to swing such a weapon.

Eh-?

[... He doesn't?! Izuku looks sheepish and embarrassed for a moment as he sweats and pats his upper arms. Yes- he does look like a frail nerdy nerd at first glance, doesn't he? He's not short but he's not particularly tall either. With a boyish face and lean frame.

... But-] I- I'm stronger than I look... I hope! I mean- I am!

[He has a hard time selling or complimenting himself sometimes but it's true!! Underneath the loose-fitting tshirt he's actually... very toned.]

I've been training with a two-handed broadsword and it's been going okay! I was thinking if I could enhance it with magic or the stones... It might be useful too!

I see. In that case...

[ He walks over to a box shelf which contains a few books and pulls one out, flipping pages until he comes to the entry on properties of gemstones and crystals. ]

Amethysts will enhance the power of siphoners and light magic users. Are you either one of those?

[............

He hangs his head so hard.]

I don't have either of those... my secondary skill is blood magic...

[They'll have to get different crystals!]

[ Glancing towards the boy, he cannot help but chuckle at their open dejection. He replaces the book on the shelf and heads towards an open doorway that leads to the back room. ]

Wait there a moment. I shall be right back.

[ There is the sound of wooden drawers opening and shutting. Muttering in a foreign language. Then finally he emerges holding some darker gemstones. ]

Hematite is the stone you want. When you wish to affix these to your sword, come to me and I will help you set them. We can use your amethysts as practice.

[Izuku looks both relieved and grateful. He perks right back up and a renewed sparkle appears in his eyes.]

T-thank you, Emet-Selch-san! I really appreciate it! Next time I go out looking for crystals I'll be sure to get a few for you in return...!

[He's thankful, he wants to upgrade his weapons for sure!]

Is it complicated to work with crystals and melding them into weapons?

As an alchemist? No. As long as you can clearly visualise the end result, you can create almost anything, it seems.

[ He takes a seat at the bench, gesturing for Izuku to pull up a second stool. The only reason there are two to begin with is because Hythlodaeus enjoys sitting by and watching him work. ]

I normally prefer working with my hands. For today, however, I shall use alchemy.

[ Unless the boy really wants to see him cut and refine an amethyst by hand...? ]

[Izuku is eager to sit on the stool and scoot over. Obviously with a little nervous energy but he wants to see how other alchemists work. He's an attentive student!]

I struggled with metal at first, I'm still trying to get used to visualizing what I want it to be in my head. But I'm getting better at that, too.

[He nods.]

Edited 2021-06-09 16:45 (UTC)

It may be difficult if you are already accustomed to more mundane ways of shaping metal such as smithing or forging. There are some fundamental differences between alchemy and smithing however: a smith has to fold and hammer the metal they shape and it is the process which gives each tool or weapon its unique properties. Alchemy takes the raw material and fashions it directly into the end result, but the final product lacks any of the folds in steel which go into forging a strong blade. 'Tis the difference between something decorative and something functional.

[ It is, of course, a bit more varied than that. His example only accounts for swords. For now, however, Emet-Selch takes a small piece of raw amethyst and some gold scrap, arranging them on top of a piece of paper with an alchemical circle he had prepared yesterday. ]

Nyx. [ At his call, the gwiber bounds up, landing on a perch made just for it. He closes his eyes and focuses on the paper, holding a hand above it. The circle begins to glow-- then flashes as he snaps his fingers. A small earring is left behind, set with a very rough and inelegant-looking jewel. It is still clearly raw. ]

You can see here that the amethyst yet retains its raw veneer. Alchemy will not remove the impurities from your ingredients on its own. Not like this at least. [ He taps the circle on the paper. ]

[Izuku watches and listens carefully. He doesn't flinch when the magic goes off as the spark of alchemy magic is something he's getting used to now.]

Right, we don't remove anything from the transformation we only reshape it into another shape or use. If we want to add or remove something we have to also add or remove something...

[The law of equivalent exchange, is it?]

Indeed. That is my understanding of it. On a greater scale, you will find that creating walls out of the earth leaves an equivalent crater behind. So keep that in mind when landscaping.

[ Wouldn't want your new wall to topple over because of a poor foundation! ]

Any questions thus far?

I wouldn't want to ruin the gardening...

[Haha-

But he shakes his head so far.]

I think I understand. Emet-Selch-san, have you ever had anything backfire on you?

Edited 2021-06-21 19:10 (UTC)

'Emet-Selch' alone is fine. 'Tis a title on its own.

[ But more to the point-- ]

I have not yet had a design backfire on me. They simply do not work if I have drawn them improperly, you see. And for the rest...I was already a peerless creator in my time. Visualising what I wish to make is child's play.

Sorry...! Emet-Selch.

[He's not used to adjusting to not use Japanese honorifics most of the time!]

That's what I thought... That's amazing. Sometimes I am worried I'll have something backfire on me. But so far, I've been okay with most of it. [He nods.] Thank you for helping me.

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[ACTION] Garlean army* oh my god self

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