< thearchitect > | video

[emet_sulk]

[ Sometime in the middle of the month, a video is uploaded to the network. It's pre-recorded and opens with a man in his late 20s (Emet-Selch) setting up his phone so that it will stay in place and upright. Many will recognise the scene behind him as being one of the generic kitchenettes belonging to an inn room.

On the table before the camera are a few sheets of paper with alchemy circles drawn on them, heaped with small piles of raw, natural ingredients such as salt and clay and the like. ]

Hmm... It appears to be functioning as intended. Good.

[ Retreating from the camera, he crosses his arms. His posture is quite lax, attire casual, but his manner is quite austere. ]

This is intended for the man I met almost a moon ago, who proposed to me the idea of creating a a book - a grimoire, if you will - filled with pages of alchemical circles that I might easily access spells I need instead of drawing them anew time and again. But I am sure there are others who may benefit from this knowledge as well.

[ He gestures, drawing attention to the pages on the table. ]

Here, I have drawn some simple transformations. Observe--

[ At his whistle, a dog-sized, shadowy, dragon-like creature hops up on to the seat next to him. Emet-Selch focuses on the pages and his familiar follows suit. The first circle begins to glow.

A snap of his fingers, a flash of light, and suddenly there is a ceramic plate sitting on top of the page in place of its raw components. It is plain and unfired of course, but it is certainly a plate.

He repeats this process for the next two sheets of paper, producing a square of cloth and a short, wooden rod respectively. ]

I have yet to see if this transformation can be done without placing the raw materials within the circle itself, but for now, it seems promising.

[ END TRANSMISSION. ]

Comments

voice

[lucere]

[He cannot help but note that his newfound friend is a bit camera shy. This earns a chuckle from Regis as he switches to audio for now. It seems that his scholarly colleague isn't one for the camera. That's fine, of course.]

Oh, come now, Emet! Surely a little bit of praise is warranted considering that no one else here thought of arcanistry until now.

[If Regis is wrong on this notion, blame it on his lack of research on the issue. He can barely find any books on the subject at the local libraries and shops. It's a bit frustrating, to be honest.]

I'm also quite glad you can transmute something other than those dreadful little pots.

[He's teasing, of course.]

[emet_sulk]

[ The old man's cheer reminds him of a certain other friend. At least this one won't show him nonsensical videos of a beetle crawling. He hopes. ]

Yes, well, a pot is quite simple to visualise. I shall endeavour to be more creative once I understand the bounds of this world's 'alchemy'. I would not want to loose a chimera upon the land.

[lucere]

[No, but Regis is bound to bore poor Emet-Selch about his future fishing adventures. Please look forward to it.]

No chimeras, please! I just finished battling a magical beast and to say the least, it was quite dreadful.

It seems that Avalon has quite the bestiary.

[emet_sulk]

Indeed. Did you come across the beast by accident? If so it might behoove us to venture outside in pairs lest the more vulnerable are likewise attacked.

[lucere]

Not entirely. There was a bounty earlier for the famed Fogueria, a fiery menace in the form of a lion that hails from the Lands of Rot.

I managed to thwart it with a newfound ally of mine, a young demon hunter no less. Nevertheless, it would be for the best for us to travel in pairs if we seek to explore beyond Camelot.

[emet_sulk]

Impressive. So it seems you yet retain the ability to learn new tricks in your old age, hmm?

[ His voice here sounds terribly amused. ]

[lucere]

[Oh, Regis can hear the amusement in Emet's tone.]

Mines is a bloodline that runs quite deep in sorcery. Prior to my arrival here, I already obtained mastery of the elements after years of prolonged practice in my youth. The power I wield here is just a fraction of my true capabilities without the Crystal's aid.

It's still quite humiliating to be brought so low but I seem to make do with it.

[emet_sulk]

[ SUSPICIOUS SQUINTING HERE. Thankfully Regis cannot see it. ]

That is a shame. But what is this crystal you speak of? Does it strengthen your natural abilities?

[lucere]

[Hang on to your hat, Emet. This story is about to get a little wild.]

The Crystal by which I speak of was a gift from the Gods. It's a relic of a bygone age that still holds relevance to this day. While the Crystal did indeed amplify my powers tenfold, it came at a deadly price that claimed my father and his forebears before him.

I don't know if Regis is using text or voice still so, leaving it vague

[emet_sulk]

[ Give him a few moments to just. take that in. And also work through his instinctive loathing for any sort of 'benevolent' crystal entity. ]

...I see. And let me guess: such power is only granted to a certain few, or mayhap singular individuals who prove themselves worthy of its power?