< 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

[emet_sulk]

Might you explain how modern alchemy works in your homeland? What you have said thus far intrigues me.

[alchemists]

It is divided up into elements, and the use of those need a large amount of energy in order to function. Memories are often used because with the use of alchemy you can create the perfect body and transfer to them over and over again. So you amass more memories then the average person.

sorry for delay, holiday period and all

[emet_sulk]

Are your memories not used up in creation of these clone bodies in the first place?

it's fine ~

[alchemists]

It is used up but it's more of a doll then a new fully human body, but the idea of having another life worth of memories to gain is what people seek out.

[emet_sulk]

This seems a rather flawed process to me but I shall have to take your word for it.

In any case, here I simply required my familiar to help channel the required magicks through the circle. A simple exercise, if tedious and time-consuming. I cannot imagine this discipline was meant to be applied in combat.

[alchemists]

You can have your familiar channel things? I wonder if mine could do the same thing, it's an interesting idea.

[emet_sulk]

It managed to utilise transformations I had done in the past. I can only assume that it somehow memorises and incorporates the design into their ethereal being, allowing it to enact the magic of their own accord later.

I also seem to struggle to perform even basic feats without its presence, but mayhap that is simply a lack of familiarity with this world's magic.

[alchemists]

I haven't tried to use magic yet, so I don't know how it functions but if what you're saying is true about the familiars they must be programmed with some basic forms to help their partner.

[emet_sulk]

More concerning is that these familiars appear to be the sole reason we can utilise this world's magecraft at all. I would take care to ensure that no harm comes to them as they may become a point of vulnerability.

[alchemists]

If that's the case then there has to be a way to protect your familiar if you plan on doing more direct combat or taking action. Do the people here have armor or anything else to dress them in for added defense ?

[emet_sulk]

A good question. I shall make enquiries.

Although, given that the creatures can also vanish on a whim, mayhap that is their own form of defence.

[alchemists]

I think that a familiar wearing a little set of armor would be kinda cute.

[ Even if that is pointless if they can just vanish no problem. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ It would indeed be cute. But Emet-Selch does not do cute. ]

Armour is meant to protect those who wear it. There is little point in it being aesthetically pleasing if it falls apart after a single blow.

[ Mr Grumpypants here unable to keep a light tone as usual. ]

[alchemists]

That is very true... it needs to be able to take a hit.

[emet_sulk]

Just so. By the by, what manner of magic have you been granted here? Alchemy as well, or something else?

[alchemists]

I've been granted alchemy, it's a bit fitting since I'm already an alchemist.

[emet_sulk]

Ah. Hence the interest then. I should very much like to know if you discover aught as well with your own usage. I only have passing familiarity with the subject and what little I know certainly does not involve drawing these circles all the time.

[alchemists]

Of course, if you or anyone else could learn from anything I manage to find then it's all worth wild.