abraxaslogs | april catch-all

[ Even if Thancred wasn't among those captured, there is something surreal about having returned to the Castle. Should everything simply return to business as usual? He has so many leads he still wants to follow up on, so many loose ends untied, to say nothing of his plans within the Castle.

But with so many still recovering from the past moon, Urianger included, he's been spending his focus there. Urianger's requested a few books from him from Thorne's libraries and so he's here on an errand for him, though it's not urgent enough that he can't make a detour through the gardens.

He's around the bend when he hears someone being reprimanded by one of the staff. Thancred's forged a few bonds with the servants as well, particularly in the kitchens, so he recognizes the voice. When the interaction finishes and the woman stalks off, Thancred steps into view to see who earned that warning. ]

Trouble, is it?

[ He takes notes of the forming bouquet in Kyle's hands, carefully picked out from the looks of it. ]

Dare I ask what sort?

[ At trouble Kahlil raises his eyebrows, glancing over his shoulder. ]

Nothing serious, some hurt feelings over a bottle of wine a couple of months ago. I was told to bring enough for everyone, next time.

[ A shrug. He doesn't seem to be too concerned about it now, at least outwardly - not enough to stop fraternizing with the staff. ]

It was when the guards were pulling people in left and right for talks.

[ Fortunately, nothing had come of it. Especially since one of the Summoned they brought in for questioning had done something that might've gotten them tossed into the dungeons. He glances at his little bouquet that he didn't get to hand off for the gift baskets and offers it to Thancred. ]

Have anyone who might like these?

Ah, right, that.

[ Thancred hadn't been one of the ones brought in, he's a bit too careful for that, but he's aware that it happened. Rhy had been one of those questioned, simply for expressing concern about the peoples of Nott and wanting to help them.

Absurd. He hasn't forgotten about how much still needs to change here simply because Thorne helped them with the abductions.

When asked about the flowers, Thancred raises an eyebrow but closes the distance between them to study the bouquet. ]

I have no paramour to give them to, if that's what you mean. [ He quirks a brief teasing smile. ] Though I suspect Urianger might benefit from a splash of color in our flat as he rests. I'd be happy to take them off your hands.

[ Kahlil is just glad to give them to someone who might appreciate them, handing over the bouquet with a nod and a curious look at Thancred. ]

How is he feeling? [ He remembers Urianger and Istredd had been taken together on the street. Only recently he found Istredd at the gates, hesitating to leave the castle grounds. Kell had been particularly jumpy in the evenings lately too.

For better or worse, living in the castle means it's easier to keep tabs on your Summoned neighbors - with Thancred and Urianger living elsewhere, it's more difficult. He doesn't think he's ever spoke to Thancred's roommate before. ]

[ While Thancred had spent more time in the castle during that month when they were on the search for their abducted friends, he has returned to the flat in the castle town now that Urianger is back. Staying there had felt wrong when he was the only one inhabiting it, and so he hadn't protested the suggestion that all Summoned return to the Castle during that time.

Still, he is aware that it sets them apart, even if he personally enjoys having some small amount of space between him and Thorne's authority. ]

Better. I'm taking care to ensure he doesn't overdo it, but he's recovering well. The chirurgeons in Nocwich did a fine job.

[ He pauses briefly, quirking a smile as he shakes his head to himself. ]

In fact, I was on my way to check out some books for him from the library.

[ Chirurgeons? He hasn't heard that term used before, must be from their language. ]

Well, since I've been dismissed from helping here - would you like another pair of hands?

[ Especially since he's just filled Thancred's with flowers. He nods toward the path inside the castle. ]

What are you looking for?

[ Any specific topics or genres? ]

I would hardly say no.

[ With that, Thancred does move down the garden path that will lead back indoors. All of them know their way around the castle so well at this point that they could likely navigate it in their sleep, he assumes. ]

Ah, he gave me a list. I'll show you when we arrive. [ Because yes, his hands are a bit occupied at the moment. ] Mostly to do with arcana, based on some additional revelations that were made whilst we were trying to locate those abducted.

[ This subject is one he feels safe enough discussing even in the castle, as most of the work that they did had been in cooperation with Thorne to some degree. ]

[ He steps in stride with Thancrad as they make their way to the North Wing's grand library. ]

I wish I'd done more research on it myself. [ Hindsight. ] I hear some worlds have the same symbols.

[ His, unfortunately, does not. And he never paid much attention to Nayeshi fortune tellers and their late night ads for telephone calls. ]

Our star has an arcana, but the symbols and constellations are all quite different from what is found here. Which I suppose makes sense, given that the night sky is also different.

[ It would perhaps be stranger for there to be similarities between worlds, now that he thinks about it. When they're all looking at a different set of stars, how would they arrive at the same symbols and descriptions?

It's a headache-inducing sort of puzzle, to be sure.

As they walk, Thancred glances sidelong at Kyle, aware of how much work he did investigating the disappearances. ]

Lucifer said something regarding a corruption or inversion of arcana, as performed by those in Solvunn. Are you familiar?

[ Past Kahlils have brought back 'relics' from Nayeshi to Basawar, but nothing so widespread as this arcana and tarot shared between worlds.

He tilts his head at the question about the inverted symbols, then nods with a deep frown. ]

I located one painted on a tree near the Solvunn border. [ Unsurprising, given what they know now. ] Everyone reported the same symbol - a woman from here named Lenore first recognized it as an arcana symbol. I went with her to speak with Jolene Sybell, she was the one who told us that reversals are known to be used, but altering the symbols is unheard of. She made it seem like the intention was the change the meaning.

[ She hadn't had much more to say at the time, though. He grimaces. ]

Something we should've asked Josselyn Creed about when we had the chance.

[ Too late now. ]

Edited 2023-05-15 17:55 (UTC)

[ Thancred nods at the mention of Lenore, as Lucifer first directed him to her, but their conversation had been brief and there's no longer any sign of her. He assumes she vanished the more typical way that Summoned do, rather than being abducted, or an alarm would have been sounded by now. ]

Jolene Sybell, was it? Interesting. [ Again, he isn't going to say more than that, but she seems to come up quite often. Kyle may also remember that Thancred has plans to approach her regarding the Queen, plans that he will soon be putting in place after things have calmed down a bit more. ] Then it changes the meaning, but we know not how or for what purpose.

[ He nods at the remark about Josselyn, but it's not as if that's their only option. As they turn the corner to the large double doors that lead into the library, Thancred gives a brief shrug. ]

There are other acolytes of hers who were imprisoned rather than executed. It's possible we could mine more information from them.

[ And without the time limit. ]

[ Both Rhetts had been difficult to approach. Jolene seemed to be the next best option - having connections to both powerful mages, though he hadn't been sure she would speak with him. Luckily, she had.

He does remember Thancred's words from the meeting some months ago, the mention of her name and plans, even though the specifics weren't discussed there. He's still curious about that, and the issue of the Queen.

At the mention of the acolytes he pulls in a sharp breath, mouth twisting again. ]

Getting access to them again may be difficult. [ Not impossible, but - he didn't catch where they would be holding those people prisoner. Also - ]

Or it could be that someone has already found the answers to that.

[ Wherever they are being held. He'd think that any of the factions would want to know. He's been wrong about things like that before, though.

Either way, any more interrogations would need to be done by someone powerful enough to breach their minds. Josselyn hadn't given him much, even. ]

[ Thancred nods at Kyle's words, understanding that it's entirely possible that the prisoners have been secreted away to a place they won't be able to so easily track down, but that doesn't mean it's not worth trying. ]

Mayhap someone already has. [ He hasn't heard either way, but it's not like it's the sort of information that's going to be freely shared around. ] Either way, I'd be willing to look into it.

[ He hadn't interrogated Josselyn himself, for better or worse, but that ship has sailed. If they can create a steady line of communication to those who might know more (with enough pressure applied), then that's worth pursuing.

Though now that they're in the library, Thancred reaches into one of the pockets of his cloak and pulls out a piece of parchment. In Urianger's flowing script is a list of about five book titles. All of them are related to the arcana in some way. ]

Mind helping me search? [ The bouquet he sets down on a nearby table for now, to collect again when he has all of the books in hand. ]

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