abraxaslogs | I don't trust, but I see right in front of me

"You were alone with him?" Lucifer presses, unusually alarmed. "I wonder how confident he is in his own abilities, or the protections on that room, or both." Lucifer doubts the Crown to be cocky enough that he felt safe with a Summoned.

Oh, he does not like where this is going.

"Unhinged and dangerous, great, so if I start raising puppies and skipping through the streets spreading rainbows, you know I've turned."

He is taking you seriously, Kyle, that's the problem here.

He rubs a hand over his head and sighs. "Did he say how long it took for them to," he doesn't blanch but it's a near thing, "change? Sure, maybe they've 'fine-tuned' it but... does anyone know the Summoned who's been here the longest, and how long?"

Don't remind him. Being in that room made him itchy to begin with.

The part about puppies and rainbows just makes him wrinkle his nose.

"I tried asking more about what happened to them, but he had little more to say. Only that they were beyond help and posed a threat to the people of Thorne, so they'd been dealt with. That part of the conversation ended there."

It'd been made clear by the king's tone. He wasn't in a position to push him, or point out that they considered the Summoning far from perfected even recently, considering all the people labeled mistakes...

Besides, their minds have already been affected on too many occasions. That's not even something new. Only that what happened in the past had been much, much more dire if the king is to be believed.

"He puts his faith in Ambrose's skills, or at least his fear of failing." And suffering the same fate as the Ninth High Mage. Kahlil frowns deeply.

"He said more of what we already assume and know. The thing that matters most about us is the connection that allows us to approach the Singularity. He sees it as a means to secure power and stability for his country against the Free Cities and their intention to destroy the Singularity."

Edited 2023-05-15 06:54 (UTC)

"They became something unlike themselves, unhinged and dangerous." Istredd quotes back to him. "Such as, for example, the gods?" This is something he and Kyle have spoken about before, and yes, perhaps he is hearing what he wants to hear, but one could argue this only feeds into that theory of theirs. What he's thinking is how the heralds were visualized, how unnerving they looked. Twisted from what could have been people once.

"Geralt was in the first group of Summoned, thrown into the dungeon upon being Summoned." He knows for a fact that Lucifer is in contact with the witcher, but they hadn't directly remarked on it yet. He thinks Kyle also has been in contact with him. For all of Geralt's insistence that he stays out of things, he often is in the middle of them all the same.

"I think we can safely assume he knows more than he's saying too. He isn't going to tell you everything." Istredd considers, this is somewhat private, but Kyle is an acceptable risk. "Ambrose allowed a few of us to go to the Singularity in person during the Dimming. We brought a casket in exchange." This was during the negotiations and one of the points of conflict was whether they could do that. Luckily it turned out to be allowed! "I'm arguably in good standing with him currently." Maybe that could be something.

Edited 2023-05-15 13:44 (UTC)

Lucifer doesn't react to hearing Geralt's name spoken only because he knows Geralt was in the pit.

He does react with age-old, worn annoyance at the mention of the casket. There is no surprise though, so Kyle likely can take a wild guess about why Lucifer was so stressed and vigilant during the boat trip.

"Or they just rebelled against would-be captors, whose descendants are still alive to tell their side."

It's hard to say for certain with the king as their source. But he's not ready to entirely abandoned the theory. They need more information. There are too many overlapping layers with his own world's history that continue to make him uncomfortable for a variety of reasons.

His eyebrows raise at the mention of the casket. Istredd had previously mentioned having an in with Ambrose. His gaze only flickers to Lucifer briefly to catch the annoyance there - the boat trip feels like ages ago now.

He turns his gaze back to Istredd.

"It'd be worth trying to get a meeting with him. Even to just petition access to the books on High Magic." That's something they've all been trying to get. "Maybe don't mention what you already know about the Ninth High Mage, though."

There's a rueful look. Best not to let on how much information they're actually sharing.

"I'm going to ask some Free Cities contacts about looking into the history from that time as well."

Get a different perspective.

Edited 2023-05-15 16:34 (UTC)

Istredd isn't likely to drop that theory because to him it makes a lot of logical sense, but it is all theoretical, as he's said many times to other people this conversation has come up with. The goal is to eventually get proof and facts if possible. Until then, it's all theory. But it could be good theory.

"Yes, I was hoping to talk to him about High Magic texts. I suspect they aren't entirely as limited as we thought. Obviously getting the right spell to break the illusion took time, but it shouldn't." One of those Thorne blind spots he gets continuously annoyed by. "I'm interested in seeing if we can get into Hayle's university texts as well. Probably not right away."

Istredd is playing the long game. Even if it's months from now, finding more information is the key. He doesn't want any of them to be blindsided by not understanding a powerful and very real magic in this realm.

"I wouldn't," he assures Kyle. "We don't want to tip our hand." They probably do know some of them share things with each other, but possibly not to the extent they do.

He nods, then looks thoughtful.

"You might try asking him about his predecessor, though."

The Tenth High Mage. From what Kahlil understands the man was over two thousand years old when he passed, an unthinkable amount of history to live through. He doesn't know the process of selecting High Mages, but it's not a stretch to guess that Ambrose had some interactions with him before his passing.

And it'd be a natural lead in to the question of the Ninth.

A pause, and then he starts to smile.

"There's one more thing we spoke of - "

In his hand he summons the replica of a brooch with the royal insignia.

"The King offered me this. The real thing is in my room, you can take a look at it later if you want." Both of them can, if they want. He'd like someone with more knowledge to inspect it for him before he uses it, anyway.

"It's supposed to signify the King's Mark, that I'm officially aligned with the Kingdom of Thorne and have their approval to go where I want to -"

Which means he's absolutely never wearing it into Nott, for one thing. But more importantly -

"It's also supposed to be able to bypass the wards within the Kingdom's borders, so I can use my own abilities to travel now."

This is where his grin widens a bit. He can't really explain how frustrating it's been for him to move within the limitations of the wards when he's lived most of his life free to move wherever he pleased.

"If an opportunity presents itself I will. There is some common ground, with mages from my sphere being long-lived too." Not that long-lived, although he suspects it is possible a mage had gotten to a thousand. It's not an average lifespan but he wonders if magic sustains them in a similar way.

Istredd nods after looking at it, he can take a closer look on the real one. "I think we can assume they wouldn't give you anything important they couldn't track, so keep that in mind." They are all very careful when it comes to these things, so he suspects that it is assumed too they should be careful about what they say around it in person. The three of them are particularly cognizant of that in Thorne.

The grin though is heartening to see. Kyle seems truly pleased and satisfied, and Istredd can't help but smile back at him. He understands how any amount of freedom can feel like a triumph. "That should make moving around far faster for you too." If it works correctly, he wouldn't have to take the long road.

"What exactly does he think you'll be doing with that traveling?"

Being tracked using it was his second thought, after the surprise of actually being given what he'd requested.

To the question he gives another half grin.

"Deliveries. Hopefully more excuses to be in Borrel, and Hayle."

He can still use the portals when they're open, they're actually still faster than his travel method through the Gray Space. But he doesn't need to wait for one to be set up now. Also -

"After you look at it I'll probably dash over to the beach and back. Just to see what happens."

If anyone immediately knocks on his door when he returns.

He's been listening in silence, absorbing the information and filing it away.

"I assume anything they've given us in general is being tracked," Lucifer points out. He wears the pendant for Nocwich at all times, expecting that has a tracking spell on it. But he hasn't done anything suspicious and it's better for him in the long run to be overt about all his movements so that when he's not, they won't think anything of it.

"I'd also imagine that the item is tamper-proof. A test of your loyalty."

Because Lucifer wants nothing more that to pry his hands into it and see how it ticks, see how they can replicate it. Which very likely means that they should by no means try, not right away, anyway.

"It would be stupid if they aren't." Istredd's fairly positive they have a magical tracker on everyone. It wouldn't be hard to do and it would be the first thing the Brotherhood would do if they were the ones plucking people out of other realms. They probably would have thrown them in the dungeon right away too. Thorne and the Brotherhood have more than a few things in common.

Their movements are already pretty controlled by Thorne and he's gone no where that they wouldn't be able to find him easily. If there is a tracking spell it may be something they have to counter some day, that's all. It will be curious if Kyle sets anything off.

"We're definitely not going to tamper with it." It is too useful to take any risks with. "I'm fairly certain you're the first person the King has actively spoken to from our group." He doesn't know about the originals, but most people still around since then are the people who fled. Yennefer has her connection with the Queen, Stephen with Ambrose, and now Kyle with the King. Not bad.

"Some of us at least know how their tracking spells work now."

Not him, but Yennefer and Strange, from what he can recall. Unfortunately they don't have very many experience mages amongst the Summoned in Thorne, something that only really became apparent during the kidnappings.

"And I might've just been the first person to ask," he shrugs, though there's not much conviction behind his words. The king's been notably absent.

"He might be more willing to speak with others in the future, but - as much as he seems more reasonable than his wife, he's still prepared to go to war to protect the Singularity, and his own kingdom."

So not entirely a pushover, but not quite the divisiveness between them Kahlil had been hoping for. Not as he's seen yet, at least.

"I'd be surprised if she was married to someone that didn't share her views. She seems like the sort to nip that problem in the bud very quickly." He says like he's had much interaction with her except for that time she made all the Summoned watch Thorne firebomb Libertas. That's a good way to judge a person though, right?

"I'd love a weak break somewhere between the two of them that the Summoned could use, but they'd have to provide a united front. Can't show public disagreement."

A pause.

"I do always fear how much the 'walls are listening' yada yada, but the throne room more than anything. I suppose it's too much to hope that even without guards he had to put on a show?"

"The Singularity being a priority to them is why I want to be here right now." Despite him and Lucifer talking about where they could make a new life, that is a 'down the road' possibility, not a next month one. Maybe when they have answers and anchors and can take a break. Istredd would not leave Thorne tomorrow if given the option. He will have no better access to the information he finds vitally important.

"If we weaken the crown too much, it weakens that protection too." Istredd is not saying they should bolster the crown of ignore the reasons and ways they can break it down instead. Those are all pertinent ideas. But priority wise, if the Singularity becomes vulnerable, the Free Cities may fulfill their threats. It is a tight rope they're walking.

As much as Lucifer dislikes being caged, he keeps willingly coming back to this one. And there's work to be done.

He looks to Kyle. "I think you've got the right idea getting someone to look into Free City's history, and what their deal is with the Singularity, and why. Their real reason instead of speculation."

He snaps his finger in Istredd's direction without shifting his gaze. "Because that also concerns me, but if we know Free City's real reasoning, maybe we can prepare for the worst if the Crown does get shaken too much."

He shifts and folds his legs up under him. "Related back to the Summoning spell: has anyone inspected the fountain? Will they let anyone near? Is it just their chosen location or is it a conduit, something necessary about it for the spell?"

"Conduits, if I had to guess."

But he shrugs, unable to say for sure. Only that there was nothing in that room that reminded him of the Great Gates, and water had been a conduit of sorts when he traveled.

"I don't know anyone who's been let back inside after first being Summoned."

"I would guess conduit as well. I didn't get a very good look at the time." None of them really had the best state of mind in that moment.

"There were probably a few spells happening at the same time. To take away our abilities, for example." It could have been a part of the fountain or in the room when they were pulled out. The entire thing was supposed to be confusing.

Istredd considers, rubbing a hand across his beard. "We need reliable sources in Free Cities who have the type of influence that might get actual answers from the authorities there." They have Strange, Yennefer, and now Kyle. He doesn't know who their comparisons would be there.

"I wouldn't say that for sure; in my experience interdimensional hopping naturally weakens the body. That could've been a side effect, not intentional."

He's spent so much effort on Solvunn because Thorne wouldn't that he's been blinded to thinking on Free Cities, not to mention as he had said to Istredd that he was pretty sure everyone he knew from Free Cities wanted him dead.

But...

"I might also know someone," he says. "She may be willing to aid me."

Helping the divine? Of course she'd rise to the occasion.

"Of course it was intentional. It would be stupid to summon random powerful people without immediately having something ready to mute them. They're ignorant at times, but they're not stupid." Thorne, he means. Ambrose in particular. Ignorant, reckless, arrogant. But not stupid.

Istredd doesn't exactly have close relationships in Free Cities himself. A few more post-Pit. "Sam Wilson is one of the originals, and also one of the originals in Free Cities. His domain is the one where Natasha gathered all the notes." Istredd went there to get the notes that he now nods to, on one of the walls.

"We could ask Natasha or I know his friend Steve well, from the Pit. He may have the type of experience to get answers." On the superhero team, as he's mentioned before to Lucifer. Strange as that all sounds. "We could also ask your person. We could have multiple people on it."

Only if you do it wrong, he thinks when Lucifer makes the comment about interdimensional travel.

"We probably shouldn't send too many people seeking the same information at once." If only to avoid suspicion. But it's probably less of an issue in the Free Cities.

"They've got enough ego," Lucifer argues, "all for their 'grand design.'"

But he shrugs it off, leaning back into the books, attention primarily back on his turtle.

"Agreed. Hit up your contact. If that falls through, let us know. Last thing we need is something getting misconstrued and some higher-up in Free Cities spins us asking questions via their Summoned as Thorne Summoned turning traitors. Doesn't matter we're looking for Free Cities information; if anything turns up about Thorne, that's all they need to make a story against us."

"One or two should be reasonable. That's assuming we shouldn't put all our faith in one contact." It isn't that he doubts them or anything, although maybe that is exactly what the truth is. He's paranoid, they're paranoid, it's a thing. It is more that it is hard to say who will do what and also what they'll ask. He's not going to give them a list of things to ask.

"We've managed to get a great deal of information from the Solvunn Summoned safely. Michael and Wanda in particular have been very helpful." So it seems like it's a good idea to add people in Free Cities, the place where they are the most blind.

He nods in concession, uncrossing his arms.

"Another thing - I can cover the costs of two small weapons. Assuming you're both still poor."

Now that they can carry them without getting in trouble.

Well, two of them can.

"I'll pass you the coin when you come to look at my new jewelry."

"A weapon," Lucifer all-but swoons, hand to his chest. "Be still, my vessel's heart."

Forgive him this one, Istredd.

He still mourns the loss of his stolen switchblade, even though he doesn't fault Wilhelm for it. And if he really wanted to keep a blade in hand, he would've dug the one he tried to filet Kyle with out of the tree.

He can kill just fine with his bare hands, but a blade is a necessary part of an angel and he's been missing that piece of himself, even if it won't ever be the same.

"We are very poor, yes."

Istredd glances over at Lucifer and smiles at his reaction. No forgiveness needed. He gets it. He was once a carrier of the switchblade too and while he's not very interested in weapons, he can see the necessity. Lucifer has shown him well enough how to use one, in case of an actual fight.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Kyle." Offering knowing it would be reassuring.

"I think it is fair to say they'd probably take it from you, Lucifer." He knows about Ambrose. Ambrose would not be so stupid. "We can use a cloaking spell or you can always take mine." Istredd can openly carry his so it wouldn't be a surprise.

I don't trust, but I see right in front of me

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