Rewriting history with the stories we tell

[magicalarchaeologist]

Who: Istredd and you
When: September
Where: Thorne, Horizon
What: Catch-all, reaction to things going on, Singularity, and quest!





[ooc: hit me up if you want anything unique or just throw a wildcard at me.]

Comments

OTA - Around Castle Thorne

[magicalarchaeologist]

When the queen forces them to watch her destroy a city - and they are indeed forced in a way - Istredd is upset, he is always upset at loss of life, but he also is far more interested in Yennefer's situation. There is nothing he can do from here for those people, so while his disapproval is evident, he moves on quickly to the next thing. He hovers without being obvious about it around where Yennefer is recovering but once she is up and about, he moves back to focusing on the next phase of his studies.

After his talk with Geralt, Istredd is more certain than ever that the Singularity needs to be his focus. He has gathered everything he can find on the Singularity in the library, which is not a great deal since they have never been able to study it until the Summoned arrive, but that is the collection around him in the library these days. He can be seen taking notes and also looking at maps of the continent, wherever he can find it. While they know the official pathway to the Singularity, he wants to know the lay of the land for himself. In case.

No matter where he is, Istredd seems to be deep in thought or researching. During meals he is writing notes, while bathing he is staring off into space, in common areas he is reading. While he is in no means unfriendly, in fact it would do him good for someone to distract him and break his obsessive research stage, he does seem distracted.

The one thing that pulls him out of his studies is assisting reinforcing wards and spells. Istredd has shown that he has some natural and easy magic so after the request went out for help, he didn't mind immediately volunteering. He seems to do so with the type of ease that comes from expert training for decades. After doing that for a time he then agrees to help with the apprentice mages. While the academic magic here is relatively new for him, he has already excelled at it because of how controlled and experienced he is with spellcasting. The spells that are in common to his Sphere he's even easier about.

If anyone wants to learn spells or help do wards, or trains beside him, they may find a more social Istredd, who feels more confident with these parts of his skills being utilized. He is downright friendly, more at ease with other mages. So far.

wards and spells

[thedevilwhorose]

It's after a few days that he adds his own expertise to the spells, first taking a walk up and down, hands in his pockets, just seeing if he can see anything. If there's any similarities to what he knows from home--if there's any specific warding for himself.

It's the desire to be seen helping, to keep his hands busy, and see--like many of them want--to try and understand how the warding works.

After several more passes, ready to get his hands into the thick of it, he finds Istredd.

Though they've seen each other enough, this is likely the first time Lucifer hasn't been asleep or coiled up with a book. He's moving as though he was never injured.

"Well, well, you're without books, color me surprised."

[magicalarchaeologist]

After the initial concern of his injury and helping him patch up, Istredd respected Lucifer's privacy and didn't push him. If he walked in to find him injured yet again, he might have been more concerned, but healing takes time and he gave him that.

"I know, I feel naked without one." He says dryly and with actual humor behind it. Istredd likes being helpful so he is in a good mood, and while he considers himself a scholar before a mage, there's no denying using his abilities feels right.

"You look well." The only reference to the injury that doesn't need to be discussed. He doesn't need a book of academic magic on the wards, those he's memorized. Remarkably quickly, too, and in extremely good focus, which is a little odd. He has yet to figure out the Horizon may have given him a little bump on that.

Wards are simple enough, especially if it reinforcement and not creating new ones. "Is this something you do often back home?"

[thedevilwhorose]

Lucifer stretches exaggeratedly and pats at his side that previously held one of his injuries. On most people that might pull something open and star bleeding, but he looks only like a pleased cat.

All present and accounted for.

He drops his arms.

What he does at home includes plotting revenge and long-term Apocalypses and then just unbridled chaos.

It's almost like he didn't get out much.

Ha. Ha.

"You could say that." He crouches down and draws through faint dust, considering to himself how much worth it would be to implement it or the more complex sigils into Thorne's wards. But this dust doodle is the more simple than what he has in mind. "My world has sigils specific for blocking out certain... kinds of beings. More common than, say, a barrier to keep out any-and-all. But even Thorne's is likely incomplete."

The full array of wards wouldn't protect him from Michael, and he hardly needs the protection from Castiel, but maybe if there were any similar lesser celestial entities that were native to Abraxas...

Maps but maybe we can do wards and spells later

[northerndragon]

[When Istredd arrives for another day of looking at maps, he will find a young man already there, already bent over the table, frowning. He is dressed neatly in sober colors, and his dark hair is tied back to hold it away from his face.

Jon looks up. This other man is one of the more recent arrivals, but he seems to be settling in well enough — more at ease than Jon himself is.

He says in a low soft voice,]

I’m finished with this one. [An old one — it doesn’t tell him much.] What have you come to find?

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ This place reminds Istredd quite a lot of his own home. He was raised in a castle of sorts, with many mages within, although they had no actual royalty within it. Only the older mages, their teachers, who then sent them all around the continent to real courts as their eyes and ears. And sometimes their hands. But he stayed to academia and research. It's been a long time since he felt this under watch or controlled.

Istredd is usually in whatever clothes they find to fit him, he is a tall man at 6'3, and has no real interest in fashion or leaning toward colors. People tend to give him blues though, perhaps because of his bright blue eyes. ]

A map with a route to the Singularity and the crater around it.

[ Istredd is unfailing in his obsession with that. He makes no attempt to hide his interest either. If he is going to ask for permission to go, it should be known that he has plans. ]

They can't get there safely themselves.

Apprentices

[a_better_man]

While Mat's magic isn't the Academic sort, he does know a few spells and incantations, and he sometimes sits in on lessons. Summoned are encouraged to, after all. And anything to keep his mind occupied and away from the lure of drink. He will not drink to feel better. He's not his father.

He wanders into the training room and sees a fellow he's seen about but doesn't know personally. Mat looks tired and unkempt, but he's in clean blue silks and his beard is trimmed. And he's either early or late, as there doesn't seem to be anyone else in at the moment. Serves him right for not checking the schedule.

"Did I miss lessons? I overslept...."

[magicalarchaeologist]

If anything about what is going on disturbs Istredd, it doesn't show. He seems very calm and composed, but it is easy to do that when you focus on one task at a time. His clothes are simple and in dark blues, his own beard also trimmed. Vivid blue eyes turn to see the youth as he walks in. He's seen him around too, Istredd pays attention to every Summoned in Thorne. There are only a handful of them.

"You did, technically. If you were one of the Thorne mages you'd probably be in trouble." They obviously keep their own people far more conditioned and controlled. Istredd doesn't mind training apprentice mages, he's always been very patient with people, and they do seem to have an eagerness to learn.

"I went over the basic elemental spells and illusions. What exactly do you know already, Mat?" Acknowledging that he knows his name. Istredd stands with his hands clasped at the small of his back.

[a_better_man]

"Oh. Well, elements I'm already studying with Lady Yennefer." Nothing valuable missed there, then. She's had him working on them since he mastered ice, and he's managing to varying degrees with it. Of course she's teaching him the way he does magic.

"And I don't think I'm quite ready for illusions, yet. Doesn't come easy to me, like it does to some." It's not a lack of power. Mat has plenty of that, as it happens, and a great deal of potential.

He just doesn't quite know what to do with it most of the time.

"I don't often come to lessons with the 'prentice mages anyhow. I don't practice much Thornean channeling. I mean magic."

OTA - Horizon

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd's Horizon domain kind of stands out so if anyone is drawn in by the giant rock tower aspect of the many, many, many floors of books, they are welcome to. He senses the moment anyone arrives and even if unseen, you may hear his voice say Welcome and it rings around but sounds nearby no matter where you are. He has set aside a whole section of the library for him to solely work on Singularity theories.

Istredd does not go wandering other people's domains much, it seems a little intrusive, but he may accidentally walk through on the way to the Singularity. Currently the only way he can engage with the Singularity is in the Horizon, so he can be seen walking in that direction frequently. He can be seen regularly sitting in front of it, either writing in a journal or reading. You may hear him talking to it although the words are unclear and he will stop when he senses anyone coming up. It is not anything bad, he is telling it about himself and his studies and bouncing ideas off it, although obviously it never responds. Istredd does not mind sharing the space around the Singularity and talking about it.

[princessvegas]

[ The recent influx of people visiting the Singularity is not something Julie has welcomed. It actually irritates her quite a bit, because the more people come hang around it, the less time she has with it. And what right do they have to impinge on her time? They can't hear it. They're just sitting in front of a rock, and can't they go do that shit literally anywhere else?

Usually, she won't get anywhere near the Singularity if she can see anyone there. Not only does she need to avoid being questioned about what she's doing, she also simply doesn't want to deal with anyone else. Other people make noise, or they talk to her, and they're just a fucking distraction. Her whole domain revolves around interacting with other people -- this is the only place in the whole universe that she wants to be completely alone.

No one else needs to know that she isn't alone at all. She's with the most intimate company she's ever known.

But it has been a long, long few weeks. Cleanup and resettlement efforts still hang heavy over the Cities, and the air is tense. Julie is someone who has always used the Horizon, the Singularity, for comfort and relaxation. They make her feel better, they soothe wounds she doesn't even always know she has. And she feels like that salve is being stolen from her, little by little, by all of these clueless fucks who have no idea what they're doing or why they're there, and she is tired. Tired of people being in a space that she has the sole claim to.

So today, today she doesn't stop short across the path, turn and go back to Steven and her friends in her club. Today, she keeps walking toward it, her heels clicking harshly on the ground. She restrains herself enough to not outwardly seem irritated, but her eyes are narrowed.

She looks like she should be heading to a party, not coming to sit with a giant rock. Her choker is peridot and diamonds, her hair clearly styled. Her nails are an inch past her fingertips, pointed and acid green. The look she fixes this... interloper with is unamused. ]

What are you doin'?

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd is currently sitting cross-legged in front of the Singularity, facing it instead of the outside, he isn't concerned about people coming and going. Why would he? This is the Horizon, a mental space, and for a psionic mage, more comfortable at times than the real world. He is writing down notes about Nocwich and the Feywilds, having gathered a little bit of intel while he was there, although nothing particularly helpful. It is not as interested as the Singularity, obviously, but he likes to have a fuller picture of the map and all the players on it.

He is peacefully just minding his own business at this point. He is wearing simple and boring clothes of deep blues that set off the unusual brightness of his eyes, and he looks up when she speaks. He hears the heels beforehand, but sometimes people pass through or have their own reasons for being there. Istredd doesn't move from where he is, raising his eyebrows at her. The obvious answer is right there in front of her face but he decides being sarcastic about it is hardly friendly. ]

I find the Singularity soothing to be around.

[ In a way it is, it reminds him of the monoliths, it reminds him of his studies. It gave him a puzzle piece that if he finds out the answer, he may have answers everywhere. It is fascinating. So while it is very much engaging his mind and obsession at all times, he feels calm about it. He doesn't know why she's asking but hopes that is enough of an explanation, going back to his writing. ]

[princessvegas]

[ It is, unfortunately for him, not about what he's doing and whose business he's minding. Honestly, it isn't even about him specifically -- Julie is simply tired and stressed out and annoyed. And also kind of a jerk. But his response only solidifies, in her mind, the fact that he cannot possibly have the same connection she does to the Singularity, because otherwise he would not so easily be able to snap out of it and answer her. When Rhy had disturbed her, Julie could barely even hear him until she shooed the Singularity away from her mind so that she could properly lie.

Speaking of connection.

The eye is open again, as focused on her as ever, and unlike with Rhy, there's no indication it can even sense this new person. It winds around her like a psychic python, nudges at her with its metaphorical nose. Want, it says, like it always does, and today there is an additional curiosity, a questioning and a... loneliness? She knows the feeling of loneliness better than any other possible feeling. Where have you been?, it asks in its wordless way.

There is a beat before she answers the man, as she splits her attention, tries to soothe the Singularity at the same time as she formulates her response. It's so difficult; the Singularity is overwhelming as it always is, wants to encompass her entirely. It doesn't like when she tries to juggle.

These new folks, they're taking you away from me, she answers, and it feels like the truth. ]

You're talkin' to it. It's a rock.

[ For all her internal struggle, her voice is steady, accusatory. Like he's done something wrong. Which is something of a suspicion, because she doesn't trust anyone she doesn't know to not hurt the Singularity -- for all she knows, he could be over here muttering curses, trying to make it fall. He's certainly not trying to draw magic or worship(?) it like some of the others she's seen. ]

You find all rocks soothin'? Or do you just mumble sweet nothin's to all the boulders you come across?

theory time.

[gynvael]

The thing is, Geralt has seen Istredd's domain. He's passed by it a handful of times now. He knows it's Istredd's without setting foot inside. It isn't Jaskier's, isn't Ciri's, isn't Yennefer's, and who the fuck else would construct an entire damn monolith in their space?

He doesn't bother to go in. Explaining the Singularity is not foremost on his mind; if Istredd is eager to speak to him about it, the man can come find him.

Which, should Istredd do so, he will discover Geralt not practicing his forms nor tending to his horse, but in the snow next to a shiny chrome and black motorbike. His sleeves are rolled up despite the cold, hands stained. One wheel has been removed, the bike propped up; a few tools are lined neatly on the ground. Roach is watching from her stable. He isn't doing anything except taking the bike apart and putting it back together. Ever since he was shown how the parts fit and move, he's been curious to learn on his own. In the Horizon, he's no need for concern about breaking the machine. Easy to imagine the thing back together.

The sound of boots on the snow and a heartbeat reaches him long before Istredd appears. Geralt doesn't look up from his task. His wolf does it on his behalf, lifting its head to fix matching yellow eyes on the mage.

"You made it." Geralt sounds neither thrilled nor disappointed. A statement of fact.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Of course Istredd comes searching for him. Geralt told him to do so if he wanted to talk about the Singularity, and there is nothing Istredd wants more than that. He generally visits the Horizon only to see the Singularity itself, he spends more time there than in his tower, but when he goes searching for Geralt, it isn't that difficult to find him. For one, he's heard about Kaer Morhen, for two, this is a psychic plane and Istredd is strong in psionics. It doesn't take long for him to follow his instincts.

It is an interesting look, the snow and the crumbling fortress, and Istredd gives it a curious glance as he walks up to it, but he is there for Geralt. The bike though, that is even more interesting. He has not seen anything even close to its like and Istredd finds those items fascinating. The more alien, the better! Istredd moves around it in a circle after Geralt acknowledges him, letting his focus be on the machine first.

"What ... is that?" Istredd can see the wheels and perhaps that makes it like a wagon or a carriage, so it could be a transportation device. A single-person transportation device? Hm. Since typically mages can just teleport around, Istredd is used to getting around easier.

"I made it." He confirms, after asking that question. Istredd almost asks him how he is, with the attack, but what would be the point? Neither of them like small talk and while that is a very serious type of small talk, he doubts Geralt cares to talk about it with him. "You told me to come here."

[gynvael]

Good question. "A motorbike."

That'll have to suffice; Geralt isn't explaining any further. He finally spares a glance over his shoulder. A pause, as he takes in Istredd standing atop the sloping winter path. He's made Kaer Morhen with the understanding people will enter. Strangers, outsiders. But they have always been strangers not of his sphere.

It's different. With Istredd. A mage of the Continent at the broken gates of Kaer Morhen. There are whitened bones of his kind visible under the snow, like stepping stones, put there by humans led by mages.

He rises to his feet, putting down the wrench. True. He had told Istredd to come. Sooner or later, they do need to talk. If nothing else, Triss had sent him to Istredd. And he does trust Triss inside the walls of Kaer Morhen.

He tips his head: a signal to follow. The wolf trots at his heel, sniffing at the ground. The fortress is battered and worn, but its walls are in place and when Geralt pushes open the heavy wooden doors, it reveals fully lit braziers, torches, empty benches and long tables lined with ale and bread and cheese. A visible scar splits up the center of the medallion tree—and atop one of its branches, a round odd-looking owl.

Istredd chooses correctly to leave the subject of the attack alone. Nothing to talk about there. He's gone over what he needs to know with Thancred and Yennefer. Instead, Geralt perches on the table, feet planted on the bench below, and gets to the point.

"What've you learned since of the Singularity?"

[londonbound]

Rhy doesn't so much choose to visit the Singularity as he just appears there. Every time. Even if he puts forth the intention to will himself into the Horizon somewhere else, it never seems to matter; he opens his eyes to see the towering monolith. By now, he's used to it.

Although Rhy doesn't visit the Horizon too frequently to begin with, when it comes to current events, it's become somewhat of a respite. He's also recently been experimenting with a theory someone (Julie) told him, that practicing magic near the Singularity in the Horizon will make it easier, perhaps even in the physical realm beyond it. With so much to do and so much help needed, Rhy has lately been doubling his efforts at studying and practicing even when he's not at the infirmary.

The elemental fire magic feels like an old friend by now, almost a comfort. Rhy intends to assist as much as he can at the outskirts of Nott, some of which are still on fire, so he's practicing his elemental magic more, as well.

Perhaps he appears in front of Istredd unexpectedly, or maybe Istredd is the one who walks in on him trying to mold a wall of flame inside the crater. Either way, it's probably a bit of a surprise for both of them.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Rhy appears in front of Istredd unexpectedly, or rather to the side of him as he is reading over his notes, but it is so surprising that he startles and scrambles to the side. Intellectually he knows he is absolutely safe here, there is no risk to the mind since it is held within the Singularity's domain. The Horizon is only that, as far as he can tell. But anyone would be surprised by a sudden shift, and he has only witnessed people having to walk up to the Singularity from their domain.

After a beat when he looks up and recognizes Rhy, he laughs, relieved, getting to his feet. "Well that was unexpected. Did you just teleport from your domain here?" He supposes that makes sense, since no one has to walk here and through other domains to get to where they want to. He assumes it is as easy as a thought in here.

"Nice to see you, Rhy." Technically they are both in the castle at the moment but everyone has been doing their own things. Istredd has been helping out with the wards and memorized the rain spell so that was fairly easy. It did distract him from the Singularity, which is why he is here now.

[londonbound]

First Julie, now Istredd. People keep being here, whereas before he tended to find himself alone. It's a surprise, but not an unwelcome one for Rhy. He blinks, as they both look momentarily startled at one another.

...teleport? It takes him a minute to realize what Istredd means.

"No. I just decided to visit this place before bed."

And he popped right in.

"You can carry on if you're busy."

Thorne Quest - Thancred and Urianger

[magicalarchaeologist]

While helping fortify wards and spells, Istredd hears that a request has gone out about assisting at Nott where the most recent attacks happened. While he really should get back to his Singularity notes, he has hit a little bit of a wall for now, so he decides getting out to clear his head is a good thing. Also helping people and seeing more of the Sphere is important to him.

When Assistant High Mage Jolene Sybell hands him the spell and instructions, she mentions finding another person to do it with him, since doing the shield and rain at the same time might be hard. At first, Istredd is disinclined to bother going looking. On the other hand, he is flammable like anyone else, and he really has to learn how to get along with other people if he's going to get anywhere in this Sphere. He does like people, it's not a question of being a grump, it doesn't come easily to him.

Luckily as he is contemplating this to the side, he sees two familiar faces coming to get the same instructions and he is hit with a wave of relief. Istredd crosses over to meet them in the middle. He waves the rain spell and shield that he was given first at them. "I'm afraid I was on a solo mission that you're not supposed to do solo. If you don't mind the company?"

[soothsighs]

In some ways Urianger is in a similar position to Istredd. His research into the Abraxian Arcana is fascainating, don't get him wrong, however he gets the feeling that he might have met an invisible wall preventing him from probing more deeply beyond the general run-down he was given upon his arrival. Of course, that only serves to make him even more determined to uncover the truth of it all — but with a budding war on the horizon and much of Thorne's surrounding lands ablaze, he's set aside those pursuits to lend his aid where possible.

Fortunately for him, he has an extremely reliable companion at his side to assist him in the matter.

He's in the middle of musing aloud on the potential complexities of the structure of the rain spell (much to Thancred's utter delight, no doubt) when he spots a familiar face moving towards them, waving a piece of parchment and carrying a shield that doesn't quite fit with what Urianger knows about him.

"Istredd," he replies, his expression warming with a smile as he inclines his head in greeting. "Full glad am I to see thee hale and whole in light of recent events."

A beat.

"Hast thou yet had the chance to meet Thancred?" He indicates the man beside him. "He is a dear friend of mine, and excels in all manner of protection. If he hath no objections then I see no reason why the three of us might not set out on this endeavour together."

The man is an experienced mage, after all, and someone whose company Urianger can enjoy on both a personal and academic level — and he'd be a fine companion to add to their two-man team.

"'Twould be company of which I would be most glad."

[funbreaker]

When news reaches the castle of what fate has befallen the area around Nott, Thancred cannot admit to being all that shocked. The queen's impulsive actions would not go unpunished, and it would have been a greater surprise if the Free Cities had allowed one of their cities to be partially destroyed without there being some form of retaliation.

However, instead of targeting the castle itself, they've chosen to instead batter perhaps an even weaker point: Thorne's farmlands. It's a clever decision on the part of the Free Cities' Prime Minister, a strategic choice that will leave Thorne scrambling to ensure that its people have enough food to maintain their strength during the winter.

Thancred has decided to help primarily because this attack was on the people of Nott, most who are not supportive of the crown on a good day. They've been forced into the crossfire, their livelihood ripped from them. He genuinely wishes to help, but there is something slightly more selfish in this choice as well. If he can speak with the ones in charge in Nott about Queen Ellya's actions, perhaps he can start the slow process of undermining her and turning her own people against her.

It's all of these thoughts that swirl around in Thancred's mind as Urianger edifies to him about the rain spell that will be part of their efforts to quell the fires. However, it's around then that Istredd calls out to them, jarring Thancred from his train of thought as he nods in greeting. While this is something that he suspects he and Urianger could manage as a pair, he isn't opposed to adding one more to their group.

He could groan at the thought of being surrounded by two over-enthusiastic scholars, but it's not as if this isn't his usual state of being as part of the Scions.

"We met at the Dragon's Keep when you sent me on that errand," Thancred chimes in as Urianger muses on whether he's met Istredd. He isn't opposed to the words spoken of him, as taking on the shielding role had been the plan from the start.

He steps up, holding out a hand to Istredd to take the enchanted item which supposedly can construct some manner of magical shield around them. "As Urianger has said, we would be all too pleased to have you along. I assume you can handle the matter of the rain spell?"

Even as he addresses Istredd, his gaze moves to the woman standing behind him. Red hair, green eyes — she must be the one Geralt had mentioned as being one of the more reasonable mages in Thorne's rankings.

Closed to Stephen

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd waits a little while after Nocwich before seeking Stephen out because there is much going on. He spends those first few days hovering around Yennefer anyway, just out of her space so she doesn't yell at him, but he doesn't feel better until she's on her feet. Then the attack comes and there is that, but eventually he has to get back on his Singularity studies and he knows exactly who to talk to. Geralt and Yennefer have given him something, but he needs someone more thorough.

Istredd is usually hiding in the library but he knows generally where most people are. He has copious amounts of notes, some really random and vague, he started with history to get a sense of the continent before continuing to specifics. He is not someone who jumps into anything without thinking every single thing through. But the information available is limited. He isn't getting what he needs.

He leaves a note for Stephen since Yennefer has made it clear to him that there is only one space they may be able to speak freely in the castle. And Istredd has no interest in having to watch every word he says currently. The note is simple:

Stephen Strange,

We met at the ball with the cards. Please meet me in the Room. I have important questions for you regarding the Summoned. Thank you,

Istredd

He hopes that the capitalized Room will give it away. If and when Stephen does have the time to come meet him, he will find Istredd with an entire book filled with notes looking through it, pacing in the room. Istredd is a tall man and far more comfortable in his casual clothing, not dressed up like at the ball.

[sorser]

To say that life’s been peaceable after Nocwich would be a bald-faced lie, but Stephen knows when to interrupt his plans for the day when something more important crops up. In this instance? A note from Istredd—the one from the ball, having claimed to know Yennefer from his world—requesting to meet in the room. Capital R.

Which, in turn, means that the discussion will be a sensitive one. About the Summoned, or about Thorne, or both and how they intersect in the wake of recent events. Not something that Stephen is keen to overlook — and he must admit, his curiosity reading the man himself does bolster his willingness to meet, even if this is just a small underpinning in the face of the overall picture.

So, eventually, he does arrive. He is dressed differently, too, than what he wore at the ball, donned once more in his usual preference of darkened, navy colors. His bright red cloak settles at his shoulders, however, as it always does, swaying behind him as he walks.

“Didn’t keep you waiting, did I?”

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd glances up when he senses someone coming through, relieved when he sees it is Stephen. He would probably make stilted conversation with anyone who came through, this is a Summoned space, but he doesn't have the ease with conversation most people do.

"No, thank you for coming. Both Yennefer and Geralt told me I had to speak with you if I wanted any actual information about the Singularity."

Istredd gets right to it, that is something Stephen can always count on. He is a very direct person, poised and calm, like when they met at the ball. Istredd puts the notebook down and the writing on the pages changes. Because he puts an illusion spell on top of his work so no one can steal it or guess at what he's doing. He trusts no one in this place, especially not other mages.

He has copied here what Geralt showed him in his crude drawings and also what little of the Singularity he has learned himself.

"They did that because back home, this was my area of expertise. I've spent over sixty years as an archaeologist of magical history, studying the monoliths of our world." He doesn't know if Stephen is aware that Yennefer is older than she looks, but he obviously is, considering he looks barely thirty himself. "Recently we found out that our monoliths are actually conduits and gates to other spheres, other worlds."