The short explanation of telepathy is intriguing and leaves Claude with more questions than he feels it particularly answered. The biggest one is, of course, being whether Istredd can sense thoughts, feelings, anything all the time. And with that Claude, someone intent on hiding anything he doesn't want to reveal, has some reservations if so.
Now's not the time to get into that as the Singularity's abilities surpassing what Istredd knows to be possible in his world catches his attention. It matches what Claude understands to be true about Fodlan, even with the reveal of Shambhala and the technologies there, but even those were also created by people. That the Singularity wasn't: it makes sense and is also ever so slightly unnerving. Another thing to add to the ever growing list of said things Abraxas has brought to his attention.
None of that compares to the information about Thorne which Istredd gives him simply because he'd asked. Claude had been absently studying a nearby bookshelf while nodding at the explanation of Thorne's magic, but the word prison rivets his gaze back onto the other man in an instant. There's many meanings to calling something a prison and Istredd provides several rather quickly while Claude listens with a grim look.
"I've heard it was also once a literal prison for many people brought here some time ago," he says almost offhand, if only because that was also included in Istredd's explanation and Claude means it more to underscore it's known to be a prison even outside of Thorne's boundaries. "There are people I've spoken to there, mostly in the aftermath of the attack on Libertas as we were fortunate enough to meet in Nocwich first before tensions erupted. They mentioned the same in being under lock and key effectively and with deep consequences for speaking anything besides what the monarchy's deemed acceptable."
But the utter dependence on leaders who might turn on them at any second - that is troubling. For all the Free Cities' many faults and the deep distrust the Cadens Summoned seem to all share, they are still (for now) allowed to do as they please within reason. Claude's expression shifts to a frown, one he doesn't bother to hide. "They expect you to do exactly as they say, I presume, with consequences for not. Are you not allowed to travel even between the castle and Thorne's other cities?"
Said other cities being something he'd only recently learned of in more detail than maps provide, but Claude's guessing the answer is no. It'd mean surrendering that surveillance over the Summoned even if some kind of mission would be a too convenient 'reward' for obedience.
no subject
Now's not the time to get into that as the Singularity's abilities surpassing what Istredd knows to be possible in his world catches his attention. It matches what Claude understands to be true about Fodlan, even with the reveal of Shambhala and the technologies there, but even those were also created by people. That the Singularity wasn't: it makes sense and is also ever so slightly unnerving. Another thing to add to the ever growing list of said things Abraxas has brought to his attention.
None of that compares to the information about Thorne which Istredd gives him simply because he'd asked. Claude had been absently studying a nearby bookshelf while nodding at the explanation of Thorne's magic, but the word prison rivets his gaze back onto the other man in an instant. There's many meanings to calling something a prison and Istredd provides several rather quickly while Claude listens with a grim look.
"I've heard it was also once a literal prison for many people brought here some time ago," he says almost offhand, if only because that was also included in Istredd's explanation and Claude means it more to underscore it's known to be a prison even outside of Thorne's boundaries. "There are people I've spoken to there, mostly in the aftermath of the attack on Libertas as we were fortunate enough to meet in Nocwich first before tensions erupted. They mentioned the same in being under lock and key effectively and with deep consequences for speaking anything besides what the monarchy's deemed acceptable."
But the utter dependence on leaders who might turn on them at any second - that is troubling. For all the Free Cities' many faults and the deep distrust the Cadens Summoned seem to all share, they are still (for now) allowed to do as they please within reason. Claude's expression shifts to a frown, one he doesn't bother to hide. "They expect you to do exactly as they say, I presume, with consequences for not. Are you not allowed to travel even between the castle and Thorne's other cities?"
Said other cities being something he'd only recently learned of in more detail than maps provide, but Claude's guessing the answer is no. It'd mean surrendering that surveillance over the Summoned even if some kind of mission would be a too convenient 'reward' for obedience.