Second: Double, double toil and trouble

[colchismagecraft]

WHO: Caster and OPEN
WHAT: Learning how to use the network, failing at potion brewing and house hunting/shop browsing/working at the library in town
WHEN: Throughout January
WHERE: Various locations
WARNINGS: Setting things on fire, will update if need be!


1) Network, un: Caster

[Using the network was not Caster's forte by any means. She'd dismissed using technology such as mobile phones back home, leaving it to her Master and the monks at the temple to manage - why would a Magus from the Age of Gods have need for such things, after all? But, as an important tool to communicate in this world, however, she'd finally started trying to get a better handle on it.

First, some text!]

i trust this is functioning

yes it looks like it is

good

[And then her face - or what can be seen of it beneath the hood - along with the tip of a gloved thumb partially obscuring the camera could be seen over the video for just a moment. Right up until her skeletal dragon familiar gets it in its teeth and drags it off to play with it! Caster could be heard in the background giving a sigh of exasperation.]

You know that's not a toy. Bring it back.



2) At the Newcomer Hotel

[Potion brewing was something she'd carried out a fair bit in the past, so even with...less than ideal supplies, Caster thought that replicating her old knowledge here would be a relatively straightforward process.

However, it had failed to occur to her that, just like with her old magic, potions worked 'differently' here.

And so it was that there was a rather unpleasant smell of burning wafting down the hall of the newcomer's hotel, and a cloud of black smoke making its way out the window. Caster was cursing rather loudly as she dumped the charred mess that was probably supposed to be some sort of potion into the sink.

Hopefully just turning the taps on would cool this down...right?]



3) Out and About

[After the mess she'd caused at her current accommodation, Caster had cleared it up the best she could and headed out into town. She'd need to find somewhere else to stay at this rate, that was almost certain to get her thrown out... Well, for the time being, she could at least window shop to take her mind off things.

Caster found herself in and around town a fair bit during the month, looking for supplies, accommodation, or giving her familiar the chance to run around and hopefully not cause too much hassle for her in the meantime. Otherwise, she could often be found travelling to the outskirts to practice her magic.

She had at least been able to find a job at the library, It was pleasant, and for the most part, quiet. It gave her easy access to research material as well, and most importantly, it gave her some access to funds, even if most of that would probably be spent on alternative accommodation arrangements this month.]



X) Wildcard!

[ooc: As always, feel free to ping me if nothing strikes your fancy and we can plot!]

Comments

[troubadamsel]

[ Since an eyeroll won't help anyone in this situation, she'll resist the urge... difficult as that may be. ]

Quite obvious. If you did intend that for to happen, I'd have many more questions about your mental state... but let's focus on what we can intend to happen, shall we?

[ With that, she takes Caster's hand to carefully inspect the damage. ]

... My healing magic can get to work on the burn, but the glass will be trickier... last thing we need is for your skin to heal over the glass.

[colchismagecraft]

[An eyeroll would be entirely deserved, but not particularly appreciated.]

Hmph...I'd appreciate it.

[She definitely didn't appreciate the stranger's snark, but now was definitely the time to not complain and let her help.

As for the comment about the glass: ]

...What do you suggest? I have a dagger I could try and dig it out with.

[troubadamsel]

Goodness - we don't need a bigger wound! I have sewing needles in my room to pluck them out. I'm just saying it will take some time!

[ First things first, let's treat those burns. She holds her hand out, and a soft, white light begins to emerge. For all of Maribelle's sass, the pure light is attuned to her empathy, she genuinely does want to help.

... Also, she was a healer in her world, so this is kinda old hat to her. ]

[colchismagecraft]

[That was probably a better suggestion than using Rule Breaker, wasn't it?

Still, for now she focused on the warmth flowing into the burns on her hand. It was soothing, gentle, in its own way. Quite unlike the stranger's somewhat abrasive manner...but considering she rushed in to help her, perhaps she was kinder than she let on.]

...This comes naturally to you, doesn't it? I was a skilled sorceress before I came here, but such a gentle magic has never suited someone like me.

[troubadamsel]

[ Maribelle nods as she pulls her hand back. ]

I was one of the healers for our army back in my realm. While I also mastered elemental tomes, healing was always my strength. But we all have different strengths... I could never master dark magic, for one. It's simply not in me.

[ But she says it calmly without any judgement. If this other woman could do dark magic... well, it might explain her mental state. The two masters of dark magic she knew were definitely missing a few marbles. But they weren't bad people... sorta.

Anyway, she turns and walks, expecting the other woman to come along.]

Now then, my room isn't too far off.

[colchismagecraft]

I suppose that makes us opposites then. I have some elemental affinities, but dark magic is my greatest strength.

[Said with a small smirk of amusement as she followed her toward her room.

Of course, her magic hadn't always been that twisted. The Grail War brought out the worst in her, and she resorted to dark sorcery she would never have used in her lifetime. Not that she was innocent back then, either, far from it.

But it was as she said, she never had the mind for healing.]

[troubadamsel]

[ At the door to her room, Maribelle steps aside to let Caster in first. Manners are a priority. ]

Take a seat, make yourself comfortable. And, now that we shall be spending a bit of time together... my name is Maribelle.

[ The room isn't different from anyone else's, of course, save for being VERY clean and organized.

There is a healing staff leaning on a wall, as well as three colored tomes stacked on top of one another on a table. ]

[colchismagecraft]

[A nod of gratitude, before Caster made her way into the room and took a seat - a chair as the first choice, but if there were none available she'd take a seat on the bed. Either way, she'd be laying the staff and the Golden Fleece carefully to one side.]

Maribelle, hm? Mine is Caster. A pleasure.

[Oh, she noticed that staff... and those tomes, and curiosity came into her expression.]

...Those books?

[troubadamsel]

My tomes... which, unfortunately, are nearly useless.

[ With a sigh, she goes to fetch the sewing needles - making sure to run them under water first, keep things clean, before sitting across from Caster. ]

In my realm, tomes are sold aside swords and axes and the like. They have a limited number of uses... but the number is very high. Unfortunately, whatever brought me to this world severely reduced that number. I can only use each one once before it breaks.

[colchismagecraft]

So it has reduced their powers as well...how frustrating. At least they still retained something of their old capabilities.

[She held out her hand to Maribelle to let her work. Meanwhile, she turned her glance to the items she brought with her.]

...This staff. This Fleece. They originally were magical artefacts in their own right, but all of that has disappeared as well. My dagger retained a little of it's former capacity as a ritual knife, but that is all.

[troubadamsel]

[ Maribelle frowns, then sighs, realizing her error. ]

... I see. And here I am, lecturing you about what's sane and what's not... I do apologize. In hindsight, obviously you wouldn't have taken them if they weren't of some importance.

[ She gently holds Caster's hand, and begins trying to pick each shard out, occasionally glancing at Caster's face and hoping she isn't hurting the other woman too much. ]

[colchismagecraft]

[Caster gave a small nod of acceptance at Maribelle's apology.]

...I'm just glad they weren't damaged. They don't serve any use without their powers, but I could never let anything become of them.

Did your staff lose it's capabilities as well?

[Her face tightened a bit as she worked on the glass shards in her hand. Sure, the work was painful, but she did what she could to stop that showing in her expression.]

[troubadamsel]

Indeed. Much like the tomes, they're also bought, sold, and with limited uses... but I can't find a single touch of magic within it now. It's little more than a stick now.

[ Hoping the talk will distract from the pain, she allows herself to vent a bit. ]

They even shrunk down my war horse, of all things...

[colchismagecraft]

How frustrating...I don't understand how they can not only strip our powers, but that of our belongings as well. It's a force that rivals even that of the Gods.

[And that in itself was a rather intimidating thought. Aphrodite had broken her mind on a whim to get her way- what could those in charge of this world do, to get what they wanted?

Well, at least existential dread was better than the immediate pain of having a needle jabbed into your hand, right?]

Your war horse...you must have held an impressive rank, back home.

[The hippeus - the ancient Greek cavalry forces - were held in high regard, after all.]

[troubadamsel]

[ Ah yes, give her all the praise, give it. She does seem to puff up like a prized Pomeranian. ]

Indeed! I was one of the most valued member of the Shepherds... the special army of the kingdom of Ylisse. I was tasked with healing our fellow soldiers. I've been a member for many years, proudly serving the royal family in their times of need.

[colchismagecraft]

[Oh dear. Despite herself, the thought that Maribelle would be remarkably easy to manipulate with praise floated through the back of her mind. Something to file away for later, just in case she needed it.]

Mm, that is reasonable. The cavalry forces back in the world I originate from were considered the royal guard of honour in some of the nearby city states.

Few of them had magic, of course.

[Not her home of course, Colchis was in modern day Georgia, but she spent enough time in Greece to know the societal structures there.

Caster wouldn't mention that she used to be a Princess, content with letting the other woman have the spotlight.]

[troubadamsel]

Were you also in service to others? Or are you an independent mage?

[ Ah, but now Maribelle is curious about where this woman is from! She's not... 100% self-centered. I mean, it's a high number, just not that high. ]

[colchismagecraft]

[That was a complicated question.

Did...she have any right to call herself royalty, after she had so thoroughly burned the bridges with her family? She grew quiet for a moment, considering it, before deciding to focus on the Holy Grail war for the most part.]

...Most recently, I was summoned as a spirit to serve another Magus in a War of Magi. But I worked with self-proclaimed Heroes and other such during my lifetime, for all the good that served.

[troubadamsel]

... As a spirit?

[ This woman's clearly not saying she's dead and a ghost, right? RIGHT? Of course not.

Spirit must mean something else in Caster's realm. Yes, that's perfect logic. ]

Hm. So... in a sense, this whole sort of thing isn't entirely new to you.

[colchismagecraft]

Yes. But that is a rather long story.

[Not that she objected telling Maribelle if she pushed the point - and she wasn't entirely wrong about Spirits having another meaning.

Except for the whole being dead part. Sorry, that's still a thing.]

Being dumped in the ocean by myself certainly is. I gather you've never had anything like that?

[Not that she's bitter or anything.]

[troubadamsel]

[ OH GODS, YES, LET HER VENT. ]

Of course not! Honestly, what sort of welcome was that? They KNEW by that point what was happening! They couldn't prepare a boat or some sort of softer landing?! I could have frozen to death out there, or caught my death of cold!

[ salt salt salt hate hate hate rant rant rant ]

[colchismagecraft]

It was ridiculous, wasn't it?

My robes were completely drenched- I've not been treated with that much disrespect for a long time! Pulling me straight out a battle and tossing me in the ocean like I was nothing, the nerve!

[These two are going to be best of friends if they can continue having glorious venting sessions. Just drinking tea and shedding all the salt.]

[troubadamsel]

It was the very same with me! I was about to head into a decisive battle to help take down a vicious tyrant!

If they want us to be heroes, then they should start treating us like ones!

[ my little mage : friendship is salt ]

[colchismagecraft]

You as well? Whoever is responsible has truly appalling timing!

I most certainly agree. I have had more than enough of people demanding I help them achieve their ends, but then they always treat me so unreasonably! This is no different!

[No names mentioned Jason.

But yes, My Little Mage : Friendship is Salt.]

[troubadamsel]

And they think they can keep this up with some "greater good" speeches, but how well can we really trust them? How much proof do we have one way or another? I'll help the innocent and the needy, but I'll hardly lay my life on the line for a kingdom I have no loyalties to.

[ this is helping the skin-poking go by much faster! ]