Private Tales Enough of Our Disease

A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
Alistair greeted Vittoria in his office with a smile, while not the storm of experiments and artifacts that was his home office, Al's school office was still a flurry of scholarly work. Floating in the air, in two corners of the room were levitating metal balls with runic eyes inscribed onto them that seemed to be reading books. It was one of the few ingenious ways that Alistair was able to split his attention.

"Welcome Vittoria, please have a seat."

Over the past week, Alistair had spent most of his time recovering from their previous adventure and also increasing his knowledge of anything and everything fae. While it was only a start, it would help them in their next steps.

The recovery had been more difficult, the burns had been simple enough with the help of Academy healers, but they could still not figure out how to completely bring back his internal warmth...Such was the price of knowledge.

"It would certainly seem likely, maybe an extension of the tokens. If the tokens summon warriors then this next artifact may be a way to equip or empower these warriors...Any such artifact would be a priority for the Republic, but an artifact within the Empire...we will need to be careful and quick."

Vittoria Larrainth
 
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Vittoria pursed her lips in a bid to choose her words carefully.

"I... have a mission upcoming that will take me to the Empire. I could procure some information about where it is, give us something more current and fresh as far as these texts will inform us." She was determined to study with the Proctor, to broaden her own understanding of magic. In a way, what if they could apply some of these dynamics to their own magical capabilities? It could set them apart, it could shape the future of the Initiates in the Academy, a stronger crop.

Vittoria's reasons were entirely selfish. Any edge to help her become an Archon she would not abandon the path.

"And another thought..."

The Initiate took the seat across from the Proctor. Her eyes pierced him, not hard to do as her eyes often held such an intensity. "There is still fae magic clinging to you. Small, complex, but... if you do not mind, perhaps I could undo it's leeching upon your health."

Alistair Krixus
 
Alistair nodded at the idea, it was smart. Some reconnaissance before they sent in their team to move quickly for extraction. Of course, there was another benefit to that plan. It meant they would not have to take as many scholars with them next time.

"I like it. I'll look forward to the report."

The next topic of conversation seemed far more serious until she explained her idea. He smiled, pleased that she could sense the fae magic still clinging to him. That in itself was more than worth their first trip.

Of course, he could also see it in his own aura, it was a dark blue aura compared to his own nearly translucent aura. He had also contemplated asking for Vittoria's assistance as her magics were perfect for this but stopped himself.

Alistair was scheduled for some non-combat-focused mission in the next few months and...he was taking a risk. He wanted to let the magic fester, it was no longer a risk to his life, so he might as well use the opportunity to get stronger. Alistair would use the remnants of the curse like a vaccine for a biological disease. He wanted to let his own magic combat and tackle this curse, and slowly his own abilities may evolve and grow. Only when he had nothing else to gain, then he would ask for Vittoria's assistance.

"No, for now, I'll be fine. However, I will ask for your assistance later."

Vittoria Larrainth
 
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The Initiate stared at the Proctor a moment before her body relaxed and the girl gave a shrug. "Alright."

Some individuals were better equipped with adversity and disadvantages, and Vittoria was not about to doubt the Proctor's capabilities. Perhaps he wished to study it, harness it, but at least he had time to dwell on this.

Turning her attention to the book she had at the top of the pile, Vittoria cleared her throat and opened to a page she had bookmarked with a small knife that looked like a paring knife. "There is a spell to call upon this warrior court of the fae. Explains why no one came to investigate while the token as been in our possession."

Vittoria had killed elves before. Unsanctioned orders, but in those times earlier on when the Revolution was still fresh in the air, they knew the girl to be capable and compliant. Her father had told his allies just as much. But fae? Vittoria never seen one up close. They were a tricky sort, as noted in the chapters she had read when the different strains of magic had caught her curiosity. "Apparently there are several tongues within their kind." And Vittoria only knew one... or perhaps two...
 
Alistair waved over one of the magical orbs to read the page Vittoria pointed out. One of the benefits of his own office was that he did not have to activate his own eyes saving himself much-needed energy.

He quickly read through the page, nodding in understanding as she explained it all. It made him frown ever so slightly.

"Yes, we may need to request additional Dreadlords on standby before we try the spell in any way...I've only ever seen the aftermath of a fae attack, but...Some of the things I saw were more inhumane than some of our worst war criminals."

The fae did not share the same sensibilities towards war or the appreciation of mortal experiences. Alistair had seen bodies twisted into the worst warped sculptures dedicated to carnage that he had ever seen.

"I've also begun reviewing the language. Let's try to figure out which ones you know, and then I will try to help fill in the gaps to the best of my abilities on short notice...What's most important now is that we need to get this next artifact before anyone else can hope to get their hands on this and then turn it against us."

Vittoria Larrainth
 
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Vittoria hummed.

"You are curious? Of the summoning spell?" The languages did not seem as interesting as that notion of Proctor Krixus' words. Her brows furrowed slightly, the only shred of doubt she would show. "You would want to willingly engage with the fae?"

But this was a study of curiosities. Vel Anir had their bad blood with the elves, and Vittoria had been brought up to believe in Anirian superiority... but if she wanted to be an Archon one day, she needed to have better understanding of magic. "Forgive me, Proctor... I have never willingly called upon a race that has lived several lifetimes while we are still living one."
 
Alistair looked up slightly surprised at the concern he heard in Vittoria's voice before quickly explaining. "What? Oh yes, although only under the most controlled circumstances. While analyzing there long abandoned magics is helpful for our insights, their is not replacement for watching the magic occur in person...Whether that can be achieved through diplomacy or more aggressive means then I will happily do either."

It was only because of his being raised under Anirian superiority that he would even willingly consider the idea of learning from these pseudo-immortals. While Alistair had no desire to learn from an elf or orcs, as he could learn anything of theirs on his own, but if there was one group of races that he would consider learning from then it would be the immortals.

He already knew Samantha studied dragons, and that had proven bountiful. His one-time encounter with an eldritch-like horror worshiped by a cult had revealed to him several secrets of the arcane. In Alistair's eyes, the fae may be no different.

"It is not a practice I would recommend often, but if done carefully and with the right resolve then the results can be...excessive."

Vittoria Larrainth
 
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She always knew the Proctor to be one that garnered curiosity.

On anyone else, Vittoria would have quickly dismissed them, but Proctor Alistair Krixus spoke with an understanding and thought process that made it easier to not get lost in his words. She could see his passion for this, to learn and cultivate. To apply these findings to help better the magic education for Dreadlords.

And that was the sort of mind, sort of ally Vittoria wished to know.

"My uncle... knows someone that convenes with other beings in trade." It was his connection that tracked down her true uncle, the one she never met except at the deathbed she created for him. He had been seeking shelter with the elves for so long, almost undetectable... until he tried to escape. "If our efforts prove fruitless, I could ask of him to assist in our research, if you would like."

And if she were to learn from anyone else to better her understanding of magic, it would be with the Proctor that had eyes everywhere in this room.
 
Normally, just the sentence 'knows someone that convenes with other beings' would have been enough to pique his fascination, but he needed to focus on one project at a time.

"Yes, bring them in. Anyone who may assist will be much appreciated, especially if you vouch for them."

Alistair stood from his seat as he beckoned with his hand, and a phantom hand came carrying a map of the Amol-Kalit Empire. Rolling it out before him, he began to take a look at areas where he expected the artifact to be. The next steps would then be to find the best routes for them to sneak in and out without running into the Empire.

"Also, please let the other members of your team for your mission know about your secondary assignment...maybe not all but they should be aware to avoid any confusion or miscommunication."

Vittoria Larrainth
 
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Vittoria chewed her cheek, contemplating the idea.

She trusted King with her life, knowing he would love part in seeking what she did, to learn more of magic and the lengths of greatness that can be achieved if they applied different approaches.

It was Marcia that gave Vittoria pause, her insistence to deny Vitt in every way as how it always has been between them both. There was a point she no longer knew what would trigger the other.

"We shall see. The less that know about this, the more efficient we can be in our mission and my task at finding out information."

Alistair Krixus
 
"Yes, but at the least, they should be aware that there are other factors at play that you can not discuss. If you must then tell them you have been ordered by Proctor Krixus. If they can not control themselves after such then a longer conversation will need to be had between all of us."

He understood Vittoria's thinking, especially from his own time at the Academy. To feel that everyone around, except for a very rare few were all incompetent and a threat to your success. It was one of the reasons that Academically, Alistair had gone so far with not trusting anyone else.

However, after the Academy, he had to learn quickly that they were all training to do a job. Very few were actually incompetent, they all just had a different way of doing things. His mind flashed to an old cat-like associate with a skill for gravity magic...scratch that, some were incompetent.

"Do what you think is best for the mission. That was simply a suggestion."

Vittoria Larrainth
 
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Vittoria pondered on it a little more but ultimately returned her attention to the text opened up before her.

She scanned the page, looking for any mentions that would help pin point a more exact location. "It mentions the Baal-Asha river a few times. Any of those cities in close proximity?"

The river seemed to be of great significance, given the many mentions and allusions to the water. Vittoria knew the fae were infinitelty tied to the elements of the natural world, and perhaps an artifact would be found in such a place. The last artifact had been found near the water, perhaps that was the pattern they were looking for?
 
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