networkinthenight | [text] @kingofwei; OPEN

Entry tags:

[text] @kingofwei; OPEN

good day. I apologize for the delay in this message but, well, it seems we've had a number of developments since the meeting. some time to digest them is warranted.

Doctor Ingram's message about the World Eaters has not changed my goal of getting this community to work together, more or less smoothly, because he pointed out repeatedly that in spite of unknown gigantic possibly demonic horrors that want to feed off our light, our purpose here is to 'fix' the world. if it involves facing or dealing with the World Eaters somehow, so be it, but if there is a chance we can discover a solution to all of our problems in the time frame before they find us, then it will render them less of a threat.

that said, I have come to provide a brief summary of the meeting, to have it on record, and a call to action.

we discussed leadership, the need for organization, and security. it was proposed that the burden fall on a council rather than a single individual, and if enough people volunteer there shall be a vote to determine who joins it.

there was talk of rebuilding the run-down structures in the square and the village. a young man named Remington was put forward as the most capable who can instruct others in the craft.

both Inspector Javert and Commander Rosinante brought up protection, both for the town itself and for exploration parties. suggestions were made to use the Invincible and the library as emergency locations for people to gather in safety. I believe both would be helpful for devising additional protective measures, against both outside threats and the possibility of inside threats. the damage to the church is proof that we must guard against both.

a young man named Jason also offered assistance in training, protection, and organization. Lord Eliot likewise brought up tactics but also emergency stockpiles of supplies and so on. all of these ideas can be brought to fruition with some help.

there were a number of other ideas as well: communicating with the spirits, a welcome message on the tablets, someone to greet new arrivals at the ferry, certain experiments with magic, and so forth. Mary has something of a tally of ideas and support for them. some of those discussions ended with no real decisions but by offering the ideas, perhaps someone in the community can take them and run with them. and, there is ultimately our need to learn as much as we can about this world, the darkness, how it all came to be, but there is much groundwork to be laid before some groups will feel safe enough to explore further.

that said, here is my call to action. whoever you are, wherever you come from, your skills are needed to make any of this happen. what good are ideas or even a council and defense structure if no one is willing to act? I have put myself up for the council, willingly. if there are others who would join me, I would like to know. if there are others who want to help train, or defend, or build, or explore, or work on information or the tablets or anything else, speak up. I have faith that we can work together, regardless of personal feelings. and, as both Ingram and the Keeper have intimated, if we do not work together, we are more likely to end up reset.

I do not wish to be reset. the puzzle here is almost too large to unravel alone, but I enjoy puzzles. I would like to see us be the group that finally succeeds at...whatever it means to fix the world. restore sunlight? defeat World Eaters? something as yet undiscovered? we shall see. but it begins with others standing up to volunteer.

[and with that he sits back to hope that people do.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

to be quite honest: because until I have taken the reins to do so, no one else has. no one has offered to make that list, nor has anyone spoken up to offer their skills.

yet.

this is their chance. they should do so. we will make a list. keep it on hand. when someone asks for, say, a bodyguard to explore with or a person to repair a bridge, we can tell them who to talk to. it is painfully simple and yet no one else has bothered to take the initiative.

Who's we?

I can make a list. But I'm not sure everyone should have access to it, I mean, some people might not want everyone else to know that they can do magic or fly or whatever.

we is anyone willing to help. I am capable of doing things alone but why should I, if others can and will undertake the work? thank you for offering.

that is a valid point but we cannot have it both ways. you cannot ask for someone who can fly to help do reconnaissance but then tell those who can fly that they can keep it secret. I don't know if you're aware what 'cooperation' means but it usually involves volunteering something of yourself in exchange for the trust that it will be used in good faith.

I'm not offering because of you.

I didn't mean that? I would never ask someone to keep that a secret unless that's what they want? But I meant, I'm not giving the list to you. Do you even have any idea about magic? About flying? Anything at all that would make someone special? Because I have and I'll make the list and keep it. And then, if you see someone that I haven't helped already, send them my way?

Edited 2019-09-18 08:44 (UTC)

[oh is that all? a shame text hides his smarmy smirk]

I do actually. well not flying, that is a bit out of my range, but I have dealt with a certain level of sorcery, including directing those who can use it how best to wield it in a pitched battle.

but why should I trust you with such a list? what makes you, as a keeper, somehow better than me or anyone else in this town? I ask merely as a point of information. after all, if we are to trust each other, there should be a modicum of basis for it.

[What an asshole, and Quentin curls up harder around the tablet, fingers moving rapidly.]

That doesn't really answer the question, though. Can you do magic? That's you've talked to a few magicians in your day and maybe gave them advice on how to be a shit doesn't actually count all that much in this.

I'm not saying I'm the best one for this? But I'm the only one willing to do it and? I went to Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, do you even have a formal magical education? I was king of Fillory and I have been through shit like this before.

[ooh there's a lot to unpack, there]

can I? well, in a limited sense. battle only. I did not have the opportunity to learn the sort of sorcery my tactician learned from nefarious sources.

formal education should not matter. but if you are sincere and royalty, then there is no need for us to be at odds. we may be cut from the same cloth, excepting the sorcery itself. to have witnessed and understood use of magic is a decent substitute for using it oneself, in my experiences.

Battle magic isn't the only magic there is? And also, I don't know kind of magic your tactician was trying to learn, but it's not nefarious. Not on it's own? It's about how you use it. I mean, even the spell you'd use to peel an apple could be nefarious. If you used it for something else.

We're not, no. Not even a little bit, because I want to actually help people. I'll make the list and then everyone can talk and maybe agree on how we use it. When we use it.

bold of you to assume that I don't want to help people. that is all I am doing, here.

you have misread me; the beings capable of powerful sorcery where I last was were terrible, but that didn't stop some of us from learning what they would deign to share and turning it to beneficial use. but that is neither here nor there. if you have trouble understanding my written words, I would meet to speak face to face.

Right.

Or, you could try pulling your head out of your ass and write what you mean? Just a suggestion. Okay, so you know battle magic. Great. It really is. How powerful would you say you are at it?

[look this flowery language took a long time to learn, he's gonna use it! ahem.]

moderately so. there are others far more powerful than I, but I would have an edge over someone without sorcery.

[Side-eyeing that flowery shit so hard!]

Can you show me?

[So, Cao Pi is really annoying, but also, it would be stupid to write him off as useless without making sure. So. Invitation to show off battle magic is issued.]

if you wish. I'm sure I can freeze a tree or two without frightening too many spirits

[not sarcasm this time, sob]

Cryomancy. That's actually pretty impressive.

[Also, no sarcasm but so much side-eye it's beginning to be a bit painful.]

is that an official term? I've always simply thought it ice abilities and left it at that.

of oourse you'll have to meet me to see it, else I could simply find some ice and leave it for you with no proof that I created it.

Where I'm from it is.

You could find some ice? [God, this was just. The worst. Like finding ice here wouldn't close to equally impressive.] I don't have anything to do tomorrow afternoon? Meet me at the treeline past the rec center around five.

[probably not but shh don't call him out on his flawed plan. It would work in theory if this place had...things like that laying around. Or if he knew where to look for a working fridge.]

vry well. I will find the place.

[rec center? eh it's got to be somewhere in the village over the bridge. He'll find it more or less on time, even if it takes going to the library and attempting to get directions from the Librarian.]

[Quentin hadn't really had anything to do, except read more useless books and get in the way of Eliot when he was trying to do stuff around the cabin or practice magic, but there was no way he was going to make himself more available than he absolutely had to with this guy.

King, my ass.

Quentin strolls slowly through the park and heads towards the rec center and the foul-smelling pool water, and beyond that, the dark trees and the edge of what counts as a village in this strange place.

He stops near a low wall, hip propped up against it and his tablet out to look over his notes and the latest news from everyone else here, lantern at his feet and hair tied up in a messy bun at the base of his skull. Dressed in all black, t-thirt, hoodie with the zipper zipped all the way up to his chin and his black slacks, Quentin pretty much blends in with the darkness of the forest behind him. This is not on purpose.]

[At least the tablets give off enough of a glow. Cao Pi knows he's slightly late but he really wasn't sure exactly where he was going at first - he hasn't been to the village much and would rather be in the library but...

Armored up just in case with his paired swords at his hip, the lantern dangles from the sheath as usual - best hands-free maintenance of his crucial tie to this life. Aha, there's his detractor.]

One might think you didn't want to be seen with me.

[low, suave, and teasing. He really does think so much of himself]

Holy shit!

[Quentin startles, almost falling over except for his grip on the wall and his tablet goes flying through the air to plonk down a few feet away.]

Fuck, you scared the-- crap.

[Scowling, Quentin gets his tablet, dusting it off with en edge of his t-shirt and turns to look at Cao Pi. Tall, taller than Quentin himself and well-dressed. Swords or some shit like that at his hips and that's about as far as he gets before looking back up, trying and probably failing to keep the frown off of his face. He stuffs his tablet in to his pocket and crosses his arms over his chest.]

That's not even-- I'm. What? Wait, no. I thought you wanted privacy? And trees? So. This is the only place that I've found that has both?

[oh that was too good. He's going to be smirking about that all day. Thanks Q.]

I didn't necessarily require privacy, but I suppose, that's a clever idea worth rewarding. I don't usually care to show off my fighting skills, like some people.

[no one here, really...he hasn't yet seen anyone flaunting their muscles enough to throw shade on them. Zihuan draws one of the swords, looking around for a good target. It would be nice if one of those dangerous spirits came at them from out of the darkness but in a pinch, a thicket of trees will do.]

At least, I haven't used this technique much, here. I should have enough stamina to go ahead and do it.

[Scowling at Cao Pi's smirking face, Quentin waves a hand at the nearest trees. Like, go ahead.]

I haven't been flaunting my fighting skills? I don't think I've been fighting at all since I got here, but--

[He tilts his head and stuffs his hands in to his pockets, smiling a little.] If you don't think you can do it, that's fine. You've got nothing to prove here, it's just information anyway. And I won't say anything if your stamina isn't up for it. It happens to everyone.

[MHM SO YOU SAY while privately Cao Pi is mentally sizing this guy up as a potential...ally? What do you call people who can give as good as they get and match his level of sarcasm so delightfully?

Anyway, here in the present, he focuses on the tree as pointed out and slips the second blade out of its sheath at the same time. Whatever this ability is, he's used it a certain way so many times that it's basically instinct. Sweeping the blades out and around in a circular gesture, he manages to - somehow?? - conjure a floating batch of ice crystals above his head, brilliant and beautiful shards that don't look like much in the darkness. A point of the blade-tip toward the tree, and the shards follow his movement to fly straight at the target, hammering branches and piercing the trunk. Half the tree is demolished, the other half slowly freezes over for a brief moment, lingering longer perhaps because it's a little chilly in this September air.

That's it, though. That's all he's got, and Zihuan stands down, breathing softly. He won't be able to do it a second time until he regains some focus.]

Well. It does seem to work as I remember it.

[Quentin can't help looking at the ice shards as they pierce the air, whooshing past him and half the tree just explodes on impact, while the ice shards continue on to freeze the rest. Impressive. And when he turns around, his eyebrows are raised and his hands are out.]

That was-- hey, that was pretty cool. And also, I like the swords. [He does, they look sharp and dangerous and more like something Margo would choose, but they look cool.] And. How well does that go against magic?

[Twisting his hands together through the Sumerian Shield Charm tuts, Quentin rubs his hands together, twists his fingers and stops with his fingers pointing at the treeline. A shield shoots out from a central point, covering about four trees in a shimmering web of magic and Quentin holds his stance, fingers pointing and calls over his shoulder.]

Can you get through that?

Thank you.

[what a delightful shift in attitude. Cao Pi preens a little, subtly, and spins one blade on his wrist before bringing the two together and joining them at the pommels to form one single weapon - easier to tote around, and wield. He waits until Quentin sets things up before answering, his expression souring slightly.]

Doubtful. At best I've canceled out another magical attack, I'm not sure I could actively combat...that.

[he knows he can't just whip out another ice attack on the spot, he needs to work up to it, so he charges with the double-ended blade, whirling it from shoulder to shoulder and hacking at the barrier with plain old human strength. Pure Havoc just bounces right off it, it's clear this sort of attack is useless. Zihuan focuses on rebuilding his ice powers, one hit at a time, until he can finally twist and flick the blade up to send a brief burst of ice snaking along the ground until it reaches the barrier.

Nope, no dice. Musou powers might be capable of killing demons but dispelling magic seems to be outside the realm of possible.]

...hm.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

-> action!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject