Characters: Rowan, Ledaal Kyrie, Old Tom, Mnemon Koal

 

     Scholars of Logos examine the value of experimentation verse tried and true methods while discussing methods of iron production.

 

     "The light globes of the library emit a constant light, so it's easy to lose track of time. That's one of the reasons Rowan doesn't visit the library until after his last lecture of the day - that way, he doesn't have to worry about missing anything. He's there now, books spread out across a table, trying to work out why the ritual he's looking at works.

     The library manse has several plants for decorative purposes, more than anything. It seems the headmistress is busy, doing something rather unusual to where even the balm spider that follows her around is impressed. She looks over a few of the decorative plants, letting it grow and wrap around a few of the staircases, letting the flowers bloom at the same time. She's lost in what she's doing, and she's been at it for quite some time.

     Rubbing his eyes, Rowan decides it's time for a break and stands, stretching. Looking around as he limbers out, he sees Kyrie there, doing something to the plants. Curious, he walks over closer to watch.

     Maps spread out on a back table, Koal reviews the history notes and references from the literature and tries to place times and events to the maps. It doesn't always work, as some part of the lands seem to be out of place. The Contagion and Wyld invasion left so much lost and unmade, it is hard to see the connections between things. Knowledge for Koal is often a step by step process, and he dislikes when steps are left out.

     Her hands continue to glow with a green energy before it seems that she's done what she wanted to do with the one plant. Kyrie then looks over towards Rowan with a bright smile, raising her brows towards him. "Shouldnt you be studying?" she asks with a soft chuckle as she headson over to peer curiously at what Koal is doing as well.

     "You're probably the first person to say that to me in a while, Headmistress," Rowan says, as he bows to her. "The librarians have been flat-out telling me I've been spending too much time here for at least a week."

     Koal looks up and nods at Kyrie's approach. He is clearly looking at the shogunate references to things, and it's obvious that the east was filled with people and important places with vast knowledge and artifice might...but almost none of the old referenses remain, lost to the twin tragedies that led to the Realm as it is known today. Only Chiarscoro remains as a solid connection, and Sijan. Maybe he was trying to make a treasure map, certainly others have tried, but it's clear he's failed to come up with anything significant.

     Kyrie lets out a soft chuckle under her breath as she runs her fingers through her hair and peers curiously towards the sheets of paper. She hrmms for a few moments and chews on her bottom and takes a deep breath as she turns to Rowan. "Well, if the librarians are telling you you study too much, then clearly they aren’t doing their job.." she says. She looks back over the maps and hrmms for a few moments. "So is this what I should expect your history topic will be about, Koal?"

     "Yes, indeed." Koal says matter of factly. "Since I can't place individual cities, I intend to examine what we know about the land masses in general and try to pose a hypothesis about how the change in geography affects the overall geomancy of creation. When we consider that the Sword of Creation is composed of War Manses spread throughout creation, such a topic might carry some significance...it also lets me combine a topic I find interesting with one I find dull, no offense intended.""

     Rowan shrugs. "At least I can tell I'm making progress," he says. "I just passed the tests for my Initiate's license in Warding and Exorcism yesterday."

     “If you're interested in geomantic movement, I would look into the geomantic center of the Heptagram. It's center used to be somewhere else actually.." she says in a soft whisper, not wanting to insinuate anything. "I think you'll find that history quite interesting.." Especially since Mnemon is the only survivor, having left a lot of questions left unanswered.

     Kyrie then looks over to Rowan and beams brightly, and bows her head. "Oh! Congratulations! Seems you're advancing ahead of many of the students. THat's quite good, I'm sure Professor Feyd is quite happy with your progress."

     Koal nods to Rowan. "I see we have some students studying warding. That's good. Hopefully we will be able to fund projects related to that in the Greyfalls budget. Keep at it and your studies will surely be rewarded."

     "I hope so," Rowan says. "I've gotten no reports of trouble in the Vale since I left, but I still worry."

     "Saltwater Vale will be fine. It has many capable people, so I dont think you should worry so much.." Kyrie says matter of factly, patting Rowan gently on the shoulder while running her fingers through her hair. She looks back over to Koal as she waggles her brows. "Well, we won’t need warding. I've been experimenting with plants, and I think I can fortify the borders with growths of ironbushes to keep the fair folk away.."

     Koal perks up at mention of the Salt Water Vale. "I didn't realize you had just come from there. I believe Brother Hrath from the Temple went that way following rumors. I trust he helped eliminate any foul things that might have been afoot."  Koal is surprised at Kyrie’s statement, his grey orbed eyes opening wide with startlement. "Iron wood? Is it something the Fae are allergic to, does it really contain iron?"

     Rowan scowls at the mention of Hrath's name. He looks like he's about to say something, but then thinks better of it, considering his audience.

     "Ironbushes do have an effect against the Fair Folk. Really, I want to enhance the plants I grew along the borders after the Wyld tainted dementia.." Kyrie admits ruefully as she runs her fingers through her hair, wrinkling her nose as she raises her brows towards Rowan. "Are you all right?"

     "Nothing, Headmistress," Rowan says quickly. "Just remembering something, is all."

     Koal seems interested in the plants, but they have obviously given him another idea. He brings out his geomancy books, clearing a section of the table and begins to work on something for that class, actually bringing out some clay to try and get a more hands on model to help with his visualization.

     Kyrie blinks blankly looking towards Rowan before hrmming for a few moments, sighing a bit before she looks over towards Koal, now rather curious. "Oh? Is that going to be your geomantic project now?" she asks curiously.

     A thick cloud of bitter smoke follows Old Tom as he puffs on his pipe, moving into the Library, pulling the door behind himself shut with reserved quiet and tucking away the smoking implement so as to not disturb any of the more esoteric or ancient texts that would be harmed by it. Noting Kyrie, he gives a little grin and begins to amble over to her position, his eyes gazing over a few dusty tomes on the way

      It appears as if Koal is designing a level 1 Earth manse, but very simplified, as if it is simply a lens concentrating essence in the center. Very unusual, it's clear he's attempting something weird, and it won't work the way he is doing it.

     "Pardon me, lord," Rowan says, looking at the model Koal's making. "I'm no expert on geomancy, but I don't think that'll work the way you want it to."

     Koal sighs, glancing over at the mortal. "If you can find a better solution for generating iron without mining, I'm open to suggestions."

     Old Tom moves inconspicuously behind a few others, peering over at the work, then moves by a little ways, drawing up a chair and a nearby musty tome.

     Kyrie looks around and scans the area as she raises her brows and smiles warmly towards the older man. "Tom!" she chirps brightly as she heads on over and eases on down in a chair next to him. "Fancy running into you again here. How may I help you?" she asks curiously before looking towards Koal and Rowan. "If you want to produce iron, I would consult with a few of the earth elementals we have around. If you need one summoned, see if Professor Garida is busy or not."

     "I'm not saying the concept might not work, lord," Rowan says. "Just that the way you're building it won't get that result. The essence buildups look dangerous in a couple places, too..."

     You say, "hmmm, back to the drawing board. Thanks for the idea Kyrie."

     Tom gives a little salute to Kyrie, his amber eyes burning slightly brighter as he lifts the tome, illuminating its pages. "Iron," he breathes in, his voice throaty and echoing "the Fae peoples?" He leans over a little, in the light it is evident the buttons on his militant cloak are all made out of beaten iron, a different etching in each as he looks over the plans more closely.

     “You know, if it's untested Koal, I would still try it. You never know what will make iron deposits, and perhaps the instability in the geomantic structure will produce it. Never, ever let anyone say you cannot do something. If anything, it should only make you work harder to prove them otherwise.."

     Kyrie says that firmly and resolutely with an impish giggle before turning her attention back to Tom. "Yes, the Fair Folk. I have reason to believe that things will get hectic soon.."

     The craftsman in Rowan recoils at the idea of using trial and error for something that big. "Testing's well and good, Headmistress, but for a manse?"

     Old Tom murmurs something indecipherable, as he leans back. He rubs his forehead with one hand, as he eyes the plans one last time. Catching Kyrie's eye for a brief moment, he intones, "Alchemist."

     "And you are the student, and I am the professor, Rowan. Please do not discourage the other students from being creative. We encourage 'outside the box thinking' here.." Kyrie says, somewhat chastizing him while shaking her head a little. Her attention then looks back towards Old Tom. "Pardon?"

     "It's your fortune," Rowan mutters under his breath. The old man's comment draws his attention as well, and he listens to see what the old man has to say.

     Mnemon Koal stops his modeling and stares, his sensitive perceptions picking up on the old man's comments. "That you for your support Kyrie, but I think the other students are correct this time. I need to have an understanding of both geomancy and alchemy to complete such a manse design, and I currently have neither."

     Tom points at the plans, and with decided simplicity, mentions, "You've got a geomancer. You need an alchemist," he looks up at Koal, "No offense." Rubbing his chin for a moment, the man continues. "You get iron, just a little, the powder, see, mix it up with some sand for your redoubts, set them down." He stares for a long moment. "It keeps the little ones back. For a month or so."

    Kyrie sighs softly as she runs her fingers through her hair, shaking her head a little in the end. She takes a deep breath and hrmms for a few moments. "We have one of those. Philipe is the professor of alchemy at Logos and my second at the Resplendent Palace of Healing. Have him and Professor Lok look over your designs Koal. Do not let /anyone/ discourage you from anything you wish to accomplish." she says firmly and resolutely.

     Mnemon Koal strokes his chisseled chin in thought. "Kyrie, were all minerals always mined, even in the Shogunate, or can resources be formed directly from essence via sorcery? Are there bushes, although not of the Wyld obviously, that could for example produce actual iron?

     Tom leans back, picking up the tome again, quietly turning pages.

     "All materials can be made directly from sorcery. Sorcery is simply essence shaping after all.." she says matter of factly while letting out a soft chuckle under her breath. "All things are made from essence. A spell that I developed back in my days at the Heptagram would ravage fair folk and leave iron deposits in their wake once they were destroyed."

     Mnemon Koal thinks for a moment. "So the lack of numerous sorcerers as well as the fact that iron or other materials can simply be mined....even by summoned demons, is why such spells aren’t common parlance. Not counting the efforts in learning each sorcery itself."

     Tom flips a few pages - the book is one that details various wars throughout the threshold and the role of sorcerers within them.

     And Kyrie simply nods, running her fingers through her hair as she sighs softly. "I think I will retire to the inner sanctum. There are a few things I must do. Good eve to you all.." she says, curtsying before heading off deeper into the manse.

     "Good even, Headmistress," Rowan says, bowing as she departs before turning to Koal. "I should return to my own studies, if you'll excuse me, lord."

     Tom sits in quiet contemplation, looking through the book, searching for something almost eagerly, and remains in the library, sitting in the simple chair.

     "By all means Headmistress." Koal gives a formal bow before returning to the maps he was studying originally.