trans_9 | Spellcraft? Or Knowledge (arcana)? Who knows? [Open]

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Spellcraft? Or Knowledge (arcana)? Who knows? [Open]

Having given warning to the crew as they asked -- and regretting the days in his own lands, where massive ground-shaking detonations would earn no more notice than a peddler with delicious folded bread -- Aibghalien stepped into the sensorium. With a wave of his hand he bade it produce the image of his former laboratory -- much like his current one, save the outer walls were constructed of massive blocks of stone, testament to its position in the tallest tower of the castle he once dwelt in.

Then, with more painstaking care than it seemed worth, he began forming duplicates of each of his magical items, pausing to laboriously inspect each one before setting it to one side, next to its actual twin.

This promised to be a fruitful night.

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He couldn't help but laugh as well, finding her somewhat infectious. "You're certainly easy enough to like, in any case. You shouldn't have any problems."

Ronnae smiled. "Well that's good to know." She looked away a bit embarrassed. "It would be unpleasant to be in a ship with people who don't like you. Or at least mind you." She laughed a bit awkwardly.

"It's not so bad if you spend most of your time in your lab experimenting," he said with a grin that verged on the playful.

He sat back in his chair, appraising the girl before him thoughtfully. More seriously, he said, "If you'll allow me to compliment you... it's not many people who could go up against a lich of extreme power, using that weapon, and still seem as undamaged as you are. It speaks highly of you."

Ronnae blushed heavily this time. Looking away embarrassed she laughed a bit awkwardly.

"I ah... well yeah. Dad said it's because of my fighting style, in and out, fast strikes to weaken or confuse and heavy strikes when their attention is elsewhere. It's sort of like dancing... My grandfather said, in his homeplace it was called being a dervish, or a blade dancer." She commented trying to hide her face behind the reddish bangs that framed it.

"Oh, well." Now he was a little embarrassed. "I meant... spiritually. You don't seem to have become bitter, or cynical, or dark in heart, as many people would have become in such circumstances."

But then he smiled a little. "I'm not exactly in a position to pass judgment on how many scars you may or may not have, at the moment."

Ronnae mentally slapped her forehead. Good one Ronnie, way to look like a total ditz.

"Errr ummm ye-yeah... I don't know. Guess it comes from my family really. No point in being down over all the happenings and such. It's not like it'll help any right? 'Sides a cheery disposition does more for morale in our troops than being depressed and down throden right?" She smiled up at the elf.

Well, he HAD been unclear. And he found it interesting that she'd passed on a mild flirtation; something else to wonder about.

"Well then. This may be none of my business, and feel free to tell me so, but as a wizard and a sidhelien I have something of an interest in the matter, and I wouldn't feel right if I didn't say anything." Hopefully she believed him; he was, after all, speaking truthfully and as much from the heart as he could ever manage, these days. "Your axe... do you still use it?"

Ronnae blinked a few times before looking back at Shadowmourne. She looked distant before moving back to look at the elf with a nod.

"When nessesary. It's ... well it's difficult to explain... It's always there, and it's as much a part of me as a limb? It's the price of forging it I suppose." She bit her lip a bit uneasily.

He nodded, slowly. "My experience is that... over time, such a weapon always extracts a price of the user. Slowly, gradually, but nonetheless real. And, well, forgive me for being forward, but I rather like you. Enough that I wouldn't want to see you come to any harm."

He raised a hand to forestall potential challenges. "I'm not saying you shouldn't have used it for the purpose you did, mind! But, it did fulfill its purpose. Would you consider giving it a place of honorable rest, until such time as it might have a new purpose that only it can perform?"

It's a fairly outrageous thing to ask of a recent acquaintance, and he knows this. But the power it held -- the power had honestly, sincerely frightened him. Not so much its strength, but its nature, its source... The best he could do is try to be gentle and open about this offer and hope she understood it was sincere and heartfelt.

Ronnae looked down, and for a long moment stayed silent, yet when she looked up she had a sincere smile.

"I understand... and I thank you for your concern. But this is a burden I must carry. It wouldn't be right of me to have used the souls trapped within this weapon and then set them down to be forgotten till they are needed next..."

She sighed, a guilty look on her face. "I've wanted to... the whispers can sometimes be disheartening... But still I must endure. I get rest once in a while when I walk out to relax, or take a stroll around. Even best when I sleep..."

She smiles widely. "That's one of the reasons I like to sleep. It takes the heaviness off me for that time. But I owe it to them, when I train and when I go into combat. To give them the sate their bloodlust and their unsatisfied hunger." She looked away, a pained expression of embarrassment clear on the youths face.

He was silent a moment, considering.

"I won't ask you to set the souls free," he said, eventually. "And if you feel you must carry the weapon, it isn't my place to stop you. But if it's starting to drag on you, that weapon is dangerous. You need some sort of counterbalance, I see that clearly now."

He managed a smile. "It wouldn't be respectful to those who gave their lives, and whose lives you saved, to sacrifice your own soul."

She looked thoughtful for a few, it was clear this young half orcess had been through a lot in her lifespan.

"I know... I know... dad wanted me to destroy the blade as soon as the task was done. But he also taught me honor and respect for all things be them allies and enemies..." She sighed.

"I... I'll carry the burden on me till it becomes unbearable." She smiled solemnly at the elf.

Yes. Destroying a lich of any power whatsoever was a feat in and of itself, and worthy of respect.

"Well, allow me to make a counterproposal. What if you were to carry the weapon, use it as you saw fit, but let it share its duties with another blade?"

Ronnae raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Hm? Like my mother's blades? Or something entirely new?"

"That's a good question, actually. The intellectual part of me says that the most logical thing to do is make them into a counterbalancing force, given that they're already highly symbolic." He mused out loud, stroking his chin as he looked down at the floor in thought. "But emotionally I can understand that any enhancement or modification, even beneficial, could very well blunt that purpose."

He looked back up, sitting back in his chair as he spread his arms. "This is for your benefit, though. What would make you happy? What would lighten your burden?"

Ronnae looked thoughtful. Clearly debating with herself. She finally looked up;

"I... no offense, I really don't like anyone else touching these blades." She re-sheathed the blades that where on her lap. "but I've been trained to use two oversized weapons in battle. It wouldn't be hard to fight with both Shadowmourne and mayhaps another weapon of your enchanted crafting?" She looked at him curiously, she wouldn't have thought the elf could forge weapons, let alone something that strong. Then again, she's been taught to never judge.

"No, I understand perfectly. No offense taken."

He was starting to get that manic, mad-scientist look in his eye as he considered the possibilities. "Easy enough to find a skilled weaponsmith on the ship," he said, inadvertently answering her speculations. "And for that, I believe I have the perfect idea."

He rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Finally! A chance to do some GOOD around here!"

She couldn't help but chuckle a bit at his eagerness.

"I'm sure you've done good already. But thank you for wanting to help me." She smiled sincerely.

"Not a thing, honestly," he admitted. "All I've done is sit around and tinker with my magics. This is at last a chance to do SOMEthing!"

He stood up, unable to quite contain his excitement. "No, this is perfect! Thank you, Ronnae. I owe you a favor for sure!"

She laughed a bit and nodded. "Glad I sort of did something I guess." With that she stood up and bowed respectfully. "I'll be off then! It was very pleasant to finally be able to sit down and chat." She gave a cheery wave and turned towards the door, her youthful stride apparent now that she was more at ease, long ponytails swaying from side to side.

"Feel free to come by my lab any time you like!" he called after her. "I'd appreciate the company!"

Ronnae waved as she exited. "Will do! Take care Abi!" And with that, the young half orcess left the lab.

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Spellcraft? Or Knowledge (arcana)? Who knows? [Open]

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