eachdraidh | Video | July 24th - Library Research

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Video | July 24th - Library Research | Seelie-Locked

[ The video is aimed at a small reading nook in the Seelie library, with piles of books surrounding the central figure, as well as several stacks of parchment-sheets with copious notes.

Kaldur finishes the last of his notes before turning back to face the locket. ]

To those of you who do not know me, I am Kaldur'ahm. I am currently researching a location known as the 'Redgate' and all knowledge of myths surrounding the Lady Knight 'Alyosha'.

[ Some of the titles of the books are visible, and the piles seem to be organized by topic. There is a stack on mountain-castle fortifications, another on mining practices, and yet another on mythologies and tales of the drabwurld.

There seems to be others working just as diligently nearby, muffled sound of movement and the scritch-scritch of a nib on parchment. ]

If any of you know something of this matter, I ask that you share it with us, for there is another in need whom we seek to help with this knowledge.

[ He sounds purposefully vague, but his expression is flat and serious. Kaldur means business. ]

We thank you for any help that you can provide.

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[ a few chairs away there's korra.

poring over a book.

not really looking like she's getting anywhere. ]

Found anything?

[ And there's Kaldur. Getting up and giving his leg-muscles a break from sitting.

And also checking on possibly the most fidgety member of the lot. ]

[ "most fidgety" is right. she's already given up on looking for anything about the dragon but she should've known that looking for anything else was going to be at least three times as boring. ]

No. [ POUTING ] I'm trying to find something about the jabberwocky venom and I'm getting nothing.

[ Kaldur looks over Korra's shoulder a moment, before turning to some of the shelves behind them and disappearing for a few moments before returning with a few more tomes on poisons and healing methods. He sort of has a feel for the system in this library, though he isn't sure he trusts it not to change on him. ]

Perhaps there could be similar venoms that we could use for a starting point. Is there any record of what Jabberwocky venom can do? Is it similar or different to the type of venoms like that of the worms we encountered our first few weeks here.

[ korra blinks as though something's just occured to her. ]

I don't know about a record, but I can tell you what I saw on the dragon's spirit.

That's a great place to start. Can you describe it in detail, or better, draw it?

[ Here have parchment-paper and pens ]

I can look for similar symptoms or ways to treat at least what you have seen, if we cannot find a cure for the venom itself.

[ John has roped in one of his Seelie soldiers (the same tall, redheaded woman who spoke to Solais at the latest royal audience before he could come in on his locket; the same soldier that he will ask to watch Mako's dragon egg, when the time comes) to come to the library with them. She is pointing out a few other books, John following and placing them in his arms; he looks a bit like a pack mule. ]

[ Her messy bun bounces while she talks, her tones neat, clipped. A longtime soldier. ]

You'll want to read up on the Blood Granite, too. That's been the death of many a shardholder, sir.

And, mmh, here, a historical account of the battle there at Redgate. You have to be careful, a lot of the more popular versions are... a little on the romantic side.

[ The look she shoots him confirms that last bit is quite the understatement. She plucks this book out herself, fingertips smoothing over the tooled leather cover. ]

She used to be Unseelie, you know. One of the big shardholders on the other side; and some time during the battle, the dragon killed her. But the Witchking Reul, the Unseelie Lord, rode himself into the fray and guarded her body, and bade life to return to her. It did, and his power spent for awhile, he left, but even the real histories, like this one, say she embraced him before going back to the battle.

Edited 2014-07-25 20:52 (UTC)

That's not why it has the name, is it?

[ Blood Granite. Sounds just wonderful. John adjusts the books he's holding, though his nod fades, expression turning from one of concentration to a bit of a confused frown. ]

Romanticized even though she was Unseelie?

[ Though, well -- at least now they know just why she killed the dragon. Revenge is a pretty strong motivator. ]

That how she lost her shard, too?

[ So many questions -- John can't help but feel a bit foolish. ]

Not at all. If you're inclined to believe legend, it formed when some great mythical monster was killed in the area and buried under the stone. But it'll negate all powers, even those the courts grant you. Even when I was a little girl, I remember my parents thinking of moving to the villages around Redgate. The War was never too bad there, after she started mining the granite and using it to build. Shardbearers don't want to go where their power's no good.

[ Their violent deaths at the hands of Unseelie orcs, John knows, were the reason she entered Seelie service of her own volition. ]

Oh, you likely won't find too many of the romantic stories here. But take a step into any bar or tavern worth a copper, it's a common enough song or story. She's got children in some, none in others. Fought for the common folk in some, others her king, her lover, for the dragon's treasure...

[ She smiled at him, added the book in her hands to the growing pile in his arms. ]

It was all well before my time, sir. I don't rightly know how she lost her shard, though I think the dragon the most likely story.

[ Negate all powers. John looks at the ring on his hand, then turns his head just enough to look back toward where the others are sitting. He has practical experience; Kaldur does too, and Cassie should. But the others...

Well, John will worry about them all anyway. Now it's just going to be worse. ]

I suppose I can't blame them. We'll be trying the diplomatic approach either way, but the Blood Granite will make it more important.

[ He's going to look into getting some armor for Hermione, if nothing else. ]

I don't suppose we have a name for the lover? Or the children?

[ Smiling back (it still feels strange, but it's more and more common in Drabwurld; vastly different from back home), John adjusts his hold on the books once more. ]

Before your time or not, your help has already been invaluable.

The diplomatic approach? Sir, are you feeling well? Perhaps running a fever?

[ Her expression forms a perfect parody of well-meaning concern, but her eyes glitter with mirth and good humour. ]

You may find the names in the books, which'll be more accurate than my memory if I'm being frank. I'm pleased to be of help, of course. Never thought learning to read, write, and cipher would do much to assist my duties here.

I'm fine, thanks, [ John replies, dry -- but his eyes reveal humor, too. ] Besides -- I can't even get a slight cough, much less a fever.

[ So if for some reason he ever gets either, please be very concerned. ]

And now we'll even know a little more about what to look for. [ He'd pat one of the books if his hands were free. Instead, he gives her another smile. ] It takes all kinds. I'm sure you've heard the king and queen say something similar to nervous Shardholders before, but it's true.

[ A pause, then- ] I hope you're not too upset that you'll be missing the upcoming battle. But with the dragon egg... well, it's important. Obviously. You know that.

[ She tucks a loose lock of straight red hair back behind an ear, walking along the bookshelf, scanning titles, trying to hide a growing smile. ]

Pardon my saying so, sir, but you're a Shardholder. Do you even know what nerves are? You can change the very manner of the earth with but a thought, heal from any wound...

[ She shook her head, letting her fingertips graze over the titles. ]

You shouldn't trust the likes of me with it, sir, speaking plainly. A common soldier. It's... it's a great honour, of course, but a dragon egg? What if I crack it? What if I can't keep it safe?

And up until recently, I was just a common soldier, too -- no magic ring, no healing, just training and hard work. There are other people I would have picked over me to be here.

[ But here he is. ]

You've shown that I can trust you before. You're a soldier of Caer Glaem, a woman who's helped me and is continuing to help me, and I don't think you'll fuck it up now. And if something does happen...

Well, sometimes shit happens.

[ John is not great at motivational speeches. ]

[ She can't help but laugh at that, ducking her head as if embarrassed by so much attention. ]

I suppose that's so!

I'll do my best not to cock it up, sir.

[ And she adds another book 'ore, mineral, and metal' onto his pile. ]

I think you'll be fine.

[ He chuckles, then peers down at the latest book. ]

So they mine the blood granite there, you said? That's dangerous work, even without possibly stumbling across a dragon. The workers like her?

Dangerous work, but well paid I'd wager; the granite is expensive. And the dragon's near a century left aslumber. 'Til you made mention of its spirit, I'd have thought it long dead.

And it's not lightly that these accounts all call Alyosha a hero, sir. She's kept peace in the west for near a hundred years, kept the War from overflowing where it would ruin good land, villages, towns... You must have a care. I've no doubt the whole region would rally to her cause, even without her asking. You'll be going to a place where this woman wasn't just their childhood hero: but is who safeguards them and helps provide in the everyday.

I would have, too.

[ Of course, his parents were archaeologists, and so is his sister -- long-dead is what his family does. ]

I don't intend on bringing a fight to her and her people; not if I can help it. Of course, I doubt it's going to be anything easy like 'take the dragon and go', either. Not if it killed her.

[ He sighs. ]

My sister would be better at this, I think.

[ After what seems like a moment of hesitation, she puts a hand on his arm. ]

Don't speak so.

You're everything we need. And we'll find the right way.

[ YEAH GUYS, THIS IS EXCITING, LET'S RESEARCH.

Okay, it kind of loses the oomph when it's all in action, but Bolin will still be here staring at a book with one hand propping up his chin as if to say "ah, yes, I am a very educated and mature person with superb reading comprehension, who often takes time to pore over old tomes, and this all fascinates me."

So you know. Reading's... not really his thing. Typically. At all. He's more of a physical-action, talking-to-people guy.

But he has to figure that even a less than stellar set of eyes is welcome when it comes to super-serious quest-related research. And Bolin's not one to pass on being helpful. Basically he's here to read whatever anybody asks him to read, which is hopefully nothing that requires urgently speedy results or summaries. And possibly to forget about note-taking half the time unless someone elbows him about it.

still pretty enthusiastic to be doing anything as part of a group, though, that's always kind of cool. ]

[ slumps against bolin, resting her head on his shoulder and trying her best not to claw her face off from boredom.

also

tugging at pabu's tail as he sits on bolin's opposite shoulder. SHE IS SO BORED, THIS IS MIND-NUMBING... ]

[ Korra no, don't remind him that this is boring, he was doing so well! He was... probably a little stuck and debating skipping a page, tbh. Bolin takes a deep breath, in through the nose and out through the mouth, and idly reaches up to scratch Pabu behind the ears when Korra's tail-tugging sends him skittering to Bolin's other shoulder.

Rude, Korra. See how you like it when a ferret tries to paw at one of your pigtails.

So much reading... ]

This kind of stuff would be so much easier if Jinora was here. Oh, or Tenzin! [ HOW DO PEOPLE DO THIS FOR FUN, THERE ARE NO DAMES OR DETECTIVES OR FICTIONAL ANYTHINGS. ]

You really think Tenzin would be in here reading?

[ she sounds like she doesn't really believe that, bolin. 8| and now you know boredom's got the best of her because she is actively trying to remove pabu from bolin's shoulder, placing the fire ferret on the table and lowering her head level with the edge. ]

Hey, do you think if we let Pabu paw through the pages he'll find something interesting?

He might. [ He doesn't know, it's been like a year or something like that he he still doesn't really know the guy too well. Maybe he'd just read all the scrolls?? Or say something wise! Or get frustrated about something and storm out. Hahaha, that Tenzin. What a riot.

Meanwhile, Korra has an idea that sounds genuinely cool and possibly fun! ]

Annnnnd he might! Not to brag, but Pabu's got some of the best instincts in the animal kingdom. I know you've witnessed it a couple of times! [ Pabu licks a book's cover for no discernible reason and scratches behind his ear. Bolin takes it as a good sign, because it's Pabu and he has ~faith~. ] Yeah, not every fire ferret gets brains, charm, and those good looks.

[ i feel like this is his entire personality condensed into a single comment somehow. i have achieved it. ]

[ i'll be sure to throw you a party tomorrow in celebration of this achievement. ]

Oh good! [ korra nods and leans back in her chair, watching pabu start to make his way over the table and books, crossing her arms over her chest as she waits.

... and waits...

.... aaaaand waits....

letting the chair fall forward, she shouts at pabu: ]

C'mon! We're kind of in a time crunch here!

[ WOW, KORRA. WOW. One second he's minding his own business, the next there's a Pabu jumping down his shirt. Which happens sometimes, in fairness. Usually less so in library situations, though. Bolin's face is the epitome of "I'm not mad, just disappointed" right now. ]

Whoa, whoa, let's not yell at the fire ferret! He may have great instincts, but he's as human as the rest of us deep down inside. [ But he'll pull his collar out to address Pabu, too, because yeah. ] We are a little crunched on our time, though, buddy. If you've got any tricks up your fur, now's the time.

Edited (but nah here we go) 2014-08-02 01:17 (UTC)

[Well she'd rather be digging a fist into an opponent's face than her eyes into a book, but she knows how to research if just because of the time she spent with her mother.

Cassie is right now precariously perched in a chair, leaning back on just the back legs without an ounce of fear. After all even if she falls she can fly. She's flipping through the pages scanning for any information she can find, but her patience is waning.

She also has a few books that were hopefully going to tell her something about either sylphs or pegasi. She's not reading those at present because priorities, but if they get an answer from someone- then she might feel less guilty about reading up on it.]

Think we'll get any takers...?

[ Suddenly, her patience yields what she seeks. On the next page is a great illumination, all red and gold; a carefully painted scene of a long-haired knight raising a spear against a red dragon, and behind her some equally strange black beast with a blunt face and many teeth, reared back like a serpent.

'The Legend of The Guardian of the West' ]

[And suddenly it's just right there in front of her- and she's so surprised that she actually over tilts and sends the chair clattering backwards- ... with her in it.

She needs a half a second second to scramble back up, setting the book down on the table.]

Hey, guys! I found something!

[ Alongside beautiful illustrations, the story follows. ]

Never elsewhere so many, such able
Knights assembled! Gift and land
He shared out with generous hand,
Though most of all to one who served: Alyosha
She was envied by all the court,
For her beauty and prowess,
For being brave and generous.
But the King, he held her most dear.
In a battle on midsummer's day
Her blood did wash upon the flowers
In the orchard, before the towers
Guarding the Western Road.
Her son and daughter sought to avenge her
Against her foe, these two alone
The beast who meant the road to own.
Their cry of grief drew the king over,
and spoke his heart to move her:
"Great lady, I beg you now to stay!"
Not in vain did he then lift her
For she lived to win only his grace
And stood again, and went to face
The fearsome dragon wild.
But son and daughter had not seen
And against the dragon were brought low.
A mother's grief did Alyosha know
On that midsummer's day;
For her childrens' death she oversaw
Their bodies wrecked by dragon claw.
The mourning king gave her his mount
Venom'd, Fearsome, and he swore
She was worth to him far more
Than victory that day.
But up she went and up she rode,
To meet the dragon in the skies,
A mother's vengeance in her eyes
And smote the dragon back to earth.
But living still, it burrowed down
Into the mountains, diving deep,
And Alyosha there built her keep
To guard us all against the beast.

Edited 2014-07-25 20:48 (UTC)

[ Kaldur reaches Cassie just as she rights herself, leaning over her shoulder and tracing his finger lightly down the page, following the words.

He is quick to grab two sheets of parchment and a pen, scribbling down a copy of the notes, first in Atlantean, for quick notes and edits, and secondly exactly as it is presented, in case there is a clue hidden in the exact wording itself.

He wishes twice again that Nightwing or Batman were here, their gifts at cryptology and researching surpassed even his own. ]

This is good, Cassie. Let us see if we can find records of similar tales, to contrast it with, and also if there is more information about the son and daughter mentioned.

[ That said, Kaldur flags down one of the fairies working in the library and asks for directions to lists of courtly genealogy, if any such records exists. ]

[Moving to give Kaldur room to have a look is automatic. She's reading from her spot too but otherwise staying out of the way. It kind of sounded like a story from old mythology that her mom would have told her as a bedtime story- for many reasons conventional fairy tales were never really Cassie's or Helena's thing -but there was no specific familiarity. She'd never seen or heard the story before today.

She allows herself a moment to smile at the praise, but then snaps immediately to attention at the next assigned task.]

Right!

[Now that there's a glimpse of the answers they're looking for- and a name -she'll get back to the task with renewed vigor, lifting off the ground at a hover.]

I'll try to find more books about the West!

[Maybe they'd have more clues about Alyosha, or about a knight with long hair who might or might not have had a thing with the king she served, or her kids, or- wow man just plenty of clues and it still felt like they'd be looking for a specific needle in a needle factory.]

[ Variations of the story are found here and there, but are not at all common; collecting them is the work of hours. The beautiful version found by Cassie is the only one to mention children. Genealogies don't even contain the name Alyosha, much less any possible descendants.

Other sources, however, confirm that Alyosha had been a servant and champion of Reul before her death, and that she built her fortress in the mountain only after her battle with the dragon, taking up a role of guardianship in the region. Lack of later accounts suggest that she had been relatively successful in maintaining the peace. ]

[ Kaldur makes to record what there is to be found, consolidating everything as neatly as possible.

His focus after turns more towards general reports of the region, any data on imports-exports, what sort of raw materials are native to the region and general geography. The super boring stuff. ]

Cassie, see if you can find any accounts about the Unseelie King around this time period.

[ Let Cassie chase after the tales of romance and knights and kings, battles and fights. Much more to her interest. ]

I'll look for the more mundane details. [ He pauses a moment, considering. ] Like waterways. See if there is another access point into Redgate. [ He can swim up any underwater streams, lakes, or pipelines, provided they are large enough.

[ Accounts of the Unseelie king are far and few, but to name him; far more are the annals full of battles, each with long lists of victors and the dead.

Kaldur finds only records of trade maintained with the area; chiefly common agricultural export, tolls for use of the Western road, and the import of small amounts of the Blood Granite itself, as well as more common minerals and ores and a few alpine luxury goods. ]

[ and here comes korra, back from a run around the castle grounds.

look, she just. she had to stretch her legs, okay? she was going crazy. however, she does catch the excited expressions on cassie's and kaldur's (relatively speaking in his case) on their faces and she quickly jogs over. ]

Did you guys find anything?

A few possible leads, for Alyosha's motive, and an account of the events. Here. [ Kaldur moves to let Korra peer in at the tome itself.

He turns his focus instead on the lists of victors and fatalities, looking for any name that seems tied to or similar to Alyosha. Perhaps a lover or sibling or child, some sort of relation. He makes notes of those, as well as general facts about the battle to be shared with Masamori later.

No one said you only had to research one thing at a time, after all.

He turns his attention back more towards Korra. ]

I think we ought to ask the dragon some questions, to have a better idea of what we face.

Edited (i cant type /sobs) 2014-07-28 19:57 (UTC)

[ rrRRRGGGHhh she makes it through the prose relatively easy enough but... argh. it's still frustrating to read in an language she's only understood (and magically so) for a short amount of time.

her face screws up.. something about this doesn't feel right. ]

It sounds like her kids went to kill the dragon but ended up... [ getting killed instead. she sighs, and pulls at one of her wolftails. ] I don't think we'll have time before we have to leave for the army, but I'll see what I can do.

[ Yeah, it doesn't feel right to Kaldur, either. But if he had to guess, he'd say both sides were lying, somewhere. ]

Don't worry about it just yet, it can wait until after the battle has passed. It is only something I believe we should do before we leave for Redgate.

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Video | July 24th - Library Research | Seelie-Locked

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FIN~

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action; Thank you mod/NPC fairies! :D

also, sorry this is so long!

Ohh this is pretty! | poem & cassie

What Crin said! Fun read!

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crashes the party

we lu 2 korra

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