[Ironworks] Forging Alliances, ii. (Eanos)

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was happy enough to share such innocuous information. With a small smile, he elaborated. "The University certainly has a lot of resources to share," he continued. "While I didn't exactly have a full-blown Master, Stonemiller's mentorship was valuable. I was able to use University property for my experiments, and they supplied much of the materiel for them as well. They teach most disciplines, and sometimes bring in guest teachers for the rest... "The Library, or the Archives, depending on who is telling the tale, is guarded by the municipal government, but the University has a lot of sway within that realm. It is said they harbor many great secrets, but they remain secrets to me. Perhaps if one were to develop a rapport with a member of the Council..." He shrugged. "My friend Torc had ambitions of getting inside. I did too, but we failed to realize them while students. Perhaps someday..."

[Eanos]

Perhaps the things that Hadrian spoke of were common enough knowledge in Zeltiva, but for Eanos it was news which carried with it a great excitement even though it also carried with it a restriction which he would have expected. He smiled to himself, "well I imagine that is how they stay one step ahead of the students and remain in power." There was some truth in the words but already he was too planning on how he might find a way to access those archives. That he planned what surely at least everyone who had ever been a student there also planned did not sway him, because of course they were not him! "Perhaps one day indeed," he continued after a moment. "Perhaps the key is indeed to no longer be a student." Likely enough it was true. By the time Eanos had mastered djed manipulation well enough to overcome the obstacles guarding such a place, or earned the coin necessary to bribe his way in, he'd also be experienced enough to be able to get access by right, or at least by the right of exchanging that experience for the right of access. "Does Torc still study there?" He asked, not wanting the discussion to move so quickly away from the tantalising subject of forgotten knowledge.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian nodded thoughtfully, as he had always assumed that there were secrets too powerful to share with the average person hidden away in Zeltiva. Perhaps if he returned there and took up a position as an adjunct professor, he might worm his way into the upper echelons of Zeltivan society and gain access to a secret or two. He frowned, and reined in his thoughts. They were distracting him from the task at hand, and he began filing down the hook with greater care, the which he would do until Eanos deemed it sufficient and sufficiently good work. "I'm not sure if Torc is still there. He mentioned wanting to travel, much as I did, but if so, I believe he went in a different direction. He might have returned, though." He paused and glanced at Eanos. "Torc is part Isur."

[Eanos]

Seeing that Hadrian had now started to make finer adjustments to the hook he wandered over and took a closer look and with a glance of permission to Hadrian ran his fingers over it. He pointed out an area which needed just a stroke or two more with the file and then it would be done. "You've put a lot of effort into this," he said pleased with the dedication that the man had put into the work, "and the results show it." He did this in part to cover his feelings regarding the revelation that this Torc was part Isur. He came from a culture where the Isur did not breed with the other races and it was hard for him to understand that this was even possible. "Well if you are both interested in travel, I'm sure that sooner or later your paths must cross once more."

[Hadrian]

"Thank you," he said, directing his efforts with the file to the part of the hook that Eanos indicated. One stroke, two, and a little half stroke just to make him feel like he was perfecting what was, praise aside, a rather simple thing. Still, with Eanos' help, he had done something that would have been impossible for him on his own. "Thank you. "I do hope to meet him again one day." He held onto the hook as if curious what to do with it now. Not so with his magical creations; those always had a purpose. "What shall we do with this?" he asked. "And... forgive me, but I should soon be on my way... to make sure and fix any glaring mistakes in my enchantment before you come to see my work."

[Eanos]

Deciding to address the latter question first Eanos raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Whatever you want with it. This design works well for travellers, just so long as you don't hammer it too hard into a tree or whatever. Just hard enough for it to be firm, not all the way in then you should be able to loosen it with a few taps side to side. Or just find somewhere and leave it there. If you cannot think of anywhere you can leave it here, but it's up to you." He smiled at the idea that the enchantments would need work. He'd seen enough of the way that Hadrian worked to have strong doubts that any short cuts had been taken or enchantments made of which the man was not completely certain. "Thank you for your work here, it is a pleasure to work with someone who is keen to learn."

[Hadrian]

"I will keep it as a souvenir, then. Perhaps it will come in handy some day." He smiled, preparing to leave Eanos to his more complicated work. "Thank you again for your instruction. I will see you on the morrow so you might inspect my work for the Knights." Of course, now he would also spend too much of the night drawing up plans for Eanos' tools. He bowed, smiled a crooked sort of half-smile, and departed. END

[Nisaba]

Grade Complete: XP Award! Name: Hadrian   XP Award Observation- 1 XP Blacksmithing- 4 XP Auristics- 1 XP Reimancy- 1 XP While learning the basics of blacksmithing craft from Eanos, Hadrian was asked to look at certain aspects of the metal, thereby earning him a point in observation because in the future he will know exactly what to look for within metal, whether he is blacksmithing or not. He also heated and cooled iron as per instructions, which earned him blacksmithing points. Hadrian also kept his auristics up throughout most of the thread (from the impression I got) in order to watch the djed transformation within the metal, which earned him a skill point. The water reimancy, of course, earned an experience point as well.   Lore Award Asking Pertinent Questions Isur Trapped in a Human Body? Technique: Iron Filing Sultros Society [minor]   Ledger 1 – iron hook Additional Note: Hadrian seemed almost chatty in this thread! I loved it! I also loved the little side notes of jealousy/curiosity that popped into his head. I will really enjoy reading more about the possible friendship/working relationship between the two, if you guys write together again. Thank you for letting me read your thread, and if you think I left anything out, please just let me know!

Grade Complete: XP Award! Name: Eanos   XP Award Teaching- 4 XP Interrogation- 1 XP Eanos is obviously showing Hadrian the fine art of blacksmithing, teaching him different little tidbits of what to look for and how to heat/cool/bend iron, etc, earning him teaching points. Eanos also steered the conversation toward the University of Zeltiva and did his best to keep it there while Hadrian was working/feeling comfortable enough to talk so he could learn as much as he could about the place, which seemed to be a light form of interrogation, earning him a point.   Lore Award Teaching an Adept Pupil Attention to Detail when Teaching Interest in Magecraft Knowledge of The University of Zeltiva [minor] Additional Note: I really enjoyed reading about Eanos easy skill with blacksmithing being transferred to a not-quite-as-simple teaching skill. I also loved the interactions between Eanos and Hadrian because they seemed so similar that breaking the cultural bounds to become friends may not be so difficult. Thanks for letting me read your thread, and if you think I missed anything, please just let me know!