Open An offer of death and power

[Vick]

Winter 71 513 AV

The news traveled like a raging wildfire as word spread within the halls of the island. For this news was unheard of. An offer that was placed in the open for anyone to attend to within the island no matter the status of the being could visit in on.

It was a simple class but while classes were rare and few this was going to be held by a Master ranking wizard none other than Vick himself for this was an offer for a Malediction class held for one day.

The day was early as Vick made his way along the beach of the isle. The news informed anyone that the class would take place outside the walls near the docks which Vick was waiting for. The sun just touching along the world at last as he waited wearing just a simple brown tunic and pants. His hands holding a simple set of carving tools as he waited for anyone to take him on his offer. An offer for the lifetime.

Vick wanted to see if anyone would take his offer status withheld. This would be a class that would risk life and death for he would share just a bit of his understand of his field but he would not make it easy for anyone. In the end only the strong would survive Sahova and this would be no different.

Yet for now the child of death would wait. His black hair tied in a ponytail, his dull green eyes peering past the dark circles under his eyes as he waited. Waited for things to start and for the students to understand why he never dealt with people.

[Thomas Cosa]

"Absolutely ludicrous, expecting any wizard worth their title to expose themselves," Thomas huffed, white plumes of breath staining the chill air of morning, "Fail beasts and monsters scattered all over this gods-forsaken isle, just waiting for any simple minded idiot to take the offer of any apparently random class," he snorted, hardly believing the situation he'd put himself in; Avalis and he both knew the dangers of the Testing Grounds, and here he was, out and about making his way to the docks for a rumored class.

Hai, he hadn't even checked the rumors, but even the chance of a class taught by one of the Citadel's masters? And by Vick, no less. Despite their previous encounters, there had been rumors connecting the malediction master with the Council and the higher ups of wizard politics.

It couldn't hurt to at least check for himself, could it?

"Stranger, you are listening for any noise, correct? We aren't exactly in the ideal environment," Thomas whispered, eyes widened ridiculously, as if he had better hopes to see a fail beast before it saw him.

"As always, Wizard Cosa. Any and all suspicious noises will be reported to you."

Thomas relaxed, at least somewhat. It wasn't like the golem could do much, aside from sound an alarm -- which make scare, at least momentarily, anything that came in to close. There was also the knife, but the pulser doubted he would manage much with that. Anyway, he allowed himself to breathe happily once he made it within distance of the docks; the ever present fog clingy preternaturally to the aging wood, forming a barrier of some kind between the only way off the island, at least safety, and the ret of the Citadel.

"Is there anyone there, Stranger? I think I see a figure...there," he pointed off into the distance, not entirely sure if he was seeing the nuit master or a shrub. They would be, after all, roughly the same height.

"Confirmed. There is a figure in the distance. Identity unknown."

Thomas groaned. He forgot the golem hadn't made the acquaintance of the fame bone master; he wouldn't introduce them, but Stranger would get a good look.

"Remember, do not speak to anyone. No comments, no alarms will be sounded. Confirmed?"

"Confirmed, Wizard Cosa."

Thomas smiled, always glad to hear the golem obey without question. Such an obedient child, if he were to consider the golem as such. If only the rest of the world would act in such a way -- perhaps the Valterrian needn't happen at all?

"Master Vick," Thomas nodded, showing the much respected show of respect, "So the rumors were true, then? You'll be offering a class on...Zapotl?" he asked, slightly butchering the name of the magic in the ancient tongue. "Either way, I'm glad to see we both made it here, considering the dangerous of the Testing Grounds. Were you escorted, I wonder?" Perhaps the conversation was too informal, given the differences in their stations, but the pulser felt that after the number of times they had meet, well, there wasn't much of need of formalities after one party decides to use the other as a punching bag. All Thomas could do was try and pretend like it never happened.

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna felt at ease as she walked along the lands outside of the Citadel, confident in her power and prowess in this task set forth to her. She strode down the path that led from the Citadel and towards her destination, appearing not to have a care in the world despite the dangers apparent outside of the Citadel. Anna much preferred the monsters outside of the domain of the Undead, to the ones that dwelled within. At least the failbeasts were honest about their intensions. Petching hypnotist vagiks.

The tall dark haired woman was dressed in her good clothes today, her brown cloth tunic free of wear and tear and her trousers much the same. Leather sandals adorned her feet, clacking against her feet audibly with every step. At her side was a longsword, a weapon she was honestly unfamiliar with using but it looked intimidating enough in her opinion. Her body was free of the starvation apparent in many of Sahova's pulsers, her long dark hair pulled into a high ponytail. Arcane Glyphs worked their way up her arms, hands, and fingers as well as down her legs, feet, and toes. She looked every inch a battle-wizard, one might have mistaken for an Initiate but for the silver ring wrapped around her right ring finger, its sigil that of a burning scroll.

The path was easy to traverse, Anna herself was no stranger to walking along this way to the Docks. Master Vick's summons had surprised her, perhaps her last meeting had made an impact. The missive had been simple, speaking of simply a class on the subject of Zapatl and his desire for a wizard skilled in combat magic there. Anna could read between the lines though, it was an offer, something she wanted for services she could provide in turn. How very Sahovan.

According to rumors though, the class was open to all who held interest which no doubt would bring many to this event. After all, it was not every day a Sahovan Master offered lessons just out of the blue. Well, Maelstrom did, in the form of blasting those who entered his Sanctum with his reimancy. Anna had learned more about reimancy just by fighting him than she ever had, his forms unique and varied. Hopefully this lesson would provide not only a chance to learn more about Legacy, but to make a few connections.

Since becoming a Wizard, Anna had been attempting to branch out and establish contacts and allies all around the Citadel. It was a necessity really, to sink or swim in Sahovan politics and really with Amaryllis as her Master it made her look even more desirable as an ally herself. Though... being an enemy of Goron Silverheart was certain not a mark in her favor, though she supposed one was judged by the measure of their enemies. A good way to look at things.

After a bit Anna spotted her destination, noting that there were already two figures awaiting her. One was the familiar child form of Master Vick, Maledictor and the reason she was here. The other was a dark haired man around her own height she did not recognize. A quick glance to his hands as she approached denoted his rank as a Wizard, though his sigil was not known to her at the moment. No doubt an exchange of titles were in order, best to make contact quickly.

Vick was the first she addressed, opting to show a bit of difference here to lay things on at the very least. She stopped before him and brought her fist against the heel of her other hand, giving him an incline of his head. A sign of her required respect for one of higher rank, not something she particularly liked doing but it was becoming easier. She allowed herself to fantasize when all of Sahova would kneel at her feet, praising the Defiler, flashing the Nuit her trademark arrogant, self assured grin. When she spoke her voice was smooth like honey.

"Well met, Master Vick. I received your summons and came as expediently as possible. My elements are at your disposal." Anna said simply, her tone respectful and formal.

Her attention turned to her fellow Wizard, her smirk still on her face as she held out her right hand for him to shake, the hand that held her Wizard ring. Her mannerisms were calm and assured, like she thought she could handle most anything the lands outside of the Citadel could toss her way. Given that they were around the same height her grey eyes were able to peer into his coal black ones. At first glance Anna found him rather effeminate in terms of his beauty.

"I would be the escort, sir, if one would desire to use such a moniker. Wizard Annalisa Marin, practitioner of Reimancy, Glyphing, and a dabbler of various other branches of the arcana. To whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" The tall woman said, her words articulate and flowing.

[Zandelia]

Though Zandelia had not been in Sahova for long in real terms she was still able to know when something unexpected and indeed positively unique was going to be taking place. Loitering and listening had its uses and she had spent the morning doing just that, leaning upon the wall of the Vestibule and watching the TAR in its motionless state as the words whispered around her. She knew few names within the dead city and this Vick was a new one to her now but one that had become increasingly curious over the past Bell or so. The traded news was a pleasant distraction from her musings upon the task herself and Thomas had stumbled across together.

“An open lesson? Open?!” came an incredulous tone.

“Yes!”

“But…Vick…he’s a Master!”

“I know!”

“The docks they said?”

“I’m sure of it”

She smiled at that as the voices passed her deep in what they believed was hushed excitement and then faded from her audible range just as quickly. Pulsers were ignored here and that was useful in and of itself, people seldom realised that she was even there when they spoke. Her stillness helped but in reality it was just an addendum to the arrogance of the location. A city of magic should know to be cautious, especially with the Listening Golems around – though she had it on high authority that they were not overtly known of.

I wonder if I could steal one? she mused idly as she played with the hilt of the dagger strapped to her thigh, Revy’s gift. She dismissed it just as quickly as foolish suicide.

Sighing she heaved herself from the wall slowly and gave one last look at the TAR with a scowl. She was not sure what she had been hoping – that the saboteur would return perhaps – but its secrets had eluded her for another day. She reflected that if the Vick was a known name and an important one it seemed then she would benefit from at least watching his lesson. She was confident she might find someone else to try to mine for information. She turned and began to make her slow way to the docks, counting those she knew so far – all two of them. Thomas…he was useful and they had developed a sound partnership of sorts. She was not sure friendship was the correct word but at the very least they had begun to slink past the introductory overtures of mutual benefit. Annalisa, however, was a different matter. She was not entirely sure where she stood with the woman.

Or whether I should like it or not she quipped internally.

The journey to the Docks was a short one and uneventful, the arrival though gave her pause. Thomas and Annalisa were already there and before she dove into the situation she considered how best to navigate it. She could not reveal that she knew Thomas in anything approaching familiarity, it was too dangerous for both of them. As for Annalisa, she did not know what enemies she may make by greeting her warmly either. She settled for a nod to the pair of them as she joined the assembling group.

“Wizard Marin. Wizard Cosa” she intoned respectfully, her gaze pinning Thomas’ for a second and hoping he would catch on to the charade of casual acquaintance.

“Master Vick” she bowed slightly lower than a nod towards the small child of a Nuit – it could only be a Nuit she reasoned – after overhearing the others greet him as such, “Dasoma Zanelli. I come for the lesson" she lef tit that simple offering of words.

[Vick]

Vick did not have to wait long for the signs of life to flock to him. The first was to show was an old face, Thomas. Thomas and Vick had a rather colorful history. They had first met in the year 512 at sometime. Rayage had needed help with something so Vick made an item that he tested on the human Thomas. It did not end well for Thomas but the human’s pride was more hurt than anything.

The item they had made together was a suit of armor in a sense. Something Vick could use for combat if combat reached the isle. It was a rather neat artifact that he called Warnuit that fit his children size frame which gave him a good deal of skill in combat. Vick and Thomas tested it out but somehow be it luck or planned Thomas did not fight much back that day.

Since then Vick and Thomas just met once or twice since. Vick kept some tabs on the little human which was making work towards Animation which Vick did respect deeply about but for now Thomas was still the little human trying to make a name for himself in Vick’s eyes but that was slowly moving to a new light.

Vick found it funny on some level when Thomas asked him the question if Vick came here without a guard. Vick had been to the docks and beach since he came to the island so many years ago before Thomas was born but Vick knew that it was still filled with danger and Vick had been lucky.

“Greetings Thomas. Always a fun sight to see you out and about.Yes, Zapatl, Legacy or Maledicton. All the same but I am in a giving mood so I am offering a free class today. I am sure it will be a day to die for.”

Vick said giving in for a bit of small talk to Thomas as another figure came towards them. The height of the female made Vick know who it was almost the second his unblinking eyes laid upon her. Anna. A wizard of skill that Vick had met just awhile ago as she came to him for help. Yet for now that help would not be spoken about as he had other things in mind for her.

He would let her and Thomas greet each other but for now Vick just stayed quiet for a bit more while yet another figure join upon the small group. It was another human that stood about the same height as the other female but this one Vick had never met before. Blonde spiky hair and a scar along her face made Vick think she knew the ways of combat but for now he just made a small nod towards the three of them as he waited for the talking to die down.

“So I feel we have waited enough. Others may join us but they will have to catch up. I am Vick; Master of Malediction and one of the few souls within this island and world that will offer a taste of my understand for today. Yet this is not going to be an easy class for you each have rules to follow so listen as I will only speak this once.”

Vick said giving a commanding voice to the group of three that stood in front of him. While he may have been the shortest in size and overall just a child figure in a group of adults he still held them with a cold look upon his face. They could either listen or keep talking as either way he was not going to say things twice to them for right now. This would be a day they would either make an ally or an enemy depending how things would go.

“The sun is now just coming up. Once the sun sets and night comes upon this island this lesson will be done. Malediction, Legacy or Zapatl depending on the word choice you want to use, is for today. It’s about ending life and taking the wasted life and turn it into something else. While you see we have no bodies as of now that is what you will fix first. You each have now until you find something to slay and bring back to use the craft upon. You may use whatever is around be it land or the ocean. I will not be helping you find your prey so you are on your own either work together or alone I do not care.”

Vick informed them speaking an a even tone of voice. This lesson was free but it had so many twist and turns which this was just one of them. Most teachers would have already had subjects set about ready for students but Vick was not an easy going teacher. Yet this was Vick. This was his game and his domain in the end.

“Once you find what you want you are to bring it back here by whatever means. While you may not know of this magic I will tell you this; The stronger the creature is the better you may use it. Think of it this way….A rat will only hold so much djed so you can make a toy of it but a human, or even a human mage, holding more djed you can make so much of a toy. Now for now do what you need to do and bring back what you wish to use.”

Afterwards Vick became silent. He would watch them and wait for them to do what they could. This would test each person but he wanted to see what they could think of with just the little hints of it. If they asked Vick questions he would answer to a point but for now he would just bid his time.

His own djed pulling from the depths of his soul as he felt the feeling of magic move along his body as the world changed around him. The colors and wisps of shades became the world as he saw the auras around them. Each had strong auras he felt deep down. Anna had the brightest in his eyes for he felt and saw she was the strongest in terms of power and djed yet the newcomer, Dasoma, had a good amount of djed as well. Thomas...Was Thomas.

Yet the magic faded away from him as he let go of the pool of djed and for now he would wait and see what the three would do.

Please readThe posting order will be kept in the order. Please get whatever you want within one to two posts. If anyone does ask Vick questions please pm me and I will let you know what he will say so you may add it in the thread so we can keep this moving. Any new comers may still join

[Osd]

Osd was more then slightly nervous. Just a few hours ago he had run into master vick. An encounter that was more then slightly unnerving. A voice that old shouldn't be coming from a body from a very young boy. The master has asked for a small favor. To go to his office and bring a package too him at the beach. Osd had wanted to refuse the mans offer. He really did, but then master vick told him that he was holding a free lesson on malediction on the beach. With the package having to be delivered to him there. A free lesson on a magic. Maybe he would never practice the thing. But knowledge was power on this isle. Even knowing what the magic discipline of malediction did could come in handy when he ever had to go up against it. Just like how knowing the theory of voiding or other personal magic could be handy when he came face to face with it. As for the nervousness, it was partially from the idea of getting a lesson from a master. On the other hand, he was carrying a package without knowing what was inside of it. A rather unnerving experience in a place like sahova. Eventually he arrived at the place, master Vick, a woman he didn't know, thomas cosa and anna were already there. Just his luck, but he should have know that when there was free knowledge around people like her would crawl out of the woodwork sooner rather then later. Still, as long as she didn't go nuts on him again like at the start of the season he would leave her be. Unlucky for him though, it seemed the lesson had already started and he had caught just the last part of it. Something about him not helping to find the students something. It seemed that he would have to find something to work with on his own. He walked over to master vick and handed him the package. "As you asked for Master vick. The package." He doubted the master would care much to repeat himself he turned to the person closest to him. Which was the unknown woman. "What exactly are we supposed to go and catch?"

[Thomas Cosa]

"Well met, Wizard Marin," He met her hand easily, and firmly, eyes flickering down to her ring; silver like his, but her's carried a sigil. A burning scroll. Obvious, perhaps too much. His own only occasionally decided to curve into Mashean's "M", usually keeping itself in a simple ringlet of silver. "Thomas Cosa, Wizard and Ambassador under the ArchWizard."

He purposely left out his own studied magics, preferring to keep his own skills and abilities under wraps. Thomas hadn't considered Anna of any use to him, at least at the moment -- and even more importantly, she hadn't asked so he hadn't needed to give her an answer, even as expected as it be.

Besides, Vick had begun talking and it was probably important to pay attention.

They were hunting. They were going to be hunting in the Testing Grounds. Thomas blinked, his mind not completely accepting what Vick was saying; it wasn't making any sense. No.

The petching undead brat was trying to kill him. Again.

Shock and panic surfaced, breaking the almost calm of his features. He swallowed heavily as he tried to keep himself from being too obvious, knowing there wasn't much good in advertising his emotion to an audience; so he pretended, he acted as best he could that he was fine and that everything OK and that he was more than prepared and ready to risk life and limb for whatever stupid game the master had them playing now.

Sure, it was supposed to be a class, but Thomas hadn't thought he could die. Stupid, on his part, really. It was Vick, after all. Why should he've expected this encounter to be any different than the last?

He touched the collar around his neck, watching as the others departed and paired off - he would go to the beach, and stay close to the port and Vick.

OOCSorry about the wait. I'm on exchange and it's much harder to keep up with this than I thought. Hopefully, at least with this thread, I can keep up better. I'll try, anyway.

[Annalisa Marin]

Thomas Cosa was the other wizard’s name, though his name was not so important as his titles and his master. Anna had little care for her own main magics being kept secret or not, she had no reason to hide them as her ring pretty much told anyone who looked upon it all they would need to know. She had opted to gloss over her skill in Voiding by adding it to the dabbling, it was information she kept closer to her chest. Likely the silver down played her skills as well, which the sorceress was fine with, let all who look upon her see her as a blunt and tactless reimancer for that would only put the advantage in her court.

The sorceress had noted two very important things about Thomas; one being that he was obviously a cautious wizard and the other was politically he was very powerful. Ambassador under the Archwizard? Anna had no idea why the petch the Archwizard would need an Ambassador, but the old nuit had proven crafty when Anna had met him. Then again, one did not get to be the Archwizard of Sahova by being dense in the head. The enigma of a Nuit had appeared to be impressed by her prodigal ability, though he had also been quick to give his approval for an on the spot interrogation of her. However he had then thrown his support behind Amaryllis, all with a few strokes of his comical beard and that strange smile.

Whatever the case was, if this man possessed his favor then Anna made a very prominent mental note to attempt to learn whatever she could get out of him. The Archwizard was someone she sought to know better, especially if she could possibly use him in her own schemes. It would probably result in her being used as well, but such was the way of things on Sahova. Anna herself had opted to keep her political affiliations a secret at the moment, no reason to give away her powerful patron.

Dasoma… the sight of her had granted more than a few pangs of longing and passion which were quickly buried in favor of granting her a curt nod of acknowledgement. She had tangled with the other woman briefly in the night earlier this season, a pleasurable experience that had been. Best to keep that little relationship under her hat at the moment, keep it to just knowing her in passing or something similar. Besides Vick had started speaking, best for her to listen carefully.

So, they were to hunt then? Go out and kill something to bring back to the Nuit for this lesson in order to fashion something out of its bones? Seemed like a fairly easy task for someone like Annalisa, a master of the four elements, however her gaze flicked to her companions. Her fellow wizard was not so good at hiding his discomfort at the task as she noticed the slight worry on his face with her trademark smirk, telling her that he clearly did not think highly of his odds in the Testing Grounds. The smirk diminished slightly when she looked upon Zand, hoping that she would have a means of handling this herself. Then again she had the bearing of an experienced mercenary; she would likely be more than fine on her own.

A late comer then opted to arrive at the little group they had assembled, a man Anna noted with slight amusement and little else as Osd Messer. The man was piss scared of her after their first meeting, which the sorceress found incredibly amusing and used against him whenever they met. He was also the apprentice of Goron Silverheart; the petching Sub-Human filth that had conspired to take from her what was rightfully hers. By all rights she was displaying generous restraint not murdering him and using his petching bones for this little class.

“As you say, Master Vick. I shall return soon enough.” Anna said, inclining her head in slight respect for the Sahovan Master.

With a final glance over her fellows the sorceress departed down the path that led to the Harbor proper, her strides confident as she walked. The nearest source of food and bones was the ocean and the fish that existed within it, so that seemed the best choice for her at the moment when in search of bones and remains. With her aquamancy the task of catching fish was made rather simple, just washing them ashore after creating waves upon the water. Well, it was the hope that it would be fairly simple, as who knew what kind of fish resided within the waters of Sahova?

Rather than head to the pier of the Harbor Anna veered her path off to the side and to a stretch of rocky shoreline, which heavily characterized the volcanic island. The tall woman then stood upon the edge of this rocky bit of shore and squatted down to look at the water gently lapping at the rocks. She couldn’t really see that deep, however she figured there had to be a few fish hanging out around near the surface if nothing else. Based off of initial observations she could not really see much of anything, however there was an odd glint here or there that Anna dismissed as a trick of the light.

The tall woman sighed slightly, standing up to her full height and stepping back from the shore just a little bit. She tugged lightly at the tapestry of her being, the pool of her Djed that fueled her magic and made most of her power possible. It was a rather simple task with the aid of her Glyphs, which assisted in moving things along to certain points of her body. She willed it outwards along her feet and about a tick later translucent purple liquid started to pool between her toes and along the bottoms of her feet. It wasn’t long before the vital magical liquid known as res moved to sheath her feet up too her ankles, when this occurred Anna willed the res to slither outwards towards the water.

Anna controlled the res as easy as she would another limb on her body, willing the substance to move into the water. Soon after she ‘felt’ something peculiar, something that was extremely odd all things considered and impossible as far as she knew. Her res was being drained quickly, sapped away by something within the water and it was enough that the sorceress was willing to move to the edge of the shore to have a look.

Her eyebrows rose as she noted a strange looking fish had moved close to her res and was apparently consuming it, but not just it. It was devouring the Djed that made it up which should very well have been completely impossible as far as Anna knew. She knew this because if it had been merely devouring her res normally then she would still possess control over it; however she was losing that control the more this odd shiny looking fish ate. Now that seemed like a trait Anna herself was interested in, the ability to devour Djed itself and it also seemed rather dangerous.

The sorceress also noted that more of the small fish had gathered around the quickly diminishing liquid res in the water, draining it more and more. Anna opted to act quickly with her res acting as bait so to speak and drew more liquid res into the palms of her hands. A shiver of pleasure coursed up her spine as she did, the thrill of tugging at her Djed filling her mind with blissful euphoria. The amount thus far was nothing compared to what she could draw however, so she easily kept control as the res grew to sheath her arms.

The tall woman then moved it outwards from her body and hovered it over the water, shaping them into balls. That was when she noticed some of the fish do something peculiar, they moved away from the shrinking amount of res already in the water and started swimming under the res floating above it. That raised an eyebrow or two for the young sorceress, so instead of bringing them onto shore as she had planned now she opted to conduct a test on the little fish. She dropped one ball into the water and left the other hovering in the air above it.

The small shiny fish immediately swarmed the ball of res in the water, sucking at the tasked Djed voraciously. As they were occupied, the sorceress moved the other ball a little ways off to the side behind a rock so as to be hidden from their view before placing it into the water. Then she slowly moved it out from behind the rock, noting with utter surprise what happened next. One fish, which had been facing the other direction immediately moved away from the shrinking ball and towards the res. Another that had its side to the second ball also broke off towards the new one.

“Well now, aren’t you some curious little fishes. You eat Djed and you can see around your bodies eh? I wonder what I could make out of a few of you.” The sorceress mused aloud as they continued to devour the res in the water.

The tall woman figured that this was more than enough information to make her decision; these fish would do nicely for Vick’s class. The tall woman tugged at the tapestry of her Djed once more and willed more res to come forth from her body, this time sheathing both her arms and legs in purple translucent liquid. She immediately moved the majority of the res toward largest group of fish in the water, about six from what she could see and wrapped it around them as they fed.

The res was split into two layers, a thick inner layer and a thinner outer one. The inner layer she willed to transmute to liquid while simultaneously willing it to be cooled by a transmutation to air under the water. The fish within the inner layer were then encased in an icy prison quickly enough, the pleasure of casting and res generation already setting in on the young sorceress. From here the tall woman moved the ice prison out of the water by using her control over the outer layer of res.

Her eyes counted six of the small fish and she nodded in satisfaction at the amount, turning away from the shore and levitating the globe of ice covered in res back up the path to Master Vick. As the res began to decay she picked up the pace, arriving to the Sahovan Master quickly enough. She inclined her head to the Nuit and gestured to the purple covered ball of ice and the fish trapped within. The tall woman willed the res surrounding it to lower it to the ground before transmuting the ice prison directly to air upon the ground. Most of the fish were dead and stiff, but one or two still flopped miserably on the ground as they drowned on raw air.

“Some form of fish that can feed off of Djed and also see around most of their bodies. Most interesting if I do say so myself.” Anna commented to the Nuit as she nodded to the fish.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia listened intently as the small child Nuit talked, his voice deeper than she had initially suspected and the words hoary with age. She wondered how old Vick was, how long he had lived seemingly a child. It did not seem the first choice of a body for an undead but then she had never expected such beings to follow the normal rules of logic. Her ruminations were a small point of her focus, however, the words Vick intoned more interesting to her ever pulsating curiosity. She was not well versed in the magical arts, she had some basic knowledge but the name that was mentioned – Malediction – was not known to her. She soon learnt of its uses and could see a certain logic to it. Using the dead to create something new – it was practically recycling.

I wonder how often he needs these items…and what they are. Bodies? Sunberth has no shortage of them and they do nothing except let them rot. They should import them to Vick as well as the embalmers. Might make something out of it she mused as the idea trickled into her subconscious for future consideration, drowned by the Nuit’s words for now.

She waited for him to finish, her right eyebrow raised at the orders which he had given. A lesson was a lesson and this was not following the prescribed format – as far as she considered what the format should be. It was clever, forcing them to find their own raw materials. Was it to get a gage upon their strengths? Or perhaps it was just because Vick had little time for social subtleties such as they were. It was something akin to what she herself would do, to settle the question of who was able and who was not. She found that a small smile graced her lips as she watched to see what the others would do – still and silent she stood.

Thomas and Anna seemed content to go their own way, though precisely what they were looking for and how they would find it she did not know. She merely shrugged to herself – they were mages and were more than capable in their knowledge and abilities to succeed. Zandelia would need to try harder, to get physical. Her game would have to be small indeed, small enough to capture fairly easily. She paused and wondered if an animal she had heard tell of in muted conversations through the Vestibule on occasion would be suitable.

“Master Vick, I have heard of a dog with the power of sight and a large jump,” she licked her lips once as she asked the question she hoped would not brand her a fool, “where might I fid this…Gibbet Dog I heard it named?”

“The Forest of Thorns” came the stern, emotionless reply and she felt his gaze pin her for a second before disinterest reigned once more.

She nodded and set off in the direction of the Forest, she knew it well from her meeting with Annalisa previously – knew at least one of its dangers now too. She did not shudder at that memory, refusing to give others the satisfaction but she fancied that she could see a small smile cross the lips of the other woman as she heard it. She stalked off, cheeks a little red with a mixture of both un-slaked passion and embarrassment. It was not far to the edge of the Forest of Thorns and though she could hear someone following her she was not overly concerned, she knew it to be one of the other two arrivals to the lesson and they would catch up to her as she skirted the edge of the forest. She was searching for the opening she had found Anna in.

Not going in far today though, perhaps I will get lucky. I don’t have a master reimancer with me today after all she told herself as she stood – hands on hips – and considered her next move.

[Osd]

Osd kept his face as passive as he could, but when he heard that he needed to go out and catch his own materials for the lesson. He felt slightly disheartened. He was just a blacksmith sure he could throw a punch or two and he knew how to fight dirty. But out in the woods of sahova he was just bait to be used and abused. He know thomas wouldn't be much better, he was an animator and didn't seem to be a person to be of any use in the woods. He would rather turn around and walk out of the lesson then too ask anna for help. Going alone would be a lot safer then that option. That only left the unknown woman. Seeing as the creature she was asking master vick about did interest him. He decided to give following her a shot. Before they entered the woods he adressed her. “So would you mind helping me get a subject for this lesson?” Direct and to the point, complicated maneuvering would just cause himself to trip over his own clumsy attempts anyway. “Of course I'll give help in return when I'm able. I'm a blacksmith on the isle.” He gave a bit more information as for what services in return he could provide. When they went inside the forest osd went quiet, no sense in attracting the local wildlife to them. So they were going to go for gibbat dogs. From what he heard they could see aura's and jump a lot. He just hoped they weren't to big or strong for them to overpower and caputure with what they had on hand.