concordancegrimoires | Meeting the Archmage

Entry tags:

Meeting the Archmage

[Lezaford's cottage in the Aldanna Range is exactly what one would expect of a centuries-old Archmage. If they were aware of his age or magical capabilities. Most don't and he likes it that way. Everywhere one looks in this simple dwelling, there are books. Books upon books. And more books. If anything seems oddly displaced, it's the suit of Judge's armor set off in one corner. Or maybe the Grimoire on his reading table.

He's expecting a guest, maybe two, sometime soon anyway. The number of guests about to cram into his small home is going to be a surprise. Once he pulls himself out of the book he's engaged in reading.]

((ooc: Due to the number of folks showing up, let's go with party-style tagging instead of a set order.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Penelo, I'm lonely.

The dancer's head tilts towards the door, puzzled by that mental nudge from her dragon. It's distracting from their reason for being there, to be certain. How is Lironath lonely? The fire lizards should be with her.

The little cousins were bored and left.

To really add to the atrocious behavior, the baby dragon comes waddling in behind everyone else, not wishing to be left out. Penelo sighs and strokes her head knobs.]

Sorry, Lezaford, she won't say anything either. I'll make sure of that.

[Onto real business...]

Do you know why we've all got grimoires or why there are so many now?

[Mjrn watches Lironath fondly for a moment before turning her attention back to Lezaford at Penelo's question. She takes out her own grimoire, glancing down at it with wary curiosity. It's a familiar expression ever since she acquired hers.]

There must be a reason behind this, certainly. Even if you do not have such knowledge at hand, your advice would be invaluable.

[ Larsa will never quite grow accustomed to a dragon baby just wandering in, but he's giving it a valiant effort for Penelo's sake. It's just a little strange to him. Fascinating, yes. But strange.

Still, he watches them for a moment before looking back towards the Sage. For now, he will allow the others to ask their questions. There is little else he can add to it. ]

[My. This little group just keeps getting more interesting doesn't it?]

A reason. Oh yes, yes of course there's a reason.

[Lezaford picks up his own copy of a grimoire and holds it up demonstratively.]

These aren't quite authentic. Well, one of them is. Which one remains to be seen. They're very like the Grimoire of the Rift aren't they?

[He flips through a few pages, then replaces the book on the desk.]

Luso's was one of a kind, but there is now another one quite like it somewhere. Somewhere. At least, I think there is. These, you'll find, are not my work. I'd venture to say some mage went looking for adventure and accidentally created some for all of us.

[The old sage certainly is flip about all this.]

Looking for adventure is one thing, but dragging people from other worlds into ours seems a little irresponsible to me.

[ Folding her arms over her chest, Adelle is quiet for a second. She's turning a lot over in her head, picking and choosing what to ask and when as expertly as possible. ]

So, it's likely whoever made these only intended to make one, but had a big hiccup of some sort. Is that what you're saying? Why make a grimoire like that to begin with? And the resemblance...

[ The grimoires that have appeared bear a heavy resemblance to the Grimoire of the Rift, which is more than a little concerning to her for a number of reasons. She pauses, certain Lezaford and more likely than not Penelo will follow. Illua and her grimoire is something she plans to bring up in a moment. That Lezaford created the Grimoire of the Rift? Well, she's not quite surprised. That does make sense given how knowledgeable he is about them. ]

My dear, it is not often that mages do anything considered responsible. Though I suppose it does happen from time to time.

[After all, why is it, exactly this particular sage chooses to live like a hermit in the mountains and demands complete anonymity?]

I do believe these should right themselves sooner or later. Only the one like the Grimoire of the Rift has any significant power. Unless of course they're causing rifts and that would be something of a problem. I should, perhaps examine that possibility.

Now then! Let's have some tea and oh, Adelle? A word with you before you leave, if you would? There's a little something I need you to look into.

[None of this is comforting news at all and it just generates more questions for Penelo.]

What happens when they fill up though? Luso went home, right? Will the others go away too? For that matter, what happens to us when ours fill up. We belong here.

[ Larsa is, of course, thinking along the same lines as Penelo. He nods along with her questions before speaking up himself. ]

What manner of rifts would they be causing?

[ His first thought is that maybe the High Seraph is involved and that's why Ultima has been bringing people back from the dead. It's... a troubling thought to be sure. ]

We would all thank you for your hospitality. Tea would be most wonderful to sooth the topic.

[Never let it be said that Lezaford cannot set a nice tea. Aside from the enticing aroma of the warm tea to chase off the chill of the mountains, he starts to set out tiny cakes, decorated cookies, savory finger sandwiches, as well as sugared nuts and candied fruits. He really was expecting guests it seems, and perhaps a larger number than he's let on.]

Why, my dear girl, why should your grimoire fill anytime soon? It will record the story of your life and I should hope that won't be wrapping up anytime soon. As for the others, I presume when theirs is filled with the full measure of their adventures in Ivalice, they'll go right back where they came from.

[The old man starts pouring out for each guest in turn, taking the time to slip a cookie to the young dragon in their midst. Though he does wonder if dragons even like cookies...]

Ah rifts, now there's a spot of trouble, I fear. They are something of a portal between our world and others. In between these worlds is a void, from which fearsome monsters can escape. I do believe that Illua found a way to pull one out? Typically they're quite rare and difficult to reach. With more grimoires about, it's difficult to say what might happen.

Can you give us some examples of what those things might be? Illua found a way to do a lot of things, too. I wanted to ask you about that.

[ She's satisfied with the other answers, but with Illua brought up, Adelle is stepping forward, her concern gaining some severity. ]

Her grimoire was different than Luso's. It seemed like she could do more with it, that it... it had a different element? When she saw Luso's grimoire, it frightened her and she tried to destroy it. I remember that and it got me think. Illua herself might have been an outworlder, too, and if that's the case...

[ An outworlder with a different sort of grimoire who stayed longer than Luso, long enough to integrate into the world and seek to influence it, to control it... who's to say it's the first time or that there is no relation? ]

[Penelo lapses silent, incredibly disturbed by Lezaford's take on the grimoires and people from elsewhere. Lironath picks up her distress and the dragon's eyes start to whirl orange and red. Not even tea is helping settle the sick in the pit of her stomach feeling she's having, so she consoles herself by hugging the young dragon close instead.

Maybe she won't vanish. But what would happen to Lironath? Or Sybaris and Aion? What about Ursula or Kain or Marlene for that matter? She idea that they can and probably will go away like Luso is terribly heartbreaking for her. Not every outworlder is like Illua, after all.]

[Lezaford picks up where Adelle leaves off.]

...then any of these others could just as well turn out aggressive at the possibility of being sent home. Yes and quite possibly they could open a rift and drag out monsters with their own grimoires. It certainly bears investigation as the very least. It would certainly help if we could find the source of this new grimoire outbreak.

At the very least, it's quite possible that monsters could well follow someone into Ivalice from the void as they cross over. I'd dread to think what would come of someone arriving in the middle of the market.

[None of this is sitting well with Larsa, either. A frown of concern crosses his face as he considers his response.]

Perhaps that is something we ought to keep watch for. There is little I may do for the outskirts unless more are sent to guard, but even then...

[He mulls this over for a few seconds. Perhaps this is something the other leaders should be made aware of. At least in the case of Lady Ashe, Marquis Ondore, and Prince Al-Cid.]

Whatever the case, we will all need to be on our guard. This may well be more dangerous again than any could have imagined.

I've been imagining it for a while now.

[ It's said fairly gently and Lamont receives a glance that lingers a second longer. Little he may do for the outskirts unless more are sent to guard? Her hands find her hips now. ]

I'll bring the clan up to date. I think this is exactly what I needed to sell the rest of them about all this. Do you have any ideas about where to start that investigation, Lezaford? I've got the heads for it.

If you meet any of these people, ask them what they remember of the experience. It seems that would be the most practical, although have you met any others, besides Luso?

[Penelo nods slowly. She's met several.]

I have, including a dear friend I made in the Havens.

[Before she can mention having encountered Ursula in Balfonheim or that sweet little girl in Rabanastre, Sybaris pops into the room from Between, chirping and bombarding Penelo with mental images of the new friend they made. There's a man giving them treats outside and a building that looks familiar. It takes her a moment to put the pieces together. They're showing the outside of the cottage and they've never been here before. Which means someone is outside. Not someone. She knows that face. Her eyes widen in shock and she blurts out what she's getting from the fire lizard before she can stop herself.]

Vayne was outside the cottage with the fire lizards.

[Larsa would ask about these people Penelo has met, but the next outburst shocks the question right out of his mind. His eyes widen and he looks likely as shocked as he feels.]

He is here?

[He's slow on the uptake, mostly because he wasn't expecting his brother here at all. Why is he here?

And then he steels himself.] He must be stopped. I shall do it.

Wait a minute. You mean Vayne? As in Vayne Carudas Solidor who was brought back to life by the High Seraph? That Vayne?

[ And if so, why would he be here? That's the first question that springs to Adelle's mind. It makes no sense, not that much had pertaining to him. She had seen the notification of his evident revival by the High Seraph; though, that hadn't made any sense at all to her, really. Why would the High Seraph go about reviving anyone to the point that it would be a notification in the grimoire? How? These questions are halted as she turns her gaze between Penelo and Lamont somewhat critically, wonderingly, but she makes no move to pursue the man just yet despite a glance at the window. 'Was' outside the cottage may very well mean he's gone by now and even if she were to catch him, what exactly is she supposed to be stopping him from doing other than escaping? And why? Clearly, there's something she's not being told and, of course, this sort of thing would happen before they could finish their conversation. Maybe she'd move to stop him simply for that. ]

[There's a mild nod from Penelo who is far from happy at having to confirm the man's identity. Her eyes flit to Larsa, already steeling himself for an encounter, and cringes a little on the inside. The last they'd seen of each other almost killed Larsa. she won't let that happen again, brother or no.]

I'll go with you.

[Lezaford seems far less fussed, at the outset anyway, about that pronouncement than he is fascinated by the blue firelizard's arrival.]

Why my word, it's like a miniature dragon!

[Ah right, the voyeur. He should let the young ones deal with that and satisfy his curiosity later.]

If you'd not mind, my dears, I'd just as soon not have someone snooping about the hedges. You don't mind, I hope?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Meeting the Archmage

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject