video; un: Oracle

[adaine]

[The video flicks on and a girl in a blue denim jacket with pointed ears and round glasses struggles with positioning it right, even as the video is already playing. She takes a step back, sitting in a chair opposite the camera on a desk that's just full of papers.]

Um, hi. I think it's recording? Yeah, it's recording... Hello. [She clears her throat and adjusts her glasses. She speaks with a nervous somewhat nasally british accent that rings of 'very educated and also somewhat traumatized by it'.] So, I wanted to make something of an introduction, since I've heard that people show up a lot here. It's a bit overwhelming, the amount of information there is to learn about this place, but I'd like to get through it as quickly as possible.

My name is Adaine Abernant. Back home I was something called the Oracle, which is a title that was sort of just... dumped on me, but it does have meaning. Uh, basically it means I get prophetic visions, both of the future and events happening in the present. [Technically it's the 'Elven Oracle', but here's the thing. Fuck Fallinel and fuck the elven government.] On top of that, I was also a student at the Aguefort Adventuring Academy and a wizard of the Divination school, which works similarly to how Paleblood magic seems to work, at least from my initial observations.

So, uhm, the point of all of that is that if you have something you'd like to find out, a prophesy, or something to find, I might be able to help. I'm still figuring out how to work it now that it's all mixed with Trench's native blood magic. And as an adventurer, I'm also used to helping people out if they're in trouble or there's a largescale threat.

[She pauses and peers down at one of the papers, a list of some sort, and then continues.]

...On top of that, and the larger point of all this is, I'd like to learn as much about Trench's magic, metaphysics, cosmology and society as possible. I'm doing my own research, obviously, but if anyone wants to share their own notes or experiences, or even just point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.

Comments

text | timaeusTestified

[givehead]

Sup Adaine. I'm Dirk.

Protip on the mechanics of this place is that just about anything appears to be theoretically possible. Mastery of blood magic is a long, enduring process that seems to deeply corrupt those who manage it.

It's pretty much impossible to master the skill without exposing yourself to the pollution that comes with it. Basically, this place functions on catch-22 rhetoric through and through.

[adaine]

To be fair, I don't think I've ever met a master mage that wasn't also just a complete lunatic. But thanks for the headsup, it certainly seems dangerous enough to warrant one.

Frustrating, though... corruption is the thing that turns humans into monsters, right? As a result of their blood getting polluted? Is there a way to reverse it?

[givehead]

Yeah. That seems to be a relatively consistent theme throughout the general multiverse.

Correct. Seems to bring your mind to ruin and then I assume the collected blood pollution begins to change you on a molecular level until your body contorts.

There appear to be some ways to alleviate corruption. Traditional emotional support seems to provide some relief, others depend on magical intervention. It's tricky since it's dependent entirely on the individual and the situation.

Reversing beasthood is a lot more complicated. There's no clean-cut answer on that so far as I know.

video; un: stanford

[cryptograms]

[ Did someone say metaphysics and cosmology? ]

Welcome to Trench, Adaine! I think I can help you with your request.

Is there any subject in particular you'd like to start with? There's a lot of ground to cover.

[adaine]

[She brightens up in a smile.]

Thank you for the welcome, Stanford. Is that your name?

And well, I don't have a lot of frame of reference, my specialty back home was in magic, so that probably has the most practical use to me, but I am personally interested in the rulers of this place. The 'Pthumerian Patrons.'

[cryptograms]

That's right - Stanford Pines, though you can call me Ford.

The Patrons are a good place to start. They have the biggest influence on the way this place will change from month to month, and you'll get a gift from your patron on your blessed day - whenever that is.

Are you more interested in an academic sense, or a 'I'd like to fight them' sense?

[imaglyphwitch]

Wow, an actual oracle, no way! I just get impressions of people sometimes! that's really interesting!

Um, Luz here, aspiring witch from the Boiling Isles! Nice to meet you! I'm mostly a self taught witch that does glyphs, but I'm honestly still working on expanding those powers and their uses. I also have some Paleblood magic going on too, but that's a little more complicated.

[adaine]

Like I said, it's something that was sort of just dumped on me. I'm sure whatever you can do is really impressive too! I'm still only in training, technically. My circumstances have just been... unique.

I can't say I've heard of the Boiling Isles, but I think I should get used to that. I'd love to take a look at your spells, if you'd like to compare notes!

Video UN: glyphywitchy

[imaglyphwitch]

Oh, so it looks like we're both learning things. Granted, it sounds like you were sort of granted some powers too, but that was outside of your control. That's still really cool though, and it'll be great to see what your powers can do once you get more training!

I hadn't either until I wound up there! The spells I know are actually in glyphs, and I can definitely demonstrate them for you! Where are you staying?

[She knew she could show them through video, but face to face seemed easier].

Video | un: perell

[frogiturgy]

A lot of us are in that same situation,

[A bespectacled older man chimed in briskly, without introduction. His eyes were sharp behind the old fashioned wire frames, and he leaned back to better regard the girl.]

The archives have a lot of information, but it can be overwhelming at first because the details are so intertwined with the Pthumerians and blood magic.

I've only been here for a couple of months, but I can share my notes with you to get you started.

[adaine]

That'd be really appreciated, thank you.

I've already visited the archives, and... yeah, I know what you mean. There's a lot here and it's hard to figure out where to start, but I'm working through it anyway.

[frogiturgy]

I'll make copies and have Koi bring them to you. If you see a big fish later today-- that's her.

...You said you're a student, right? So you're probably used to hard days in the archives by now. It's actually pretty impressive. Wizards don't really organize together much in my world. I had to learn thaumaturgic theory the hard way, and it was kinda one of those 'trial by fire' things until I got the hang of it.

Video | un: SunshinePrincess

[prodigalhairess]

[Oh, it's the girl she helped out of the ocean! Rapunzel is glad to see she's doing okay, and - wow. Those sure are a lot of notes.]

Wow, you really hit the ground running, huh?

[She doesn't really blame her, though. Rapunzel knows all about the urge to throw yourself into everything all at once, when it comes to new information. God, she could've spent days in the library that first time Eugene brought her to the castle town, and it was only her desire to experience everything about the festival and beyond that gave her the strength to put some of those books down.]

I can't say I know too much about the magic of this world, but... I can do new things that I couldn't do with my magic back home.

[adaine]

[Oh, it's the girl with the really long hair. Adaine smiles and lets out a tired laugh.]

I think I'd just about go crazy if I didn't. I'm not used to these particular circumstances, especially without my friends, but I'm used to dropping into the deep end.

What kind of new things can you do, though?

[prodigalhairess]

I can make people feel things. [It feels so... ominous, saying it like that. Oops.] Not - uh, not in a creepy way! I can't mess with people's emotions??? But it's sort of like pushing a feeling at someone? If that makes any sense at all.

[She laughs a little sheepishly, running a hand through the thick braid behind her. She hasn't really tried to use her new magic again since the Beast incident with Varian, but... maybe she should try again. Try to master it, so she can be more useful with it.]

It sounds way more complicated than what I used to do. I used to be able to heal people with my hair when I sang.

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ At first Chizuru feels a little guilty. Being still relatively new here, and with most things being entirely new and overwhelming to her in this place, she's not sure whether there's much at all she can offer this new person.

.. but it does seem like other people are already helping her out, and so maybe it's okay for Chizuru to ask what's on her mind after all. She still hesitates for a moment, chewing on her lip in indecision, but then decides to reply. ]

Excuse me. [ Chizuru nods her head, like some sort of mini-bow. ] But, with the way you speak of it.. Is getting visions that normal to you?

[ She doesn't sound like she's judging the girl at all, really. She just sounds.. curious, and perhaps more than just a bit surprised. ]

[adaine]

[Adaine had also meant for this to be an introduction, and to let people know that they can call for her help, so she's not even the slightest bit put off by the question.]

I mean, it's always a bit of a weird exerience, but yeah. It's part of my class, so I'm kind of used to it.

Video; un: Cass

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Here's something Adaine likely hadn't seen yet: bright blue hair, almost neon, in fact. Similarly bright blue eyes watch as Adaine goes about her topic of choice, a dark brow narrowing slightly as it goes on.

...Cassandra's seen a lot, and heard a lot too; nevermind the talk of Trench's magic, or whatever a "Aguefort Adventuring academy" is - this talk about seeing the future! That was already something else.]

Seeing the future, wow. That's, uh...

[Like something out of a traveling fortune teller's cart.]

That must be a lot of responsibility.

[adaine]

[Actually, she has seen it. She's a high school student in a society with open access to hair dye. Of course people are going to bleach their hair neon blue. She just assumes Cass is goth. Which about a year and a half ago might have made Adaine judge her a little, but now two of her friends are goth so.]

I suppose a little. [It is a lot of responsibility. She just absolutely refuses to accept the position that she's expected to take.] I do the best I can with what I get.

text | UN: forgetmenot

[nilheality]

[The words come out in handwritten text.]

Hello Adaine. Those are some really impressive titles. I think I could learn a lot from you, but that may be a bit of an imposition.

As for myself, I haven't been here long, but what I can tell is that this does not appear to be the material realm. If I were to hazard a guess, I would think we are perilously close to the far plane, which would explain some of the abominations that are nearby and the fact that some of the stuff happening with transformations, blood, and mental manipulation seems to be what abominations would do.

[adaine]

[She thinks he might be overestimating her a bit considering she's only level nine, but it does make her happy to be treated as so powerful.]

I'd certainly be happy to share notes. What's your name?

And yes, I've noticed the same. I'm not sure it's in the Far Realm, but wherever we are seems to be deeply under the control of a powerful Aberration. Maybe an aboleth? It's not an enemy I have much experience with, I'm afraid, beyond fighting a beholder and a mindflayer once. And both of those were nowhere near this strong.

text; un: harbinger

[bolstafir]

[...welp hELLO, this is extremely relevant to his interests these days. Qrow doesn't often bother talking to the network, but he all but scrambles to reply to this post.]

your visions--can you control when you get them
or how much you see

[adaine]

Not exactly, no... I can intentionally bring about visions but I can't prevent them from happening when they occur naturally.

Why do you ask?

video; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[her dress is quite fashionable for the city, with two ravens swooping down to meet under her narrow, dramatic neckline, just wide enough to frame the black buckle of her necklace. lady peeks into frame, wearing a matching charcoal collar.]

You're a wizard?

[STUPID QUESTION. but hopefully a disarming one. she smiles ruefully.]

Sorry, magic is very rare where I come from. I'd like to know more about it, but I'm not much of a scholar. If you ever do find a place to start, I'd be quite interested to know what it is.

[adaine]

[Adaine returns the smile with one of her own, only slightly self deprecating.]

It seems like wizards just being a regular staple of life where I'm from is the minority. That's taken some getting used to.

The School of Mutter seems like the easiest place to find actual lessons on it. Like, the local blood magic anyway. I can try and explain my magic to you, but I'm not sure how applicable it would even be.