voice | rabbit 4

[redprayer]

[Sometime after breakfast on the fourth day of Rabbit, a voice message plays over the network.]

Hello. My apologies if I am interrupting anyone in the midst of something important. Some of you may already know me, but for those who do not, my name is Rezo, and I have a favor to ask of you.

In my own world I devoted much of my time to researching magic and since being recruited by the train I have heard a few things about the abilities that some of you have. While it seems magic, or some concept thereof, is quite common among the various worlds, the way it works and the extent of what a person can do varies considerably.

I confess I have found myself rather curious about all this. Thus, if any of you are willing to speak with me about your own abilities and the magic systems that you have experience with, I would appreciate it if you would contact me. I will be staying near the ICP in the standard coach for much of today, if you would prefer to speak in person.

Of course, I understand that some of you may wonder what is in this for you. Worry not. I have rewards prepared for anyone who is willing to indulge my curiosity, and I shall compensate you accordingly.

[[ooc: since lore dumping and technical talk isn't necessarily everyone's jam feel free to do some handwaving if you think your character would respond to Rezo's request but you don't feel up to going into/making up a bunch of weird details.

and if you're wondering what the reward will be, it's a sticker.]]

Comments

voice;

[invigorates]

( Shocking to literally no one, Lioriley answers almost immediately. Though not to share her magical abilities - since Rezo already knew them well. )

Would you be willing to share your findings once you are through?

[redprayer]

[Rezo's voice is a little softer when he answers which... Might be shocking to anyone who hasn't observed him around her recently.]

To be honest, I had not thought about it. But I suppose it would only be fair to do so, provided anyone who speaks with me is comfortable with making the information public.

[Since, y'know, the main reason he's doing this in the first place is because of his own magic issue that he doesn't want other people to know about unless strictly necessary...]

[invigorates]

( she hummed softly in agreement. )

Of course. If they are not, I suppose I can always do a bit of my own research. Though I cannot imagine many would appreciate the redundancy.

( so. You know. Hopefully they'd all be willing to share with the class. )

I have told you much of my own magic. Was there anything else you might be curious about?

[redprayer]

[That's assuming he gets any bites also! Maybe the other passengers don't like stickers. (Just kidding. Everyone wants a sticker.)

For a moment or so Rezo hesitates, and then Lioriley will hear some rustling noises as Rezo digs out a notebook and pen.]

You've spoken before about how, as a Lunari, you have a close physical connection with magic. Can you tell me more about the ways that connection manifests and differs from a human sorcerer's relationship with magic?

voice

[redmeguca]

I'm willing to run a few tests, but hell if I know how my magic actually works. Even the ones who made it don't really understand it.

[redprayer]

You can think of this as an interview, rather than a test. So, what do you mean by your magic being “made?”

[redmeguca]

It's the result of basically alien super science. It somehow takes your karmic potential, the things you'd go on to do in a normal life, and turns it into magical power. The more potential, the stronger the Magical Girl.

Voice

[eternalinquiry]

While I personally do not think cultivation is 'Magic' per-say. It has been described by others as magical enough times for me to think you may wish to include it.

[redprayer]

I very well may. Can you describe to me what “cultivation” is, and in what ways it seems magical to others?

[eternalinquiry]

Cultivation as a practice refers to devoting time into using your internal energy- or Qi, to perform feats. You cultivate your strength, hence the title. I use it primarily in conjunction with martial arts which can be strengthened by it, or to exorcise the dead.

[Voice]

[goingthroughaphase]

Are...you looking for abilities that are specifically magic?

[redprayer]

[Yes, absolutely, because physical attacks are a complete no-sell on mazoku, no matter how cool your gun or tank or whatever is. But just in case, he’ll try not to dismiss Kitty out of hand.]

Yes, although it seems the definition of magic is more flexible than I used to think. Were you uncertain if your own abilities qualify?

[goingthroughaphase]

Ah no, I'm pretty sure mine wouldn't count as magic, even if some people might think it is. I was just wondering, sorry.

Voice

[unrecovered]

Why do you want to know?

[It's causal enough, but he's not asking without reason. That terrible first impression has stuck around, and he doesn't exactly trust Rezo's motives here, whatever they may be.]

[redprayer]

[Oh hey you're that grumpy guy from Ciyesia!]

As I said, it's really just a matter of curiosity. Although perhaps others aboard may find it a matter of some interest as well.

[make ur insight check, wash.]

[unrecovered]

[Oh hey you're that asshole who was willing to watch him potentially die on Ciyesia!]

Sure. And what's driving the curiosity?

[Some people are capable of information for information's sake - he knows exactly one person like that, and Simmons is terminally nerdy. As to whether Rezo is like that...well. He's pressing x to doubt here. That terrible first impression and Wash's longstanding paranoia are one hell of a mix.]

[thepriceforalife]

Sadly, sorcery is often secretive, so my own knowledge of my abilities is largely by experimentation. I did have access to some books in my youth. But I have had plenty of time to develop my abilities.

Are you willing to offer knowledge in exchange?

[redprayer]

I would be happy to answer any questions about my own abilities, if you would prefer a mutual exchange. What do yours enable you to do?

[thepriceforalife]

At its most basic, I have an affinity for a certain element. In my case, fire. It was the first sign of my abilities since it came whether I wanted it or not.

[And he'd had to figure out how to control it well enough to change that. There had been rumors that he had some form of pyromania as a teenager, given how many of his things had scorch marks or the smell of smoke.]

Anything else requires some degree of preparation or ritual. And knowledge, either from finding another sorcerer who knew what they were doing or from experimenting.

Voice

[ranoutofbuts]

So you were a magic researcher? [Rezo hadn't mention that in their conversation. makes sense though.]

Hmm, I don't have access to this magic, but I have observed a some of the crew's magic first hand. I try to log my observations whenever I see something new or when additional data comes up.

[redprayer]

I was a priest- a magic using healer, rather- first and foremost, but that involved doing quite a bit of my own research.

[He specifies the healer part both because he’s discovered that isn’t automatically assumed by the otherworlders when they hear the word “priest” and because while technically he’s affiliated with Cepheid, Rezo’s personal feelings on the Gods of his world are along the lines of “fuck ‘em,” so he is not the best person to go to on matters of faith.]

Oh? What kinds of things have you seen?

[And if Faux has seen anything useful, how should Rezo phrase his questions so he doesn’t blatantly look like he’s asking an innocent computer program to spy on people for him… Since Rezo’s trying to look like he cares about other people’s privacy…]

[ranoutofbuts]

[Magic healer? He's a healer?]

Healing, destructive, summoning, and other supportive types I'm uncertain how to categorize. Is there something specific you are after? [That might help more. Don't want to confuse another user like he did Tidus with his info-dumps.]

It would be far easier to show you from my recordings. But that will be a little ahh, hard.

I'm heeeeeeeeeere! Sorry for the delay >__<

[crowneddragon]

It takes a few hours before Esteban actually shows up, seeing as he'd been busy most of the morning; he's actually surprised that the mage is still there, to be honest. Approaching carefully, he is nonetheless beaming when he gets close, even if he cards a hand through the short hairs at the back of his head.

"Better late th'n never?" he asks aloud, waving lightly at the priest. "We had a nice chat last time, an' I'd been hopin' t' catch you again!" Magic talks were just a good opportunity for him, since they'd already broached the subject.

"Y' study magic back home? I didn't know that!" Not much of a shock though, since they'd been-- hmm. Occupied last time they encountered one another. "That's amazin'! Lemme breakdown what I remember, though; your magic's divided by elements. Most powers are innate and don't require a source, 'cept for Holy an' Dark magic, that come from beings-- the um. Mayouku for Dark and the Shinzoku for Holy, right?"

Was this supposed to be Esteban answering Rezo's questions? Clearly he's expecting a give-and-take exchange here, but he's bright and eager both to learn and to share!

np! welcome 2 loredump town

[redprayer]

Rezo’s head lifts automatically at the sound of someone entering the car, although he isn’t necessarily expecting it to be someone here to see him specifically. It is, after all, a very busy train. This person might be approaching him, but they may also be just on their way through to the gym or the quiet coach.

It quickly proves to be the former, however.

“Esteban,” Rezo greets the younger man. “I hope you’ve been well.” He isn’t surprised or offended that, despite the interest he’d taken in Rezo’s magic, Esteban has waited until now to follow up on it. The atmosphere on the train has been nothing short of grief-stricken, and while Esteban sounds cheerful enough as he starts chattering away, it seems likely to Rezo that he would have been either absorbed in his own melancholy or in that of others.

“The mazoku and shinzoku, yes,” Rezo says, gently correcting Esteban’s pronunciation.

He’s also somewhat on the right track with what he recalls.

“Magic works via a mixture of drawing upon one’s own magical capacity, and the powers of either the mazoku or the natural world…” Rezo taps a finger on the table a few times as he tries to think of how to explain it.

“Let me use an analogy here. You can think of a person’s magical capacity as being akin to a kitchen. The size and amenities available limit what they can make in that kitchen, although with hard work one can refurbish that kitchen so it is better equipped. However, in order to make anything you will need ingredients- and those, you gather from the outside world, by calling upon the powers of other sources. These sources may be powerful beings like the mazoku, or the forces of nature that control the world.

“Do you understand, Esteban?”

A shock! A complete surprise! (Yeah, get ready for loredump on my side too XD)

[crowneddragon]

Oof, the kitchen analogy is... a strain, if Esteban's to be honest.

"I... think?" There is one thing that confuses him after all. "What's the diff'rence between a powerful bein' an' a force of nature? D'you mean clusters of aether?" Oh, he thinks he gets it? Maybe? "Like a storm, or a volcano?"

Oh! "Mazoku and Shinzoku create aether!" His fingers snap as he goes on, putting the explanation into his own world's perspective to try and understand it better. "An' the forces of nature 're gatherin' points of the world's aether?" It... makes sense. And to Esteban, it's the closest he can understand by the standards of his own magic system.

"Wait-- 'f you've got three types of aether-- magic sources--" He trails off as he reconsiders his question. "Hang on," reforming his theories is helping him understand it better, but he's bound to encounter holes and slight misgivings as he goes through these. "Wait-- is magic... elementally charged in your world? 'S soon as it's created?"

Oh! Oooooooh~ He thinks he's on the right path! Maybe. He stops for now, waiting to see if Rezo might want to nudge his theories and out-loud thinking into diverging pathways.