etraya | un: hidden

( cw; drug use—marijuana )

[ The woman's voice that scrapes through the network's channel keeps low and calm, with a vocal fry that is uttered in a distinctly English accent. ]

The dragon of recent arrival, whom I believe to be named Zhaera, wishes nothing to do with us, and so I would suggest leaving her be. Her only concern seems to be in mothering, and the power she wields would be no small thing if she feels the need to defend her nest. Best not to invite her ire when she has yet any cause to make of herself a monster.

She knows even less than we do about her sudden appearance. Perhaps if she did, she would not be so willing to keep to her singular cause.

I should also think that the serpents deserve no ill will en masse unless they become an immediate threat. I'm of no mind to make demands, but perhaps they can be herded into the woods where they can better find the prey they likely crave. A task I am willing to take on should any with the skill wish to assist.

Aurora has given us few choices aside from what we do with these trials presented.

[ The pause that follows is not from hesitation, but a drag that includes a whispered exhale of smoke that remains unseen on the network. Should anyone happen upon where she's seated on a bench near the café and bookstore, Vanessa—in all of her black-laced glory—is smoking a joint.

The rasp softens with her murmur. ]

We are all outsiders, after all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...I see.

[ Would that make him undead? She's entirely curious, now. ]

On your revival, you were no different than before? Or were there changes? Things lost, things gained?

[ There's a short pause. ]

I didn't like it. Uh, but-- I wondered that, a lot? But nothing's different--no one says anything's different. I'm still me. I'm not weaker or stronger.

But I-- [ well, ] I wondered that a lot.

[ But it's more of an inner anxiety about it, an uncertainty that comes across in his voice that touches on his youth, the discomfort of dying despite the ability to come back. ]

[ She has clearly touched on a sore spot here, and well... It really isn't her business, despite her curiosity. ]

You know your own soul better than anyone, hm? If you feel as yourself, then that is all that should matter.

Yeah-- yeah. [ It's a tone aiming for confidence, to be confident. That's all that should matter.

And it's been long enough, that it's also easy enough to move along. ]

Do you have an idea of how to move them? I guess if you know who wants to help and what they can do, then, we can get a better idea for a plan. I think if we get an idea of how many there are, that'd help.

I've been trying to make it easier for the smaller animals to escape, so--we have some time. They won't get all of them.

None have yet offered with any special skill—beyond your strength and durability, I suppose. There is a girl with a vested interest.

[ Why all the children... ]

If you can find a way to corral some of them close together, then I can convince them to go elsewhere. I need not be nearby to do so, but as they are so spread out, I would struggle in reaching them all at once.

[ 'Convince' is such a nice way of putting it. What she's actually offering to do isn't so nice, but it's arguably better than slaughtering them. ]

I think I can make them group-- do snakes smell? I can attract them by smell, or... if I could find some materials, I could try making a trap and we can get them in one place.

[ He pauses, but maybe she knows about this place better? ]

Um, I'm an artificer, too. If I can get a hold of some equipment, I could-- we could make a pocket dimension, to move them in. Or if you can convince them or charm them, I might be able to... make it easier to do that, I don't know.

[ His voice comes out sheepish. ] It's hard to offer when I don't know what's here.

[ She is no expert on snakes but she imagines they must be able to smell, given they're predators... ]

A pocket dimension? ...You mean, a different realm?

[ She has visited between planes, but to create another dimension? That sounds like a very specific magic. He buried the lede when first mentioning his skillset. ]

Is that possible here?

[ He opens his mouth. Closes it. Oh, hm. ]

I can make a bag and see if it works.

[ That would answer that? ]

Are artificers commonly connected to spell-craft where you come from?

Yeah, I mean, we learn some spells and how to put them into objects.

[ Though. ] Do they do something different to you?

It isn't a word commonly used any longer, but I would imagine a craftsman when I hear it. An inventor, perhaps.

Magic is not common in my world. Most men do not know it even exists, and if they do believe, they associate it with the Devil. Something evil only practiced by witches and demons.

[ Unfortunately, they are sometimes right. ]

Oh, I heard something like that from someone else here, that demons use magic. [ Huh, and at least they weren't a human, so it's not just a human thing. ]

But, uh, yeah, I make things. I haven't for dealing with animals, and I don't have a lot of stuff with me, so, I'm thinking right now what I can do with that. I'm used to working with others.

[ Trying to make answers out of inventions when he doesn't have many resources is an entirely different thing. ]

If you are able to create such a thing as your 'pocket realm', do let me know. That could be terribly useful.

[ A beat. ]

Who else has spoken of demons?

I didn't ask their name. Why?

Mere curiosity.

[ There's nothing 'mere' about it, but there is no point in hounding him if he never learned more. So, she'll shift the topic back. ]

The skill of applying magic to tools seems as though it could lead to endless possibilities. What else have you created?

[ There is an unknown squinting when his own best friend is a demon. Archdevil. But, she didn't say anything bad about demons before.... ]

Um, well-- I made my own homunculus. [ A beat. ] That's like, I don't know what that means to you, but it's a, bird that listens to me. I have two of them. But they're not here.

[ When you're meant to be smart but really bad at fluffing yourself up most of the time. ]

I am familiar with the concept of a homunculus from literature, though what you describe seems quite different from what I have read about.

[ Curiosity is evident in her tone, however subtle. ]

How challenging was it for you to create these bird-like homunculi? I imagine such a feat would require considerable skill and power.

[ There's a hint of admiration in her voice, despite her reserved demeanor. ]

If you're capable of such creations, perhaps your other magical inventions might indeed prove useful whilst here.

It wasn't too hard; I just need the right materials and, um, a good design in mind. My bird is...kinda missing a lot of feathers. [ A beat. ] She's made out of metal. I do metal work magic.

[ That feels like a better way of describing what he does in a simpler sense. Maybe it gives a better idea to what he means with homunculi, too. ]

I'll start reading and seeing what I can do. Um, if people have magic, I might be able to....trap it into an item. I mean-- I don't know that I can do it, but I can try it. So we can try to make traps. It might work.

[ Metal homunculi sounds a lot like robots... ]

Perhaps a query into the arcane skills of others would be worthy of asking on the network.

[ Plus she could take notes for her own benefit. ]

What I can do... I do not believe it wise to turn into a tool that anyone else might abuse should they take control of it. It is better that I maintain control.

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