RP:Curse of the Blessed

Part of the Lies Within Us Arc

This is a Mage's Guild RP.

Summary: Odhranos arrives in Cenril to interview Khitti, a long time practitioner of the magical arts. Khitti opens up on her history with the magic of the Shadow Realm, her newfound experience with divine magic, gained through her connection with Cyris and lastly touches on her opinions of magic, recalling memories of Dominic and the man's views on whether magic is a blessing, or in fact, a curse.

Ginger Snapped Bakery and Sweet Shop

Khitti || The letter from Odhranos had been received and a date, time, and place set. The bakery would run as usual during their meeting, but a seating section, to the right of the door and furthest from the kitchen and front counter. A small waiter cart had been rolled up next to the table, with a small variety of baked goods for the terramancer to choose from, as well as a few containers of tea leaves. Whenever Odhranos were to arrive, he’d find Khitti plucking peppermint tea leaves from one container with a tiny spoon and plopping it into an empty. The ever-hot teapot, also on the aforementioned cart, was plucked up as well, the hot water soon filling her cup. Khitti sighed, as she waited, olive-green eyes fixed on the tea before her, the steam swirling up and offering Khitti a brief soothing mist. It did little to tame her worries though, as was evident by the absent fidgeting with her wedding ring, or even just her hands in general, which would stop as soon as Odhranos arrived. From a distance, he’d find her looking somewhat thoughtful, the woman dressed in warm knitted black clothing (her usual knee-length sleeveless dress and duster), dark red knitted leggings, and those well worn boots of hers that she’s not been able to part with over the years. The pensiveness would be erased the moment of Odhranos’ approach and she’d offer her former acquaintance a smile and motioned for him to sit in the chair across from her.

Odhranos felt somewhat out of place in Cenril. Months in Xalious had changed his familiarity with large cities, and he felt sudden pangs of longing for the small windy streets of the mountain village as he shouldered his way through the bustling crowds of the City of Commerce. Ejected from the crowd somewhere along Merchant Street, Odhranos found himself outside a particularly industrious looking building. Sparing a moment to run his fingertips over the fine texture of the bricks appreciatively, Odhranos pushed the door to the bakery open and peeped his head into the interior inquisitively, like someone hesitant to intrude. When he spotted Khitti, a friendly smile crinkled the mage’s features and he stepped through the doorway, closing it gently behind him. “It has been some time, Khitti. I hope you’ve been well.” Odhranos strode across towards the woman, offering her a formal handshake at first, though it was followed up with a second hand clasping hers warmly. “How are yourself and D - Brand keeping?” Odhranos managed to catch his mistake before blurting Brand’s previous name, his smile wavering for a moment, though the mage turned towards the chairs that Khitti had set up to hide the expression. “I’ve been hearing great things from my colleagues that have visited Cenril recently. Your baking has become somewhat of a local legend.”

Khitti || “It certainly has been,” Khitti said, that thick accent of hers there, but barely. She stood briefly to take his hand and shake it, only to reclaim her seat a moment later and take up her tea for a drink. “Not since Raiez’s cave, I believe. Brand is fine, I suppose. Being a dad to a toddler with both elemental and dark magic -and- running an entire ship is a tough gig. And then he’s also got to put up with -me-.” The redhead smirked smugly--she knew she was a handful and was likely the cause of some of Brand’s grey hairs these days. “Yes! I catered for the Mage Guild’s fair some months ago. Had my band play there as well, though I was unfortunately unable to attend. And speaking of food--” Khitti nodded in the direction of the cart with the tea and food on it, “Help yourself. There’s plenty. If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, we’ve got different kinds of sandwiches that could be made up, and we started selling soups for the colder months.” She paused again to sip her tea, eyeing a leaf as it floated around the top, rebelling against the rest of its cupmates. “How’ve you been since...” She waved vaguely in the direction of Xalious, as if to indicate ‘since that hell in the cave’.

Odhranos’ eyebrows shot skyward at mention of a toddler. “A child! Xalious bless me, I hope I’m not late in congratulating you!” Odhranos smiled broadly, it had been quite some time indeed. “I’m sure Brand can manage, he always was a capable sort.” The mage pulled the chair out and after dusting his robes off, he seated himself, smoothing the rough grey fabric on his lap before gratefully accepting the cup of tea, savouring the fragrant steam with an appreciative smile. When Khitti posed her question, Odhranos grimaced. “I have been… recovering… mainly.” The mage reaches down to his side and hefts up the object that had been hanging from the leather strap slung over his shoulder. “You might recognise this, I picked it up on our way out of Raiez’s cave.” Odhranos placed the ornate golden cage down on the table. “I noticed it in Raiez’s hoard when we were escaping and my curiosity got the better of me. There was - is - a spirit trapped in this relic. Once I came in contact with it, I was subdued by the spirit, and it ended up driving me into the Nameless Desert for… about six months?” Odhranos smiled ruefully. “I can recommend better places to get a tan. When I eventually made it back out, I had to recuperate in Frostmaw for a month or two, and I’ve been swamped with work from the Guild ever since.” Odhranos let the relic hang back by his hip, then raised his mug to take a sip. “Though! That all sounds very negative, Things actually haven’t been all that bad. I was promoted to Provost recently, and I have had my research to keep me happy, so all in all, I have been well.”

Khitti grinned at the terramancer’s reaction to the mention of Khitti and Brand’s child, “Dominic’s quite different from his predecessor, but he’s no less a handful to Brand than the first one was. And it hadn’t taken long after I rid myself of my vampirism, much to both of our dismay.” The smirk remained, a shake of her head given. “But, things changed. Brand and I changed. He changed so much so he thought it was a good idea to marry me.” Khitti let out a very unlady-like snort at the thought. Odhranos would bring out the golden cage he’d found and tell her his own tale, a tilt of her head given as she studied the object, crimson brows knitting together with vague concern. “It would appear that we weren’t the only ones with unfortunate things flung upon us thanks to the things in that cave.” She shook her head, leaving that tale for another time. “I’m glad that you’ve found your place there in the guild again. I’d thought about joining, time and again, but... “ Khitti frowned somewhat and shook her head. Khitti had always been an anomaly, even before she’d left her homeland. The worry that more experiments would ensue had always plagued her. The only place she truly felt at home was in the Necromancer’s Guild--and that’s even after she’d started running the Devout’s. “So… you said you were doing interviews?”

Odhranos couldn't help the smile when Khitti revealed what they had named their son. Odhranos had known Brand first as Dominic, and had grown fond of the young man (and decidedly less fond of the then different Brand) so when he found out that the dual-personalitied man had reunited his souls and dropped the name Odhranos knew him by, the terramancer had felt a strange feeling of loss. As such Odhranos was very happy to hear the name take on new life. "Ahh, it was only a matter of time, I believe. I could have wagered back in that library that he'd have gotte around to it at some point. That's the problem with men, you keep them around for long enough and they get notions of ceremony and propriety." Odhranos chuckled and smirked teasingly. "I am very glad to hear that though, it is happy news." Odhranos glanced down at the cage by his side and an odd sort of smile crossed his features. "I did always wonder how things might have been different had I never gone hiking that day and snatched up by Raiez. But, I'm not unhappy with the hand I've been dealt. A lot of good came out of the experience as well." Odhranos' face lit up when Khitti asked about the interviews he had been holding. "Mmm, yes! Before I was promoted, as an Arcane Steward, we are encouraged to take part in putting together dissertations, to add to the knowledge in the Guild Library. The topic I chose for mine is… quite a broad one. I'm hoping to gain a better insight into the mechanisms of magic, through interviewing practicioners around Lithrydel. With enough interviews, I can begin to analyse common techniques and arcane ideologies and hopefully draw together a more rounded view of how magic works." Odhranos' cheeks coloured slightly as he concluded his impassioned rant. "All that so say, I am as intrigued by magic as I have ever been, and I wish to speak to as many people as I can to discover their unique views on the subject."

Khitti would nod in agreement with Odhranos on his sentiment of being dealt an alright hand after the Raiez incident, and offered a smile in understanding. She’d not further that part of the conversation though, allowing him to go on about what he’s been doing in the Mage’s Guild. “Congrats on your promotion,” she chimed in briefly, before letting him continue. “Well… I suppose there’s no better way to go about it than to have you unless your questions. I’m… a little better nowadays about being open about my magicks. And perhaps, once we’ve finished, you’ll be able to help -me-. It’s nothing too major. I’ve just gotten back into my own studies lately after rejoining the Necromancer’s Guild, but they can’t help with everything.” Khitti drank what was left in her cup, refilled it with water, and set the teapot aside again, “Okay. I’m ready whenever you are.”

Odhranos nodded in agreement. "I'd be more than happy to help. But, yes, indeed, to the task at hand." Placing a small leather briefcase on the table, Odhranos procured a sheaf of pages, a small corked stone inkwell and a somewhat bedraggled looking quill that looked as much like it had been freshly plucked from a mangy seagull as it did a writing implement. "This will be a largely informal interview, so you don't need to worry about framing or explaining your answers in any particular way. In fact, it's your own particular way of phrasing and explaining things that I am most interested in recording. So, you can relax." Odhranos laughed brightly as he uncorked the inkwell and dipped the quill in, blotting it neatly on a small tissue before hovering the job over the blank page. "So, just to start off, can I ask what name you would like me to put down on the record?" When she answered, Odhranos would quickly jot down her name along the top of the page, before lifting the quill and fixing Khitti with a pleasant and encouraging smile. "So, if you had to explain in broad terms, what type of magic do you employ? Feel free to go into as much detail as you would like to."

Khitti || The terramancer would retrieve his things and explain how things were to work, to Khitti. She’d nod and once he readied himself, the redhead would begin. “Khitti Herzegler, please.” She thought a moment, about his second question, olive-green eyes drifting away from the other mage, shifting to various parts of her bakery. “The magic I use is… complicated. When you and I first met, my abilities had not been… expanded upon, so to speak. I was a necromancer, but not your typical one. My abilities stem directly from the Shadow Plane. It wasn’t until after the Raiez incident that Brand and I found out that I wield the Black Tides. Originally, I could only conjure these strange acidic-smelling orbs that would melt through anything they touched. Aside from that, I was also able to summon up shadow-like tendrils from my fingers as well as the ground. While you, Brand, and Linn escaped Raiez’s cave, I stupidly put myself in harm’s way, and our jarmate, Ayras, took it upon herself to step in and save me from myself. If you recall, back then, I was fused with a being from the Shadow Plane. Things transpired while I waited to either die or be rescued and when I emerged, my abilities had fully awakened. The tendrils from the ground had shifted to the ability to summon an enormous huntsman-like spider from the Shadow Plane who as since been adopted as my “firstborn” spider-son,” she said with a smirk. “The ones from my hand and the globs was an extremely lesser form of shadow manipulation. The contact that had been made with Ayras and that metal arm she possessed unlocked the rest. I manipulate not only shadows, but shadow-fire and shadow-ice as well.” She took a moment to show him each ability she currently held; first the purple shadow-flames with its blackened core and then the shadow-ice, this one looking much like regular ice, except greyed, with a swirling grey mist around and inside it. “This was further expanded upon during a battle against Kahran in Chartsend. Brand and I ambushed his forces in the Shadow Plane and forced them to portal over to Chartsend to begin their own attack. At the time, I was in possession of a shadow magic-enhancing orb that greatly boosted my abilities. With it, I syphoned power from the portals they opened and turned it into shadow-lightning. I have not been able to recreate it since.” Khitti paused, allowing him to write what he will, before she continued again. “After my death, and subsequent rebirth thanks to several gods, I lost my ability to wield dark magic. Just before that time, I came into possession of the sword Tenbatsu Kaji. Months after that, I fully came into possession of holy magic of my own, by way of Cyris, so that I would no longer have to call upon the sword’s denizen, a sprite called Seika, to aid me. That’s only the short side of things, however. I can expand on certain parts if you want to know more.”

Odhranos began scribbling down notes at a furious rate as Khitti talked, pausing occasionally to nod and hum appreciatively. He jotted down rough diagrams as she spoke, to note down a rough timeline and depict the different techniques that Khitti spoke about. He was particularly entranced when she demonstrated her abilities before him, taking a few moments to try sketching rough impressions of the flame and ice, annotating then with a flurry of little notes on colour, texture and impression. "Fantastic, fantastic insight." The mage murmured as he wrote, sparing Khitti a happy grin amidst his frenetic note-taking. The terramancer was truly in his academic element. "This is a lot to work with, exceptional! Thank you!" The mage exclaimed as he looked back over his notes, having already filled four pages with his scrawling handwriting, the corners of the pages dotted in ink-spots, so hasty was the mage in capturing Khitti's story. "You've evidently had an extensive insight into a few variants of magic. If we could focus on your dark magic firstly, could you explain to me a little bit more about how you came to possess it?" Odhranos paused and placed his quill down for a moment. "I do recall you telling me part of the story, and I do remember that it was a very painful memory for you. I won't ask you to retell it, but if you perhaps could share some insight on the mechanisms through which you came to possess that power? Without going into the specifics of what you went through, could you hypothesise how being bound with… Amarrah, wasn't it, how that granted you access to your power?"

Khitti shook her head, “The memory is painful, but to understand how I came to be like this, it’s necessary to talk about it. There were prophecies, in the Shadow Plane, about someone that would tip the balance of life and death in that realm. The Shadow Plane serves as a purgatory of sorts for spirits that become lost. My entire family--and village--was a part of that. A sect of mindflayers stole this information--the prophecies--from the place that serves as Larket’s mirror in the Shadow Plane. It said: “In the season of fire, where the dead flower wilts near the light’s end, two shall be born. One is doomed to perish, untimely, time and time again. One shall trespass the boundaries of shadow and light, and the dead shall rise up in protest. Two stars shall fall for a third to rise, their curses lingering as putrid foam upon the shore. The two shall find the end of time unreckoned, and they will not understand. Of the two entwined, siblings but not by birth, one shall be by madness consumed; the other will suffer until they trek across the dark land. There a choice will be made: to fall deeper into the void or to allow the light to shine.’” Khitti eyed Odhranos, before shifting her gaze to the table. “The mindflayers took this knowledge, kidnapped children from places they thought the prophecy spoke of. Nothing proved fruitful for them until they found my home. I hail from the village of Dämmerung Stürze, near the Licht End mountain range in Dhavislaav. They translate to Deathbloom Falls and Light’s End in my native tongue.” Hopefully, Odhranos could put two and two together with regards to the prophecy and her place of birth. “Long story short, during the year of my fourteenth birthday, myself and my twin, as well as two other sets of twins born the same year in Autumn we taken. We were experimented on. I was the only one that survived--if you could call what I lived after that “survival”. They used both magic and science to operate on me, keeping me alive with the blood of their mindflayer leader. At some times, it was only a blur. But, I think maybe they found some sort of latent magic font in me. My country banned magic, after a war that had happened several hundred years ago. If someone had magic, no one either knew or spoke about it. They would find that font, in my left arm, and fused Amarrah’s essence to it. Her literal spirit. I wielded -her- magic as if it were my own, much the same as I did and still sometimes do with Tenbatsu Kaji. During my trek to get my vampirism cure, Amarrah’s father allowed me to keep the dark magic abilities, after Amarrah was removed from my body and resurrected. He was also the same person that took it from me, albeit that was mostly a lie. He’d only sealed it away.”

Odhranos' expression was one of empathetic concern; much as he was intrigued by the subject of Khitti's magic, if it was at the expense of upsetting her and dredging up memories best left untouched, he had no wish to pry. However, the choice wasn't his to make, and so he set to his notes once more, nodding with a firm and intent gaze as Khitti summarised how her ordeal had begun, all those years ago. He nibbled the tatty end of the quill as Khitti recounted the words of the Shadowplane Prophecy, and he transcribed the words into his notes, underlining them as he did so. When Khitti moved onto the topic of her binding with Amarrah, Odhranos' expression perked up, but still remained coloured with concern. As fascinating as the magic was, this was the story of a teenaged girl, stolen from her family and tortured. The mage couldn't help but feel ashamed of his interest in the arcane if that was the price it demanded. "So, do you imagine then that the dark magic was an innate ability of yours, as of yet unemerged by the time you were taken? Or was your power unaspected until you were bound to Amarrah, and served to further your grasp of her abilities?"

Khitti || “I think, perhaps, that whatever it was had either been an entirely blank slate as magic is sometimes for people before they decide on which magical path to follow or… they twisted it to fit their narrative. Between the mindflayer’s blood and magical influence, as well as whatever else they might’ve done to me, I imagine it would’ve been rather simple to… “turn me to the dark side” as some put it. I don’t think it was divine magic, whatever it might’ve been that I had before they made themselves known. I took too easily to Brand’s teachings of using elemental magic somatic gestures as a way to learn my own abilities--it’s how I plan to teach Quintessa Dragana as well.” Khitti leaned back into her chair, arms crossed over her chest, that signature pensive look of hers returning finally in full force. “It’s something I’ve tried piecing together myself over the years. Brand was not taught magic in an academy setting so it’d just go over his head. And while I wasn’t taught that way either, research and pouring over whatever sort of studies I find myself in -is-, so I’ve made a go at it alone for a bit now. I had met someone else, a woman named Celaeno, who had also been experimented on by a necromancer--her father. Her dark magic ate her up too, on the inside, like mine had. It tainted her, left lesions on her organs and other various places inside her body. Luckily for her, I had Cyris’ magic at that point, so I could save her from death… or undeath. It’s a wonder sometimes that I even continue to pursue this stuff at all,” she said with a laugh. “I think I’m just better at terms with what and who I am now, then I was when you and I first met.”

Odhranos tapped the quill against the inkpot pensively before jotting down a series of quick words. "Blank slate/unaspected/elemental base source?" was circled twice, then "potential source conversion - illithid blood?" was scrawled beneath it. Odhranos was intrigued; after his interview with Kasyr, the notion of multiple sources of magic was a theory floating around in his head, but the concept that someone's innate source could be tainted or even converted was a new aspect he hadn't considered. Definitely worth researching. Odhranos turned his attention back when Khitti mentioned how she had developed her learning techniques, and the terramancer cracked a smile at mention of the ambitious Steward's name being brought up. "Ahh, I didn't know Quintessa had you as her teacher. Has she mentioned the book she's writing? It's really quite - oh, sorry, pardon me, I'll leave it to later." Odhranos grinned sheepishly at his own distraction. When Khitti mentioned feeling better at terms with her current state, Odhranos' expression softened into a gentle smile. "I am very glad to hear that. You seem more at peace than I've ever known you to be, and I'm happy that you've found that peace. It was long overdue." The corners of the mage's eyes crinkle with crows-feet as he smiles and he pauses for a moment, before dipping the quill in the inkwell once more. "So! Cyris! Would you mind explaining how you came about such a connection with the Honourable God?"

Khitti smirked at Odhranos’ tangent about Quintessa before he course-corrected back to the task at hand. “Cyris found me. During my quest to find a vampirism cure, I acquired a few things related to the gods. It was a way to mess with me, as the spell was written by Amarrah’s father--who was not quite the nicest person in the Shadow Plane. I was tasked to find ‘Ambrosia of the Dark Mother, Vakmathras’ Blessing, the Purity of Arkhen’. Long story short, I got them all, after making deals with devils and all that.” One of those ‘devils’ being the Matron of the Underdark herself. “Just when I’d started thinking, after I came back from the dead, that I should start giving offerings to those three, Cyris made himself known. It was at one of the Redskull Tournament Ring fights. The reward was Tenbatsu Kaji and despite the fact that I wasn’t in the fight at all, the sword chose me. I didn’t want it at first. Couldn’t even understand what the sprite inside it was saying to me at the time. But, once I did start to hear Seika and we talked a lot, I realized how much Cyris’ domain resonated with me. Freedom and Independence. It still does, but now I go about things a little differently than most followers of Cyris do, since I’ve found my place amongst Vakmathras and Delisha’s people as well.”

Odhranos settled his chin upon his knuckles as he listened to Khitti recounting her experience in reversing her vampirism. Not a simple feat by any measure, in fact up until talking with Kasyr recently, it was a feat Odhranos had simply assumed was impossible. But, impossible is a much more flimsy thing when magic is part of the equation. While Odhranos itched to ask Khitti the specifics of how she managed to cure the supposedly impossible, he did want to stay focused on his immediate objective. Plenty of time to interrogate - sorry, to inquire later. At mention of Tenbatsu Kaji, Odhranos' expression turned to one of blatant fascination. He had heard of the legendary sword; though he mightn't be as educated on the subject as Karasu, Kasyr or Quintessa might be, any professor of arcane relic analysis worth their salt would want to be at least aware of the handful of magic blades that circulated throughout Lithrydel's history. Odhranos was doubly curious when Khitti mentioned communicating with the spirit within the sword. "This spirit, within Tenbatsu Kaji, could you tell me about it briefly? Just taking a tangent from the subject for a moment, if you don't mind. I've been doing some research into spirit and soul-bound relics as of late, and I'd be interested to hear your experience with one as steeped in history as yours."

“Uhhh… It seems like it’s sort of like telepathy? I’m sure it’s not -actually- that, though. It’s akin to the blood link vampires share with those that they drink from. It’s best to be in range. So, for example, Tenbatsu Kaji is on Brand’s ship right now, at the wharf. The sword can use that link it has with me in order to find me if need be. To the point that it’s found me on the top deck of the ship while it was in the belly of it. Speaking to me specifically, it has no problems when were in range. There’s been times Seika’s projected her current form to me as well, in much the same way that Amarrah had with her butterfly form. But, because of the nature of things--like showing herself to others--it takes a lot of magic for her to do this. The sword itself is very powerful but, like all things magic, it’s not infinite. She has shown herself a few times to another Cyris follower, Zahrani, but it may take less magic to do so, because Zahrani also has a deep connection to Cyris. It’s all… very complex. Tenbatsu Kaji has been with me for two years and I’ve still yet to fully figure out the whole thing.” Khitti shrugged, and continued. “She spoke to Brand a few times, but limited the interaction, due to his dislike for having people in his mind.” This thought prompted a frown from the redhead, her line of sight shifting away from Odhranos and over towards somewhere else in the bakery. Brand had someone else picking at his brain last year, and it wasn’t in the same way Dominic or Amarrah or Seika had. “But he’s never seen her. And then she’s spoken to Kelovath too. Maybe it’s like a hierarchy of sorts? If she’s truly essence, like Amarrah was, it would make sense. Amarrah’s power didn’t increase until that seal I mentioned had wore off and then even moreso after I’d been to the Shadow Plane. Could likely be very similar for Seika, but without as many limitations.”

Odhranos nods in understanding at the analogy. He had experienced the blood link briefly with Pilar, which was a novel experience, though it had faded with the distance between Xalious and Chartsend and eventually disappeared with time. Though it was interesting that a sentient artefact could utilise such a link in order to “find” it’s bearer. “When you say that Tanbatsu Kaji ‘found’ you, do you mean simply in the sense of communication, or is it capable of moving itself? Through levitation, or instant transportation perhaps?” Odhranos’ interest is obvious, and his free hand idly moves to the golden cage beside him, drumming his fingers against the cold metal absentmindedly as he considers the possibilities. Half of the purpose behind Odhranos’ research is finding a means of relieving S’erok’s imprisonment within the relic, perhaps talking with Seika might point him on the right track to finding a way of doing that. “You mentioned that it might take less effort to contact Zahrani, due to her deeper connection with Cyrus. Do you think that Cyrus has a conscious hand in facilitating Seika’s connection with certain followers of his, or does heinstead act as a passive conduit and followers of Cyris universally have an easier time communing with the spirit?” Odhranos smiles and waves his quill in a circle, as if gesturing upwards towards the heavens. “Not that I am asking you to second guess one of the Gods, but in your opinion, what you would suspect?”

“Oh, the sword absolutely moves itself. Seika has a penchant for breaking down doors to get to me. She broke through the container she was in during the Redskull fight as well. I--” Khitti stopped a moment, pondering on whether or not she should go get the katana, as it was just upstairs in the apartment she owned above the bakery. She’d ultimately decide not to, however, as she didn’t want to stray too far from the original topic of the interview. They’d almost certainly need to have a full TedTalk-like session with the sword itself. Khitti shook her head, restarting her thought, “I don’t think it’s something that would be possible if there was not a living being within it--even if it is just possibly its essence. Normal sprites--that is, the ones not trapped in swords--have wings in some cases, so it’s not really out of the realm of possibility for a sword with such a being inside of it to have the power of flight, in some form or fashion. Amarrah gave me many abilities when she was a part of me, so I view it in the same sort of light. As for Cyris having a conscious hand in this stuff, I honestly don’t know. The majority of my contact with Cyris has been through Seika. Even with my vampirism cure, my contact with Arkhen, Vakmathras, and Delisha were solely through either spells I found myself or by way of their followers. I have felt their “call” and their domains line up with my own views, but I’ve never had, say, afternoon tea with the guy.” Smirking, the redhead continued, “Second-guessing is my middle name.” It wasn’t -really-, but still. “I’m not as devout as the rest of the religious types in Lithrydel. In fact, I find myself towards the bottom of the ladder. Despite going this road for two years, there’s still a lot of stuff I don’t know--this sort of thing is one of them, unfortunately.”

Odhranos smiles and chuckles at the idea of a sword with a habit for breaking down doors of its own accord, it is an entertaining image. "That is fascinating that Tenbatsu Kaji retains aspects of Seika's innate magic though. In S'erok's case, I am capable of accessing his innate magic through virtue of being bonded with his relic -" As if to demonstrate, Odhranos waves his hand idly, drawing a streamer of sand from the whirling storm at the centre of the cage, which spirals through the air briefly, before diving back into the cage once more. "- but S'erok isn't able to access his own abilities anymore, at least not without help from me, as a mediator. I wonder if that is a result of how his relic was constructed." Odhranos humms and ponders for a moment, then shakes his head, smiling across at Khitti. "I'll leave that question aside until I have the opportunity to ask Seika herself." The terramancer smiles wryly when Khitti mentions how, despite spending two years embroiled in the dealings of Gods and their whims, there was a lot she still didn't understand. "I can sympathise. I've been buried in research and books ever since the Healer's Guild discharged me, after what I experienced during Raiez incident and it's aftermath, and I'm still barely any closer to understanding the principles behind this whole mystery than when I began." Odhranos shrugs dramatically, twirls his quill and dips it back in the inkpot, turning over a fresh blank page. "However! My hope is that with these interviews, I might start uncovering some of the puzzle pieces I am missing. Which brings me onto my next question, a doozy of a question, I'm afraid; if you had to explain, based on your own views and experience, how does magic work? As a whole, be it arcane or divine magic?" The mage reaches across to top up his neglected tea-cup, offering to refill Khitti's while he is at it. "Feel free to take as much time as you need, it is a substantial question that I have had trouble answering myself."

“I mean, the sword was magically bonded to Seika and purified by a priest of Cyris himself. I imagine if it was Cyris’ will, he probably allowed it to happen? It’s… all complicated of course because of divine things that we may never understand,” Khitti said with a shrug. He posed his next question for her: how does she think magic works? It wasn’t something she’d thought of often. Or, really, hardly at all. It was something she never truly wondered in a philosophical sense. She thought about it for a few moments, rolled the question around her brain a bit before finally voicing her answer. “I think magic is too fluid to truly say. There’s too many factors it depends on. Was someone born with it? Or did they have to go through the struggle of learning it without being naturally adept at it? If they were the type to be born with it, does their emotions affect it?” There were likely many other questions that could be asked in return, but she merely shook her head, “Magic is too complex to ask such a broad question like that. Every aspect works differently than the rest, and depends on different components than the rest. I don’t think that question can be answered simply whatsoever. It’s like asking how the brain works.”

Odhranos pauses for a moment, thinking over Khitti’s reply, then he breaks into warm laughter and smiles across at her sheepishly. “You know, that’s probably the most grounded answer I have gotten to that question.” The terramancer chuckles as he rakes one hand through his greying hair. “I’ve been swept up in so many theories and potential answers that I haven’t really considered the simple answer.” Gesturing towards Khitti with his quill with a sort of “Well, you’ve just hit the nail on the head” wave, the mage smiles broadly. “It is too complex and broad to pin down with one single theory, Because they could all be right. All of them, simultaneously.” Odhranos chuckles as he jots down a few more notes. “I had gotten too deep into the thick of trying to pin down a single logic, a single mechanism, that I lost sight of the bigger picture.” The terramancer surfaces from his notes and beams at the woman across from him. “Thank you for your fresh point of view on this, I wasn’t aware quite how much I was in need of it.” Odhranos finishes his line of cursive script then considers what he has taken down. “One last question, if you don’t mind. You mentioned the difference between someone born with magic, and one who had to learn in order to be adept with it. Do you believe all creatures are born with magic, and some merely have the aptitude from birth, or is it something that has to be gained with time if one is not gifted with innate magic?”

Khitti leaned back in her chair, olive-green eyes lifting to eye the ceiling, “I mean, I could be wrong. It’s entirely possible that we -all- have the ability to cast magic. I know the witches and druids and other beings in servitude to nature believe that there’s magic in all things. They could be right. We could -all- be born with it, and some just have quicker, better access to it than others. Or are forced into it. It’s another complex question that seeks a simple answer and I don’t think there is one.” The redhead frowned a little, her line of sight running along the bricks that made up the ceiling in shades of reds and oranges. “It sounds like something the necromancers that did this to me would’ve been interested in. Maybe the font of magic they found in me is in everyone. Maybe mine was just… stronger and brighter than the others and that’s why I wasn’t allowed to join my family in undeath back then.” A sigh escaped her and she soon sat upright in her chair again, once again focused on Odhranos. “I hope, for other people’s sake, that the druids and the witches and the like are wrong. I hope that there isn’t magic in everyone. I hope that, if people born that way, they are continued to be given the opportunity to work hard and get to where the rest of us are. But…” The frown that’d twisted her lips remained, deepening as she continued her thought. “Dominic. The first one. The one you knew. He was given magic, by the same sort of spirit that inhabited Lionel’s sword, Hellfire. It gave him water magic--healing magic; something perfectly suited to someone like him--and he hated it. It hurt him to use it on me, after I’d been injured by holy magic when I was still a vampire. Him, Brand, and I fought about it while I laid in bed in the Frostmaw Fort after the incident. He loved me and even then, he could not do it without being pressured to. He left us, because of me. Because of things like that. I would not wish this… curse, as he viewed it, on anyone that doesn’t want it. Because it can kill you if you let it.” Khitti drew in a breath, her bottom lip quivering. It wasn’t often that she spoke of Dominic anymore. It wasn’t often that it made her want to cry. It definitely wasn’t often that she could barely hide the urge to cry at the thought of him. But, Odhranos’ interview had stirred things up, though Khitti wouldn’t fault him for it. She let out that breath in a sigh finally, forcing herself to continue. “Dominic wanted nothing more to be normal. He would roll in his grave, if he had one, if he knew what his successor was like. How my child has both elemental -and- dark magic. I feel his loss, and the agony I caused him because of magic, more keenly than I feel much else of late. He was not even fully -real- and it pains me to my core. I do not pray often, Odhranos, but for his sake, I hope that there -are- people that are born without magic. So they can be normal like Dominic--and I--was never allowed to be.” Sometimes, Khitti still shared Dominic’s views on magic, as a curse. She couldn’t help but look down at the scarred over etchings that had been made on her palms in the Shadow Plane, to allow her to use that realm’s magic without it killing her. She wiped her eyes, quick to hide whatever emotion she had showing, and quick to adapt that quiet stoicism she’d used as a mask of late. “Sorry.” Her tone was vaguely stony, in an attempt to force away the sadness that’d crept up on her.

Odhranos’ cheery smile faded with Khitti’s story. It had been years since he had heard anything about Dominic. In fact, not since they shared glassy prisons in the dragon’s cave. Ever since the terramancer had first met the young man, he had been aware that Dominic was uncomfortable with his magical aptitude. However, the ever-studious mage had simply chalked it up to lack of time spent studying and immersing oneself in the art, and had hoped that in time, Dominic could be brought around to see the world of vibrance and magic that Odhranos had dedicated his life to. But this, this window into Khitti and Dominic’s past left a cold curling sadness in the terramancer’s stomach. The quill was dropped idly aside and Odhranos steepled his fingers, resting his chin on his thumbs as his eyes stared blindly at the page before him. Much as it hurt Odhranos to see Khitti reliving what were obviously painful memories, it shook him more when he thought of magic and how Dominic’s experience resounded with his own. Magic trapped him in a bottle for weeks. Magic stranded him in the desert for months, magic consigned S’erok’s soul to a timeless prison for uncountable years. There was certainly enough evidence to back up Dominic’s belief. Suddenly, Odhranos began questioning what he was doing, whether he would be better off leaving this path that had led so many other astray. The mage raised his dull eyes from his parchment and looked at the woman across from him. “As...am I...Sorry, I mean.” The mage murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper as he shrank inside his robes, hunching and suddenly looking like a hundred years had settled upon his shoulders. The optimistic friendly Provost now looked like a tired, worn old man. After handful seconds pause, the mage shook his head as if to loosen the cobwebs within himself, and he began collecting up his pages and writing tools. “Thank you… Khitti. I hope I haven’t upset you, that wasn’t my intention. But, you have given me many things to think about. Things I should have thought about much sooner.” Odhranos met Khitti’s eyes and a new smile tweaked his mouth; a sort of sad smile, but one that speaks of recovery. “Better now than never, I suppose.”

Khitti just shook her head at Odhranos’ apology, keeping silent for the moment to make sure she wasn’t going to start crying again. She let out a long sigh when she thought she was ready, then shrugged. “It is what it is. If he hadn’t gone away, things would likely be far worse for him. If it were him, instead of Brand, that had been the “real one”, he would not be happy with the way things have gone with my son. He would not be happy with the fact that I rejoined the Necromancer’s Guild. That I still throw myself into trouble willingly. That I still intend on helping a place like the Shadow Plane. He also wouldn’t like the question that I’m about to ask you soon. But, in the end, I’m glad that he’s gone. Because I would’ve been forced to a life of playing happy homemaker all day every day for the rest of my life and… that’s not something that someone like me is suited for. -At all-. Couldn’t handle sitting around in that cave. Or in Frostmaw when Amarrah was making things difficult. Couldn’t even handle it during my pregnancy.” With a smirk, Khitti side-eyed the table awkwardly. “One of us would’ve left sooner or later.” She paused, thinking things over for a moment, that smirk returning as she set her attention on Odhranos again, “He does come out now and then, through Brand. Brand would never admit it though. You know how he is. But, I see it when he blushes when I tease him. I saw it when we got married and he was flustered. I see it when he truly looks happy. So, that’s something at least.” There was a faint chuckle at the thought, but soon she was shaking her head again. “Right, so. Now that that’s done. The thing I want to ask you is… is there a place in the Mage’s Guild for me? I know when you and I first met, you were incredibly wary of me, much like I was of all of you. But, knowing that you have someone like Quintessa there has finally prompted me to ask after all these years. Mostly importantly, I’d like to learn the basics of elemental magic. I would ask Brand, but he’s the worst teacher, as is usually the case when someone’s a natural in their field. A while back, during a battle with Kahran, I found out that I could syphon magic from Shadow Plane portals to create the Black Tides version of electricity. I have not been able to replicate this since then. I also imagine that there’s a fourth element, like earth, to round out the entire thing. I’m the only one with this sort of connection to the Shadow Plane. I need to find out. I need to figure out these other elements. Especially if I’m going to teach them to Quintessa. If I’m going to pass on this knowledge, I’m going to do it properly. Any information I find, of course, would go to both the Mage’s Guild and the Necromancer’s Guild. I’ve already written a book on the Shadow Plane that’s locked away in House Mahara’s Black Library. -That one- is there because I don’t intend on dealing with more would-be villains in that realm than I have to. But, this one on the Black Tides would be different. I still think it should be restricted--these last two elements are clearly advanced after all--but… should someone show true interest in it, it would be there.”

Odhranos couldn’t help the warmth from creeping back into his smile as Khitti spoke about how aspects of Dominic still showed through in Brand’s personality. It was heartening to hear that elements of the man Odhranos once knew still remained, and also heart-warming to see how Khitti spoke of him, she seemed happier and more at ease than he had ever known her to be. Though his eyebrows rose quizzically when Khitti mentioned having a question to pose, even moreso that it was one that Dominic would have disapproved of, he was pleasantly surprised by the question. “Of course. The Guild would be blessed to have someone of your caliber involved. There have been a number of reforms recently, in the Guild’s admission policy and I believe they’ve been for the better, I think that the more people are welcomed into the Guild, the more we will all benefit.” The mage adjusts the strap on his shoulder and raises a finger, as if highlighting a point. “Though, I will say, it would likely be unconducive for you to enter into the Guild by the normal means. You are already a practiced user of the arcane, far beyond the level that most of our apprentices would be, so i don’t believe it would benefit anyone to have you start at the apprentice rank. However! As part of the new reforms, the Guild has taken a look at admission of experienced mages. Kasyr Azakhaer being a notable example. He joined the Guild as an Auxilia Veneficus, it’s somewhat similar to an external lecturer position, reserved for individuals who trained their magic ability outside of the Guild and who’s skills would be wasted in the apprenticeship when they could be teaching in their own right. How would that sound to you?” Odhranos pats the bag at his side. “I’d be happy to give a personal reference to the Guild Council on your behalf. Not to mention that they would jump at the opportunity to get insight into your experience with the Shadow Realm. It’s a subject that lacks any good documentation in the Guild’s library.” Odhranos tilts his head to the side and smiles ruefully. “Not to say that it would be a one-sided information sharing. You’d be given free access to the Guild repository, and you’d gain a certain degree of research support in facilities. Plus, you’ll have access to some of the most incorrigibly over-specialised magic fanatics in all of Lithrydel to discuss your work with. Myself included in that group.” The mage chuckled as he raked his fingers through his long hair, smoothing back the errant strands from his temples. “I can recommend a few elemental magic teachers, that would be my area of expertise, so if and when you have the time to visit Xalious, do drop by my office, and I’d be happy to help with whatever I can.”

“That rank sounds just fine to me. I had been wondering about that sort of thing for obvious reasons, heh.” Khitti started to clear away dishes and put them onto the cart as they seemed to be finishing up the conversation as a whole. “Well, it was lovely to finally see you again, Odhranos--and thankfully in a much less confined environment and without the threat of a dragon nearby. Let me know if you need anything on my end. The guilds that I’m a part of get plenty of perks for having me,” she said with a smirk. “Cheap tickets to my band’s concerts and almost entirely free food from here.” Khitti nodded in the main counter’s direction as she stood up, pushing her chair in. “And we’ll get those details sorted out soon for a lecture with Seika. Despite having to go to Larket, they’ve been a bit quiet there for some time, so it might not be as unbearable as it had been. Probably better to get it over with sooner rather than later though, knowing the monarchy there. They’re like a toddler: when things get quiet, it’s never a good sign. I -should- get home to Brand now. Poor guy’s been teaching the current Dominic how to use his magic so he doesn’t set the ship on fire. He’s almost two years old, so you can imagine how well that’s going.”

Odhranos helped clear the table, stacking the plates neatly on the cart, then smirking as something caught his eye amongst the various pastry accoutrements. “Yes, I do prefer my jars with jam in them, and not mages.” The terramancer jokes, lifting one of the jars in question up for viewing with a light laugh. “It was a pleasure indeed. I do always enjoy catching up with old acquaintances.” Odhranos checks his various pockets, ensuring that he hasn’t forgotten anything as he steps away from the table. “I’ll be sure to be in touch soon, there isn’t a significant amount of paperwork that needs doing, but I’ll have what little there is forwarded on to you as it arises. Oh also, if you have the chance in the next while to come by the Mage Tower, it would help a lot if I could introduce you in person to some of the Guild Council. They’re sticklers for “seeing prospective colleagues in person”, plus it’ll give me the opportunity to introduce you to some of my colleagues in the elemental magics department.” Odhranos couldn’t help the involuntary wince at mention of Larket, that name is still somewhat akin to a curseword, but he soon broke into a smile at Khitti’s analogy. “Yes, better to keep the little one within sight, so you can -see- when he is about to set something on fire and react accordingly, rather than being pleasantly surprised. That reminds me, if you ever need a tutor for the boy, even someone to help go over the basics, you know where to find me. I’d be happy to help.” Odhranos smiled pleasantly, then turned to head towards the door. “All the best, and best of health for the three of you, I hope to see you soon!”