RP:Lost in Translation

From HollowWiki

This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.


Synopsis: Raevyn takes the flesh-bound tome to Bradyn for examination. He is surprisingly much more helpful this time around!

Date: Jan 14, 2018



Black Library

Raevyn had been pacing back and forth in a very anxious manner with an item clutched tightly against her chest. it was rectangular in shape and wrapped in animal hide; By all accounts it was most likely a book. That very book she and Celaeno managed to discover in the Larket Graveyard. Given the contents inside, the young necromancer needed to take it to someone to have it examined. To find out what exactly it meant. She had originally thought of Khitti, but given the events as of late, she held off. Larewen was next on the list, but Raevyn just did not trust her enough. And so, she wrote to Bradyn a note that asked for him to meet her here in the place of learning known as the Black Library. Given that his family guarded the Black library, he might have some sort of knowledge of ancient and scary things. She was alone for now; The last time she saw Baelok was when she was riding away on horseback and he was busying himself with a couple of the local Larket guard. She could only hope that he made it out of that damned town.


The Library was always a suitable place to linger, with or without company, so Raevyn will find that her request is accepted. Perhaps Nasada has arrived early out of anxiousness but Bradyn Mahara is prompt usually, their first encounter being a rare exception. In his defense, he assumed Nasada was trying to pull something ...well not so clever...but telling him she was sent by Khitti. It was a red flag. This time Bradyn’s appearance is a blasé one. He walks into the library. Not via the main entrance though, his family does guard this library. They have their own means of entering and existing, passages that lead directly to the Maharan Manor. These pathways are located within the more private reserves of the library, in locations Nasada has probably not been able to explore. Thus, it may seem to Nasada that his entrance was as mysterious as the last...or maybe that he has been within the walls of the library for awhile now. Whatever her logic is. “Raevyn.” He says in his usual flat tone. She may have brought with her something that he finds particularly curious, but she would not be able to guess that based on his reactions. Maharan’s loved their books and their knowledge, Bradyn was not a black sheep in that regard. He does hone in on her find, “And what is that? It not a book we house within this library.”


Raevyn startled with Bradyn's appearance. She did not exactly expect him to already be inside the library, and that was a mistake on her part. After all, he could come and go as he wished into any ofthe rooms, while she was stuck of a few open sections. "Mr. Mahara.." The girl offered the stoic mortician in return. A faint smile was exposed before she looked down to the concealed item in her hands when it was noticed. "It is... I don't know what it is, exactly. A journal? A spellbook? We found it... Celaeno and I. In a grave in Larket." Slowly and carefully, Raevyn unwrapped the book; A peculiar thing in itself. The book's binding and cover were made of a leathery, stitched material that has been assumed to be the flesh of some sort of human or elven person. perhaps multiple. There were a series of symbols from an unknown dialect burned into the cover itself. They were arranged in in three rows- Six, then seven, then three. For a more experienced practitioner or someone that studied ancient languages, they would recognize these symbols to be demonic language of the damned; One once used by the Dark Immortals from long ago. She handed the book out toward Bradyn then, for him to examine. "We want to know what its significance is. If there might be anything useful toward my.. situation. I am certain this once belonged to Nasada." When Bradyn opened the book, he would be greeted by aged pages made up of the same material as the cover, only thinner. Each page was inked in a faded, stained red- Something Raevyn has assumed was blood. Each page was comprised of both written text and strange, twisted pictures of a hellish nature. Of ghouls and morbid curiosities depicting summonings, tortures, and the truly grotesque. The written word was a mxture of symbols of many languages combined as one. Elven, common, draconic, demonic, ancient avian- Just about any sort of language that had been known to scholars had been in here. it was if the author wanted to make sure that it was hard to decipher for most whom may come across this unholy tome. It would be assumed that the things inside were a mxture of personalized thoughts, journal entries, and archaic spells.


“You don’t know if this is a journal or a spellbook,” Bradyn repeats in his usual flat tone, but there was a judging hint of disbelief. How could she not tell the difference between a journal and a spellbook? That was soon realized when Bradyn actually opens the book and begins to flip through the pages. Even though the Maharan has a thirst for knowledge and many books at his disposal, he has not lived enough years to master that many languages. His sixty five years have afforded him much knowledge but realistically there was only so much one could study and there Bradyn has taken the to devote most of his efforts to the dark arts. A few languages have been useful to learn, others are more rarely encountered. “And you will likely need numerous reference books to figure out what it is this book is communicating. Some of which you may not have access too. Some of these languages are very old.” And they way they were meshed together. “It could take you many months to sufficiently decode and translate this book in particular if that is your goal. Or even years, depending on how much time you dedicate to this project versus trying to find your answers from some other source.” If these answers could even be found.


Raevyn frowned. "Months?... Years?... Well. Do you have any inclination as to what it might be? Are you able to decipher anything? Or if not, do you know who might? I am specifically looking for anything that might indicate some sort of separation of souls." A sepration of souls. The girl had no other way to really word it, and it sounded just strange the more she thought about it. It was the only thing, in her mind, that made sense. There was an exasperated sigh pushed past those blackened lips, the girl's eyes dropping to the floor. A state of melancholy soon washed over her features as she tried to reflect over Bradyn's words. "Mister Mahara... is there anything of use that you can tell me? At all? I came to you because of your status with this library. Your status within the guild. Out of the instructors I have met that still sit with the guild, I figured you would be my best option. The one that I could maybe... trust to some degree." Truthfully, Raevyn wasn't exactly sure that he was trusthworthy. For all she knew, he could be another on of Larewen's spies used to keep track of he-. And yet, part of that youthful naievity chose to believe otherwise. The girl remained silent for for a passing moment; That is, until agitation set in. "I don't know of any other source. Of where to look. And the books that may have answers, I am not allowed to look at. Can you not find it in your heart to make some sort of exception? Or to at least help me find something that would be beneficial? I'm to the point of desperation. I will do anything."


Raevyn must not have knowledge of Vailkrin politics. House Mahara is not keen on House Dragana and Larewen knows precisely why. These details would continue to allude Raevyn, perhaps one day she would come to realize that he was no spy for that pathetic House.....That does not mean he is trustworthy though. Bare minimum the man respected his position within the Necromancer's Guild and her want for knowledge. He was Maharan. "Stay," he commands, like Raevyn were some sort of puppy to take commands. The book she found would be gently set on a nearby table as Bradyn walks away....and Raevyn was left to wait. He would certainly keep her waiting too, he is not gone a mere minute or two. Would Raevyn wait for Bradyn to return beyond five minutes? Ten minutes? It was definitely over ten minutes, maybe fifteen to twenty minutes. Would he even return? Bradyn did like the sort who would pull a maneuver like that, but at least Raevyn was surrounded by numerous books to keep her entertained? There would be plenty of time for her to stew before the wheels of a cart against a stone floor can be heard. Bradyn returns, bringing a cart of books. It's not full, but there is enough to warrant being lazy and not carrying them.


With some time to kill, Raevyn kept herself busy by flipping through the pages of the book that she had brought to Bradyn. She had expected the mortician to not be too long, but as the time passed, she grew a little anxious. What exactly was he up to? Where had he gone? Was this some sort of test? She stayed at least, keeping herself occupied with that damned book. Part of the girl wished Celaeno had been with her for this- Just so she could have someone to talk to. Someone to find comfort in. Bradyn made her a little uneasy, given his often stoic and stone cold personality. When the sound of wheel upon stone came rumbling into the common area, Raevyn looked up with a spirit of inquiry and closed the ghastly book she had been mulling over. A brow perked, Bradyn and his cart of books given a bit of speculation before she asked, "What... is this?" She had an idea that made her excited, but concealed that fact with a mimed look of confusion..


Bradyn could not identify every single language used in the book that Raevyn had found, there were only a few he knew for certain. Elven. Draconic. Demonic. Books regarding those three languages are removed from the cart first and put on the table before Raevyn first. "I know those three languages are used." The man motions to the remaining books on the cart next time. "You will have to determine the rest of the languages that are being used. And from there, you will have to decipher the book. If you are lucky, there is a pattern to the book and it can be decoded, making the translation go faster. If you are unlucky, these are the ramblings of someone fluent in numerous languages and there is no method to how the book was written. That will make your task much harder." Bradyn steps away from the cart, giving Raevyn ample room to study the rest of the books Bradyn has brought and possibly lament her task. It was not an easy one. "I am afraid that is really all the help I can offer you. I can give you the tools, you will have to unlock the secrets." Just like Bradyn would have to do clearly, were he to offer further assistance to Raevyn...but that is an awful lot of help to offer someone he has only met twice. He is, as noted, fairly cold.


Raevyn was surprised. Quite surprised. In all honesty, she did not expect Bradyn to go out of his way to find these books, and when he had returned with such a collection, she saw the moritician in a new light. "Wow..." she spit out after looking over the cart. "This... this is more helpful than most have been, lately. The information, the books- This is a great start. This is exactly the sort of thing I needed." The girl struggled quite hard not to go give the man a hug, and instead presented him with a big hearty smile. She wanted to cry! "Thank you so much, Mister Mahara. I can not put into words what this means to me." She did feel some sort of guilt however, and so she asked in turn, "Is there anything I can do to repay you? I know we have not met too many times, but I will do anything! I could clean the library. Or help prepare things for your necromancing classes. Do you like baked goods? I would be happy to make you something!" Raevyn tried her best to calm down, to not let the man think she was some sort of loon or child. "I just want to offer something in return so that you do not think I am simply trying to use you. I really am thankful for your help." her bright smile softened, an attempt to show sincerity. She then delved into the remaining books, looking for things that might seem of interest or beneficial to her study project.


No hugs. No tears. These things were not allowed in front of Bradyn. Well, I guess Bradyn could not stop these things from happenings but the man could silently judge a person that subjects him to this behavior. No hugs. No tears. No. And does he like baked goods? If Bradyn was not already an emotionless and pallid bastard, his expression would probably be deadpan and the color would fade from his skin. Baked goods. Gross. "Study," is all Bradyn will say to Raevyn, and then he would turn and make his exit. His path would lead him through the Black Library rather than up the stairs, into areas Raevyn can't follow. No insistence or persistence on the issue of baked goods.