RP:The Push

Summary: The changeling Quintessa gives Iintahquohae the encouragement and push toward the path of joining the Mage's Guild. She is also given a name as her journals warned her she should listen for, but whose significance she does not fully understand.

Part of the Weave Your Own Fate Arc

Frostmaw Tavern

“You learn an important name today if you listen. Take heed to the changeling's words. Write to him.”

Quintessa said, "Guys, there's a Lionel statue upstairs."

Iintahquohae said, "Who's Lionel?"

Quintessa said to you, "Some guy who killed a bunch of vampires a long time ago with a flaming sword. He lost the sword though."

Iintahquohae said to Quintessa, "Ah. You would think I would know more about that. Someone didn't brush me up on likely important vampiric history, however."

Quintessa said to you, "Really? Well, I can't say I'm surprised- history was never Kasyr's strong suit despite the fact he witnessed that battle." The changeling sighs, "I suppose I could regale you with the tale sometime." You said OOC, "There was that weird avian character that threw beehives at her enemies years ago..."

Iintahquohae shrugs. "I suppose it could be useful. I enjoy reading about history from time to time. Magic related things nowadays." Her reading time has been severely limited due to her erratic sleep schedule. She takes a drink from her mug - concoction of blood and coffee she's grown accustomed to- then adds, "I'm rubbish at it. Finest seamstress in all of Lithrydel, but can hardly create a spark now if I tried." She recalled tossing tiny fireballs during one of the wars in this area, but that was for lighting explosives that did the actual damage. "It's frustrating."

Quintessa pulls a chair up to Iintahquohae's table and listens to her speak about her dwindling arcane abilities. "That's troubling," the young mage says, unsure what the problem could be. "You're not the first vampire who's experienced a sort of... disconnect from their magical prowess. It's something that's been a subject of my studies since I was an apprentice." Quintessa brings draws a small notebook from her satchel and holds a charcoal pencil above the sheet of paper. "Tell me, when did you first notice that your powers were fading?"

Iintahquohae prefers keeping her distance from others as of late, due to her random pangs of hunger. Thankfully, she had the mug of the gross drink she could chug from in front of her, and the wilderness of Frostmaw for her and Pinquettki to scavenge should the hunger become unbearable. Also, this was the heir to House Dragana, likely a vampire like herself. Iintahquohaej became a vassal of House Azakhaer while being a human, however, so the possibility of the changeling being vampire, human, or elf could be possible. She had no real sense of how to tell. Another thing Kasyr did not educate her on. Vampire or not, this woman was in her mind de-facto ruler of Vailkrin with Lady Larewen gone, so it didn't particularly matter what she was to the seamstress. Noting her notebook and pencil, she begins explaining. “I tried my hand at magic after Kasyr sired me.” she begins. “Daath of House D'Artes took me under his wing. I learned to manipulate fire and water with minor success before setting my arm on fire,” her dull eyes focus down to the contents of her mug while she says this, and her tone goes flat. She didn't like to admit failure. “ I understand how to do it in theory, from reading. In practice, it doesn't work. For example,” she extends her hand after removing the leather glove covering it, and demonstrates the tiny spark of flame she can produce while snapping her fingers. It's barely there. “I often wonder if my abilities are more suitable in subtle ways. Creating things is in my nature, so perhaps...imbuing items with magic would be where I could find my strength.”

Quintessa takes note of the things Inks told her, making sure specifically to mention Magister Daath in her assessment. "Ah, I see. I too studied under Daath briefly. He still finds the time to scold me in his busy schedule..." The hex blade's mismatched eyes flicker up at the seamstresses display of magic, narrowing slightly at the way her spell appears muted by unknown abnormality within the weave. "Interesting..." Quintessa scribbles something else down quickly. "I would wager you are correct. While someone of your... unique abilities could no doubt practice how to dip into your reserves of mana and slowly build up the 'muscle' to cast spells at Daath's level, but that could take hundreds of years." The tip of the pencil gently rests against the odd girl's bottom lip as she pauses writing. "...Yes, your magic might would better on a material level... I won't know until I witness this talent, however. We teach 'Item Enchanting 101' as part of the spell blade curriculum at the Mage's Tower in Xalious if you ever want to attend a class. They occasionally let me lecture the apprentices and I'd love it if you came."

Iintahquohae lets her eyes roll while she recalls Daath's scolding. “It was more entertaining exchanging books with him than actually learning from him after a while.” She coughs a bit, clearing her throat this time instead of coughing up more gunk thankfully, while watching the changeling notate whatever observations she made. “I have been curious about the Mage's Guild, actually. Partially to help me attempt strengthening my abilities and partially to distract myself from what is wrong with me.” Another admission she is not proud of. The seamstress up until this point has had only one fear. Snakes. A few years ago she woke up with one tattooed just behind her ear, of all places, and she has been gradually getting worse with this illness since then. “Perhaps I'll have to stop by when I have the time. Oh-” recalling another example of her magical 'skill', or lack thereof, the seamstress pulls from her jacket pocket one of her most prized sewing tools. A spool of strange, mercurial thread. She gingerly sets it upon the table for the other woman to see. “I also managed to spin this....thread. From a rock Kasyr tossed to me, and used it to patch up a hole in Vailkrin's sky.” What she still wasn't aware of is that the rock was a tangible chunk of time the former revenant had given her, and the potential significance of her ability to manipulate it with minimal effort, being carried no less, if she recalls. She pockets the spool afterward. “Perhaps whatever gifts I have also are in simply manipulating items into different forms? I'm certainly not strong enough to thin out rocks, but I was able to do it.”

Quintessa turns to a new page writing something else down as it comes to mind. "I'm going to refer you to someone else in my field. His name is Odhranos Kerrigan and his office number is on this strip of paper." She tear the page out and holds it for the Cenril vampire to take. "He's working on a thesis and I think you would be a perfect candidate to participate in an interview. He's far more educated on the subject of hereditary magic than I am and you might find the answers you are looking for with him." The changeling pauses and her eyes lock onto the strange spool of thread on the table. "What in all the realms is -this-?" The corners of her mouth twist up in delight. This was a fantastic discovery! "I wish I had more time to look at this but I've already gotten far more distracted than I meant to- You will certainly have to show this to me again sometime!" Quintessa smiles as she closes her book and stands. "I really must get going though," The tone in the teenager's voice hints that she doesn't really want to leave. "A pleasure, as always, Miss Oohjmaeyik." And like that Quintessa was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the outside world.