Nero and Tobi Conversation

[21:34] <Kafei> (Nero) "Original." Yes, I suppose you could say that.
[21:36] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Sorry if the term offends.
[21:36] <Soloxius> (Tobi) I mean no offense by it.
[21:36] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Simply a term to refer to those who came before the... well. Newer generation of gria, I guess?
[21:37] <Soloxius> (Tobi) As I said, I think I have an aunt who's one. Dad mentioned the name Lyxis a couple of times. Haven't seen her in years, if ever.
[21:37] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Hope to meet her some day.
[21:38] <Soloxius> As they walk, he observes the surrounding townsfolk passing by.
[21:38] <Kafei> Most of them give you a pretty wide berth- it seems they don't want anything to do with Nero.
[21:38] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <What sad lives they lead.>
[21:39] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <Gria are fascinating people, when you get to know them.>
[21:40] <Kafei> (Nero) <I'm curious. You don't seem to use arcane magic. Why is that?>
[21:40] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <Dad never taught me much beyond the basics. Said I wasn't... ready, or whatever.>
[21:40] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <Probably because I divided my time between magic study and physical training.>
[21:41] <Soloxius> He holds up an arm and flexes his bicep. It's comparatively toned.
[21:41] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <It's been my experience that most mages can't take a punch to save their lives, which it often comes down to.>
[21:41] <Kafei> (Nero) <But you wish to learn...?>
[21:41] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <Absolutely.>
[21:42] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <I wish to learn about everything I can. Arcane magic, elemental magic, the underlying natures and principles of etherium... I had an idea about combining the classic elements into new ones, but... that idea hasn't gotten off the ground yet.>
[21:43] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <That, and, well, power.>
[21:43] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <People are afraid of arcane mages because they're more powerful, at least in my opinion.>
[21:44] <Kafei> \<>\ You arrive on the scene of the destroyed buildings. Nero crosses his arms, surveying the area. /<>/
[21:45] <Soloxius> Tobi walks straight ahead, towards the nearest house, and casually steps through the doorway. (assuming the door isn't present)
[21:47] <Kafei> (It isn't.)
[21:47] <Kafei> (Nero) <That's true. People fear power.>
[21:47] <Kafei> He follows you through the door frame.
[21:48] <Kafei> (Nero) <People like the mayor of this city.>
[21:48] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <And I can understand why! Goddess knows I'm not yet at the point of... well, sacrificing those closest to me.>
[21:48] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <But people on the fringe are fair game, probably.>
[21:49] <Soloxius> Tobi groans and pulls out a sliver of chalk, drawing out a trio of circles on the ground in his usual style, runes and all.
[21:49] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Don't even get me started on that prick.
[21:49] <Soloxius> (Tobi) How was I to know..
[21:49] <Soloxius> He waves one hand around.
[21:50] <Soloxius> (Tobi) "Oooh the Shimata are a powerful clan that hearkens back to the olden days, and they haaaaaate the Cirstyx because" pthhpthhpthh stupid shit.
[21:50] <Kafei> (Nero) Why did you kill my creature, anyway? Not that I mind, honestly. Just curious.
[21:51] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Admittedly, it's nice to have a mayor and a Shimata in my pocket, now, but the drama about it was unneeded and unwanted.
[21:51] <Soloxius> He looks up as he draws another small rune on the circle he's sitting in.
[21:51] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Hm? Oh. Well, I mean...
[21:52] <Soloxius> (Tobi) If it keeps killing townsfolk, that's just a waste of resources, innit?
[21:53] <Kafei> He smirks, raising an eyebrow.
[21:53] <Kafei> (Nero) "Resources?"
[21:53] <Soloxius> (Tobi) The monster's proven itself as a resilient foe, and the townsfolk, already suffering from whatever illness is going around- by the way, is that your doing? -can't even do something to fight back. No creativity allowed when you're dying, apparently.
[21:53] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Amateurs.
[21:54] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Yep! I can't say I fully understand all the mechanics of arcane magic yet, but a lot of it I've heard and seen of seems to be taking from others to use for yourself.
[21:54] <Soloxius> (Tobi) If there's no one to take from-
[21:54] <Kafei> (Nero) Hm. You
[21:54] <Kafei> (Er)
[21:54] <Soloxius> He finishes the third circle, larger than the other two, with more runes.
[21:55] <Soloxius> (Tobi) -then how are you gonna do anything?
[21:55] <Kafei> (Nero) Hm. You're smarter than you let on.
[21:55] <Soloxius> Tobi stops and gives Nero a flat look.
[21:55] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...I'm going to take that as the backhanded compliment that it is.
[21:56] <Soloxius> (Tobi) It's all part of a carefully crafted persona.
[21:56] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Play a little more dumb, occasionally nerd out about magical science, but mostly "Oh man look at me I'm the magic fighter monk guy! I'm amazing! Don't think about me too hard!"
[21:57] <Soloxius> He waggles his eyebrows.
[21:57] <Soloxius> (Tobi) "Young ladies and gents, come see me after the show, we'll have a grand ol' time."
[21:58] <Kafei> (Nero) Mm.
[21:59] <Kafei> (Nero) It seems to be effective.
[21:59] <Soloxius> He pulls out the chunk from the voidsent, and carefully sets it in the center of the larger runecircle.
[21:59] <Soloxius> (Tobi) So far. Let's hope my luck continues to pace with my cunning.
[22:00] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Anyway, this is it. Your voidsent dissolved into this whenever we killed it.
[22:00] <Kafei> (Nero) So it did work, then. Fascinating.
[22:00] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Oh. So you expected this, then? Take the wind right outta my sails, why don't you, heh.
[22:01] <Kafei> (Nero) Not exactly- my previous specimen did not produce the same result.
[22:01] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Oh? Previous... oh!
[22:01] <Soloxius> Tobi grins sheepishly.
[22:01] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Was your last one a, uh.. peiste?
[22:01] <Kafei> (Nero) What you hold in your hand there... it's the future.
[22:02] <Kafei> He nods.
[22:02] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Well, I guess I owe you an apology, then, for ruining your last experiment. We killed a voidsent peiste a week or so ago.
[22:03] <Soloxius> He reaches out from his circle and gently touches the rock.
[22:03] <Soloxius> (Tobi) The future, huh...?
[22:05] <Kafei> (Nero) Nethicite. In other words, a chunk of solidified negative energy: a chunk of the void itself.
[22:06] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...goddess.
[22:07] <Soloxius> A huge grins splits his face.
[22:07] <Soloxius> (Tobi) That's so cool.
[22:07] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...what do you do with it?
[22:07] <Soloxius> He pokes at it again.
[22:13] <Kafei> (sorry, lol)
[22:16] <Soloxius> (not a problem, as i said, splitting your attention as a DM is hard!)
[22:23] <Kafei> (Nero) It might be the first step to using arcane magic without drawbacks.
[22:26] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...
[22:26] <Soloxius> Tobi turns to look at Nero fully.
[22:26] <Soloxius> (Tobi) That's...
[22:26] <Soloxius> (Tobi) That's incredible.
[22:26] <Kafei> Nero grins.
[22:26] <Soloxius> (Tobi) No more crystallizing corruption?
[22:27] <Soloxius> (Tobi) No more insane people gutting others in the streets due to madness?
[22:27] <Kafei> (Nero) Not for the caster, anyway. You saw what happened to that creature.
[22:27] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Well yeah, but who really cares about a beast like that?
[22:27] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...insofar as affection for the creature itself, I mean.
[22:29] <Kafei> (Nero) A mere beast of burden.
[22:29] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Exactly.
[22:29] <Kafei> (Nero) You should be proud, it was your father whose hard work over the past twenty years made this possible.
[22:29] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...r-really?
[22:30] <Soloxius> Tobi looks at the rock again.
[22:30] <Soloxius> He frowns.
[22:30] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Getting shown up by the old man again and again.
[22:30] <Soloxius> (Tobi) How do you make it?
[22:31] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Like, I'd imagine you somehow open a gate to the Void within a creature and let it... mature over time, to create this rock. Like aging a fine wine, or something.
[22:31] <Soloxius> (Tobi) But what'd be the catalyst to form an actual substance...
[22:32] <Kafei> (Nero) Got you thinking, have I?
[22:32] <Kafei> He grins.
[22:33] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Indeed.
[22:34] <Soloxius> (Tobi) It's a fascinating topic, to be sure.
[22:34] <Soloxius> He looks up.
[22:34] <Soloxius> (Tobi) An etherium?
[22:34] <Soloxius> (Tobi) ...or a person, or..
[22:35] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Like, I'd imagine there's only so many negative emotions a mere beast can experience, and that's what the Void is all about.
[22:35] <Kafei> (Nero) You really are a smart one.
[22:36] <Kafei> (Nero) Would you mind terribly if I take that chunk of nethicite from you?
[22:37] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Not particularly. You have been very helpful. That said...
[22:37] <Soloxius> Tobi looks at him with lazy eyes.
[22:37] <Soloxius> A small smile creeps up the side of his face.
[22:37] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Would you be amenable to an actual trade?
[22:37] <Kafei> Nero crosses his arms, his curiosity piqued.
[22:38] <Kafei> (Nero) What sort of trade?
[22:38] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Are there any other arcane spells you know that you could teach me? I have a few things I haven't shared you might be interested in.
[22:39] <Kafei> (Nero) Hmm...
[22:40] <Kafei> (Nero) What do you wish to learn?
[22:40] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Attacks, wards, the sort of things an adventurer might find useful. Failing that, ways to look at something and know more about it, as a reasearcher.
[22:45] <Kafei> (Nero) I might be able to help you, but I'm afraid I don't have the time right now.
[22:46] <Kafei> (Nero) If you would grant me the nethicite, I will grant you a linkpearl with which you may contact me.
[22:46] <Soloxius> (Tobi) With the implication that you will teach me another time?
[22:47] <Soloxius> He smiles.
[22:47] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Don't want any loose ends in this verbal contract.
[22:47] <Kafei> Nero returns the smile.
[22:47] <Kafei> (Nero) If you wish.
[22:47] <Soloxius> (Tobi) That would be splendid.
[22:47] <Soloxius> Tobi looks down at the nethicite in his hands.
[22:48] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Ah, just one question:
[22:48] <Kafei> (Nero) ...Yes?
[22:48] <Soloxius> (Tobi) I have an ability... to touch people and read their recent memories or surface thoughts. And another to ignite myself to empower my attacks. Do you... know anything about stuff like that?
[22:49] <Soloxius> (while he asks, he sighs quietly and briefly pokes the nethicite with Touch Telepathy to see if anything happens)
[22:50] <Kafei> (Nothing happens, sadly)
[22:50] <Soloxius> (le sad)
[22:51] <Kafei> (Nero) Do you? So... you've some arcane potential after all.
[22:51] <Soloxius> He holds out the nethicite to Nero while he nods.
[22:51] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Is that... normal, then?
[22:51] <Kafei> (Nero) No, it is not. It's a rare gift...
[22:51] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Huh.
[22:51] <Soloxius> (Tobi) I.. see.
[22:51] <Kafei> (Nero) Very curious indeed.
[22:52] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Hm.
[22:52] <Kafei> Nero pauses for a moment, then takes the nethicite from Tobi.
[22:53] <Soloxius> (Tobi) An agreeable trade.
[22:53] <Soloxius> (Tobi) I look forward to working with you in the future, for the betterment of ourselves and other arcane mages, perhaps.
[22:53] <Kafei> He produces a linkpearl from his robe, a black one.
[22:54] <Kafei> He tosses it to Tobi with a wry smile.
[22:54] <Soloxius> Tobi catches it and immediately begins studying it closely to see if there's anything harmful on it.
[22:54] <Soloxius> (aka spellcraft)
[22:54] <Kafei> (Nero) I must return now. I have experiments to run with this new specimen...
[22:54] <Kafei> (Nah, nothing.)
[22:54] <Soloxius> (phew)
[22:55] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Yeah. I'm... I think I need a little bit.
[22:55] <Soloxius> (Tobi) This is, uh.
[22:55] <Soloxius> (Tobi) World-shattering, y'know?
[22:55] <Soloxius> (Tobi) The opportunity to learn.
[22:56] <Soloxius> (Tobi) And make the world a better place, after a fashion.
[22:56] <Kafei> (Nero) Perhaps the next time we meet, you'll be ready to produce the netherium.
[22:57] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Perhaps.
[22:57] <Kafei> (Nero) ...So you do have it, then.
[22:57] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Huh?
[22:57] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Oh.
[22:57] <Soloxius> (Tobi) I thought you meant the nethicite chunk.
[22:57] <Soloxius> (Tobi) Sorry, out of sorts.
[22:58] <Soloxius> (Tobi) What's a netherium?
[22:58] <Kafei> He shakes his head, grinning.
[22:58] <Kafei> (Nero) <Don't die any time soon, Tobi.>
[22:58] <Kafei> With that, he turns and walks away.
[22:59] <Soloxius> Tobi looks at the black linkpearl in his hands, and sighs.
[22:59] <Soloxius> (Tobi) <Won't die before you, Nero.>
[22:59] <Soloxius> He reaches into his pack and pulls out his Team C linkpearl, thumbing it gently.
[22:59] <Soloxius> (Tobi) (-> Team C) Nero's on his way back. Better get out of there.
[23:03] <Soloxius> ...wait a minute
[23:04] <Soloxius> is the disease like... the starting point of getting someone ready to be put into a voidsent?
[23:04] <Soloxius> hmm.
[23:04] <Kafei> IT IS A GIANT ENIGMA WRAPPED IN A MYSTERY STUFFED INSIDE A CONUNDRUM!
[23:04] <Soloxius> aw
[23:05] <Soloxius> just thought it'd be neat for tobi to come to that conclusion
[23:05] <Soloxius> and it turn out to be right
[23:06] <Soloxius> did i properly convey, at the end there, just how worn out mentally tobi feels after this many reveals?
[23:06] <Soloxius> that wasn't any sort of coyness on his part, slipping up with the netherium, he just genuinely thought Nero meant some other kind of nethicite
[23:06] <Soloxius> kinda wrapped up in his own thoughts
[23:08] <Kafei> Haha, no problem.
[23:08] <Kafei> It won't count against you.
[23:11] <Soloxius> :P