eighty-first labyrinth

[lord_wizard]

[In some ways everything was back to the way it should be, and in others everything had changed. He'd lost so much - lovers, friends, focus, and, more than once, his own mind. But the most recent change had, to pardon the metaphor, spun everything around and thrown it into sharper focus. Chimera headquarters were back at the top of a tower again (albeit a different one), he come to some sort of reconciliation with Ashura (although not a complete one), and he'd been reminded once again of the cause he'd tried to rally himself to so early on (even if it was, most of the time, partly futile). Spirals be damned, he needed something to set his mind to. Reminding the rest of the castle he existed was a good start]

Residents, I'd like to speak to you all briefly about the subject of magic. I am sure many of you are aware that it's perhaps the most important factor in our lives here. It is in everything and controls everything. But it is difficult to predict or define, and therefore to many it is also therefore something to be ignored. It is easy to mistake mysterious for unknowable.

Let me offer you an analogy. Until telescopes were invented, it was impossible to really study the nature of the heavens beyond perhaps the empirical truth that the objects within them were real. In a similar vein, magic is a force which our minds cannot properly perceive. We simply lack the proper instruments. But without it we can still observe and study. And every world that has it learns to categorize the phenomena by reducing it to symbolism and metaphor.

The more we know, the more we have the chance to understand. Perhaps even to influence. And that is what I have attempted to do here in Paradisa. The council I refer to as Chimera is meant to dedicate itself to just that. But to do so I need to hear from more of you who know anything about it. Any of you who have encountered it or are skilled in it's use.

Unless of course you believe it does not exist at all, or can be explained by something more logical, I'd be happy to hear from you as well. [It will either result in an interesting discussion or an argument, either of which he's fine with.]

Either way, I can be found in the lobby, just outside the door to Satis Tower, or if you prefer to speak privately through the journal, my name is Felix Harrowgate.

[That done, Felix settles down in an armchair and waits]

Comments

(Dictated)

[tylendel]

We haven't spoken much about Magic, but I'm sure Van has informed you about how it works in our world? It is truly a gift, though it can seem like a curse when it is uncontrolled or misunderstood.

For that reason, I'm glad Chimera exists. (And he will do what he can to inform those who ask about his powers in particular.)

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

And hopefully it will continue to do so.

dictated;

[tylendel]

Is there some concern that it won't continue?

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

There is always the risk that, should I be returned home, that there will be less momentum to continue our work. My only hope is to document as much as I can and hope that someone will take up the mantle.

Dictated

[putuporshutup]

You know you can count me in.

[On top of the whole demon thing, Meg is actually a decent witch, too. She hasn't exactly been too eager to give that a spin since the one time that Cas tried it he got pretty banged up in no small way thanks to Paradisa itself, but she's still curious and certainly into the idea of helping out where Felix is concerned.]

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

Can I?

[Color him genuinely intrigued because the topic of magic hadn't come up before]

dictated;

[putuporshutup]

Guess we didn't chat much about magic while I was drowning my sorrows, but yeah. I'm not too shabby with any of that.

[Understatement. She rocks at it, but she'll be humble for now.]

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

Well I suppose that's another interest we share. Or should I call it a skill? [Not even going to bother dancing around that innuendo]

dictated;

[putuporshutup]

Call it whatever you want, but yeah, I'd say I'm pretty talented.

[Subtlety is clearly a strong point in this conversation.]

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

[He doesn't laugh, but he is grinning. But, diversion aside, he has a topic to pursue here, and magic still beats out Crowley's assets any day. It's a close thing, though.]

And magically, what sort of talents are we talking about?

dictated;

[putuporshutup]

Spells, incantations, that kind of thing. [Spoken so casually] And warding, but that's really only relevant to people from my world.

dictated;

[lord_wizard]

You'd be surprised what can translate between systems. And besides, if warding means what it does in my world, to secure or protect an area, person, or object, then you might also not want to discount the fact that whatever you might need to ward against could very well follow you here.

Action

[toobravehearted]

[Felix's announcement had been heard and attention paid to by him. Coming into the lobby from the outside he first stands still, hands in pockets and looking around the room, before spying Felix and making his way to another armchair.

Sitting down in the seat, the Doctor bounces up and down in it, squirming and wriggling to make it comfortable, and then favouring Felix with a smile.]

How goes the shouting?

forever

[lord_wizard]

[Felix smirks at the Doctor, folding his hands in his lap]

I am pacing myself.

[toobravehearted]

[He smiles back, amiable as ever.] Good. Have you had many bites this time around? For how many magic users we have here that I know of alone...

[lord_wizard]

Not many, unfortunately, but I suppose I made the gamble in leading with academia.

[toobravehearted]

That's a shame. It caught my attention. {As if it wouldn't?] You've basically invoked Clarke's Law.

[lord_wizard]

And what is that?

[toobravehearted]

That any sufficiently advanced form of technology is indistinguishable from magic, the reverse also being true. Are you on the lookout to recruit new members to Chimera?

[sworn]

How many are there on this "council" of yours?

[lord_wizard]

Currently? About seven, including myself. It's difficult to keep an accurate count.

[sworn]

And how does your council study magic? Through books? Discussion? [Dissection? She's wary.]

[lord_wizard]

Both of those, yes, as well as what we can learn from others and each other through observation, practice, and occasionally, experimentation.

[sworn]

[Yep, you just lost her.]

Experimentation sounds rather dangerous, does it not? I trust you will not be experimenting on magic users.

[lord_wizard]

[Part of him is a little offended by the implication, but another part of him understands the suspicion.]

It can be dangerous, but precautions are always taken - our headquarters are warded to prevent any accidents from effecting the rest of the castle. Most of us are more apt to experiment on ourselves, and we would never use magic on each other without consent. Most of what we do is attempting to see in what ways our different magics are compatible.