paradisa | 3 // Banchiere

Entry tags:

giovanni auditore

3 // Banchiere

[Written]

[It was a question he had carried for a while and researching it’s solution in the library had not provided many answers, so… might as well take Connor’s suggestion.]

Are there any among you here who would be willing and able to answer some questions about the Insolitus? I have seen something of the place but have not yet attempted to explore its many twists and turns. Are there any left here who have?

I can not help but wonder if the source of the castle’s power might not be hidden in there. Do you remember the sleepwalking episode? All of those affected by that curse were drawn to that place and compelled to protect it, there must be more there?

If you have any information on this, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem, I would be very grateful to learn it.

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As far as I know, there's a maze inside it. And a friend told me there's a room deep inside it.

There was a small room right before the maze. What did your friend tell you about the maze and the room they found? Was there anything unusual there?

According to what she told me, this room was deep in the maze itself, and they had found some things there when they went in.

I think she also said someone had once lived there.

Some one actually lived in the maze? Do you remember if she said whether it was some one who had been brought to the castle or some one from this world originally?

Ummm... I think it was someone who had been brought to the Castle.

[ A pause. ]

She told me this a while ago, so I might not be remembering things correctly...

[ She falls silent as she thinks for a moment. ]

Oh yeah! She had said there was a map to the room! But who had it?

I have been told maps of the maze could be unreliable, but if there is one it would be a good place to start. If you are able to remember who had a copy of this map would you let me know who it is?

It was a pretty name...

[ Oh, that narrows it down, Sheena. ]

You know, I think we might have been talking over the journal, so it might be in here.

[ He'll start hearing pages flipping. ]

This may take a while. [ A pause. ] And yeah, I've heard stories about the maps not always being accurate, since this place moves things the way it wants--like some crazy decorator.

I understand memories in this place can be fuzzy. Take as long as you need.

[More of the castle and it's odd tricks. ]

One would think at least the architecture of the place might remain the same but if even that can move...

Thanks.

[She pauses.]

Yeah. You know, it never occurred to me that the castle may not be able to do more than that--until it changed its appearance completely.

[Another pause.]

Did you know it can heal itself?

[Felix has his own long-standing fascination with the Insolitus, so naturally he feels compels to answer, even if he feels uncertain if he'll have the answers this person is looking for. Or maybe they have some ideas he hasn't thought of yet]

What would you like to know?

What ever has already been discovered about it.

[In other words, everything. That was vague though so...]

Has anything ever come out of it, like a creature with powers or a monster? How deeply has it been explored and... it might be too much to hope for, is there a map of it?

I doubt a map would ever do you much good. People have made attempts at doing so, in order to find particular locations, and those same maps have later proved unreliable. I suspect it rearranges itself to prevent that.

As far what lies inside, there have been creatures encountered inside, but I've never heard of them entering the castle proper.

I did make a small report in regards to the Insolitus last year.

[He writes a page number]

[And here he had expected there to be a lack of information on the subject or maybe to be told the maze inside was too difficult to navigate but this was such a wealth of information!
Giovanni does go silent for a long while, taking the time to at least glance over what was just presented before speaking again.]

You still have this key? Did you ever try to use it on one of the doors?

[Felix understands and waits patiently.]

I do, and I haven't. There's no telling what I could...let out. When it's something that can effect the entire castle, it's not a move I want to make lightly.

Unfortunately there may not be any other way to know what the key would lead to. There are not many scholars who can tell you about the castle. You might consider at least taking it to the room, if you can find your way back there, to see which of the doors it fits into.

Would it be possible for me to see this key sometime? I have done some work with cryptograms and decoding hidden messages.

[Part of the problem is simply that he's afraid. He made the one trip into the maze because he'd had Mildmay at his side and now...and now he didn't have that.]

I suppose that could be arranged, though I'd prefer it remain in my possession. I saw nothing out of ordinary about the key itself, but I admit most of my investigations were thaumaturical in nature.

I hadn't thought of stealing it from you.

[Giovanni's words were friendly, his ability to do just that hidden behind the smile. There was no reason to use those pickpocketing skills of his. They were all in this searching for answers together after all. ]

We could meet some where after I have had the chance to better look over these notes of yours?

I'd quite like that. Another viewpoint is hardly ever a bad thing.

Some time this week then? We could meet at the Lux unless you would prefer a place more quiet for such a meeting.

[Of course tomorrow will come and he will forget they arranged this meeting but they can do it later after both come back to their senses. ]

[Once he recovers from the shock, undoubtedly]

I see no objection to your suggestion. Messire...?

Giovanni Auditore. And you signore? I have not heard your name.

Felix Harrowgate. And a pleasure to make your acquaintance. It's reassuring to meet someone else who shares my suspicions of the Insolitus.

It is difficult not to be suspicious of the place given that first experience with it. The sleepwalkers were drawn to the place after all.

There is really no one else who questions the Insolitus?

Not as deeply as I do, perhaps. Labyrinths and I have...a history. It was somewhat diffcult not to be suspicious.

It is unique to speak to one with a history with labyrinths. There are really not that many around where I come from.

But there are some? What do you know about them?

They are amusements. The ones in Italia are usually set up for festivals or are cut hedges used to decorate lawns.

There are stories of labyrinths from ancient myth however that were used to house monsters, one in particular held a minotaur.

I suspect the ones you are used to are more like the second option?

Yes, although that isn't to say we didn't have the former as well. Mazes are part of the Trials celebrations in the Lower City. It has something to do with Heth-Eskaladan's decent into hell and subsequent resurrection, but my recollection of the lore is faint at this point.

However, the labyrinths I have encounter were of various sources, though it's true that even we have stories about monsters that lurked within them. I found no such monsters personally, but the mazes themselves...[Klepsydra isn't something he tries to relive in his mind too often.]. A few ancient civilizations were known to worship a particular death goddess with mazes. They also seemed to be fond of traps. Additionally, I stumbled onto the writings of a philosopher who posited that the purpose of a labyrinth was to channel energy - the way one might channel and collect water, for instance. Energy such as magic, for instance.

I have never been one to believe very strongly in magic...

[Or at least he hadn't been up until now.]

But, there maybe some merit to that. The maze in this castle does seem to be the focus of a great many odd things. With all of your experience with mazes do you know of any way to test for that?

I wish I could say for certain. I did attempt a ritual in there once...[He was not thinking very clearly at the time and the result had not improved that fact. He isn't going to mention the side effects in detail, however.]...the result was not favorable. Though I could take that to mean I was either very far off the mark or far too close for the castle's comfort.

I would think the castle more likely to strike at you if you were close to discovering something. Unless, the maze just naturally reflects acts of magic back towards the caster? Have other spells been tried there?

Not that I am aware, though I am aware of other spells undertaken by other people that were intended to help them go back to their own world...not in the Insolitus itself, mind you...but there was a backlash all the same.

The castle would not wish to see it's guests leave before it was ready to allow it. This too makes a kind of sense.

As much as it can, as I often despair.

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3 // Banchiere

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