Tadchaen-a-Tad

[inafadingcrown]

[ooc: Forward dated to tomorrow morning/afternoon]

[The Five: The Knight, The Dragon, The Bard, The Wizard, and the Princess] [I.E. the people mentioned here]

My Lords. My Lady. [Nevermind the unlikelihood of a wizard, a bard, or a dragon being a lord. Better overshoot the titles than undershoot them.]

Your titles were discovered in a book, itself found under strange circumstances, that told of the history of the castles of Cair Paradisa, Libet, and the surrounding areas. If it would not trouble you overmuch, I would have word with you on the subject.

[Action for the library]

[She really should have given up on finding anything useful in this library by now. But, as they say, hope springs eternal.

So once again, you may find Galadriel searching through the stacks. Books on Paradisa or the the Five mentioned above would be lovely, but she’s aware that she’s unlikely to find them. No, most of the books in her pile are… not the sort that you would expect the Lady of Light to be reading. Dark Magic. Specifically, the type of magic fueled by human souls and emotions. If your world has such magic, you may well notice a familiar text among the titles.

Know thy enemy and so forth.

Still, this sort of thing isn’t pleasant and she’s not altogether certain that she wants others reading her thoughts on the subject, so she’s fallen back into the old habit of taking notes in Quenya using the Tengwar script.

Of course, every so often she stops and sets the books aside. The subject matter is disturbing and she finds that she can’t delve too deeply for too long. Approach? Question her about her motives? Ask about the strange writing? All of the above?]

Comments

[wilder]

[he nods and he's thoughtful for a pause. Weighing risks]

Anyone ever tell you about Exspheres or Cruxis Crystals?

[inafadingcrown]

[Another little frown and a furrowing of her brow.] Martel has told me of them, but I know nothing of their workings.

[wilder]

She might not know either and I don't know how much text is written on their true makings.

They were crafted first by the dwarves during the ancient war - Martel's time. After that the Desians, a subgroup of half-elves under Cruxis, made ranches so they could manufacture more Exspheres.

Human ranches. You see to make one, an incomplete Exsphere is attached to a person and it feeds off their life energy. When they die, the Exsphere is complete and the soul of the person is stuck in the Exsphere until the thing is destroyed or it gets devoured by the crystal.

[inafadingcrown]

[She grows quiet for a moment, both thoughtful and solemn.]

And their intended purpose? [She has some ideas from what Martel's told her. But she'd rather have this spelled out plainly.]

[wilder]

Power, of course. Exspheres can enhance a person's natural ability if it's equipped properly or power machinery. People in the declining world don't have a chance against the Desians unless they get their hands on Exspheres themselves.

[And sadly there's more. But he mostly wants to set the foundation of why this is horrific first before getting to his point. ]

[inafadingcrown]

[Of course, it's horrific. The very principle of the thing is horrific. Consider the foundation set.]

I see...

[wilder]

Cruxis Crystals are evolved forms of Exspheres. They grant their users even more power. But unlike an Exsphere, you can't equip a completed one and use it right away. If someone want to use it, there's long process that synchronizes them with their crystal and alters their bodies. That's trigger by negative emotions since those are stronger than positive ones: fear, suffering....

Even once the process, or transformation, is done- the crystal will still react on the person's emotions....if they still have any.

If anything...I'd imagine the castle works much like a Cruxis Crystal or Exsphere, but on a larger scale. But you won't find any books on those.

[inafadingcrown]

[Wow. Just when she thought it couldn't get any more disgusting.]

I suppose it would be too much to hope that you know some manner of halting the process.

[wilder]

[he shakes his head]

Afraid not. Keycrests can stop the worst of the effects, but nothing to stop it entirely.

[He wouldn't be still wearing his if he did :| ]

[inafadingcrown]

Might the principles behind these "keycrests" be applied to the castle at large? [Basically, is it worth her time questioning you on how they work?]

[wilder]

Maybe? But I rather know more about the castle itself before we even consider that.

[Too many things could go wrong. Too many innocent lives potentially at stake. ]

[inafadingcrown]

Of course. As I have said, I am thinking of possibilities, nothing more.

[She leans back in her chair and sets her gaze upon Zelos.]

It is plain, from what you have said, that this knowledge is kept secret. May I ask how you came to know of it?

[wilder]

Me?

[There's...a lot of ways he could answer that question. That he went on a journey with Lloyd? That he's the Chosen? That he used to work for Cruxis? All three gave him bits and pieces of the information.]

[But that seems like a lot of talking, so he'll snort a little before grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling down enough to reveal the red crystal underneath, embedded into his skin with the gold keycrest around it and also embedded. ]

[He'll look at Galadriel with a forced smile and raised eyebrows that seems to read 'take a wiiild guess'. Really lady, he's curious to know where your guesses will land. ]

[inafadingcrown]

[Oh, Zelos. She can think of any number of possible scenarios, ranging from him being entirely blameless to the opposite end of the spectrum. She's inclined to believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle. She's silent for a good long while, first trying in vein to read his face and then attempting to formulate a suitable reply.

Regardless of how he came to be as he is, it seems to her that this conversation has turned...deeply personal. So no, she won't do him the disservice of guessing aloud, as though this were some morbid game she might win. Instead, she drops her gaze and softens her voice.]

I will ask no further, then. Forgive me. I feel as though I have intruded where I have no right.

[wilder]

[he shrugs at her reaction and lets go of his shirt collar, allowing it to cover his crystal up again. His tone is light when he speaks. ]

It's a fair question, don't worry about it.

[inafadingcrown]

As you say. [Stop with the deceptively casual tone, will you?]

[wilder]

[ Nope never. It comes from years of no one letting him show sadness because no one wants to see a depressed sacrificial goat. ]

I saw some of the bodies of Libet. Their positions...there was no sign of an outside force killing them.

Like Cruxis Crystals, I'd imagine part of us is somehow connected to the castle. That's why we hear the castle calling us back in the Dead Zone and why we don't age. The people of Libet died when the castle died...it'd be best to see if we can find survivors. [See if there was anyone who found a way to severe that connection or survived past their own castle, pretty much]

[inafadingcrown]

[She folds her hand in front of her. The thought had occurred to her, but it's still unsettling.]

Another reason I would know more about the methods of the castle. As much as I would take pleasure in denying the castle power, it would be careless to do so without full knowledge of the nature of our connection to it.

[wilder]

[He nods]

Of course.

If we do manage to beat this place, what do you think should be done?

[inafadingcrown]

Ideally, each would have the ability to choose for themselves whether to stay or go. I would like to see some manner of communication left open between us.

But if that is not possible, as I fear it is not... I would have each return to their own worlds. Do not think me without compassion; I do feel for those who know they return only to their deaths or worse. But we all of us have a part to play, whether it be pleasant or no.

[wilder]

[Actually Galadriel? That's kinda the right answer for Zelos. Sure, he doesn't like the idea of fate, but whatever]

I don't think you're without compassion. As much as I've liked meeting some, the dead should left to rest.

[inafadingcrown]

[Her thoughts about fate are complicated. That happens when you see the future (and futures that could be) on a regular basis.]

Then we are in agreement.

[wilder]

Heh heh. Two out of two hundred and whatever number is out in the Dead Zone. I almost dread the discussions figuring this place out will bring.

[inafadingcrown]

[Man, things are so much easier when people just accept what you say. :( She misses Lórien. SIGH]

It will be something to see, that is certain.

[wilder]

That it will be.

[Let's hope it doesn't end up in some horrendous war :\ ]

But ah, I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. We already have so far to go as it is~!