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WELCOME
Good morning.
Or perhaps it might be more appropriate to say good evening instead, considering how it is moonlight that will rouse you into consciousness. And what a bright moon it is, half-full and clear without contest in the sky as it outshines the stars and galaxies in the backdrop. But it’s all the better to emphasize that the buildings that speckle the landscape before you are all completely devoid of any light. And by the way—do you always sleep outside?
The lack of light can be something to deal with later though, at least when you've properly gotten up from the cold, unyielding stone below you. And that chill down your spine—no doubt that probably has something to do with combination of cool temperatures and poor sleeping conditions, but it’s odd how it seems to linger.
Checking your person for any items that should be in your possession yields disappointing results, but it seems you're not empty handed (or pocketed) because you are now the proud owner of one (1) small bundle of black cloth. Unwrapping it reveals a key imprinted with a roman numeral, along with a simple note.
“Come at 6PM to the place circled on this map:”
“Don’t be tardy, dear Survivors, that’d be a bad first impression. If you don’t want your stay here to be more unpleasant than it’ll already be, you’ll want to avoid seeming careless or disrespectful. You’ll want to listen to my opening speech~!”
Finally, after an empty space that may be simulating an intense pause, there’s one last line:
“I know what you’re thinking, so I’ll say it straight: if you don’t come, you’re as good as dead.”
The news likely isn't welcome, but it's a start. And it seems you're not alone in your plight, though whether company is within arm's length or a stone’s throw away is up to fortune’s whims. For now, you're free to explore the town square and the surrounding areas as best you can in the dim light.
For some reason or another, Krakow, Poland is now your new home. That much is clear from the sign posts that you can inexplicably read, as red and white flag posts with "Święto Niepodległości" flutter lightly in the wind. While the storefronts are dark, the street lamps that scatter the town provide some measure of light, providing some solace against the layer of fog that's begun to creep in.
( OOC: Welcome to Antumbra! This intro log occurs ICly Sunday. Your MM's will be around at 6pm EST to hear your complaints. )
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Iago startles a bit at the sound of another voice, but he's quick to turn to address Rean.]
I can't see why they wouldn't have Fire and Thunder, at least. Well, unless they specifically don't want us getting our hands on weapons, I suppose.
[And he sounds like he really doesn't like that idea.]
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He's definitely ballin'....Now he's picturing people whacking others with heavy tomes and ... well. That's sure an image. ]
They still might have elemental quartz around here, at least. But then again, I'm not sure if they have combat orbments just lying around.
[ He'll pause, wondering if he's misunderstanding something. ]
Though, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone using a tome itself as a weapon.
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oh my godalso bold of you to think iago has enough of a strength stat to whack anyone with anything.]
...Well, I was going to ask you about "elemental quartz" and "combat orbments", so it seems we're both misunderstanding something on a fundamental level here.
[ohhhhhh gods he just wants to go home—]
The tomes themselves aren't used as weapons - they're a conduit for the magic contained within. Without one, it's nearly impossible to cast any sort of magic, no matter how weak.
[fire emblem: fates doesn't explain magic so now i've gotta smh]
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So basically it is kind of like how combat orbments utilize the quartz to help with casting orbal arts, which can be considered a kind of magic.
[ At the very least, he had a chance to explain how quartz and orbments worked, in a way. ]
But, I've never heard of tomes being used like that. Especially not in Erebonia.
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I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about. I've never heard of "orbal arts".
[or like. most of that.]
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...You haven't?
[ .... ]
Well, orbal arts are basically like "magic spells", to simplify it a little. Combat orbments really just exist have to give people ability to cast the spells from Quartz. Combat orbments also are used to carry the Quartz in the first place, so they're also like a "container" for them.
Quartz are like tomes in a way, and have the "magic" inside of them, and using orbal arts helps us access them, if that makes sense. And you can create quartz from sepith.
Sepith is the material in its raw form, and like Quartz, it can come in a variety of different elements.
[ Hopefully...that made sense. Rean kind of had a feeling it might be suddenly A Lot. ]
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This is required for casting spells where you're from? Are people incapable of tapping into magic at all without combat orbments and Quartz?
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There are some who're able to get around that, though, so not everyone has to use orbal arts to cast 'spells'.
[ Like witches and for some who consider pyrokinesis magic, a certain familiar flamey Oroboros member. ]
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[that's the best explanation i have for everything iago can do......]
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[ At least it's less complicated than orbal arts for sure. ]
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[ It's easy to understand, at any rate. ]
I think that this is a good time to make some introductions, considering the situation. My name is Rean Schwarzer.
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[He doesn't offer a hand to shake, but he does rest one on his chest and nod; it's not quite a bow, but it's probably good enough for government work.]
What is it you do where you're from, Rean?
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[ Rean will at least nod his head respectfully to acknowledge it in return, seeming to recognize the gesture for what it could be. ]
Well, right now I'm an Instructor for a military academy in Erebonia—Leeves' Thors Branch Academy, to be exact. I can't say I've heard of such an army before, but knowing how the orbment and tome talk went, I was kind of expecting that you would mention an unfamiliar place to me.
[ So at the least it seemed to him they had kind of a similar background. ]
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[He inclines his head a bit at that, then nods at Rean's words.]
I suspected as much, yes. I'm entirely unfamiliar with... all of that. I wasn't expecting you to be a teacher, however.
[Soldier or mercenary would've been his guess.]
Nohr is one of the largest and most influential countries where I come from. My duty is to serve the king and carry out his orders in the war against Hoshido.
[All of that is true! He's just leaving out a lot, but shh, it's fine.]
What is it you teach at the academy?
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Haha, now I'm a little curious to know what you were expecting. But, once again I'm sure I've never heard of Nohr or Hoshido--though, the latter sounds like it could be a country from East Zemuria.
[ He's curious about the war, but he'll leave it for the moment while he gave his explanation. ]
History mostly, and in a way I taught my class on how to approach certain situations where they might have to act on their own to resolve problems out in the field. Though, a part of that was encouraging them to act independently too.
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Well, I think I've still got a lot to learn myself. But, it's been a unique experience, especially since I've met so many people I wouldn't have been able to meet otherwise.
And watching my students grow is really something—something wonderful, if I had to name a word for it.
[ He's proud about how far they've come. So maybe the other wasn't necessarily too wrong about him being capable. ]
...What about you? Even if I don't know much about you, I'm sure you're a talented tactician, but what made you go for the position?
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Oh, I am. [thanks, iago??] I wouldn't have gotten to where I am now without the skills to back it up. I hadn't anticipating ending up as the king's right hand, but I'm certainly not complaining. My initial goal was simply to rise as high through the ranks of the army as I could. I am a talented mage as well, after all.
King Garon recognized my potential and it's due to his support and trust that I've reached this position. Well, that and hard work, but that goes without saying.