Collegial Curiosities

[Walter Thornley]

​

​ Esteemed Professor,​ I am happy to hear that your endeavors are garnering the much overdue support, and that it served to bolster your good spirit. Allow me to assure you that rumours of my declining health are massively exaggerated by people who know less than little on matters of medicine - or magic, for that matter, and spare it no further worry. Attached as addendum are the calculations for ley line formation following Professor Alfvig's hypothesis. It needs to be noted that this trail of thought has yet to receive any confirmation in confrontation with the geographical phenomena. However, if there is a degree of truth to the matter, I think we could consider not only the aggregation of ambient Shroud - but its effects on climate, being directly correlated to the abundance of vegetation in the area. In regards to your recent find - rather than offering a contact, I would volunteer my humble expertise in the matter of looking at your encrypted mechanism recently unearthed. While it is true, and I presently cannot weave nor enchant in the conventional manner, I have gained a unique insight which would allow me to decode the nature and intent of the weave on the mechanism with unfailing accuracy, and allow you to make sense of the rest. Should we meet, I might have something of interest for you in the field of fauna. You see, a carved talisman made from an egg shard has made its way into my possession, and the implied size of the egg begets curiosity as to the hatching creature. It was revered enough, as I understand, to serve as a token on a shaman's staff. I hope you indulge my curiosity - if your current patronage goes as well as it has been in regards to providing monetary fuel to your chosen pursuit, which sites do you see yourself exploring in the future? Would you expect to ever travel to the frigid north? As always, sincerely elated to hear from you, and with my best regards, Walter Thornley, baron von Bremen. ​

 

[TipsyValkyrie]

Summer 350 E.O.D.


To the Esteemed Walter Thornley,

Your letter was met with the same delight with which I always receive your correspondence—
though I confess, your insistence on the triviality of your health does little to dispel my concern.

You and I both know that even the most competent minds in medicine are often blindsided by their own refusal to rest. So please, humor me and pace your curiosity, if not for your sake, then for those of us who still find your counsel irreplaceable.

Also, I took a look at your proposed application of Professor Alfvig’s ley line hypothesis. And I must admit, I found it more compelling than I had initially given it credit.

The notion of vegetative abundance as a reflection of Shroud concentration opens numerous avenues of potential discovery. Particularly around symbiotic relationships between ambient magic and ecological succession. If time permits, I shall get in touch with a colleague of mine in Crown's Hold whose more inclined to botany and attempt a comparative mapping between your projections and her own expertise.

Regarding the mechanism, your offer is accepted without hesitation. Though I have taken some liberty in hypothesizing its origin (perhaps prematurely, as you will no doubt remind me), the encoded nature of its enchantment reminds me of traditional Dwarven runework, but it's very possible I'm approaching it with the wrong etymology framework, regional dialects always did give me pause.

As for the the egg-shard you mentioned, I am absolutely fascinated to the cultural significance. If you have not already, I urge you, with that shaman's blessing, to test for calcium density. Depending on the thickness of the shell, we may be looking at the remnants of an egg from before the dracophage. But that is my own fevered hope that it is draconic in origin.

As for my current patronage, it is remarkably holding. As much as it grinds my horns to recently learn that the Dean of my old department is one of the seat members for my guild. But, if their enthusiasm for my work continues, I intend to return to the coastal south next year in my off-season, hopefully towards the drowned temples of Vaer'Suun, though I will confess a longing to investigate the glacial tombs in the far north, particularly those rumored to contain fossilized leviathans. With luck and ample provisions, perhaps I will one day find cause to write you from beneath a sky of green fire.

Until then, Baron, I await your observations with anticipation, and as ever, I remain,

Yours in inquiry,
Professor Cerridwen Castille
Warden of Wonders

@Walter Thornley

 

[Walter Thornley]

Venerable Warden,

I would assure you in turn, that my vigor has long since outpaced my patience to remain sedentary,
especially when there is so much to be done. No frustration can equal being chained to one's own study
while the apple trees bud and bloom just beyond the window, and the sun lazes between the clouds,
a perfect congregation of hospitable weather. I cherish the concern, but we are creatures of curiosity,
in the end, and we have long picked our poison and sacrificed most things to it, veneer of pleasantry
or none at all.

On Alfvig's proposal, it would be appreciated. I have mapped out the alleged leylines in my native region.
Most seem to fall under the riverbeds, and later I will travel to have a look in person and ascertain it.
Personally, it made me ponder more on the nature of the chimerae and the variety of living forms,
namely the variety that seems to develop faster in proximity to Shroud alterations.

In regards to the mechanism, for me to contribute to your work without an error margin, I must gain
an opportunity to look at it in person, either by travelling to your research, or by its possibly
quite risky transportation to Bremen. While my aptitude will not aid in revealing its history, it will do so
for its purpose through the nature of its weave - while aura readings tend to look outward in,
a particular method I employ permeates the weave in its entirety unimpeded by inner workings or illusion.

The shard is in my possession, sans the shaman.
It is about six inches long, four wide, irregular rhombus shape skewed left, with egg's suggested
original markings as in the sketch below, and the decorative patterns engraved in the one that follows.
It still has a sliver of the Shroud lingering where it was once broken from within, it seems to have formed
a sort of trace, a sediment, having been of life, and then used in healing practices by the tribe.
I don't think it is older than a few decades.

Pray tell me of your patrons - for to organize an expedition, one must hold a keen interest
for the mechanisms you've been unearthing. Are they intending to claim the fruit of your intellectual pursuit
for the development of magitech, do you reckon?

Perhaps, a day will come that I will set off to the north.
Should that transpire, you would be more than welcome to join me.
A tall order to organize, but this is why these things take quite a bit of time.

What do you think the dawn would be like, under that sky?

With best regards and idle musings,
Walter Thornley-von Bremen.

 

[Cerridwen Castille]

Late Summer, 350 E.O.D.

(A letter arrives covered in ink smudges, the parchment torn and singed in places)

To the infatigable Bremen,

I suppose I must concede to your stubborn resolve, much to my chagrin. Very well, then. I shall cease my pestering— though only for now, and only because I suspect you’d ignore it regardless.

On a more invigorating note: during a recent expedition through the foothills of the Mheara Mountains, I encountered a most curious specimen, which I believe to be the young of some creature I've never seen before?

It's currently no larger than a teacup when curled, but boasts a rather prehensile tail nearly the length of my forearm. I’ve yet to determine whether its plumage is naturally iridescent or merely reactive when in the proximity of a high concentration of Shroud. Either way, its coloring changes entirely under moonslight.

(There is a section here that is half missing and smeared in ink.)

Its behavior is equally perplexing. Riotous, energizing, entirely noc—

—myself sleeping during the day and up all hours of the nig—​

—hoards spoons. Why spoons, I cannot say, but I now lock my kitchen drawer lest I discover another glittering cache in my pillowcase.

I’m in the process of preparing a report for future studies, and once I’ve finished my behavioral observations, I intend to hand it over to the wildlife rehabilitation center in Larkhi—

—finding myself growing quite fond of this delightfully chaotic creature. Did I mention the way it will watch the candlelight for hou—​

(The parchment cuts off abruptly. Ink trails halfway across the sentence before ending in a smear. A large scorch mark interrupts the next section, and what appears to be several crescent-shaped bites out of the bottom-right corner.

………

(On the back, there are the hastened scribblings of the rest of the letter.)

Apologies for the state of this letter. It seems my new friend has discovered a taste for parchment. Or perhaps it has simply developed a grudge against me communicating with the outside world. So this will have to do in the meantime.

Either way, I fear that until this creature departs my care, little of consequence shall leave my home— my research least of all, and certainly no letter I send you will arrive in any state legible enough for discourse.

Once I am free of this delightful menace, I shall write again posthaste— preferably without claw marks, drool, or any open flame involved.

Until then, dear Baron, may your health remain sturdier than the last of my bedding, and your observations untouched by tooth or talon.

Yours in shared exasperation,
Professor Cerridwen Castille
Warden of Wonders

@Walter Thornley

 

[Walter Thornley]

Late Summer, 350 E.O.D.

Venerable Professor Castille,

Your last letter found me well, and I hope dearly that by the time the response reaches you,
the tribulation by gremlinhand is successfully resolved.

I am enjoying the rainy season in Bremen, presently,
and while the embankments of the many rivers running through the land may cause concern -
there is also an inordinate amount of what I think is maybe trout splashing in the waters,
decorating the banks steadily with many avid fishermen.

By the time this letter reaches you, there will be the season for cider brewing from the early harvests.
The cherry wine is bottled, to be poured in colder seasons. It is the time to enjoy the green and the petrichor
before it all goes into orange-browns and dampened chills.
What is the weather like where you dwell?
What is the common annoyance of birds, be it the northern crow, or some southern parakeet?

I hope you've the chance to respond to this missive somewhat expediently, for I am struggling with a certain issue.
Your tenacious interest for beasts might yet shed light onto the dilemma.

Would you happen to know an efficient way to counteract the slime from the Akadea Plangenica,
one of those slimy cave-dwelling mushrooms that seem to release spores during heatwaves?
One of my hamlets seems to be suffering from spores, and I think I've found
the beginnings of another colony forming in one of the farmer cellars. It's slow-growing, but,
as you may know, the slime is toxic and potent, and might cause harm to more than mice.

Your input on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

Should you continue having issues with the gremlin, allow me to transfer my sister's offer
for an enchanted cage to contain it. Delightful as it is, there is little more infuriating than losing
months of notes and possibly valuable referential texts to a pet's curiosity.
I've never had my dog eat my notes, personally. Not sure if the gods saw fit to spare me, or if the rumour
had been true and my pup was more a horsewolf than a canine.

How do you find the local kitchen? Any delicacies?

Attached you may find the calculations for a containment chamber, should you feel experimental and also
encounter a disembodied entity of some sort (unresting disembodied spirits chief among them).
I have it on good authority that it is simple and efficient in design and application, though immobile once erected.
Just in case you feel the need to open an old tomb or several in the name of arcanocraft.

Best wishes as to the ending of the sunny season,
Baron Walter Thornley-von Bremen.