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 Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:04 pm
Books Checked Out:
M. C. Escher (Art)
Technomagus - The New Science (Crafting)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Literature)
Skills Learned:
M. C. Escher
--Passion (Mandala): Imbues direction, purpose, enthusiasm and independance. Allows you to realize your dreams and achieve great feats with desire, meaning and joy. Effects: lowers the difficulty on targeting by 5%.
--Expansion (Mandala): Imbues growth and opulence, luck, generosity of spirit and creating community. Opens your heart to opportunities for charity and sharing and suggests new horizons. Effects: Lowered difficulty on all actions of 5%.
--Nourishment (Mandala): Imbues Nurturance, sustenance, compassion. Cultivates the feminine and receptive attributes. Effects: Regains 1 additional HP for each healing technique applied to the wearer of Nourishment.
Technomagus - The New Science
--Engraving (Crafting): The ability to engrave words, initials, arms, etc into objects effectively.
--Bookbinding (Crafting): The ability to bind multiple pages into book form effectively.
--Jewelry Making (Crafting): The ability to craft jewelry pieces of salable quality effectively.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
--Collarbone (Targetting): +12% difficulty; For all successive Blocks with the arm, or Punches, the opponent takes 1 damage.
--Upkeep (Duration & Upkeep): Upkeep needs to be rolled if one wishes to maintain a spell while attempting a seperate action, such as a block, or additional attack. The Upkeep roll needs to match or exceed the specific number roll on the successful dice roll from initial casting. Meaning if your target number is 30% or better, and you rolled an 87%, you will need to best the 87% in order to maintain your spell, and then continue casting an additional spell or initiating a new complex action.
--Duration (Duration & Upkeep): If you wish to extend the length of your spell, you have to keep consecutively rolling a die for that spell each turn following the intitial casting. The spell roll you keep making for duration carries on the affects of the spell, including any augments that may have been rolled at the initial casting. So long as your rolls keep rolling successful, you can sustain your spell. Each additional turn spent upkeeping the spell, the difficulty to do so raises by 5%.
Status: Returned
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:20 pm
Books Checked Out:
The Shifts of Karma (Philosophy)
The Medicine of Essence, by Euphrasia (Science)
The History of Bizantium Art and Architecture (Art)
Skills Learned:
The Shifts of Karma
--Nergal (Mesopotamian):
3 – Noontime Sun – (Fire) - +20% difficulty to concentration, tactics, specialty skills and targeting.
8 – The Burner – (Fire) – Destroys 1 target area, killing all crops, plant life and bacteria in said area. Does 8 points of damage to any living creature on said land when cast.
15 – Raging King – (Poison) – Sends a pestilence into a rank of people doing 15 points of damage to the first 3 victims it hits, and has a 30% chance to spread to those around.
--Namtar (Mesopotamian):
3 - Grim Reaper - (Dark) - The Faithful gains an aspect of Namtar, making them look unearthly, horrifying and a marker of illness and death. This appearance strikes fear and horror into all those who try to stand against the faithful. All under the strike of fear have an increased difficulty of 20% to act.
8 - Holy Pest - (Ether) - Summons a mostly intangible and wispy poltergeist like spirit that swarms around a target and pesters them. The Holy Pest can taunt with laughter, pinch and distract but cannot do any damage. The Holy Pest is made to distract and to irritate.
15 - Sixty Demons - (Poison) - Namtar sends forth his 60 little demon spawn sprites that fly into the flesh of a rank of enemies (either Monsters or Outsiders) and cause illness in whatever part of the body they hit. These diseases and illnesses take a hold and begin to develope whatever detriments of the diseases they bear. Keep in mind some slow, others poison, others madden, others lie dormant and may not take affect until after the fight.
--Ereshkigal (Mesopotamian):
3 – Stagnant Year – (Dark) – Increases strength of Dark, Shadow and Air Magics by 40%, Weakens Earth, Plant and Light Magics by 30%.
8 – Pass Judgment – (Mind) – An offering sent to the Goddess becomes a consecrated Talisman, protecting the faithful from ex-Empyrean monsters, such as the Moloch, Mara, Jinn, Lamia and Haures.
15 – Irkala – (Shadow) – Allows the faithful to pass into the Underworld and commune with the spirits to glean knowledge and help.
The Medicine of Essence
--Morina (Medicine): Strengthens chakras and channelling, increases recovery after a lot of magic casting, helps focus energy.
--Genista (Medicine): Improves healing, decreases scarring, shortens recovery time.
--Essence (Biology): Empyreans have one bodily fluid, although it takes many forms, and that is called Essence. The weakest form of Essence is Saliva, then sweat, then saline, then lubricant fluids, then lymph and finally, Blood is the most potent form. When any of these bodily fluids are shed, there are trace elements of Essence in them, causing the fluid to give off a soft glow if in a dark environment. The sensation of being touched by raw fluids is akin to tingling and warmth, like a muscle-ease balm or a heat pack. While the feeling is pleasant, the stronger the concentration of Essence, the more intense the feeling becomes, until it reaches the higher levels, of Lymph and Blood and becomes purely painful. In this sense of the word, contact with lubricant fluids is akin to ecstasy, and tears of saline give a comforting uplifting feeling, (crying really does make you feel better when you're down), sweating gives a sensation of rapture and satisfaction. These fluids are thought of as a reward, and not as disgusting bodily functions as many humans consider them. In scent they have nearly no fragrance, and in consistency mirror human fluids.
History of Bizantium Art and Architecture
--Bliss (Mandala): Imbues sensuality, an appreciation of beauty, art and refinement. Gives you access to the positive aspects of your 5 senses. Effects: heightens 5 senses, decreasing difficulty on speed/agility/reaction by 5%.
--Radiance (Mandala): Imbues sunny optimism, self-confidence, magnetism. Enables your joy and good spirits to reach and effect others you connect with. Effects: Removes status effects.
--Spirituality (Mandala): Imbues mystical experiences, solitude, purification. Instills peace within. Effects: increases Karma points gained by 1 point per prayer/lowers difficulty on prophecy/fortune telling by 5%.
Status: Checked Out
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Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:46 pm
 As soon as Khamsyn's head hit the pillow, he was asleep. It had been a long few days, what with the studying of the books he'd checked out of the Library, the duel with Grave, the scuttlebutt about Titan and his time spent with the lovely and beautiful Belwen. Not to mention playing with and putting in some quality time with his deer friends, Blair, Dancer and Donner. The three of them were starting to really used to each other, though Blair often looked sad when the other two took to flight and he was incapable of doing so. And that saddened Khamsyn. Still, he was dutiful to them all, and did not play favorites because he loved them all equally. In fact, they were sleeping not more than five feet from him, as usual. Two on cushions and one on his bed. They alternated who got the bed, and this week it was Blair. It was all draining him, but he was used to it. He'd grown accustom to what they used to call, burning the candle at both ends. And things weren't likely to change anytime soon.
The dream came to him swiftly, and like always it started the same way. He first felt himself flying, then saw the city sprawled out beneath him as he soared through the clouds. He could see the tiny wings on his ankles flapping though they did not provide much lift. The wings at his hips helped maintain his stability in the air, but the real power of flight came from the full sized set of feathered wings on his back. All three sets shone in the sunlight with their whitish-pink hue. Sunlight glinted off the jewels set into his hands and feet, and off the bangles on his ankles and wrists. He could feel the warmth radiate from the tattoo's on his face and torso as they glowed with essense. And even though he could not see the halo above his head, he truly felt angelic. This was his Stage Three Seraphim form. The same form he'd dreamt of time and time again.
Suddenly the sky grew dark and angry looking. A cold breeze raised goosebumps on Khamsyn's naked flesh. This was not part of the dream as he knew it. This was different. Before he could fully comprehend, and thus either wake himself or assert control, he felt himself falling. Falling, falling, falling and then darkness. His mind reasoned that he was about to wake up, startled, heart pounding ans sweating, but awake. That didn't happen though. Something kept him from waking.
Slowly the darkness cleared and he found himself laying on his back, something cold and hard beneath his back, pressing his wings to his torso from his own body weight. He tried to shift position but found he couldn't. Where was he? What was happening? No sooner had he thought those very questions, then a dozen small fires sprung up all around him. Torches, afixed to rocky, subterranian walls. The whole chamber seemed enclosed, no entry or exit. Beneath him he saw the edge of a raw stone table but was still unable to move more than a simple squirming motion that got him nowhere. Fear gripped his heart and he pinched his dream eyes closed trying to wake himself through sheer force of will, but a voice shattered his attempt."Fear not Khamsyn, we mean you no harm. We only wish to introduce ourselves and perhaps alter this unsavory vision you have of yourself." A deep voice intoned."Unsavory is not the right word, more like nausiating." A matching female voice returned from somewhere in the darkness.
A creepy, staccato laugh issued forth from behind him somewhere but said nothing. Khamsyn began to see shapes, humanoid shapes in the darkness at his feet as a pair of figures drew closer. He hadn't seen them until now, and the shadows clung to them like a shroud. And he knew there was one more behind him somewhere, though he refused to look. The one on the left stepped closer and the shadows flowed from him, revealing a male form that struck Khamsyn as both familiar and not. His smile was sincere, yet held a note of something a little sinister."You recognize me don't you Khamsyn? Yes? No? Well let me introduce myself anyways. My name, is Nergal. Lord Nergal to be specific. Lord of the underworld. You've been reading about me, haven't you?" Instantly Khamsyn realized where he'd seen this man before. Just like he'd said, he'd been studying about Nergal and a two other Mesopotamian gods. All three darker gods than he'd studied before. Not evil, just darker. Which, if this dream was anything like the one he had when he pledged to serve Enlil, Nabu and Innana, meant that..."Yes Khamsyn, I see you recognize us now." The female, Ereshkigal, spoke as she stepped forward from his right and into view. He heard the third, Namtar, the messenger of both Nergal and Ereshkigal, and the most hellish of the three, take position just above his head, though he said nothing. Which in of itself was even creepier.
"What do you want of me? Why can I not awake? And what do you mean by my nausiating vision of myself?" Khamsyn asked, pushing fear away now that he knew part of what was going on."To answer your questions in kind, we want nothing more from you than you have already given. Offer prayer to us and you may call upon any of us for aid whenever you desire it. Why can you not awaken yourself? Perhaps because you do not wish it. We do not hold you here, your mind does." As if on cue, Khamsyn felt himself be freed. Whether it was his own mind that freed him, or one of them, he'd never be sure."And to answer your final question, for you shall soon awaken, you are deluded Khamsyn. You see yourself as an angel, full of goodness and light, but you do not see the darkness in you. Do not fear it, it is not evil. It is a weapon you must learn to shape and hone. Especially if you wish to defend your city from the Outsiders as a Seraphim. Let the darkness have a piece of you, only a small one, and it will show in your form. Use it to strike fear in your enemies and as armour to defend your allies. If you do, you will be ever the better for it. Trust us and you will be..."Khamsyn's eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright in bed. His heart was racing, his bed denched with sweat and his mind reeling with what he'd just dreamt. The deer were all standing around him, looks of concern in their wide eyes."...powerful!"That last word echoed in his brain and he slowed his rapid breathing and smiled to his familiars. "It's alright my friends. Just a dream is all." He petted each and ushered them back to bed. Just a dream he repeated to himself. Or an awakening?
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:48 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:15 pm
Bardane had the door to his classroom propped open with a small wooden doorstop carved in the shape of a bull's head with prominant horns sweeping under the door's edge. He had hung a simple, but crisply written, sign on his door with the following text:
For those students wishing to brush up on their Law course in the wake of this situation regarding Titan, a brief overview class will be held.
No previous knowledge required; full credit value.
Bardane himself sat behind his desk, carefully wiping down his mahogany desk top with a damp rag that smelled faintly of tea tree and citrus. He finished up his tidying and sat back in his chiar, eyes on the open doorway.
Khamsyn arrived to Bardane's door and peered in. It looked pretty empty in there right now, and he didn't relish being the only one to show up. Still, he wanted credit for Law, and this was the perfect opportunity. So, cautiously he entered and nodded a greeting to Bardane as he found a seat near the front of class. "Good day Professor Bardane."
Was this it? Abacus had heard rumors about the law professor. He had heard that he was strict, and was considered to be one of the most difficult professors to learn from. He couldn't help but grin, though -- wasn't he the one who tried to wake Bellona with a kiss when she was cursed to sleep? Unless that cough and quick look away was to hide a snicker at how awkward and foolish the plan was, Abacus was willing to bet that there was more to him than the professor cared to show. He took a deep breath, entering the room and glancing at the door -- ah, good! This was it. He gave a quiet nod of greeting to those present, taking his seat and immediately pulling out paper and quill for note taking.
Cyphr had been a little reluctant to go... afterall, he wasn't the studying type, but a lecture was at least better than reading about something as boring as law - or so he hoped. Without Danna there to take notes and without anyone he knew in the class, well, this might be a slow form of torture... But, what was this? He recognized these faces. Cyphr grinned and siddled up to Khamsyn at the front of the class. "Hallo Khammers!" He swivelled in his seat and waved to abacus before turning forward, chubby legs swinging from the edge of his chair.
Bardane purused the faces of the students who had showed up for his unofficial class. "Good day Empyrean Students," Bardane began gravely, with the expression a mortician might wear. "I am glad to see that you few have such a concern for our City's welfare as to attend this extra lesson between your regular scheduled class. You will be obtaining full credit for your pains, to be sure. Now then, the study of Law," The professor began expansively. "In this case is two sets of Laws, the General Doctrine - that being composed of 10 Laws for the purpose of all Empyreans in the City - and the Esoteric Laws - a set of 16 laws governing the behaviour of restricted knowledges and practices open to those of higher standing than yourselves. Today we will cover the basic ten."
Removing his notebook Khamsyn placed it open upon the desk as Bardane started the class. He pulled out his quill and inkwell, making sure he had everything he needed for note taking. Gods know he'd likely be needing to take notes in this class. He'd heard there was a lot to learn and Bardane didn't care to repeat himself often. So, as the Professor started, Khamsyn wrote the header 'Empyrean Law - General Doctrine' and sat ready, listening intently.
Abacus grinned and returned Cyphr's wave with one of his own, though it was kept low to the desk and brief. He didn't feel like testing to see if the rumors about Bardane were true or not. In the meantime, he dipped his quill into the ink and wrote briefly '10 Basic Laws,' then focused his attention onto Bardane, ready to listen and learn.
Khamsyn didn't ignore Cyphr's greeting, but with Bardane starting right away, he could only shoot the Sanguine lad a greeting look and friendly nod.
Cyphr watched as his comrades grew still and serious, making notes and scraping quills on inkpots. He looked self-consciously at the blank and empty desk before him. He had not brought any supplies, and to be fair, likely wouldn't take notes if he had them. Writing meant he couldn't listen. So, the Sanguine merely placed his hands flat on the desk, fingers outspread and prepared to fold them under for each Law Bardane spoke.
Bardane: "The First Law is for your safety as well as that of your fellow Empyreans. No Stage Zero may cast magic. This is because it can be extremely dangerous to your own Essence if you make the slightest mistake. You power is not yet tempered by time and experience, so while you make practise magics and study them, you must not cast them fully - not in jest, defense or duel."
Khamsyn quickly wrote down the key parts of the first law as he understood them and looked up at Bardane, his brow furling in thought. Silently he raises his hand to ask a question. When and if Bardane calls upon him, he asks. "We can study the spells, but not cast them. Does that include when we're under direct supervision of, for instance, Professora Bellona or Professor Abrid?"
Nadyrr settles in looking a bit sheepish and attempts to quickly catch up with what is being talked about.
Abacus wrote simply, 'Do not cast spells.' Given the recent lessons on magic, he was VERY glad he didn't fall to the temptation to check out a couple books in the library and try some, just to see what would happen. Curiousity extinguished the Empyr, after all.
Makes a note of the rule, glancing over toward Khamsyn at the question and then to the teacher; waiting to hear the answer from Bardane.
Cyphr watched Khamsyn ask his question with big eyes, he really hoped the question was in the affirmative, because he'd hate to think what would happen if he was never allowed to practise as a zero, and then as a One blasted some friend in a duel with untested magic. He folded under his first finger to mark the law.
Bardane looked down his nose to Khamsyn and paused, as if weighing the question. "While in an official class under the guidance and supervision of a Seraphim, gentle practise can be done of some of the Magics. They will tell you which specific spells can and cannot be tested in this way." Bardane looked begrudging at having to make a concession to something as sturdy and inflexible as a law.
"The second Law, no Empyrean may initiate conflict ouside of a duel situation within the walls of Empyrean City. The exception to this rule is, of course, the Grigori whose job it is to prevent conflicts from escalating by taking initiative and subduing possible troublestarters. Usually this is an Empyrean out of control, but it includes those possessed, Cursed or broken who have become a hazard."
Nodding at the answer to his question, Khamsyn made note of the exception and then the second law with it's notable exception as well. So far so good, but he did feel a little uneasy at the look Bardane had given him. He didn't know if it was a good thing or not. Time will tell.
Nadyrr bit his lip thoughtfully before quickly jotting down notes on the law, he paused part way through writing and took extra time to make his sloppy letters a bit more readable. He glanced around at the other students before looking back to the teacher shifting uneasily in his seat; all the more strict teachers always left him a bit on edge.
Abacus slowly nodded, making note of the second law. None my 'initiate' it, hm? That made it seem that self defense would be acceptible, as long as they don't throw the first punch. Abacus hoped that he never would up in a situation like that, but chances were the Grigori would be quick to sort out any scuffle that may or may not occur.
Cyphr was glad that he and Nadyrr had only been duelling, and quickly shot a glance at the other boy with a relieved smile. He folded down his second finger and swung his boots under his chair.
Bardane rolled his shoulders back. "The Third Law is no Monster may be kept without an Official Certificate. This is to ensure not only that the monster is properly cared for, but also that the Empyreans exposed to it are not in danger by an owner unable to maintain or control his or her pet. Some monsters can become poisonous or aggressive if not properly looked after. The Certificate proves that the owner knows all the precautions and can sufficiently keep the monster a safe member of society."
Abacus wrote this down, wondering if there was a limit to certificates. How many certificates did professor Lelaus have? Did he have to get one per monster, or were some caught, issued a temporary license, then released again? That was something worth researching into.
Khamsyn noted the third law down in his notes. It seemed a pretty straight forward law to him. After all, a master who doesn't know how to control his or her monster, is guilty of more than just being unprepared. It borders on animal cruelty as well. He smiled over at Cyphr, assuming the Sanguine lad had his certificate for Phraine.
Pausing Nadyrr made sure to listen closely to what was being said. He'd considered the uses of monsters so it was something he'd want to keep in mind.
Cyphr grinned, rubbing at his Certed Technoring that contained Phraine. He'd had to study with Lelaus for weeks to learn all the little idiocyncrasies of the Ronwen and how to care for them. Luckily, Ronwen were beasts that needed a lot of attention, and cyphr was more than able to give Phraine all the love he needed. He curled another finger under. That one was easy.
Bardane glanced at the movements of Cyphr's hand on his Certed Ring and recalled that the Sanguine boy had a Monster pet. "The Fourth Law states that no Empyrean of the Stages Zero or One may talk to or with an Outsider. This is partly to protect you from their tricks and also to prevent you from accidentally giving out information that can weaken Empyrean City or its defences."
Again, this was a pretty straight forward and easy to follow law. So far Khamsyn hadn't even come close to worrying about breaking any of the laws. Though he wondered how often this situation came up. How often would a Zero or One even encounter an Outsider, let alone talk to one. He shrugged it off. Better to not know he guessed.
He shifted some in his seat thoughtfully, how would an outsider even contact him...let along have time to sit down for a talk. Wrinkling his brow Nadyrr made a quick note in his notebook.
At the mention of Outsiders, Abacus frowned. Wasn't it pretty obvious to not speak with Outsiders? And the zeros were in the White District -- how would an Outsider even get to them? He wrote it down, thinking that such a law was pretty foolish to have considering how slim the chances were in the first place.
Cyphr thought of ol' Lus at that. Didn't he...y'know -talk- and stuff with Outsider ladies? Hrm... Well, he wasn't a Zero or a One so, Cyphr s'pposed that was alright then...
"The Fifth law states that no Stage Zero may leave the White District, unless they have been given express permission by a Professor or the Metatrons and are under supervision. Obviously,t he highest level of protection is around the White District, so issues beyond your level of skill or power to cope with may harm or even kill you beyond these hallowed walls. Please, for your own safety, do not be foolish enough to test this law."
As much as Khamsyn wanted to explore the rest of the city, see the places hinted at by others of higher Stages, he had to admit this law made sense. As a One he'd be able to explore more, so he'd just have to wait until then.
Nadyrr frowned some, writing as he did...he was hoping as he sure others were to transcend soon...staying in the white district had him feeling distinctly paranoid.
Abacus wrote that down, recalling with a grin the special lesson in Botany he and some of his classmates got to have. The outside -- he liked it, though it lacked the comforting walls that the White District had. If he ever went out there again, he'd make sure to drag someone along with him.
Bardane shifted his weight onto the other foot for the second half of the basic laws. "The Sixth Law states that no Empyrean of Stage One may leave the Colour Districts without the accompanyment of an Empyrean of a higher stage. Again, the reasons follow those of the Fifth Law, the farther you travel towards the gates the weaker the Metatron's protection grows and the more dangers filter through."
Nadyrr frowned thoughtfully again, then went about writing it down...it seemed he had a long way to go before getting to see the gates again. Of course he'd be pleased when he could at least walk around in the color districts.
This law gave Abacus some pause. The Metatron's protection grew weaker the closer one went to the gates? That... that made leaving the city all the more unappealing to him. At least it meant that -someone- would be accopanying them, but at the same time... He wondered what else happened under the Metatron's influence. Would being under the protection of them, say, calm an errant golem...?
Khamsyn noted 'only Stage Two's and Three's may leave the colour districts' down on his page and drew a line arcing up to his note on law 5, indictating similar reasons. He'd heard rumor once of a One being transported out of the city and a crew of other Ones being sent out to retrieve her. Khamsyn wondered idly whether it was true, and if they had a higher Stage with them.
Nadyrr shifted in his chair, hoping to still his restlessness some and hold his concentration. The laws afterall were important to learn.
Cyphr nodded ardently. He'd never been foolish to stray farther than the Colour Districts and he'd heard from the Ones in those place sof the horrible things that lurked beyond in the Outer Districts. One would need to be a brave soul to live in those places all the time. He folded down the first finger on his second hand.
Bardane continued stoically, "The Seventh Law is that of Passage, meaning that only those with a Gate Pass will be permitted to leave the City. This is only permitted on the final Exam of a Stage Two attempting to become a Stage Three and for established Stage Threes. One must of cour be able to afford a gate pass, but they will be accompanied by a Gatekeeper on any trips out of the City."
Even though the laws kept getting less and less applicable to the students in the room currently, Khamsyn knew that eventually they'd all apply. So it was better to commit them to memory now, and live by them so that when the time came when they did apply, no claims could be made of 'I didn't know'.
He paused thoughtfully looking to the professor and then started writing down the law. He wondered a bit about what exactly the stage two was suppose to be doing outside the walls; he was pretty sure that something in the library would be better suited with that information. Though he dreaded the idea of heading to the library.
Even though the law didn't have any bearing on his current status, Abacus made note of it for later. He'd better start saving up for such a pass now in order to make the transition from two to three easier. Or at least eliminate the financial worry... whatever it was for.
Cyphr grinned at the thought of Gatekeepers. Someday he'd be one of them, and then he'd be the one escorting people out through the world. Still, that day was a long way off. He had to get big first, had to get stronger. For now he folded down another finger and fidgeted with his shoelaces.
"The Eighth Law is all Empyreans regardless of Stage of career must obey the wishes of the Grigori. If they tell you to get down, you get down, if they tell you to be quiet, you be quiet, if they tell you to run, run. They are trained in maintaining your safety within the city, and to some extent without. They always have your best interests in mind, so if they ask you to do something, it is for a good reason. If there is a Grigori you suspect of abusing their power, you can address the Chorus about the incident, but you'd best have obeyed the commands you were given until told otherwise by a higher power."
Nadyrr thought on this some starting to write it down. He thought to himself it would really depend on how badly they were abusing it...hopefully it would never become an issue where there was that bad an abuse of power. He bit his lip slightly hearing of the Chorus from what he read his interest had been drawn to it.
Khamsyn thought about asking 'And in the unlikely event that a Grigori orders you not to address the Chorus about him or her?', but the earlier look Bardane gave him still haunted the back of his mind. He stayed quiet and made a few more notes, opting to maybe ask Grave later. He was trying to become a Grigori, so he'd know about the laws too.
'Law 8: Listen and Obey the Grigori.' Abacus figured that was easy to do, given how easy live was in the White District. He couldn't even begin to imagine an incident where the Grigori would have to execute their power.
Cyphr did pipe up at this point: "What about when you're out of the City? Would that law apply to the Gatekeepers too?" He wondered if the Grigori were like inside police and the Gatekeepers were like outside police, each doing their job on either side of the wall.
Bardane nodded at that. "In a way, yes, when you are out of the City, if your accompanying Gatekeeper gives you an order, follow it as you would a Grigori. They are acting for your safety." Bardane returned to the second-last of the laws. "The Ninth Law states that all Empyreans must obey the Decrees of the Chorus. You will note that the Chorus work together in council to reach their decisions, so no individual Chorus member will be out spouting commands on his or her own. These decrees with be decided upon en masse and announced over the PA system so that all are aware of any changes, ammendments or clauses introduced. These will also be posted in the hallways and streets so you will be informed."
Khamsyn nodded to himself. "We answer to Grigori, and Gatekeepers outside the city, Grigori answer to the Chorus members." He spoke in a hushed tone to himself, plotting out the line of heirarchy.
Abacus looked at Cyphr in surprise, then grinned. Gatekeepers! They went with them on the Botany trip, didn't they? And they had to flee back into the city... Abacus resisted the urge to sigh. He didn't get a good look at the reason they had to leave, but hey -- if it was for their safety, so be it. As long as he was in one piece, that's really all that mattered to him. Though, this was interesting: the grigori could act on their own, but the Chorus did not? He wondered what would happen if a Grigori issued an order that went against the will of the Chorus, aside from the Grigori getting dragged up before the Chorus and questioned.
Nadyrr dutifully wrote this law down as well his handwriting getting worse and worse as the lesson kept on. The Chorus seemed to have the worst job of it so far but at least in that it was a group of indviduals instead of just one.
Cyphr folded down his next finger, looking at his wiggling last pinky. As far as he was concerned, if the Chorus gave the orders that everyone else followed, then technically they were the most powerful of the lot... did the last law have to do with Sreaphim then?
"The final of the General Laws is rather obvious, but must be written nonetheless: All Empyreans regardless of position or station must obeyed the Laws of the Metatrons. This goes against anything any other Empyrean may tell you. The Metatrons breathed life into you, and they can take it awaay again if you do not behave accordingly to the Laws. They are all powerful, and out City's beacon and hope. They should be respected and treated with deferral." Bardane paused and gently rubbed his hands together. "Any questions?"
"What about the Seraphim? Are their orders on par with anyone elses? Like the Gatekeepers?" Khamsyn asked, curious that the position he wished to join was not mentioned in any law thus far.
Nadyrr hurriedly wrote out the last law, he had expected something along those lines considering the route the laws had been taking climbing up the ranks of power. Pausing he glanced over at Khamsyn...at hearing of the Seraphim he paused to listen after meeting Belladone whom he considered scary enough might be good food for thought.
Abacus pondered, then raised his hand and spoke when acknowledged. "Concerning the recent appearance of the Titan," he began, "What are we to do if, say, part of the Titan resurfaces and attempts to attack us? Since the second law states that we cannot initiate combat, would we then be in our right to fight back in order to defend and wait for an opprotunity to flee?"
"The Seraphim work outside the laws that concern the general public." Bardane sniffed airily. "They adhere to the Esoteric Laws, but their actions, creations and experiments have little effect on the everyday workings and knowledge of the other Empyreans in the City. Just as you do not see their protective webs, so too do their actions not inferere with yours. There will almost never be a case of a Seraphim issuing orders - excepting to members of his or her Guild." Bardane turned his attentions to Abacus' question with a thin smile. "You are most certainly allowed to defend yourself. In the likely event that part of Titan barges back upon the City - and whether or not it is aggressive or dangerous or merely humming aimlessly is yet to be seen. Be on your guard and practise methods of self-protection. If the Grigori and seraphim are taxed with protecting many Empyreans at a time, it won't hurt to be able to do some method of self-protection."
He nodded slightly, personally if it came to a case of self preservation he wouldnt' be sitting around idly.
"Thank you, sir," Abacus replied with a nod. He didn't like how Bardane said -likely event-, but hey -- at least he had a good reason to be suspicious of his surroundings. Or at least pay attention more, just to know the best place to run and hide and snap a picture before running again.
Khamsyn sighed slightly, not because he was disappointed about Seraphim not affecting their daily lives as directly as the others do, but because Bardane hinted the laws that pertain to them are in the other set of laws. The ones he'd not covering this class. Maybe some independant study was called for. "Thank you Professor. This has been most enlightening."
Nadyrr nodded, having been quiet almost the entire time but decided he better at least thank the professor, "thank you for the lesson."
Cyphr bounced out of his chair with a thud of flat feet on the floor. His chair and the nearby desk rattled from the shockwave. "Great! Law Credit!" Cyphr squawked happily stretching himself out and swinging his arms about dangerously. He flex out all his curled fingers, Ten Laws, ten fingers... who needs note paer anyway?
"Thank you for attending. I'll see to it that your credit is applied. If you have further questions, you of course can come ask me any time." Bardane stood up and smoothing his loincloth bowed to them, a short, simple bow of his head.
Chuckling at Cyphr's antics Nadyrr stretched as well being a bit more mindful so he didn't risk hitting anyone.
Abacus carefully blew on his notes and fanned them with another piece of paper, urging them to dry quickly. Were they dry? Yes? Good. He shuffled his papers together and capped his ink well, remembering to wipe his quill carefully on an ink-stained cloth before placing each item carefully into his backpack. A smothered bark of laughter escaped him at Cyphr's antics before Abacus stood up, returned Bardane's bow with one of his own, and left.
With one last quick wave Nadyrr slipped out of the classroom.
Khamsyn stood and bowed to Professor Bardane, then packed away his notes and writing supplies. It was a dry kind of class, but educational and now he knew what to do and what not to do. A definite survival skill. As he headed for the door, and paused, looking back at the Professor. Bardane wasn't as bad as he'd heard.
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Sor Teven rolled 1 100-sided dice:
70
Total: 70 (1-100)
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:03 pm
So much had been going on recently, with the resurfacing of Titan and his many parts, extra classes and tutoring sessions, duels, independant study, naked alone time with Belwen and of course Magical Theory class, that Khamsyn couldn't really get out of his room to work much. So, in the brilliant moment of thought, and upon okaying it with Grave and Requiem, he moved some of his supplies and his current project to his room to finish. It might not be as sucluded and well stocked as his work area was, but this way he could take a few minutes here and there between other projects to make progress. And progress was made.
It had been a few weeks since he began restoring Non Campus Mentis, and he was very nearly done. The whole process was starting to take him less and less time as he worked out what he could do while other parts of the restoration process were setting or drying. He had most of it down to a science now, so that even the more damaged references took less than a month to get back into shape. He was proud of his work, and it showed. Sometimes he wondered if anyone other than himself appreciated his work. Well, Grave and Requiem did he was sure, but what about the other students who all of a sudden had a wider variety of references to choose from. He sighed audibly and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm not in this for fame or recognition. I do this for the love of knowledge." He said to himself as he put the last sealing coat on Non Campus Mentis.
"Well, add one more to the list of completed works by Khamsyn, master of book restoration! Or, at least talented apprentice book restorer."
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