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votivescholarsWelcome to the world of the Durants...
Guests from the Nexus are met by an Isidor who is still dressed for business when she PINpoints them directly to the venue. She is on a mission and pleasantries are swiftly exchanged so that she can give instructions and explain how the day is going to go. The first thing to hit them is that it's hot, and bright. They are now in France, Isidor tells them, her narrative changes appropriately as she leads them from the small stone building, through immaculate gardens and towards a sprawling palace which she insists is small for what it is. This is the home of Gnonyma Durant, her grandmother. A 17th Century French palace once owned by royalty but was gifted to her family as thanks for 'a service' which Isidor says was so private that even the mage's journal doesn't detail what it was.
The air is dry and still, which makes the cool shade of indoors a pleasant relief. Like the ornate facade, the interior of the building is lined with intricate mouldings; decorated with impressive portraits; painted in bright, colourful shades; and filled with flowers and draping fabric. There is plenty of space, a fact emphasised by tiled floors that amplify each step and word. It looks as though almost every room is being used, from the way all the doors are held open for the steady flow of traffic. They are, however, let through the building and out another door. It's the quickest way to where seats sit lined up to face a gazebo decorated with ribbons and flowers that stands in front of a pond that might as well be a lake. Some people might notice the air above them ripple slightly, which certainly has nothing to do with the perfectly ornate poles at each corner of the seating area.
There are already plenty of people milling about. Servants stride from one place to another, expertly staying out of the way of the guests. There are some men and women who are dressed well for the occasion, but like the servants they stay out of the way and scan the area repeatedly, making no attempts to engage with the guests - security, judging by their earpieces. Members of the Durant family are easy to spot. They move in groups or pairs, often getting headed off by people looking to talk to them. A large majority of them also sport sashes of either red or purple with gold trim and ornate pins that vary from person to person. This, Isidor explains, is how you spot a patron and an accomplished scholar, based on the red or purple respectively. Viatorus is not yet an accomplished scholar, which is why they have no sashes. Members of Runa's family are equally easy to spot for those that know her. They would be the large group of tall, golden haired men and women with the distinctive Swedish accents happily talking to anyone and everyone.
After guiding them to their seats she tells them that the ceremony will be another twenty minutes and takes her leave to go and sort out the other numerous things on her endless list. Nobody bothers them while they wait. Everyone is too busy spotting old friends or making their way to their seats. It's a good time to enjoy the scenery. There is a small collection of musicians with harps, violins and flutes to one side. Even the breeze is smelling sweet with the perfume of the bouquets.
Within fifteen minutes Viatorus appears in a tailored suit of light grey and deep purple. He is closely followed by an older, stocky looking man in a black suit and purple tie, and sporting a red and black sash that is even more ornate than any others. Whatever the man is saying to him Viatorus barely gets more of a wave of recognition in to his friends before he's being guided to the gazebo and kept there. Shortly after he's joined by a young man and two women with tanned skin and black hair dressed in simple, but high quality clothes of purple, draping fabric. They look as serious as the man beside Viatorus. That is about the time Isidor reappears in more appropriate attire. She in turn heralds the appearance of a woman who shares her features, dressed in elegant gold and black, who is accompanied by a man whose black suit and purple tie are considerably more simple than his purple sash. Its intricacy matches that of the red one worn by the man standing next to Viatorus. The mood seems to shift at the appearance of these last two guests, becoming quieter, expectant. The Durants gather together, and Viatorus' fidgeting increases tenfold as they exchange words. The men with the sashes and the woman in gold take their seats, many of the guests follow suit.
The ceremony begins...
The young man in purple walks with his staff to stand at the head of the aisle and asks that everyone takes their seats. Exactly twenty minutes after the Nexus guests were shown their seats, the ceremony begins. The young man introduces himself as the high priest of Despoina and welcomes them to the union of the two families Durant and Nyström. As it is a ceremony to mark the union of two families with two sets of tradition and two sets of gods to honour, this will be a merging of these two cultures. It will be a handfasting ceremony of the Old Ways, he explains. This means that the couple will be as man and wife for a year and a day, and after that time they must choose if they wish to marry or separate. The guests now better informed, the priest stands back under the gazebo where a nervous Viatorus and patient Isidor stand waiting. On cue, the musicians start playing unfamiliar, but pleasant music to introduce the arrival of Ingirun dressed in white and accompanied by a rounded, red cheeked man, and followed by a woman who must certainly be one of her sisters. Once she was beside Viatorus, Ingirun's father sat down and the ceremony began.
The priest talked of uniting the two families, naming the virtues of both, as he got the bride-and-groom-to-be to hold hands which he bound in ribbons. He then took them through their vows before invoking the gods and goddesses to bless the union. The mixture of Greek and Norse deities made for a complicated blessing that might have been compared to seeking the approval of two powerful families. With wishes given, the priest unwrapped their hands and had the betrothed drink from the same cup. All in all it was a short ceremony as ceremonies go. A few more blessings were given and then the couple were prompted to kiss to seal the pact, which a bright red Viatorus did, very timidly. Luckily that only made Runa beam more brightly than she already was.
Dinner was in a large hall with close family at the head of the room and everyone else seated at round tables. Every position was carefully chosen, of course. The inevitable speeches came from the father of the bride (who rambled joyously about how happy he was to see his daughter with such a fine young man) and the mother of the groom (who gently, warmly, welcomed Runa into the family and spoke of how proud she and his father were). Drinks were plentiful, as were the courses. There were six in total with a selection of each: Appetisers, soup, fish, the main course, dessert, and a palate cleanser. No one will be going hungry tonight, that's a certainty.
After dinner it's Isidor who stands to say a few last words. She thanks everyone for coming and instructs them to enjoy the evening and all the festivities which "will go on at least until dawn". With that, guests are bid to go and enjoy the entertainment filling the palace.
And now for the party...
There isn't a single place that isn't being used for the party. The gardens have pleasant music playing in them, chairs and tables laid out with cushions and blankets for people to lounge in. One of the largest halls is set out for dancers and their spectators to enjoy live musicians that will play ballroom music for the first part of the evening and be replaced by a band that plays modern music for the second. There is a small room of bookshelves and leather armchairs where men congregate to sip whiskey. Rooms with couches and chairs have people moving in and out of them joining and starting conversations. The priest tends to three statues of goddesses that stand at the end of one room. Here he collects gifts and offerings for the couple's happy future. A man with a perfect smile enthralls a crowd with stories that are only exciting because of the way he tells them. A demure woman facilitates a conversation between straight backed men with chiseled features and shorter tanned men who look equally as disciplined. Servants are found throughout, bringing drinks and snacks to anyone who asks or so much as looks as if they're considering either.
((Feel free to backtag, threadhop, start threads, look for more NPCs, whatever you like! If you're unsure of something, looking for more details, or want to plot then you know the drill - Send a message my way and we'll chat!
Note about gifts: It will say on your character's invitation that gifts are optional and it is suggested that a gift to the gods/goddesses would be more than suitable instead.))
The Nyströms | Hephaestia | The Archon, Liselotte & Stathis | The Priest | Oraskis - The Seer
Lieselotte or Stathis | Poenia & Sagyne | Harrowheart & Anna | Adia | Felix & Jim | Evening Event | Isidor | Klaus
Guests from the Nexus are met by an Isidor who is still dressed for business when she PINpoints them directly to the venue. She is on a mission and pleasantries are swiftly exchanged so that she can give instructions and explain how the day is going to go. The first thing to hit them is that it's hot, and bright. They are now in France, Isidor tells them, her narrative changes appropriately as she leads them from the small stone building, through immaculate gardens and towards a sprawling palace which she insists is small for what it is. This is the home of Gnonyma Durant, her grandmother. A 17th Century French palace once owned by royalty but was gifted to her family as thanks for 'a service' which Isidor says was so private that even the mage's journal doesn't detail what it was.
The air is dry and still, which makes the cool shade of indoors a pleasant relief. Like the ornate facade, the interior of the building is lined with intricate mouldings; decorated with impressive portraits; painted in bright, colourful shades; and filled with flowers and draping fabric. There is plenty of space, a fact emphasised by tiled floors that amplify each step and word. It looks as though almost every room is being used, from the way all the doors are held open for the steady flow of traffic. They are, however, let through the building and out another door. It's the quickest way to where seats sit lined up to face a gazebo decorated with ribbons and flowers that stands in front of a pond that might as well be a lake. Some people might notice the air above them ripple slightly, which certainly has nothing to do with the perfectly ornate poles at each corner of the seating area.
There are already plenty of people milling about. Servants stride from one place to another, expertly staying out of the way of the guests. There are some men and women who are dressed well for the occasion, but like the servants they stay out of the way and scan the area repeatedly, making no attempts to engage with the guests - security, judging by their earpieces. Members of the Durant family are easy to spot. They move in groups or pairs, often getting headed off by people looking to talk to them. A large majority of them also sport sashes of either red or purple with gold trim and ornate pins that vary from person to person. This, Isidor explains, is how you spot a patron and an accomplished scholar, based on the red or purple respectively. Viatorus is not yet an accomplished scholar, which is why they have no sashes. Members of Runa's family are equally easy to spot for those that know her. They would be the large group of tall, golden haired men and women with the distinctive Swedish accents happily talking to anyone and everyone.
After guiding them to their seats she tells them that the ceremony will be another twenty minutes and takes her leave to go and sort out the other numerous things on her endless list. Nobody bothers them while they wait. Everyone is too busy spotting old friends or making their way to their seats. It's a good time to enjoy the scenery. There is a small collection of musicians with harps, violins and flutes to one side. Even the breeze is smelling sweet with the perfume of the bouquets.
Within fifteen minutes Viatorus appears in a tailored suit of light grey and deep purple. He is closely followed by an older, stocky looking man in a black suit and purple tie, and sporting a red and black sash that is even more ornate than any others. Whatever the man is saying to him Viatorus barely gets more of a wave of recognition in to his friends before he's being guided to the gazebo and kept there. Shortly after he's joined by a young man and two women with tanned skin and black hair dressed in simple, but high quality clothes of purple, draping fabric. They look as serious as the man beside Viatorus. That is about the time Isidor reappears in more appropriate attire. She in turn heralds the appearance of a woman who shares her features, dressed in elegant gold and black, who is accompanied by a man whose black suit and purple tie are considerably more simple than his purple sash. Its intricacy matches that of the red one worn by the man standing next to Viatorus. The mood seems to shift at the appearance of these last two guests, becoming quieter, expectant. The Durants gather together, and Viatorus' fidgeting increases tenfold as they exchange words. The men with the sashes and the woman in gold take their seats, many of the guests follow suit.
The ceremony begins...
The young man in purple walks with his staff to stand at the head of the aisle and asks that everyone takes their seats. Exactly twenty minutes after the Nexus guests were shown their seats, the ceremony begins. The young man introduces himself as the high priest of Despoina and welcomes them to the union of the two families Durant and Nyström. As it is a ceremony to mark the union of two families with two sets of tradition and two sets of gods to honour, this will be a merging of these two cultures. It will be a handfasting ceremony of the Old Ways, he explains. This means that the couple will be as man and wife for a year and a day, and after that time they must choose if they wish to marry or separate. The guests now better informed, the priest stands back under the gazebo where a nervous Viatorus and patient Isidor stand waiting. On cue, the musicians start playing unfamiliar, but pleasant music to introduce the arrival of Ingirun dressed in white and accompanied by a rounded, red cheeked man, and followed by a woman who must certainly be one of her sisters. Once she was beside Viatorus, Ingirun's father sat down and the ceremony began.
The priest talked of uniting the two families, naming the virtues of both, as he got the bride-and-groom-to-be to hold hands which he bound in ribbons. He then took them through their vows before invoking the gods and goddesses to bless the union. The mixture of Greek and Norse deities made for a complicated blessing that might have been compared to seeking the approval of two powerful families. With wishes given, the priest unwrapped their hands and had the betrothed drink from the same cup. All in all it was a short ceremony as ceremonies go. A few more blessings were given and then the couple were prompted to kiss to seal the pact, which a bright red Viatorus did, very timidly. Luckily that only made Runa beam more brightly than she already was.
Dinner was in a large hall with close family at the head of the room and everyone else seated at round tables. Every position was carefully chosen, of course. The inevitable speeches came from the father of the bride (who rambled joyously about how happy he was to see his daughter with such a fine young man) and the mother of the groom (who gently, warmly, welcomed Runa into the family and spoke of how proud she and his father were). Drinks were plentiful, as were the courses. There were six in total with a selection of each: Appetisers, soup, fish, the main course, dessert, and a palate cleanser. No one will be going hungry tonight, that's a certainty.
After dinner it's Isidor who stands to say a few last words. She thanks everyone for coming and instructs them to enjoy the evening and all the festivities which "will go on at least until dawn". With that, guests are bid to go and enjoy the entertainment filling the palace.
And now for the party...
There isn't a single place that isn't being used for the party. The gardens have pleasant music playing in them, chairs and tables laid out with cushions and blankets for people to lounge in. One of the largest halls is set out for dancers and their spectators to enjoy live musicians that will play ballroom music for the first part of the evening and be replaced by a band that plays modern music for the second. There is a small room of bookshelves and leather armchairs where men congregate to sip whiskey. Rooms with couches and chairs have people moving in and out of them joining and starting conversations. The priest tends to three statues of goddesses that stand at the end of one room. Here he collects gifts and offerings for the couple's happy future. A man with a perfect smile enthralls a crowd with stories that are only exciting because of the way he tells them. A demure woman facilitates a conversation between straight backed men with chiseled features and shorter tanned men who look equally as disciplined. Servants are found throughout, bringing drinks and snacks to anyone who asks or so much as looks as if they're considering either.
((Feel free to backtag, threadhop, start threads, look for more NPCs, whatever you like! If you're unsure of something, looking for more details, or want to plot then you know the drill - Send a message my way and we'll chat!
Note about gifts: It will say on your character's invitation that gifts are optional and it is suggested that a gift to the gods/goddesses would be more than suitable instead.))
✣ · ✣ · ✣ · ✣
The Nyströms | Hephaestia | The Archon, Liselotte & Stathis | The Priest | Oraskis - The Seer
Lieselotte or Stathis | Poenia & Sagyne | Harrowheart & Anna | Adia | Felix & Jim | Evening Event | Isidor | Klaus
no subject
Date: 2017-07-25 11:46 am (UTC)Someone miiight have picked up from the crowd that there were one or two doubters on this score. And Felix gets to cast the Empire's vote on the matter, which is a pretty outsized vote.
He's also not showing off to Jim how well he can perform this dance. Not at all...
no subject
Date: 2017-07-25 12:08 pm (UTC)"His skills have earned him quite the reputation and respect in the Nexus." He confirms Felix's praise quietly. While Jim has heard no such doubt among the attendees here he's the sort of man who always makes sure to speak up for his friends. Wants them to be respected.
There's a quality to Felix's charms that even Jim can't compare to. He's too proud a man to be able to pull off such a performance as well as the mage. His own bearing is much more that of a military man, though with his rank it's probably not much of a surprise. Starfleet does have a militaristic organization and culture even if their members are not soldiers.
Though he can't hide the soft smile he has when his gaze flits from the Archon to watching Felix work. Seeing him take charge with complete confidence in his own actions. And for good reason.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-25 09:15 pm (UTC)"Magic is a powerful, integral part of the world-" His eyes flicker to the captain and amends, "Our world. To share it with others in any way other than with the most skill and excellence we can muster would be unacceptably disrespectful."
With that said, he looks at Felix once more. "Something I expect you understand all too well, Mister Caelus. Am I correct in understanding that you are a practicing mage, and that the military from your world incorporates magic into its services?"
no subject
Date: 2017-07-25 09:38 pm (UTC)"Battlemages have been a crucial part of the Imperial military since the founding days of the First Empire. Legion mages shield troops from arrows and hostile magic, make the impassable passable, heal the wounded, scry for enemy movements... and of course, take the field with their own offensive magic. To name but a few of our roles. Naturally, the honor of the Legion - and the Emperor - is ours to uphold."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-25 10:20 pm (UTC)The dig and ever present reminder that Jim is an Outsider here. It's something that he nods politely to all the same. It's not as though the senior Durant speaks a falsehood. While Jim doesn't view himself or his people as lesser for it, that is an argument for another day. Tonight is a night of celebration.
And for furthering Felix's standing. That, Jim can see to quite well.
"From what I've seen, it's been nothing short of amazing." He's seen magic before--has been to Tamriel and taken in a world built on such magics. A brief pause before Jim smiles gratefully and tips his head. "Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of being here on this eve."
By Felix's gods he is really laying the charm and the flowery speech on thick tonight. Jim gives him a supportive smile. It all seems to be going rather well, probably. Maybe?
The Archon is impossible to read. Probably through years of practice, at that. But Felix isn't being dismissed yet so that's probably a good sign.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-26 01:16 pm (UTC)He waits until Felix and Jim have both finished before he speaks again. If he didn't have the important position it would be easy to imagine him getting interrupted or dismissed in the heart of a conversation.
"You are both welcome guests," he says then. "The conversations between a man from a world of science and a man from a world of magic must be quite interesting. To see two sides of a subject is something too few strive to seek."
He leaves a moment of silence as he looks between them and considers them both. "What conclusions have you come to about science and magic? Can science be used to quantify magic? Can magic be used to build upon scientific findings?"
no subject
Date: 2017-07-26 07:58 pm (UTC)"We certainly enjoy many long and fruitful discussions," he says, giving Jim a smile of fond admiration. Jim may think he's here to boost Felix's standing but the conjurer sees it differently. "I think at present we reach more questions than conclusions, but in my view they're very complementary. The captain is endlessly offering insights and ideas that simply wouldn't occur to a mage of my realm. And that is, of course, to say nothing of his knowledge and experience from traveling the Void itself..."
Yes, fellow mages, you may heal or scorch or call up your ancestors for a lark, but where does that get you? His captain sails around in space. Beat that.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-26 10:29 pm (UTC)"We always enjoy our discussions. I've yet to crack any of his magics with mathematics or science, but there does seem to be a fair amount of both inherent in Felix's schools whether intentional or not. Why rituals must be drawn just so, what the purpose is behind the phases of the moon when alchemy is at it's most potent--I'm certain given enough collaboration the end results from mixing the two would be...beyond either of our individual imaginations."
If any of his degrees in astrophysics or computer science could bolster and strengthen Felix's already amazing magic Jim would throw himself headlong into research to do so.
"His magics have proven to be an immediate solution where I would otherwise have none. Science does not work nearly as quickly as magic. Yours are worlds I can only begin to understand, but every day I find it more and more fascinating."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-28 10:44 am (UTC)"I would be interested in any findings you come across in your discussions. It is my belief that areas of study should collaborate as much as is safely possible to further our understanding of the universe around us. As you say, a fresh perspective can offer invaluable insight."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-28 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-07-28 09:49 pm (UTC)Considering they are in a house full of powerful mages Jim assumes the answer is a hearty no, but it never hurts to ask. He waits for the mage to confirm or deny before looking up at the Archon.
"There are varying levels of inherent magical energy present in different worlds. My own world must be arcane-scarce because Felix has a much more difficult time using magics there than he does in either the Nexus or his own world. Do you have such dead zones here that you're aware of? Near as I can figure it must be akin to living at a high altitude. Getting used to the relative scarcity of oxygen in the air."
It's perhaps the only observation Jim has made with any real weight and statistically significant data points behind it. But the Archon did ask for him to share. He's just glad he has the one at least.
butting in for a tag
Date: 2017-07-29 10:20 pm (UTC)Pale light gathers in his hand, swirling with frost that gathers on his fingers and chills the air around it. It brightens as Felix closes his hand, dims as he relaxes his fingers and releases the spell without casting.
"It is perhaps a little more difficult than in my own realm, but I'm less attuned to the magic of this world." Felix doesn't want to imply that he's feeling weak here, and certainly he had no trouble carrying out other magics he doesn't care to bring up in front of the Archon. "Certainly easier than in your realm, captain. I have my own theory on the cause, but thus far I've visited too few planes to draw useful comparisons."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-29 11:30 pm (UTC)The Archon watches with the same calmness with which regarded the rest of their conversation. He eyes flick back to Felix's face once the spell is dismissed. "Frost magic is considered a difficult elemental magic in this world." He takes a sip from his glass. "That may be a factor in your casting."
Then he nods once to Jim's questions. "There are factors that can influence a mage's ability to cast, but they are few and far between for those with a magical bloodline. The most prominent is a stone that nullifies magic. There have been documented cases of rooms and buildings being partially or completely made of this stone for the purposes of restricting magic. But apart from these cases, if the magic is in the caster's blood there is very little that restricts it."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-30 12:00 am (UTC)But, the Archon has raised an interesting counter-point. Up until now Jim had been operating under the idea that magic drew upon various outside elements readily available in the world but were unknown or undefined by science. Felix has mentioned before that most anyone can learn how to do some level of basic magic on Tamriel with the proper training and education.
But now, the Archon has made it sound like magic is more a biological based process that is reflective of the caster moreso than his surroundings. Interesting.
"I hadn't considered the process to be inherently genetic or biological in nature." There would be a way to discern if it was a trait caused by a mutation in the human DNA which has resulted in a separate but nearly identical 'breed' of human. But he doesn't have access to a Tricorder or Bones' lab at the moment.
"I've yet to have a chance to test it, but I've been curious if different worlds in my galaxy have different background levels of inherent arcane energies. Like any other element. The only real place Felix has tried it has been on my ship, which is obviously travelling through empty space."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-30 12:21 pm (UTC)"It might be interesting to determine whether different places are more conducive to certain sorts of magic, as well as magic in general," he remarks. "Bloodline certainly plays a part in magical talent in Tamriel, but we believe there are other factors at work too. Chance, divine favor, the stars of one's birth..." He chuckles, looking between captain and Archon. "It seems we already have a dozen lines of inquiry, if we hope to unravel the nature of magic itself."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-31 11:18 am (UTC)"Anyone can use magic if they know how to, but they are limited in what they can do. Casting such as that indicates a magical bloodline." His eyes shift to Felix. "However, factors like those you mention do influence a person's ability to use magic."
"I would expect that different realms have different levels of energy as you suspect, captain. For example, the Fae realm is reputed to be saturated with magic, so why not a realm opposite to that? It is an interesting line of enquiry, but not one many people get the opportunity to pursue."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-31 12:00 pm (UTC)Just one more reason to push onward with his pet project, isn't it? Imagining Felix offworld on Away missions with his crew, conducting his own research on the inherent intricacies of magic on other worlds with as much passion as they do with their own lines of research is a prospect that thrills the captain. He could design a section of one of the science labs specifically for the conjurer. Begin keeping a log of what's been tested.
It may not be much of a benefit to his own world--these studies--but perhaps it would be to Nirn or this world Viatorus hails from.
"For now, we'll have to make do with the avenues of study available. It certainly sounds like there are plenty of other options."
Can he make that dream a reality? Jim curls one hand into a fist at his side. No such thing as impossible. He just has to figure out how.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-31 03:01 pm (UTC)"With a little exploration, I don't doubt we'll have some unique research opportunities to show you, sir. I hope we shall have another chance to discuss them in due course." They have, he thinks, accomplished enough here for the time being. And he judges the Archon a man ill-at-ease with excessive socializing, one who might appreciate a brisk exchange.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-04 06:13 pm (UTC)He simply nods his head in agreement and then looks between the two of them. "I wish you both luck in your research, and your explorations."
no subject
Date: 2017-08-07 10:44 pm (UTC)Even if Jim hadn't intended on this being his destination when he'd met up with Felix again the statement is in fact a true one. The meeting has been a pleasant surprise to the captain and has opened up a more public discourse to the very things he and Felix have spent idle hours talking about over food or in between work in the time they've known each other.
"We'll leave you to the festivities."
That grip Jim has on Felix's arm as he turns to leave, however, says that the conjurer isn't going to get out of this without at least some words exchanged for dropping this diplomatic meeting on Jim with no warning whatsoever.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-08 04:08 pm (UTC)Well, but he'll investigate that in another moment. In this one, at least, he is remarkably pleased with himself...