public channel - D148 - fae jargon 101

[kingsroads]

If anyone, older member or newer arrival, wants information on... [ oh lord, this is going to take a while. Strange sighs slightly before obviously reading off a list of terms he's written down. ] Arcadia, the Rose Queen, Ignatius, Nightshade, the Count of Crows, Frost, the Summer Court, the Winter Court, how faerie court hierarchies work, the Wyld Fae, or the Beast, then I'll be happy to tell you what I know. I picked up some knowledge from my time in Portland and through conversations with the fae here and, for obvious reasons, don't want to bore all of you with far too many details and speculations at once.

[ There's a pause, partly to catch his friggen breath, before Strange continues talking. ]

I can at least explain Portland, though--for our new arrivals, of course. It's a city where the carnival was recently trapped for a month. Many members had their memories altered and believed they lived in the city for their entire lives. It was a...trying experience.

[ Understatement of the century. Strange sighs, like he's steeling himself for what he's going to say next. ]

Portland had it's own set of fae, some of whom I mentioned in my previous list. Plenty of the carnival members have ill-will towards those fae, who seemed determined to vex us and ruin our lives during that month. And despite the fact that we've left that world, I've a feeling that we'll see those fae again. Now that the Severing's removed, they can travel to different worlds the same way the Ringmaster can. And it wouldn't surprise me if some tried to reclaim what or who they believe they lost.

[ how dramatic! And quite possibly the worst way to end a broadcast as Strange just flips the radio off then and there. He has absolutely no clue how to best END the broadcast so not being cryptic is officially for chumps. ]

Comments

[kingsroads]

[ He means through the mirror, Yuya, gosh get it straight.

Strange walks over to the couch...though he does give the duel disk a noticeably confused look because what the hell is that thing, Strange has zero clue what purpose it could serve. Still, now that there's space on the couch to sit down, Strange does so. ]

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, your spell does work in the carnival, correct?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya nods emphatically.] We tested it! It definitely works the same as before.

[Speaking of that--Yuya misses Strange's look as he sets the duel disk in his lap and skims over his notes.] It blocks them from an area. I guess because they can't get into a place they know they're not allowed in? If you feel strongly then the spell gets stronger, too, so it works better if you get more people casting it.

[Greater power of will and all that.] I guess being really good at magic could make it stronger, too.

[kingsroads]

Well if you need someone good at magic, I can certainly help with that part. [ Was that egotistical? Maybe. Does Strange care? Not really. He is one of the more accomplished magicians in the carnival, that's simply a matter of fact. ]

Does the spell only work if you're at the building? No long-distance protection or anything of that sort?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya smiles wryly at the first part. Seems like that hasn't changed.]

No, it's like... building a fence? It stays up no matter where I go. Once we completed it, the Rose Queen's vines couldn't get in anymore unless someone brought them in.

[He rubs the back of his head.] But it was just a few of us, so I don't know if it would have worked against the Rose Queen herself. [That would surely have needed a lot more will and a lot more power, but at least her magical reach was stopped.]

[kingsroads]

I doubt it would have, [ Strange has to admit. Sorry, Yuya! That's the truth! ]

What I mean though was do you have to be physically at the site you want to cast the spell on when you cast the spell. For example, could you cast the spell over my trailer while we are at your trailer?

[hippocarnival]

Oh, probably? I haven't tried casting it from somewhere else, but I think I'd still need to be able to see it.

[kingsroads]

I do happen to know a few scrying spells. I could provide the visuals, you cast the spell, we see if it works.

[ After all, he can't really figure out how to change the spell until he learns the ins and outs of it. ]

[hippocarnival]

Just like in Portland, right? [He doesn't know what anyone could already do, but most people seem to have maintained abilities from there.

He nods.] We won't know until we try. Did you want to try putting a barrier around your trailer?

[kingsroads]

The one in Portland was just like the one from England. [ Strange can't help but get a little frowny at that. There's no way that Yuya could have known that, of course, but it still stings his pride that Yuya thought scrying was something he couldn't do already. He knew that magic before they were all stuck in Portland, thank you very much, his scrying is a product of good proper English magic. ]

And I suppose so! I can work around whatever's easiest for you. Although...do you have a large basin? Preferably silver, but I can make do. If not, I'll need to go back to my trailer.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya raises a brow. He almost asks why Stdange can't do it on the table again, but given how touchy the subject of Portland already is... maybe he shouldn't.]

Just the sink. Or the bathtub. [Those are basin-y, right.]

[kingsroads]

[ Based on Strange's little frown of an expression, that's not basin-y enough. ]

I'll be right back. [ He stands up, as if to head over back to Yuya's bathroom before he pauses. ]

That is, unless you'd rather we cast the spell in my trailer to ward your trailer. Though I wouldn't be surprised if you've warded it already.

[hippocarnival]

... You know, I haven't warded it permanently yet. [He completely forgot in addition to using this to protect everyone else he should protect himself. But then, he's not the one being directly chased by the Fae.

So he gets up to follow Strange.] Let's do that! We can still ward your trailer while we're there.

[kingsroads]

We'll have to make certain the wards recognize my roommate, [ Strange continues talking as he makes his way back to Yuya's bathroom. Because of course they're using mirror travel, why wouldn't they be? ] And come over here, I'll open up a passage for you to go through.

[ And so he can show off. As he approaches Yuya's mirror, Strange mutters a spell under his breath. ]

There we go. Place your hand on the mirror and you'll arrive at my trailer. I'll follow shortly.

[hippocarnival]

Well, it only blocks the Fae I choose--[He trails off when Strange veers to the bathroom and not the door.

He looks between Strange and the mirror. Was that how he got in? He's not totally sure, but he does as he's told and presses his hand to the mirror--

And stumbles out the other side, turning around quickly.] Whoa!

[kingsroads]

[ Thankfully, Strange has taken his bathroom mirror off the wall. It's currently leaning against the bathroom wall, though propped up on a small crate so that Strange doesn't have to bend down as far to touch it. The travel is instantaneous: Yuya goes from his bathroom to Strange's bathroom in a blink of an eye.

And, a moment or so later, Strange himself appears. He's briefly visible in the mirror for a hot second before he steps out of the mirror, taking care not to run into Yuya. ]

I can travel via other reflections as well, but I prefer mirrors over anything else.

[ And, he takes a few steps to move out of the way and let Yuya exit the bathroom. The trailer's mostly clean, though there are a few stacks of paper on the kitchen table weighed down by a shiny red jewel, various tacky shell covered knick-knacks in odd places, and an apple crate turned bookshelf sitting near the bunk beds.

Once Yuya's moved enough to let him leave the bathroom, Strange makes a beeline for the kitchen area and starts rummaging through one of the cabinets. ]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya backs up to give Strange room, turning on his heels to follow him out of the bathroom and to the kitchen. He's looking around the trailer curiously, but he doesn't get too close to anything to touch it.]

Does it make a difference? [Or is it just a matter of preferring mirrors as an object.]

[kingsroads]

It does to me, [ Strange says, despite the fact that his head's in the cabinet. Carefully, he pulls out a silver basin, about a foot and a half in diameter, but leaves the cabinet door open. ] It's easier for me to use mirrors.

[ He sets the basin down on the table, then walks over to the cabinet again. Pulling out a pitcher, he closes the cabinet door with his foot and turns on the sink to fill the pitcher with water. ]

They feel more familiar. I don't know if it's something to do with the magic or something to do with me, but there you have it.

[hippocarnival]

[Easier, huh? That's enough of an explanation for Yuya--he assumes the basin is the same deal.

He leans against the edge of the table as Strange prepares the basin, idly looking over all his notes (thst he probably can't read if they're English).] You said you could identify magic--will you be able to see it if it works?

[Yuya's sure he can feel when it does, but a second opinion won't hurt since there's no visual cues.]

[kingsroads]

[ Yeah, they're 100% English, sorry Yuya. There's probably a few shitty drawings in there if he looks hard enough. Strange can't draw worth a damn so it's a lot of variations on 'maybe this is a tree?' and 'well it has four legs' cause whoops, the labeling is in English.

Walking back to the basin, Strange pours the water from the pitcher into the basin, muttering under his breath as he does so. Strange moves his finger over the basin, tracing it into four sections. A light glows as Strange traces those lines. He repeats that gesture once more and then, visible in the basin is the exterior of Yuya's trailer. ]

There we go. And yes, I should be able to see if it works. [ he hopes. ]

[hippocarnival]

Okay. [Yuya nods, putting his hands on the basin as he leans over to peer at the image. He moves his hands to hold them over the water and focus on his trailer. He thinks, of his ownership of the trailer, his claim, and the Fae that he wants to keep out--the Rose Queen.

Strange may notice the magic concentrating around his hands, gesturing before it disperses away to form itself as a barrier.

A barrier not around his trailer, but the basin. This is now an anti-fae basin.]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange does notice the magic. This is magic he faintly remembers from Portland, so he's able to piece out that much. Likewise, there's a bright feeling to it that his mind supplies as Yuya's. So as Yuya casts the spell, he's able to piece out just what the kid can do...

...aaaaand that it's just formed around the basin. ]

There's good news and bad news. The theory of the spell worked, but in practice...I'm afraid it's limited to my scrying basin.

[ So the spell doesn't work long distance! That's still good to know! Strange doesn't seem put out or annoyed, he's just looking at the basin as if somehow examining the magic will be able to tell him what went wrong. ]

[hippocarnival]

Eh? [Yuya scrutinizes the basin. Yeah... yeah that didn't work quite right. He scratches his head.] I guess it only works if I can reach it.

[The magic pulls around him first after all, though Yuya's not savvy enough about magic to catch onto that detail. He pulls the paper out of his pocket again.] I didn't really read about the magic behind the spell, just how to do it.

[kingsroads]

The magic was coming from your hands, [ Strange adds in, as if this reply makes perfect sense. Which is interesting. Unlike Strange's English magic which mostly serves as the go-between from Strange to elements, this magical power was coming directly from Yuya himself. ]

It obviously doesn't have to be physical touch, but perhaps it's based on proximity as well as sight of what you're targeting. What if you try to ward a building that you can see, but you're further away from?

[hippocarnival]

We were always at least a few feet close to the buildings. I don't know what the limit is, but it might be less because I'm not a magician. [Just a kid with one useful spell.] Why would we need to do it from far away?

[kingsroads]

[ That...is a good question. ]

We want to find the limits of the spell, don't we? How else can we do that if we don't try every possibility!

[ Strange wants to find the limits of the spell. Whether Yuya does or doesn't is a whole different story. ]