public channel, d56

[kingsroads]

[ Now that a day's gone by with nobody trying to put a hit on the Ringmaster, it's the PERFECT time to ask his creepy questions. ]

How many of you have died before, whether on your world or at the Carnival? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, I understand this might be a sore subject for some.

And if you have died, how were you brought back to life? Please try to be as detailed in your answer as possible.

[ just asked like no big deal, there's nothing weird about asking how people died in the slightest. c: ]

Comments

[kingsroads]

[ in a move that will surely make Lambert feel comfortable, Strange chirpily answers, ] Oh! Well, I've already fulfilled the 'going mad' requirement, though mine was a deliberate choice. No power involved in the slightest.

[whattaprick]

[ WAY TO MAKE HIM HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT JOINING. ]

Uh-huh.

[ He sounds ... deeply skeptical ... ]

[kingsroads]

[ Strange just continues on like there's nothing to be skeptical about in the slightest. c: ]

How many mages would you say your world has, by the way?

[whattaprick]

More than there are Witchers, that much I can tell you.

Otherwise, depends what you count as a mage. The ones that come out of the big schools who always have their nose in a book, not many, though there sure are enough sorceresses to get people into trouble. Then you've got druids and priests talking to their gods. After that, you get all those village witches and pellars who do the potions charms for country folk.

[ A pause. ]

Why?

[kingsroads]

My world has two. Of course, there are the theoretical magicians, but they only discuss magic, not practice it. And there are the street magicians but those are more slight of hand than actual magic. So all in all, there's really only two proper magicians.

[ well, two magicians and Childermass. ]

I'm afraid I don't know what a 'Witcher' is, though.

[whattaprick]

Only two? What happened, did someone kill them all?

[ Well, that's what Radovid would want. ]

As for what a Witcher is ... you want the short version, or the long?

[kingsroads]

Not at all. Magic simply hasn't existed in my world for a few hundred years.

[ It's stated in a very matter of fact tone. It's weird, yes, especially considering that so many other worlds here are bursting with magic, but it is what it is. ]

And I suppose I want the long version.

[ he will straight up get distracted halfway through the long version. ]

[whattaprick]

Witchers kill monsters, as long as someone's willing to pay for it.

[ The short version was 'Witchers kill monsters.' ]

[kingsroads]

...that's it?

[ that's the long version??? ]

[whattaprick]

Nothing comes free. I thought a sorcerer would know that better than anyone.

If I had a drink, on the other hand, I can get all kinds of talkative.

[kingsroads]

I do know where some alcohol is. Shall we get a drink?

[whattaprick]

I thought you'd never ask.

[ A beat. ]

Maybe wait until we're not underwater, though. This isn't permanent, right?

[kingsroads]

Oh. Yes, that would be a little inconvenient.

[ it's only now occurring to Strange that ah, having alcohol while underwater might be a little bit of an issue. ]

And no, I don't think it would be. The Carnival's last stop wasn't permanent, after all.

[whattaprick]

Good, because I didn't sign up to become a fish.

So before you get me a drink, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?

[kingsroads]

Oh, you're right! My name is Jonathan Strange. And yourself?