A Learning Experience [Talon]

[Hilana Chenzira]

At the way Aoren became still, Kor abandoned the pictographs that he was studying to turn back towards the young woman and the now suspect book in question. “What tower was this?” He wanted to know, looking from one to the other. When the red dragon snatched the book, Hilana let it go without a fight, because in that instant, Kor’s arms were around her waist and yanked her back and into his arms to shield her and Etzalal, who had stuck their head out and spat sparks at the book.

Helping!

Hilana could distantly hear the shrieking from where she was wrapped up against Kor’s chest, drawn back and away from the new danger. She did manage to peek over his arm, brown eyes enormous with awe and horror. Well, if her own grimoire and cookbooks did that in fifty years, Founders help anyone who wanted to inspect them... but all things considered, that was decidedly unlikely. She felt safe and secure there, wrapped up as she was and she could feel the way the air was circulating around them to alter the sheer volume from the tome that was being incinerating. The big man had easily backed her well out of the way now, and he did not want Hilana being struck by some sort of arcane hostility.

Only once the barrier was enacted did her friend release her, smoothing her blouse and hair at the shoulder, searching her face with concern. But she was alright, to his eye - nothing untoward, just a little shocked. He laid a large hand comfortingly on her shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze to help sooth the tension there, and to reassure her. He was about to ask again, when Aoren spoke up and said the one name he didn’t want to hear.

It was almost funny how when Hilana got mad, she really did resemble a hurricane crammed inside skin. And by some chance, she had found someone who looked positively thunderous at the mere mention of Kaitos Diraegon. "I hope he can't use that to get access to here," Hilana was looking at the black etchings, looking grim. "No cloth of comfort for you, book." Etzalal hissed an agreement, flapping their wings and rising up above Hilana and Kor, their posture threatening in the direction of the barrier. Small, but determined.

"How did you recognize that? Or get into a tower where there were more of those pictographs?" Kor looked from the contained markings to Hilana. She was smart, she had her strange ways, but that sort of tower was the stuff of legend. And while he had no doubt for her capacity to get into things, that was bordering on unbelievable.

"You remember the Eclipse?" Kor nodded. "I think his followers caused it to start the process of bringing him back, or resurrecting him. When Aoren and I went to the Crystal Tower in the West... we found ourselves in another Tower, and I think it belonged to Kaitos. It's why my hands sometimes get arthritic. From witnessing the Sundering."

Her companion got his anger under control, and found one of her hands to squeeze it gently. "Good eye, and well-spotted."

[Talon]

T A L O N

She arrived without fanfare, appearing between one breath and the next, carried by the powers of teleportation. Beside her was Rien, Talon’s younger brother, flanked by a dozen armored Siltori. Six of them women, six of them Avialae of Siltori lineage. The Avialae among them were clearly ready to jump into the fray. Sahfri’s sharp gaze immediately assessed the area before settling upon her son. When she moved, her entourage fanned out. The women formed a circle around the barrier that Talon had erected, joining their hands together in what was clearly a group channeling of magic. The winged men took up posts, eyes quietly scanning the room with senses both mundane and magical.

The Iron Queen spared neither Hilana nor Kor a glance as she glided forward, hands outstretched toward her son. Talon met his mother, taking her hands. After a brief inspection, something he was accustomed to whenever his mother sensed distress. When her inspection was finished, she then looked over to their guests. As her steely gaze found Hilana, it would have been easy to believe that in a different life, this woman might have been a priestess of the Midnight Mother. Perhaps she was. That stare lingered for a moment before Rien stepped forward, a curious expression on his face.

Talon glanced toward the markings on the floor. Rien quirked a brow before he looked to Aoren. The red-haired man narrowed his eyes, a growl rumbling in his chest. Rien snorted before shaking his head with a smirk. Where Talon took after their mother most strongly in terms of his features, Rien was the spitting image of their late father in his younger years. He was examining the sealed markings with a critical eye before smiling toward Hilana and Kor with a small wink and a wave of his hand.

A concerned look crossed Talon’s features. His mother pet his arm reassuringly. Talon’s posture relaxed somewhat before he nodded.

Sahfri gave her elder son an expectant look. Wordlessly, Talon gestured first to the slab of aetherite, then to Hilana and Kor, and then to the sealed markings on the floor.

He nodded to the sealed markings that were being inspected by the six Siltori women. Sahfri stepped up to the edge of the sealed markings, examining them with a critical eye. She then looked to the aetherite slab.

Talon both felt and heard the soft communication that filtered across the Bonds and Mesmer guided connections he shared with his family. Rien and two of the Siltori Avialae stepped over to the aetherite slab. Information from his own mind was offered up, filtered through the careful connections he maintained with blood relatives. Around them, the mages and warriors began working in seamless unity, guiding each others attentions. Objects and magical tools began floating over to outstretched hands, vials of spellwright’s ink along with dragonshard forged quills began working to transcribe pictographs on pages that drifted in the air.

Nobody spoke aloud but there was clearly a great deal of communication happening all at once. To the outsider it might have been eerie, to a society that at its core was helmed by a people that could communicate telepathically on an instinctual level, it was natural. After a moment, Talon looked over to Hilana and Kor.

“Ah, forgive us.” He smiled apologetically. “We were discussing all that just transpired. I apologize for not speaking aloud. The heat of the moment made me forget that not all present can experience the Bond.”

He motioned for Hilana and Kor to come forward as Sahfri walked over to join Rien by the aetherite slab.

“My mother suspects that the book was infused with what are called Curseglyphs. Pictographs infused with the magic of Affliction and altered to take effect under certain circumstances. Their aetheric signature must have been hidden deep within the aethereal fabric of the tome. That is not surprising given the caliber of mage that Kaitos was.” Talon ran a hand through his hair just as Aoren gently ran a hand up and down his spine.

“Fortunately, curseglyphs have a tendency to insist on being perpetual. Meaning, they seek out the nearest surface to attach themselves to. That means we will be able to transcribe them. Unfortunately, they will need to be contained until that transcription is completed.” He nodded toward the many figures who were now silently working around them.

[Hilana Chenzira]

This was not necessarily the way Hilana had hoped to come across the Iron Queen. Some small part of her quietly wondered how she would have fared against Thalya, but she was glad that they would never find out. She and Etzalal stayed with Kor, quiet, observing the process that was now underway. It was kind of surprising how they moved as such a well-oiled unit, and then again, it was not. She knew that they could easily communicate across bonds, and she assumed that that was what was happening here. The Vastiana knew that it was best to keep her mouth shut for now until she was spoken to, and wait. Let those with far more learning than she assess the situation and decide how and what they intended to do about it. She had a feeling it was far better to be ignored than draw negative attention to herself when it came to powerful people, and there was no mistaking the capabilities of those assembled here.

When that steely gaze landed on her, Hilana bowed, Etzalal hanging on while his brilliant metallic scales contrasted to her clothing. There was a murmured “Your Majesty, Your Highness,” as Rien was right there, and Kor bowed as well. She may have gotten used to being around some members of the Sol’Avaerys houses, but she didn’t take it for granted, and she was not about to get comfortable here around foreign royalty. Improper behaviour would reflect poorly upon herself, and her homeland. Even if she wasn’t here as a diplomat. She would not have been remotely shocked to find out the Siltori dowager was a follower of Varvara, if she was - she was certain that she would be a good fit, especially since the Founders had settled their dispute with Arcas.

When Talon motioned them over, the Vastian pair closed the distance between them. At his explanation, Hilana nodded. “That’s what I figured, Your Highness,” she smiled up at the silver-haired Prince. She wasn’t about to risk it with Sahfri present; proper manners were now required. Curseglyphs, that was new, and she retrieved her notebook to start another page and make a note of those. She made one final note under orichalcum for now, and that was to underline Kaitos’ name twice. That was going to be a project, but she was interested in seeing it through. She did wonder if she should try and transcribe these glyphs as well, because doubtless the Sentinels would want to be made aware of this, but perhaps another day she would be able to get a copy. Chances were, they would assess her on arrival and see it through her eyes. But she really was curious to get a copy, and see what she could recognize from her own sketches of the pictographs that had been in the Tower. She would ask Talon another time.

“Curseglyphs... Can they be removed when they have copied them? Or will they stay permanently?” Hilana was curious, her pencil pausing over her open page of her notebook. She had wondered about Affliction, considering her usage of poisons and some of the other things she had experienced, but that was a Rune she would have to come across later.

[Talon]

T A L O N

“Once they have been safely transcribed, they will be destroyed. The challenge rests in deciphering them properly. Curseglyphs change themselves to alter their true meaning.” Talon looked over to the aetherite slab with a slight frown. He was glad that he had not attempted to activate any of the alchemic circles that had been carved into its surface.

“I suspect that, had I used the sigils as currently transcribed, things would have gone awry.” His eyes traced over some of the symbols before he watched the various mages and scholars working to inspect all of the materials in front of them. Talon moved to step closer to the slab but was stopped when Aoren grasped his wrist tightly. He could hear the low growl in his husband's throat as the man stared at the glyphs suspiciously. Aoren was on high alert and it was clear to him that no amount of reassurance was going to assuage his partner's nerves while in close proximity to the markings. He smiled softly then looked to Hilana and Kor.

“Come. Let us go to a more peaceful location. Things are well in hand here.” Talon nodded to other robed figures who were beginning to join the chamber. Various men and women dressed in white, red, and black robes, members of the Kalzasi Circle of Spells. Stirring his aether into motion, Talon reached out to take hold of the spatial lines that were carefully threaded throughout the Palace of the First Wind. The palace's defenses resonated with him, his very blood synchronizing with the magic protecting his family's home. He opened a portal for them all. Through the portal lay Dawnhold, a place that was distinctly his own, where the world obeyed his will in a way that no other place did.

He chose Dawnhold knowing that it was perhaps the one place, at the moment, that would set Aoren at ease. Stepping through the portal, as soon as they were on the other side, he could feel some of the tension leave his husband through the Bond. He entwined their hands, squeezing Aoren's hand in reassurance. In response, Aoren brought the back of Talon's hand to his lips before giving him a thankful look.

“Here we are.” He gestured broadly. They stood in an open air garden. White barked trees with silvered leaves swayed gently in a warm breeze. Golden grass rolled in soft waves around them. White sand formed a perfect circle roughly thirty feet in diameter in front of them. At the center of the circle was a pyramidal yellow crystal that shone softly as though with the light of dawn. A stone path formed a perimeter around the sand. An examination of the sand around them with Semblance would reveal that all of it was Sorcerer's Sand and the crystal at the center was a high quality illumite dragonshard.

“I can show you a few things here, undisturbed. This is one of the spell-gardens created for the Dawnmartyrs.”

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana nodded at his explanation. She had no idea how exactly they would be destroyed, but she had to imagine it would probably involve Kinetics and some sort of Negation. She would ask him how they did it next time she saw him, once it was actually done. "Do you think the slab can be salvaged?" she wanted to know. Hilana really did hate wasting anything, and that was a giant slab of aetherite. Perhaps it was the fact that nomads knew what it was like to go without and tried use and recycle things regularly due to scarcity of the desert Expanse, but that slab was massive... Maybe if they broke it down or removed the top layer that had been carved...

For now, she would let it go.

After one last look and peek at the slab and the mages attending to it, Kor guided her through the portal, one large hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle, reassuring squeeze, and the winged spirit loosely draped himself around the tall Vastian's forearm, their wings fluttering as they hung there. Hilana looked around with interest, and Talon and Aoren could practically see her perk up at this new place - today was full of new experiences for all of them, it seemed, as she stared around wide-eyed at the feeling of the place. "This is beautiful," she breathed, and her eyes changed to the tell-tale kaleidoscope that demonstrated she was actively Sembling the world around them. She took in the flora of the place, mentally etching it into her brain and very much wanting to touch and take samples... but that would be rude. She did notice the way that the trees themselves seemed to put on something of a show for Talon, whose citadel this was, and in some ways for Kor. Everything swayed and moved just so, and the spirits here... so many Light-touched elementals.

And with the flow of aether to that Rune, she found that the whole of the place felt like she was being gently hugged by Talon. That made sense once he mentioned the Dawnmartyrs. "A place to practice? Like when you made the Lyr'calastra?" she was curious, and Etzalal was about to dive into the Sorcerer's Sand. "You may not," she called the metallic serpent back to her, and he decided to settle for weaving himself in and out of the silvery trees. Pouting!

[Talon]

T A L O N

“It can. Though not in its current state. I will send it to the Circle. They will likely implement it in one of their lessons to students, teaching them how to navigate cursed objects before finding other uses for it.” As the lord of one of the most advanced dragonshard trades in the entire Northlands, Talon hated to see the gems go to waste. The value of dragon gems could never be overstated. When Hilana breathed her wonder at the silvered garden, the feathers on Talon’s wings preened slightly. He ducked his head, smiling softly at the compliment.

“Dawnhold is a piece of my realm made manifest on the prime material realm. I did my best to blend it with the natural world.” Motes of light danced lightly in the wind, like tumbleweeds drifting over the landscape they seemed made of fluffy white cotton with threads of golden light trailing off of them. He watched as the kaleidoscope of colors swirled in Hilana’s eyes. Carefully, he tucked his own aura more tightly around himself so that she did not accidentally blind herself.

“Something like that.” Aoren was seated on a large white stone, tugging off his boots. He gestured to several points around the area. Floating above solid stone pillars were various geometric crystals of varying shapes. Upon examination, each of them was a high quality illumite dragonshard that had various enchantments woven into the aether. Most of those enchantments centered around the bending of light, a touch of Masquerade, and had complex sigils carved into their surfaces.

“Talon has woven into this place his dominion over the Light. The Warforged Knights and their squires often use this space as a grounds to simulate field operations. Pathfinders use it to simulate scouting missions, intelligence gathering, and other high risk situations. Spellforged use this space to practice their mastery of spellcraft. The light here shifts, changes, and combined with Masquerade, transforms the landscape. Even conjures illusory constructs to interact with.” Rising to his feet, Aoren stretched his wings before walking barefoot into the circle of Sorcerer’s Sand. The red haired dragon touched his hand to the pyramidal crystal at the center of the circle. The golden crystal flared to life, bright stirring within it. That light was soon matched by light that glittered in the geometric crystals atop the pillars in the distance.

A strong wind picked up and the sorcerer’s sand began to spin within the circle forming a whirlwind of white dust that turned golden. With a sudden burst, the dust exploded outward into a cloud all around them. Lines of golden light connected each and every speck of dust for a brief moment, connecting with the pyramidal crystal and the geometic ones in the distance before turning completely invisible.

The landscape around them was no longer the silvered garden but a verdant green forest. The trees were dense, the foliage was alive. The chirping of birds and bugs, and even forest wildlife could be heard around them. Deer walked leisurely through the woodland paths. Hilana would even be able to touch and interact with what was around her.
Through Semblance, she would be able to see those small particles of golden sand shifting around them, constantly in motion, woven into everything she interacted with. The pyramidal crystal and the geometric ones remained visible, signifying that this was indeed the same place, merely a complex illusion.

“So, any requests?” Talon looked from Aoren to Hilana and Kor. He smiled, gesturing broadly around them.

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana paid close attention to what Aoren and Talon indicated around them, and taking her time to try to study each part with Semblance. It was admittedly slow going, but the Vastiana was steadily and determinedly studying things, and the more she did it, the better she was able to pick up the sigils on the crystals faster. They were extensively Scrivened, and Hilana would have liked to have spent a day or three out here just trying to understand them. Maybe she could get permission to return later and study them. Lia would likely be better able to help her understand them, and Kor was always a veritable source of information. There was a good chance that Talon would be thrilled to explain it further, too.

As the wind picked up and the view around her changed, Hilana watched with delight. She did blink away her Semblance for the moment so she could better study the effect - she had little doubt that this was in fact Masquerade, but it was a decidedly powerful work of the Craft. Long, deft fingers gently brushed against a deer as it paused between the trees, and she was delighted by the sensations of how real it was. And it wasn't just Masquerade; she knew that Light was in play here. Light and shadow, that which made up everything they could see.

When she brought her focus back to her Rune, that enabled her to see the Sorcerer's Sand in play. Etzalal was thrilled, swooping and diving amongst the trees - the spirit was decidedly athletic, with Hilana's own boundless energy. It was clear that they were a good match that way. Kor just enjoyed watching Hilana explore the illusion, taking it in as it was produced by the crystals. "Can it show her the Elemental Plane of Fire?" the man wondered. He had little doubt it could, but the very suggestion brought Hilana back, ears perked up as she looked back to Talon and Aoren. That one she had never been to, but it would be impressive to see... Besides, it might be fun to visit and see the place where the lava cows originally came from...