(text - public post.)

[conclusively]

Type: Text
Sender ID: conclusively (Mycroft Holmes)
To: Public
Subject: Research Requests
Warnings: N/A


Greetings to my fellow travelers. I have recently joined your ranks, and am endeavoring to familiarize myself with what would have been unknown in my home realm but is remarkably common here. To that end, I am requesting aid in regards to texts on magical theory and the fundamentals of such. The Conservatory has been helpful in providing archives to sort through, but the sheer breadth of resources leaves me desiring some instruction on where to go for the most optimal education, as well as accounts from those knowledgeable that do not exist in a book's pages.

While magical theory is my primary focus, I would also welcome some direction regarding accounts of flora and fauna as well. They are no less critical to understanding this world, though the fundamentals of their research are not as opaque to me.

I am perfectly ready to negotiate for compensation to those that wish to lend their knowledge in this matter, should they wish.

-M.H.

Comments

my turn to be sorry for the delay ;;

[ligero]

[Paying attention to your friends does count for something, it turns out. He's grateful he remembered that. At the follow-up question, however, Douglas shakes his head.]

That much is beyond me, I'm afraid. I've just been fortunate enough to have Chinese friends in my home country whose knowledge of medicine helped me when I was sick, or injured. [A wry glance over at Mycroft. By now, the ice has been broken enough that Douglas doesn't notice how much he's allowed his facade to slip:] My companion, too, has been helped by such teachings.

Although, it wouldn't surprise me if the ideas were similar in our world.

no worries!

[yuezun]

This venerable one is only passingly familiar with traditional medicine. It is not this venerable one's job to know it as deeply as the shamans. Shangque has more knowledge of it, but neither did he, nor any shamans, accompany this venerable one when this venerable one was drawn here.

[It was a little strange that so many people from some worlds were brought but only one from others. He figured that with the Three Realms being the only perfectly made world, the other broken worlds in the Ruins of Ten Thousand Heavens were probably easier to draw people from. How and why the rifts managed to get him was still a question. But there was power there that Daqiang did not yet know or understand enough to even begin making guesses.]

Once you have made yourselves familiar with the magic of this world, this venerable one is willing to teach you something of the five elements and how they work in the Three Realms. Magic is separate from much of what this venerable one does, but the connections and influences of the elements are largely the same. If you are familiar with the five elements in medicines, then you will more easily grasp their influence in all things.

[ligero]

[So Daqiang had been brought here alone? Impressive to have gathered his own crew and ship together in so short a time. It's beyond the point, however, so Douglas inclines his head in a polite bow.]

For sharing your knowledge, you have my thanks, Venerable Moon Supreme.

[He hadn't been planning to look into anything here as deeply as Mycroft, but, well. It would do him good to utilize his passing familiarity with these concepts to aid the whole magical study, and it would do him very little good to lose the bit of confidence he's gained from Daqiang.

Especially not when he's now weighing whether he'd prefer this man's ship to the Paladins' primary vessel...]

Your efforts shall not be in vain.

[yuezun]

They rarely are.

[...yeah, no. His ego was not small in the slightest. But it was also the truth. Most of his efforts were not in vain because he did not let any get to the point that they would be.

Usually. His efforts in the current sleeping curse situation were still less than stellar. And the Xilan Heart Curse had now stymied him for longer than any other problem he'd ever encountered. Though, in the latter's case, he had not expended much efforts of late to try and counter it.]

If you intend to spend time with members of The Raiders of the Lost Arts, be aware that the Phantom Moon intends to leave port in the next two weeks for lands unknown. The crew wishes to explore and this venerable one wishes to test the ship for a longer voyage. You may join us as this venerable one's guests. But you must make the choice before we leave port. Accommodations will have to be made.

[conclusively]

[ordinarily, he'd have to thank someone for such an offer, return home, and rearrange his schedule to make it so. but here? he is not so bound to timelines and others beyond simple negotiations with the Paladins. done in an hour, at most. it would be no trouble at all to set things up.

thus, he turns to Douglas, voice a little softer - they will be overheard, of course, but it's the principle of the thing.]

Douglas. Are you amiable to such a voyage?

[the look in Mycroft's eyes says he's already intrigued. perhaps lands unknown should be more threatening than it is, but traveling as the captain's guests means it's unlikely they'll have anyone slipping aboard to cause trouble. no schemes to thwart. just adventure.]

[ligero]

[Is he amiable?

He looks to Mycroft, whose expression says... everything, really. That calculating look in his friend's eyes is all too familiar: undoubtedly, there's a whole host of ideas already swirling about in the man's mind. And, for once, Douglas will hardly need any convincing. It's a good opportunity, he's forced to admit to himself-- a very good opportunity. More time on the seas, and with others called just like them; a chance for Mycroft to look into magic to his heart's content; the undeniable intrigue of those 'lands unknown'.

God's teeth, Cyrus, he thinks to himself. Just say--]

Yes. [And he's at least got the good business sense to keep his anticipation in check.] So long as you are, Holmes.

[Which about settles the matter, really.]

[conclusively]

I am, so long as you are with me.

[because much as adventure pulls at his heart, as much as he longs to dive into these new facts and knowledge of the world as a man possessed so that he might not feel the clawing sense of inadequacy, he has not yet convinced his hands to unclench upon the rope of connection between them. this desire to not let his friend go somewhere he does not know, or to leave him behind.

buck up, old fellow, he tells himself. it's foolish, he knows - they are grown men, not children apt to get lost or be unable to communicate. he would no more try and restrict what Cyrus wants to do or where he wants to go than he would stop the sun in its journey across the sky. but still, at least until they settle, he knows his own preferences.

that decided, however, he turns back to Daqiang.]

We would be honored to accept your invitation, Moon Supreme.

[yuezun]

Then this venerable one will have arrangements made.

[He inclined his head to them. They were clearly a pair that would not be separated. Giving them a single room to share would make it easier to accommodate their presence.]

You may present yourself to the crew at any time before the ship leaves port.

[Daqiang leaned back and took a long drink of his tea before returning to his book. As far as he was concerned, the audience was over. They would, of course, be allowed to stay and finish their own drinks. But as far as he was concerned, business had been concluded when they accepted his invitation. Further discussions could be had at another time.]