hadriel | video | forward dated to april 4th

[ thankfully, the partying has finally died down. ciri has actually been able to enjoy some restful sleep in silence without the sudden explosions of fireworks or the deep bass of constant music. she still looks tired but settles the device in a safe place, sitting back with her silver sword in hand and carefully beginning to clean the blade. ]

A lot of us here have powers. Magic, alchemy and other such skills but I find myself curious. Has anyone else suffered having their powers taken from them? I've only had a portion of mine fully removed while the rest has been... dampened, I suppose.

[ she's pretty sure she knows why she was stripped of a portion of her powers. after all, it wouldn't be good if she could just leave this world when they were clearly brought here for some reason. still, she is curious if it was this 'door' or those 'gods' that are the cause. ]

Also: there are those here that wish to learn how to wield a sword, yes? I can help with that if you're serious. I can also teach others how to make bombs and potions. We had many potions back home that proved useful against monsters and other beasts, I am hoping they can prove useful here as well.

[ there's a move to end it but she pauses just before— ] And my name is Ciri.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Animal fat.

[ Gansey sounds thoughtful, and folds his arms. ]

Would the monsters themselves work for that? I must admit that this is all becoming very gory, but they're the closest things to animals we have.

Ley lines are concentrations of energy, is the easiest way to put it. They form in lines, connecting places across the earth. Are you aware of...places of magical significance? Places where that energy seems stronger than others, in your world.

Most definitely. Assuming they are related in some way to what we need then it shouldn't be a problem. I've gathered dog tallow from werewolves for example.

[ hmm. ciri raises her hand, settling it against her chin and pondering thoughtfully. ]

It sounds rather like our intersections. They are places where the power needed to harness magic is strongest and most accessible but we have places like what you speak of as well. Old places like the temple where I studied or the garden dedicated to Freya on Hindarsfjall.

Yes! Exactly like that. Intersections isn't such a strange term, anyway.

[ Gansey shrugs, definitely enthused. He'd made a habit of collecting names like that when he was younger. ]

They have other names where I'm from, too. Corpse Roads, for example, because ghosts are drawn to them, too. It makes sense that there'd be a temple there. And especially a place dedicated to Freya.

[ A pause. ]

If...it's the Freya I'm thinking of. Norse goddess?

Mm, they are hard to find for people who are not inclined to magic but if you know what to look for then it's a little easier. Trees that have dried up, gnarled plants or places avoided by all animals except for cats.

[ cats and dragons but details. ]

Norse? Another unfamiliar term, I'm afraid. She's worshiped primarily by those that live in Skellige if perhaps that's familiar to you?

[ Gansey thinks of Cabeswater, and the draining effect the ley line had had on the land while Kavinsky overused it. ]

Plants tend to be involved. I’ve seen it be good for them, though, unless there’s something…out of balance, I suppose you’d say. My friend Adam knows more about that than me.

[ Or more accurately, he understands it better, owing to his personal link with Cabeswater. Gansey stops short of talking about that; he keeps his friends’ secrets. At her question, Gansey’s tone turns skeptical. ]

There’s the Skellig Islands, near Ireland. They wouldn’t worship Freya there. I think…your world must be very different from mine.

Where are you from?