Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Turning his head, he stared at the red headed man. At his skin, seemingly perfect, human, too. But under that layer, black blood pulsed? Why did it matter? What was the difference between Ander and human? Magic? Was that just not another skill, another trait that separated one from the other? Did not black blood run in machines as well? Wern lowered his eyes and nodded, eyes widening quizzically at the suggestion of magic. “I would, uh, love to see it.” Wern made room for the man if he wanted to sit on the ground, or pulled closer the chair for Lasair to sit in if he preferred that. Remaining on the ground, Wern stared up at the red head with wide eyes, eager for the spectacle, like a child waiting for a show. “What can you, uh, do?”
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 5, 2016 4:46:17 GMT
He sat down on the floor and looked to Vern with a soft smile. “I can do all sorts of things.” Holding his hand out in front of him, he snapped his fingers and caused a small flame to appear, one looking like a candle flame. Opening his hand up, the flame moved to his palm where it flickered a few moments longer before disappearing. Looking to the side, he picked out a specific bottle of beer and cast a bit more magic towards it, causing the bottle to lift into the air and come to Lasair’s hand, where he took it and then set it down. “And that’s just a sample,” he said, feeling a little boastful. But only a little.
Making room for the man, Wern watched in amazement as the fire flew from his fingertips, growing, reaching into his palm, only to fade. And the bottle— it was flying, coming to rest in his hand, like an invisible string had pulled it across. But that couldn’t be possible. How? Head spinning, Wern stared, mouth agape, as he tried to find the words to explain what he just saw.
“That was… amazing.” Slowly, he leaned forward, taking the man’s hand into his own, looking over it, searching for any burns, for anything. The warmth from the fire remained, distant, but still there, as if calling to return back, but it had been there. Wern had saw it— could feel it. But was it a trick? No. It couldn’t be. Wern ran his fingers over the calloused areas, a quizzical look on his face as he felt the tender areas. “Does… does it hurt?” He asked, a pained look appearing on his face. To summon fire, and that pull? Wouldn’t that strain, wouldn’t it burn? “Are you … okay?”
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 5, 2016 20:01:31 GMT
He held his arm out, allowing the other to hold and examine it as much as it liked. “Doesn’t hurt. And I’m fine. Can do it again if you want, but there’s a limit to how many spells I can cast in a day. For small stuff it’s five spells, which can be generous or limiting depending on the situation. It’s because of this magic that technology doesn’t get along with us. It causes all the gears and wiring to vibrate and start to break. It’s like putting a massive amount of age on a machine until it gets to the point that it breaks down. I can show you, if you have something you don’t mind breaking.” Smiling, he continued to look at Vern with a kind gaze, glad that the man wasn’t an ander-hater.
Eyes widening, Wern fumbled around, looking for some disposable piece of machinery. He at last came to a little trinket- a music box test from when he was the developing the present for Edel, and held it out to Lasair.
“Here, uh, will this work?” Wern questioned, almost retracting it as if to inspect the object. Was this okay? Or did it have to be more high tech? He was going to have to ask Amon about this, or maybe Lasair would know the answer better, since he was an Ander? There were so many possibilities now, enough to make him sober, it seemed, and so he waited, smiling with enthusiasm glowing from his amber eyes.
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 6, 2016 4:19:28 GMT
Lasiar only needed to glance at the machine before nodded. “That’ll work fine. Watch,” he said, reaching out to take the box from his hands. As soon as the cool metal met his touch, it started feeling…funny. Like it was trying to turn on, or something. Then it shook for a moment before some gears and a spring flew out of the inner workings, landing across the room with a dull sound. What the box could do before, it could no longer do now. The ander handed the box back to Vern, allowing him to examine it as much as he liked.
Perhaps Wern was leaning a bit too close when he handed the object to Lasair. He didn’t think anything too bad was going to happen— that perhaps after picking it up, the box would no longer sing when Wern tried to play it. And besides, he was too curious to stay too far away. But perhaps he should have leaned away a bit more. The box practically exploded in his face. Letting out a yelp, Wern stumbled back, avoiding the gear. Staring at the other, Wern looked at the extended hand, taking the box shakily and turning it over in his hand. Yeah, that was defiantly broken. “Fascinating.” He breathed, although still a bit frightened. Putting the box down, he once more inspected Lasair. “I wonder why it does that. Did you do anything for it to do that?” He asked, holding his chin in silent pondering.
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 6, 2016 6:14:21 GMT
Lasair had to think a few moments before he answered the man, remembering different things from the books he had been reading lately. “I don’t do it intentionally, no. It’s the magic in my body that does it. It’s like, my body is coated with the energy, a sort of aura if you will. And when that energy comes in contact with technology, it reacts in a not-so-forgiving way. Someone could sneak up behind me and drop a pocket watch on my shoulder and it would do the same thing. Someone could hand any tech thing to an ander gifted with magic and it would do the same thing.” He was going to leave it at that, but then thought to add a bit more. “Some half anders, half humans can have magic. And some don’t. It all depends. But if you have the magic, you can’t work with tech. You can try, as many of us have, but it’s akin to the way you’ll never be able to feel magic pulsing through your veins. It’s just something you’re born into.”
An energy? Again, Wern extended his hand, running his fingers over the other’s arm as if to feel the energy, to sense the power that had made the tech react as so. But he felt nothing. Maybe a light tingle, but for he knew, that could have just been the proximity of their skin. Drawing back, Wern nodded, muttering another “Fascinating”. Thinking back now, that is probably why that man at the ball had tried to give the deaf man a watch. To test him. How rude, unspeakable even.
“How do you survive everyday life then? I mean, tech seems to be everywhere these days.” Wern inquired, dread lingering inside of him. If it was so easy for an Ander to be revealed, then how did they remain in hiding for so long? Were they even safe? Was Lasair safe? He felt tempted to ask, but the man seemed to have been doing alright thus far. Still, Wern fretted some what at the idea that at any point, the other could be hunted down and found so easily.
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 6, 2016 7:09:23 GMT
His first reply was a shrug. “Tech only acts up if we touch it. We avoid it, we’re fine. There’s a lot of us in the city, living, hiding, fighting to survive. We manage. And the ones who can use tech have to keep our presence in mind. It gets tiring to repair something over and over and over, simply from an ander hand, so a lot of things meant to be touched and held are made with simplified mechanics, ones that won’t break down. A simple hand crank won’t bust, for example. At least, it won’t unless there’s a lot of gears involved.” He thought back to the different area where tech had broken in his hands. It was always a strange sight, one he couldn’t quite explain. “What other questions do you have?” he asked with a small smile.
Leaning back, Wern listened intently. That was probably why most of his clients asked for the simplest way possible. He had always presumed it was for repair sake- and also for the most cost effective outcome. Less parts meant less cost, at least, most of the time. But perhaps that had not always been the case. At the idea of further questions, Wern was stunned. Of course he had questions, but which ones should he ask? Biting his lip, he leaned back and forth as he pondered on the thought.
“Um. H-how are you doing?” Looking up, he watched the other, as if analyzing his reactions. “I mean, with the whole Ander thing. Are you, um, safe?” Crossing his legs, he tried to think of the right words to say. “With the mandate, and all that. Anders can’t get away so easily, it seems.” At least, that is what he garnered, since he rarely saw them. Though, perhaps it was just as Lasair had said. They had adapted. Could blend to look like a normal person, and humans—they too had adapted to help in a way, protect Anders for their own self benefit. “Is there anyway that I can help? Um, not just with you, but um, with all Anders?”
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 6, 2016 23:24:17 GMT
A wider smile grew on his lips. “I’m doing rather well if I do say so myself. I don’t run into problems unless I get a paper cut, after all. As for what you can do, honestly it’s up to you. At the very least, not ridiculing anders is a good step. But if you do anything more than that, the city might turn against you. People who defend anders have been known to disappear. If you want to take that risk, I won’t stop you. Just keep your safety in mind.”
Glancing to the side, he looked at Goya again. “The fact that your ball-bot can sense anders without touching them is actually rather remarkable. Only very high tech devices can, like clockwork dolls, but even then, not all clockwork dolls can. It’s very impressive, and also very dangerous. I suggest having him keep thinking that it’s ‘love’ or however he puts it. Some anders get threatened when they’re revealed in public.”
Paling, Wern shifted a bit. He wouldn’t ridicule anyone normally, so that wasn’t something he had to worry about (though definitely still keep in mind though). Yet, at the implication that people “disappeared” due to unnatural causes, Wern cowered a little. Had it really been that bad? How could he not have noticed it for so long? Lowering his eyes, he was at least grateful that the other was safe, or at least, somewhat safe. With the praise toward Goya, Wern blushed. “My, uh, father, he created Goya. He is a great inventor.” He was going to have to tell him how great when he visited them, or they visited them. Both seeming not as likely an option with the war. He frowned at that. How were they doing? They were more central in the kingdom, so hopefully they would be safer there. “But yes. I’ll keep this from Goya.” Wern looked to the orb, glad he had shut the other off a long time ago, or else risk the bot overhearing everything they were saying. “Gosh. I’m still surprised over all this.” Wern tried to laugh, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back. “So, um, what kind of Ander are you? Because you mentioned, um, flying. And eyes?” Wern stared into Lasair’s eyes then, as if looking for that gleam, but only that blue crystal echoed back.
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Jan 7, 2016 8:13:53 GMT
“My blood is black,” he answered in a plain tone, returning Wern’s gaze by looking back into the man’s own eyes. “I don’t have wings hidden in my back, or claws on my fingers, or eyes that glow. Instead I merely have a shade other than red at work under my skin. Do you have something sharp?” He glanced around the room, looking for something he could use. “I can show you more magic if you do.”
That gaze, he knew he had been the one to stare first, but the return it, it made Wern look away, heat racing a little bit. The man sure had an intensity behind him, Wern could not deny that. He listened to Lasair’s words, paling at the implication that they held.
“Oh, no, I mean.” Holding out his hand as if to stop the other, he retracted his palms as he tensed a bit. “I was just curious- and I believe you. Just.” Looking at Lasair’s hands, at the veins that lay underneath, coursing black blood, it made Wern squeamish. “I’m interested, but I don’t want you to hurt yourself for no reason.” Reaching for a piece of cloth, he busied his hands, trying to figure out what instead he could propose to do. Not anything too extraneous or loud, though. His hangover was slowly beginning to start up, and the nausea form earlier still lingered. “So, um.” Curling in on himself, Wern tried to find a new topic to talk about. The magic was still interesting, and a part of Lasair, but well, Wern almost wanted to know more about the man. “Why don’t you tell me more about yourself?” He offered, wishing that Kaia could be there so he could wrap his arms around the goose for comfort instead of relying on fumbling around with a little piece of cloth.
What is important to me is the experience of making. I leave all my work outside and often return to watch it decay.- Andy Goldsworthy
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