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ph_logs2025-05-17 02:46 am
substitutiarylocomotion) wrote in ph_logs2025-05-17 02:46 am
The Hardest Part of Any Journey is the First Step | OTA
Who: Wizard (substitutiarylocomotion) & any interested parties.
What: Wizard works towards getting better settled and explores some new locations.
When: Mid-to-late May
Where: Lockwood Forest, Southwest Hollow, Fall's Promise Cemetery, South Train Station
[ A NEW NORMAL - OTA ]
LOCKWOOD FOREST
[A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and, for Sylus, that step was lumber. Work on the Arcanium was going well as far as the planning state was concerned, but putting those plans into action required resources. The availability of open real estate had been a significant boon, but the place that he'd most liked in regards to location needed more than a little in the way of repairs. He'd researched everything that would need to be done to to make the dilapidated old building shine again but, In order to put what he'd learned on the practical side of things into action, he would need more than a little in the way of supplies.
From saps and sealants to lumber and stones, the majority of what he would need could be sourced out of the Lockwood Forest. The journey from the southern end of town to the forest and back was not a short one, but he'd taken to making trips out there several times a week in order to harvest what he needed. By animating a tree golem and having it carry the smaller things he could save himself the most backbreaking parts of the labor, but the drain on his magical reserves was still tremendous in bringing something of that size to life, even temporarily.
Whether it's during the morning part of his trip, where he's surveying desirable resources and harvesting sap, or his afternoon trudge home alongside a walking tree, Wizard can be found undertaking all manner of tasks within the southern outskirts of the Lockwood Forest.]
SOUTHWEST HOLLOW
[The area of Pumpkin Hollow where Wizard had picked-out his lodgings was a sleepy part of town. Buildings became sparser as the hustle and bustle of urban planning gave way to the somber quiet of the nearby cemetery, and the rain of the previous night had left puddles on the ground and gray clouds in the sky. The old wooden building that would someday become his Arcanium sat at a crossroad only a street away from the fences of Fall's Promise, which gave it a serene view on more clement days, but cast a gloomy feeling over it in weather like what currently hung overhead.
Despite the dilapidated appearance of the place, though, clear signs of construction could be seen in the lot surrounding it. Pallets of planks are stacked along the building's exterior while saw horses and varied building tools are distributed across other areas of the home. A trio of strange wooden golems haul items in and out of the interior and tend to simple tasks while a tired looking Wizard looks over a series of hand-drawn plans and walks the perimeter.]
FALL'S PROMISE CEMETERY
[Wizard had always had more of a mind for the sciences than he had for faith. Magic, mystical as it was to those lacking it, was just another field of study that he could explore. While he had no dislike of the clergy or its practices the appeal of carefully studying levitation or chronomancy was far more of a draw than prayer and devotion. His sister's malady had further motivated this skew towards the magical arts, and the pursuit of a panacea had been at the heart of many of his scholarly pursuits and experiments.
Even with his more clinical view of the world the fallen were something he had great respect and sympathy for. From those poor restless spirits he'd encountered in the depths of Hydeland's many forgotten ruins to the remains of the many unfortunate adventurers who fallen in pursuit of glory, Wizard had seen more death by his twenties than many would their entire lifetime. As a result, when he ended up setting up shop a stone's throw from a cemetery in place where people no longer died, it was something that he consider to have happened by chance.
Considering it the prudent thing to do, Sylus has taken to visiting the graves weekly. The separation between the departed and their loved ones that immortality had doubtlessly brought was something he imagined could cause no shortage of pain to the spirits of those resting in the grounds of Fall's Promise and, as their newest neighbor, if he could give them a little solace then it was something he was happy to provide. As a result, Wizard can be found walking the grounds, dusting off stones that have gotten dirty or overgrown and leaving small bundles of wildflowers on those headstones that seem particularity lonely.]
SOUTH TRAIN STATION
[Though he didn't have any intention to take a trip just yet the train stations of Marrow Isle had been something Wizard had been incredibly interested in. The nearest thing that his world had to a marvel of engineering like a locomotive was an enchanted carpet or arcane automata, so the notion of a steam-belching mechanical carriage that ferried people along what seemed to be minecart tracks was an entirely novel concept to him. To those even remotely familiar with Railroads there would likely be little to get excited about beyond the trip itself but, to Sylus, every part of the mundane little station was the definition of fascinating.
The locomotive and its cars were, of course, jaw-dropping to see in action, but he was equally taken with every other part of the train as well. From the conductors and their uniforms to the decoration of the cars and the luggage racks, no part of this strange new conveyance was uninteresting. Whether on the platform taking notes on small details like the exchange of railway tokens, leaning over the platform to peer at the tracks, or poke around the train itself between departures, his enthusiastic investigation of anything and everything in the station makes him easy to spot.]
WILDCARD
[If the fixed prompts don't catch your fancy, or another location sticks out to you better in regards to how and where you'd like to encounter Sylus, feel free to ask for a custom starter or pick a location you feel would make sense to bump into him. He's been slowly-but-surely exploring locations all around the island, so odds are you could encounter him just about anywhere.]
[ A CEILING, FOUR WALLS, AND A FLOOR - LOCKED TObedknobsandbroomsticks ]
ARCANIUM INTERIOR
[The interior of the building that would eventually be the center for Sylus and Scarlett's business was a far cry from the vision either would have had for the nucleus of their magical practices but it was still livable despite the clear age and dilapidation. Slight leaks in the roof and a general smell of moisture were the obstacles facing the renovation process and the overwhelming amount of surface dirt, debris, and rot had already been scoured-clean by Wizard and his golem's daily labors. The windows that had previously sat open to the air were covered, preventing the worst of nature's effects from getting inside, but several boards on the ground floor had been removed to the point that there were little gaps of exposed space leading to the outside. Upstairs had a pair of rooms directly opposite each other and the staircase, but the floorboards in both weren't in the best of shape and both the flooring and the staircase were a mixture of creaky and splintery. Furniture was borderline nonexistent, with a rough stove being the sum-total of downstairs accommodations while a sack and a bedroll in each room were what awaited above.
Grim as the state of the place sounded, the progress it had undergone in the past few weeks was already noticeable. The once-overpowering smell of rot had all-but-disappeared and the only reason moisture's aroma remained was due to the leaks in the roof. Insects, vermin, and garbage had all been completely cleaned-out and the surfaces of the home were almost entirely clean despite their age and rough condition. Warped or broken boards had been cleanly removed and their replacements were slowly being created, and the weeds that had previously subsumed the balconies had been beaten back entirely. It was still rough, but it was becoming more liveable by the day. Finances were the only thing stopping more significant leaps forward, and those would come in-time. Furniture and arcane implements would make the place feel more like a home, but none of those could be procured until they had a place that wasn't going to fall apart around them to put them in.
To that end, the bedrooms had finally been completed to a level that Sylus could move his belongings from the Oak & Iron to the Arcanium, and that meant he could dedicate more time to restoration without having to commute back and forth across town at the end of each day. As a result he can be found just about anywhere in the building. During the day he would be engaged in work or supervision, with tools or plans in-hand and a mixture of fatigue and impatience worn on his face. At night he'd be relaxing while the golems continue their work, reading books by lamplight and making use of what little he has as seating or cooking mediocre meals in the stove.]
substitutiarylocomotion) & any interested parties. What: Wizard works towards getting better settled and explores some new locations.
When: Mid-to-late May
Where: Lockwood Forest, Southwest Hollow, Fall's Promise Cemetery, South Train Station
[ A NEW NORMAL - OTA ]
LOCKWOOD FOREST
[A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and, for Sylus, that step was lumber. Work on the Arcanium was going well as far as the planning state was concerned, but putting those plans into action required resources. The availability of open real estate had been a significant boon, but the place that he'd most liked in regards to location needed more than a little in the way of repairs. He'd researched everything that would need to be done to to make the dilapidated old building shine again but, In order to put what he'd learned on the practical side of things into action, he would need more than a little in the way of supplies.
From saps and sealants to lumber and stones, the majority of what he would need could be sourced out of the Lockwood Forest. The journey from the southern end of town to the forest and back was not a short one, but he'd taken to making trips out there several times a week in order to harvest what he needed. By animating a tree golem and having it carry the smaller things he could save himself the most backbreaking parts of the labor, but the drain on his magical reserves was still tremendous in bringing something of that size to life, even temporarily.
Whether it's during the morning part of his trip, where he's surveying desirable resources and harvesting sap, or his afternoon trudge home alongside a walking tree, Wizard can be found undertaking all manner of tasks within the southern outskirts of the Lockwood Forest.]
SOUTHWEST HOLLOW
[The area of Pumpkin Hollow where Wizard had picked-out his lodgings was a sleepy part of town. Buildings became sparser as the hustle and bustle of urban planning gave way to the somber quiet of the nearby cemetery, and the rain of the previous night had left puddles on the ground and gray clouds in the sky. The old wooden building that would someday become his Arcanium sat at a crossroad only a street away from the fences of Fall's Promise, which gave it a serene view on more clement days, but cast a gloomy feeling over it in weather like what currently hung overhead.
Despite the dilapidated appearance of the place, though, clear signs of construction could be seen in the lot surrounding it. Pallets of planks are stacked along the building's exterior while saw horses and varied building tools are distributed across other areas of the home. A trio of strange wooden golems haul items in and out of the interior and tend to simple tasks while a tired looking Wizard looks over a series of hand-drawn plans and walks the perimeter.]
FALL'S PROMISE CEMETERY
[Wizard had always had more of a mind for the sciences than he had for faith. Magic, mystical as it was to those lacking it, was just another field of study that he could explore. While he had no dislike of the clergy or its practices the appeal of carefully studying levitation or chronomancy was far more of a draw than prayer and devotion. His sister's malady had further motivated this skew towards the magical arts, and the pursuit of a panacea had been at the heart of many of his scholarly pursuits and experiments.
Even with his more clinical view of the world the fallen were something he had great respect and sympathy for. From those poor restless spirits he'd encountered in the depths of Hydeland's many forgotten ruins to the remains of the many unfortunate adventurers who fallen in pursuit of glory, Wizard had seen more death by his twenties than many would their entire lifetime. As a result, when he ended up setting up shop a stone's throw from a cemetery in place where people no longer died, it was something that he consider to have happened by chance.
Considering it the prudent thing to do, Sylus has taken to visiting the graves weekly. The separation between the departed and their loved ones that immortality had doubtlessly brought was something he imagined could cause no shortage of pain to the spirits of those resting in the grounds of Fall's Promise and, as their newest neighbor, if he could give them a little solace then it was something he was happy to provide. As a result, Wizard can be found walking the grounds, dusting off stones that have gotten dirty or overgrown and leaving small bundles of wildflowers on those headstones that seem particularity lonely.]
SOUTH TRAIN STATION
[Though he didn't have any intention to take a trip just yet the train stations of Marrow Isle had been something Wizard had been incredibly interested in. The nearest thing that his world had to a marvel of engineering like a locomotive was an enchanted carpet or arcane automata, so the notion of a steam-belching mechanical carriage that ferried people along what seemed to be minecart tracks was an entirely novel concept to him. To those even remotely familiar with Railroads there would likely be little to get excited about beyond the trip itself but, to Sylus, every part of the mundane little station was the definition of fascinating.
The locomotive and its cars were, of course, jaw-dropping to see in action, but he was equally taken with every other part of the train as well. From the conductors and their uniforms to the decoration of the cars and the luggage racks, no part of this strange new conveyance was uninteresting. Whether on the platform taking notes on small details like the exchange of railway tokens, leaning over the platform to peer at the tracks, or poke around the train itself between departures, his enthusiastic investigation of anything and everything in the station makes him easy to spot.]
WILDCARD
[If the fixed prompts don't catch your fancy, or another location sticks out to you better in regards to how and where you'd like to encounter Sylus, feel free to ask for a custom starter or pick a location you feel would make sense to bump into him. He's been slowly-but-surely exploring locations all around the island, so odds are you could encounter him just about anywhere.]
[ A CEILING, FOUR WALLS, AND A FLOOR - LOCKED TO
bedknobsandbroomsticks ]ARCANIUM INTERIOR
[The interior of the building that would eventually be the center for Sylus and Scarlett's business was a far cry from the vision either would have had for the nucleus of their magical practices but it was still livable despite the clear age and dilapidation. Slight leaks in the roof and a general smell of moisture were the obstacles facing the renovation process and the overwhelming amount of surface dirt, debris, and rot had already been scoured-clean by Wizard and his golem's daily labors. The windows that had previously sat open to the air were covered, preventing the worst of nature's effects from getting inside, but several boards on the ground floor had been removed to the point that there were little gaps of exposed space leading to the outside. Upstairs had a pair of rooms directly opposite each other and the staircase, but the floorboards in both weren't in the best of shape and both the flooring and the staircase were a mixture of creaky and splintery. Furniture was borderline nonexistent, with a rough stove being the sum-total of downstairs accommodations while a sack and a bedroll in each room were what awaited above.
Grim as the state of the place sounded, the progress it had undergone in the past few weeks was already noticeable. The once-overpowering smell of rot had all-but-disappeared and the only reason moisture's aroma remained was due to the leaks in the roof. Insects, vermin, and garbage had all been completely cleaned-out and the surfaces of the home were almost entirely clean despite their age and rough condition. Warped or broken boards had been cleanly removed and their replacements were slowly being created, and the weeds that had previously subsumed the balconies had been beaten back entirely. It was still rough, but it was becoming more liveable by the day. Finances were the only thing stopping more significant leaps forward, and those would come in-time. Furniture and arcane implements would make the place feel more like a home, but none of those could be procured until they had a place that wasn't going to fall apart around them to put them in.
To that end, the bedrooms had finally been completed to a level that Sylus could move his belongings from the Oak & Iron to the Arcanium, and that meant he could dedicate more time to restoration without having to commute back and forth across town at the end of each day. As a result he can be found just about anywhere in the building. During the day he would be engaged in work or supervision, with tools or plans in-hand and a mixture of fatigue and impatience worn on his face. At night he'd be relaxing while the golems continue their work, reading books by lamplight and making use of what little he has as seating or cooking mediocre meals in the stove.]
no subject
[Wizard steps closer, extending his hand out in greeting.]
"A pleasure Valdis. I am Sylus, though you can just call me Wizard. Everyone else does."
[He laughs.]
"Do you live in this part of town then? I've only recently taken residence in this part of town myself, so meeting some neighbors who remain above ground rather than beneath it would be nice."
no subject
Wizard?
[This must be the person Sorceress was speaking of, but the conversation has moved on and she has a question to answer.]
No, but I do spend plenty of time here, usually when I need to think, or feel closer to Mortanne. Very few tend to bother me, though sometimes I do have interesting conversations with the ghosts.
no subject
[He pauses a second, thinking on how strange that could be to anyone who doesn't delve into ancient ruins and dank caverns every other day.]
"I suppose it's comparable to how few within the military seem to use their first names. From the time you sign-up to the time you retire it's just the last name."
[Wizard lets out a chuckle, but then turns his attention back to what Valdis had said.]
"I've only just learned of Mortanne myself. I know she's one of the Goddesses, and I've been told that she was the Goddess responsible for arranging for so many of us extraplanar exiles to come to Marrow Isle, but I've not learned about her or the other Goddesses beyond that. Is this cemetery dedicated to her then?"
[Glancing back at the headstones and monuments, he thinks of what she said regarding interacting with the residents here. A conversation with a ghost could be quite interesting. There could be spirits from every era of Pumpkin Hollow's history after all, and he imagines the company could be welcome to any of the wandering spirits trapped by the barrier.]
no subject
[The woman had seemed so secretive about her companion and name.]
No, it's simply where I feel closest to her. I dislike the temple, so I tend to find other spaces. I'm afraid I have not spoken to her much, I was not exactly open to gods or goddesses when I arrived. Took almost a year for me to settle on that front.
I have simply found comfort in the existence of someone like me who actually cares about people.
no subject
[It wasn't particularly surprising to know that Sorceress had gotten more out and about than he had, but it was still an interesting coincidence to encounter someone she'd met while engaged in an activity directly tied to his work in the Arcanium. She was certainly of a more outgoing personality than he was, and much of his time had been spent on trips to and from the woods while she'd been free to roam wherever she saw fit.]
"I don't believe she's hung up her broom, so-to-speak, but titles fly a little faster-and-looser with Wild Mages and Witches like her. Many of my more senior peers sit a bit more on the runes and potions side of things than I like to lean as well, and magical experiments and foolhardy tinkering often take the place of fieldwork or honest-to-goodness adventuring for their sort."
[He smiles and shakes his head as he recalls the many slogs he had to endure thanks to the curiosity of the Wizards Lucain and Wallace.]
"I can understand the adjustment regarding the subject of the divine though. We had a trio of Goddesses in my home, and both Sorceress and I had the privilege of treating with them directly, but they seem wholly different than the Goddesses of this place. After championing the cause of our own divine triad it feels... odd... to accept that an entirely new pantheon hold dominion here."
[The rollercoaster of revelations Wizard had experienced since arriving on Marrow Isle hadn't made the adjustment an easy one either, but learning that the extraplanar exiles had essentially been conscripted to stop a demonic rite had at least given him a clearer objective to focus on.]
"I must admit that I've been hesitant to visit the Temple myself. I've heard that there's a few factions in Pumpkin Hollow that don't get on well with one another and, given the mess of succession I just waded through before arriving here, I've not wanted to get involved with anything like that before I've got a proper roof over my head at least. Something more peaceful, more personal, is a welcome alternative for spiritual connection in the meantime."
no subject
[Not that she has any reason not to be. Valdis herself had taken quite a bit of time to open up to new people. In that, Sorceress was already doing far better than she had.]
It's fair to not want to get involved in conflict, but I think you will find that we are fairly cohesive despite the differences in our beliefs. It would, of course, be unfortunate if we were pit against each other, but I don't see either Neil or Dahlia doing that to us. Their conflict is between them.
[Though why they are still in conflict makes no sense, it seems strange that they would continue to be at odds when there was no longer anything to fight over.
Once you feel settled, the temple is definitely worth a visit. One of my favorite people spends time there, he's very kind.
no subject
"She's certainly a rose - beautiful to behold, but sweet and thorny in equal measure. I suppose I got more of the latter than most, being from a different school of magic and all, but I've experienced more than enough of the former to know how kind a companion she can be. She's not had the best luck in friendships, so I don't doubt that you'll find something of a barrier there, but I'm sure she'll open up a bit more once she's gotten better established. I think we both thank the Goddesses we ended up thrust into this place together, though, as abruptly starting over in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces would be enough to make either of us retreat into ourselves for who knows how long."
[Come to think of it, he'd not actually inquired of Sorceress what had preceded her arrival here. He knew his sister's restoration was the last thing he'd seen before finding himself a castaway to this otherworldly oubliette, but he'd neglected to actually check with her. That was irresponsible of him, and would now no-doubt be awkward to try to breach without highlighting the lapse in doing so. Still... that was a hurdle for another race.]
"I am glad to hear that the internal politics here aren't of the violent variety. As I'd alluded to, prior to coming here my adventurer's company and I ended up getting embroiled in the succession dispute for the throne of the Kingdom of Hydeland, and that was a mess of massive proportions. Assassinations, manipulation, shadowy cabals, and ritual sacrifice all barely scratch the surface of the intrigue we had to navigate, so learning that I'm not set to deal with that all over again is welcome news."
[He sighs in relief.]
"If the Temple is indeed something that merits patronage I'll make sure to add it to my list of places to see. My curiosity about the local faith is, admittedly, considerable so I'd not be averse to getting some questions answered. You mentioned a Neil and Dahlia though. If memory serves, those are the leaders of the Historical Society and the Ocularum are they not? I've heard their names, or similar names at least, mentioned before but I'm afraid I know little about them beyond the familiarity of their sound."
no subject
Well, I wouldn't put those particular issues of political affair above the demons or Nyarlathotep, but I would hope we would all be on the same side regarding them and not split.
[She can't imagine any of those summoned by Mortanne being in favor of all this.]
Yes, Neil was recently cleared of some scandal that wasn't his fault, he is kind, smart, a little full of himself sometimes, but who isn't? Aside from that he is a powerful mage, so much so that even I would hesitate to get on his bad side.
As for Dahlia, she has recently come into her own as well. She and I unfortunately do not see eye to eye concerning Neil, but I respect her all the same. Where Neil and I differ, she and I are the same, whether we like it or not. She is also kind, even if she tends to hold grudges.
[Something which still very much makes no sense, but Dahlis is allowed to feel what she feels.]
no subject
[Learning new bits and pieces about what made the strange happenings of the island tick was something he considered important to arming himself with the knowledge to actually contribute to the strange happenings of the town. It seemed like every time he got a handle on the scope of things there was a new twist or turn, though, and discovering that the island had a resident mage was definitely an interesting development.]
"So far as I'd seen, every magically-inclined person seems to be one of those people brought here on the ferry. Niel is from this place originally, though, is he not? If so, I believe he's the first magician I've heard of who's native to the realm. The Ocularum does have that proper hint of the arcane to how it rolls off the tongue, so it makes sense that a place ostensibly built around the occult would be home to the island's mages. Are they the only spellcasters of Pumpkin Hollow's little tribes though, or do the people in the Historical Society and Temple possess it too?"
no subject
[She's not keen to go into it too deeply at this moment, after all, she just met this person.]
No, there is other magic here. Elsie has magic and she is local, there are a few other mages outside the Occularum too.
[Valdis tips her head, going back to the specific wording that was used to describe Neil's group.]
I'm not really sure I would describe the Occularum as an occult centered around magic, there are plenty of non-magic users in our number. I wouldn't even consider myself a mage either.
[Despite how what she does might be described as necromancy.]
I'm afraid I don't keep a list of all the mages on the island, but many of us do have powers of one kind or another.
no subject
"Ah. A Chaos God."
[Wizard purses his lips and nods knowingly.]
"My adventurer's company had to clash with the Chaos God of our own world not too long ago, and he also had ties to demons interestingly enough. Majino-Gusna-Idra-Shin was his name, mouthful that it is, and he seemed to have quite an appetite for dropping small rocks with big waves. He empowered a crown to be able to control dragons, which are godlike beings in their own rights where I'm from, and that pretty much started the ball rolling on everything that almost brought about the apocalypse."
[He pinches the bridge of his nose at the recollection of all the trouble that caused. On the one hand, it led to all the adventures him and his comrades had been on - so he was thankful that things had ended up like that, but on the other hand it had caused every ounce of suffering and death that had descended upon Hydleland - so he wasn't optimistic about the idea that another Chaos God wouldn't end up being just as much of a menace.]
"Oh I wasn't saying that everyone within the Occularum would be a mage, but rather that's it seemed a likely place for those who are mages to congregate. Even within magic-specific conclaves you often see those who aren't practitioners. Scholars and archivists of the magical pursuits make up a pretty sizeable part of the magical community and they're just ordinary people with a passion often as not. Once I get the Arcanium running properly it would actually be quite nice to employ some orderlies like that, but I'm sure that's a long time off."