The Work of Brewing and Crafting

The chill of the day does not reach far into the Monastery. The foyer is a warm place that banishes the chill, with hot beverages as well as cold, and fresh stew to fill one's belly with warmth. A number of monks sit in quiet conversation, with Angoron, Kor and Navos represented.

Deeper inside, one can find rooms set aside for study, and as befitting a God of knowledge and time, a clean room for magcial preparations and ceremonies.

Today, Simony has occupied said room. The circle is drawn around her, and criss-crossed with arcane symbols. Her eyes are closed as she concentrates, settled cross-legged with her hands on her knees, palms up.

The boots, dark green in colour, and made from soft leather, perhaps sheepskin, float a short distance in front of her, glowing faintly.

The morning chill does not touch the man who comes to visit the monastery, the breeze blowing through his platinum hair as he descends from the skies to the gates. Telamon's boots touch down on the paving stones, and he offers a smile to the acolyte on duty before passing through. "Here to see Temperance Simony."

He's directed away from the quarters for a change, towards the laboratories and workshops, and his eyebrows rise. "She must be working on something," he muses, as he walks down the hall. He peers into the workshop entry, opening his mouth, before cutting off his greeting as she's busy. Instead, he hefts his haversack, before slipping inside and waiting patiently for her to finish.

It is not too long before the Goblin says something in her native language, a short blurb of words that have an air of finality around them, as if something was being wound down.

The boots gently drop to the ground, inside a little circle that seems to be expressly created for them to be in. There's a little puff of wind, that carries the scent of an earthy bog, of plant life and a touch of decay. Simony's hair is ruffled slightly and her eyes open.

She gives a bit of a start at seeing Telamon standing there, and her grin is instant and broad. "Telamon!"

Hopping up, she carefully follows a specific path inside the circle, before stepping over the outer edge and bouncing to hug at the man's waist! "It's good to see you! How have you been? How is Lana, and the household?"

Telamon smiles as he hugs Simony back, before replying. "All is well, or at least as well as it gets here in this world. Lana sends her affection, of course, and the house is filled with the dulcet tones of pixies and a hungry raven." His eyes twinkle merrily.

"I'd heard you had started dabbling in enchanted wares," he remarks, his eyes moving to the boots. "How is it going? Learned anything new -- besides 'it's complicated'?"

"Oh, before you go, remind me to pass over some seeds and nuts. I've picked up a selection from the market for Pothy. I am sure he will enjoy some savoury flavours from the Jade Isles. And I've a few vegetable bits for you, as well, that you can grow in your greenhouse."

Simony eyes the pair of boots, and carefully winds her way back to the center of the circle. "These are a pair of boots of the mire. A request from a woodsman who has to pass daily through swampy areas of his lands. He will be able to avoid the chill and damp of the swamp as well as not being bogged down in the muck." A nod of her chin. "I have learned that you can take a few specific shortcuts at the expense of more intense concentration and use of magical er ooomph. And that you have to be patient."

Telamon nods with interest. "I've been experimenting with using some exotic herbs in my potion-brewing. I -may- have found something useful for crafting a couple of the more powerful draughts, but it's still a work in progress. Until then..." He shrugs, and smiles. "It keeps me occupied in the gardens."

"Speaking of which, that reminds me... if you've finished this work, I'm wondering if I could impose on you for some commissioned enchantments as well?" Telamon fishes a scroll out of his haversack, which he offers to Simony. "I have a circlet I'm looking to add a powerful bolstering enchantment to, and sadly I can't do it myself."

The Goblin nods, "Yes, I am seeing the usefulness of having one's own herb garden. And, of course, browsing the markets for interesting bits. Feathers, shiny baubles and so on. Who'd have thought, that what one might consider to be junk, is actually useful?"

She blinks then.

"Er. That is not something I expected to hear from you. What is it that is the stumbling block for you? Specifically some clerical spell? Or something more esoteric? Like, has to be a woman? A Goblin? I have encountered several very specific roadblocks that don't always have a means to ignore or step around."

But she nods enthusiastically. "But I'd be happy to assist you!"

The scroll describes a circlet of golden leaves that can be used to impart, if briefly, greater inspiration to others. There are notes in Telamon's hand that remark on the spell used, but also the fixing of the enchantment.

"While I can brew potions, I can't seem to 'fix' the enchantment onto the circlet," Telamon admits ruefully. "For lack of a better term, it won't stick. I found I can do it in the Castle, but dreamforged items do not endure in the waking realms -- they tend to disappear, just as dreams do upon waking." Tel grins. "It seems even I have my limits."

"So here I am. I have all the references, and materials, you would need. I just need someone more skilled in permanent enchantments to do it."

Her cheeks begin colour a mottled red. "I uhm I accept."

Her eyes flick back and forth as she quickly reads through the scroll, nodding a few times as she does so. "Ah, so it's the placing of a further enchantment onto an item that is already strongly enchanted?"

Her brow furrows up as she considers the problem. "I can't say that I have more skill, I mean, your wisdom and experience far outstrip my own, at least as far as magical gear goes. But perhaps I can take a different approach? Much how a fresh pair of eyes might see things that one missed before?"

The scroll is set down in a corner of the room, stretched out to it's full length and weighed down by a few, smooth, circular stones. Taking up a small broom, Simony begins to sweep away the circle she'd previously created. "So I follow a rather ritualistic approach, which I am sure you're at least passibly familiar with, even if it's not how you do things. The circle will have spots for components, and for spells to be cast, drawn out in a very precise, logical manner. With a bit of my own twist on it."

"While I am a bit tired at the moment, I am willing to begin preparation. I'll do the main casting work in a day or two. You are welcome to watch, to stay, we've food and drink, and a relatively comfortable cot or three if you wish."

"Potion brewing for me does follow a similar approach, but... sometimes I just let my instincts guide me, especially if it's something new I'm trying to concoct. Do I use honey, or water for the base? Do I brew it under the sun, or the moon? That sort of thing." Telamon removes a few boxes, as well as a simple silvered circlet, from his haversack next, laying them down next to the scroll.

"I guess that's the nature of discovery. Sometimes you have to wander a bit, find the paths that work." He makes a face. "But you can't cram two spells into a potion. I found that out the hard way. Replacing the alchemy set was expensive."

"I think I would stick to the most egaltarian version of a potion unless specifically requested. Finding a method that works, I think would be very careful about messing with that." She snags a little dustpan, sweeping the red chalky substance in. Her attention is then drawn to the boxes, and the circlet. A look of concentrtion is followed by one of serenity, as she takes in the circlet.

"Oh. I have at times wished I was a wizard or sorcerer, and this is one of those moments. No matter, I think I have a means."

Starting at the middle of the room, where the flagstones have been precisely placed, the Goblin begins to fashion a circle.

"While it is a rather simple spell, er, well, it is definitely withing your ability to understand, not meaning to minimize the magics... but it is to be used to magnify your personal presence, yes? To instill courage and allow your to inspire others to victory. A voice that cuts through all the noise of battle and stress." A number of symbols are carefully drawn as she speaks, inscribed in a symmetrical fashion. A little nod indicates she is pleased with her progress.

"That placed onto an item which already bears a powerful magic." Simony goes quiet, her expression placid, as she considers the next step.

"Sometimes you only learn by failure," Telamon says with aplomb. "Ask Lana when I blew up my alchemy set the first time. At least I was wearing what the gnomes call 'lab armor'."

He walks over to watch what Simony is doing, his eyes following her inscriptions. "Precisely. That's the funny part: this really isn't that -powerful- of a spell. It's the fixing of it in the circlet that was eluding me." He rubs his chin. "The good news is that it should resonate with the magical effect already bound into the circlet, instead of being at odds."

"Well, yes. I hope that my failures are not of a... explosive nature. Let alone it's unbecoming of someone erm... of my stature? But they'd be quite cross if I damaged this room. It's been specifically prepared to make magical ceremonies and rituals easier. And more secure. It's very difficult to scry into here with the wards, not just here, but on the building itself, plus all of the prayer that takes place here. Throwing in healing magic, and it is quite the cacophany that disguises this room. One hopes that that those spying here see what they expect and do not delve too deeply or too long."

Telamon shakes his head. "Take your lessons whenever, and wherever, they come by, Simony. You always hope to -not- have a... how was it father said it? A 'high-speed dismantling' of your project. But you're strong enough now to not fear it." His lips curl up slightly. "Though your point about damaging the room is well taken. There's a reason I brew my potions in places where I can control things if necessary."

He looks around with interest. "Are you concerned about being scried upon? There are powerful magics that can be deployed against such prying eyes. I'd be happy to help with that if the monastery felt it was an issue."

"And what was not a powerful spell when cast is magnified by shaping it into a permanent instrument.", she says in reply to a previous point made. "What you wish me to do is of a similar feat, a modest power mangified into something bigger. That could be the difficulty you've encountered, hmm?"

A little nod is had then. "Oh, I do try to learn my lessons when and where they come. But, I would also learn the lessons you've had, without the explosive nature of them." Her shoulders shrug momentarily, as she continues to add on to the circle on the floor. "What good are lessons if you cannot share them with others, yes? Things you pass on to your progeny and protoge, so that the mistakes they make are their own, unique things."

Simony shakes her head then. "No specific concerns about being scried upon, other than that some may be curious as to what I do. Reputations precede us all. You and I tend to intercede to prevent harm, or to see justice delivered, and there are those who would see us turned aside, so that they might do ill works unhindered. Not to mention, the Monastery is a target, being a focal point for learning and knowledge."

She gestures to the room. "This was created out of an abundance of caution. And you, sir, are well known, your counsel and help will be requested, should we wish to strengthen what we have here."

"Nothing wrong with caution. Just don't let it make you hesitant." Telamon leans down, hands on his knees, as he watches the inscription take form. He doesn't offer any advice on it, apparently preferring to not jog Simony's elbow figuratively speaking.

"Anyone who seeks to improve the world is going to be a target for those who would take advantage. It comes with the territory, I fear." He considers her words. "I've tried to make note of what works for me, and what hasn't, in my potion-brewing. I'm sure my children, and their children, will find the writings both educational and amusing when they read them." He smirks. "Hopefully they will not have to repeat my lessons."

GAME: Telamon rolls spellcraft: (19)+26: 45

"Ah, you have done the one thing that prevents history from repeating. You've written it down." She pauses as the finishes the biggest arcane symbol in the circle with a flourish. Something she seems especially pleased with.

"I am quite certain that your children will be voracious readers. It is almost cheating, I think, to be able to read what has happened in the past. An amazing gift."

She dusts her hands off. "So this is as far as I will take this for now. I may make some changes, but I think I can leave it be, and get to the finger wiggling and weird noise making later." Simony giggles lightly at that.

"A warrior of some skill once told me 'if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.' I find that to be eminently good advice -- whether it's a fight, or learning from the past. Why suffer the indignity of repeating the errors of your predecessors, save to probe some new development." He snickers softly. "That might be why every twenty years or so, someone tries to 'fix' the empowering metamagic technique Ellran developed. There was a reason he was posthumously called 'Ellran the Unlucky'."

He inspects the circle, a faint smile on his face as his eyes linger on the central glyph. "I like that you signed your name to it. I do something similar with my libations and potions -- the seal is embossed with the crescent and raven mark." He offers her a grin. "You must be hungry. Let's go get something to eat first, before you fall over."

The Goblin's laugh is loud and cackly. "If someone ever decides to look at the enchantment on your circlet, they will see my name. If that isn't a means to immortality, I don't know what is."

Then Telamon mentions food, and her stomach gurgles immediately. "It has been some hours.. we could go down to a place in Alexandria? Or would you prefer a homestyle stew with freshly baked bread and some honey lemon tea to wash it down?"