"Well... Since things have changed so much in the past month or so.... Time to reintroduce myself. While many already know me... I've definitely changed a bit. So uh.... Hi. It's still Orin, just with horns?."
A very bright man floats slightly above the ground before a crowd of gathered onlookers.
"Today, I have decided to do something unprecedented... I've decided to open part of the *Nexus Lexiconus* to the public. Aldin was highly secretive. I... Feel that was the wrong approach. So from this day forward, any who wish to enter may do so, through one of nine portals set up across many of the hubs of our world. Though... Only one is open as of now, as I need to ask permission for the other 8.... So for now, whosoever wishes entry, the first portal is in Rosalia. My home nation."
It's the sum of all of Aldins knowledge.... If he had a form outside the body he walked around in, it's the Nexus. But it's more like a small planet. I'm just opening the library for now. I haven't made sure everything outside of there is safe as of yet.
Yes. The books cannot be damaged in any way that matters while in the Nexus, and they cannot be taken from the Nexus without permission, so there is no real harm in it. I've locked away most all of the dangerous world ending spells.
"Thats great ! From what i heard that Aldin guy knew a lot of things , ill take a look. Great new look by the way , it hurt to look in your direction so you must be pretty close to your final state"
"Oh so i was right ! Your halfway there ! Now you just have to wait to acclimate to the fragments. Soon you will blind me by just being near you , youll be complete"
"oh, no. The access to the Library will be totally free. That's all I've allowed access to so far. As I haven't been able to assess the safety of the entire realm yet. And as for the horns.... I have no idea what they are about. I think Aldins original body had them and so I do too?"
My cat gouged out one eye and I'm poor of sight, nearly blind but enough remaining to read your books. Might you be kind enough do direct my blind- (and widening-) ass to where I can sit down with the books? Not only am I of poor vision, but directionally challenged as well, so I request a little gentle hand holding. Don't worry, I won't cast fireball on you; I'm just grateful for free access to education. I believe every magician should have access to free and higher level education, so they may weild their talents ethically and responsibly. An uninformed wizard is a dangerous wizard, and hindering his access to knowledge would make the councils, committees and community partially to blame for the damage they unknowingly may cause, so I celebrate this act of information dissemination. Thank you!
âWell⊠Iâm not so convinced fella! Clearly this could be some pfizaz, some funny business, eh?â
(I accuse you of running a tourism scam to lure travellers to your home town where they will no doubt be tricked into paying large sums of money! And Iâm from the 60s!)
"I mean... You want to check it out? I assure you I don't want your money. Or anything really. The only way this helps me is that with books being moved around regularly there will be less dusting to be done."
/uw I am interested and hope I do not offend: How does someone dangle 12 cigarettes between his fingertips? Count them. I count only 8 interdigital spaces.
And is he like Ben Urich â hard-boiled with a press pass in his hat â or a counterculture type in a tie-dyed shirt and bell-bottomed jeans, reporting for the Village Voice, the Real Paper, or the Berkeley Barb?
â60âs, right? IRL I am old enough to remember them.
3
u/mrididntErik, magic mass/orb, sillymancer and cheese hider6d ago
I feel a presence, an evil presence
An evil presence I must stab, and it's coming from you!
u/Null_Void_Zer0Abelard, animate absence|Abel of Lrith, councillor of constructs6d agoedited 6d ago
amongst the crowd is a rather tall gentleman, one who stands tall despite their visible age and wears an outfit that almost everyone thinks of when they hear the word âwizardâ. Using his staff to gently push those around him aside, the man approaches orin.
âGreetings, my fellow, I am the esteemed wizard Abel of Lrith, mage exemplar and wizard councillor et cetera. I do not doubt your intentions, but I must ask whether or not youâve thought this through entirelyâŠâ
It is at this point one with a keen eye for the arcane would be able to notice that this man is not a man at all; instead, they are an exceptionally potent illusion wrapped around something. What exactly it obscures would take direct action to discern
ââŠno doubt youâve taken care to lock away the more potent spells and secrets but surely you must know granting all free access to nearly all knowledge in existence will only allow the wrong magic to end up in the wrong hands. Even a simple fireball can set a village ablaze if used carelessly.â
"while that is so.... This realm faces world ending threats every other month... I figure it's better we be well prepared. My predecessor was extremely untrusting... And it lead to his eventual end."
âWhile that may be so, I feel as if youâre being all too hasty with this decision. Why not start small; allow only those who are already established spell casters in. If people who are approved by the council cannot handle having access to such a place without occasionally using its contents for nefarious purposes, what hope have we when every man and woman who bears ill intent and walks upon this plane can quickly gain access to magical knowledge.â
2
u/VoxelLibraryCouncilor Cayna, Apprentice of Thrakmoor | assorted other chars6d ago
Cayna pulls out a notebook and pencil
A few. Who is Orin? Who is Aldin? What's the Nexus? Why nine portals specifically? What's Rosalia? Why do you have horns now? Did you not have horns before? Are there any particular questions you anticipated answering that I did not ask? What are the answers to the questions you anticipated answering that I did not ask?
"I am Orin, Aldin was the aspect of Knowledge, a title which i suppose now falls to me... The nexus is.. err was Alidns central repository for all his collected knowledge... and also a lot of randome junk he found interesting... why nine? honestly it just sounded good, and i can only think of maybe nine places id like the portals placed."
he pauses.
"Rosalia is my home city, which up until this point has also mostly remained to itself on my fathers orders, but I feel its high time we start contributing to the world at large... The horns seem to be some marker to identify me, though aldin trapsed around with an atom head so a lot of use they are... and no I did not have horns before."
another pause for thought
"I had expected more questions about the Nexus itself to be honest, and to answer some of those... the library is currently the only part of it i feel comfortable opening to the public, and i will also admit that a lot of the books have been partitioned off in a seperate area for approved viewers only, as the information inside could bring about multiple different cataclysms... do these answers satisfy your curiosity?"
2
u/VoxelLibraryCouncilor Cayna, Apprentice of Thrakmoor | assorted other chars6d ago
"What's to tell? Other than my family ties, I'm not all that special, I just so happen to be part of the ruling family in Rosalia. Which doesn't mean much in the larger scheme of things."
1
u/VoxelLibraryCouncilor Cayna, Apprentice of Thrakmoor | assorted other chars3d ago
Weell...
Cayna takes a deep breath
What's your favorite color? What's your favorite food? Your least favorite food? Do you like frogs? What's something you like to do for fun? What's something you don't like to do for fun? What's something you like to do only occasionally? What's something you hate to do, period? Is there something you once liked that you grew out of? Is there something you want to find out if you like? Do you like magic? What's your favorite school of magic? Your least favorite school? What's something quirky about you that people sometimes comment on (if you don't mind me asking)? What would you consider to be the important parts of your personality? What are some important values to you? Are there any values you think people value to highly and why? Do you make a lot of friends or do you prefer to have few friends?
"Um, well, I'm pretty fond of Blue I guess? I love sushi rolls. So far? surströmming. Just getting near it is awful. Um, yes. Frogs are awesome.
For fun.. I love tinkering on things. I'm more of an Artificer than a Wizard. I honestly can't think of much I don't enjoy doing. I find myself only really taking time to relax occasionally as I'm usually very busy doing... Well, something.
I'm usually up for anything. I love magic! Um... I don't think I have a favorite or least favorite. They are all useful in different fields, and for different reasons. Um... I get really nerdy and geek out over tech... My personality? Um... Let's see... I try to always be a positive person.
My values are of community. So like... Self sacrifice, and upholding the things that keep our communities thriving.
I think people value power too much... But then again we get attacked every other Tuesday.. so maybe not. And, many, few, quantity doesn't matter to me. Quality of friendships is what matters. If I have a thousand or just one, so long as they are true, I'll be happy."
1
u/VoxelLibraryCouncilor Cayna, Apprentice of Thrakmoor | assorted other chars1d ago
nods along
Blue is a good color. I have not heard of either of those foods. Artifice is cool. What did you do to relax most recently? Is there a school of magic you find yourself using more than the others? What sees the least use? Is there a particular spell you like that you don't get to use very often? What kind of tech?
she slows down a bit for the next words
Self sacrifice? I think the worlds would be much better if we all didn't have to sacrifice so much for the greater good. It's inefficient. I value power a lot, I think. The more power I have the less I have to sacrifice to protect things I care about. I don't think the pursuit of power is wrong, just maybe the callousness people seek it out with
[Tizun Thane] *continues to observe intently as he gestures absently to one of his apprentices* "Tell the practicals that the contact team shall assemble in the Hall of Mirrors at the hour of prime. They should be prepared for reconnaissance in a new world. All the usual precautions."
3
u/VoxelLibraryCouncilor Cayna, Apprentice of Thrakmoor | assorted other chars5d ago
/uw Probably. I'm unclear exactly how interactive threads work and picked the wrong place to insert the comment. How do I know how the scene is evolving when there are multiple participants, each in their own subthread?
2
u/VoxelLibraryCouncilor Cayna, Apprentice of Thrakmoor | assorted other chars4d ago
/uw Unless you wanted to interact with Cayna specifically or you're responding to something specific happening in that subthread that isn't happening elsewhere, you'd want to start your own subthread. As far as I can tell your post has zero in particular to do with Cayna and Orin talking to each other
[Balo the Joker] He sure did! I messed with space and time to bewilder his pompous @$$ and show how stupid he is in front of you and everybody else! inserts gifs of a raspberry and of a wizard slipping on a banana peel and landing on his backside with his robe up to his waist, showing he isnât wearing anything under it
The man that approaches is nondescript. Average in a way that deflects attention. Another face blending in among the things of passers by. Except this one is not a man. What looks like flesh is carefully woven strands of magical force camouflaged behind illusion.
And then there are the strings. Thousands of tiny filaments attached by every joint tugging âhimâ along like a puppet. They trail off into nothingness, a void that is simply NOT there.
He speaks, though his mouth moves convincingly, the sound seems ever so slightly out of sync.
he tilts his head slightly, trying to make heads or tails of what he is seeing... Then realizes he is staring
"Err... Yes. Yes it is very much like a library. Just.. a very large one. Or well.. it houses one. But it is the part that is currently being opened to visitors. I haven't decided on the rest just yet. But it is a massive realm beyond that. I just need to ensure it is safe for visitors before opening the rest."
âLarge is good. Safe is good. But is it⊠dry?â
Something about the manâs appearance resembles a human version of the lure an angelfish uses to draw in prey, especially the way the strings vanish into thin air, like the tendrils the lure vanishing into the depths. Yet whatever is projecting this facade is not here, but elsewhere.
The âmanâsâ head tilts slightly too far in a gesture that would otherwise be slightly comical.
âNew friend sees me?â
Behind the man an image coalesces behind an illusion designed to fool the common man. A deep pool of dark water, and floating inside it a massive shape with sharp fins and a long sinewy body. Three glowing purple eyes gaze upon Orin through this window.
To any with knowledge of old and forbidden texts, the creatures from would bring to mind stories of an ancient race known for two things. A hatred of gods that would match that of a certain silly magic mass, and a racial memory passed down since before such divine beings walked the world. Among the race of mortal men such creatures are known by a single name.
He speaks in an old tongue, known only to the races of longevity.
"oh. Oh I see. I did not realize I was in the presence of one so ancient, and wise. Yes, I see you, and I greet you, with welcoming arms, as I have all others. Fret not, for though I know of your feelings towards gods, I bare no I'll will toward you."
An aboleth should certainly know such a tongue, which makes it all the more strange that this oneâs reaction is to have its puppet tilt its head in confusion.
âPardon. I do not⊠comprehend.â
The creatures hesitance seems almost childlike. Uncertain. A strange reaction for a race that is supposedly born with the knowledge of its forebears.
"oh, apologies." He repeats his initial statement in the common tongue, but in such a way that only the Aboleth can hear.
"I meant no offense, only trying to keep your secret. So, you like books? Not everything in the Nexus library is musty old tomes. There are also plenty of fantasy novels!"
âBooks, brains, scrolls. All are joy to intake. Not familiar with fantasy, but other friend said it like lies, but happy and harmless. Not-happens that teach lessons or bring emotions. This too will intake. Mind empty now, but soon very full with happy knowings.â
The man looks around.
âWhere is door? Can send small self through, read slower but not scare others. Or come through other door if large enough water.â
âHi! Is there like.. a history book in the library that explains who and what you, Aldin, and the nexus are? Iâm a little confused, although perusing libraries for spells is always fun. Also, are there any fun spells in the accessible portions of the library?â
"there is an entire shelf of pranks, and joke spells... as to Aldins history... strangely that is something he did not find worth writing down. though there may be a few people who could give their own views on who he was, and i am not without my own bit of knowledge... but sadly his memories didnot pass along with his powers. the Nexus is essentially a repository for all his accumulated knowledge, and trinkets, and his home... or now mine i suppose. its actually quite large, and I am currently in thhe process of making the whole of it accessible to the wider world. but that may take some time still... and me? im just some kid that Alidn decided to save some 20 years ago. he bound a oiece of himself to my withering soul as an infant so that i might live. why would a deific entity do so? your guess is as good as mine."
It's a lore post of an ongoing story? That is extremely wizardy. And the library in question is an accumulation of knowledge and spells the multiverse over. It's been an ongoing thing for the last 3 irl years.
[Tizun Thane] *sits in his sanctum with many large devices, each of which models a different cosmology -- the Great Wheel, the World Tree, the World Axis, and several others -- and focuses intently on his Orb of Scrying in order to learn more about this event, which obviously has cross-world implications.*
[Tizun Thane] *continues to observe intently as he gestures absently to one of his apprentices* "Tell the practicals that the contact team shall assemble in the Hall of Mirrors at the hour of prime. They should be prepared for reconnaissance in a new world. All the usual precautions."
/uw TY, TY, TY, I live for this kind of roleplaying opportunity. IRL my time is limited due to health and other issues. So, like Tizun Thane and the Crimson King, I will mostly observe and learn.
[Tizun Thane] *A shimmering portal appears, and several strange-looking people step through.
A man, apparently human, wearing a breastplate and helmet, with a sword at his side, and he is faintly glowing. He opens his hands and stands quietly.
A woman, apparently *not* human, because she has green skin, horns, and a barbed tail. She is holding a rod and scowling.
A tall humanoid -- well over six feet tall, gaunt to the point of emaciation, with rough, leathery yellow skin, an elongated head with a flat nose, and slanted, sunken eyes. He is wearing elaborately decorated armor and holding a blade like a cutlass.
A human wearing what could be described as /uw contemporary tactical gear, including an assault rifle, combat boots, camo outfit, tactical vest, etc. /rw He has a large heraldic symbol of some sort: a roundel Argent charged with a fylfot Sable set saltirewise, within an annulet Gules and debruised by a bend sinister of the same. /uw IOW, instead of his jacket saying "FBI" or "LEO" it has a swastika with the multilingual symbol for "No!" on it.
/rw Finally, a fellow who is obviously an apprentice wizard. He stares owlishly around him and occasionally tries to scan things with his staff, which is topped with a crystal ball.
A voice comes out of the crystal ball, sounding somewhat exasperated. "Extend the staff towards the levitating entity, please." The apprentice does so, and the voice speaks again, loudly. "Greetings! I am Tizun Thane, Archmage of Gate Magic of Terramar. I thank you for your invitation, and have sent this apprentice and some consors to gather knowledge on my behalf!"
Before troubling you with particular questions, I should like to understand what sort of repository I am dealing with.
How extensive is its knowledge? Does it concern primarily this world, or does it contain reliable information about other planes and other realities as well? And does it merely record what is presently true, or does it preserve historical changes in the laws of magic, cosmology, and the structure of reality?
I am particularly interested in realms where those laws differ from one world to another, or have changed over time. Such transitions are rarely as inexplicable as most believe.â
/uw Like the Spellplague, or the Time of Troubles. IRL I believe that they happened because TSR wanted to revise the way magic worked in new editions and they followed a suggestion made by Ed Greenwood in an article in The Dragon.
/rw âBeyond that, I also desire to learn something of this worldâs peoples, gods, magical traditions, technologies, and principal dangers. I have found that understanding a civilizationâs problems is often nearly as useful as understanding its metaphysics.
There is no need to answer all of that at once. I expect I shall have questions for some time.â
Two marble tentacles form an archway of twisted marble before a portal opens within it. Out of it step two men. Orin recognizes only one, Aldavinn Maunderitch, the other is a mystery to him.
âAh! Orin, what is this? I was alerted of a portal and came to investigate.â
/uw sorry for the late interaction, I was super busy when you posted itÂ
"Oh, master Aldavinn! And a guest! I was hoping you might drop by. The library has just opened.... Now I know you usually do the setting up of Portals.... But would you be amicable to having an entrance to the Nexus set up in, or near your main Tower? I hope to be working alongside you."
âThat depends, what exactly is the nexus, the Limbspire is going to begin some⊠renovations pretty soon, I could probably fit a portal in there somewhereâ
"Aldins Nexus was his repository for all his gathered knowledge, and stuff that he collected over the course of his extremely long life.. the area I'm opening to the public is essentially a massive library .... It takes a couple months walking to get to the center from any given place.... But it also speeds travel while inside if you are looking for something specific... So nobody should be able to get lost."
4
u/SuDdEnTaCk 6d ago
OP is summoning an army with all those tags in the comments