[CLOSED] 🎶 Say that we'll be nemeses 🎶

[ragweed]

WHO: Kit + Sarkan 
WHAT: Kit reluctantly seeks out his best frenemy for some assistance of the magical variety. No, he can't believe he's doing this either. ugh.
WHEN: Towards the end of Solace.
WHERE: The Gallows library
NOTES: General warning for excess levels of snark and grudge-holding.

This was a bad idea, but apparently not bad enough of an idea to keep him from going through with it.

Towards the end of Solace, Kit's leg has made enough of a recovery (it had always looked worse than it was) that, though he carries the crutch around with him, he doesn't always need to lean against it for support. That doesn't mean any part of him enjoys the long hike up the staircase to the Gallows' library; he's embarrassed by how winded he is by the time he finally reaches it. The doors, already open, welcome him in, which is a much better reception than he anticipates getting from Sarkan's table.

He makes his way through the library with considerably less racket this time until he finds the veritable dais of luxury that Sarkan has enthroned himself upon, and just stares at him in disdainful silence for a few seconds, like bracing himself for entering an outhouse or something equally unpleasant. ugh. Give him Bownammar again any day.

He clears his throat. "Hey."

Off to a great start.
 

Comments

[fireandsmoke]

"I would be perfectly satisfied calling you dwarf. But that won't be efficient were it necessary to track you down later about this."

Kit Gandir. He won't forget that.

"I'm called the Dragon." He is perfectly aware that 'Sarkan' is a more comfortable and palatable name for most Thedosians. But he does not care about the comfort of his current companion; Sarkan is his name in the spell-tongue, and it carries more power than he would care to disburse to this man. "Or Lord Dragon if you're feeling respectful," there's some dry laughter and a grim smile behind that quip, "but since my lordship is meaningless in this realm, don't bother."

Not that he needs to tell Kit that. 'Lord Prick' is more likely to spout from his mouth.

"Now, I'm only going to go over this once, so listen carefully. I will make you an earpiece. I won't guarantee permanent effects. Soaking it in a tincture and imbuing a spell-working will improve its longevity, but brewing, soaking, incantations take time. If you're looking for something to quicken the senses in, say, combat, then use it only when you need it. I won't be blamed for any failures or drop-offs at a critical moment."

He does not yet mention that the earpiece's effects may strengthen in his presence, when he is available to top off its waning magical properties. He also does not mention that he could very well make the earpiece capable of superhuman amplification (and that it even may be an unpredictable side-effect), making Kit an invaluable asset as a spy or an eavesdropper. Besides, Sarkan is very interested in observing how long a magical object of his construction would function and last without his presence.

"When it runs empty, you must bring it back to me for a refresher."

[ragweed]

Lord Dragon? Sod that--this guy has to be fucking with him now. "Are you serious--" he starts, but then the Dragon continues on his imperious, but nevertheless crucial explanation of how he intends to create this device, as well as its capabilities and shortcomings. Kit stows his irritation with this guy for a later date; right now, he's getting what he needs, and that's more than he expected to walk out of here with when he first showed up.

"When it runs empty, you must bring it back to me for a refresher."

"And when will that be?" he asks, and does his best not to sound as annoyed as he presently feels. "How long will one infusion last? I don't want to get caught out in the Kocari Wilds not being able to hear a damned thing."

[fireandsmoke]

"Yes, of course I'm reckless enough to loose you to the Wilds and allow you to get pinched in half by the giant swamp crabs with a floundering ear-piece of my crafting," the Dragon says caustically. "Leave it to me to forge and to test, and wait longer to hold it in your overeager hands. I'll give you specific instructions when it's finished."

There are too many factors to name that could change a magical artifact's longevity. The level of noise, the distance involved, how attuned the user is to its capabilities and limits, how long it remains active in the ear... Sarkan's goal will be roughly 24 to 48 hours of continuous use (perhaps a week of practical use), but he will not know for certain until he creates it and assesses the strength of imbued magic. More likely than not, it will take trial and error.

Don't worry, Kit. He'll conduct his own tests before handing it over to you whether you give him permission or not. The Dragon is somewhat of a perfectionist, and although he is aware that he doesn't have the months or years or proper ingredients available to him to create a limitless charge on, say, a magic staff or any other forged magical artifact, he will produce the best he can within Thedas's constricting grip.

"Then there's the most unpleasant bit: I'll need to teach you," that doesn't stop a frown from etching into his face, "how to use it properly in a laboratory space. Yes, I'm abundantly aware that dwarves are naturally resistant to anything of a magical nature, but you should be able to use an artifact like this with reasonable precision. If you've got enough brains to follow instruction."

[ragweed]

Well he's right about the most unpleasant bit: enduring tutelage from anyone pompous enough to call himself the Dragon without a trace of irony is definitely going to tax Kit's usually rather plentiful patience to its absolute limits. Though, to be fair, he was already close to running on empty with this chump to begin with.

"...you should be able to use an artifact like this with reasonable precision. If you've got enough brains to follow instruction."

"Well gosh, ser, you know it's sometimes a trial getting my shoes on the right foot in the morning, but I promise to do my very best."

He reaches for his crutch again to push himself up to his feet; if this is where their conversation is going to wind down to a conclusion, he wants to be prepared to gtfo as soon as possible. "How long will you need for the initial prototype?"

[fireandsmoke]

Though the Dragon's expression remains unmoved, there's a glimmer in his eyes that almost make them look youthful. Finally, a he has got a project -- so simple and meaningless, if he were in Polnya -- that has applications to other facets of his capabilities and workings! He is in his element, taking firm control with aplomb and running off with the reigns.

He takes a considering pause, then holds out an expectant hand.

"Tualidetal!"

From elsewhere around the library, two tomes fly off their shelf-homes and into his waiting hands. One is an alchemic tome, and another concerns herbology and various ingredients available in Thedas as well as their properties. He plops the alchemy book into his lap (half because he's eager to reference what he needs, and half because every blasted bit of magic he uses instigates a new sting in his anchor-palm) and thumbs through the pages for what he is looking for. He knows he will have to reference these in tandem with the massive books he lugged through the rift.

"A few days, a week, or if I manage to blow the labs sky-high with foreign ingredients, perhaps never." Good thing he has a base elixir in his trunk to start him off, or he would most likely have to compromise with a weaker enchantment and no tincture. "You will get what you asked for as fast as I can make it to my satisfaction. I'll summon you. You've got a crystal, don't you?"

[ragweed]

For a moment, Kit almost suspects that the Dragon is doing him a courtesy by extending out his hand--but then of course he isn't, because there come the books, hurdling through the air to his waiting hands like something out of a librarian's worst nightmare. Kit ducks to avoid having one smack the back of his head, shooting the Dragon a sour look as he does so, then pushes himself to his feet.

"I'll summon you. You've got a crystal, don't you?"

Oh, so he'll be summoned by His Lordship, now will he? In frank, wordless irritation, Kit holds up the crystal for the Dragon to see, then lets it drop back under the neckline of his shirt.

"A week." He turns to go.

[fireandsmoke]

"That's the goal," the Dragon hisses through his teeth, his full attention already bent fully into his alchemy tome. As far as he is concerned, Kit is dismissed and may show himself the door.

It may or may not strike the dwarf as strange that the Dragon did not stipulate recompense for this favor, but the truth of the matter is that he is getting plenty of benefit out of doing this without additional payment outright. Besides, he has little faith that Kit could offer him anything valuable enough to catch his attention, unless he kept a secret stash of blood magic instructional booklets in his back pocket for kicks and giggles. Either way, Kit may breathe a sigh of relief that the Dragon is not asking anything specific of him in return for creating a magical artifact, which, of course, takes plenty of time and skill to master even in Polnya.

Or he can choose to be suspicious about what the Dragon is up to. Either way, our dear Lord Dragon is keeping mum on the subject.

Feel free to utilize the library with little fear of running into the Dragon for the next week, because soon he will be shutting himself in to his rooms or to the alchemy labs until he is finished.