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Post by XuLiang on Sept 25, 2020 5:54:42 GMT
“Perhaps. If you think that would be best.” Yes, that is clear now that I am here. Buy why? How? Perhaps the highpriest can connect me with someone who will know.
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Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2020 8:18:26 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/qJ4QTQV/Professor-K~jpg The priestess quickly walks out of the room. All is quiet except for some reading from the Book of the Seahorse at Gerard's memorial and the hushed voices of a few of the other visitors to the chapel. Eventually, an elderly man is the green-and-white robes of the Unicorn comes to Xu. "You are the one who has received visions from the Unicorn?" he asks looking over Xu with a critical eye. He seems to be satisfied with what he sees and continues in a whisper. "If you are telling the truth then it is dangerous for you to be here. Did you tell anyone else about your gift?"
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 28, 2020 12:15:15 GMT
Xu Liang notes with interest that the robes are almost the inverse of his own as the man approaches. He stands and gives a respectful bow, deep as for an elder of his own Order but with his eyes on the man. “I think Sister Ret may have over exaggerated. I have been having dreams of the royal family and some strange locations. They have led me on my journey here.”
“I consulted with some of the dream specialists in our Order of Scholars before I set out on my journey. The early dreams were difficult to understand and required people with more experience than myself. But once I began my journey the dreams became easier to follow so I relied on my own resources.” He looks down as if staring into the depths of the ground. “The Chi here is very strong and flows like rivers everywhere. I have felt like one of those northern fish swimming up a river to someplace I must go.”
He returns his attention to the man, “There is always danger in life. Is there something more specific that I should be concerned about?”
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2020 8:46:45 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/qJ4QTQV/Unicorn-HIgh-Priest~jpg "They are visions from the Unicorn, a gift from the cosmic Horn of Order," the priest says. "Few are given such a gift. Many in positions of power in the Church and Amber believe such gifts are bestowed only on the holiest and most exalted of her children. As an outsider, they would see your claims as heresy and an attempt to destroy the Church. Tell no one else of these visions! Inquisitors are humourless, unimaginative sorts of fellows."
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Post by XuLiang on Sept 30, 2020 13:35:25 GMT
Xu Liang hmmmss… “That is probably wise, people drawn to such professions seem to be cut from the same cloth everywhere.” He briefly considers joining the priesthood here. Such a thing would probably not be terribly difficult having already been in such an organisation. But he had done that before. He was here for something new. Perhaps if nothing else worked out he would consider it.
“Thank you for your excellent advice. Could I trouble you for a bit more? Is magic practiced and accepted here in Amber?” (OOC - Assuming he says something positive he will continue with... ) “Do practicers need to be part of a guild? How would one go about contacting others of the same profession?”
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2020 2:49:14 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/qJ4QTQV/Unicorn-HIgh-Priest~jpg "There is magic, yes, but of a weak sort compared to other places unless one has the blood of the Unicorn and can manipulate her power. As far as I know, only those of the royal family carry her blood.
"There lesser magicians are not in guilds as such, but I have heard rumours of secret covens in the city. Others find employment in guilds such as farming, mason, or trade depending on the talents of the practitioner."
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 6, 2020 11:48:54 GMT
Xu is a bit relieved. “That is good to hear. I would rather not be burned alive for using ‘unnatural forces’.” He chuckles and shakes his head at such a thing. Chi is everywhere and in everything, the very thought of it being unnatural is laughable.
“Secret covens and guilds hold little interest for me. There are so many more interesting things to do than skulk around in shadows having secret meetings.”
“I am sure to have taken up too much of your valuable time at such an important juncture. Would it be too forward of me to ask to meet you for lunch sometime when you are more free for a long chat?”
After making an appointment (assuming the Highpriest is willing and able). He stands and with a respectful bow he leaves the church.
He takes a moment to regard the sky and then looks around the interior of the castle like a busy man trying to decide which important task he should take care of next. In reality he is trying to gauge the flows of Chi in the castle to determine how Chi flows about the castle.
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 6, 2020 14:04:53 GMT
(OOC - Does he see Kat? Timing could be right....)
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Post by Admin on Oct 7, 2020 4:18:02 GMT
[OOC: the chapel is separate from the castle proper. It would be unlikely that they would bump into each other.]
[OOC: Ahh, didn't notice that you'd double posted!]
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Post by Admin on Oct 7, 2020 5:01:17 GMT
The castle gate is across the plaza from the chape with a troop of soldiers on guard. Exiting the chapel, Xu sees a large, muscular man confronting the guards. Just before violence could erupt, a short red-haired woman gives the man and his woman companion permission to enter the building.
The guards are back at attention as Xu approaches.
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 7, 2020 6:57:00 GMT
The short redhead, he had seen her before in his dreams. So this was where she was. He stops a good distance off from the gate, without trying he is almost at the exact centre of the plaza. He looks as if he just wants to catch a glimpse of the magnificence of the inside of the castle through the gate. Just another tourist. Kai softly pads up next to him.
“Are you considering reviving your previous profession? Or are you considering something new?” He rumbles in a low voice.
Xu Liang considered the walls for a moment and judged that with some simple equipment it would be no problem to scale the visible barriers, but he suspected there were other defenses that were not so easily seen. “Something new. Can you feel the lines of power flowing out of there? Surely you must. With this much Shar Chi to work with back home I could move mountains, light every lamp in the Imperial city or change the course of rivers. But here, something dampens it. It is like the water underground, flowing and moving but yet to unleash its full potential.”
“Come. Let’s find a place we can sit and observe who comes and goes from the church and castle. I must work out how to use Chi here and this is a good place to do so.”
If the guards have noticed him, he will give them a respectful nod and then head to nearby cafe, preferably on on the Plaza if possible. He will then sit outside and order tea or the local equivalent. Kai settles into an orange mound of fur under the table.
He then sits and starts doing coin tricks. He focuses on his Chi and starts to get a feel for the local forces and starts trying to use his Chi magic to supplement his slight of hand. He could do an entire performance without using Chi, but the purpose was not the performance, but to learn about what adjustments he would need to make.
First he makes the coin dance over his fingers giving it a bit of a push with air underneath to make it float. Pushing it until he can make it jump from index to pinky finger. Then he will start to make the coin brighter, lighting it up and making it shine.
(OOC - Let’s see how that goes before I post more…)
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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2020 2:33:20 GMT
There isn't a cafe within the castle's walls but a coffee cart has beverages for sale to the chapel's visitors.
The coin dances and glows from the small pushes of magic Xu supplies. Greater effects would require much more time and concentration to effect.
The people who come and go in the plaza do not show any greater glow of chi than usual for this place. From one of the castle windows, three stories up there is a much greater source of power from a castle inhabitant.
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 11, 2020 12:35:27 GMT
Xu Liang is pleased with the results. To get this much effect back home would have been a considerable drain on his person. Here the Chi is so free he can use it for power and just direct with his personal Chi.
“Come Kai. I think this will be an interesting place to start a new profession.”
“And what would that be?”
“Geomancer. Let’s head back to our room and see if anyone comes calling. If not we will start looking for a home.”
He and Kai will then head back to the Gilded Topmast.
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Post by Admin on Oct 11, 2020 15:21:47 GMT
The trip back down the mountain is uneventful other than when Kai mentions that the two different groups of watchers are still spying on him.
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 15, 2020 10:02:05 GMT
When they return after buying a few supplies Xu Liang says to Kai, “I am going downstairs to get some supper. Are you going to join me?”
“Yes, this place is so steeped in Shar Chi it will be hard to sleep.”
“I will be glad for your company. We are going to have a busy day tomorrow so we shouldn’t stay out long. But our mysterious spys might pluck up their courage and approach us if given a chance. I would prefer to know more of those who are attentive enough to notice my arrival.”
He will then head back to the common room and order dinner.
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