[ The books that appear are not insignificant in size. He puts aside the notes for now and sets all but one of the books down on a nearby table to begin perusal, and makes a note to himself to ask on the possibility of taking the information away to page through at leisure.
Based on the name of the magic he should have had some inkling on what to expect, but even so the very structured nature of the magic in the book surprises him. Aetherial magic seems largely a question of will; there are no steps on how to cast beyond visualisation. Certain elements are disposed to certain magics, but that's because each element has its own specific nature: you wouldn't expect speed from a user of earth magic because that is not the nature of earth, and so on. It is interesting enough. Perhaps he might turn his mind to it. It might grant further insight to their current mystery. ]
We are brought here against our will. [ His words are slow, meditative, as though he is merely thinking aloud. ] And this very action seems to have some detrimental effect on this realm. However once here this... Singularity latches onto us Summoned and in turn provides us with certain boons. A measure of symbiosis? It takes from us some necessary resource in return for some measure of power. And now, either we Summoned are no longer enough to support Singularity, or something else has happened to tip the balance.
[ He breathes a laugh. ] Or perhaps this would always happen and we cannot say whether we had any effect on the timeline of events whatsoever.
[ He will admit that this is not his area of expertise. Cidolfus would be better to have on hand, but for some reason Barnabas has the feeling that Cidolfus would not readily answer his summons.
I don't know if anyone informed you about the group vision we shared, but the eventual future for many of us if we remain will probably become versions of this sphere's gods. The Summonings happened before, long ago, and some of those people became what is referred to as the New Gods in Solvunn.
[ This used to be a theory for Istredd so when he gained the confirmation, it was a big deal to him. He is a studier of history so when he learned about all these details and kept them in his pocket, he knew what to bring back to make sense of what they experienced. There is no telling about the vision and what it truly meant, only what they can speculate about. Istredd has yet to speak with Umbvagher about this, but perhaps some day. ]
The implication was that their connection to the Singularity and the power it bestows eventually led to an ascension of some kind. Theoretically.
[ Technically none of them know for certain what will happen, and situations since have changed, people have left and people have come who were not there, but it was just a potential. And one he personally looks forward to, but that is not something commonly shared, which Istredd respects. He saw it as a future that he would be happy to experience, but being a god of knowledge is hardly a bad fate for someone like him. ]
I wish I had any idea of what to do with the Singularity or what it is trying to communicate with its actions, but it is beyond us.
[ Istredd has tried everything he could to bond with the entity. It hasn't gone anywhere. He knows that other people have managed connections but they couldn't explain it any better than he could. Or persuade it to act differently. There is a lot about this situation that is far outside of their control, and Istredd is very realistic about it. Which is why he doesn't pretend otherwise to newcomers.
He tilts his head thoughtfully at the question, before shaking his head. ]
Apologies, but I don't believe Cid would appreciate me sharing anything more than what has been agreed upon. I would tell you to ask him, but I doubt that would go well for either of you.
A vision of the future. Then perhaps all this worry is for naught.
[ He speaks, and his eyes continue to roam the page but his mind is caught on Istredd's talk of gods. To become gods, or at least this realm's version of them. If it is a question of power then why wait? Within the ranks of the Summoned there are those that already could rise to the occasion. Wanda being one of them. Himself another.
No, Istredd did mention an ascension of some kind. Transcendence. Now that bears investigating. ]
Either way, all we can do is watch and wait.
[ He finally closes the book and sets it down with the others. He will admit that he had expected Istredd to pass on Cidolfus' words unthinkingly. A scholar, and clearly possessed of a great deal of learning, but perhaps not with a great deal of care. Certainly he hasn't spent a moment wondering just what Barnabas might want with all this information.
But truly, he should have known. ]
There is little need for an apology. That a friend of Cidolfus should prove so loyal is hardly a surprise. Or much of an issue. You have already provided me with much, and I would thank you for it.
Perhaps. It unsettles some people, to think our fates set in some kind of stone, but it truly isn't. Anything could happen.
[ Istredd thinks it very, very likely that it will happen exactly that way. The way the New Gods did it, and he has yet to speak with the god who will clear some of that up. For him, that future was a positive thing, something to strive for, but he understands it is torturing some of his friends with a possibility of a life they didn't ask for or want.
Istredd can be careless with his words and if Cid and Dion hadn't warned him, he might have said something unwisely, but he has learned over time to be more careful. It was one of the traits of being a god that he had to fail at frequently to get to the other side. Lucifer would be proud. Speaking of Lucifer, he folds his arms. ]
My partner came to this sphere with his greatest enemies. They live in different territories. Despite having tried to kill one another many times before, and having tried to kill one another here too, they decided upon a ceasefire so they could live their lives. I recommend you consider the same.
[ Istredd will probably recommend the same to Cid and Dion as he is very fond of them but he is even fonder of peace between the Summoned. He doesn't encourage people to fight, he was the one who pushed the ceasefire in the first place with Lucifer and Dean. He doesn't think it helps anyone to fight amongst themselves. They have bigger problems than squabbles from other spheres to worry about. ]
This library is mentally controlled, all you have to do is think of what you need and it will come to you. You can come here any time. I do not tolerate violence in my space, so you're safe.
[ If anyone tried to cause trouble here, they would find the library closes in on them and separates them naturally. It is an extension of his mind and peace-keeping ways. ]
[ He has no desire to see them dead. Or rather, their deaths serve no purpose for him. Still, a ceasefire seems somewhat ambitious; Cidolfus never did learn how to leave things well enough alone.
Still, all that aside the journey still proved useful. He has more questions, but he also has a fair few answers. The moniker of magical expert was aptly aasigned. ]
Then, I will spend some time reading. I leave you to the rest of your day.
[ He collects the books off the table, and then with an incline of his head—an acknowledgement at most; the only one Barnabas would bow to is not here—he heads towards one of the reading areas scattered around and gets settled in. ]
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no subject
Based on the name of the magic he should have had some inkling on what to expect, but even so the very structured nature of the magic in the book surprises him. Aetherial magic seems largely a question of will; there are no steps on how to cast beyond visualisation. Certain elements are disposed to certain magics, but that's because each element has its own specific nature: you wouldn't expect speed from a user of earth magic because that is not the nature of earth, and so on. It is interesting enough. Perhaps he might turn his mind to it. It might grant further insight to their current mystery. ]
We are brought here against our will. [ His words are slow, meditative, as though he is merely thinking aloud. ] And this very action seems to have some detrimental effect on this realm. However once here this... Singularity latches onto us Summoned and in turn provides us with certain boons. A measure of symbiosis? It takes from us some necessary resource in return for some measure of power. And now, either we Summoned are no longer enough to support Singularity, or something else has happened to tip the balance.
[ He breathes a laugh. ] Or perhaps this would always happen and we cannot say whether we had any effect on the timeline of events whatsoever.
[ He will admit that this is not his area of expertise. Cidolfus would be better to have on hand, but for some reason Barnabas has the feeling that Cidolfus would not readily answer his summons.
Well. Not his summons. ]
Has Cidolfus furnished you with further findings?
no subject
[ This used to be a theory for Istredd so when he gained the confirmation, it was a big deal to him. He is a studier of history so when he learned about all these details and kept them in his pocket, he knew what to bring back to make sense of what they experienced. There is no telling about the vision and what it truly meant, only what they can speculate about. Istredd has yet to speak with Umbvagher about this, but perhaps some day. ]
The implication was that their connection to the Singularity and the power it bestows eventually led to an ascension of some kind. Theoretically.
[ Technically none of them know for certain what will happen, and situations since have changed, people have left and people have come who were not there, but it was just a potential. And one he personally looks forward to, but that is not something commonly shared, which Istredd respects. He saw it as a future that he would be happy to experience, but being a god of knowledge is hardly a bad fate for someone like him. ]
I wish I had any idea of what to do with the Singularity or what it is trying to communicate with its actions, but it is beyond us.
[ Istredd has tried everything he could to bond with the entity. It hasn't gone anywhere. He knows that other people have managed connections but they couldn't explain it any better than he could. Or persuade it to act differently. There is a lot about this situation that is far outside of their control, and Istredd is very realistic about it. Which is why he doesn't pretend otherwise to newcomers.
He tilts his head thoughtfully at the question, before shaking his head. ]
Apologies, but I don't believe Cid would appreciate me sharing anything more than what has been agreed upon. I would tell you to ask him, but I doubt that would go well for either of you.
no subject
[ He speaks, and his eyes continue to roam the page but his mind is caught on Istredd's talk of gods. To become gods, or at least this realm's version of them. If it is a question of power then why wait? Within the ranks of the Summoned there are those that already could rise to the occasion. Wanda being one of them. Himself another.
No, Istredd did mention an ascension of some kind. Transcendence. Now that bears investigating. ]
Either way, all we can do is watch and wait.
[ He finally closes the book and sets it down with the others. He will admit that he had expected Istredd to pass on Cidolfus' words unthinkingly. A scholar, and clearly possessed of a great deal of learning, but perhaps not with a great deal of care. Certainly he hasn't spent a moment wondering just what Barnabas might want with all this information.
But truly, he should have known. ]
There is little need for an apology. That a friend of Cidolfus should prove so loyal is hardly a surprise. Or much of an issue. You have already provided me with much, and I would thank you for it.
and we can wrap here or on yours I think! :)
[ Istredd thinks it very, very likely that it will happen exactly that way. The way the New Gods did it, and he has yet to speak with the god who will clear some of that up. For him, that future was a positive thing, something to strive for, but he understands it is torturing some of his friends with a possibility of a life they didn't ask for or want.
Istredd can be careless with his words and if Cid and Dion hadn't warned him, he might have said something unwisely, but he has learned over time to be more careful. It was one of the traits of being a god that he had to fail at frequently to get to the other side. Lucifer would be proud. Speaking of Lucifer, he folds his arms. ]
My partner came to this sphere with his greatest enemies. They live in different territories. Despite having tried to kill one another many times before, and having tried to kill one another here too, they decided upon a ceasefire so they could live their lives. I recommend you consider the same.
[ Istredd will probably recommend the same to Cid and Dion as he is very fond of them but he is even fonder of peace between the Summoned. He doesn't encourage people to fight, he was the one who pushed the ceasefire in the first place with Lucifer and Dean. He doesn't think it helps anyone to fight amongst themselves. They have bigger problems than squabbles from other spheres to worry about. ]
This library is mentally controlled, all you have to do is think of what you need and it will come to you. You can come here any time. I do not tolerate violence in my space, so you're safe.
[ If anyone tried to cause trouble here, they would find the library closes in on them and separates them naturally. It is an extension of his mind and peace-keeping ways. ]
yes, wrapped!! :)
[ He has no desire to see them dead. Or rather, their deaths serve no purpose for him. Still, a ceasefire seems somewhat ambitious; Cidolfus never did learn how to leave things well enough alone.
Still, all that aside the journey still proved useful. He has more questions, but he also has a fair few answers. The moniker of magical expert was aptly aasigned. ]
Then, I will spend some time reading. I leave you to the rest of your day.
[ He collects the books off the table, and then with an incline of his head—an acknowledgement at most; the only one Barnabas would bow to is not here—he heads towards one of the reading areas scattered around and gets settled in. ]