* Topic is '-= Chapter 55: Penance | Location: Crystal Spire | Pool: 2 MXP =- http://storen.rpgcafe.net/IoG/'
* Saki wanders aimlessly through the halls of the Crystal Spire. Traveling so lightly that you're practically carrying everything you own is a bonus: she's got time, while the others get ready, to enjoy the views and generally peace out - a profession she appears to be doing admirably well at within the Spire.
* Vytor tromps down a set of stairs, his backpack loaded and ready. He waves at Saki as he approaches.
* Saki tilts her head in acknowledgement, hands buried in hair behind her head. She moderates her pace, falling into step alongside Vytor.
<Vytor> Hey. I'd ask you if you were ready, but your appearance answers that.
* Saki chuckles in amusement. "... I'm available for big strong wo-man work."
<Vytor> Actually, do you have a moment? I need to ask you something. And Rachel too, *tilts his head to one side, indicating he's talking to someone else*, if you're open for it.
* Saki raises an eyebrow as she tilts her head a second time in agreement. "... mm. ... probably."
<Vytor> I have some follow-up questions regarding those gauntlets.
* Vytor digs into his tunic, and pulls out his ever-present notepad, flipping to a sheet with a good deal of chaotic notes scribbled across it.
* Saki tilts her head up to watch the ceiling go by, blinking in thought for a moment. At a faint wince, she nods whilst still looking straight up. "... mn. I think we've pushed it a bit much for me to bring her out, but I can--... 'translate'."
<Vytor> I think I can accept that. I don't want to push Rachel farther than she wants to go.
* Saki shakes her head, sighing a faintly amused breath out. "Mn. We've just done double time with Niri and Tanan."
<Vytor> Pushed you two a bit hard?
* Saki winces as her step halts just a second, then starts walking again with a very slightly arch tone of voice. "... ah, no. ... I'm gently reminded that it was me pushing us too hard."
<Vytor> Ah.
<Vytor> Hopefully this will be less of an ordeal.
* Saki finally looks back down, drawing even with Vytor. "Mn. Ask away."
<Vytor> OK, now at one point, the Gauntlets were described as 'musty'. Now was that because they were old by when Saki found them, or were they already old when Rachel encountered them?
<Vytor> For the first time I mean.
* Saki paces in thought, scratching at her head lightly. After an interminable time, she finally answers. "... mn. Both--... I think. I was still mostly myself, but... a relic? --Certainly old. Bequeathed, or gifted, or--" Her halting speech cuts off suddenly as she listens to the voice in her head, frowns, and sighs again. "... or 'do not ask'."
* Vytor takes some new notes.
<Vytor> The reason I ask is because I'm trying to determine an approximate idea of when they were created, and potentially what techniques might have been used based on that historical era.
* Saki raises one eyebrow in silence - then shrugs. "... still sulking."
<Vytor> That's all right.
<Vytor> OK, now I'm going to ask you to do something for me.
* Saki has something of a vague turn-up of her lips that might be a smile. "Last time you asked, that didn't end well."
<Vytor> I know. But I'm a glutton for punishment.
* Saki nods her head. "Then?"
* Vytor digs into his pocket, and pulls out one of the few remaining pieces of the gauntlets. "Can you hold this in the palm of your hand? Palm up please?"
* Saki splits a grin. In one smooth movement she's taken and flipped it into her palm.
* Vytor digs into his pocket again, and sets a jeweler's monocle into his eye. Leaning in, he takes a closer look at the fragment as Saki holds it.
* Saki stands stock-still, letting Vytor work. "... I can try to bring her out, if it'll help."
<Vytor> Actually, let's not just yet.
<Vytor> Sometimes when an item has been in a person's possession for a long time, the object actually reacts with that person when the two are in contact. Hopefully, if that's still true here, I might be able to see how the willforce is moving around, if at all.
* Saki nods in understanding: she remains good, though her fingers twitch as if she'd rather be juggling the piece.
<Vytor> OK, can Rachel step in? I'd like to see if there's any changes.
* Saki breathes in slowly, closing her eyes: "... you might not get too long," she warns, then her posture straightens - just a little. Though silent with her eyes closed, there's a definite and different air to her.
* Vytor watches closely, hoping not to miss the slightest detail.
<Vytor> Thank you Rachel. I think I've gotten all I'm going to get out of this.
* Saki grits her teeth; with a nod then a gasp then an exhale, Saki is opening her eyes, just a little breathless. "... nnnnow. Definitely pushed too hard."
<Vytor> OK, no more pushing on that front. I promise.
* Saki rubs her forehead with a hand, not even noticing that it's the one cradling the piece of blackness in a fist. "... just need to not push it for a while. Then we might be more help."
<Vytor> OK, can I ask you to hold the fragment again? This time I want to see if I can feel the willforce moving.
* Saki blinks; with an easy shrug, she brings her hand back down and opens it up to reveal the black still sitting there calmly.
* Vytor sets his own hand, palm down atop Saki's own with the fragment between them, and shuts his eyes.
<Vytor> I can't sense the flow of willforce like mages can. But since I starting learning alchemy at the labs, I did at least learn to feel its movement in a tactile sense.
* Saki settles for looking mildly clueless and watching on. "... mm. And?"
<Vytor> There's a definite feeling of inward motion, pulling energy from outside and into itself. But its less of a siphon and more of a gentle pressure.
<Vytor> Can I ask you to do something else for me? I want you to imagine attacking me, as aggressive and as ferocious as you can picture.
* Saki looks side on at Vytor with not a little incredulity.
<Vytor> I know. I know. Humor me? Please?
* Saki sighs out in a very theatrical fashion, grumbling something akin to 'The things we do...' under her breath. Closing her eyes with a frown, her brow furrows.
* Vytor suddenly pulls his hand away, as if something bit him.
<Vytor> Hm. Interesting. Very interesting!
* Saki opens one eye to eye Vytor beadily. "... mm?"
<Vytor> When you became aggressive, it responded in kind. The gentle pressure changed into a much stronger pull. Actually stung a bit.
* Saki peers down at the shard. "... mm. It feels it; just a little."
* Vytor takes some more notes.
<Vytor> That actually helped a lot. There's a few compounds that react with similar kinds of properties. Now I just need to find one that matches the toughness.
* Saki just about manages to follow along, toying with the piece in her hands. "To patch the holes?"
<Vytor> That's the idea. I really need some suitable glue to hold all the pieces together, but won't change the overall properties.
<Vytor> And that's my last snag.
<Vytor> I haven't managed to craft an alloy that even remotely close to what I need to fix this.
* Saki frowns; not so much one of annoyance so much as being plain lost. "Mm... it's more information than we had. Bit by bit."
* Vytor flips his notepad closed with a flourish. "I'm not beat yet. Who knows? We could stumble onto a solution as we're saving the world."
* Vytor spreads his hands expansively before him like a director, "Our intrepid heroes stumble upon an ancient chest, and within, a scroll of days antiquated labeled "Black Dragon Gauntlets for Dummies". And the world was saved."
* Saki hangs her head. "--and knowing how our luck has been..."
* Vytor chuckles.
<Vytor> Thanks, I think that helped me a lot.
* Saki nods, absently tossing the piece up in the air and catching it again. "... no problem. In the end, I'm still grasping at straws with it all. Even with the tenant."
<Vytor> Every little bit helps.
<Vytor> By the way, how are you feeling? After everything that's happened?
* Saki rakes the back of her head and has the grace to look a little sheepish. "Ah. ... it's not the best timing, but better than ever. The Spire is... very solid."
<Vytor> Do you think the others are ready for the next leg?
* Saki sighs out, rubbing harder; "... mnnhh. I think... Niri will be alright. Tanan, of course. ... getting Angie out might require dragging. Don't know, otherwise."
<Vytor> And how about you?
* Saki actually grins; "--raring to go. ... enough so it's a little worrying, given what just happened. But... mmh. Lazarus, and all that."
<Vytor> Yeah. Ideally, Lazarus could give you and Rachel the respite you both want.
* Saki nods, and starts to pace at a slow gait. "We'll see." Another shake of her head; "I'm... a little skeptical. But things seem to work out."
<Vytor> If nothing else, we might learn something that can help you two down the road.
* Saki sticks her hands back behind her head, lodging the piece of black accidentally in a tuft of hair. "Mm. And then Saturn, and then--..." She blinks. "... and then I'm not sure," she finally admits, frowning. "We're out of leads, except possibly chasing down that boat."
<Vytor> I suppose we'll simply determine where to go when we get to that point.
* Saki shrugs one shoulder; "Or when we're told where to go next," she adds sulkily.
<Vytor> There is that.
* Saki finally drops her hand, shaking her head. "... mm. We should get going; we're going to need to herd everyone up, and we've a long way to go."
* Vytor bows and indicates the nearby descending staircase, "After you."
* Saki starts to make her way down. "... it's a shame. This place is... very grounded. There's no difference, whichever way I see it. It's quite pleasant."
<Vytor> I suppose that's what its designer intended.
* Vytor follows.
* Saki frowns and peers at a crystal-blue pillar, musing as she heads downstairs. "... mmm... it's getting easier on the whole. Easier to tell who's seeing what?"
<Vytor> Its a start. Maybe all this practice has helped divide your perceptions.
* Saki makes a vague noise of affirmation and steps out into the cold air, almost buffeted sideways. With little to no preamble, she leaps up onto the cargo bed of the Destiny, turning around to offer a hand for bags.
* Vytor obliges, and the business of loading up begins.
<Saki> Lude End!
Session Close: Wed Oct 10 18:10:08 2007