Hydaelyn Role-Players

Note to self: Lafiaht is going to help me sort out whatever is happening with these gems, and perhaps the spirit as well.

[blot] She doesn't seem particularly pleased about the situation, but is rather willing to help with the hunting. Her carbuncle needs things to sniff out. I hope the letter would suffice enough. I've since sent her copies of my notes, and told her about everything I know of the thing gem.

[a few spots] I hope to hear from her soon, and [another spot] well, I'm quite grateful for her assistance. She says not to worry about it, that she needs nothing in return... [a few more spots]

But she gives off the air of one who is mildly trapped. In some way, I wish I could give her something so she might be able to pursue what she'd like, instead of being held by the other obligations she notes keep her from such endeavors. I doubt she would take it though, even if I did. And it would.. likely be 'weird' as she puts it. Though I hardly see why.

[blot] There are times I feel... it is unfair what I have. Though I suppose, of course, there are trade-offs. Other possibilities. I likely would never have survived were it not for my particular... situation. There are likely families that would have left me, being of little use to them in any way. I am always grateful, but I cannot help but feel the wish to somehow give more to those who could really use it. The Family tended to be very... tight about what they would give, and for what price, the Trade being of utmost importance, even though, at times, they would ask for something very 'little' and others something very great.

[a few blots] I've written all I am thinking here before.

I just cannot help but find myself wishing she had further freedom. Perhaps, though, she has exactly as she wants, what she chose, so really, my thoughts are invalid. I suppose a better thing to say would be, I wish she could have what she's after, to pursue more of it without feeling that it's out of reach. ... If that's what she really felt, anyway.

[blot] I didn't mean to ramble here, but look what happened~ I ought to be working on other things.

The Eagle and Quill Bookstore

Rachelle Aquilloux
- Manager
- May be Duskwight?
- Her Family name is not familiar to me [blot]
- Seems kind enough
- Has a coeurl kitten
Seeks to hire me as a scribe

Agreement
- I will split the profits for scribework
- From those who come into the store seeking such services, profits will be split.
- Outside commissions are my own.
- I will take Trades of Knowledge as I please.
- However, I will help with mending tomes, or binding new ones for the store as needed in exchange.
Thoughts on this
- Higher-end gil commissions (of those who enter the store seeking them) I will split.
- Lower-end gil commissions (of the same) I will keep, as per to recoup material costs (especially since they have none here, it seems).
- Trades of Knowledge are my own, though I will certainly give the Knowledge that I think may help those in the store.
- I will pay all manner of 'rent' should it be needed.
- I will mend tomes on request of the managers and assistants for nothing in return.
- I will create blank books on request for the Quill for nothing in return.
- The place alotted to me will be a study for my work.
- I will bring in customers to the store on my own accord; typically those who'd enjoy the tomes as much as I~
- It sounds that they will help me advertise as well, somehow, though I know not the details on this beyond what Sanoe already does.

Dietrala Verglace
- Nervous Miqo'te woman
- Seemed to have trouble speaking when she arrived.
- pouts often
- has a close relationship with Rachelle
- one of her best assistants
- Apparently one named Khairi is also an assistant
Has a crystal stuck in her cheek
- reacts painfully to ice Aether (or my shifting anomolies)
- has been there for two years
- keeps it covered with a bandage
- speculates a heated bandage would solve the issue?
- needs to keep it warm, perhaps an opposing countermeasure is somehow the solution [blot]
Mention of one named Danasorian
- would apparently have a 'pissy fit' over something
Dietrala is sleeping with Khairi
- [blot] Unsure if that is literally, or [blot]
- Maybe both, considering.
Dietrala doesn't want a proper room
- currently resides in storage with Khairi
Dietrala showed me about

[there is a vague layout diagram here of what looks like two floors of the same building. Certain sections are labled: Physical Sciences, Aetherical Sciences, Geology, Mining, Mythology + Legends, Philosophy, History, Biology, and Anatomy. The second diagram has no labels. Next to it is written 'OLD']

Non-fiction books are warded
- Lightning Aether will harm anyone taking them out without permission
Map under the desk in the front.
Others' rooms
Dietrala + Khairi
- storage
- filled with books
- knock if a customer needs attending
Meeting room
- important announcements held
- "usually by our stuck-up financer"
- Ishgardian Noble
Mira + Lady Micharan Danasorian's room
- Danasorian = Financer
- "Mich has a bit of a stick up her ass, but she's a good person." - Rachelle
- Mira = "a sorta ditzy coeurl"
- handmaiden of Danasorian
My room
- relatively empty for now
- I'll need to move everything in soon
Previous Manager
- "Our previous owner was good, but... she sorta killed a lot of people."
- "Raynard was trouble."
- "By the way... if you find a book in circulation writ by a Zerayya al Rahal? That's her. I suggest not reading it... or, at least, not trying out what is in her book."
Dietrala claims that's 'above my paygrade'.
- ... I can't help but be terribly amused by that, considering what my 'paygrade' is on my own.
Advice and Request by Dietrala
- "If you see a scruffy Wildwood man with a big spear sitting out front or downstairs, that's probably Exantraux. If it's not? Kill him with fire."
- Conversation between Rachelle and Dietrala:
R: "Please don't do that, love, I need him whole."
D: "I said if it's not Exantraux!"
R: "They're probably customers then! Don't kill the customers! We had enough killing here!"
D: "NYEHHH." (in defiance)
The Professor
- Professor Fluffernutton, Honored Beast of House Danasorian
- the coeurl kitten
- Mira's cat
Dietrala
- called 'Dee'
- Refuses to get a room
- Or take a bath, apparently.
- Dee and Rachelle seem to [blot] bicker like an older and younger siblings.
Question (Rachelle asked)
- "How good are you at removing ensorcelled ink? One made of spoken blood, specifically."
- I mentioned it depends what it was on, but that it could be done.
- Reply: "... I'll ask for your help sometime, maybe. Let's just say Miss Reynard left... a lot of things behind."
- I agreed to help
- She returned to the basement to get drunk with the Professor.

I was heading out
- heard someone coming in asking about theories of the Void
- Titled 'Into the Abyss'
- Syrana Nuveri was her name
- Leader of Alteria's Breath
- The book is within the previous owner's personal collection
Note this.

[At the end, there is another diagram here, scribed much more elaborately and precisely, of what might be the previous layout. Everything is neatly labeled, and it looks like a valid map and floorplan in itself. There is a note near it with an arrow pointing to it that reads 'Use This One']

Grimoire Order: Notes

Gift for someone getting into Arcanima
- Perhaps beyond beginner, but by description, doesn't sound to be yet advanced. A novice?
Healer
- "can't imagine her hurting someone"
Carbuncle - focus
- "Stumpy stunted little thing"
- Likely something to enhance her connection to it, and its power.
"Authoritative figure"
- "something with some 'oomph' would put a smile on her face."
Lighter palette preference
- Something ornate, gleams when used
Whites and Silvers
- favors extravagance
- something that flows and is fancy
Complete as soon as possible
- 5 day pick-up / check in time
Payment: 10,000 gil, and any crystals she may cross.
- rather cheap for what she's asking.
- though much more would be problematic for her.

First Thoughts

Elaborate Healing and Channeling Grimoire
- Use of Wind and Earth Crystals to augment and enhance a Carbuncle's abilities.
- Use of Water Crystals to augment the grimoire to a more healing-sort of aspect.
Features
- Weight customization
- Aether enhancing
- High-grade paper, silver-leafed page edges
- Travel ready
- Easy snap shut, and open
- Elaborate metal-work cover
- Elementally resistant
- May consider others later on.

Asheloux's Eye

Hard to explain what he sees
Like a flow of light
- certain movements or patterns can be discerned
- sometimes recognized as spells
- Areas around Dalamud's fall =/= cast fire
- Elementals = something of their own
He doesn't understand the elements that well, it seems

Incidentally, and amusingly, Asheloux was the first to know of my new place of work. He'd caught me once when I was moving, and since came to visit. [blot]

Despite reminding me continuously that he can hardly deal with my presence, he did follow me to the Eagle and Quill when I was heading there, and since returned to visit. [a few spots] Oddly, it seems we may have more in common than I previously thought.

He'd mentioned that [blot] he hasn't seen much of the world himself. He'd only been able to wander, I believe it was 8 or so years back? I didn't write it down, as [spot] well, my Aether was being.. problematic.

Oh, right: Remember that he was after books on Nymian History. He gave no specific titles, but [spot] well, he is researching the topic, so should he not find any on his own, Rachelle may be able to help him if he returns.

Anyroad [blot] he expressed some interest in learning more of my Aetherical work at a time when he might be able to .. tolerate my presence~ Though in truth, I've hardly been able to experiment with nor test much of what I would like to. I'm sure he likely has much more Aetherical skill and experience than I, though I [blot] well, I have been a part of some.. interesting things, of course. And [spot]

Well, I still couldn't tell him what he wanted to know. But I also couldn't get that far into it without [a few spots] letting something be known I'd rather keep closer. [a few more blots, and the entry just ends abruptly there]

I still wonder if she read them.

I mean- I thought she had, the way she [blot] At least some, certainly, and the last time we spoke, before parting, how she [blot blot] but I donâ€™t know. She knows I read hers. [blot] Her letters, I mean. How strange it is, to be stuck in two worlds the way we are. There is the one where we are merely and much more than the words we string together, carefully with all manner of feeling we wish to give to them, their rhythm or rhyme. [spot] By mere mention of those words, implication of the thoughts, I feel that world pull me, the place I feel much more of who I am, despite not really being there quite at all.

And then there is the world of bodies and stumbling phrases. The one where Avis nearly slips into the ocean at my every arrival. The one where I can never quite say what I think, never quite speak all that rushes around my mind, as it moves far too quickly; I grab at the thoughts fleeing, and get only a piece, another piece, and then another gets in the way when I try to find the rest of the one before. Even here. Even in my own tome I don't always write what I think, as though [a few spots] they are going to find it.

I already saw the result of my mis-matched phrasing. I [spot] I think she understood that I was speaking the truth when I explained. It is really only doubt that keeps me from saying she did; I think my desperate.. word vomit amused her far more than it.. perhaps gleamed real understanding. Though I cannot be so bold ever as to assume what she may or may not understand. I hope, though, that she knew I did not mean what she thought. I take she does. She was kinder afterwards. I [blot]

It was just horrifying that she might think that I did not appreciate, did not absolutely cherish, the deliberate truths that she writes. Not even necessarily truths in the common sense of the word, but truths of feeling, of how words fit when in that world, a place I'd thought for the longest time would be only a solitary escape. I couldn't even capture a phrase that would rightly explain how I feel for them, her letters. Knowledge does not hold the same meaning for her as it does for me. But anything less would be a disservice. More than poetry. More than stories. More than tales, or musings, or intimate written soliloquy. It was a conversation between the innerworkings of us both, through a medium of our [blot]

I canâ€™t even write the word I was going to, without trailing embers, thinking of what sheâ€™d likely say to me if she read it~ Hells, am I to have her quips hovering over my mind as I write to myself, now~?

Whatever it is, it is.. so very close to us, something that would never otherwise be known or seen, and I cannot even find the winding phrases to place which would quite purvey the same feeling.

[blot]

There is so much I am not saying. It all continues to rush through my mind, all of it~
She adored the Eagle and Quill. I was so glad I could show her, that she would now have a place to go and be surrounded with the stories she lives for. Avis said she mightâ€™ve been looking for years, and now she has it there and it is so terribly exciting~ I am not sure those who run the shop may necessarily appreciate her sleeping in it, per-se, though. I [blot] I offered she could stay in my study, should that be an issue, and [a few more blots]

Well, of course she had something to say about that! It wasnâ€™t- [blot] I mean [a few more spots] Well, I am awake during her hours of sleeping, am I not? I do not see how it would be that strange, if she were to rest while I work in the other half of the room. I mean, if she truly wished to stay there, that would be the logical solution. I doubt they would accept her staying in anyone elseâ€™s room.

[a few more spots]

The next time [blot]

How would I even bring that up? I feel I will merely have to storm up one day and [blot] just say it.

[blot]

Though whatever it is that had occupied her mind in... dissonance when I found her, I hope it is somewhat remedied.

[a few blots]

I am surprised, though, that she [a few more spots] would take my hand. Even just for a moment. She.. is certainly not like them.

[There are some blots on the page, as though the book were hurriedly snapped shut before the ink fully dried.]

[These notes seem to be written down with some notably degree of haste, despite staying relatively neat.]

Gem Visions

Mine

â€œThere was fire. Roaring, a dreadful, terrible sound that reached oneâ€™s core and shook it. Everything was so godsdamned hot that it melted armor to skin, and... It was a battlefield of men shouting, death all around. Fear, exhaustion, blood- until there was nothing.â€

Sylas'

â€œI felt things--crystals? Beinâ€™ pushed into my body. Couldnâ€™t move. Lots of, uh. Lots of people watchinâ€™. Somethinâ€™ was being chanted.â€
- May have been pushed out from skin instead of pushed into.
- He doesn't know.

Lafiaht

Found some information on the Sisters of the Red Lotus
- â€œFuckinâ€™ tracked them, yeah? When I couldnâ€™t find shite in Limsa I went over to Ulâ€™dah. Took a bitâ€”but I found them. Theyâ€™re exactly what they say in their letter, yeah? Sister of the Red Lotus. Covenant of women devoted to Naldâ€™Thal. Anâ€™ I mean fuckinâ€™ devoted. . . But apparently more to Thal. Didnâ€™t stay long, yeah? Wouldâ€™ve been in poor form to loiter.â€
- â€œAinâ€™t seem much different from any other church, didnâ€™t seem to get many donations but seemed well enough offâ€”Not everyone wore pins but some did. Watched them for a day or so. . . so they mightâ€™a seen me but I donâ€™t know how theyâ€™d know where Iâ€™m at. Granted, how would they know where either of you were at, yeah?â€
Also something else
- "My Carbuncle started sniffinâ€™ further out into the desert, yeah? By the uh. . . the uhâ€”fuck what do they call it. . . Unholy Heir? Nowâ€”Iâ€™m trustinâ€™ the authorities here which I ainâ€™t usually wont to do but from what they said a body was found round there a couple days ago. Kinda fishyâ€”Considerinâ€™ their scent was lingerinâ€™ round the place. Donâ€™t see why a priest of death would be needed anywhere other than a burial ground, yeah?â€
- Potentially concerning the Spirit
- Something to look into

________

[blot]

Nevermind, I [streak, blot; the entry abruptly ends here]

Messes.

We have one indeed.

[ink blot]

I've not the slightest still what to write, and half wonder [a few more spots] Merely setting myself loose is hardly necessarily the answer, as strange as that sounds to write, and yet [a few more blots]

I continue to tap this page into undefined indefinincy~

Why can't what -[streak spot]

I wonder if I may be able to ward this tome. To keep all that is within, and the letters, that much safer, I-[blot]

I then realize I'd written nothing of previous endeavors. Things that most certainly need to be noted~ Hells, how these thoughts twist themselves into me, and I can think of little else~

I [blot] I had sent her Avis riddles. Many riddles which unwind to something of myself. Some Knowledge, I had told her before, is on the par of being so close, that known to another, may change the one who speaks it. It leaves them vulnerable. It is important. And in the answers, that could be found. But such is something that cannot simply be stated; in the form of a riddle, everything is much more [a few blots] hidden. Safe. Available for uncover. Because, I believe, there is a point, where [blot blot] where one is trusted enough to believe in their intellect. To say 'alright, I see a bit more of you now. I understand you enough to give you this hint, and if you can discern the hints I give, if you put the patience and care into unraveling these tangled words, to embarking on that journey, and devoting as much time as it takes you to find those answers, then you may have them. They will mean something to you, but you must have known that from the start to even begin.'

It is a gift of Knowledge, but only for those who might endeavor to have it.

That is where I am, and was. And I gave her my riddles. If she found their truths, she would know more of me than what I have ever told any outside. By her words, words that I have known no other to return in kind, I find I trust her in a way I trust no one else. Not.. not entirely. I don't know if [blot] I just don't know. But I will give her riddles, and see what she does with them. Because it is always then that they turn away.

[a few more spots]

All that aside, after I had done this, she gave me a story. She solved them, and knew some of the answers, returned to me what she lives for, a Story of hers, and I [blot]

Well, this is tangential. I still can't [blot] I mean [spot spot] Hells~ I cannot even write my thoughts on that now, so I will leave that aside.

I mean instead to note what happened. Though perhaps 'noting' it is the best way.

She visited. It was.. unexpected. She slipped a scribbled note under my door~ Being, a note of scribbles and nothing more. I let her in, an we spoke.

We spoke of paper. There is actually nothing wrong with it.

We spoke of gems. They are changing. I'll need to write better notes for this later, explain to Lafiaht and Sylas, but they exchange memories. Avis and I saw something from each other. She [blot] she saw a time in which I had described in part by my riddles. Of crystals. Of being let out with Them. I saw a moment of her childhood. Of rushing to see a spectacle.

We spoke of messes~ She gave me a clip to keep my hair away from my eyes, took the challenge of doing so. I still have it. I.. [blot] It is a nice gift. And it is actually rather useful, I will keep it with me. ... For its uses, of course. [ink blot] Well, no, also because she gave it to me. I can admit fondness for such things in my own tome, can't I? How she would comment on that though, hells~

We spoke of tomes. I showed her the Nymian tome we are to translate, and it was [spot] endearing to see her hold it, and treat it so. ... She sniffed it~ Yet treated it with the utmost respect. She's very excited to work on learning its secrets. I will need to [blot] sort out how to attain the resources I am considering.

We spoke of travel. She may be leaving. She had, she claims, come to bid me farewell, but it seems I had changed her mind with news of the tome, that she might remain longer. I [a few blots] would never think to stop another who might wish to travel, to see more that they haven't seen, to do as they might choose. Though I.. I think I would miss her. I would. Even as sporadically as we meet as is~ Though, if she wished, she may still have been able to send letters [blot] And the missing would.. well, at the same time I would be very pleased for her, finding new stories as she wishes. There is no reason for her to stay if she has no reason to stay~ Yet. ... I am glad she wishes to remain just a bit more.

[a few more spots] My thoughts are such a jumble, I can even see it in my words, how strange they are. Perhaps this isn't the way to sort these thoughts. [a few more blots] Perhaps I need a page where I may write freely.

Such a strange thing. I bound this tome specifically for my travels, but I bound it back in the caverns. It almost.. it is like me. It longs to be free in all ways it can, yet somehow still feels tied, like it may be yanked and reeled in for demanding eyes beyond my own at any moment. Like somehow they would know. I keep noticing how difficult it is to write in here now. And I feel so badly for the tome itself; it was made for a purpose, yet is bound by something that prevents it from reaching its full potential. ... By another's discerning. Mine.

I wonder what I can do to fix this. Wards, perhaps. As I was thinking earlier, or perhaps a lock, a warded lock. Multiple warded locks. Perhaps this tome will undergo a change.

Perhaps then, if it changes like I feel I am, in this uncertain flux, perhaps we may be able to better connect with each other again. [blot]

By the gods and the hells~

This I [spot]

I cannot believe what has happened~ That.. That all that happened, I hath never felt such an elated sort of fire within, even after, as though it were kindled in her presence and fans with my thoughts. I would wish to detail everything but I don't think I can separate myself from this whirling mess I have caught myself in long enough to explain, to describe, to note down precisely just, and it's terrible~

But wonderful all the same.

Instead, my head swims with recent memory and possibility, though is trapped in the feeling of 'now', how such a thing can encompass the past, present, and future is- [spot] I've no words~ Well, no, I've many words. All words that make only jumbles of sense when placed together, because that is what I am now.

What a Mess we are~

I did warn you~

Oh, by the gods and the hells of all, what am I going to do with myself? I must do something with myself. [a few spots] Learning better wards for this tome would be one. Perhaps some modifications, I'll need more crystals [a few more spots]

But to explain. I should take this down, even if [blot] Well, I want to!

Nothing went as planned. Well, no that isn't so; getting to the beach went as planned. And seeing the sea! Hells, what an exquisite experience, letting the sea have my time. The waves were such a force, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wonder if we could learn to swim, her and I~ You know, I never would have thought Avis didn't know how either, not until she told me, of course. She'd been in the ocean before, seems to enjoy it quite, yet she doesn't know either~ What an amusing irony.

But she found me there, and after hearing of my to-be experiments, she led me on~ Deeper out into the waves, it was- it was rather indescribable. Such a vastness, like wading into a breathing thing that stretches on beyond sight and sound both. A suggestion to emerse myself was given, and it was- [blot] the sounds beneath! She was surprised I could hear the creatures of the sea moving about, or, so I thought I could. We spoke of Many Things, small things, (of course she knew the sounds, of course she couldn't hear the fishes, but that she might join me anyway~) and she sung a song for me.

A small experiment. And I could hear them! I'll be thrice damned if I can wring them to mind now, my mind races so. But that she would sing~ Something changed her mind, and I was quite excited by it.

She wished to see the tome though, and thus, we made a return and- [blot] That was when I- we-[spot spot]

I was so pleased that I could trust her.

I told her then, when she asked. Much. And- well, it was frightening, but also felt- I wanted to. I'd never given the words I'd wrote in the letters yet, but even then, even there, I wished to tell her that [blot] should I be an Uncertain thing, a strange being speaking a language unknown, to merely ask me, and I will try to give her my words more clearly. I would try to let her know me as I could.

And without my telling, she asked. So of course, I wished to answer.

[a few spots]

She knows me more now. From what I came, though not where, exactly who, entirely why. She knows my name. I [blot]

My thoughts dance in ever changing spirals~

She took my hand once. And I took hers. She lent me her eyes for which to view the sky that I can never see as the sun took it forth.

And we left ourselves to rest among the sands~ Hells, there is so much to write, and yet I find my mind dancing so to allow none of it~ It was all ever as I never expected, and I am left, so pleased plans went awry that night~

Its own Gentle Chaos indeed~

Unspoken Knowledge

Zeraia Reynard / Zerayya al-Rahal
- original owner
Location
- one of many 'bases of operations'
- lots of research completed
- and tested
- lab below
Vague connection to Dee's crystal
- not direct
Had summoned voidsent to dig out an underground complex
- real laboratory
- scouted by Rachelloux's carbuncle
- expansive
- full of uncontrolled voidsent
- behind huge vault door
- warded
- creatures cannot escape
What is there
- bodies
- voidsent
- equipment
- 5 artificial void fissures
1 rendered inert
- "but the cost was... too high."
- Deitrala claims the cost was 'medium'
- Rachelle disagrees
4 more fissures
- half open, half closed
- unsure of why
Deitrala managed to close the one
- but it reached 'one of her open spots'
- [blot] Might this be the reason behind the crystal?
- or the strange... spread of its 'effects'?
- she did not clarify
Expedition will be organized to clear it out
- and secure the fissures
- apparently on tables
Fissures should have been flung open after her death
- they are not
- instead, half open, half closed
I asked if she may have a lingering spirit
- they replied she may be alive.
- despite all reports
Fissures created by sacrifice
- several dozen people
- killed many with experiments
Would like my help to close and clear the place
- do not inform others.

There are a couple letters tucked into this page.

Show Content

These letters tell me more of the sender than I'd known by our meetings.. But such may be oft the way of words on a page, to draw out Something beyond, or of a different sort, than can be seen by encounter alone.

What an odd lalafell she was, though I gleamed she thought me just as odd, if not moreso. She was rather... well one could not ignore her voice when she spoke. 'Loud' is a bit too harsh, but of notable volume. She seemed particularly... bothered that I might learn by my own terms, the second time she found me. Though I do wish that I could have replied to these letters. As it stands, I know not where she resides or if she might receive them.

[blot]

May her travels be well and there be less falling from chocobos in her future~

It is nice, at times, to meet one that respects those more sensitive of hearing, speaking the normal of Below to those who hail from it. So much so that I imagine they might be one of our own. What an intriguing hooded traveler, and one of Aetherical potency with interest in mine, no doubt. I wonder if we may meet again.

[blot]

Though am I really so different from the others? I suppose when it comes to outside Knowledge, there are those more wary. To some ends I see why. And then there are those with entirely different goals in mind. [blot] I wonder how many times she had crossed us, where that winding story had wandered.

'Trifling wisdom', huh~?

A note that Asheloux takes to barging into my study when he feels the need to contain himself from burning places down. At the least, he claims he won't due to the tomes and Knowledge, but [blot]

He also has a great hate for Ishgard. Oddly, it seems that they offered their assistance to his research, despite their great distrust for outsiders... and Asheloux worries he may somehow be enslaved, or put under displeasing circumstances by the Holy See, as he has no particular 'proper documentation' of living in any state. [blot] Which reminds me, I may well need to update my own papers, in the case of such needing notion. But regardless. Apparently Asheloux has been working on something that involves dragons; perhaps that is why they've an interest? The one who came to plead the case of assistance seems to grate on Asheloux immensely, however; a choice quote of his I recall: "His face projects the very essence of stupidity making him impossible read."

Though he did mention 'maintaining his status as an insider'... does that mean he is Ishgardian?

I do admit, as much as he is dreadfully grumpy, the wildwood is at the least entertaining at times. Though I, too, admit, that it sounds a frustrating position to be in.

And I've still amusement at his calling of me a 'glowing swamp monster'. Claiming, of course, that it is entirely my fault for making him want to vomit by my appearance, though that my visage is at least a little more tolerable to him now with the assistance of my scepter. He knew not how it was done, but found himself interested. I thus explained a bit. And.. he wishes to find for me something different. An experiment, of sorts. Mentioning he had a number of artifacts himself, and.. could steal more if wished~

I do admit, I'd be curious to see the effects on options I've not yet tried, so.. should this ever arise, I would be interested in the results.

[a few spots]

I really know naught of him at times~

How did I-[blot]

[spot] Why did she[another blot]

Hells. [streak]

[The following notes seem hastily scrawled onto the page; the script still neat enough, but not as neat as always. Below, the entry seems much more clean. ]

Asheloux's Body Issues

Seems to have become a woman by some Aetherical experiment mistake.
- Same demeanor
- Same Aetherical sensitivity
- Really not pleased about this
- I was the last option he had to seek assistence from

What happened
- Attempted to recreate the experiment that damaged his eye
- Different type of crystal
- similar to allagan tech fragments used previously
Crystal
- aetheryte crystal
- also corrupt earth crystal from up north
- tech fragments from journey to Coerthas
What happened
- doesn't quite remember
- body felt similar to teleportation magic
- Thinks something shifted.

Adeya
- Keeper
- Garbed in blues
- Forced to stand as Asheloux took up the whole of my couch
- Apparently works for Asheloux
- Seems serious
- Cares not for any ill-mention of women (by Asheloux)
- Apparently studies Arcanima
- Sent a Carbuncle after Asheloux for being murderously hostile after his mishap

____

He wishes my help with this. Of course, he must note that I was the last one he wished to come to, and of course he goes about huffing near constantly, kicking up my carpet, complaining about my desk not being near enough the couch so he might put his feet on it as though my study were entirely built for his barging-in pleasure~ Though I [blot] I am inclined to help regardless.

... As rude as he is, I feel I was less than cordial with him until he mentioned as much. Perhaps I took his plight too light-heartedly. Though I doubted not there be a solution, I [spot] Would it make me just as bad to continue to be amused at his expense? I thought it would. I can imagine his situation being.. entirely jarring, unsettling, and perhaps his means to show such is.. merely to continue being so rude. At the very least, he is consistent. I suppose too, that it is honest. ...And I can't say he lacks intelligence, just any sort of tact in dealing with another. Though I am one to write such words! I can only imagine how difficult it must be at times for others to deal with myself.

[spot] Anyroad, I've some ideas. I hadn't thought it something one could do, in truth, before I had seen Ellemeare after her ritual, but it would appear that there might be ritual means to change another's form. [blot] To be true, I've no idea what methods her family used for such a procedure, but they did so and were able to change her form, so I am sure a mere reversal of one that already occurred, especially back to one's regular body, would be plausible.

If at all possible, I'd like it to be as much a reversal as it can be. It is the safest route, I believe, to use what one already knows to work in such a method, and apply it in a logical fashion to a desired, and equally logical, result. I'm sure there are other ways. But I am bound by my knowledge and what they have said, and so, I will use a number of similar materials for the circle.

I'll need to dig through some of the Family Tomes of mine, make sure my circles are accurate, create the right formation, and gather any excess materials that will be needed. I'll.. need to head to Little Solace as well; I've no doubt there are some that would be interested, Furixia immediately comes to mind. [a few pen-tapped spots]

May as well begin the drafts elsewhere.

Ritual : Aetheric Reassembling

Purpose: To revert Asheloux's body back to its previous state, alive and in entirety.

Summary: Using Sylphan Glamours to create a 'base in Aether' of what his body once was like, a ritual will be completed which modifies Aether-flow in the circle such that in teleportation, Asheloux's material Aether will disassemble (as it does normally when teleporting) and reassemble differently from it's start. The reassembling transformation will take shape of the pre-established Glamour of his hoped-for / original body. Materials of Earth element help solidify Aether. Aetheryte materials help teleport, modify, disassemble, and reassemble Aether. The circle binds the procedure together appropriately for the desired outcome. It is relatively simple in practice, the material gathering and spelling being the most difficult part.

Location specifications
- minimal wind
- relatively private
- larger than my study-space
- without grass or too messy a ground; must be suitable for gem dust circles to not be lost or easily trampled

Assumed participants
- Myself (ritual leader-direction, power flow, set-up)
- Asheloux (crux, center)
- Furixia (participant, power flow, Aetheric binder)
- Solaxio (participant, power flow, Aetheric binder)
- Adeya (pending participant, power flow)

Materials
- Flawless Earth Crystals (circle component)
- Aetheryte Crystals: 2 large, 2 small, additional for proportional focus grounding (focus, and power flow component)
- Gem dust: Topaz (circle component)
- Sylphan focus
- Spelled Focus Sphere (powerflow stand-in; backup)

Set up

Spell all materials to bind. The outlying Aetheryte crystals specifically must be holden to the gem dust of the circle.
- The Sylphan focus needs no binding.
[There is a diagram here that looks somewhat like a complex geometry, but... not quite. It has a number of different sized circles, connecting within other circles, within an oval. In addition, there are various rune-like symbols scribed about it in various places, apparently denoting placement.]
Places
- Asheloux: large, central circle at the bottom, will teleport to the large central circle at the top.
- Myself: Mid- Aetheryte frag. circle
- Adeya / Sphere: Mid- Aetheryte frag. circle
- Furixia: Sm- Aetheryte frag. circle
- Solaxio: Sm- Aetheryte frag. circle

Procedure

Furixia and Solaxio cast a Glamour on Asheloux
- Asheloux must remain holding their focus
- The focus will retain the glamour as a 'base' for the Aetherical shifting
- Though the glamour is merely a faux form, it must be retained, else there will be no shift.
- Asheloux will focus on the form he wishes his body to become
- Should anything be incorrect, now is the time to adjust it.

Asheloux takes his place on the far end of the circle
We all take our own respective places
- Note: Do not break the circle, nor step on it
- Note: Do not leave from the circle once you have stepped in, until it is stated safe
Those with Aetheryte crystals in their places may now pick them up.
The participants now all focus Aether into the crystals at an even rate
- Power will flow through the circle
- it can be felt
- Try to keep it steady or even with the rest; the power will slowly increase over time
- If the Sphere is used, it will mirror the power levels of the others; leave it alone
When the power of the circle is sufficient, inform Asheloux
- participants maintain the Aether flow the entire time
Asheloux then uses the Aetheryte crystals on the other side of the circle to teleport to
- The crystals are numerous for a reason; it will split up the Aether in teleportation to allow for the new body to form
- The crystals being /within/ the circle bind them to a single point, however, when Aetheric power runs through it
- The focus that Asheloux holds also retains a singular 'visage' that his teleporting Aether will reform its shape to.
When Asheloux appears on the other side, within the circle with the crystals, his body should take the form of the glamour.
Power can slowly be diminished from the circle.
- keep it steady; do not abruptly stop, nor step out of the circle until directed
- Place down the crystals but remain in the circle until the power subsides.
- Step out, but do not break, the circle when directed.
Once complete, Asheloux can release the sylphan focus

Make sure to carefully clean up the components.
- Remove the crystals before breaking the circle.
- Collect dust if possible; leaving it may facilitate attraction of Earth Sprites

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