Academy of Sages - Courtyard

   The central courtyard of the Academy of Sages is a large and sprawling affair, within the heart of the city. Soaring marble pillars reach upward to the sky, four sets of three, evenly spaced apart as the massive columns form a rough circle, each trio of pillars warding a particular direction. Carved into the smooth stone floor within the center of the atrium is a massive circle of exquisite design, depicting the Great Eye of Animus, runes carved into the powerful symbol.

   The smooth stone of the central courtyard radiates outwards into paths, leading through the exotic gardens of the Academy. One extends to the Library, another to the College of Magic. Another path leads off to a small, rather plain looking building between the two colleges, most likely the dormitory for the students. Numerous magi can be seen walking back and forth most hours of the day and night here, with familiars or other odder creatures roaming about. Myriad scents and aromas can be sensed, some delightful, others repugnant, as the tranquility of the courtyard is broken only occasionally by the sounds of debate... or the cracking boom of a failed (or successful) experiment.

Contents:

Jenner

Torianor

Obvious exits:

Great Library <GL>  College of Magic <CM>  Dormitories <D>  Out <O>

"But why don't they just build a bridge if the water's so nasty?" Ganesa is demanding of her poor tutor. There are a number of maps, laid out on a makeshift table there at the academy (the interior having suddenly been overrun by the unique flavor of sulfur), and Darshan stands 'on guard,' his look more concerned with the apprentices than on the nobleling and the mage. Those two are known terrors, after all: it's the apprentice-mages, with their child-like chuckles and big dreams, that make the most trouble. He frowns at one in particular, a young woman with carrot-red hair, and bares his teeth silently, until she goes away.

"A bridge would make so much /sense/. I mean, you could charge for passage, right? And you wouldn't have to put up with those silly old captains."

Torianor stumps out of the door to the dormitories and leans against the wall there, blinking his eyes against the sin. He brings the towel-wrapped ice chunks up to rest on his forehead another moment and just takes a deep breath. He hasn't notice much of the world around him yet.

The Tutor Extraordinaire, known in other circles simply as Jenner, leans forward in his chair, features a cross between wry humor and strained patience. "True and valid points," he explains, brushing a finger across the part of the map in particular. "But onf of the reasons the ships are needed is due to the very nature of the river itself. Such vile water eventually eats away at the pilings of a bridge, and could cause it to collapse unexpectedly. Also if the river floods, the bridge might be swept away. Bridges cost much more to replace than single boats, after all."   

He grins, leaning on one elbow with a quizzical gleam. "Besides, who would pay for such a bridge? Certainly the people of Bludgun might take offense at any such construction, no matter how benign it was supposed to be! They are often a suspicious lot, and some might come looking for trouble simply because it was there."

"But you could collect from people who /used/ the bridge," Ganesa insists. "And there are airships! Surely they can't all crash all the time, like Darshan says. He says they explode, too," she says, and looks to Jenner for clarification. Darshan's scowling at another apprentice. He looks positively...snarlish...today, but it's part of the act. Maybe he'll get a permanent scowl, next, and a scar over his ey--ahem.

She points, "You could build one over Veyshan, too! You wouldn't have to cross that icky desert." She has no idea of distances.

Jenner nods in simple agreement, sitting back as he strokes his chin carefully. "But how would we collect the money from them before they used the bridge?" he replies. "We would have to pay for it at first... And what if no one *wanted* to use our bridge? It might be beautiful and grand, but it would go to sad, sad waste. And as for a bridge over the Veyshanti Desert..."   

He grins, eyes twinkling as he tilts his head towards poor Torianor, casting a brief glance. "I'm afraid that would be a distance so truly massive, only one bridge could possibly cross it: an Eidolon Gateway." He gestures, and an Unseen Servant whisks one from map from the collected pile over before teacher and student, unfurling it with a swirl. "The distance such a map would need to cross is much less than one, say, across the great ocean to Am'Shere." He places his fingers at the two points, tracing across with a faint glimmer of old library dust. "But it would still be too long, too massive to support. I fear the desert and the sun and the creatures of that dry land would rather tear a bridge down and use the wood for huts and spears."

Torianor sighs and stands again, apparently somewhat better adjusted. He drops his hand letting the ice spill out of the now-soaked towel, grips both corners to wind it up quickly, as if about to snap it at something, but instead lays the cool cloth around the back of his neck. This being done, he makes his way across the dun-dappled yard to the lessons in progress. A brief glance at the maps, and he asks "Playing Castles, are we?"

Torianor's player may or may not have similar symptoms to his character. For different reasons, but still.

"What's an Eidolon Gateway?" Ganesa asks. Oh, now he has her attention! She looks up from the maps, and Darshan looks over, wary as he ever is or does! He stiffens somewhat, but seems to relax, after a glance towards Jenner and looks back out over the courtyard's expanse. The air still smells like sulphur!

"Evening," he grins at Torianor, and nods. "A mrm, lesson. You've met Master Talaskir?" he asks, and nods again, "And Ganesa?" Ganesa stands and curtsies, then looks back at Jenner expectantly!

Jenner tips his head towards Torianor, wry good humor ever-present. "Not quite yet," he says, turning back to Ganesa. "But perhaps in time. An Eidolon Gateway is one of the great teleportational gates set up between points across our land and world, long long ago. They're what allow us to walk between the arches at, say, Skybridge..." He refers to the map, a sweeping gesture as his hand sails across the ink-marked ocean. "And across, to Am'Shere! A trip that would take weeks, if not months by ship or skycraft, made swift as the beating of bird's wings."   

"However..." He pauses, drawing his hands together, steepling his fingers. "They are expensive, horribly so, even if they are powerful. Eidolon Gates are precious, rare things, and treasured. It is one of the reasons that Alexandria is so coveted by many the world over, and so firm in her own strength. Such gates are powerful assets."

Torianor peers down at the work, squinting bleary eyes and then listening in on the little girl's lessons. He takes a seat under a nearby tree, still very close to the lessons, but more comfortable now. "Its true Ganessa," he says from there, "Seeing the Eidolon gate was part of the reason I came here from the Mythwood."

"Really? They're that famous?" the little girl's eyes are wide, "How many does Alexandria /have/?" Ganesa asks, and poor mage! She's full of a million questions suddenly, like a child, ready to soak things up. "And they're /expensive/ but people use them? You could charge for those, couldn't you?" She's looking at him now instead of the maps, and even Darshan looks interested.

The mage considers the question carefully, brow furrowing as his fingers steeple higher. "In a sense, yes..." he says slowly, "But the Gate would have to lead somewhere important enough to justify the expense of maintainance and watch. Wizards are expensive, sometimes!" He drops his hands, turning as he gazes over towards the distant Skygate. "But Alexandria uses a different method than a straight toll on use of the gate. It is free and open to all, but the tax is instead levied on traders and caravans using the Gate, passing towards Am'Shere. These taxes on merchants are small by themselves, but added together make the Gate possible, and Alexandria richer from the influx of new people. Even Am'Shere benefits from the exposure to new people... In ways hopefully less troublesome than an invasion would be." He grimaces, shaking his head before he turns back to Ganesa."   

"The Gates are famous, perhaps as famous as the ancient Nation of Artificers itself. Certainly as ancient, if not more so... and as great a responsibility! If a Gate were found, unclaimed?" He shivers theatrically, a momentary quiver. "Nations would war over the Gate, simply for the possibilities, the potential of where it might lead."

Torianor nods from his place under the tree.

Ganesa's eyes are wide in wonder as the Tutor tells the story. Jenner's words seem to have the little one entranced, and she follows each gesture and look towards the sky. "So...who made them? THe artificers?" her little brow furrows and she looks back at Darshan. "And /you/ came through a gate, didn't you." It's not even a question, and she looks back at Jenner. She wants answers!

Darshan just well, grins, though his look tightens. Invasions, indeed! He listens, but returns to his 'guard' post, on the watch for more wayward students. One or two run past in charred costumes, but nothing too unusual about that.

Apparently Torianor's senses are waking up one by one. It all started with the tingling in the tips of his fingers and toes as consciousness slowly snuck up on him this 'morning'. Then there was the horrific cottony sensation of his tongue against the roof of his mouth. His ears picked up every sharp ringing sound in existence, so it seemed, on his way to the dorm's washroom. And of course, there was the sun's assault on his eyes just now in the courtyard. And now? Now the sense of smell returns, and the reaction which most humanoids give to sulfuric-like smells. He groans and sits up a little straighter, hitting his head against the tree behind him. "By the gods, what is that smell?!"

Jenner grins, nodding. "Darshan is modest," he says with a quiet kindness, a twinkle in his eyes. "But I'd say that many Makar came through the gate, even as some perhaps came by ship or by skysail. But as to who made the Gates?" He shrugs, splaying his hands across the table. "No one can say. Well, perhaps the gods, but they do like to keep some things to themselves. Helps keep the aura of wonder and suspense!"   

He drops the Makar paladin a wink before he returns his attentions to Ganesa, casting Torianor a look of brief sympathy. "For now, they are each precious artifacts, utterly irreplaceable by anyone. We can maintain them, and use them to a degree... But we can't build a new one, and not even the entire Conclave of Wizards could completely reproduce the transportive effects just one Eidolon Gate can give. Thus, we named these wonders for the gods..."   

He pauses, glancing over towards Torianor with a quick mirth. "...I belive that would be sulfur."

Ganesa frowns up at Jenner as though trying to decide if he's telling the truth. Her eyes narrow and she has her hands on her hips, and after a while, she stomps her foot! "I bet /I/ could! ...but a gate can't turn into a dragon, can it? I guess they're sort of boring, after all," and she looks back at the maps. "What's this?" she asks, pointing somewhere in Veyshan. Darshan half-turns, and grins at the mage before sniffing the air. /He/ sneezes, and it makes his eyes water. A cough, "One--I'm not sure," he says at length. "Mrm...it tends to go off, mrm, every morning. See that one?" he points to a running student, running and clutching a pail that clanks and bangs against his legs. "They erm...usually go like that. The smell seems to follow explosions, and you see one or two of those running afterwards." It's said matter-of-fact, like an observer!

Torianor visibly struggle with this concept for a few moments, and finally slumps a bit. "Well, the courtyard should not smell like sh-" He closes his eyes, glancing with them closed in the direction of Ganesa, before continuing, "...like sulfur. Its... gross."

Torianor has disconnected.

The Instructor's Gaze falls on Torianor, visible warning about such language.. and around a noble young lady! "Bad enough that Sandy does it...." he mumbles to himself, eyes returning to the map with a moment's study. He narrows his eyes, bending down towards the parchment before he speaks. "That," he says, "Is an attempt to reproduce part of a ruin, perhaps some ancient fort or structure in the desert of the Dune Sea." He raises his eyes, and Quiz mode comes into play. "Ganesa, do you remember what the source of the Great Desert is supposed to be, according to Veyshanti tribal legends?"

"One would lodge complaints, but mrm, it seems part of the atmosphere," Darshan says after a while. Amusement there, certainly, "You're positive you want to join in?" he asks, and looks towards Jenner, "Torianor recently made a bid to join mrm, the Academy." His voice is slow and thoughtful, quickly overridden by Ganesa's squeal as she points to another part of the map. And looks up again. "...it was a great djinni, wasn't it?" Her little face scrunches up. "But why do they let them rule if they made a stinky desert?"

Jenner snickers towards Darshan and poor Tori, shaking his head at Ganesa. "Close," he says with good cheer, "But two elemental lords are supposed to be the epicenter of the Dune Sea. However, good points for trying! You've been following your studies I see." An idle gesture sets the Invisible Servant moving and rustling among the scrolls and books, drawing a small one forth with tiny gold filligree. "And so, here is one more for you to look at."      

He leans close, murmuring in a conspiratorial whisper as he glances at Darshan. "The Thousand Tales of Shaharazade," he murmurs quietly. "Some of them are romances, but all are from stories from across Veyshan. Djiinni, magic, even artifice..." He grins, giving a quiet wink. "Read it quietly!" he adds, with an innocent air.

Even the sith'makar looks intrigued. He leans forward as Ganesa's small hands pick up the scroll and unroll it. "Stories?" she asks, like this might be some sort of trick! The scroll's unraveled, laid out upon the table, its glittering text open for the eye to see! Small hands peruse down it, and uhoh...

He has her attention. Such marvelous things! Illumination! Inks! Illustration!

And she hasn't gotten to the words yet, but she pronounces a few, "'The Humpback'...'The Three Ladies,' and oh! 'The Second of Three Ladies'?" She frowns, "Why not include her with the first! ...what's 'The City of Brass' about?" she asks, looking up at Jenner. Darshan's leaned over, too, though his eyes still water from the sulfur.

Xander enters the Academy of Sages through the front gates.

Xander has arrived.

Jenner's eyes couldn't glow more unless they were enchanted. "That," he says, grinning from ear to ear. "Is what you will have to discover on your own! And in reading these tales, in discovering these stories and what moves them..." He brushes the bright colors, the glittering inks and inlaid golds with care. "Those are things you will discover and delight in for yourself. Now, these are the stories from the people of Veyshan." He pauses, a gesture summoning the Unseen Servant back, a thicker book held in its invisible hands. "This is a bit drier book, but it speaks on facts and the lands of Veyshan itself, including some notes on the language. If you have any question on what you read, look in here for an explanation on it."   

He sets the book down, brushing the faint traces of dust and cobwebs from teh old leather. "And if you can't find the answer there, we'll find it together at a later time."

The three sit around a makeshift table, makeshift, because the apprentices have exploded sulfur inside the Academy again. Darshan stands guard nearby, though looks like his interest's been somewhat drawn. Ganesa and Jenner sit at the table, with maps, scrolls, and...a story scroll? laid out in front of them. Whatever the last is, it has her enraptured as she press little fingers against the Illuminated text. Nearby, Torianor rests underneath the shade, dozing, doubtless working off yesterday's hangover. In the background, of course, students run with buckets. It really was a nasty explosion.

Ganesa looks up, distracted from her stories! at Jenner's words, but makes a snatch for the book anyway, grabbing it from his hands and plopping it down on the table in a way that says 'Mine!' ...reminiscent of a certain sith'makar, who's still busy...scowling at the nearby students. "Bucket! Watch it!"

A dark figure emerges from the College of Magic! Scowling, Xander has his cloak wrapped around his nose and mouth, and his hand vigorously massaging his sinuses. Guess who was drafted to direct the efforts to save the lab? Uh-huh. He doesn't look happy about it.

Jenner, unabashedly sitting at said table and enjoying the (not-so-fresh) air, leans back as Ganesa practically devours the scroll, humming quietly as he steps away from the table. "Take some time to see what interests you," he says with a quiet pleasure. "Just call if you have a question." Drawing his pipe from his satchel, he sets it afire with a whisper and a crackle, a faint pulse of blue-grey smoke. "Now that should do it," he murmurs, with a quiet satisfaction.

The little one nods, but seems absorbed! Absorbed! As she turns to the story of the Brass City and begins turning the pages. Or rather, scrolling the scroll! Darshan grins at Xander as the poor mage grumbles in, and waves, a thump of his tail to attract his attention, and then goes back to guarding, well, all of them.