An Introduction to Demon Summoning
Log Info
- Title: An Introduction to Demon Summoning
- Emitter: Lucius
- Place: Alexandria City Library
- Summary: Lucius is practising his handwriting in the Alexandria library, and Schara investigates to see what has the man who they worked with so unhappy looking while writing. Suggestions and explanations are offered, and the artificer suggests he checks out the bard's college, due to their mastery of most arts. They are joined by another person who is visibly unhappy with their library material, a gnome named Xasany. Their problem is much more dangerous, about a group who seems to be attempting to summon demons in the nearby area. The group discuss for some time about how best to deal with such a situation, before going their separate ways.
City Library, afternoon.
On this weekday afternoon, the City Library swarms with life. Inside the marble halls, the air itself drones with pages flipping, quills scratching, and scholars conversing in quiet tones. Librarians scurry among the clientele, keeping order or assisting where their help is urgently needed.
At one of many study tables, Lucius stares down at a sheet of plain paper containing lines of tidy, evenly spaced handwriting. His right hand holds a feather quill, and his left hand rests between two pages of a thick, illuminated tome. He dips the quill into a glass inkwell on his right, glances at the book on his left, and commences a new line on the paper. The quill meanders across the paper in sustained and laborious motion. After a moment, Lucius pauses to inspect his work and frowns.
Well, it seemed that Schara still had not learned their lesson about poking their head into the business of people looking out of sorts in the Alexandria city library. Perhaps it was simply some concern for other people studying. The bronze clad figure sighs, closes the book they were reading and set it aside to leave their chair and wander over to the table.
"Your own handwriting should not make you unhappy." The artificer notes in a low, somewhat static filled voice that causes the mouthpiece to light up with their speech. "What is causing you to frown in regards to it?"
Meanwhile, somewhere in the background - in this case, the literal background, as a bright blue shape shuffles about, melding into the equally blue carpet. In addition, the figure seemed to trail on after people with quiet shuffling steps.
Never anything suspicious about somebody shuffling around. Especially when that cloaked and hooded figure stops nearby Lucious and Schara, and peers through a mask at what is being written. With a tiny notebook in wrapped hands.
At the sound of Schara's voice, the quill in Luke's hand clatters to the table. "Oh," he mumbles as he turns his gaze. "I didn't see you there. Schara, right? It's nice to see you." The frown melts away.
"My handwriting could use some work," he admits, gazing at the lines on his paper. On closer inspection, the dozen or so lines he had inscribed appear almost identical. 'Myrddion, Charn, Llyranost, Rune, Dragonier, Alexandros'. The name of each nation is written in varying scripts, from flowing cursive to simple and unpretentious. "I've always been inconsistent," he elaborates to Schara, pointing to two adjacent lines. "Every time I write it, the words come out differently. That's just sloppy." For the moment, the blue figure behind him escapes his attention.
"Ah, right, that would make sense, you were Lucius, from that adventurer's guild demonstration which went wrong." The artificer nods once the recognition passes. "Well, the only thing for inconsistent writing is practice, and quite a bit of it. It takes a lot of experience to be a scribe, which requires being meticulous in your writing."
They too do not see the egalrin who quietly stops nearby. "Maybe you need to hold your hand steadier?"
The blue robed (are those curtains?) continues to look over Lucius' shoulder and scribbling down. "A spirit looking to escape through writing." The egalrin suddenly blurts out, freezes. Then rapidly glances around, before hopping away with a rushed footsteps.
"I could try that," Lucius muses. "I wonder…" He jumps for a second time at the blue-robed egalrin's outburst. "Well," he continues, his cheeks flushing slightly, "I suppose there's some truth to that, after all."
"When I'm at leisure, I sometimes enjoy a bit of calligraphy." He explains to Schara, uttering the last word in mock self-contempt. "More of a hobby than a career. I think I'm more suited to adventuring, myself. I just wish I could write something satisfactory." Lucius tilts his head to inspect his writing from a different angle. "I could definitely use more practice, and I'm grateful for your advice," he tells Schara.
Well, you could try it, it may not help, may not be an issue perhaps, but if it might help, it could be worth trying?" The artificer suggests, before twisting around to catch the egalrin. They tilt their head, and sigh. "Oh, Crik is already gone. Don't worry about him, I think he means well."
"There is nothing wrong with calligraphy as a hobby, for certain, it just takes time, much like any artistic pursuit. Playing an instrument, drawing, painting, singing, all manner of arts require extensive practice for consistency. Perhaps you should seek aid at the bard's college? If anyone knows about a variety of arts, they would likely be there."
A large book seemingly floats over to a spot near Lucius' table, and lands on the table with a thump. The Gnome who'd been labouring under its weight sighs, and settles herself in a chair. The thick tome is opened at the first page, and her eyes scan across the page. Then her nimble fingers begin flipping pages, her eyes scanning quickly before the page is turned for the next.
A quizzical frown begins to crease her features, her green eyebrows coming together in a furrow above her nose.
Lucius grins. "Great suggestion, Schara," he replies. "I've got to ask around that place. I wonder if I might be able to pick up some tips from an expert calligrapher. I'll make a note of it," he decides, picking up his quill once more.
Then he turns his head toward the nearby movement. "Hello," he ventures mildly toward the gnome. He cranes his neck to get a slightly better look at the book she reads.
"Talk to Patch if you see her around, she does a lot of work with the college, and knows a lot of different people there. She might know someone who can help with your writing." The artificer adds again, before turning their attention as well to someone else sitting at the table and looking bothered. "That is rather quick to become unhappy reading a book, not unlike with writing practice. What is the matter?" They ask.
Xasany's ear twitches slightly, and she hunches forward a little to mostly cover the pages, but a few symbols are seen. An upside down pentagram, and a few demonic representations. She sniffs, and continues reading. "Hello.", she says quietly. "A few of the temples might have classes, if you visit the homes of the more scholarly Gods and Goddesses."
From above, a small grey owl descends, landing on top of Xas' head, and letting out a few small hoots. The Gnome snorts and lets out a chuckle. "Yes, you may go and find mice. I am sure the library would be happy to have you rid them of any rodent problems they have. Don't make a mess." With another hooo, the little bird disappears into the higher areas of the Library.
Xasany's gaze turns to Schara for a moment, the Gnome's eyes exploring Schara's expression. "An introduction to demon summoning.", she deadpans. "I am attempting to ascertain some symbols and circles written out by a group of people I am ... chasing." Her voice lowers. "I suspected them of attempting to summon... something, and it is looking more and more like they are endangering themselves by summoning a demon. That is the nature of my frown."
"A demon?!" Lucius gasps, a bit too loudly, before belatedly covering his mouth. A few pairs of eyes turn their way. "Well then, I hope you stop them before it gets too serious. It wouldn't do at all to have demons running amok through this city." He cracks an all too brief smile. "Do let us know," he glances at Schara, "if we could be of any help. May Navos guide your every step."
"It's not against the law or frowned upon to study demons in a library." Schara notes. "Unless you are doing something like actually summoning them, which is your concern. That is foolish, and dangerous."
The artificer sighs. "At least they can not be summoned in the city, but they might outside of it. You should alert the guard outside the walls to keep a lookout, and yes, I guess I could maybe help, to some extent?"
The Gnome's hair stands up straight, and begins to curl and weave like a nest of snakes. After a moment, it drops back down across her shoulders, and she lets out a long suffering sigh. "Perhaps you'd like to pay a town crier or three to yell it at popular spots in the city, hmm?" She tsks at the fair-skinned human. "I see we can dress you up but can't take you anywhere."
Xasany nods at Schara. "Indeed, my intention is that once I have enough proof, I will sic a pack of SUnblades on them, or perhaps the Adventurer's Guild would do it, perhaps a temple could hire them. I know not of what these people plan, but they are skulking about in the countryside, and attempting to summon things. I am fully of the opinion that the ingredients they used to make the paste they are using to draw the circle, are of exceedingly poor quality. They just might be too lazy to collect enough of the proper herbs, and squicky bits, they need."
Lucius winces. "My sincerest apologies," he murmurs. "A potential demon summoning in the countryside sounds like just the kind of thing that the Guild or the Temple of Daeus would want to know about. I'd wager that Schara would know far more than myself about the ins and outs of demon summoning," he remarks. "They seem very knowledgeable."
After a thoughtful pause, he looks toward the gnome again. "Do you know of any motive this group might have? Are they simply looking for mischief, or do they have more nefarious intentions?"
"Why worry the people in the city, if it can't be summoned here?" Schara asks. "It is something for out of the city, then? Although they can plan in the city, so alerting them is not the worst idea, either."
"Why would I know a lot about demon summoning however?" Schara asks. "I don't deal with demons much, if at all. I could look into it, however."
The green-haired Gnome snorts at Lucius' wince, and chuckles. "It wouldn't be so big if you didn't have such big lungs." She offers a cheeky wink, and gestures dismissively. "It's mostly because you were yelling in the library, more than anything else. I do not wish to get kicked out for causing a disturbance."
"As for their motive, I have no idea, honestly. I am of the opinion that they are bored children with nothing better to do, and they are trying to be rebellious. I've half a mind to put the fear of the infernal in them, and have their summoning be a little too successful. That sounds like fun, and it should scare them away from such things. There ... is a little danger involved, I think. They may be more skillful than I suspect."
The Gnome shrugs at Schara's questions. "They could potentially harm people travelling from or to Alexandria. They could damage farms and livestock. They could sink ships. Taint the rivers. I'm sure people will feel great starving in a city demon's can't be summoned in."
Lucius bites his lip. "I shouldn't have assumed that," he clarifies to Schara. "Unlike myself, you're a magic user. An artificer, right? Are there no magical devices that would be capable of such a summoning? Of course, I myself am pretty clueless about such things, so I'm just speculating." He grins again.%R%R"Oh, by the way, how rude of us not to introduce ourselves," he tells Xasany. "I'm Lucius, but you can also call me Luke. And this is Schara. We're both adventurers, and we work for the Guild, although I'm more of a new recruit. I doubt I'd be able to handle a demon like you would. It sounds like you've got some plans already."
"Yes, they could potentially cause a lot of trouble for people in the country side. Which is why I was stating that yelling about it in the city wasn't productive, unless you are simply wishing to scare them into not doing anything, which would make sense." The artificer huffs. "Yes, I am an artificer, and I could likely do something similar, if I attempted to and wanted to. So I could understand it to some degree, I guess. But I don't know if I would manage alright if I had to deal with any in the first place."
"Generally the devices would be circles, magic inscribed into a suitable surface, with enough room for the subject of the summoning to fit. If the circle is broken, bad things can happen. For demons, this book, and other sources say a true name is really helpful. Perhaps even a requirement. Hmm, maybe that is why they are unsuccessful?"
Xasany shrugs her shoulders. "Plans? Kind of working on that. Need to watch them for a while first. It would be helpful to work out what they are capable of. Then find a way to disrupt their plans, if I can discern them. Then maybe have the clerics catch them in the act." Her eyes scan across a page. "Also maybe this sort of book shouldn't be lent out to just anyone. I mean, it doesn't give any primers on how to summon, nor is there any information on true names. Any 'recipes' are quite generalized, basically detailing the sort of herb qualities you'd look for, but not naming plants, or where to find them. It's... essentially... 10 things to let you know if your kids are trying to summon demons in the basement."
Xas grins then, and offers a hand to first Lucius, and then Schara, for shaking. "I'm Xasany. Nice to meet you Luke, and Schara. I trust you're either from here, or have been here for a little bit?"
As he listens to Schara's remarks, Luke's eyes widen. "What might happen if the summoning ritual goes wrong? I didn't realize there could be bad consequences of an improper summoning. Could it possibly occur with this group?"
He turns toward Xasany, quickly accepting the offered handshake. "I'm Myrrish, and I've only been in the city for a couple of weeks. Not nearly enough time to have met any demons or anything, which is probably a good thing. Actually, today is my first time visiting the City Library. I'm intrigued as to why the library provides books on demon summoning, even if any rituals inside the city are impossible. Seems like they're just asking for trouble."
"My name is Schara, as Lucius mentioned." The artificer responds with a nod. "I came here a year ago, but I do not know many people here either, and I don't have much experience with most work in the guild, but I am figuring it out, to some degree at least."
"There could be complications from the summoning if it went wrong, or it could do nothing. It is hard to say. As for the presence of the book to begin with, it is a matter of trust, I guess, and it doesn't have much practical use. But it could steer someone determined enough to find the answers they do need?"
"Well, as I said, it's more of a... 'What to look for...' over 'How to...'." Xasany shrugs. "You'd have to do more reading and research to be able to do any real harm. Which, it seems, someone in this group has been doing. I very much doubt dangerous books are allowed to be viewed here, especially by inexperienced practitioners. They'd not let just anyone view or handle such things, much less read thoroughly. They are wiser than that."
A beat. "I hope. I mean, the city has had issues with demons over the years. And there is the tainted woods relatively nearby also. So it's not surprising that there are books that explain what you might find if demons have been present, and what summoning circles look and smell like. The more people know, the easier it is to know when there are problems."
The Gnome nods to Schara, "It might be enough to pique people's interest. But I am certain that the book is watched over carefully. And indeed, LUcius. If you mess up the summoning, you might set the demon free, instead of holding them in the circle. If it's a little demon, maybe that's not terrible. If it's a bigger one? That's a lot of trouble."
Luke nods, and his posture slightly relaxes. "That sounds bad," he replies slowly. "If someone loses control of a demon outside the city, I wonder if the city has any countermeasures to prevent the demon from entering. Have either of you seen an escaped demon before?" he asks Schara and Xasany. "I suppose I should count myself lucky that I haven't," he mumbles, somewhat unconvincingly.
"They probably handle it decently. If not by choice, than by being forced to do so by outside influences." Schara shrugs. "Someone can find out things if they are determined enough, all this does is stop the less determined from looking through. Like a lock on a door or chest."
"I don't believe there is anything to stop them from entering, but they would have to do so from outside the city limits. I believe miss Verna saw that there were fiends at a gathering outside the city, and they could have entered disguised if they wished to."
The Gnome slowly closes the book. "Well, I am going to return the book to the shelf. It was nice to meet you both. I can be found at the Fernwood Pub when I am not out of the city, or nosing around here. Perhaps we can meet again, and partake of some adventuring?" She offers a polite curtsey, before her hair suddenly comes alive again, and hefts the book over her head. "Take care!" Offering a wave, she heads into the stacks.