Lil looks lost at my definitive statement, confused on why it seemed to carry such finality. Kinzul looks pensive, and I can’t see Luni’s face, as she’s had her head resting in the crook of my neck for the better part of the latter half of my tale, since the loss of Dawn. Though, my silent sonar senses indicate her adorably rounded features are contorted in sadness, a shared grief, an empathy that only My Anchor possesses.
I inhale a shuddering breath for a moment before sighing so that I can continue with more concrete, specific information. As I slide a rolled up sheet of parchment across the table, I begin stating, “This is a document that contains a list of my abilities, the spells I’ve mastered, those I have access to that I’ve yet to master, my equipment, everything. I’ll answer any questions, but I’ll try to cover the basics verbally. These are just some things I’m certain of offhand. There are some resources that I can’t quite remember, or recall, that I may be able to access, with enough space. Some things within that pool of resources could far outweigh much of what I have currently memorized and available.” I begin reciting the list, almost verbatim.
My Runic Costs/SP Costs when quickening casts:
* Double the rune/point or "sorc point" as Bud calls them cost of spells up to 33 runes in length / 33 SP to cast them in 1-10 seconds time. Triple the cost of spells up to 66, quadruple the cost of spells up to 99
* Casting in 10-30 seconds, double up to 66 SP, triple up to 132, quadruple up to 198
* Casting in 30-50 seconds, double up to 99 SP, triple up to 198, quadruple up to 297
* Casting in 50-70 seconds, double up to 132 SP, triple up to 264, quadruple up to 396
* Cast in 70-90 seconds, double up to 165 SP, triple up to 330, quadruple up to 495
* Cast in 90-110 seconds, double up to 198 SP, triple up to 396
* Cast in 110-130 seconds, double up to 231 SP, triple up to 462
* Cast in 130-150 seconds, double up to 264, triple up to 528
* Cast in 150-170 seconds, double up to 297, triple up to 594
* Cast in 170-190 seconds, double up to 330, triple up to 660
* Cast in 190-210 seconds, double up to 363, triple up to 726
Examples: in just over three minutes(190 seconds), I could cast a 360 Rune/SP spell for 720 SP/runic cost. Closer to 3.5 minutes (210 seconds) I could, if I had the SP available, cast a 720 Rune/SP spell for 2160 SP/runic cost. I won’t be able to safely do either for a very long time, if ever. But I could possibly, for example, cast a 198 S P spell at the cost of 792 S P, in approximately thirty seconds. It’s a ridiculous cost, but if I needed to cast something that powerful, in that short of a time frame, I’d be able to do it, then my muscles would go slack.
My Spells mastered/currently studying:
* 05/05 runes mastered: Frost Ray,
* 05/05 runes mastered: Prestidigitative Legerdemain,
* 05/05 runes mastered: Light,
* 05/05 runes mastered: Mending,
* 01/05 runes mastered: Splatter of Acid
* 18/18 runes mastered: Scrying, Seemingly able to do this with physical runecrafting on a surface, not costing my own S P
* 18/18 runes mastered: Ghostly Steeds, Seemingly they do not require my own Sorc Points when these runes are crafted.
* 12/24 runes mastered: Conjure Monstrous Mana Construct III
* 03/24 runes mastered: Summon Swarm.
* 24/24 runes mastered: Telepathic Bond,
* 08/24 runes mastered: Blast Frost
* 00/33 runes: Greatest Shadowy Conjuration.
* 33/33 runes mastered: Conjure Monstrous Mana Construct V
* 33/33 runes: Steely Body,
* 33/33 runes: Greatest Shadowy Evocation,
* 48/48 runes mastered: Permanency-enhancement.
* 33/64 runes mastered: Conjure Monstrous Mana Construct VI
* 33/99 runes mastered: Conjure Monstrous Mana Construct VII
* 33/180 runes mastered: Conjure Monstrous Mana Construct VIII
* 00/360: Theoretically a Conjure Monstrous Mana Construct IX should exist.
* 00/06 runes mastered: Gusty Wind,
* 00/24 runes mastered: Squall Wall,
* 15/33 runes mastered: Detect Thoughts,
* 012/330 runes mastered: Prescient Moment.
* 03/24 runes mastered: Growth/Reduction.
* 01/33 runes mastered: Fireball.
* 01/33 runes mastered: Lightning Bolt.
* 02/33 runes mastered: Hailstorm.
* 042/128 runes mastered: Dispellation.
* 03/33 runes mastered: Minor History.
* 05/05 runes mastered: Ghostly Hand.
* 06/66 runes mastered: Bypassed-Wall.
* 99/99 runes mastered: Telekinesis.
* 01/33 runes mastered: Incendiary Web.
* 01/33 runes mastered: Firewall.
* 003/660 runes mastered: Planar Traversal, Ugh, I truly, truly hope that we get enough peaceful time for me to study, master, and take apart this spell. It’s our first solid lead on returning to Can’Z’aas, sort of. We still don’t know if we’re on different planes of a reality, or in different realities entirely, or what.
* 07/33 runes mastered: Spectral Lock.
* 06/33 runes mastered: Spectral Knock.
My Permanent Effects:
* Aura sensing(Detection of magic, souls, and runes)
* Telepathic Bond (Currently with Teuila only, bound sentient artifacts can come along for the ride, will try to add Luni, Lil, and Lucky.)
* Comprehension of all written Languages
* Quickening of runotypical spells metamagic available
* I’m fairly worried that I’ve destroyed something within my brain. Conjuration spells just feel like they’re going to be harder even just thinking about their runes now. Everything in me aches whenever I think about them, and my nose starts to bleed. Not exactly a buff, but an effect I need to remain aware of.
* Telekinesis, x2. I can create and maintain two telekinetic grips simultaneously, permanently. I’ll be working to get them into subconscious subroutines, so that they’ll work for me even when I’m asleep.
* Retrocognition. I can pause time, and, with some difficulty, perfectly recall recent sensory details, to paint a picture in my own mindscape. My mindscape is the only thing active during this paused time, and I can really only analyze things that have occurred, though I can make best guesses as to the future, but that doesn’t take paused time to do. I’m unable to affect anything outside my body, during the paused time.
* Technically integrated lightning. I should have counted my reflex-enhancing electrokinesis before. Now it may be too late to count it. I may have gone overboard. I’m not sure such thorough nerve damage is recoverable even for Can’Z’aasian critterkin-adjacents.
My Current Equipment:
* 1x Danger Wraps
* 1x Billowy Cloak
* 1x Hyperdimensional Haversack
* 1x Enchanted scrollcase
* 1x Archsorc Staff.
* 1x Griffon Figurine, Apheliotes Zephyrus, I think I accidentally left him with Tiktik and the carriage. No big deal.
* 1x Cap of Disguising Illusions.
* 1x Portable Hole (in my enchanted Scrollcase from Berinon)
* 1x Blessed anti-vampire, silvered stake (in my Scrollcase)
* 1x Holy Halefire wrist-mounted double-barreled crossbow
* 1x Full Valkyrie armor set + dagger and buckler, kite shield
* 1x Pied Pipes of Rodent summoning
* 1x Neckchain, no need to announce what this does amongst present company.
* 1x Starmetal Luckrock. This is for Lil, period. Straight up.
* 1x healing potion We used this one on Daffodil. Teuila has the last one in existence as far as we’re aware.
* 3x Minor Water Walking Potions.
* undisclosed/unidentified minor equipment from Milbert, as well as several unidentified potions from Can’Z’aas that Reggie, uh, I withdrew upon arriving on Rayileklia.
* 2x mysterious energy cells Eventually I’ll figure out what these are so that they’re understood, I swear.
* 1x Always-smoking bottle. I think Tiktik might have it though.
* 1x Partially broken thunderstick of elemental lightning Fully broken now, and integrated into my body. It hurts to think about. Literally.
* 1x Box-like book left by the Sisters of the Mist within our Carriage. In haversack. Do not open until having collected 16 evil elder dragon hearts to consume their dragonforce. If I even live that long. I wonder what sort of knowledge is contained within. Maybe their bubble scrying spell?
My Current Sentient Artifact Attunement:
* Lullaby, Requiem of the Windless Wilds. Bud, oh Bud I hope you’re okay.
* Requiem, the Silent Song (Shared with Teuila)
* Shellcracker’s Iceflame Spark (Shared with Teuila)
Luni tenses up at the mention of the object given to us by the Sisters, and I begin to suspect things that I’m likely not allowed to guess about. I try to focus on something else, so I slide the Starmetal Luckrock across the table towards Lil who eyes it with wet-eyed wonder, before accepting it to cherish it. Lil offers, “Pal, oh Rej. Rej this means the world to me, that you got this for me, that you kept this, for me. Buddy, I don’t know what to say.”
I hold up my hand, unable to fully share in the joy lingering beneath the surface of Lil’s emotions right now. I flash him a weak, sad smile as I respond, “I know Lil, My Heart, I know. It’s okay. We can talk about Dehlia later.”
Kinzul, reading over the list, trying to understand everything I said, mutters, “This is remarkable. And this, here, you are to link minds with My Son, your hound, and little Luni? Can you do this for more of us? To have a telepathic bond, a link between my agents would be an incalculably valuable asset in the time to come.”
I nod as I respond, “If you can provide all the gems, gem dust, or gem paste, aye. Plus, if you have books on gemology, or just someone who can teach me, I might be able to make my enchantments more powerful, if we have the gems available.”
At this, Kinzul gnaws her lip fretfully and nods her head in understanding as she grouses, “This—, could possibly be arranged. I likely shall invest in this, due to its value, but know that our riches are our nourishment, and they are stretched thin under the tyranny of Terrorzin. No special mention need be made of certain attributes of My Son and Daughter-to-be.” Kinzul pauses as she digests more of the list before asking, “What’s this, you can pause time, you visually comprehend all written works, you operate on internal lightning, you’ve multi-object telekinesis as a permanent matter of fact? You’re a master enchanter without a mnemonic? Just what manner of creature are you?”
At that, I smirk, my only response is, “I wish I knew. I wish I knew. I’m only somewhat joking. I’ve been told I’m a Changeling Fae, which is true, but it’s only part of the whole picture. I!”
I gasp as thoughts begin to coalesce into an idea, and I turn to face Luni, as she stares down at me with curiosity in her sparkling eyes. I articulate, “Oh, Lu, if you still have that shop, I was just struck with an idea. We might be able to start a spawn cycle loop in a cavern, probably just some ores or gemstones, but it’s something. If it works, I might be able to set up something else. I’ll be bleeding a lot in your caverns Kinzul, I hope that that’s okay.”
Lu catches on to my idea, and parses my train of thought, or comes to her own brilliant conclusions that might put mine to shame as she nods excitedly. Kinzul queries, “What’s this now?”
Lil beams with pride as he responds, “This momma, is what I was telling you about. Rej can science their way through magic, and do just about anything!”
I can’t help smiling about Lil. In some ways, he’s often either juvenile, or childish, and it’s mostly, usually, in adorable ways, like the fact that he thinks too highly of me. Or the fact that Lil takes pride in my accomplishments almost as highly as if they were his own. He thinks far too highly of me, honestly. At least, when he isn’t aghast at my actions.
I sigh softly as I tilt my head forward, completely forgetting what resides right in front of my face. Luni had been shifting positions as I’d been addressing Kinzul, Lil, and Lu separately, by shifting slightly. Luni doesn’t begrudge me though, and welcomes me into the soft, pillowy cushion of her bosom. My blush heats the air between us, but she shakes her head. She knows it was unintentional, and she’s not using it to tease me right now. She just wants to be here for me.
A few happy tears stream forth down my cheeks, as it continues to sink in that I’m reunited with My Anchor, and My Heart. Lil and I still have some issues to work out. I know that his mood has swung a certain way for a bit, partially due to his mother’s presence, but we haven’t resolved some of the pain lingering between us yet. Luni though, my precious Lu, she’s hiding something again, and she’s shouldering the burden of that secret for our safety.
As soon as Teuila returns, I want to add Lu to our thinkspace. Luni, Lucky, and Lil. I’m hesitant to add Kinzul to the same thinkspace channel, but I believe I can alter the composition of the paste just slightly enough, that her channel to us is on a separate wavelength. She would be the central mind in that channel, and her thinkspace would be private, yet able to be shared with one or more of us at a time, at her own whim.
I think that such a configuration will best suit all of our interests. I’ll be able to set up private subnetworks of telepathy between agents and underlings of Kinzul, and tether all of those subnetworks to her as the primary network conduit. That way, by way of relay, she’d never be more than a few steps from communicating with any of her underlings, but the strain wouldn’t be directly on her, to hear every single thought across the network. Ugh, it’s going to take days and days worth of S P, doing nothing but painting runes on dragons, and whatever other types of subordinates Kinzul has. Oh, that reminds me.
I ask, “Kinzul, I hope this isn’t rude, but the people like that Nala woman, are they also dragons? Or is there a term I should use for them as a group?”
Kinzul smiles briefly as she responds, “Nala and those scaled humanoids like her are Draconiacs, not quite kobolds, not quite humans, not quite dragons. None of the powers or abilities of dragons, but none of the inherent limitations of kobolds. Nala however in particular is a special case. I expect that with a mind like yours, you’ll be seeing a lot of her. She operates my library.”
I nod, momentarily lost in thought, as I do my best to comprehend Kinzul’s explanation. For the moment, I begin preparing gem paste for the instant that Teuila returns. I hope it’s soon. We’re both hurting, but we’ve both been aching for this reunion, and this step of the reunion, for so very long now. My Wings, please be okay. I pull my face from Luni’s bosom, and glance sadly into her eyes. She sees the concern in my gaze, and she nods. Lu squeezes my shoulder lightly as she stands, allowing me freedom of movement.
I stand and bow before asking, “If it pleases you, I’d wish for you to remain here while I fetch Teuila. We’re both eager to set up our telepathic bond, and it would go a long way towards healing some of the hurt that lingers. I’ll return swiftly hence.”
Lil rolls his eyes and blows a raspberry my way at my formality. I flash him a loving smirk while my eyes bear the weight of all that’s been left unsaid, the apologies, the sadness, the longing. Lil catches my gaze, and understanding dawns across his face as his eyes glisten, wet with realization. He suddenly gets that I’m doing this for him, not for me.