Return of the Mage

[ixis]

The stone tower has remained in its distant reaches of the Nexus, a constant looming landmark at the border of the Wilds. But its owner and inhabitant has been silent and missing for so long now, hasn't he? The only reassurance that he's not dead is the family that has made their home on the outskirts of the tower, tending to the chao and rebuilding their own life after fleeing Azeroth's Westfall. Only they have been graced with rare glimpses of the Mobian mage, who otherwise has locked himself inside, working obsessively on...something.

So the sudden pillar of smoke that rises from the landmark might be cause for notice, if not alarm. It swirls and grows, soon gathering itself into a singular column of dense smog and streaking towards the central plaza. And there in the middle does it descend, pulling its billowing shape into something more solid. The gruesome form it ends up taking is none other than the long-absent Ixis Naugus, jeweled staff in hand, cape pulled around his shoulders with his claw.

He casts a surveying look around, taking in the usual views and the present people. After doing so, his face splits into a toothy grin and he poses his question:

"Well? What have I missed?"

Comments

[heirtothearcane]

"Naugus!" The sudden appearance of the mage catches Viatorus by surprise. Other than a brief glimpse of him at his own tower, the scholar hasn't seen him in what feels like an age. Is that because he's been hiding away doing his research, or because Naugus has been hiding away doing research? It's hard to tell.

"I... You've missed quite a lot." Thinking on it, Viatorus isn't sure where to begin, or what to mention and what to leave out. Instead of answering, he looks at Naugus, worried despite the certainty that Naugus won't appreciate it. "Have you been all right? You... You didn't stay away because of anything we talked about, did you?"

[ixis]

"Ah, Viatorus! Good to see you once more, boy." Ixis Naugus even switches his staff to his claw so he can offer his hand for shaking! That's how special you are, kiddo. "I've been fine! Smashing! I've simply been tied up in a rather ambitious project. I tend to get a slight case of tunnel vision when research is reaching a fever pace." Right, because it's 'slight' when it makes you lock the door and allow no guests for months on the end.

"Nothing to do with you or what you've seen or said, of course not. In fact, I've barely spared it a thought since I had my initial breakthrough that allowed for great strides in my work! No issues to speak of. Dreams are dreams and have little to do with my work when awake."

[heirtothearcane]

The intoxication of a breakthrough in an academic's studies is a phenomenon Viatorus knows all too well. The majority of his family will lock themselves away and come up for air only briefly, babbling nonsense that only they can understand. However, Viatorus is suspicious of the handshake, which is why he's nervous in slowly accepting it, hoping it will be light and gentle.

"I'm glad to hear it." Suspicious, but glad. "You must be happy to have Harrowheart's family around to take care of everything for you. It's always a relief to be able to focus on research."

[ixis]

It's sadly not a gentle shake, but at least the grip is out of eagerness and not intimidation. He grins and gives Viatorus' hand several hearty pumps before finally releasing it. He might have some marks from how tight his fingers were clamped.

"Oh yes, Harrowheart's family was a profoundly unexpected boon! To ensure that the chao were contained and fed was certainly good, as they eventually entered portions of my research and it would have been vexing to have left my tower and found them all vanished or starved."

[heirtothearcane]

Almost immediately, Viatorus tenses as he nearly gets lifted off his feet by the strong shake. As politely as he can, he massages his poor hand once the other mage has released his grip.

"Vexing. Right, yes." Not the word he would have chosen, certainly. "What have you been researching? You've been gone for such a long time."

[ixis]

Now here's where things get interesting. Rather than launch immediately into what his research entails, babbling excitedly about his discoveries and throwing impenetrable jargon around? Naugus is silent, his expression one of uncertain confusion, his ears going through a series of twitches and twists as he debates what to say or where to start.

"...It's a little difficult to explain," he finally replies. "A great deal of it relies on the nature of barriers between zones. What creates them. What maintains them. And I believe this is a perfect time to apply this to repairing the anti-violence field and it's recent issues."

Strangely measured response from someone normally so bombastic and excitable.

[heirtothearcane]

Luckily for Naugus, Viatorus is patient. Considering the topic is Naugus' research, he's also intrigued, and so he waits eagerly. Despite the ambiguous nature of planes and barriers, Viatorus is all too interested in what Naugus has to say.

And with Viatorus' curiosity comes his questions. "Can you affect the anti-violence field? Do you know where it comes from? Is it the only barrier you've been investigating?"

[ixis]

"I think I can. Even if I can't find what generates it, if anything at all, I can start to investigate the arcane weave of it. Find where it may be fraying or growing holes. And proceed to weave my own chaos energy into it keep it from failing any further, either by my own might keeping it in place or as an additional failsafe. If something manages to bypass it again and it breaks my enchantments as well, I'll most assuredly be aware and either repair it or warn the Nexus.

"And I've been studying the nature of metaphysical barriers between zones and worlds at large. I recall once long ago speaking to one here who claimed to be a god of his realm. And what can speak of greater fortitude than something that blocks or gates in the very power of gods themselves? Not that I've THAT much reverence for what they are or what they do. Especially since I have personal evidence of how tearing at these barriers can send enough shockwaves to kill them outright." He grins, still proud of that accomplishment. Viatorus may or may not remember the time he was told about the Ancient Walkers back on Mobius and how Naugus being freed from his Zone of Silence ended up causing their demise.

[heirtothearcane]

"If you knew how to supply the anti-violence field with your own power then you could do an awful lot." He quietens while he thinks which is just as well, since it gives Naugus more time to talk. Part of Viatorus wishes he wouldn't. The more the other mage talks the more his words start to worry the young Durant. Now, now. Naugus is a friend. He wouldn't actually do anything to hurt anyone.

"You work with gems too. It might be possible for you to use gems to store power and tune them into the anti-violence field to reinforce the field. Other mages like me might be able to contribute some of our magic into something like that." He shrugs sheepishly. "I've heard of magic like that, but I don't know enough crystal work to do something like that. You might though. If it's possible."

[ixis]

"Hrm. An interesting thought. But that'd also leave them vulnerable to tampering. Breaking, not so much. It takes a powerful show of force to destroy the crystal I create. Perhaps if I were to create them and then bury them somewhere hidden. Although I really shouldn't NEED the help of other mages, would I? I'm more than enough in every task I do."

Ego, ego, ego. Did it only get worse in his absence?

[heirtothearcane]

It's been a while since he had to deal with an ego like Naugus', but the break has given him time to process his past encounters with the mage. Hopefully it's given him the chance to learn from them.

"But if they needed caring for and you..." He stops in his tracks to choose his words carefully. "What if you were focused on more important areas than the maintenance of the gems? If you shared the task then you wouldn't be so much like a caretaker. It would be more like a joint responsibility with people who have the power to help with things like that."

[ixis]

The way Naugus wrinkles his nose and scowls makes it clear he doesn't like this talk of shared responsibility. Is it because he doesn't trust the rest of the Nexus or because he's taking this as an insult of his capabilities? Whichever it is, he soon shakes off that expression and slides back into a wide, toothy smile, moving to loop his left arm around Viatorus' shoulders.

"Viatorus, you're always so astute when it comes to worrying over details. And that's a good thing! We always need those sorts of people with every plan! Rest assured, you'll be the first I call when details need to be examined and fretted over. But for now, let this lie in my more than capable hands." Hand and claw, the latter of which is very close to V's face thanks to that arm thrown around him. "And for what it's worth, I've tasked Jim Kirk with the more mundane defenses. Gathering an armoury, looking for methods of safe havens and bunkers for fleeing masses."

[heirtothearcane]

Viatorus frowns. It's not as if he hasn't heard this kind of thing before. How good he is at being helpfully unhelpful. His own annoyance almost takes his attention away from the heavy arm thrown around his shoulders and the claw so close to his face.

He presses his lips into a thin, uncertain line, and turns his concerned look from Naugus' claw to his face. "I suppose… Isidor is busy helping Adia and I set up a research centre, so she is quite busy already…"