In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Franklin Stein on Dec 1, 2021 11:34:14 GMT -5
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Unknown to a lot of people there is a secret shop in the Forsaken Region, in the town of Aries Garse. To be quiet frank there is likely a lot of secret shops in such a town. The explosion of gambling and it's place far from the scrutinizing gaze of the capital has made it ideal for people to exchange large sums of Yul for things that could very well get them in a lot of trouble if they were caught purchasing anything of the sort. Thankfully, this far out very few Magic Knights bothered to patrol for such things any of those actually stationed in the Forsaken Region were far busier dealing with active threats from bandits or the various predators that prowled along town borders hoping to make an easy meal out of some lost commoner. So, it wasn't hard for the right person to ask the right questions to the right people and find the whereabouts of such secret shops.
This is what brought Frankie to Aries Garse this evening. Frankie took reading recreationally to a whole new level. He consumed books like some fat nobles consumed high cholesterol feasts. Only his meals threatened to give him a migraine and not a heart attack. Well, it also threatened to get him arrested if he was ever caught, but he didn't bother to dwell on such things. Thankfully, as a Magic Knight himself he had a lot of leeway within his own Squad to overlook such crimes and considerable leverage to make convenient excuses if he was ever caught by some other Squad. It was honestly half the reason he had bothered to join the Magic Knights.
Now having asked the right questions to the right people Frankie found himself in a small cafe tucked just outside the busy gambling districts of the city. Close enough that someone could make the trek easy enough from some nearby establishment, fat with Yul, but far enough away that a certain privacy was guaranteed. The cafe was a quaint little place. Lots of small tables with candlelight to enjoy one's beverage of choice. Along the walls and throughout the place were several bookshelves filled with various fictional and nonfictional tomes to read while you drank. Frankie though wasn't here for either the light reading on display or a drink so he wasted no time.
The mad mage sauntered up to the counter, smiled as if he had been here a thousand times before, and ordered, "One coffee please, black, but with one cream and four sugars on the side." To order a black coffee with cream and sugar seemed to make no sense, but that was the point. It was the passphrase to get him through the door and into the real shop. With a nod the man behind the counter did something out of sight and a small click could be heard behind some stacks where the public books were kept. Sure enough Frankie was able to follow the sound and found that one of the bookshelves hidden out of sight was now slightly ajar. Stein made his way inside, shutting the secret door behind him. Inside was a smaller store then the cafe, but filled to the brim with all manner of books. A small counter sat near the only exit, a single clerk and a bouncer there to ensure no one left with anything they hadn't paid for. The excited mage giggled like a schoolgirl as he fidgeted with delight and scurried into the maze of bookshelves. If there were other people in the store in that moment he didn't notice. His eyes were only for the forbidden and lost books before him and what he might uncover by perusing their leather bound pages.
Statistics
POW: 020 DUR: 010 SEN: 000 STA: 020 CON: 020
SPEED: 5m/s HEALTH: senior MANA SKIN: senior MANA POOL: 070 / 070 MANA REGEN: 20 IC / 10 OOC
It was a bedrock for gambling and nighttime activity, something Mania had come to realize the more time he spent within Aries Garse domain. The young rogue hadn't come to merely partake in the high-stakes games the people of this town enjoyed, but instead Mania had his eyes set on a particular book. One that was forbidden and contained knowledge not meant for the general public to be privy to. Through the connections Mania had accumulated, he had gained insight into a particular cafe that housed a secret establishment. One that dabbled in the import and export of books and tomes of the exact sort Mania was particularly interested in. The rogue had only heard rumors that it may very well carry the famed book of Twilight authored by a mad mage who experimented with the potential and extent one could utilize mercury magic. It also served as documentation of his life and inner musings. For Mania, the book of Twilight was a must-have.
Mania entered the quaint cafe, ambling towards the shopkeep.
"One coffee please. Make it black, but with one cream and four sugars on the side."
Supplying the passphrase Mania heard a mechanical click as the shopkeep gestured to a secluded area in the back. Walking away Mania inspected the bookshelf, noticing it was slightly ajar the rogue would slip out of sight behind the secret passage. This was the real reason men such as Mania visited the place. Inside was a maze of sprawling books and text, most the rogue assumed were forbidden or banned in some capacity. There was a single bouncer who guarded the only exit and a secondary shopkeep to take the yul for purchases. Nodding to the bouncer, the rogue would curiously look about. There were so many different books that Mania didn't have the foggiest clue of where to start. So, absentmindedly he wandered freely about as he scanned through the plethora of books slowly with a cursory glance.
As he wandered around, his eyes came upon a Green Mantis Magic Knight who held an odd, peculiar appearance. He stood out like a sore thumb Mania thought as he found himself stealing glances at the Magic Knight. From what Mania had gathered during his stay in Clover, the Green Mantis Knights bordered the line of criminals and government agents. They often time operated in illegal activity which garnered them the notion of being a corrupted squad. Mania himself didn't have many dealings with them, though he had come across many other Magic Knight squads. Luckily for himself, he assumed most Magic Knights were far too busy to concern themselves with a small-time rogue like himself. Mania had some infamy, but not enough for the state to send their dogs of the military after him.
Mania was a few feet from the strange Magic Knight, though he was faced in the opposite direction looking through the columns of books for the one he was searching for. WC: 501
Post by Franklin Stein on Dec 7, 2021 17:44:50 GMT -5
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Franklin found himself almost drooling over the various books at his disposal. There was such a wide array of forbidden lore present even in just this one small bookstore. Books on curses that stripped someone of mana until they perished, books on illusions to hide evidence after a crime, books that focused more on pain then actual harm to ensure maximum discomfort before a target perished, just to name a few of the topics he saw. The mad mage personally believed that places like this were important and should be coveted. There was only so far his experiments on his own could take him. Books like these were critical not just in providing new inspiration, but also helping to show him avenues that had already been travelled. Even if someone was afraid to get their hands dirty these books were still a vital resource. Someone designing their own restraints using magic could just as easily stumble on some terrible result causing unintended harm that they could have avoided if they merely shopped at their local black market and found a book where someone had already discovered the same magic. In the hands of the wrong person it could lead them down a darker path, but even in the hands of the 'right' people it could help them to avoid making similar mistakes. Granted, Frankie could easily be classified as the wrong person in this instance.
At the moment the experiment obsessed mage was trying to research the mysteries of dungeons. How could some simply appear out of nowhere one day and then disappear the next? Why was the mana so strong in dungeons that they could even bring back the creatures that served as guardians after a while? How was the magic even harnessed to begin with to fashion such incredible architecture? If he could understand and learn then perhaps he could manipulate them. Change floors to rescue stranded citizens or bring Magic Knights deeper into its core so that it could more swiftly deal with whatever boss existed within its core. One could even take it a step further, creation of a dungeon! What if he could learn to artificially create a dungeon? The possibilities would be endless. Terrible fortresses with guardians that revived in time, tourist attractions, or perhaps places to cultivate mana zones to strengthen oneself and their understanding of magic. The propensity for things to go terribly awry was great, which was why any request for official funding had been sternly rejected. So, he found himself here perusing the stacks for something that might be useful in his research. He couldn't exactly put any books he might find on a list of things he'd like the local peddlers to deliver the next time they came to Hage after all.
Still, although he had a clear idea of what he was trying to find Frankie was having difficulty locating anything related to the topic he needed. He was sure if any place were to have books related to the subject it would be here. The problem was that there were so many books that perusing them all was simply too time consuming. To make matters more difficult there wasn't exactly an order to all this chaos. He supposed having any sort of classification system to organize it all would have been too much to ask for from a black market secret shop. Although some books were found relatively close to those of the same subject there were plenty of others that were clearly moved at some point and simply never returned to whatever stack they might have originated from. It was making the whole affair rather frustrating for Frankie. He might have thought to complain if he believed even for a second it would not result in him being kicked out by the rather impressive bouncer that he had seen at the door.
Instead Stein had opted for a different approach, perhaps he could rely on local help! With a quick glance around him he spotted another individual looking through the shelves not too far from where he was standing. Not wanting to stare too long it seemed like the person at least had some confidence looking over the books and he could swore that he caught a glance in his direction so at least he wouldn't surprise the man by approaching him. With a shrug of his shoulders he made his way over to the stranger. "Hello, you look like a person of ill repute." As far as first greetings went it could have been a lot better. However, his smile at least showed that the meaning behind the words were not negative even if the words certainly sounded so. "I don't mean to intrude, but you look a little less lost then I do. I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me locate a book. Maybe you saw something on the topic while you were doing your own shopping. In return if there is a book you were looking for perhaps I saw it and could do the same for you. If not then I could offer to buy you a coffee or something to make up for it." Even as Frankie spoke his curiosity got the best of him and he found himself eying the books where the other man had been looking, seeing if there was anything that piqued his own interest. "I'm hoping to find something on the origins or anatomy of dungeons. From the perspective of someone not likely to be censored of course." Frankie turned his attention once more back to the man, smiling at him. He had read that smiling helped make people feel at ease.
Statistics
POW: 020 DUR: 010 SEN: 000 STA: 020 CON: 020
SPEED: 5m/s HEALTH: senior MANA SKIN: senior MANA POOL: 070 / 070 MANA REGEN: 20 IC / 10 OOC
Mania internally thought as he was greeted by the Green Mantis Magic Knight. The rogue would raise a brow as he stood before the odd man and tried to gauge his intent. That was if there was more to this meeting between the two. Mania was good at reading in between the lines and guessing at the ulterior motives of others; however, he was drawing a blank save for the fact he thought the Magic Knight to be an eccentric man. His words though duplicitous, were innocuous enough Mania mused as he looked into the golden eyes of the man, a smile on his face all the while he continued his spiel. The Magic Knight had approached Mania in hopes that the rogue could help him find a particular volume that contained information on the origins or anatomy of dungeons.
A curious search indeed, Mania would muse.
He himself had been through two dungeons and during his expedition into their complex and sometimes absurd depths, he had become quite enamored with their enigmatic charm. It seemed this Magic Knight was curiously interested in some of the same things Mania was. Mania would reply with a fox-like smile before he spoke, but truth be told the wide grin of this man that revealed his large golden teeth was a bit unnerving. He had unintentionally garnered the attention of quite the mad character he would think.
"Truth be told this is my first time here too~"
Mania would coolly say while scratching the back of his head, his voice was smooth and roguish as he talked.
"I haven't seen anything on that particular subject, though I can assist you in finding it, but only if ya let me borrow it from you after. I'm quite curious as to how they are created myself. Not too long ago I was in a dungeon, but what was so fascinating about it was that it was a living, towering treant that stalks the Forsaken Region. Even more interesting is the fact that dungeons reset upon completing them, destined to repeat in an endless loop. It's quite the mystery if ya ask me."
Mania would be sure to watch the man carefully, looking for the hidden subtle tells that humans often committed absent thought and intention.
"I myself am looking for The book of Twilight - it was authored by a banished mage long ago who wielded a powerful command over mercury magic. It contains insights and methodology thought to be... unsavory at best."
Mania's specious visage would shift into a jagged smile that broke temperament for a brief moment. The famous banished mage - Ulysess Silver was a genius who used many types of magic in hopes of creating a new type of magic. His unlawful and egregious experiments that went against human life had garnered him much hatred, which ended with him being persecuted by the people long ago. Most labeled him a mad man, a corrupt genius who used his mental acuity for heinous acts of evil; however, Mania was of a different opinion despite the status quo. He believed the pursuit of knowledge to not be bound by the concept of the morality of men. After all, there was nothing human about the construct of magic itself. Still, to this day Mania believed mages had yet to truly crest the endless sea of possibilities magic offered. That much was evident the more he studied and perfected his own craft.
"Doesn't look like what I'm looking for is in this area, so I could help ya find it, given you don't mind the aforementioned exchange I suggested?"
Mania would put the book he held by the spine back in its home amongst the other volumes as he spoke. Truthfully Mania had taken an interest in the Green Mantis Magic Knight. His peculiar appearance, what types of magic he possibly studied? He had the air of a true mage, hungry and gluttonous in his pursuit of the unknown and unventured. Mania liked people like that, who lacked inhibition towards their goals, but it was yet to be seen if he held the same type of hunger for knowledge that Mania yearned and desired for. Though, him being a Green Mantis Knight meant he tiptoed the line between law and order. He could very well prove to be a promising contact should he possess the correct state of mind and had leniency for the illegal.
"Do we have a deal? The names Mania~"
The rogue's fox-like expression would return as he extended a hand in celebration of a new friendship. WC: 769 TWC: 1,270
Post by Franklin Stein on Dec 12, 2021 10:53:11 GMT -5
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Frankie's smile deflated for the briefest of moments as the stranger explained that they were also new to the shop, but did return as the man offered to assist Frankie. Had the offer had been done simply out of kindness the mad mage would have been on alert, as such were very uncommon along the back streets of any city, let alone the gambling den that is Aries Garse. However, some quid pro quo he not only understood, but could appreciate. Reciprocity was a solid foundation to any working relationship. "An actual living Treant serving as a dungeon you say? Absolutely fascinating, if it is still out there I will have to make a trip out in order to get some samples and investigate it myself. I'll have to see if it would be possible to remove said pieces without the dungeon's regenerative nature causing them to simply vanish the moment I exit the dungeon. There is also a question on whether inflicting pain on the Treant from within will cause any changes to the way the dungeon operates or the creatures it might spawn. In this case I suppose antibodies might be a better term then dungeon creatures..." Frankie had begun to mumble to himself in his excitement over the prospect of this dungeon. It was exactly the sort of thing he had been hoping to learn about in his research.
It took a moment, but realized he had been trailing off and leaving the other man hanging. "I apologize, I have been told when I focus on a topic I can leave all others behind. I believe you mentioned a loan of the book as well as a tome you are looking for yourself? I have no issue providing the book once I am done with it, I can even create a copy that you can keep if you so desire. I doubt the author or anyone from this store is going to file a complaint on copyright given the nature of the book's legality." Frankie was smiling mischievously, having planned to do just that for every book he procured while he was here. Understandably the bookstore didn't have any sort of return policy so he couldn't simply bring back a book once he was done with it, but he could at least create copies in case he ever needed them. "The Book of Twilight sounds fascinating. I might request a similar trade once you are done with the book as well." Frankie had no access to Mercury magic, but that didn't mean he couldn't find correlation to his own magic or others. What could be accomplished by one element could in most cases be duplicated in some form by others. It just involved a little more trial and error to figure out how to do so.
"I do in fact believe we have come to an accord, Mania. I am Franklin Stein, though I have read now that we have made a business deal of sorts it is appropriate to refer to me with a nickname. You can call me Frankie based on this." The mad mage was pleased he could fall back on the books he had read on proper etiquette at times like this. If not for such books he would be completely lost when it came to socializing. It wasn't that he didn't care for conversation, but rather didn't see much of a point to all the social niceties there were involved with them. This was either because he didn't want to waste the time or because his more cynical nature believed most conversation ultimately led up to transactions of a sort and he didn't understand why people tried to pretend that wasn't the case by dressing them in small talk and the like.
"Since this area doesn't seem to have either book we were looking for I recommend we move to a new section of the stacks. Perhaps one of us will find something we were looking for there." As Frankie spoke he made his way over to a new section, figuring that Mania would either follow after or move to a separate section not far so they could split their efforts. Whether they both concentrated in the same area or split should have similar, but still effective results so he wasn't too bothered on whichever approach Mania might take. "Is the Book of Twilight one of a series or a standalone book? Although Mercury magic is thought of as one of the higher tiered elements I confess that most applications I've heard for it usually circulates around the same sort of uses. Anyone who did serious research to expand on that is quiet interesting." Searching for books wasn't exactly something that required all his attention. If they were going to be spending time around each other Frankie might as well eat up some of that time by getting to know the book he was helping to find. Asking more personal questions seemed inappropriate given their illicit transaction, but the book seemed fair ground.
Statistics
POW: 020 DUR: 010 SEN: 000 STA: 020 CON: 020
SPEED: 5m/s HEALTH: senior MANA SKIN: senior MANA POOL: 070 / 070 MANA REGEN: 20 IC / 10 OOC
From the conversation Mania quickly ascertained that Frankie was indeed a very intellectual man who was not only interested in the pursuit of magic and knowledge, but also probably well versed in his studies. It seemed fate favored the rogue with quite the pragmatic character. Simply listening until Frankie's spiel came to a crawl Mania would nod in agreement with a wry smile, following the Green Mantis Magic Knight to a new section. Mania would casually saunter down the evenly lined bookshelves, his fingers gently brushing past the spines of random texts as he eyed Frankie and retreated momentarily to some inner musings.
'Quite the odd fellow, but perhaps he can be a useful connection down the line. Though Frankie is definitely an eccentric, his expertise could also prove valuable. Do I pursue a working relationship? Perhaps I can gain some information about the Magic Knights operations from him in exchange for knowledge. He does seem like the type more into his pursuits than to put an organization first... '
Frankie's voice would pull Mania from beneath the waves of subconscious thoughts. The rouge would blink twice, tuning in halfway through Frankie's question. Luckily enough Mania had caught enough to understand it well enough. Grabbing a random novel from the shelf Mania would inspect it whilst he spoke back in a calm, smooth tone.
"It's a stand-alone, Ulysess Silver was quite the hermit after he was banished. It not only contains a complete listing of his studies, but also his life. It's said he was one of the brightest minds of his era and wielded an unparallel control over mercury. If possible I want to further my own prowess wielding the liquid silver magic, but alas I've hit a wall on my own."
Mania would appear dejected for a brief moment as he palmed his face to accentuate his somber tone. The Magic Knight's question was innocuous enough, perhaps even tamer than Mania expected, but he, however; wasn't shy about getting to the point when he was fishing for information. Especially when it was intel he desired at the moment. Placing the random book he had grabbed back, Mania figured it was his turn to make an inquiry to carry the casual conversation. He didn't want to push too hard early, so he would start with something light.
"So Frankie how long have you been a Magic Knight? Can't say I've had the pleasure of meeting someone from the Green Mantis squad, though I do frequent Hage often myself. "
Whilst the rogue spoke coolly, he would make his way slowly down the aisle checking for both The book of Twilight and Frankie's book on Dungeons. From what he could see neither was here so he would turn around and casually peruse the opposite shelf for their query.
"Also If you don't mind me asking what is your area of expertise or better yet the faucet of magic that you're most passionate about? From a fellow scholar of sorcery to another hmm?"
This time, Mania chose a question that he didn't mind if he received a proper answer to, but its main purpose was to veil the intent behind the first. It also would make the conversation seem more casual, but even with such a smokescreen, someone skilled at the art of social engineering or how the human psyche worked could easily see through Mania's facade. Not that it mattered much Mania would think, mentally smiling. They were both after all in an illegal shop searching for what could only be forbidden contraband. At the very least, Frankie had to tiptoe the line of the law, which would make him the perfect lightning rod to feed Mania information.
As Mania would continue to look for the book he had noticed how empty the secret shop was. Not too surprising given the particular items of sale, but he still figured it would garner some sort of traffic. The rogue only caught glimpses of a few individuals through the sprawling aisles of books. None of them to concerned with Frankie and himself. At the very least it made operating easier for the rogue. Mania had been keeping a low profile since joining The Eclipse Ravens. In fact, he was simply waiting for another calling card to beckon him and the others. Mania had been growing impatient, however; because, of the silence. A man needed Yul, so he had been considering taking some smaller jobs again during the in-between time, though to be honest, he had become tired of the low-level work available. Mania was craving excitement, danger, and even some trouble.
Even now the rogue was subconsciously thinking of what he could do to feed the rising frenzy he was craving. WC: 795 TWC: 2,065
Post by Franklin Stein on Dec 30, 2021 18:29:56 GMT -5
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"Autobiographical and educational in nature? An odd combination, but I suppose he wouldn't be the first to write a book in such a manner. I think writing about one's own life outside a journal seems a bit arrogant, but I suppose if he was famous enough for others to be seeking out his book years after his death he might have earned the confidence to do so." Frankie was surprised he had never heard of this Ulysses Silver if he was truly one of the brightest minds of his generation. However, if he truly was a rogue like this other man claimed then it was only logical that those in authority would seek to bury his legacy and hide his existence. Wouldn't want the man inspiring future generations like he clearly was with Mania. Or at least his magic inspired the man to master it further. He didn't know enough about Mania to assume what his true intentions were behind the book. However, as he was thoroughly against censorship of literature he saw no reason to prevent the man from getting his hands on it. If the individual ultimately did something horrible with the knowledge he gained from the book later then Frankie supposed at that point Magic Knights would be called in to deal with it. A problem for future Franklin Stein.
"We've all hit walls in our research and studies. I have been there on many occasions. Perhaps the book will help you advance, if not you could always go outside Mercury for inspiration. I have found that although there are dozens of elements many of them can hold similarities in either their properties or how they are used that a lateral approach can be greatly beneficial. Find something that exhibits closely to Mercury and study that for a while, it may provide an epiphany to your own element." Too many people were obsessed with only their own specializations or their own elements. It too often caused them to neglect knowledge of anything outside their sphere of influence. Frankie saw this as a great detriment to their own advancement. Not only did this potentially weaken them if they were ever forced into conflict with another, but it limited their approach to their own magic. If one treaded only in a linear path they will only walk the same road everyone else with their element had done previously.
Frankie had been so absorbed in his searching that he hadn't even turned to look at Mania the entire time they had been talking. If the other man had been giving him a sorrowful expression or trying to infer anything in his tone the mad mage was completely oblivious. Not that it would have mattered even if he had noticed the change in the other man. Frankie simply did not care about others emotional wellbeing outside how it might impact him. Rather than missing it he would have simply willingly ignored it. He didn't even blink as the other man started asking him personal questions, instead just answering them while he continued to sort through the various stacks. "Umm... a month? No, longer then that... Two years? That can't be right either??? Anywhere between two years and a month I would say. I think that sounds about right. I don't leave my lab unless I have to so one loses track of days when they do not have access to a window where they can see the passage of time through the solar cycle. I've contemplated making or buying something to help me tell time while I am locked away, but ultimately I do not see much point of it. Better to reserve my funds or time for things that actually matter." If Frankie was willing to stop for a moment and truly think about it he would have been able to figure out it had been a year since he joined, but just as with the timepiece it simply wasn't worth the effort. He secluded himself so much so often that he was even oblivious to the famous players of Clover Kingdom. If they weren't written in a book he read they were often not worth learning about.
"Passion? I suppose I do have those. If we are talking about areas of magic they are interlinked. I seek knowledge on the creation of artificial dungeons and the artificial generation of mana. Dungeons tend to create an overabundance of mana and regenerate it over time. Which helps explain why someone could go through a dungeon and conquer it only to have all of the creatures and dangers brought back only days later. They are fed and created by the mana of the dungeon. I am interested in that process and if it can be duplicated on a manmade scale." What Frankie didn't get into was that he thought it might benefit the Forsaken Region. There was the shallow benefit of generating a dungeon for tourist reasons. Even the most benign dungeons attracted Magic Knights or strong citizens looking to delve in and solve its mysteries. Those individuals brought with them money to spend on whatever town was local. They needed a place to sleep, food, and sometimes equipment. That influx of money would bring other businesses and eventually a town could flourish uplifting all those there. However, on a deeper scale if he figured out a way to artificially generate mana through a core he might be able to find a way to create renewable energy. There was no telling what he could do with such a thing. Perhaps he could regulate so many of the everyday issues people of the Forsaken Region had. Frankie's goals moved beyond the passing challenges of rogues, monsters, or even war. He was seeking to effect things on a global scale that could change the course of humanity. Perhaps that was why he had a more pragmatic and even indifferent view on everyday problems.
"What about yourself? How long have you been interested in forbidden magic? Are your pursuits limited to just the element of Mercury or are you also interested in other... How did you put it? Faucets of magic?" Since the other man had opened up the floodgates Frankie saw no issue of now asking personal questions. He could hardly seem rude if he was just asking a similar question to what he had already answered. Even as he asked the question he moved to another part of the bookstore as he continued the search. He came upon a section that looked to be dedicated to earth type elements and was hoping he would have better luck. There were books on magic concerning metals, precious gemstones, and variants on earth so surely there was a small chance that the book Mania was looking for would be somewhere around here.
Statistics
POW: 020 DUR: 010 SEN: 000 STA: 020 CON: 020
SPEED: 5m/s HEALTH: senior MANA SKIN: senior MANA POOL: 070 / 070 MANA REGEN: 20 IC / 10 OOC
As Mania presumed Frankie was mostly isolated from the Magic Knights and if he were a betting man, he would take the high that Frankie was in the Magic Knights simply as a means to an end. That meant he was within parameters to be manipulated, but controlling someone as smart as the Magic Knight standing before him would prove easier said than done. Still, though it could be accomplished Mania mused as he listened whilst still perusing through the many books on the shelves. The rogue didn't mind Frankie's longwinded spiels, in fact, the background noise as he sifted through the dozens of texts was relaxing in some sense. Mania didn't glean much more insight from the Magic Knight's words, but still simply indulging in talks about magic was entertaining for Mania. He remembered back when he was a young lad in the wintery Spade Kingdom. How he used to pour over the pages of magic. Sometimes the older adults in the gangs he would run with would give him a fairytale book, but his favorites were always about the various applications of magic.
In a world ruled by the arcane, it was little wonder a boy with dreams such as him would often fantasize about having spatial magic. Back then he would dream of seeing the oceans or a great forest. To be honest any place, not the Spade Kingdom would have sufficed for a child sick of the cold and suffering he endured. A roguish smile crept upon Mania's lips as he turned towards Frankie, his golden eyes shimmering with enthusiasm.
"No, quite the contrary friend. I'm interested in all types of magic, including that which is forbidden. If I had to pick one though Spatial magic would be my true passion. Being able to transport yourself anywhere in the world? I couldn't imagine a more beautifully poetic magic than that. Like I said earlier I'm simply interested in some of the secrets he was able to uncover and hope to mimic some of his own success."
Another book that wasn't what he was looking for the rogue silently mused after speaking, before placing it back where he had grabbed it from.
"Alas though I wasn't lucky enough to be born with such a rare gift. So between me and you, I'm searching for a way to artificially obtain spatial magic in some capacity."
It was a feat easier said than done and Mania knew that better than most. His studies hadn't come any closer to revealing the secret mechanics of how spatial magic was possible. The rogue had theories, but testing said theories without someone who actually carried the rare magic was nigh impossible. So almost everything he did was on a theoretical level. One day though, Mania was sure he'd see his dream come to fruition and attain true freedom, but for now, he would simply have to be satisfied with the two magics he wielded.
"I believe the many facets of magic are probably endless and we just haven't uncovered them yet."
As Mania spoke he noticed the section of books at the bottom seemed to be dedicated to artificially producing mana and constructs. Which the rogue assumed was probably as close a keyword to the dungeon as he had seen since he started looking. He would begin to slowly and carefully pour over the contents of the books on the lower bottom section in hopes that that one of them would prove a winner in finding he nad Frankie's query. As he searched Mania assumed it was now his turn to ask another question if for nothing else than to keep the flow of the conversation going. From what he could discern Frankie had been none the wiser to his subterfuge so he would continue thinking that was so.
"When I first came to Clover I considered joining the Magic Knights. Thought it would be a good chance to turn a new leaf and get my life on track, but somehow I drifted and just never did. Suppose you could say it just wasn't meant to be..."
Mania would speak coolly, a hint of somberness buried within his tone. The rogue would choose to lead with some truth, to further mask his attentions and divert any suspicions his next question would pose.
"I didn't want to be chained down by a military group... It seems though you have some freedom and level of autonomy, so perhaps I should have joined. Their resources would have proved useful to my studies, but there's no use in crying over spilled milk. That's what the people say at least."
A halfhearted chuckle would escape the rogue's lips for a brief moment, his attention going back to his search.
"I bet the Magic Knights have access to tons of knowledge and texts not available to the public so it must be a big help to your own research?"
Casually slipping in that last bit, Mania would face him, hoping to weigh the look upon his wildly unique visage. WC: 840 TWC: 2,905
Post by Franklin Stein on Jan 3, 2022 16:34:13 GMT -5
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Frankie had been surprised to hear that someone who was perusing for books on forbidden magic was fascinated the most by Spatial magic. As far as the arcane went there wasn't anything particularly dangerous or forbidden about the element. To be fair there was certainly any manner of ways one could use the magic that would be deemed illegal, but no more so then any other element was capable of such things. If anything the magnitude for good was far greater in Spatial magic, especially when compared to their sister element Void. The ability to move things or peoples great distances had serious potential for saving lives or making people's lives infinitely better. "Spatial magic is a great subject. I've toyed with various theories in it as well. The capacity to be able to migrate groups of people with greater safety and ease is intriguing. To say nothing of the logistical benefits of being able to move supplies from one location to another without fear of it being lost to bandits, monsters, or another Kingdom. The amount of impact one could have on the world with such magic is only limited by one's imagination." Frankie had all manner of ideas drawn up on various blueprints at home. Portal keys that could be used at any door to transport people to a base elsewhere would make covert operations considerably easier. Or stationary import and export crates where someone could place a product in and have it instantly transported to a preset crate somewhere. People would no longer be burdened by transportation costs or dangers and for those seeking privacy it would ensure missives and the like would not be intercepted. Of course, he wasn't ready to share such ideas yet. They were experiments he planned to explore in his own time.
"Very few of us are born with those sorts of magicks. However, given that I concur that there are truly no limits with magic if one is willing to do the research I believe that you should be able to find such a way to artificially replicate if that is your desire. I've even heard some small rumors of it being possible. People whose grimoires have been tampered with in such a way that they were capable of tapping into an element outside the scope of their talents or even suddenly found what magic they could perform vanished from their grimoire and new spells utilizing a new element now within its pages. Mostly rumors and hearsay, but where there is smoke there can be fire." Frankie still wasn't sure why some people could use two elements and others could only use one. Or why some people seemed capable of working in every Specialization of magic while others were more limited. However, he did feel confident that research and discovering the answers was possible. Where there were questions there had to be answers and once you had those answers you could figure out how to duplicate it. Why couldn't it be the same for even greater mysteries like unlocking the rarer elements or changing one's own magic element after the fact?
As conversation shifted to Mania's backstory and reasons for not joining the Magic Knights Frankie's interest quickly evaporated. If it wasn't related to magic or the greater mysteries he generally just didn't care. Instead of focusing on whatever tragic or boring story was likely being weaved Frankie instead focused on continuing his search through the various book stacks for the book in question. The mad mage felt like he could be getting closer in his hunt. He'd weeded out most of the unrelated books and had finally come upon a portion that was specifically about Mercury. Surely somewhere within this specific section he would find the book that Mania was looking for. However, before he could claim victory in this little treasure hunt he realized that the conversation had stopped as a question had been posed and was waiting on his answer. "Oh, I'm sorry, got lost in the search. Access to forbidden lore? If I did would I be in the back store of an illegal shop in Aries Garse?" Frankie assumed there were such books secured under lock and key, but he had never been allowed to see any such things. Either he wasn't high enough in the food chain or as a member of the Green Mantis they already knew better then to let someone with potentially questionable morals access anything dangerous.
"Eureka!" Frankie shouted in delight as his hands clasped around the book in question that Mania had been looking for. He turned and presented it to the other man. "It seems at least you will have had better luck in finding something worth purchasing from this place then I did. Hopefully, this provide some illumination in your studies." The mad mage was a little disappointed in all his searching he had better luck finding Mania's book and not anything for himself, but he had been more focused on looking for the book on Mercury after all. Frankie was curious though now having found his prize whether Mania would linger and assist Frankie in his own search or take his leave having gotten what he wanted. The assistance would be appreciated, but he wouldn't fault the other man if he left. Spirits knew that if it had been Frankie who had found something for himself first he might have left poor Mania to his own devices. He would just have to wait and see how the other man reacted.
Statistics
POW: 020 DUR: 010 SEN: 000 STA: 020 CON: 020
SPEED: 5m/s HEALTH: senior MANA SKIN: senior MANA POOL: 070 / 070 MANA REGEN: 20 IC / 10 OOC
From the way, Frankie spoke it appeared he had a sizable amount of knowledge pertaining to Spatial magic and he even had heard about those that had artificially tampered with their grimoires to unlock the rare, legendary magic. Mania would have to pick the Magic Knight's mind one day to see if there was anything new or relative he could gleam from Frankie. The rogue wasn't surprised in the slightest that he was somewhat knowledgeable; given the way, he carried himself it was a logical conclusion for Mania to come to. Though of course, it seemed their desire for Spatial magic differed greatly. Where Frankie saw how it could better benefit man and the almost endless applications that could better the lives and add quality of life changes for the world. Mania desired it for a much more selfish, though pure reason. He wanted the magic so that he could experience true freedom, able to go where he pleased whenever he pleased.
No longer bound by the rules of space and time, he would be able to manipulate them to his heart's content. Of course, Mania would be able to pull off much more grandiose crimes with the magic and it would greatly improve the way he handled jobs in his particular line of work, but the main reason was to travel. As the quiet atmosphere returned Mania absentmindedly had wandered from his aisle, following the topic of Frankie's request to another nearby aisle where the rogue would search, until Frankie spoke out. "I guess not~" Mania would chuckle aloud. The rogue had planned on robbing the Magic Knight's for their more sensitive information, but if even a studious researcher like Frankie didn't have access to such items, they would definitely prove difficult to retrieve Mania thought as he carefully skimmed the bookshelf for anything that pertained to dungeons. Specifically their origins or anatomy of their design.
Looking back Mania saw Frankie holding a book, one the rogue presumed to be the exact one he had been looking for. Standing from his kneeling position Mania would walk back towards Frankie and take hold of the book as his eyes were wide with excitement, whilst he inspected it. Sure enough, it was the very book he had been searching high and low for, which brought much delight to Mania. "Great Stuff~" Mania excitedly cooed. Had he not been a rogue of his word he would have simply left and returned to his room to pour over the pages of the Book of Twilight. After all, he had been searching for two months to find this book, and to finally hold it in his hands felt more like a dream than reality. Mania could see the disappointment in Frankie's face that his book had yet to reveal itself to the two men, but Mania was sure they'd find it sooner or later.
"Well... now we have two sets of eyes looking for yer book. Shouldn't take us long to find it Frankie and if you have the means to copy the book I'd be happy to let you do so. You could even make a copy of yours should we find it to take care of two birds with one stone! Anyway, over here seems to be dedicated to dungeons, but trying to narrow the search to the origin of dungeons is harder than I thought."
Mania would guide Frankie to the section he was at previously, gesturing the Magic Knight over he would dive back into his search while clutching the book of Twilight in between his arm and side. From what he could tell the majority of these books were either detailed musings of known dungeons conquered by adventurers or merely talked about the history of dungeons. Though from the few pages the rogue skimmed they didn't exactly go into detail about how dungeons were created. There seemed to be a distinct lack of information in regards to their creation or origin, but Mania would not give up the search. Frankie had proved immensely useful to Mania in discovering the book of Twilight so the rogue definitely wanted to return the favor. So deep into his search Mania realized the quiet that choked the mute ambiance of the illegal book shop.
"As a Magic Knight you must have heard of the heinous crimes being committed within the Spade Kingdom? How they were artificially increasing the power of their mages through taboo experimentations? What are your thoughts about human experimentation, do you believe it is a necessary evil for the advancement of magic?"
At this point Mania was simply ranting for the sake of their being conversation to drown out the noiseless quiet. Though he was interested to hear what side of the moral spectrum Frankie sided with. As someone who had an obtuse interest in wraith magic and reanimating the dead Mania could understand that sometimes the taboo needed to be explored for the sake of advancement, but that often times stood opposite to those who called themselves just could stomach. Frankie seemed like he was more chaotic neutral if anything Mania thought as he put the book he had been absentmindedly skimming back in its place on the shelf and grabbed another so that he could pour over the pages. The rogue felt as if he was drawing closer to finding the perfect book for Frankie, he just needed a bit more time or perhaps the mad Magic Knight himself would find it before he could. Mania would repeat this process a few more times until he came across something that seemed to perfectly fit the description of what he and Frankie had been searching for.
As he skimmed the pages the rogue ascertained that the book did in fact speak about the mysterious origins of dungeons. Smiling, Mania was sure that this find would fix Frankie's soured disposition. Standing to his feet, Mania would wear a smug look as he called out to Frankie.
"Hey looky here what I got!"
Mania would display the book for Frankie to see and present it to the Magic Knight for him to inspect.
"Don't go saying ole Mania never returned the favor!"
Winking at Frankie, Mania would stretch his arms. He was feeling a bit sore from being crouched down for so long, but he was more than ready to hit the grindstone and consume the book he still had possession of between his arms. Though if he had learned anything about Frankie, they would probably be parting sooner rather than later. He was a man dedicated wholly to his craft. WC: 1,100 TWC: 4,005
Post by Franklin Stein on Jan 7, 2022 17:11:50 GMT -5
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Frankie was pleased that he could assist Mania in finding the book he had been looking for. The pursuit of knowledge was one of the most purest things in the world as far as the made mage was concerned. He saw nothing more rewarding then accessing some new book or gaining some new insight through the study of a particular subject. So, it was one of the few areas he enjoyed giving back with. If he could help someone else come to some realization or gain knowledge they were seeking it was almost just as rewarding as attempting to gain it himself. Almost... He would have been even happier in this moment if he had found something along the lines of the subject he had been looking for. However, he took what pleasures he could. Besides, the conversation had been rewarding in and of itself and at least even as he handed the book over the other man didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. Although Mania stared triumphantly at the book he also wasn't immediately hoofing it in the other direction. In that regard the two were different as Frankie would have been far more tempted to get out of there and immediately begin perusing his new font of knowledge.
"I would greatly appreciate your assistance. I sadly do not have any means to copy the book from this moment. I would just have to do it the old fashioned and mundane way of simply buying some blank parchment and inscribing one page after another until I had made a copy. My magic although useful in many ways doesn't afford me that particular luxury. Although perhaps I should look into the matter." Frankie mused to himself as he tried to think through the problem. Unfortunately, Carbon Matter came out in a more solid form and didn't lend itself to the fine detail work that would be needed to replicate a book in its entirety. Perhaps if he had an element like Paint or Ink he could do something to that extent, but his own element would have a harder time. Not that he wasn't afforded a myriad of other things he could explore with his magic because of the form it presented itself. "Well, at least we have narrowed the field. As you said between the two of us we should hopefully be able to zero in on something that I could leave this place feeling satisfied and excited for! As for the origins of dungeons it is one of the greatest mysteries in the world. I've been researching the topic for a long time and have only scratched the surface of the truth of it all." How deep the mystery went was likely the largest reason why he was so passionate about it. What good was a riddle that could be solved easily? The more work it took the more he felt rewarded whenever he made even the tiniest discovery.
Frankie would follow after Mania, finding the section that the other man had spoken about and wasting no time to move through the stacks to find whatever might be of use to him. To maximize searching potential he had made sure to start at an opposite end of Mania so the two could quickly and easily meet in the middle. "The war was before my time, but I am aware of the experiments that had gone on during it by the Spade Kingdom. As for my opinion I believe it depends on the situation and on who is being experimented upon. I believing that experimenting on their soldiers although holding some benefits ultimately weakened their overall military potential and inhibited them. If you boost someone before they have reached their peak all you are doing is limiting their potential by artificially moving them past a single roadblock. However, I believe that we as a species have hit our limits. If we wish to advance we will need to change ourselves artificially. Human experimentation is a necessity for us to evolve further." Frankie had always been a firm believer in this so he had no problem discussing it. He had not even held his views back from his fellow Magic Knights, likely why he ultimately had to find membership with the Green Mantis instead of any of the other more law abiding organizations. "Of course, human experimentation is far too dangerous to just jump headfirst into it. It should be done using appropriate subjects... Criminals for example who have done heinous crimes and have a debt they owe to society. They can repay all the lives they have taken or ruined by offering up their own body and very soul for the betterment of all society! Why simply let them rot in a cell or execute them? You could call it justice, but it isn't reparations to those who have been wronged." As Frankie spoke he got more and more excited in his speech. How he longed for the upper brass to finally approve even one of his requests. The advancements he could make if he only had the subjects to do so. It just seemed simple practicality to the mad mage. A life in prison did nothing to return anything that was taken nor did execution give anything, but solace. But if for example experimenting with a virulent plague on a criminal resulted in a cure the lives that could be saved would far outweigh any that could be taken even by the most hardened serial killer. It was just simple math as far as he was concerned.
Realizing that he had gone on quiet a ran there Frankie coughed audibly. "I apologize, it has been a conversation I've had with management in the past. The legal system is a fickle thing when it comes to judgment. Thankfully for now there are no such rules on experimenting on your own body so long as it doesn't endanger others." Frankie didn't go into detail on how he already planned on pursuing that particular avenue in the near future. He had heard there were people who could exhibit senses that bordered on supernatural or at least were akin to what was possible in nature by other animals. Having already dissected and studied the anatomy of most natural born creatures Frankie hypothesized that he could likely replicate something through body modification on himself. Performing surgery on himself wasn't ideal, but he felt confident he could manage it and if he succeeded it might finally get him enough credit that he could start demanding the subjects he was hoping for. Sometimes one needed to risk their own wellbeing to obtain what they truly desired.
As Frankie had thoroughly lost in his little speech and thoughts he had sort of lost track of what he had been doing. The mad mage had neglected the search that was for his own benefit! Disappointing to be sure, but it was sometimes the cost of passion. He chided himself silently for his mistake and attempted to renew his search with greater fervor. As he did so it was as if the universe was rewarding him for focusing on his actual task because he heard Mania's exclamation. Frankie found the other man holding a book on exactly the sort of subject he was hoping for. 'Dungeon Cores A Theory On Devil, Daemon, and Possibly More?' Frankie took it quickly, but gently from the other man, caressing it like one might a lover before cracking the spine and taking a quick perusal through its pages. It was exactly what he had been hoping for. At a general glance it looked like this author's research had been on the possibility of dungeons and their cores being an existence first generated by the more evil creatures that were once simply mythos. He had read other books that had focused on Spirits, a generally more acceptable being of study given their connection to the Church. However, most research into daemons and devils were banned given all the woes the country had gone through due to them and Frankie supposed the Church likely worked very hard to destroy any literature that might exist that could be connected to either species. This book had been worth all their searching.
"I shall not say so in the future. This will be a great help and hopefully provide me some fresh ideas I could use in my research. Even if it doesn't hold any answers it might generate some new questions that could lead me down some fresh new avenues." Sometimes it wasn't about getting the answers, but asking the right questions and this certainly could help. "Although I enjoyed our conversation very much I think now that we both have our books I will have to part ways. I need to hurry back to my lab so I can start looking over these writings a lot more closely and see if there are ways I can apply it to my experiments. It was a pleasure to meet you Mania, best of luck with your own studies concerning Mercury. Perhaps we will get a chance to meet again in the future." With that Frankie gave a nod and would take his leave. He'd of course stop long enough to pay for his book, but once Yul was exchanged no one gave him or his book a second glance. It was the nature of such stores after all. Once he had safely departed the store he practically skipped all the way back home. This trip had truly turned into a quiet enjoyable experience for Frankie.
[EXIT]
Statistics
POW: 020 DUR: 010 SEN: 000 STA: 020 CON: 020
SPEED: 5m/s HEALTH: senior MANA SKIN: senior MANA POOL: 070 / 070 MANA REGEN: 20 IC / 10 OOC
As the conversation from Frankie begin to flow more freely, the mad mage's voice sounded almost euphorically eccentric. The Green Mantis Magic knight definitely was passionate and Mania could tell he had meant every word of what he said. Not a shred of deceit or misdirection was woven in. The rogue appreciated the honesty, even if he didn't agree with criminals being the only ones experimented on. Though one could argue his bias tendency since he too was considered a criminal. Though he only spoke of utilizing those who had committed heinous atrocities, Mania knew there was but a thin line that separated what the populace considered "heinous" and rogues that simply worked within the bounds of their profession.
Though there were some who definitely crossed a line that even Mania would think was far too much. To him, the only lives that should be free from the possibility of death were children and women. That was unless they too walked a road that endangered their own lives. Then, and only then was it okay. Basically, as long as they risked their own life and placed themselves in Mania's world would it be considered "fair game" to the rogue. After all the old mantra of "kill only if you're prepared to be killed" stood true enough for the young rogue. Frankie would take the book from Mania quite quickly. It looked as if he was ready to dive into the text right then and now, but he would simply open it and sift through the pages much as Mania had done. The rogue would smile as he watched.
"We might cross paths again, perhaps I'll visit you in Hage sometime."
Mania's smooth voice was followed by an audible laugh. The rogue was chuckling because as it stood he wouldn't make it near their headquarters let alone inside considering the reputation he had as a semi accomplished criminal. Still, though it seemed as if Frankie was none the wiser to his infamy, still it remained to how he would react should he find out. Mania thought these thoughts silently as he waved Frankie goodbye. The rogue wouldn't be heading towards the front counter though, instead, he would slip the book inside his coat and head towards the exit. Cool as a cucumber his thoughts would echo loudly inside his mind as he approached the bouncer that guarded the exit. "Ashamed I couldn't find what I was looking for, but what a nice collection you guys got here. Will definitely tell my friends."
Making a gesture, The guard would eye over Mania with contempt before letting the rogue pass. It was easy enough to make off with the book of twilight without being caught, though he did believe he caught the ire of the guard simply because he did not purchase anything. Mania would think much of it though as he exited the secret entrance and was now standing back in the regular cafe shop that served as a shield from the shady book shop in the back. Exhaling, Mania would head outside and be back on the streets where he would light a cigarette. Mania's hazel eyes would watch the passerby roll past him going about their business as he inhaled the smoke, feeling the hit way in the back of his lungs. All that talking had him wanting to smoke for a while now so the first hit of tobacco was powerful and had the rogue feeling much more relaxed.
As he exhaled and turned down the cobble path, he would fetch the book from his coat pocket and admire it for a moment. The rogue had a decent amount of Yul saved up, but he didn't want to have to pay for it. So his naturally sticky fingers did the work for him and earned the rogue a free copy of quite the expensive volume. Right now Mania was thinking that the mad mage Frankie was already in some hole or perhaps on a carriage pouring over the text of his book like a dog salivating over a fine piece of meat. The errant thought brought a smile to his thin lips whilst the rogue rounded the corner and headed inside the inn he was staying at. It would be a long night because he would be leaving soon thereafter for business; however, for the evening and probably most of the night he would be getting to work at reading through the book of twilight.
Mania would wave towards the older innkeeper. She was a stout woman, but kind enough he mused as he headed upstairs to his single, small wooden room. Tossing his coat off, he would sit on the edge of the bed after opening the window. Lighting another cigarette the rogue would open the book and begin to read through the pages. Carefully absorbing what was written so that he could later possibly use what he learned to replicate some new forms of magic. Some time would pass and many cigarettes would be smoked by Mania as the dawn transitioned to darkness. He had cleared a good bit of the book and had to admit it was really fascinating. Some of the things documented in this book provided much-needed clarity and insight into how Mania could manipulate the mercury element. He was even more surprised that the information about Silver hadn't been just hyperbole.
"Interesting..."
Mania would say aloud as he placed the book on the bed beside him. Standing up he would transition to the open window, taking a deep breath of the cool air outside. It helped to refresh him as he looked out into the night. The still darkness was undisturbed as he watched for a moment. Letting his thoughts wander about what he had just consumed and how he could apply it. It was a lot to take in, but for Mania, he had enjoyed every page and found a lot of practical use for some of the methodology Silver spoke of. It was now only a matter of finishing and then applying what he learned. A smile pressed his lips as he stretched lazily and head back towards the book. [EXIT] WC: 1,029 TWC: 5,034
