Story Seven Book Of Tea With Moon Part Four

<RyanSherbrig> (So where were we? Still having tea, or did we end that scene and move on to 'how to find an Excrucian-shard/Anchor'?)

<HollyhockGod> I think Ebba was still trying to find a way to ask about alchemy.

<Fiona> (Or Ebba being hit on by maths?)

<Ebba> We had some discussion about it, but think it was all OOC.

<RyanSherbrig> (So bring it up IC!)

<HollyhockGod> Yes, this was why I was hoping somebody had the log, so I could remember where we were.

<Ebba> (IIRC, Ebba was planning to meet up with E'jah later, after the tea had concluded.)

<HollyhockGod> Let us assume then, that it is concluding.

<Ebba> The tea party was mostly breaking up.

<Ebba> ebba had used exemplar body language to say she wanted to meet with ei'jah later

<Ebba> most of the rest of the familia was starting to think about how to find and excrutian

<RyanSherbrig> "Geshundiet."

<RyanSherbrig> ()

<Ebba> I forget what laughing organ playing guy was doing

<RyanSherbrig> (About to show us the universe-making machine, despite Ei'jah obviously not wanting him to?)

<HollyhockGod> I think he was going to show Alexa and some other people the world-building engine.

<RyanSherbrig> (As I suddenly recall)

<Alexa> (That sounds right.)

<HollyhockGod> Okay, so as Selim and Gloria lead the rest of the party off, E'jah and Ebba are left alone together on the orbiting tea-table.

<Ebba> reports indicated that my world building machine is massive, sturdy, and powerful

<Ebba> "Now that our official business, such as it was, seems to be concluded. whould you like to have a discussion of a more personal nature?"

  • Ebba reises eyebrow

<HollyhockGod> E'jah has no eyebrows, so he's handicapped.

<HollyhockGod> …he has no hands, either!

<Ebba> (gah, not quite the pinnacle of twisty phraseology)

  • HollyhockGod was accidentally insensitive.

<HollyhockGod> "What could you possibly refer to, cousin?"

<Ebba> (there should probably be another circumlocution or two)

<Alexa> (Ebba's hitting on E'jah now?)

<Ebba> (figured it was time we broke the commands of someone we don't like; all our stuff breaking has been relegated to our friends and allies so far)

<Ebba> (which is not the way we should be operating)

<Ebba> ( :D )

<Ebba> "Your brother indicated that you had much to say about me. Is there something you would much rather say to me?"

<HollyhockGod> "Ahaha… it's in my nature to be extravagant, naturally. Being cut off from suspicion by my lack of fleshly passions, I can get away with it."

<Ebba> (and remember it's not realyl my intention to reduce this game to another scene of ebba and someone else having tea, with the rest of you on the side lines)

<Ebba> (so if the rest of you want to step into chasing excrustinas, or something, speak up)

<Alexa> "So, Selim, how does this thing work?"

  • RyanSherbrig inspects the various particulars of the device with great interest.

<Ebba> "You live your life free from suspicion? how wonderful that must be."

  • Ebba looks slightly sad

<HollyhockGod> Selim gives a very technical explanation that nobody except Ryan understands.

<HollyhockGod> "I have always attempted to remove myself from anything that could distract me from my work. Some might call it unhealthy, but since I never seem to succeed, I suppose it doesn't matter."

<RyanSherbrig> "Oooh. But how did you reconcile the opposing forces in the jargon jargon jargon?"

<Alexa> "In English?"

<HollyhockGod> "Expetive jargon technobabble in the censored with a magitechnical words sandwich."

<Alexa> "Really."

  • Fiona attempts to look interested.

<HollyhockGod> "Alchemy is a science," says E'jah, "which requires a certain degree of dedication to reach the greatest heights of understanding."

<HollyhockGod> "There will always be dabblers and sorcerous generalists, but the true Emerald Art, the creation of wonders beyond even the powers of the Nobilis, demands the undivided attention."

<Ebba> "So your ish it to reduce yourself to an unfeeling machine? say it isn't so!"

<HollyhockGod> "A truly unfeeling machine would be empty," notes E'jah. "Such a creature would have no interest in any sort of accomplishment, or anything at all. No, passion is necessary to achieve greatness in any field. I simply channel mine into those fields where it will be most useful."

<RyanSherbrig> "Hmmm. I don't suppose a demonstration would be possible? These are concepts hard to explain without resorting to esoteric terminology."

<HollyhockGod> "The much-vaunted divide between reason and emotion is a false one; it is impossible to separate the one from the other in the study of cognition."

<HollyhockGod> "But the balance between these elements must be one of the scholar's own choosing, and not merely that with which she is left by circumstances."

<HollyhockGod> "Do you consider yourself a scientist or artist, Lady Ebba?"

<HollyhockGod> In other news, Selim gives a significant look to Gloria, as though saying "Shall we?"

<HollyhockGod> Gloria takes a deep breath as Selim makes a gesture at a nearby monitoring panel…

<Ebba> (min, afk)

<HollyhockGod> And Gloria begins to sing the first movement of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons."

<HollyhockGod> And I don't mean just the vocal parts.

<HollyhockGod> Slowly, shimmering images of Gloria begin to spread out from her main body, separating the various instrumental parts among themselves.

<HollyhockGod> As she sings, you start to feel a slight vibration, as though the crystal sphere were moving under your feet.

<HollyhockGod> Slowly at first, then faster, the walls and floor begin to break out into crystalline leaves and flowers.

<HollyhockGod> "Our primary method of defining those areas of cosmology that can't be expressed in words is music," explains Selim.

  • Alexa tries not to look impressed.
  • RyanSherbrig lets himself look impressed.

<Ebba> (back)

<RyanSherbrig> "A fascinating idea, and clearly effective."

<HollyhockGod> "Indeed, although in some ways it merely illustrates our need to expand our own perspectives."

<HollyhockGod> "Even I have a certain distinct style," admits Gloria. "Our complete work will need to be able to synthesize the contributions of the entire project."

  • RyanSherbrig nods.

<HollyhockGod> "That, of course, is part of the purpose of the Promathion engine," explains Selim. "Part of its growth cycle involves incorporating new artists and their perspectives into its cognition systems."

  • Ebba smiles

<Ebba> "I'm afraid that question rather exposes my lack of introspection"

<Ebba> "I am suually much more concerned with being myself, rather than thinking about myself"

<Ebba> "So I must ask, from what you know of me, whould you consider me an artist or a scientist?"

<RyanSherbrig> (It's a pity he missed the whole threaten-to-destroy-the-world incident. It adds so much more nuance the question.)

<Ebba> (reasonable man (tm) goes up against zen no mind)

<HollyhockGod> "I have hardly had the pleasure of knowing you yet," E'jah reminds you. "But hopefully we'll eventually come to a greater mutual understanding."

<Ebba> (what do you think about yourself? answer: "a fish!")

<Ebba> "and speaking of greater understanding… I wish to learn the great art. Are you willing to teach me?"

<HollyhockGod> "Ah, in that case, I would certainly have the opportunity to learn more of your character…"

<HollyhockGod> "Of course, the essential insight of alchemy is difficult to impart to those who have not already seen it."

  • RyanSherbrig inspects the details of one of the crystal leaves.

<RyanSherbrig> "I must say, I'm very impressed. It's rare I see the heights of arts other than my own being practiced."

  • Fiona examines a crystal flower.
  • RyanSherbrig produces a softly shining light (ghost miracle of Radiance) to observe the crystal's refractive properties.

<Ebba> "Of course, I have no wish to impose on any other commitments you might have made.."

<HollyhockGod> "Ah, to spread the knowledge of the Great Art is always a worthwhile pastime for a true scientist."

<Ebba> "but even if you are unable to tutor me in the great art, I hope that your commitments are not such that we cannot at least have tea together from time to time"

  • RyanSherbrig nods.

<Ebba> (everyone suddenly has nothing to say?)

<Alexa> (Yep.)

<HollyhockGod> Ah, sorry.

<HollyhockGod> Had to go and find a log to make sure of a fact.

<Ebba> (hmm?)

<Ebba> (and just think, the essential insight will improve my maniacal laughter by over 100%!)

<HollyhockGod> "To instruct you would be a pleasure, Lady Ebba, naturally. But to impart the essential insight of alchemy to you will necessitate a certain expenditure of power and pain on my part. In spite of my eagerness to do so, I cannot perform the task for free, lest I be drowned in a thousand requests for the same gift by those less competent than yourself."

<RyanSherbrig> (Offer him the pleasure of your company.)

<HollyhockGod> "I find myself quite interested in the story of the surviving fragments of your world. Such things would make fine subjects for study to our Familia."

<Ebba> "Would this study involve anything damaging or irrevocable?"

<HollyhockGod> "Perhaps you would be willing to transfer your claim upon those remains to the Cleave in exchange for the tutelage you seek. I can assure you that we would treat them with the respect and reverence such relics deserve."

<HollyhockGod> "The true Scientist is never wasteful or careless. Such a thing is the mark of lesser practicioners."

<Ebba> (gah! cold science talk scary)

<Ebba> ( :D )

<Ebba> "Would I… be able to look in on them from time to time?"

<Alexa> (Don't do it!)

<HollyhockGod> "Of course! We could easily provide a permanent home for them here in the Chancel alongside our various creations and collections."

<HollyhockGod> "Perhaps someday we would learn enough to reassemble them and restore them to a place on the Tree."

<Ebba> (what! how could selling my sorta soul to the math-devil possibly turn out wrong? )

<Ebba> (I'm sure everything will turn out well)

<Alexa> (Indeed.)

<Ebba> (no other comments from the peanut gallery?)

<RyanSherbrig> (Hey, it's Ebba's choice.)

<RyanSherbrig> (Mind you, I'm not sure how she's going to get the worldlet out of the chancel without owing Ryan a favor…)

<Alexa> (So it is.)

<RyanSherbrig> (Although I suppose she could always word of command it.)

<Ebba> ( those who persue the safest course are not the ones who will regain eden! hahahahaha!)

<Alexa> (And it's not like we have a better idea of what to do with the world-fragments, I suppose.)

<Ebba> (silly non-exemplars I can do a deep miracle and put it in my pocket, can't I?)

<HollyhockGod> Yep.

<Ebba> (though I'd probably have to take the tea service out first… nedd to make room, after all)

  • Ebba appears indecisive for a moment

<Ebba> but then, the maddness of phoenix, or perhaps, merely the maddness of Ebba comes to the fore

<Ebba> "Very well"

<Ebba> (about time to go)

<HollyhockGod> "Excellent! I hope that this will be the beginning of a mutally beneficial partnership," says E'jah, turining slighly golden-orange.

<HollyhockGod> "We can arrange the exigencies of transport at a later date- I'll have to arrange an appropriate space first."

<HollyhockGod> Was there anything else you wanted to accomplish before the story ends?

<Ebba> (If i have the log for the pervious game, did you want me to put it up on the wiki?)

<HollyhockGod> It's okay, I found it.

<HollyhockGod> I was checking earlier to be sure you'd told E'jah about the worldlet.

<Ebba> (yes, came up pretty early in the tea conversation)

<HollyhockGod> Now it's on the wiki.

<Ebba> (led to ryan making a comment about exemplar level blame deflection…)

<HollyhockGod> I guess this finishes Book of Tea With Moon, then. Have a CP!

<Ebba> (hahahahahaha~)

<Fiona> so, Ebba, what's it feel like to have traded away your heritage?

<RyanSherbrig> (Huzzah.)

<Alexa> (Yay!)

  • RyanSherbrig is now known as Benhimself
  • Alexa is now known as Uqbarian

<Benhimself> And I must be off for work. Thanks for game, all!

  • Ebba is now known as crusher_bob

<Uqbarian> Seeya, Ben!

  • Benhimself has quit (Disintegrated: )
  • Fiona is now known as borogove

<crusher_bob> ebba can hardly be described as the sanest person ever

<crusher_bob> she did want to destroy the world, after all

<crusher_bob> (maybe she'll make a machine that produces maniacal laughter, and put it into her alchemy workspace)

<crusher_bob> (of course, she can just produce the laughter herself, and doesn't have to worry about things like a sore throat getting in the way)

<HollyhockGod> Moo-hoo-hoo-hoo-ha-ha-ha-ha-haha!

  • You are now known as RandBrittain

<crusher_bob> sigh, and another game is mostly consumed by ebba having tea with someone

<crusher_bob> hope everyone else was ok with that

<Uqbarian> No worries!

<borogove> 's not a problem.

<RandBrittain> Ohnoes!

<RandBrittain> I didn't have logging turned on this time.
