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The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

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Posted

This is not necessarily a protest at the consumerism that is attached to the 14th of Feb. Unless you wish to view it as such. Rather it is a lonley me, on the opposite side of the world to all my friends, using in character gift giving as a way of reminding them that I am thinking of them. Apologies if you think it is a little tacky but I need to indulge my gooey side to fend off my bad week...

 

Three Gifts

 

Ensconced in a deep, worn leather couch at the top of the tower, Epinephrine surveyed his study with a weary visage. The room was spacious and warm with a gentle scent of lemon that refreshed the mind and encouraged enterprise. The walls were lined with ancient scrolls and leather-bound books with foreign titles in foreign languages. Strange instruments in gold and silver hung from the ceiling and whirred and clicked with mysterious intent.

In one corner a wide desk contained a beautifully decorated and delicate set of alchemy apparatus. A strange mixture bubbled gently in one flask, its aroma revealing it to be the source of the lemon-scent. A scattering of hastily-scratched notes on an old piece of parchment were the only sign of use in the perfectly organised workspace.

In another corner was a cage with a muscled, lethal looking New Zealand Falcon, carefully preening his deep, winter plumage. His look was one of restless, pent-up aggression. Epinephrine smiled and tossed a sliver of raw lamb through the bars of the cage, impressed even after so many times to see the deft catch of the powerful bird.

 

On the far side of the room three ornate boxes sat on Epinephrine’s main study desk. Piles of paper and students’ work had been pushed aside to make a space for the three elaborate creations. For the past two months Epinephrine had spent countless hours crafting them and the unique items within each. They were certainly priceless and one-and-only objects but now as he reflected for the million and second time, Epinephrine wondered if they were worthy gifts for his friends. The custom of giving gifts on the 10th day of the second month had been long established in his homeland and he wanted these to be perfect. Since his area was philosophy and alchemy, he had prepared for each of his friends a gift to aid in this area.

 

With a pensive shrug he began to write in elaborate copperplate a note to go with each:

 

 

The First Box – For the Cryptomancer

 

The first box was elaborately poured and blown obsidian glass which glowed in the candlelight and had a mysterious pattern in its lid that changed as though the inlaid quartz was animate and restive. A single word in Greek was picked out in pure white quartz against the deep black of the volcanic rock.

 

LOGOS

 

Epinephrine scribed on a piece of parchment to his distant friend:

 

Most learned colleague and friend,

I know that you have some skill in the practice of meditation.

The enclosed item is a tool to aid in a particular form of meditation, where one seeks words to describe, explain, exhort or entice.

I trust it serves you well

Your friend,

 

Epinephrine

 

Inside the box was a small intricate device made of the same gleaming mixture as its case. It looked like the frame of a triangular pyramid with the arms made of finely polished and interwoven strands of obsidian and quartz. At each vertex was a gemstone of a different type; Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, and Ruby. Epinephrine had spent months enchanting it so that it would perform only for the intended user – the Cryptomancer. The device was such that when focussed on during meditation, it would help to align the practitioner’s thoughts around words and their meanings. Like a thesaurus of modern times but eminently more powerful, it would offer phrases and words that lined up with the users thoughts. In doing so it could be used to accurately portray the imagination, feeling, emotion and intent. Gently closing the lid, Epinephrine prepared it to be sent and addressed it “The Cryptomancer” “Happy 10th Feb”.

 

 

The Second Box – For Mynx

 

The second box was a simple handcrafted box of mahogany. It had obviously been carefully constructed with masterfully jointed corners and a deeply sanded and polished surface. The perfectly grained piece of wood out of which it had been made was without knot or blemish. Its grain almost glowed in the flickering candlelight. Inlaid into the lid in polished silver was a single word.

 

SUNESIS

 

 

Once again Epinephrine dipped his quill and began to write:

 

Trusted Friend and worthy student,

 

Sunesis is the Greek word for understanding and intelligence, the critical faculty.

The enclosed gift is for you as you continue in your studies,

I have watched you begin the journey of learning and now hope that you will continue down this worthy path.

This device, when used as a meditative aid, will centre your thoughts and mind in such a way as to make knowledge your joy and learning your passion.

I trust it serves you well.

 

Your fellow journeyman on the path to wisdom,

 

Epinephrine.

 

Inside the box was a small device that appeared as the framework of a cube. It arms were made of woven ivory and cedar. Between each of the arms, where the faces of the cube would have been were glowing symbols that changed constantly. The symbols alternated with both ancient and modern signs appearing. They were in many languages and occasionally would spell words or formula. Again, Epinephrine had spent many weeks enchanting the device so that it would mesh only with the mind of Mynx (!!). Its power was such that it could make simple the complicated and render foreign languages comprehensible. It would surely make the journey along the path to wisdom smoother, thought Epinephrine as he closed the case and addressed the second package “Mynx, Happy 10th Feb”.

 

 

 

The Third Box – For Gryphon

 

The third box was unique in that it was alive. Epinephrine had managed to enchant a living vine to form this box, with the result that although it held its shape perfectly, the box continued to twist and move. One section of the vine on the lid formed the single word

 

PHRONESIS

 

For the third time Epinephrine took up his quill and wrote:

 

 

Most Trusted and loyal friend Gryphon,

 

Phronesis is the Greek word for the understanding of actions and outcomes.

The device within is for you alone and will answer no other.

It is enchanted to explain the actions of others, that you might know the intents and the heart of your fellow man.

It responds most accurately to those, for whom you care most deeply,

And will always recognise loyalty for which you are yourself renowned.

I trust it serves you well.

 

Your humble and loyal friend,

Epinephrine

 

Inside the box a strangely plain looking gem lay on a piece of deep blue velvet. Epinephrine had found the gem in an ancient holy place, where it had been guarded by twelve warriors. Those that had slain the warriors had left the gem, thinking it worthless. In truth this gem had been easy to personalise for it recognised loyalty and friendship and found these in abundance in the noble Gryphon. When grasped it would signal to the user the intent of any nearby person. The caveat was that it was most accurate in detecting those for whom the user cared deeply. Epinephrine knew that it could save misunderstanding amongst allies and could strengthen bonds between close friends. He gently sealed the package and addressed it “Gryphon, Happy 10th Feb”.

 

After sending all three packages, Epinephrine sat back into his soothing chair and reminisced about his distant friends. He hoped they would see the intent behind the gifts; to remind them that they were constantly in his thoughts. With a pang of longing he pictured the day he could return home.

 

(OOC: Missing you guys, don’t succumb to the consumerism of the 14th! Happy 10th of February)

 

Epinephrine

Posted

The wards on Gryphons door crackle with static and the smell of ozone permeates the area outside his rooms...

 

Inside power distilled, pure and perfect earths it's self at the direction of the feathered mage feeding it's energy into a web of spellwork that is suspended in the air above his worktable.

 

Grinning with joy at the feeling of such perfect magical work coming together Gryphon lets the power flow through him and into the web which had taken several days to cast. His mind now free in part to wander since the spells are in motion Gryphon glances at the gemstone received from Epinephrine and he holds the image of his friend in his mind and heart as the last of the power feeds into the web and the magic starts to take hold.

 

Slowly the work of beauty coalesces into a pearlescent ball of light which then begins to glow with muted colours.

 

Shifting to a form better suited to writing Gryphon takes up a piece of parchment and a quill and writes:

 

True Friend and brother in spirit Epinephrine,

 

I cannot thank you enough for your outstanding February 10th gift to me. It is the least I can do to send you this small token of my thanks in return.

 

I am as you know no scholar of Greek, but my research indicated that Philos was appropriate.

 

The item inside the box I have sent you is a reminder of how much I, and indeed all your friends, care for you.

This orb has been created by magic and has been keyed to you specially. You will notice it glowing. This glow indicates that your friends are thinking of you, the colour and intensity indicate the strength of their regard. When you are directly in their thoughts if you pick it up a connection will be forged by which you can communicate with those who miss you.

There is another function however which will in time make it's self useful I hope. When the time comes for your journey back to us this orb will light your way home and see to the safety of your return to us.

 

I trust it serves you well.

 

Your friend, your brother,

Gryphon

 

Gryphon places the orb of magic and the parchment in a box of polished silver on top of which the word PHILOS flickers gently in and out of sight as the light passes over it. Thus done he seals the box and sends it on it's way.

Posted (edited)

Almost at the same time that Gryphon was creating his gift for Epinephrine, Mynx sat in her lair and regarded the gift from her teacher, a soft smile etched across her face.

 

Finally, she sat up from her reclined position and held out her paw, muttering a few words of incantation. An orb of light appeared in the space above her paw, flaring suddenly before disappearing to show a perfectly formed yellow rose.

Taking the rose, Mynx uttered a few more words of unknown origin, causing strange glowing fibres to entwine the rose before settling on and around its form....

 

Eventually, Mynx sat back and regarded her handywork with a soft glow of pride.

The rose sat on the table, seemingly normal from one angle, but by another one could see threads of silver surrounding the rose.

Next to the rose sat a small flask containing a liquid of boundless colours.

Nodding to herself, Mynx summoned a roll of parchment and her quill and began to write...

 

Dearest friend and teacher,

Thank you for your gift of kindness. Though not required it is greatly appreciated.

Unlike you, I do not know of a gift of adequate gratitude that I can create or send to you, so instead I send a token of the respect and friendship I hold you in...

A yellow rose symbolises friendship. This one has been entwined with fibres that will sustain the rose indefinitely. It is alive, but will not die, such as our bond of friendship.

The flask is filled with a spell. I know I am not nearly as good at potions as you but this one I can do. Open the flask and the liquid will dispell into the air as an undetectable gas into the room. Upon its release, the gas will enchant your students and allow you to teach unhindered, with full respect and obedience from them for one day. Were I able, I would change their mood permanently, but this goes against my morale and skill I am afraid...

 

Mynx pondered the gifts and letter for a moment before reaching into her cloak and pulling out from seemingly nowhere one of her sai. She regarded the enscription on the blade for a moment before smiling and placing it next to the rose and flask before once more picking up her quill...

 

Hell, if all else fails, throw the sai at one of their heads..That should gain some attention.

Missing you deeply my friend.

Come home to us soon and safely, teacher.

Your faithful friend and willing student,

Mynx

 

Signing the letter, Mynx wrapped it all in a silver box, before handing it to one of her kitten minions which promptly ran off to have the package delivered.

Edited by Mynx
Posted

from the shadows of the room, Cryptomancer approached the small box that sat amist the dissapating teleport. the glow of the word caught his gaze as it shone... LOGOS... "divine word"

 

Smiling the Cryptomancer bent to retrieve the gift, gently opening its lid and setting the echoes of his mind to search its contents.

 

his eyes widened as his mind touched the gift, and released its power into his awareness... smilling deeply, the Cryptomancer wondered at the true extent of skill that his friend had.

 

gently closing the box his hands engulged it in shadow, the gift held close in the folds of his robes, and the world of his shadow.

 

:raven:

 

The Cryptomancer draws a rune upon the small silver scroll holder. The glow of scrying makes the metal glow deep blue as it seeks the passages of travel to the sender of the gift.

 

Upon a small slip of parchment Cryptomancer begins to write,

 

" epinephrine, my friend, deeply I thank you for such a true gift. Words cannot repay the true value of what you have given me, for the word you placed upon the box is blest in my world, it gives fully of itself to those that seek the truth, it fills life abundantly for those that seek it, follow it and hold it dear.

 

Your gift in itself gives to me a passageway to seek more fully of its gifts, to truely find its meaning. Thank you My friend, truely, and deeply, thank you."

 

On a second slip of parchment, the Cryptomancer writes.

 

"Purity to the thoughts of all,

Upon who's ears your speech should fall,

 

Teach true the paths you reveal

Through each day and each bell's peel,

Safety in the blest persuit

Seeking the passage of wisdom's route.

 

Be well my friend, may your skills be forever blest,

May the true Divine Word guide you and bless you,

 

We shall meet again soon."

 

:raven:

 

Sealling the twin scrolls in to the holder, and retracing the rune to alter it, the Cryptomancer drifts it into the small vortex of teleportation that opens in front of him. The embrace of the ether takes it as the smiling Crytomancer moves back to the shadowed corners of his room.

 

:raven:

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