chalk

[alicornucopia]

In Paraasilan, Esmaar, a pair of roommates are about to break a rule that, compared to the one about running in the corridors or even the one about unlicensed teleportation, is there for a good reason.

In unison, they complete their shared spell.

~~~

with Adarin (Aestrix)

with Ekador (kappa)

with Brilliance (kappa)

with the admin (kappa)

with Teah (kappa)

with Katran (lambda)

with Hall (kappa)

with Joy (kappa)

with Kalinda (Christy Hotwater)

Comments

[aestrix]

The expectation is correct! He follows, still reeling a little. He's so very, very far from home.

"I've been away from my world before, but the same rules applied. I suppose that's why the scry said I was such a long way away," he muses, mostly to himself. Do his rules of magic apply here, to his magic? He's going to have to test that out.

[alicornucopia]

"It's frankly lucky that your magic works here at all. Wizardry most likely wouldn't work in yours, comments Keo. She opens a door at the end of the hall, which leads to a small windowless room with no other door, and gestures him into it.

[aestrix]

"Then I'll consider myself lucky," he says, peering at the... Room. "Is- that my room? It seems to be missing key elements."

[alicornucopia]

"No, this is a lift. It will take us to a different hall. Your room will look more like the girls'."

[aestrix]

"Oh. You don't use your teleportation magic? It seems plentiful," comments Adarin, stepping into the lift.

[alicornucopia]

"Ataan Hall," Keo tells the lift. It starts to descend. "I can teleport, but this is a school; many of the students haven't learned to do it yet, so there are lifts. I use them, as long as they're there."

[aestrix]

"You can't create portals?" he asks, stumbling a little from the lift's movement - it's a sensation he's not used to.

"True, no one at home bothers with them either when stairs don't carry the cost, but- it seems obvious."

[alicornucopia]

"We have teleportation circles, but those are very hard and unpleasant to cast, so there's usually not more than one per major city."

The lift starts moving left.

[aestrix]

"Unpleasa-?" he begins, then the lift goes left. Adarin nearly falls, and then proceeds to brace himself to the wall, trying to regain composure.

"... Ahem. Yes. Unpleasant? I was under the impression that your magic was painless," says the man trying not to look like he nearly fell over. "Or it wouldn't be used so casually?"

[alicornucopia]

"Small spells are. Not so if you go over half your channeling capacity," says Keo.

[aestrix]

"I see. I could create a pair of smaller portals reasonably close together with little trouble, though I would need to rest in between making them," replies Adarin conversationally.

He's wondering if he doesn't need to have his fortune summoned at all, if he could just... Make portals for people for pocket money. Not the most pleasant job, but it's better than going without another set of clothes.

[alicornucopia]

"And people do what with them - just walk through from one to the other? Do they have fixed pairedness, so you can only use one to go to the second portal, or can you go from any to any other?"

[aestrix]

"They come in fixed pairs, though I suppose theoretically creating a portal that could travel to a set is possible. No one has been able to figure out a way to specify which of the portals it would send you to, though. It always defaults to the closest that matches its signature," explains Adarin.

[alicornucopia]

"There'd be a tremendous market for that, if it interests you," says Keo. "The existing teleportation circles are always under heavy load."

[aestrix]

Adarin grins, then replies, "It does indeed interest me. It'd be nice to have a source of income, though I'd have to mind my scheduling to make sure I don't hurt myself."

[alicornucopia]

The lift stops; its door opens on another hall. Keo steps out and opens the first dorm on the left. It's furnished like the girls' room, only without any of the lived-in accoutrements. "Will this suit?" she inquires.

[aestrix]

He looks it over, and finds no issue with it. "Just fine, thank you very much."

Sitting on the bed, he looks at her curiously. "Do you know whom I could speak to in order to offer my portal-creation services? "

[alicornucopia]

"I can get in touch with the Esmaarlan parliament and I'm sure you'll be flooded with municipal bids inside of a week," she assures him.

[aestrix]

"That would be fantastic, thank you," he says, smiling a little. "It gives me something to do, though I might have to find someone to question about your magic's workings to see if there are any other things I could do with it that you can't do yourself. I wouldn't have thought that you would have issue creating portals. I might be mistaken about other things, as well."

[alicornucopia]

"Well, this is a school, and Korulen's translation spell on you will keep indefinitely; you can visit the library if you like."

[aestrix]

"Will the translation spell I'm under apply to the books?"

[alicornucopia]

"It depends on which version she used, but probably; most versions in modern circulation do. If not I can oblige her to look up one that will and replace it."

[aestrix]

Adarin nods, then replies, "I'll have to test it by going to the library. Thank you very much for your help."

He's pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the powerful dragon-woman that could break his mind with a mere thought. Perhaps he can calm down a bit, now. This entire adventure could be turned around to be a good thing, if portal creation is that lucrative - if the money's transferable, it's more to throw around at home.

[alicornucopia]

"The lift will take you to the library or Ataan Hall or the cafeteria if you just tell it those locations," Keo says. "If you need anything else, just think my name clearly and firmly and I'll answer. Korulen's going to escort you into town for a cursory shopping trip at her and Saasnil's expense, since this room obviously doesn't have sheets or a change of clothes or whatever. At your convenience; just let me know and I'll send her to you."

[aestrix]

"That would be fantastic. I'd like to write my letters, first but- how long are shops here open? If I'm on a deadline then they can be postponed," he replies.