“That could be a variety of answers, Miss Maelgwyn, and it could easily change depending on who you ask,” the Chief’s tone was dour. “What do you think, Flynn?”
“Misguided sense of tradition?” Ruarc answered after a moment to think.
“Surface level observation, but not an incorrect one. I would expound on it to say that when an Order of traditionalists becomes surrounded by an ever changing world they begin to feel tension. They either break, as we nearly did after the same event that drove the Order here to Carneath, and they begin to be pulled along with the world. You say misguided tradition, I say lead by mules. Eventually the world progressed enough around us that we finally saw the merit in conducting our own research. Thus the Third Circle was born, and why I’ve dedicated myself to returning the Druids to their place of influence in helping to guide the world.”
The Chief’s face looked ten years younger as she spoke, and the glint of determination and inspiration sparkled in her eyes. After a few moments she raised a hand to her mouth and cleared her throat.
“Pardon me, my mad scientist came out a little bit. If you are looking for more historical rationalization for the timing of our Circle’s creation, Chief Engleby will be of better assistance.”
[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi could begin to see why Mastrogiacomo and Brennan were friends. It was an unlikely pairing at first thought, but the more the research Chief carried on, the more it made sense. This was a woman that believed in the order deeply enough to accept the weighty burden of its traditions in her work. Her admiration only grew for her new boss, if only for the fact she was evidently a little crazy. She was a woman that kept an army of ants at her beck and call while she worked, deep, deep underground…
… almost like an ant-hill.
"She wouldn't be that crazy, right?"
"Let's not test any theories," recommended Gideon.
"Yer definition of unconventional must be very different from other druids," admitted Drysi, finally, as Gideon nudged her away from her less polite questions. "Do we work together often?"
The girl blushed, waving a dismissive hand, "Not you an'I, I mean. Ha ha, I mean… Sometimes, Keepers work together. With other Keepers. It just looks like, a lotta what we do is our own work."
… almost like an ant-hill.
"She wouldn't be that crazy, right?"
"Let's not test any theories," recommended Gideon.
"Yer definition of unconventional must be very different from other druids," admitted Drysi, finally, as Gideon nudged her away from her less polite questions. "Do we work together often?"
The girl blushed, waving a dismissive hand, "Not you an'I, I mean. Ha ha, I mean… Sometimes, Keepers work together. With other Keepers. It just looks like, a lotta what we do is our own work."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Speaking literally; it comes with the territory. Should you choose to work here at Carneath for a time then you will have more in the way of group work; although as you have seen we will also occasionally pass parts of a project out to decentralized team members. These projects generally have broader implications for the Order. Thirds that do work here at the Keep also receive lab space for working on personal projects in their free time. Beyond that, I know of some Thirds that keep personal networks for working together even when not at the Keep. It’s all about finding what works best for yourself.”
Mastrogiacomo seemed to ponder something for a moment.
“That said, I am curious about what you might bring to the table without other Thirds. Now, I’m not saying you need to go solo, but you are in the unique position of being around other schools of magic rather regularly. Much like your mentor and his association with that Menagerie of his, I imagine you have an eclectic group of friends of your own. Don’t be afraid to utilize them as resources.”
Mastrogiacomo seemed to ponder something for a moment.
“That said, I am curious about what you might bring to the table without other Thirds. Now, I’m not saying you need to go solo, but you are in the unique position of being around other schools of magic rather regularly. Much like your mentor and his association with that Menagerie of his, I imagine you have an eclectic group of friends of your own. Don’t be afraid to utilize them as resources.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Do not say experiment on your friends," Gideon admonished.
"I think she'd really appreciate that," defended Drysi, looking frustratedly at him.
"Take her expectations of you as a victory."
"Fine…"
Mr. Flynn's situation, yet again, turned out to be profitable for Drysi. Were it not for his eclectic school and staff, she would not have this kind of opportunity. She crossed her arms and spoke boldly.
"Not to mention, I have Master Flynn, the best of the best in the Keepers," declared Drysi, as if Mastrogiacomo needed a reminder of her feelings of the man. Whether or not this was wise, Gideon did not say, as he tended to stay quiet if it was anyone but his druid on the firing line, "I was worried m'more out there ideas would be discouraged, but I would happily forward anythin' I finalize. I'd love t'get published, even internally in the order. We have this one-armed Alchemist at the school whose published and has everyone know it, and it's been my personal goal to pass'm in adoption of academic study."
"I think she'd really appreciate that," defended Drysi, looking frustratedly at him.
"Take her expectations of you as a victory."
"Fine…"
Mr. Flynn's situation, yet again, turned out to be profitable for Drysi. Were it not for his eclectic school and staff, she would not have this kind of opportunity. She crossed her arms and spoke boldly.
"Not to mention, I have Master Flynn, the best of the best in the Keepers," declared Drysi, as if Mastrogiacomo needed a reminder of her feelings of the man. Whether or not this was wise, Gideon did not say, as he tended to stay quiet if it was anyone but his druid on the firing line, "I was worried m'more out there ideas would be discouraged, but I would happily forward anythin' I finalize. I'd love t'get published, even internally in the order. We have this one-armed Alchemist at the school whose published and has everyone know it, and it's been my personal goal to pass'm in adoption of academic study."
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Mastrogiacomo seemed to be thinking over the individuals that Drysi might have been referring to, and Ruarc looked amused.
“Unless Flynn has doubled up on his staff, I assume you are speaking of Percival Caxton. His work is interesting, if a bit contrived,” Mastrogiacomo said after a few moments, Ruarc was now stifling a laugh. “But yes, as previously stated, you may use your mentor as a resource as well. I expect the result to similarly be best of the best.”
The Chief smirked.
“As for publishing: you aren’t required to submit any particular piece of research you do on your own time; aside from meeting minimum annual quotas that will begin after your eighteenth birthday. The work you do submit will be circulated internally, and after receiving permission from the Ard Rhys and myself can be submitted for publication to the wider public. To this, I’ll caution you against self-publication without first going through me. Our NDA is detailed in an informational packet that you’ll find on the desk in your room.”
“Unless Flynn has doubled up on his staff, I assume you are speaking of Percival Caxton. His work is interesting, if a bit contrived,” Mastrogiacomo said after a few moments, Ruarc was now stifling a laugh. “But yes, as previously stated, you may use your mentor as a resource as well. I expect the result to similarly be best of the best.”
The Chief smirked.
“As for publishing: you aren’t required to submit any particular piece of research you do on your own time; aside from meeting minimum annual quotas that will begin after your eighteenth birthday. The work you do submit will be circulated internally, and after receiving permission from the Ard Rhys and myself can be submitted for publication to the wider public. To this, I’ll caution you against self-publication without first going through me. Our NDA is detailed in an informational packet that you’ll find on the desk in your room.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“That’s right,” Drysi wondered aloud, “When you’re in Carneath, it’s easy t’forget the order’s a secretive organization. I’ll make sure t’look it over, wouldn’ want any visits from the Keepers over a blog post.”
The acolyte looked above, over her floating book to the other projects set along the room. She was eager to see whatever else Mastrogiacomo had; she already found that she had learned a few things just from idle conversation. There probably wouldn’t be another time to pick the Chief’s brain.
“Speaking of secrets…”
For once, Drysi paused to see if Gideon would pop in to guide her words, but he remained silent. So, she did too, for an awkward pause between her words and the next. Mentally, she cursed the snake, and hoped he knew it! He always broke in when she didn’t expect it, or didn’t know she needed it.
“... will I get to see any more secret projects?”
”Was that so hard?” asked Gideon, in a voice that sounded like a smile.
The acolyte looked above, over her floating book to the other projects set along the room. She was eager to see whatever else Mastrogiacomo had; she already found that she had learned a few things just from idle conversation. There probably wouldn’t be another time to pick the Chief’s brain.
“Speaking of secrets…”
For once, Drysi paused to see if Gideon would pop in to guide her words, but he remained silent. So, she did too, for an awkward pause between her words and the next. Mentally, she cursed the snake, and hoped he knew it! He always broke in when she didn’t expect it, or didn’t know she needed it.
“... will I get to see any more secret projects?”
”Was that so hard?” asked Gideon, in a voice that sounded like a smile.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The Chief cocked an eyebrow at Drysi.
“I don’t believe I’ve shown you any secret projects up to now,” Mastrogiacomo’s tone was curious. “Rune entanglement is personal curiosity that I’m still determining if it's worth elevating to a full project, and if the shield bracelet were a secret I wouldn’t send it to a school filled with gossiping teenagers.”
“Now the actual confidential projects are restricted access to Chief level Druids, or Thirds I’ve personally picked as research assistants. As of yet, neither you nor Keeper Flynn meet those requisites. But… I have a few other projects we’ve been recently working on that I can show you, if just for the sake of inspiring the newest Third.”
The woman pushed away from the workstation after setting Francesca back down, and made her way to a door against the back wall. Gripping the handle, she mouthed a command word which caused the door to audibly unlock. Light turned on as she led the others inside, and Ruarc and Drysi found themselves in a smaller room containing a couple tables, a few lockers, some chests, and a variety of items cataloged within. Inquiring eyes could see a few bundles of folded cloaks of varying colors, a folded trench coat, a couple of gloves, a sword hilt, a bow, and one of the chests looked like a small cottage.
“I don’t believe I’ve shown you any secret projects up to now,” Mastrogiacomo’s tone was curious. “Rune entanglement is personal curiosity that I’m still determining if it's worth elevating to a full project, and if the shield bracelet were a secret I wouldn’t send it to a school filled with gossiping teenagers.”
“Now the actual confidential projects are restricted access to Chief level Druids, or Thirds I’ve personally picked as research assistants. As of yet, neither you nor Keeper Flynn meet those requisites. But… I have a few other projects we’ve been recently working on that I can show you, if just for the sake of inspiring the newest Third.”
The woman pushed away from the workstation after setting Francesca back down, and made her way to a door against the back wall. Gripping the handle, she mouthed a command word which caused the door to audibly unlock. Light turned on as she led the others inside, and Ruarc and Drysi found themselves in a smaller room containing a couple tables, a few lockers, some chests, and a variety of items cataloged within. Inquiring eyes could see a few bundles of folded cloaks of varying colors, a folded trench coat, a couple of gloves, a sword hilt, a bow, and one of the chests looked like a small cottage.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Now this was more like it.
Deep down, Drysi desperately wanted to see what counted as innovation in the druid order. If it was high and above her own ability, she needed to take inspiration. If it wasn’t as grand as she expected, she knew at the very least her own work my step apart. Albeit, the Chief’s focus wasn’t oriented towards weaponry. When going over earlier works, her insights to innovation were all utilitarian, versus the militant applications Mr. Flynn considered. This would prove to be…
Was that a box shaped like a little house?
“Is that a box shaped like a little house?” asked Drysi, all three of her eyes wide at wonder. It wasn’t just curious, it was cute, and it had her rapt attention.
The acolyte approached the box, and raised her hands, “I must know what this is. It’s such a darling little thing.”
Deep down, Drysi desperately wanted to see what counted as innovation in the druid order. If it was high and above her own ability, she needed to take inspiration. If it wasn’t as grand as she expected, she knew at the very least her own work my step apart. Albeit, the Chief’s focus wasn’t oriented towards weaponry. When going over earlier works, her insights to innovation were all utilitarian, versus the militant applications Mr. Flynn considered. This would prove to be…
Was that a box shaped like a little house?
“Is that a box shaped like a little house?” asked Drysi, all three of her eyes wide at wonder. It wasn’t just curious, it was cute, and it had her rapt attention.
The acolyte approached the box, and raised her hands, “I must know what this is. It’s such a darling little thing.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Ah, Fritha’s recent project. Simply named a Cottage Chest. Born from her general disdain for camping,” Mastrogiacomo walked over to the chest, tapped her foot against the chest, and spoke, “Requiescamus.”
The windows of the little cottage chest lit up, and the faint smell of wood smoke. The Chief leaned down and opened the lid, and then oddly stepped inside and looked to descend into the chest.
“Mind your step, Drysi,” Mastrogiacomo’s voice called out as she beckoned the apprentice in after her.
Inside of the chest was a surprisingly spacious cottage. After entering, Drysi would descend down a flight of stairs into a cozy den with a hearth burning a magical flame, through an arched opening there was a kitchen with a small dining table, and off to the side was a doorway leading to a bedroom with a comfy looking bed. Mastrogiacomo stood by the kitchen wherein a number of enchanted utensils were beginning to lay themselves out on the counter. The windows were lit as though it were evening outside, and displayed a rather generic landscape.
“It is quite a curious space. It’s not a pocket dimension, but more a series of transfiguration spells and wards to create a large space enclosed within a compact chest. In fact, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t used this to avoid having to truck all the way up to my room after long nights working in the lab.”
The windows of the little cottage chest lit up, and the faint smell of wood smoke. The Chief leaned down and opened the lid, and then oddly stepped inside and looked to descend into the chest.
“Mind your step, Drysi,” Mastrogiacomo’s voice called out as she beckoned the apprentice in after her.
Inside of the chest was a surprisingly spacious cottage. After entering, Drysi would descend down a flight of stairs into a cozy den with a hearth burning a magical flame, through an arched opening there was a kitchen with a small dining table, and off to the side was a doorway leading to a bedroom with a comfy looking bed. Mastrogiacomo stood by the kitchen wherein a number of enchanted utensils were beginning to lay themselves out on the counter. The windows were lit as though it were evening outside, and displayed a rather generic landscape.
“It is quite a curious space. It’s not a pocket dimension, but more a series of transfiguration spells and wards to create a large space enclosed within a compact chest. In fact, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t used this to avoid having to truck all the way up to my room after long nights working in the lab.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
With eyes wide as saucers, Drysi threw glances in every direction. She had to fight the urge to go snooping and darting into every corner to satiate a freshly lit curiosity. Instead, she contented herself to spin about, looking from a distance. She looked herself up and down, checking for any distortion on herself. Yet, everything looked to be in place, and even Gideon seemed fine.
Allowing herself to go to the window she looked out into the surrounding landscape.
“Transfiguration? Layered spells? Like computer code…” thought Drysi aloud, “I see now, I bet tha’ triggers are laced into the steps. That would make sense… Each one would have that progressive step downward t’prevent ya from just flopping straight down on to the floor from your full height…”
She ran a hand along the walls, “Who’s Fritha? An assistant?”
Allowing herself to go to the window she looked out into the surrounding landscape.
“Transfiguration? Layered spells? Like computer code…” thought Drysi aloud, “I see now, I bet tha’ triggers are laced into the steps. That would make sense… Each one would have that progressive step downward t’prevent ya from just flopping straight down on to the floor from your full height…”
She ran a hand along the walls, “Who’s Fritha? An assistant?”