Raising her hand to her chin, the Chief considered the question. With her chitinous gloves doffed and tucked elsewhere her slender hand was pristine and pale, unadorned by jewelry, no polish but her fingernails were well maintained; actually, it appeared Mastrogiacomo was missing the tip of her left ring finger. The day prior, she had told Drysi that assignments would come after some time of independent research, but today was a new day; Drysi had shown her level of aptitude, and it helped that the Chief seemed to be in a good mood. With a level gaze she looked between the new Researcher and her Master. Having come to a conclusion, Mastrogiacomo reached behind her, grabbed something, and gently tossed it to Drysi. It was the Shield Bracelet.
“Show me what you can do now that you know the specifics,” the Chief spoke with a relaxed tone. “That’s one of a couple prototypes, so feel free to tinker with it as part of an official assignment. Recreating it would be tricky, but allowed so long as you respect the Order’s NDA directives. Plus, we were nearing the field testing stage of the project, and you conveniently have one of the foremost Keepers to use as a test subject. Of course, Flynn, this means you’ll need to disclose to Miss Maelgwyn and the Third Circle any scenario wherein you use the bracelet. So stay out of too much trouble, and I have some paperwork for you.”
Standing up and beginning to move back towards the station she had been using, Mastrogiacomo waved for Drysi to follow behind.
“As for myself, I’m not busy at all. Fran and I were simply tinkering on a couple personal projects. It is rare that I get such an open weekend, so figured I would treat myself to some fun. Come. Observe. You too, Flynn. Some of them might be of further interest to you,” while the Italian woman’s voice continued to move at a quick and efficient cadence, she sounded almost a little eager to show off some of her own work; from one inventor to another, much the way the Keepers in the courtyard had flocked to Ruarc to ask about his new spell.
Ruarc looked a bit surprised at the assignment Drysi had received, but gave his apprentice a proud smile. With a side nod he motioned to fall in behind the Chief, before dutifully taking up the rear.
[The Keep] Walking to Skye
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
The apprentice caught the bracelet not one, nor two, but three times. She snatched out of the air, and shocked herself in doing so, resulting in her flinging it up in the air again. The other hand caught it this time, and then dropped it back down to the other hand. Gideon, at this point, looped over and scooped up the bracelet.
"I'll just put this away," quipped the snake as he coiled a little tighter on the links and tumbled into Drysi's bag. She hadn't the presence of mind to object, because she was thrilled. Not only had she had a measure of success, she had managed to earn a prototype for her own project in the form of an assignment!
As soon as Mastrogiacomo turned, Drysi snapped her fists up, pumping them in silent glee. She wiggled and wobbled in something that resembled a dance, before she had to remind herself of where she was.
Then, she snapped her hands up, as if silencing a choir, and brought pinched fingers down to her chin. The hands opened, and suddenly, she was regular Drysi, with regular energy, shooting off to follow behind her chief.
… But not before spinning around and spraying more glee in Mr. Flynn's direction. With the last hurrah finished, she turned, bringing down her energy again much the same as before.
"Who's Fran," asked Drysi, politely curious, restraining the bubbling of her exhilaration, "if you don't mind me askin'. Francesca? Is she the person controllin' all the ants?"
Gideon slithered up through Drysi's sleeve, while she looked around for another druid in the lab.
"I'll just put this away," quipped the snake as he coiled a little tighter on the links and tumbled into Drysi's bag. She hadn't the presence of mind to object, because she was thrilled. Not only had she had a measure of success, she had managed to earn a prototype for her own project in the form of an assignment!
As soon as Mastrogiacomo turned, Drysi snapped her fists up, pumping them in silent glee. She wiggled and wobbled in something that resembled a dance, before she had to remind herself of where she was.
Then, she snapped her hands up, as if silencing a choir, and brought pinched fingers down to her chin. The hands opened, and suddenly, she was regular Drysi, with regular energy, shooting off to follow behind her chief.
… But not before spinning around and spraying more glee in Mr. Flynn's direction. With the last hurrah finished, she turned, bringing down her energy again much the same as before.
"Who's Fran," asked Drysi, politely curious, restraining the bubbling of her exhilaration, "if you don't mind me askin'. Francesca? Is she the person controllin' all the ants?"
Gideon slithered up through Drysi's sleeve, while she looked around for another druid in the lab.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Yes and no,” Mastrogiacomo said as she quelled a small smile. She couldn’t see Drysi celebrating, but she could tell it was occurring. Sound carried in this lab fairly well, whether it be the rumble of a hungry stomach or the shifting of cloth from a happy dance. Allowing Drysi her moment the Chief simply continued to her station. “Maelgwyn, Flynn, allow me to introduce Francesca. Francesca, Maelgwyn and Flynn. Technically she was beside me yesterday during your meeting, but she had continued working in lieu of an introduction.”
Mastrogiacomo had turned at her station, placed her hand on the surface for a few moments, and then lifted her hand out in front of her. Upon her index finger sat a dark spot almost two centimeters long. Upon getting closer, Drysi and Ruarc could see it to be a large ant. Then, the ant lifted itself, and performed a very polite bow of her head.
“Fran, a queen ant from Formica rufa,” the Chief explained as she presented her familiar.
“A pleasure, Signore Gideon. Although I am Signora Francesca Nicole Eleanora Sofia Mastrogiacomo, as a matter of a proper introduction. Please, extend my warm welcome to your Druid for me. Welcome to the Third Circle,” spoke the ant in a haughty and refined voice that only Gideon could hear.
Mastrogiacomo had turned at her station, placed her hand on the surface for a few moments, and then lifted her hand out in front of her. Upon her index finger sat a dark spot almost two centimeters long. Upon getting closer, Drysi and Ruarc could see it to be a large ant. Then, the ant lifted itself, and performed a very polite bow of her head.
“Fran, a queen ant from Formica rufa,” the Chief explained as she presented her familiar.
“A pleasure, Signore Gideon. Although I am Signora Francesca Nicole Eleanora Sofia Mastrogiacomo, as a matter of a proper introduction. Please, extend my warm welcome to your Druid for me. Welcome to the Third Circle,” spoke the ant in a haughty and refined voice that only Gideon could hear.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Gideon poked his head out from the blonde hood he hid under.
”Hello," the snake said to Francesca, turning to one side to look better at the very small ant, "it is a pleasure to meet you. Your ability is very impressive."
He swayed back around to gaze at his druid, "Drysi, I want you to repeat after me. And curtsy."
Her eyes turned sharply on him.
"To the ant!?"
"The ant controlling the legion from earlier, yes," remarked Gideon.
"It's good t'meet you, Senora Francesca Nicole Eleanora Sofia Mastrogiacomo," curtsied Drysi, almost immediately.
”Hello," the snake said to Francesca, turning to one side to look better at the very small ant, "it is a pleasure to meet you. Your ability is very impressive."
He swayed back around to gaze at his druid, "Drysi, I want you to repeat after me. And curtsy."
Her eyes turned sharply on him.
"To the ant!?"
"The ant controlling the legion from earlier, yes," remarked Gideon.
"It's good t'meet you, Senora Francesca Nicole Eleanora Sofia Mastrogiacomo," curtsied Drysi, almost immediately.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“Your pronunciation is a bit off,” Mastrogiacomo said.
“Her pronunciation is a bit off, and her posture isn’t quite right. Still satisfactory for an informal meeting,” Fran’s voice briefly made Gideon hear double until the ant added a bit more social critique.
“But you aren’t here for me to nitpick your linguistics,” The Chief carried on with her rather relaxed tone as she sat Francesca back down, and beckoned the other three over. The station was absolutely covered in the controlled chaos of a half dozen inventions across all stages of development. Make that a dozen inventions, as upon closer inspection Francesca had her own space, her own gear, and even her own inventions. Drysi was presented with an array of things to inspect including several of Mastrogiacomo’s own sketchbooks, drafting paper sheafs, and sticky notes were scattered everywhere. The lion’s share of the space however looked to be occupied by a rune carving station and an array of clearly broken rune stones.
“This has been my current pet project,” the Italian woman began as she held up two halves of a broken rune. Handing one of the halves to Ruarc she then backed away a few steps as the Irishman began to inspect the broken rock. This made the Chief offer a warning. “Don’t look at it too close.”
Moments later the rune lit up like a light bulb in Ruarc’s hand. The Irishman looked startled. The rune then began to randomly flash while Mastrogiacomo opened and closed her hand in the exact timing to show it wasn’t random or preprogrammed.
“A simplified demonstration of Magical Entanglement. While doing some casual research into the subject I hypothesized that, if established properly, a rune can be split at the moment of creation. But instead of being destroyed they remain connected. The same pool of energy, separated yet still together. Thus when I activate this side, that part lights up. You caught me testing out the range of effects I can illicit.”
“That’s fascinating, but don’t activator runes function more or less the same way?” Ruarc asked as he examined the rune closely again.
“Indeed, but there are key differences,” Mastrogiacomo almost looked like she was on the verge of smiling at that question. “For one, activator runes can be disrupted by any field that disrupts the flow of magic; the Shield Bracelet for example. Like cutting an electrical wire or a phone line. Entangled runes can bypass that. As of yet, nothing I’ve tested has blocked the halves from remaining paired.”
“Could that in theory make tracking runes that can’t be blocked by non-detection fields?” Ruarc asked, his curiosity showing. Mastrogiacomo’s almost smile faded a bit as Ruarc turned the possibilities towards his side of the playing field.
“Or magical lines of communication that can’t be disrupted, but yes, enhanced tracking is within its capabilities,” she said back.
“Her pronunciation is a bit off, and her posture isn’t quite right. Still satisfactory for an informal meeting,” Fran’s voice briefly made Gideon hear double until the ant added a bit more social critique.
“But you aren’t here for me to nitpick your linguistics,” The Chief carried on with her rather relaxed tone as she sat Francesca back down, and beckoned the other three over. The station was absolutely covered in the controlled chaos of a half dozen inventions across all stages of development. Make that a dozen inventions, as upon closer inspection Francesca had her own space, her own gear, and even her own inventions. Drysi was presented with an array of things to inspect including several of Mastrogiacomo’s own sketchbooks, drafting paper sheafs, and sticky notes were scattered everywhere. The lion’s share of the space however looked to be occupied by a rune carving station and an array of clearly broken rune stones.
“This has been my current pet project,” the Italian woman began as she held up two halves of a broken rune. Handing one of the halves to Ruarc she then backed away a few steps as the Irishman began to inspect the broken rock. This made the Chief offer a warning. “Don’t look at it too close.”
Moments later the rune lit up like a light bulb in Ruarc’s hand. The Irishman looked startled. The rune then began to randomly flash while Mastrogiacomo opened and closed her hand in the exact timing to show it wasn’t random or preprogrammed.
“A simplified demonstration of Magical Entanglement. While doing some casual research into the subject I hypothesized that, if established properly, a rune can be split at the moment of creation. But instead of being destroyed they remain connected. The same pool of energy, separated yet still together. Thus when I activate this side, that part lights up. You caught me testing out the range of effects I can illicit.”
“That’s fascinating, but don’t activator runes function more or less the same way?” Ruarc asked as he examined the rune closely again.
“Indeed, but there are key differences,” Mastrogiacomo almost looked like she was on the verge of smiling at that question. “For one, activator runes can be disrupted by any field that disrupts the flow of magic; the Shield Bracelet for example. Like cutting an electrical wire or a phone line. Entangled runes can bypass that. As of yet, nothing I’ve tested has blocked the halves from remaining paired.”
“Could that in theory make tracking runes that can’t be blocked by non-detection fields?” Ruarc asked, his curiosity showing. Mastrogiacomo’s almost smile faded a bit as Ruarc turned the possibilities towards his side of the playing field.
“Or magical lines of communication that can’t be disrupted, but yes, enhanced tracking is within its capabilities,” she said back.
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Magical Entanglement? Now this was something Drysi could sink her teeth into. At that moment she knew about as much about entanglement as Mr. Flynn did, but that only made her want to learn more. She wanted to spend the rest of the day peeling through all of Mastrogiacomo's drafts, to even attempt to understand what methods and mysteries she was unearthing. The gremlin in her was already hovering a hand over one of the loose papers.
Thankfully Gideon corrected her with a gentle nudge and some mental coaxing. She already had a problem going places she wasn't allowed. Boundaries were hard to keep in mind when she wanted something.
Tugging her shawl back up over her mouth to hide her teeth, she watched the display. Her eyes flitted back and forth between the two runes and the two druids.
"Does the entanglement change the effect of the rune at all?" asked Drysi, bouncing on her heels, "Like how the effect sends? If y'used a healin' rune, would it heal both holders, or could y'have something powerful on one end making the other an incredibly strong mini-rune?"
Thankfully Gideon corrected her with a gentle nudge and some mental coaxing. She already had a problem going places she wasn't allowed. Boundaries were hard to keep in mind when she wanted something.
Tugging her shawl back up over her mouth to hide her teeth, she watched the display. Her eyes flitted back and forth between the two runes and the two druids.
"Does the entanglement change the effect of the rune at all?" asked Drysi, bouncing on her heels, "Like how the effect sends? If y'used a healin' rune, would it heal both holders, or could y'have something powerful on one end making the other an incredibly strong mini-rune?"
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
"Effects appear to be locked in to the rune being carved,” Mastrogiacomo’s attention shifted to Drysi, taking a moment to enjoy the look in the young inventor’s eyes. “As for the range of effects, my observations thus far have shown effects are tied to a number of factors. For one, the location of the engraving. One large engraving once bisected creates an entangled rune that produces an effect on both halves; albeit with a degree of diminishing returns.”
To demonstrate, the Chief pulled out a box with divided sections. From each section she produced a series of rune sets numbering two, three, and four. They were Light runes for ease of observation. The double rune set behaved like the demonstration she’d shown earlier, but with both halves lighting. The set of three and the set four also lit, but each rune was dimmer.
“Same amount of power, but divided into smaller portions. On the topic of healing runes, I had begun hypothesizing using similar runes to the Shield Bracelet coupled with actionary runes. A squad out in the field carrying the split healing runes, and when needed a Medic can simply channel a continuous stream of mana into the rune.”
Mastrogiacomo put that demonstration away.
“The next kind is like the first rune I showed. That is made by having the engraving on a single side, and not bisecting it. The side with the engraving produces the effects. Conveniently, the activator side can be marked after creation to keep everything organized.”
The Chief appeared to be getting another demonstration gathered.
“As for ablative effects, results are inconclusive. That said, I have been able to isolate the engraving into a portion of the rune down to about one-tenth the total size. This small actionary rune produces the same degree of effect as its full size counterpart. In theory, I could make it smaller, but I lack the equipment to adequately do so at this moment.”
To demonstrate, the Chief pulled out a box with divided sections. From each section she produced a series of rune sets numbering two, three, and four. They were Light runes for ease of observation. The double rune set behaved like the demonstration she’d shown earlier, but with both halves lighting. The set of three and the set four also lit, but each rune was dimmer.
“Same amount of power, but divided into smaller portions. On the topic of healing runes, I had begun hypothesizing using similar runes to the Shield Bracelet coupled with actionary runes. A squad out in the field carrying the split healing runes, and when needed a Medic can simply channel a continuous stream of mana into the rune.”
Mastrogiacomo put that demonstration away.
“The next kind is like the first rune I showed. That is made by having the engraving on a single side, and not bisecting it. The side with the engraving produces the effects. Conveniently, the activator side can be marked after creation to keep everything organized.”
The Chief appeared to be getting another demonstration gathered.
“As for ablative effects, results are inconclusive. That said, I have been able to isolate the engraving into a portion of the rune down to about one-tenth the total size. This small actionary rune produces the same degree of effect as its full size counterpart. In theory, I could make it smaller, but I lack the equipment to adequately do so at this moment.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“You mean to say that tha’ size of a rune’s carving has no noticeable effect on its magical output,” proposed Drysi, taking this fresh, unadulterated information in with an unabashed interest. With a flourish of her hands, her book was open before her, and she quickly flashed through several pages. She glanced over the content, before flipping a few times, and then flipping some more, before flipping back a page when she realized she went too far. The page was thoroughly marked, but Drysi began filling in empty sections with fresh ink, “Interestin’, I never considered that y’could miniaturize runes. Most of the work I’ve read focuses on the geometrics of engravin’ and what shapes could lead to new power.”
Standing among all of Mastrogiacomo’s work, Drysi came to realize that this is what she wanted to do. Have a nice private space, where she could pursue the odd little ends of her curiosity and intellect. Her dorm room would have to do for now, but a secret lab would suit her nicely.
“If you don’t mind me sayin’, it’s more scientific than arcane,” assessed Drysi of her new boss’s discoveries, “It’s much more like how a mundie scientist would approach a problem, than a mage’s.”
Standing among all of Mastrogiacomo’s work, Drysi came to realize that this is what she wanted to do. Have a nice private space, where she could pursue the odd little ends of her curiosity and intellect. Her dorm room would have to do for now, but a secret lab would suit her nicely.
“If you don’t mind me sayin’, it’s more scientific than arcane,” assessed Drysi of her new boss’s discoveries, “It’s much more like how a mundie scientist would approach a problem, than a mage’s.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
“To an extent, size doesn’t matter; men of the world rejoice,” If Mastrogiacomo minded Drysi’s comment it didn’t show, in fact the woman almost seemed to beam with a soft radiance as she even threw out a quick joke. Ruarc let out an off-guard laugh before chiming in.
“Carving size needs to be a certain proportion of the size of the medium. Otherwise any schmuck could carve a light rune onto a mountain and make quite the show. I’m sure Chief Mastrogiacomo knows the precise scale, but I couldn’t say myself right off hand,” the Keeper added, appearing to ease into the relaxed pace Weekend Mastrogiacomo was setting.
“I wrote a math question about it for one of the Advanced Exams. Made some of the Somatics really regret neglecting their rune theory course work. It is also worth noting that angular relation is also an aspect I will be examining. After all, just imagine the possibilities of entangled runic circles,” the Chief’s eyes practically glittered as she spoke. A deep breath in and she refocused. “In reference to Maelgwyn’s last observation, however, my family has hosted a number of noteworthy scientists and engineers; both magic and mundane. I take pride in and place value on all methods of furthering our understanding of the world around us.”
“Carving size needs to be a certain proportion of the size of the medium. Otherwise any schmuck could carve a light rune onto a mountain and make quite the show. I’m sure Chief Mastrogiacomo knows the precise scale, but I couldn’t say myself right off hand,” the Keeper added, appearing to ease into the relaxed pace Weekend Mastrogiacomo was setting.
“I wrote a math question about it for one of the Advanced Exams. Made some of the Somatics really regret neglecting their rune theory course work. It is also worth noting that angular relation is also an aspect I will be examining. After all, just imagine the possibilities of entangled runic circles,” the Chief’s eyes practically glittered as she spoke. A deep breath in and she refocused. “In reference to Maelgwyn’s last observation, however, my family has hosted a number of noteworthy scientists and engineers; both magic and mundane. I take pride in and place value on all methods of furthering our understanding of the world around us.”
Re: [The Keep] Walking to Skye
Drysi’s curled into her fists as she considered Mastrogiacomo’s background and her own. The acolyte almost made a jump to mention her own storied background, before realizing that it was more trouble than pride. Her father was a paper-shop owner, and her grand-mother was a blood-cultist. As far as she knew, her family tree was considerably blood-stained, mostly in the blood of others. So, she fell silent, before Gideon urged her to different topics.
”First of your line,” said he, his soft voice a cooling balm in her mind, ”you are the first of those scientists and engineers.”
That made her smile, Gideon was very good at telling her what she needed to hear, when she needed it. Ameliorated, she carried on.
“Why has it taken the order this long to go pursuin’ new techniques?” asked Drysi, curious at this. A mage’s natural predilection was to build power throughout whatever study and means, “It has existed for an age, why is the third circle new?”
”First of your line,” said he, his soft voice a cooling balm in her mind, ”you are the first of those scientists and engineers.”
That made her smile, Gideon was very good at telling her what she needed to hear, when she needed it. Ameliorated, she carried on.
“Why has it taken the order this long to go pursuin’ new techniques?” asked Drysi, curious at this. A mage’s natural predilection was to build power throughout whatever study and means, “It has existed for an age, why is the third circle new?”