01 [video]: the heart of the forest(?)

[topslug]

Name: Yako Katsuragi (un: katsuragi)
Date: May 25-ish
Format: Video

[ The young woman on the watch gives the camera a small smile, though her expression is also a touch uncharacteristically serious for those who’ve met her before. ]

First of all, for anyone who was badly affected by the full moons, I hope you’re feeling better now. If you need any medical attention or want to learn how to help keep others from going feral when you’re not Bonded to them, you should ask the Coven.

[ PSA done, she clears her throat, brushing her hair away from her face. ]

There’s something else I’d like to share. When we first came here, some people mentioned having a dream about being in a banquet in a forest. I had the same dream, too. I don’t know how much other people recall, but one of the the things I remember hearing while I was in it was the name of the place: Dewaint.

Anyway, I did a little looking into it, and it seems like I’ve found it. Or at least, um, something used to have that name.

[ That’s her cue to move, turning the watch to face ... a map. For those who’ve already seen a map of Geardagas, it will look pretty familiar, but it’s large — taking up most of a wall, and Yako has to take a few steps back to take it in its entirety — and it’s clearly old, preserved from being tampered with by a layer of glass. Yako continues speaking as she steps back in closer, panning her camera slowly as she points out areas of interest. ]

The librarians said this map is about five hundred years old. This is where Aefenglom is today, near the coast. And where Dewaint Forest was is...

[ She focuses on the dark spot towards the center of the map, right by the river (since she’s a little short, this takes a lot of standing on her toes, so the video goes a little wobbly before it straightens). The inscription scrawled over it bears a script similar to what might be seen in places around the Coven — and on the protection charms that were offered in the bonfire ceremony when they first arrived. Though the script might resemble Irish Ogden runes in form, for those who recognize such things, it’s clearly a different language. ]

There -- in the center of what The Wilde covers today.

[ Yako pauses, letting the camera linger. ]

To be honest, I’m not sure what this all means. I haven’t been able to find out much else about it, though some books said something about leylines passing through it and called it the heart of Geardagas. [ Although it’s a heart that most people seem to have forgotten. ] All I know is that it doesn't feel like a coincidence.

[ Spiel done, Yako turns the view back to herself. ]

I'm still trying to see what I can learn, but this is what I have right now. I thought other people might find this interesting too. I asked some people about this already, but if you have access to Parliament Records, the librarians and Miss Nessie think they might have more. So if you would like to help with that or with looking through some more books and papers, please let me know! If you’ve found anything related, I'd like to hear about it too.

Comments

[topslug]

I think it's information that concerns all of us who've arrived here, even indirectly, so I thought I might as well share what I've found to see if other people have any ideas. I'd be happy for more assistance, if you could spare it -- I know most of us are still working on settling in.

My name is Yako Katsuragi. It's good to meet you.

[reenforces]

I've been spending most of my time studying magic. Outside of that, I haven't done much-- only odd jobs here and there. I can spare some time.

I'm Mikleo. It's a pleasure to meet you as well, even if it's not properly face to face.

[He'll never get used to these things, seriously.]

So what is it you're looking through? Census archives? Family trees? Historical accounts?

... All of the above? [He's hoping it's all of the above, and he can't quite keep it out of his voice.]

[topslug]

[ ... She's really never heard anyone sound this excited over census records before. Is he okay... ]

So far, I think I've gone through most of what Undermael College's library has to offer as far as history and magical research goes. Um, not without help, of course! The librarians know this collection better than anyone. It just seems that there actually isn't a lot that has been written about Dewaint Forest, at least not in the College. Himemiya-san and Lady Stark have both offered to look into Parliament Records, but it seems like you need some special permissions to access that.

Right now, the head archivist is contacting some of the smaller libraries to ask if they know of anyone else who might have been working on something relevant, so I'm not entirely sure what I'll have to look at just yet.

[reenforces]

Special permissions, huh...

[Damn. If only he was still mostly invisible.]

If you look into the areas surrounding it, you might be able to piece together more information. Everything's connected. You could possibly track the spread of the corruption too-- though they've probably already looked into that.

[topslug]

[ Can't always have it easy, being able to sneak in and out! ]

I wouldn't be surprised if they had, but a fresh pair of eyes might help. Right now, as far as I can tell, no one's entirely certain where it originated. It's strange to think they've been dealing with a problem so long without knowing, but maybe those records were destroyed, or it was so gradual nobody really noticed.

[reenforces]

It could have been the former. There are entire thousand-year periods in my world's history that were lost because of the calamities and wars that befell it. Or an invading nation would come in, take everything over, and destroy records and art in the conflict... I hope it's nothing as insidious as that, though.

[An island is... not terribly easy to invade, but it's still worth looking into the overall history of this place.]

Still, I'm happy to lend a hand even if I'm unfamiliar with the context. This sort of thing is why I became an archaeologist of sorts.

[topslug]

Losing a thousand years of history ... that’s terrible. [ It’s a loss so monumental she’s having a hard time wrapping her head around it. ]

I attend classes at the Coven and I’ll probably keep spending time at Undermael, so just let me know what a good time to meet is for you. I know everyone’s still trying to adjust.

[reenforces]

It is. It's like those civilizations never existed... but we know they did because of what was left behind.

[He hums in agreement.]

I've been picking up more shifts at the alchemist's, so my after-class time is limited. I can contact you when I know what my schedule looks like.

[topslug]

Of course! I’m sure we’ll manage to find some time. I’d really like to hear more about your world, too, if you feel like talking about it.

[reenforces]

Fine with me. I'd like to hear about other worlds myself. Before the mirrors, I'd only ever been to one, after all. And even that one world was bigger than I could wrap my head around at times...

Accidental kidnapping aside, this is our chance to learn from each other.

[topslug]

Mm, I agree. It seems like people come from really different places here, so it’s interesting to be able to compare it.

My world didn’t have magic or anyone who wasn’t human in it, but some people already look like they were pretty close to what this world calls Monsters even before they came here. It really just shows that what’s normal is different for everyone.

[ And he’ll be able to find her easily enough if he looks. ]

[reenforces]

That's true. A lot of these so-called Monsters could pass for seraphim on my world. Honestly, I feel that the terms here are a little... outdated, but that's something for another time.

If you didn't have magic on your world, that must make learning it interesting-- assuming you're a Witch. I lost everything when I came here so it was a bit of an adjustment at first, but at least I know where to start. Though... normal humans can't use magic on my world, either.

[topslug]

[ Mikleo’s not the first person to say something like that, but it’s something else he says which gets Yako’s attention first. ]

Seraphim? You mean ... like angels?

[reenforces]

[Ah. And that's not the first time he's heard that, either.]

... No, though we get confused for ghosts or gods by humans who can't see us. In truth we're elemental spirits born from nature. I'm a water seraph, for example.

Not that it counts for much here. I get hungry and tired like everyone else now.