TLV: IC Contact

[sixfeetofdirt]

Careful; I bite.

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Last day of port

[ravenswrath]

I have something for you before we leave this place. Will you meet me at sundown across from the doors of the tallest building?

[sixfeetofdirt]

How exceedingly mysterious.

[But he'll be there! Specifically, he'll be lingering in the doorway as the sun sets, keeping his back to the wall and his eyes open for both men and rodents.]

[ravenswrath]

He comes as himself, finding Astarion rather easily and jogging over to him.

"Evening. Walk with me?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Of course, darling. I only hope that you're not about to lead me into some dark alleyway for nefarious purposes."

He sounds somewhat flirtatious about it, but he does about most things.

"How did you little evening out go?"

[ravenswrath]

"It was - nice. To feel normal again for once."

He does lead him down to the start of an alley, but pauses before going too deeply. Instead, he takes a package from his pocket and produces an item wrapped in satin.

Inside is a small bone charm, carved with dozens of symbols along the fingerbones that protrude out. Wrapped around it are fish scales on twine, more decorative than useful. The symbols themselves are faintly magical, but there's a core of energy in it that is more so.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion turns the thing over in his hand, feeling the faint trace of the Weave or something like it.

"Interesting," he says neutrally. "What is this?"

[ravenswrath]

"Called a bone charm. Usually it's for The Outsider, but I can copy his work with other magic I've learned. And I had a friend lend a hand in making it stronger. That one has marks for quiet, for secrets, for shadows, and speed. You will move quicker in the darkness with it, and you will be better hidden. Not to an - outlandish degree. But the effects should be very noticeable. That's why I wanted to bring you here now."

In the dark, to test it out.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"I see." This is hardly the first time he's benefited from such amulets, and he's taking this in as much good faith as he can anything. "Do I need to just - have it about my person?"

He's not seeing a thread to put it around his neck.

[ravenswrath]

"I keep mine in pockets."

He takes out another one, a smaller one, from the inside of his jacket. "Seems to work best that way."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Very well."

He tucks it away carefully.

"Where did you get the bones?"

[ravenswrath]

"Do you really want to know?" he laughs, replacing his own charm and brushing his thumb across the mark on the back of his hand.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion lifts an eyebrow.

"What, did you murder a toddler for them? I really don't care, darling, I'm just curious."

[ravenswrath]

"They're mine," he answers lightly. "Though if I find a body on the street, I'm not above taking what I need. Gruesome, but effective. I suppose you can use rat bones, but I'd rather not."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Ah. Well, that's hardly sinister at all." Astarion sounds borderline disappointed. "I assume the same gifts which let you stop time also lets you retrieve lost fingers?"

[ravenswrath]

"No!" he laughs. "Not sinister at all. But if you had let my lie stand, then you would have your own imagination to keep you entertained."

He stretches out his hand. "No, someone else helped me, a long time ago. I don't really know how it works. The same as Florian's magic. The Outsider says that all magic is just his gifts, but that obviously isn't true for all places. So - " He shrugs.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Oh, every god is going to say every gift is theirs to be earned," Astarion says, flicking his fingers dismissively. "I can't say I've got much time for any of them."

[ravenswrath]

"I think I have - come around to mine. At least he's upfront about it, rather than hiding. He doesn't demand much of his followers, either. The mire I hear of other gods, other worlds, the less inclined I am to hate him."

And he did give him the tools he needed to get Emily back. It had been Corvo who fucked that up.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Is he the only one you have? The only one anyone can engage with, anyway."

Some gods are just so distant and disinclined to meddling that they might as well not exist.

[ravenswrath]

"I believe so? There are spirits and beings in the Void that I don't know of, but not gods."

He doesn't seem upset by that fact.

"The Overseers don't talk about anyone else."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Probably for the best," Astarion says briskly. "The more infighting and rivalry on their plane, the more bloodshed on ours, in my experience. And what exactly is an Overseer?"

[ravenswrath]

"Ah, they're - "

It's difficult to explain a concept in his world when he doesn't have much outside experience.

"- enforcers of the Abbey. Usually, they're mostly harmless, but they fight against the Outsider and his influence in our world."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"On whose behalf?"

'Abbey' suggests religion, but if the Outsider is the only deity going...

[ravenswrath]

He starts walking slowly, deeper into the alley, cautious of the night and the people roaming.

"The Abbey of the Everyman. They believe that the universe is unknowable and most of the forces in it are hostile to man. Including the Outsider. They keep the calendar and the holidays and perform weddings and civil duties normally."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"I see."

Astarion moves alongside him, tread silent.

"In fairness to them, the Outsider's gifts do seem to have made you much more capable when it comes to hostility to your fellow man."

He sounds amused.

[ravenswrath]

"It does depend on the man," he points out. "He set me against the previous recipient of his gift."