The Wizard and the Mirror-Lady

[hazlogs]

Currently the moon is in the waning Full (Ahroun) Moon phase (99% full).

Nicodemus makes a call to Salem, where he discusses his desire to meet with Salem's pack totem, The Oracle., to discuss a few matters regarding warpers and the communication abilities that pack totem spirits seem to frequently bestow upon their followers. A time and place is set for the pair to cross over into the spirit world and meet. Nick uses his talisman to create a rippled tear through the gauntlet, allowing him to walk from the realm directly into the spirit world, experiencing a brief moment of vertigo as he does so.

The Oracle is waiting for him, a slight feminine figure made of shards of glittering, reflective glass. Her face is hard to read, but she tilts her head in a quizzical manner.

Nicodemus takes a moment to re-orient himself within the umbral realm, and then he stands straight, followed by a bowing of his head in greetings. "Oracle," he begins. "Can you understand me?" As he talks, he makes talking motions with one hand. Then, after he finishes speaking, he raises his other hand and puppets another speaking. "Or do we need to communicate telepathicly?" The gesture that comes after this new sentence involves Nick touching two fingers to the side of his forehead, and then reaching forward as if he might reach out and touch the Oracle's temple in return.

The Oracle's laugh sounds like riffling pages of a book. "I can speak as you do, aloud and with human words."

Nicodemus gets right to business then. "My name is Nick Dalton, kin to the Glass Walkers. A few also know me as a world warper. I mean you no harm, and I have brought you a gift you might enjoy." He offers a 10x10x10 Rubik's Cube he's brought over to the spirit. "One of your followers, Slug, claims he has learned much about mages from you. I was wondering, if you are so knowledgeable, if I might discuss some involved theories with you at some later time? Theories that pertain to the black ooze that is an ongoing threat to the caern, which I am trying to help defend."

The spirit's form shifts -- still feminine but stockier, taller. "I enjoy conversation with inquisitive minds, though I may disappoint you in regards to the Nothing." A shudder goes through her, bringing about the sound of wind chimes. "It is anathema."

Nicodemus says "It is a mystery to me as well. But it is certainly a mystery that we need insights into if we are to hold it back or fight it. But that is probably a much lengthier and speculative discussion that can wait for some other day." Nick looks upwards towards the full moon and corrects himself. "Or night," he chides himself wryly. He wraps his arms before him, across his chest, and shifts to a new topic. "I was recently observing a pair of garou, from the same pack, engaged in fighting some fomori in the woods at night. I was impressed by their coordination despite both of them being cliaths and new to their pack, and I suspected they were somehow communicating with one another with their minds. I investigated, and it appears they were using both magicks of the Mind and of the Spirit. I've defended members of your pack on several occassions, and I believe I might be better able to do so if you would grant me permission to join them, at times, using the charm you have provided to them to allow them to communicate with one another? You need not expend any additional energies to bring me in or support me, as I believe I can simply tap in should I chose to do so. Obviously, that would be intrusive and rude to do with a spirit who supported my garou allies, and that is why I ask your permission to conduct a few experiments this night." He pauses here and then offers further explanation. "I am also curious about whether or not I might use this ability against a group of Black Spiral Dancers with their own pack totem supporting their own communications in battle. If I can disrupt an enemy pack's communications through their pack's totem spirit, that would give your pack an edge in upcoming battles. If you grant me the opportunity to practice working my magick now, I will be more efficient and certain in using it in a future battle." He hesitates a second before adding, "And we will both have the answer as to whether or not I can do what I think I might be able to do.""

The Oracle listens, her form changing gradually as Nick speaks. Always female, always humanoid, always a creature made up of mirrored shards of glass, but otherwise the details keep changing. She brings a finger up to her chin in a classic 'thinking' gesture. "Salem has spoken well of you to me. Emma spends much time in your company. Slug thinks well of you too, as far as I can tell. That leaves Wrong Way, who has other matters to deal with." She folds her arms across her chest, her shape wide and matronly now. "And I am, also, curious. About you. About the masks you wear and the things you do with your power. So, I will allow your experiments. Naturally, I will be watching." She pauses a beat, smiles knowingly.

"Thank you for this opportunity. If you have need for something in the future, where I might assist in some way, please tell me or my Chimera spirit familiar, Kargamis." Nick spreads his arms, palms up, as if searching, and then slowly brings them closer together until his hands clasp one another. Found it. He then opens up Sagacity's pack-chatting capability and sends out a brief message.

To (Salem, Emma), Nicodemus pages: Pack Chat> "One small step for a wizard, one giant leap for spirit-based communications."

You paged (Nicodemus, Emma) with 'Pack Chat> "We'll make a Garou of you yet, Dalton."'.

To (Emma, Salem), Nicodemus pages: Pack Chat> "I've actually got some ideas on that, Salem. For faking it, at least. But that's an experiment for some other time. However, I think I've just demonstrated that I can tap into a Spiral pack's secure communications. Keep that in mind if you plan on going up against any of them. I'd test out my other theory--about using a pack's communication network and flooding it with distracting noises, images, and emotions--but not on a full moon.

You paged (Nicodemus, Emma) with 'Pack Chat> "New moon or crescent, agreed."'.

To (Salem, Nicodemus), Emma pages: Pack Chat> Um. Is it just me, or is that Nick?

To (Emma, Salem), Nicodemus pages: Pack Chat> "Hello, Emma. It's Nick. Just had a nice chat with The Oracle about letting me do a little experiment. It seems to have worked. So.... How're things?"

To (Salem, Nicodemus), Emma pages: Pack Chat> What the... how? How are you even? Is this all the time?

To (Emma, Salem), Nicodemus pages: Pack Chat> "You get only one guess for the 'how.' And no, it's not permanent. Although I suppose I might be able to make it last a while if I were to infuse the.... Sorry. I'm rambling."

You paged (Nicodemus, Emma) with 'Pack Chat> "Ramble away. I'm going to grab some sleep. Do go to a private line if you're planning anything /personal/, all right?" His tone's amused.'.

Nicodemus spends some time toying around with pack chatting in The Oracle's presence. Once he's finished, later that night, he thanks her once again for the experience, and then he takes flight into the umbral sky to do other wizardly things.

To (Salem, Nicodemus), Emma pages: Pack Chat> "I can't ever guess your how's, but this is crazy. You're in just like the rest of us are? Thoughts, communication, feelings?" There's a rush of quick embarassment at Salem's teasing, "What? Good lord no..."

To (Salem, Emma), Nicodemus pages: Pack Chat> "You've got channels? And it's also a pre-established network for emotions? Oh, I am definitely going to have to look into weaponizing this against packed Spirals."

To (Salem, Nicodemus), Emma pages: Pack Chat> Not ... channels, really, I dunno! I've never tried a channel. There's never been reason to! You can block it sometimes. Like, a mental poker face?