01: a little help?

[thunderwarden]

[The voice that comes over the Aethernet is deep, gravelly, and distinctive. Anyone who's spoken to him before probably recognizes it immediately.]

Hello, ladies and gents. Cid here, if we've met or if we haven't. Been thinking, lately. Dangerous habit, I know, but something's occurred to me. The magic here's different from what we've got back home, like it's meant to be used by mortal hands. Where the Empire yanked me from, Aether's a beast not meant for use by man, and when we do, it leaves its mark, turns practitioners to stone eventually.

[There's the flick of a lighter and the crackle of tinder as his cigarillo catches and he takes a pull before continuing.]

Back where I come from, there's no cure for it. Slow death, it is, but I ain't at home, am I? I figure, if any group of sodding ne'er-do-wells have an idea on how to undo something like it, it'd be this one.

So, what say you? Anyone want to give it a go? I don't mind being poked or prodded for science. Greagor knows it's happened enough.

And I won't hold a lack of progress against you. Damned enima, this is. Either way, ta, lovelies.

Comments

[bearsperminute]

Well, if it's stone and earth, I'm not bad, but I'm not exactly a sawbones. I'd feel a lot more comfortable poking around with your bits if someone else was helping out, too.

[thunderwarden]

Aye, I'd like to keep my arm when we're done, if it's all the same to you. Know any physickers?

[wait, that's not the right word.]

Healers.

[bearsperminute]

A few. Some of them are even Corsairs.

[Even if she was here, though, there would be no way she'd ask Iris.]

Trick is finding one who's with the fleet right now.

[thunderwarden]

Doesn't have to be right now, mate. It's not progressing that fast.

[But if the hostilities keep escalating...let's just say he's glad how own doctor isn't around. She'd do nothing but lecture him.]

And I've been dealing with it for sometime. It's sodding uncomfortable, but you get used to it.

[It'd just be nice to use his left arm again without searing pain. He used to duel wield before the Curse set in.]

[newmemorywhodis]

You...turn to stone?

[thunderwarden]

"You" meaning anyone who can manipulate Aether without the use of crystals? Aye, we do, eventually.

Used to be I wasn't too worried about it. I made my choices, I did it to myself really, but here? You lot need me to be able to keep up with you.

[newmemorywhodis]

[there's a long pause, before Link responds]

...Has it started?

[thunderwarden]

[He doesn't see a reason to beat around the bush about it.]

Aye. Has been for years, mate. Knew the risks of using Aether too much, but you know how it goes. That was a problem for future Cid.

[newmemorywhodis]

[Links hums. He doesn't know about the abilities of Cid's world, but he understands. He does know how it goes.]

...Maybe ask Shu.

[thunderwarden]

Shu? [It's not a name he's familiar with.] They a healer, then?

[newmemorywhodis]

Yes.

She has a farm in the Vault.

Video

[esperbuthuman]

Normally petrification magic can be cured with a simple restorative spell. Does that not work?

Video

[thunderwarden]

[He shakes, exhaling thick smoke.]

It's been a problem for centuries, love. It's not that simple. Granted, the only restorative magics in my own world cause the same problem. Maybe another world's would be different.

[esperbuthuman]

How curious. It sounds like it might be caused by a depletion of magic. Does your world not have ways to naturally recover it?

[thunderwarden]

Might be tied to the Crystals, aye. Hadn't thought of that, 'course medicine's not my specialty, either.

In Valisthea, there are these great crystal structures, size of mountains, called Mothercrystals. They're right hungry beasts, drink the land's Aether 'til it's spent. The lithification's always been called "the Crystal's Curse", presumably 'cause it's where magic comes from, but maybe you're on to something, love. Maybe the Curse is just our version of the Blight.

[He scoffs, shaking his head before he takes another pull of his cigarillo.]

Ain't that a crux?

[esperbuthuman]

How awful! To think such a horrible thing could exist. I hope your people can find a way to deal with it.

[thunderwarden]

Aye, horrible. [It's almost as though the crystals were used to control the world. Oh wait.] I got a theory I'm workin' on putting into practice, but that's not doing me any favors here.

[esperbuthuman]

If you need help with that, let me know. Magic is about all I know, so maybe I can help. Oh, you said overuse turns people to stone, yes? Did you have any problems like that? I might be able to infuse you with Ether if you need me to.

[spacetogrow]

Huh. Is it different than what a creature like a basilisk can do? I can reverse that, but the spell takes ingredients I don't have right now. And it wouldn't make you immune to future petrification.

[thunderwarden]

Aye. It's different. Spreads when you use too much Aether, but I'm no sawbones, mate. You might want to have a look before we start any epic questing for herbs.

[spacetogrow]

Diamond dust, actually. It's a necessary component in a lot of powerful healing spells.

I can take a look, if you like. I know we have better healers, but I can offer my opinion.

[thunderwarden]

Where's the harm in havin' a look?

[Not that he's ever heard of magic needing components, either. See? This is already different, potentially better.

[spacetogrow]

Nothing I can see. Even if magic doesn't do that where I'm from, some magical effects can.

[thunderwarden]

Aye, and it may be similar enough to make a difference. Anywhere I should meet you, lad?

[spacetogrow]

I'm around Flotsam, but my houseboat is a bit too cramped to have guests. Do you have any choices near there? Or I can come to you?