48: Veritas et Corvi
The group began to gather around the short faerie girl, Theseus picking himself up and brushing dust off his trousers with a grumble.
“As it would appear diverting your attention from the truth is no longer a reasonable action, I have decided to inform you of what lies ahead,” said Faye’s apparition, “I can understand some of you have an attachment to your physical world and prefer not to acknowledge the existence of what you would deem ‘magical forces’ but you must cast aside this prejudice if you seek to continue along the path you currently tread,”
Theseus had his arms crossed again, while John was busy trying to grasp some kind of scientific truth from the blatant magic in front of him: it was a good day for watching their world shatter.
“Myself and Phantasia Celeste are from a class of entities referred to as ‘faeries’,” continued Faye, “We are ethereal beings born of a spiritual force called ‘mana’, something which your primary human senses cannot fully detect, though it exists around you – and within you. Your own spiritual power is what Theseus Armstrong refers to as ‘chi’, a form of mana that all living things generate,”
“This feels like some crazy-ass lecture,” said Theseus, “I didn’t come down here for this shit!”
“I am aware that a full explanation of our nature and abilities would take a great deal of your time, and that certain individuals among you will be irritable already,” continued Faye.
“They said she was perceptive…” said Andromeda, “If she recorded this—“
Faye’s monotone voice cut her off before she could elaborate. “That I can predict your reactions is testimony to my own nature and abilities. I am aware this may be intimidating to you – and our kind are wary of interacting with humans because of this – but compared to what lies ahead it is but a minor inconvenience.
“This crevice leads to an underground stream. The ones you are chasing – and the ritual they seek to perform – are located at its end. Do not think they were not prepared for intruders, however: the passageway is laden with traps both physical and magical. Should you attempt to challenge it without prior knowledge, the likely conclusion would be capture and death,”
“Serious business,” said Theseus.
“I would advise that you do not continue past this point,” said Faye, “The challenges you will face shall escalate at a rate you have not yet witnessed, and you will be forced to deal with situations beyond your current level of understanding. Please realise I have left this message for you as a warning – not because I believe myself superior to you, but because I do not wish to see you harmed. Myself and Princess Phantasia, and the members of SEELIE will best deal with this situation. I would advise you to turn around and leave. That is all,”
Faye’s body rippled, like reality itself was about to fall apart, then dissolved into a cloud of minute water droplets, like a hazy mist rising on a winter’s morning. Theseus looked at the others and asked the question that was certainly at the forefront of Phoenie’s mind, if not everyone’s:
“What the hell’s ‘SEELIE’?”
“You’re at their academy,” sad Lyra, “No one ever tell you that?”
“It’s who my old man works for,” added John, “Some kind of mercenary organisation. He’s a non-commissioned officer. But the Academy?”
“We’re at a mercenary academy?” asked Joel, “Dude, that’s proper awesome! I just thought it was run by crazy people!”
All this time going behind the backs of her teachers, only to discover they were mercenaries? People who dealt with danger on a daily basis? And they continuously denied her the right to follow in their footsteps?
“This is an outrage!” she cried, “How dare they treat us like children! If we’re mercenary students, them it’s about time we proved it by doing some—” She glanced across the group, seeing the same determination and rebellion in everyone’s eyes, “By doing some mercenarying!”
~ Ignoring the warning, they head into the underground! ~
~ Next: What trials await them? ~
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Firstly, for those who can see them (because they appear to be rather fickle in their appearance!), I apologise for any Flash adverts that might be, well, Flashing away at you. I’m giving ADSDAQ a try (Google Adsense was terrible and, although amusing, isn’t very profitable – ADSDAQ pay by impressions, however, not click-throughs). If it doesn’t bring in much money (enough to cover the Project Wonderful advertising budget
) then I’m axing it.
So, onto the chapter…
This is the first of a little trilogy with very little faerie action. There’s a chance both following chapters will appear next week (#49 is ready, aside from title art, #50 is almost there). By throwing our human would-be-heroes into ‘real’ danger, we get to see what they’re really capable of. After all, the Godhand incident was an elaborate scheme pulled off by Wotan (although, hey, who’s to say this isn’t all a big trap?).
Everyone should get a chance to shine over the next few chapters. Maybe. Don’t take ‘shine’ to mean ‘do something nice and light and happy’. Some individuals might shine in a darker light.
Things to note:
~ Phoenie doesn’t bring with her any helpful devices. That’s because she regards her leadership as her key weapon. How useful that is, however, remains to be seen…
~ Can Kaori’s dad really do what Joel says? Well, he’s a rock star. My experience with rock stars tells me that their ‘legendary’ antics tend to get exaggerated. A lot.
~ Phoenie uses the term ‘troop’. This is creeping into the story is describe a group of people doing something…mercenaryish, I guess. It’s a term used in folklore to describe a group of faeries too.
~ The appearance of the nightclub when the lights come on is based on my own experiences with certain clubs at the end of the night, when the lights come on XD
~ The shelter network connects most of the town (and other, smaller towns and villages outside Torsten’s borders). It runs deep underground, well below what the group discovers, but a lot is sealed off. Quite a lot goes on down there that they – and we – don’t know about. It’s one of the reasons Rembrandt Payne’s staff are so stretched…
~ The shaman are spiritual mediums, corrupted by another source. Generally shamanism is about communicating with higher realms – in this instance, that power isn’t being used for benevolent purposes.
And some questions to ponder:
~ Where did Theseus get his gear from?
~ What goes on underneath the World’s End?
~ Who, or what, would corrupt the shamans into doing such horrible deeds?
~ What is Faye’s real agenda?
Also, I’ve been interviewed again! The allegations about the shopping trolley are false, however. I actually had two shopping trolleys sitting around my last flat, and many shenanigans were had with them (ever wonder which character is “most like me”? Well here’s your answer: Angelo).
Fascinating. I am really beginning to dislike Phoenie, especially with her continual insults about Dante, I rather like that kid. Other than her though, I enjoy the ‘troop’.
As to their gear, based on what I’ve seen of Lyra and her attitude, I would assume it packs quite a magical punch. The guitar blade I am hesitant on, mainly because of the wielder, but I also think Joel has quite a bit of untapped potential if he can ever best his fears. Instruments are a useful choice, assuming that the two can actually use them to focus magic. Otherwise the blade is the only good part there. The camera will be helpful, but only after everything is over and they have developed the film. Weapons when going against crazies is always wise, and Theseus has enough sense not to be trigger happy. The scanners will be useful as long as they’re against physical threats. I doubt the new sensors will help much, but they may produce a vague outline based on the supposed power level of what is being summoned.
I was wondering when somebody was going to bring up Phoenie’s attitude! Of course, a lot of her problems with Dante come from them being somewhat alike, and she sees in him the sort of person she could become.
Also she’s clingy as hell, especially with her girlie friends. Katrina and Andromeda are like sisters to her. So was Amanda, until the ‘betrayal’. Social politics, ey?
I wonder if I will see John’s scanners read the power levels as being over 9k? They’d be in some wicked serious trouble then! Great story, by the way. Top notch!
Thanks
I’ve been looking for somewhere to place a subtle OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAND reference. But it has to be subtle – trying to avoid blatant injokery as best I can!
I used to try and Rickroll other web fiction writer types. I don’t think they got it
theseus was being considered to be accepted into the ranks of recruits by payne. He probably suspected something like this was going to happen and decided to lend a hand to the one who would be in the best place to use it
Audiomancy…a very interesting subject. I’ve seen a Siren(in manga form) tear apart another Siren on the molecular level via song but asides from that, I haven’t seen any possibilities being drawn between sound and magic. Very interesting idea indeed. I’m guessing a guitar audiomancer could attack the senses and distort one’s very perception while the audiomancer kills them. After all, even if your ears can’t detect the range, it still picks up the sound. Unless I misunderstood my biology class of course.
Audiomancy is primarily empathic magic. Think about how music affects you emotionally, then look at it from a magical perspective. There’s already been a background example with Kaori’s mother using music to calm the nerves of the students who were caught by Godhand. Distorting perception/senses is a good way to look at it.
The way I envision it, an audiomancer essentially uses their music to spread their empathic powers into others. Literally “putting their heart into the song”. When it comes to battle, they can act as a support unit, playing a melody that inspires their allies, or one that spreads fear into their enemies, but most of its uses would be in non-battle situations. Figured that music can also be used to communicate with animals/spirits too, so that adds another potential use. In the end it’s all about emotion.
The ‘guitarblade’ would have been developed by travelling musicians so they can adapt to the situation without having to carry both their instrument and a weapon around with them. Technology is advanced enough to enable a guitar and sword to be crossed, so why not? I’ve even contemplated the idea that they don’t usually have strings (which would get in the way of a weapon), or that somehow the strings are protected when the instrument shifts into ‘weapon mode’. Joel’s would likely do the latter, since it’s still a traditional (electric) guitar. Virtual strings, psionic strings…those are ideas for another day! And other instruments could be loaded with other concepts. Like…musical Transformers…
…I can’t imagine the amount of people who would be put off my writing if they heard it featured instruments morphing into weapons. Very Power Rangers XD
Well… I don’t now about tearing someone apart with a song… Audiomancers tend to play the supportive role, I’ve never heard of a song THAT destructive. Most songs effect thngs like their allies speed, Strength or cause their enemies to get sleepy, cause paralysis, or see illusions (which might be enough to drive them mad).
Now onto the story itself.
I definantly think Lyra brought the most useful weapon, who knows what that tiny little glove can do? I’d rate Theseus and John as a tied second on Usefulness, all those machines and weapons, I’d hate to be the one who pisses them off. To be totally honest I think that Kaori’s Flute will be more effective than Joel’s Guitar Blade; unless, like Atrun said, he can Conquer his fears. As for Phoenie… she better do some damn good leading or they are all so dead -.- I started predicting what they were going to do as soon as Faye mentioned SEELIE, and their teachers being mercs, because (honestly?) I think ANYONE in their situation would do the same.
Kaori’s dad has some pretty dangerous tunes… Though it’s more a combination of different abilities, audiomancy being one of them. Even so, it’s more for show. Causing physical effects with magic – especially for humans – takes a lot more effort than its natural, ethereal effects since you’re basically having to focus on both physical and magical levels.
This also gives a reasonable in-universe explanation for why not everyone is just Matrixing up walls and firing off Dragonball energy beams XD Makes things more interesting when people only have limited powers.
How useful/rubbish some characters are will have a knock-on effect to their development after these events (I like dropping hints like this…)
One character will be VERY useful. It might cause them to get overconfident.
One will realise they’re not as useless as they thought.
One will realise they’re more useless than they thought.
And one will make a LOT of very silly mistakes that will start them on a regretful path.
Surely you’ve played Ar Tonelico? The creatures called Reyvateils sing and their songs create powerful destructive magic which can be enhanced by the reyvateil’s connection to their partner and their skills with singing. It would also be a twist if Katrina somehow gained the sight of her camera.
But isn’t that Phantasia’s thing? @-@
Not entirely. Phantasia sees a lot more than any camera could! Seeing auras/fields isn’t that amazing a feat. I mean I’ve dated girls who could do it >_>
That came out during my university years, when I hardly had time to play sweeping JRPG epics outside a couple of Megaten spin-offs and Disgaea 2 (when you only get an hour a day at most, that sorts of OCDer’s dream can last a whole year almost!).
It’s a spider-robot! With a laser AND a plasma gun! How could anyone not vote for THAT!?
Ahem.
I didn’t really have anything else to say.
Darn, Dary! You need to put more choices in your polls! I’m thinking “None of the above” given the choices. I don’t think I’d want to venture into a place like that with anything less than a platoon of fully-armed Marines and an Abbey’s worth of Exorcism-trained Monks/Priests/Holy men! As the poll two weeks ago put it: “They’re so screwed(!)”
or pretty much “all of the above”
I can imagine quite probable scenarios where each one could be a potential live saver. I suppose that the camera might be the least immediately useful equipment – as far a I know it can only document things until they return.
The scanners and the robot should help they to get past physical traps. The camera should show the magical ones, but without instant observation that is pretty much moot, perhaps the scanners do work as intended here.
And I suppose the glove will be the biggest chance in affecting the magical other than through their emotions – just the place where the flute and the guitar might help (even without real audiomancy).
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
I swear, the first thing that came to mind when Joel started talking about all that stuff about Kaori’s dad and the guitar blade and audiomancy, especially the part about ripping someone apart with just a guitar solo…
“He’s still no Eddie Riggs.”
Also, it seems obvious to me that the glove is probably some sort of power amplifier/enabler. Made me think of chaos and his ‘holey gloves’ from Xenosaga… @-@
Anyway, that puts it on par with the warrior/survivalist’s spiderbot-load of armaments in my opinion, as it seemed to me that the stuff wasn’t installed on or programmed to be fired by said bot, but is rather simply being ferried around by a mobile weapon case. : /
Kaori’s dad is somewhat inspired by Herman Li. He has all these teenage fanboys who think he’s THE MOST AMAZING GUITARIST EVER LOOK AT HOW FAST HE’S PLAYING OHMYGOD!!! but in reality he’s just this bumbling geek who makes Pac-man sounds XD
Now you mention chaos, it’s made me realise that, hey, he’s got something in common with Phantasia herself! That whole can-touch-impurity-and-heal-it sort of thing. Only Phantasia is more the teenage love child of Sailor Moon and Jack Sparrow rather than JESUS…IN SPACE!
And you’re right that the spider-mech is more a walking backback designed to carry weapons rather than fire them. Doesn’t mean it can’t though. This amuses me because of what I was writing earlier…
Nice chapter
And there is nothing like reverse psychology to screw with people – even if you are a faery in the 31st century. xD
A lot of thought is being put into the whole audiomancy thing. Is it really so far fetched? Magic is magic plain and simple. The methods to access it are not limited to one ‘correct’ way. In the novel ‘The Soprano Sorceress’ by LE Modesitt Jr, the main character was able to create magical effects using the power of song and enhance it with accompanying instrumental music. Audiomancy or just another form of spellcasting? Just my two cents.