The Eye of Anubis: Book One

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Watch out for that snake, listen to him long enough and you'll believe up is down and black is white." It did not take an alienist to realize that Carter was unfond of the head of the Philosophy Department. Then his features softened. "Ah, Lia, its good to see you. And Charles, I was surprised to hear you were on the Expedition, though now I wonder why. Tell me, how are things!"

"Very good, Professor, and about to get better," Charles says, smiling broadly and stepping forward to shake the archaeologist's hand. "I was just telling Professor Ramsey and Miss Mourneswaith how I owe my presence in the expedition to your example all those years ago. It's truly an honor."

[The Whistler]

And if any of my grad students have gotten ahold of you, I assure you, all their lies are baseless in the extreme.

Otto's smile crystallized, for an instant. Ah...*that* Theroux. None of his coursework was in the theology department, but he had heard...stories, nonetheless. Still, best not to judge a man before you've spoken to him...especially if you're going to be sharing a tent with him for the next who-knows-how-many months.

Grabbing a full wine-glass from a tray, the Borcan heads off with Khalil, calling over his shoulder, "I'll be back soon."

There goes my social backup... Out of the corner his eye, he just noticed the two Lamordians making for the back of the hall, before losing sight of them in the crowd. ...And there goes my Plan B. Hoo, boy...

Well, best get the ball rolling myself. Otto shrugged a bit sheepishly, indicating the departing Khalil. "...I suppose I am here to simply meet my fellow travellers; there are so many on this expedition that I do not yet know." He paused for a moment, remembering something, then indicated Theroux. "Although... Forgive me, Professor: was it you who gave a guest lecture in M. Montblanc's Comparative Spell Theory, late in last year? My few studies so far have been on arcane magic, but I do remember enjoying to hear the contrasting perspective."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Lia drops a polite curtsy to professor Carter when he appears.
"It is good to see you again, sir," she says, her volume dropping again. "I had wondered ... But no matter. The discussion with Mr. Ramsey was ... interesting, at least. A very elitarian person, isn't he?"
Lia coughs and briefly turns away for another sip of wine. When she turns back, she shuffles a single step closer. "Professor," she says, "I hate to intrude upon you with matters of business, as it were, on this night of revelry, but I was wondering if you would be amenable to a small 'side-project' while we are en-route to the Wastes? There is a small theory I should like to pursue while we are in the Core, and our route would enable me to delve into it a little. I would immensely appreciate your expertise - and perhaps some of professor Theroux'."
Lia breathes deeply, then rushes ahead: "We will be passing through Borca and Barovia on our way to the Amber Wastes, will we not? Would it be at all possible to study some of the remnants of the temples of Andral and visit a shrine of the Morningnlord for comparative study? Since both deities seem to be sun-related, it would be interesting to compare them for similarities. Not to mention, we might make a small discovery while studying the remnants of Andral's places of worship."

[yalenusveler]

"Although... Forgive me, Professor: was it you who gave a guest lecture in M. Montblanc's Comparative Spell Theory, late in last year? My few studies so far have been on arcane magic, but I do remember enjoying to hear the contrasting perspective."

Andre nodded politely to the departing Khalil, and passed off the compliments with a bit of humility or at least an attempt at some, then turned to Otto. "Ahh yes. I do believe i was a touch off my form for that one. You see, I've been refining my theories, and although they're a touch radical, I do rather think they hold out." He turns towards Kuzan "Now, Kuzan here may disagree, being a priest, but I've come to the conclusion that there are no gods. At least not as most understand them." He let that particular bit sink in for a moment then continued "I however, do believe there is a force, an actively intelligent force, at work behind the universe. What we call arcane and divine magic, are both ways of tapping into this force, just with different trappings. Like how a sculptor and a painter can both be artists, yet produce completely different works, however, given the same subject and similar schools of artistic thought, could both produce a work where one can look back and see that yes, they are both representing the same subject."

[DocBeard]

"Lovely woman." Tomas says chipperly, smiling in his gregarious sort of way. He blinks at the larger man...was it Otto or Oscar or Oswald..maybe Omar or Olivar...?...looking over at them and, being a friendly sort, sends a cheerful wave the fellow student's way. Eisenwald remembers a few things about said student, something about what he's studying, but surely it couldn't be that big of a deal, right?

and then the wolf. Oh, sorry, "wolf hound". Sure. Tomas looks blankly at the thing, holding his hand out to be sniffed and licked; he can't help but wonder if this is a sign of welcoming, or just seeing how he happens to taste?

"Hello, Loup!" Tomas replies, smiling at Guy and squatting down to the wolfhound's eye height, holding his palm out to let the animal get used to him. "Alastian? They breed those down on the Verbrek-Mordent border, jo? I remember reading about their serving as guide dogs, finding people lost in the bog or the thick woods and the like. He's beautiful." Tomas coos over the dog for a few more moments before remembering his manners and standing back up, "You'll have to forgive my mannerisms Mssrs de Angelis and Benoit, I had a dog back home, but we can't keep pets at the university, so I am fearfully a little indulging! Are you two guards for the Expidition as well?"

[Kaitou Kage]

"Really?" Kuzan feigned curiousity for the sake of stroking this man's ego. He raised his wineglass to his lips and took a sip. The presence of this Otto character was both a blessing and a curse to him. A blessing in that he wasn't alone with this arrogant 'theologian' that Kuzan was rapidly developing a dislike for. A curse in that he, too, was giving the man more reason to talk.

Then again, Kuzan knew he was about to do the same thing, so he pushed such thoughts away and continued.

"What makes you say that?"

[steveflam]

Allikhain made eye contact with Ulsaon, nodding towards the exit. "Please excuse us a moment Professor Ulsaon and I have some matters to discuss. Allikhain and Ulsaon exit the ballroom.

Allikhain shows Ulsaon a note. "Say we go and see what this JLC wants? Be wary and have some sort of spell prepared, ok?"

They exit the building and head for the gardens.

[NeoTiamat]

"Ramsey is a character, no doubt about that. As for visiting shrines of Andral and the Morninglord...."

Prof. Carter considered the request, his eyes going distant as he thinks through distances and travel routes.

"I don't see why not, I'll talk to Maleagant, he's handling the travel routes." The archeologist looks back to Lia. "We won't be able to stay for very long, but I should be able to talk Prof. Pelletier into sanctioning a one-day side-trip."

"What about you Charles, it's been years since I've seen you, how is your father?"

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Loup considers the big Lamordian, sniffing his hand and then looking up at the bluff, open face. The Alsatian's head was of a level with Tomas's. Then, rather deliberately, the wolfhound leans forward and licks the Lamordian's nose, then settles down to continue his nap.

"He likes you." Benoit chuckles. "Good sign, Loup's a better judge of character than most. He used to belong to a Falkovnian officer who used him to chase down fugitives. Decided to stick his nose over the border and my squad caught him. Kept Loup with me, he's a good tracker."

De Angelis was dealing out cards for two new places. "Yes, M. Tomas, we're both guards. I am here for my impeccable wit and charm," the Dementlieuse man preens slightly, "And Guy is here for his skill with animals of all shapes and sizes."

"Charm...? Wit...? Right...." Benoit rolls his eyes. "Michel's around because he happens to have lived in Phiraz for till his teens, so he knows his way around."

Benoit scratches the Alsatian's ears. "And Loup can track well."

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"Hello... gentlemen." Three heads turned to see the source of the honeyed voice. Lily D'Envers floated across the floor, golden-blond hair falling down the shoulders of her green dress, the silken fan fluttering in the air.

"Professor Pelletier was called off to conference with some higher ups, so I'm at loose ends. But I'm sure you'll be able to entertain me." She cast a look at Kuzan, sizing him up.

"Don't mind me, just go on."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Thank you very much, professor!" Lia says, clasping her hands together in apparent enthusiasm. "Of course, this is just something to keep busy with on our journey to the Wastes. Oh! -- not that I intend to shirk my part of the preparations, just -- just to stretch the academic muscles and perhaps prove or disprove a pet theory. You do understand, don't you?" At the end of that last sentence, Lia sounds extremely anxious.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"My father is well, Professor; he's enjoying his retirement out in the Lake Country. Nowadays he occupies himself mostly by breeding horses--and doing his best to winkle breeding stock out of our Nova Vaasan friends!"

Turning to Lia, Charles asks, "And what is your pet theory, m'selle? Something about solar deities, I take it?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Turning to Lia, Charles asks, "And what is your pet theory, m'selle? Something about solar deities, I take it?"

"Ah -- a question of paternity, one might say," Lia replies, her tone again indicating sly amusement. "One which might - just might - have ties to our eventual goal. I shall let you think on it a little and see if you can guess the extent of my pet theory, shall I -- Dr. Arachne?"

[yalenusveler]

"Professor Pelletier was called off to conference with some higher ups, so I'm at loose ends. But I'm sure you'll be able to entertain me." She cast a look at Kuzan, sizing him up.

"Don't mind me, just go on."

Andre looked towards Lily, managing the hint of a smile, and an acknowledging nod, ceasing his discussion of the gods as masks of a greater divine. He slipped into Souragnien for a moment, with all the ease one would reserve for such things as taking off a coat "Ah, Mis D'envers. I should hate to hope we were only your second choice of entertainment." His switch back to high Mordentish was sudden, practically mid sentence "I was just expounding on a dry academic theory of mine. One I've elaborated via the study of some of the traditions of your homeland, to be exact."

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Ah -- a question of paternity, one might say," Lia replies, her tone again indicating sly amusement. "One which might - just might - have ties to our eventual goal. I shall let you think on it a little and see if you can guess the extent of my pet theory, shall I -- Dr. Ariadne?"

Dr. Arachne?...Well, I've been called worse. I think. Can she be flirting with me?

"I will turn my attention to penetrating your mysteries," Charles replies, with just enough over-solemnity to make a joke of it. "You do me too much honor, though; I have not yet achieved the lofty status of Doctor. Still less am I worthy to be considered equal with one whose weavings snared the gods themselves."

Giving Carter a quizzical glance, he says, "But who knows? The Akiri thought they could bind the gods by supplication and ritual; Ramsey seems to think he can bind the gods by force of will. Are they mad? Or can men really master the ultimate forces of reality?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I rather thought Ramsey's teachings were supposed to release the divine within human beings themselves," Lia says, shrugging. "As for mastering the forces of reality ... Do not the eager students of the faculty of arcane philosophy do just that? I believe lord de Balfour is, himself, an eager student of such ... philosophies. Presumably, someone with the right willpower, access to the correct sources of knowledge and, perhaps, a stroke of luck here and there, might rise to heights unimaginable to most of us. It may be as simple as taking an entirely new approach with tried and trusted tools."

[DocBeard]

"I'm flattered." Tomas smiles at the dog, who doesn't seem nearly as fearsome after licking his face. He chuckles good naturedly at the banter between the two Dementiluese guards, "I'm working as an assistant for Professor Devarux. Nothing quite so exciting, I'm afraid."

"You spent your youth in Pharaza?" Eisenwald blinks, intrigued. "Wow, that musti've been an experience..."