Farspeech stones

[forwearemany]

We are interested in available data on topics: magic, theology.

We are willing to provide compensation for data if desired.

Comments

[crosslaced]

I have magic, but no knowledge of how it functions. Can you work with that?

[he'd like to learn more about his magic too, honestly.]

[forwearemany]

Perhaps.

You are willing to engage in experimentation?

[crosslaced]

["Experimentation" strikes a poor chord with him, but he understands it's only the phrasing. Science has led to some poor results in his last game.]

..... I'm willing to consider it.

Do you want to continue on or is this more of a subject for face-to-face discussion?

[forwearemany]

(Legion doesn't notice.

That said, they're very much against the more nefarious types of experimentation, especially on fellow sophonts.)

The latter is more likely to be appropriate in this circumstance.

[crosslaced]

We can continue in a meeting. When and where?

[forwearemany]

Our residence is located on the second islet. We are available now.

[crosslaced]

I'm afraid I'm not. Can you wait an hour?

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

[crosslaced]

Alright. I'll contact you again then.

[Laurent notices something off when he looks at his stone to note the speaker- "Legion" is an odd name in itself, but they'd used "we" as a self-reference, which added up to some interesting observations.

Nevertheless, about an hour later, Legion does receive a Farspeech message. Whatever their situation is, Laurent will either figure it out on the way or he won't.]

Hey, is this Legion? We wanted to discuss magic. Where's your house, if I were to start from the bridge?

[He's, uh, he walked over from Islet #1.]

[forwearemany]

We reside in the southeastern cottage, closest to the bridge connecting to isle 1.

(It ...may actually be close enough for Laurent to see them hanging around outside.)

[crosslaced]

Right.

[That's good, that's close. Laurent turns and walks over and assumes that metal-looking thing is some kind of Weird Modern Technology, until Legion moves. It'll take him a few seconds to figure this out, by which time he gets quite close, but once he does he stops and stares.

Not in fear or disgust, at least. The blonde exhibits nothing but plain confusion.]

What?

[Machinery is absolutely foreign to Laurent's canon, let alone sentient ones. Computers? Witchcraft. Phones? It's honestly up for debate whether he realises landline phones and handphones are the same category of thing.

He, like, read about robots in a book once. They're like unicorns, right?]

[forwearemany]

(Well, technically he's correct about them being weird technology, they're just also a person.)

(Their headflaps lift slightly, but otherwise they remain calm.)

You are Laurent?

[crosslaced]

-yes.

[Oh, the machine- oh. Oh my god. Is the machine reacting? It seems like that’s what their movements might be, a reaction. He doesn’t understand anything. This is like reading about “electricity” all over again. ]

-you are?

[forwearemany]

(Why yes, they are.)

Acknowledged. We are Legion, relict.

[crosslaced]

[There is a moment of blank staring, because an archaic meaning of "relict" is "widow". And guess who's archaic.

ANYWAY, LAURENT DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO UNPACK ALL THAT GUESS AT ANDROID MARRAIGE CUSTOMS.]

Oh. Ah- there's. Nothing like you where I come from. [that didn't come out sounding very nice. welp.] So I'm a little- out of my depth here. [Finally, remembering his original intentions:] I'm Laurent. We talked earlier about data on magic.

[forwearemany]

(Perhaps someday, Legion will discover this mistake, and clarify that they're a completely nonsexual entity, who is also the last of their kind.

But now? Now it doesn't even occur to them.

Sorry Laurent.)

Acknowledged. Level of technology varies between worlds.

Yes. We are not aware of any magic in our universe of origin.

[crosslaced]

[Someday. In the meantime, Laurent continues to be a dumbass. This might be the next “Ignis doesn't know Muffet is a spider”.

He’s distracted by Legion’s voicebox. And the….. hole in their chest.]

There’s not any in mine either, as far as I know- I got my magic elsewhere. [he pulls a sleeve up, revealing a sky-blue gem on a bangle at his wrist.] Hence, my ignorance as to how it works.

[He flicks his wrist, and the Kyuubey magic just kicks in. ]

[forwearemany]

(...Headtilt.

Transformation?

This is unexpected, and it shows.)

Capabilities?

[crosslaced]

[what does that movement mean????????

Legion's facelight is very bright. Laurent squints up at it anyway, now that his attention is drawn to Legion's face, and wonders what goes on behind the lens.]

There's- swords, [he reaches out and materialises his sword into his hand] there's ice, [he snaps the fingers of his free hand, and a rough block of ice just kind of...... happens, in a shower of glitter] those are the main ones.

[There's also the telekinesis, but he's out of hands and likes keeping secrets. Oops.]

[forwearemany]

(They see the squinting, and dim their eye in response.

The answer to that question may possibly be nothing, as they have no brain or nervous system and thus quite possibly no real location for the software that makes their mind.)

(They watch Laurent, their headflaps flaring as they take a step back in response to sudden swords and ice.)

Acknowledged.

(It occurs to them that the ice might have useful applications.)

What are the limits on the creation of ice?

[crosslaced]

[The light dimmed???????? Is that a problem????????]

Your- light? [He’s doing his best..... His best is just very bad.] Is that a- problem?

[He has no idea how to go about figuring this out. Words are normally his strong suit, but he fails to string a question together (“how do you...... exist????” sounds offensive) before Legion continues the discussion at hand.]

There are limits. I just haven’t measured- on that subject, being here limits things even more. I’m not sure if it’s the Storyteller, or something else.

[forwearemany]

You were showing signs of discomfort.

(So they dimmed it.

They're a very considerate robot.)

Acknowledged. Such limitations appear common.

We also experience limitations.

[crosslaced]

Oh.

[You know what, he'll try to unpack this Technology business later.]

Well- yes. That's what I have to start with.

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(They chatter, headflaps rippling.)

It is possible that with proper insulating material and a small quantity of ice, a primitive refrigeration unit could be constructed.

[crosslaced]

Hm. I've been approached about that.

[Probably? Gladio or Denny should have asked him about one of those iceboxes. However.]

But it hasn't turned out on par with the- kind of machinery I've seen. [Fridges, man. And air-conditioning, what he wouldn't give for some of those air-cooling boxes now. They're basically black magic but they are incredible. Modernity is insane.] Do you- does your world have those? The- large food-storage refrigerators.