AND THEN TEXT DUMP HAPPENED

[bloodyashes]

[This handwriting is probably familiar to the network by now, after HORSE POST and his update at the beginning of the previous night. The lines are straight again, though, not looking like they'll potentially veer into each other.]

W - Meet me in the usual place in town, soon as you can, for that discussion I promised you.

K - Same as above, regarding your bout of illness last night.

Obnoxious Keterburg genius - Another of our number is here. The annoying, Fon Master shaped one. [Whether this is addressed to Dist or Jade is intentionally ambiguous.]

To everyone I've spoken to about fonic artes instruction - I've put a list of terminology on the next page. Make my life easier, learn it before you come. Drop a note here so we can get everyone together, I hate repeating myself. L, you're welcome to come but you're ahead of the rest already.

Everyone else - Auldrant's New Year's should be somewhere around midday, if I'm judging my calendar correctly. If anyone wants to celebrate (I certainly intend to), then assuming no disaster strikes, I'll be in the town square around nightfall.

[And sure enough, on the next page - ]

Fonon - energy particle, with one of seven elemental aspects (in order: darkness, earth, wind and electricity, water, fire, light, Seventh)

[Off to the side is written "MEMORIZE THIS" with a double underline, pointing at the fonon order.]

Seventh Fonon - Traditionally described as the fonon of sound, also has power over memory and is used in healing artes. Do not attempt to use if you are not a Seventh Fonist.

Fonist - Someone who uses fonic artes (casting artes, as opposed to strike artes which are adding fonons to martial artes or weapon attacks)

Fonon frequency - The energy level of a given fonon (increasing by even steps except the Seventh, hence the order of fonons) OR the average frequency of the fonons inherent in an object or creature

Fonology - Study of fonons and fonic artes.

Fon slots - Locations in the body where fonons naturally gather. See below, plus palms of hands and balls of feet.

[There follows a rough sketch of what looks something like a chakra diagram, with marks on the eyes instead of the forehead/crown charkas. It's torso+head only, no limbs.

Next to it is a strange looking diagram, which is presumably paired with the below definition.]

Fonic glyph - The visual representation of a fonic arte. Most artes involve gathering fonons in a specific pattern; glyphs are both a way to teach these patterns and a way to make artes function without the skill level normally required.

Fonon sentience - When enough of a fonon is gathered in one place, it begins to develop a consciousness. Seven are traditionally recognized, one for each (as noted below, with fonic runes).

First - Shadow
Second - Gnome
Third - Sylph
Fourth - Undine
Fifth - Efreet
Sixth - Rem (also, the name of Auldrant's sun)
Seventh - Lorelei

[Sure enough, each item on the list has a small rune next to it that we canonically don't have except for a tuning fork looking one for Lorelei/Seventh. They are also colored, with purple, orange, green, blue, red, a yelow-white, and a more golden-orange yellow in order. Rei will recognize the first as Asch's shorthand for Lucus.]

Miasma - [Here there is another small glyph.] Tainted fonons, poisonous to breathe. The cause is thought to be the emotions of an ancient war. Prolonged exposure leads to death by organ failure.

Resonance - When fonons vibrate in a synchronized way, their power is increased, and this effect is called resonance. Counter-resonance is when the vibrations are at odds and reduce the power of an arte.

Melodist - A fonist (usually, a Seventh Fonist) who uses sung hymns rather than spoken arte incantations. Typically play a support role to combat fonists or weapons fighters.

That should be enough to get you started.

[He will, however, answer questions, though there may be a delay of some hours. It's a busy day dawning.]

Comments

[allthekeys]

Just before nightfall is a rotten time to organize a celebration. Certain bladed 'revelers' are known to come into the square at night, among other things.

[bloodyashes]

Duly noted. We'll count those under a disaster happening.

It's nearly impossible to organize anything in advance around here.

[spare_parts]

Marvelous.

Congratulations on your sight.

[bloodyashes]

It was certainly a night. We'll talk later.

[spare_parts]

Indeed. Shall I find you? I stepped out and got caught in the weather but it seems safe to venture back now, unless there are things in the market you'd like to get.

[See, he can be subtle! Kind of!]

[bloodyashes]

I need to visit just about everywhere in town. My supplies are down to near nothing and if I don't get out of the castle today I might strangle a guard.

[Subtle sounds right back. And he's aware that strangling a guard is impossible, yes, thank you.]

[spare_parts]

Ah yes, you're not used to being snowed in. Be glad the winters here are short, although to me it was like home.

[bloodyashes]

Not a word. I function better in cold than you do in heat.

[spare_parts]

Wet heat. Humidity is hellish and with all the slush I expect you'll be feeling wonderful soon.

[bloodyashes]

And you complained endlessly about your lips cracking in the desert. You didn't even leave the ship, Largo and I did most of the work while Arietta fussed at her monsters and Sync stood around being Sync.

[The Tartarus had air conditioning. Bless your hearts, Malkuth.]

[spare_parts]

Well it hurt! And sweat was making everything on my face run not ten minutes outside. I take care of my appearance.

[bloodyashes]

So do I, but I somehow manage to not wilt every time I'm hit by strong sunlight. You just curled up like an especially sad mushroom.

Next time use beeswax.

[spare_parts]

It would have melted in the sun just the same, and then I'd have looked like a blob monster.

[bloodyashes]

I meant for your lips.

[spare_parts]

[There's a long, noticeable pause between Asch's reply and Dist's.]

Me too.

[bloodyashes]

You're hopeless.

Bleeding lips look much worse than lumpy ones.

[spare_parts]

And both look worse than clean, maintained ones. You three had it perfectly well in hand; there was no need for me to accompany you.

[bloodyashes]

Well, we have no idea what the summers here will be like. Maybe you'll get lucky and not melt.

I'd love a proper thunderstorm, honestly.

[spare_parts]

With drifts like that I'll be surprised if we get hotter than mild in summer. With no ocean around it'll be nothing like the capitol, which is a blessing.

[bloodyashes]

Actually, someone with more knowledge than I have observed that last night seems to have been a coastal type of storm.

[Bubble burst?]

[spare_parts]

[Asch probably can't hear a long, annoyed groan from all the way in town. Probably.]

Not again.

[bloodyashes]

Now you know how I felt when the snow started falling.

[sky_sharkling]

Dropping a line. [Mostly because he should, even though the amount of times he probably physically passes Asch is enough]

I'll memorise the notes. It's interesting. When/Where were you thinking of getting everyone together?

[bloodyashes]

Not in the castle. Not enough space, even aside from the ears.

When is what I'm trying to figure out.

[sky_sharkling]

I thought as much. Outside is definitely better, especially after being stuck inside for so long.

Earlier would probably be better if you're planning a thing for near nightfall. [Thinkity think] It'd probably depend on when everyone can get away from chores, I guess. I can kind of get out of them at any time so it doesn't bother me much, but the others...

[bloodyashes]

And some of us are helping with things around town as well. At least you should only need supervision for the basics, if how other people's progress has gone is any measure.

[sky_sharkling]

Yeah, it's kind of a mess out there. [Planning on going out later to explore/help] If it's only the basics then maybe the earlier the better, that way everyone can learn what they need to and get back to helping out?

[bloodyashes]

Yeah, that's sensible. I'm going to be busy for the "morning" though, aside from the chores I need to resupply.

[sky_sharkling]

I think everyone is going to be busy this morning, it's been so long since everyone's gotten outside. I know I would be more if my wings hadn't decided to be dumb. But there's still a lot to do.

Whenever is fine by me though. I'll be there.

[angel_of_death]

[For his part, Walter doesn't engage in any conversation over the notebooks. Instead, he simply jots down a little check mark at the end of the statement directed towards him.]

[bloodyashes]

[The checkmark is circled and then an arrow is drawn at the fonic artes instruction paragraph.]

[shuttersense]

Miasma. Is this a common occurrence in the world?

[She's curious since what she thinks as miasma is slightly different.]

[bloodyashes]

Well, there's a number of things here that stink of it. Pretty much anything the Lord touches, for a start.

[shuttersense]

I was thinking more in your world, not the local sphere.

[Careful Asch.]

But thank you for clarifying.

[bloodyashes]

Well, Auldrant's miasma is a bit of a different case. It started seeping up from underground after Hod fell, because the planet was

[A pause. He sketches a diagram of a continent floating above the rest of a planet, and an arrow drawn to the space in between.]

This space, called the Qliphoth, was entirely full of miasma.

[shuttersense]

...it's like a gorge of miasma.

[NOPE NOPE NOPE.]

[bloodyashes]

More an ocean.

[More nopes?]

[shuttersense]

An ocean?

[So much noping.]

[bloodyashes]

Aside from a small patch of land called the Qiubi Peninsula (don't ask me why, it's an island) and a very contained city, there was nothing in the Qliphoth but heavily miasmic mud. The whole planet was covered in it in that underlayer.

[shuttersense]

I think I just decided to have my breakfast late today.

[bloodyashes]

It's been purified now, if that makes you feel any better.

[shuttersense]

More then you know.

[bloodyashes]

Trust me, there's few people gladder of it. Third form of apocalypse averted.

[shuttersense]

Oh, I'm sure. I know I'd breathe easier without that hanging around.

[bloodyashes]

Quite literally.

See you in town later? And the offer of fonic artes lessons includes you, as well."

[shuttersense]

I'd like that. I'll see you there; I've shopping to do as it is.