The Bluewood
Jastes must have had quite the reputation to be so well-known while also refusing visitors. And these two must be very close. Jace respects if the other unicorn does not want to speak directly. After all, given their mystical nature there could be a very good reason.
I wonder if the nature of Blues as thought makes their mantles more compatible. Perhaps the problem with the Black unicorns is that as purity of Death, their mantle can't be passed without hitting the mortal with death first, which poses a bit of a problem. Though does that mean that technically a Blue's mantle is spread memetically?
Or, perhaps, Jastes' desperation in death was so antithetical to his nature that it allowed him to do something not normally possible.
That is more or less what Jastes had time to say. Though I think I may have changed his mantle at least a fraction of the amount it changed me. Jace's nature pushed the mantle slightly more towards determination and courage over zealotry. And his arcane nature has continued to manifest, though no one has noticed his additional aspect as the Unicorn of Sorcery.
Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
Bluewood
Or simply lived long enough for word of him to spread. Jace found where he lived, after all.
"Of course you have. Unicorns are unique creatures, and you are your own interpretation of a unicorn." Ingrid stops for a moment, turning to her patron, and nodding. "You will be empowered by those who are determined. The exact nature of that determination is harder to ascertain, from the outside anyway. Jastes was a very zealous form of determination, purity of purpose and freedom from doubt. Such individuals went to him for blessings, and if he felt they were pure enough he complied. That is how he fed, which is where you're struggling, are you not?" She's pretty sure Jace mentioned it earlier.
Or simply lived long enough for word of him to spread. Jace found where he lived, after all.
"Of course you have. Unicorns are unique creatures, and you are your own interpretation of a unicorn." Ingrid stops for a moment, turning to her patron, and nodding. "You will be empowered by those who are determined. The exact nature of that determination is harder to ascertain, from the outside anyway. Jastes was a very zealous form of determination, purity of purpose and freedom from doubt. Such individuals went to him for blessings, and if he felt they were pure enough he complied. That is how he fed, which is where you're struggling, are you not?" She's pretty sure Jace mentioned it earlier.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
His own interpretation? I feel like that has strange implications... Is Jace simply what he thought a unicorn would be like? Does he look like Jastes' relative simply because he wasn't aware there was another option? Therefore his arcane nature has continued simply because he couldn't see himself without it?
My daughter and I did run into some zealous cultists. But it didn't quite... feel right. I have felt better around my fiancée even though she's just a normal person. Or even some of my daughter's friends. Though I should not be surprised about that given she goes to a hero school. I have been considering visiting VIGIL to see if the people there um. Feed me better. That is exceptionally strange to say.
His own interpretation? I feel like that has strange implications... Is Jace simply what he thought a unicorn would be like? Does he look like Jastes' relative simply because he wasn't aware there was another option? Therefore his arcane nature has continued simply because he couldn't see himself without it?
My daughter and I did run into some zealous cultists. But it didn't quite... feel right. I have felt better around my fiancée even though she's just a normal person. Or even some of my daughter's friends. Though I should not be surprised about that given she goes to a hero school. I have been considering visiting VIGIL to see if the people there um. Feed me better. That is exceptionally strange to say.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
Jace is blue because that's the nature of the mantle- he wouldn't have been able to take that mantle and go red, or black, or yellow. Everything else... Yeah, pretty much.
"That would seem to be a good place to start, yes. They're a better choice than MERC. They killed a man I was... writing letters to." He'd turned himself into a cockroach-monster! But Ingrid was writing extremely flirty letters to him and he was writing extremely flirty letters back. "I don't know a sure-fire way to determine your precise affinities, however. Most fresh unicorns arise in places and situations full of it. My black unicorn arose in a city depopulated by three years' of famine."
Jace is blue because that's the nature of the mantle- he wouldn't have been able to take that mantle and go red, or black, or yellow. Everything else... Yeah, pretty much.
"That would seem to be a good place to start, yes. They're a better choice than MERC. They killed a man I was... writing letters to." He'd turned himself into a cockroach-monster! But Ingrid was writing extremely flirty letters to him and he was writing extremely flirty letters back. "I don't know a sure-fire way to determine your precise affinities, however. Most fresh unicorns arise in places and situations full of it. My black unicorn arose in a city depopulated by three years' of famine."
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
Jace definitely wouldn't know how to feel about the knowledge that he would have a different Aspect if he had done more research on Jastes.
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. He shakes his head sadly.
But...well. Is there anything else you think I should know? I admit it has all been rather a lot. Mysterious things just happen around me all the time. Random objects seem to enchant themselves. I didn't realize being such a being could be so exhausting. And I have been hoping to at least find a way to get my human form back when I need it. I do miss having hands.
Jace definitely wouldn't know how to feel about the knowledge that he would have a different Aspect if he had done more research on Jastes.
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. He shakes his head sadly.
But...well. Is there anything else you think I should know? I admit it has all been rather a lot. Mysterious things just happen around me all the time. Random objects seem to enchant themselves. I didn't realize being such a being could be so exhausting. And I have been hoping to at least find a way to get my human form back when I need it. I do miss having hands.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"Yes, witches. If you want to empower one, you both come to an agreement. Most common ways are through worship, they give you their soul, you give them power. But there's also a master relationship, they give you service and you give power in exchange. There's other ways too, but... they're less common in unicorns." Really, they're both quite rare already. Most unicorns don't form such relationships. She doesn't touch upon marriage, because she doesn't realise Jace has a girlfriend... or that they're planning on doing anything.
"Enchanting objects by being around them... That's unusual. I'd suggest you'd been feeding well and your power is flowing out, but that's not true, is it? I can't help with being human again. Possibly find a witch to open doors for you? I don't know any magic powerful enough to turn a unicorn into a human." Although transfiguration is also not her strong point, so perhaps not a surprise.
"Yes, witches. If you want to empower one, you both come to an agreement. Most common ways are through worship, they give you their soul, you give them power. But there's also a master relationship, they give you service and you give power in exchange. There's other ways too, but... they're less common in unicorns." Really, they're both quite rare already. Most unicorns don't form such relationships. She doesn't touch upon marriage, because she doesn't realise Jace has a girlfriend... or that they're planning on doing anything.
"Enchanting objects by being around them... That's unusual. I'd suggest you'd been feeding well and your power is flowing out, but that's not true, is it? I can't help with being human again. Possibly find a witch to open doors for you? I don't know any magic powerful enough to turn a unicorn into a human." Although transfiguration is also not her strong point, so perhaps not a surprise.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
Oh, dear. I don't think I want to be worshipped. It sounds rather heretical to be honest. And I'm not taking souls. I did mention to Khannie once that warlocks and witches might be something we could do, but I wasn't sure. Well...I suppose Veronica might not mind a little magic. She wanted it so badly before and if we're getting married eventually anyway... She did kind of learn a lesson about what she wanted maybe not being what she needed for the price, but she somehow has decided that her boyfriend becoming a magic god-horse isn't a dealbreaker so frankly Jace thinks maybe she deserves a little courage-magic for that alone. Jace has accepted that a unicorn counts as a small god but it's difficult to process that that really means him.
"Well, I've been opening doors for him up to now. Just my job as his familiar." Zebes pipes up for the first time. "Frankly, I think the enchantments are just from his arcane blood. He had it as a mortal, and our bond is evidence that being a unicorn only put that into overdrive instead of replacing it with his new powers. Guy's basically an arcane wellspring on hooves. He does have a physical body, though. So turning him into a human physically shouldn't be harder than turning anything else into a human." Very shaky. As a petty god Jace might resist any attempts to alter his nature or squeeze him into a non-unicorn vessel.
Oh, dear. I don't think I want to be worshipped. It sounds rather heretical to be honest. And I'm not taking souls. I did mention to Khannie once that warlocks and witches might be something we could do, but I wasn't sure. Well...I suppose Veronica might not mind a little magic. She wanted it so badly before and if we're getting married eventually anyway... She did kind of learn a lesson about what she wanted maybe not being what she needed for the price, but she somehow has decided that her boyfriend becoming a magic god-horse isn't a dealbreaker so frankly Jace thinks maybe she deserves a little courage-magic for that alone. Jace has accepted that a unicorn counts as a small god but it's difficult to process that that really means him.
"Well, I've been opening doors for him up to now. Just my job as his familiar." Zebes pipes up for the first time. "Frankly, I think the enchantments are just from his arcane blood. He had it as a mortal, and our bond is evidence that being a unicorn only put that into overdrive instead of replacing it with his new powers. Guy's basically an arcane wellspring on hooves. He does have a physical body, though. So turning him into a human physically shouldn't be harder than turning anything else into a human." Very shaky. As a petty god Jace might resist any attempts to alter his nature or squeeze him into a non-unicorn vessel.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
There comes a sound.
The sound of a door opening. The sound of hooves on the floor.
The sound of, "Dad! Uncle Zebes! I'm back from Fluxmart with the pancake stuff! There was a food truck selling churros in the parking lot and I bought some of 'em 'cuz otherwise Maridia was gunna start thieving. I got some extras do you want-"
A black unicorn walks into the living room. Technically black, anyway. Her coat's natural color is a dusty matte black, though thanks to the feathery nature of her fur it scatters light to give her a metallic purple sheen like a hummingbird's plumage. She's wearing a cap with her voluminous pony-tail mane pulled through the back, a nice cloak that's definitely not a horse blanket, and a scarf.
She pauses at the sight of-
"Oh. We've got company I guess? You must be Baccata's friends. Uuuh..." she says, stalling slightly as her train of thought is pretty effectively derailed because holy heck that unicorn looks creepy. "Do you guys like churros?"
There comes a sound.
The sound of a door opening. The sound of hooves on the floor.
The sound of, "Dad! Uncle Zebes! I'm back from Fluxmart with the pancake stuff! There was a food truck selling churros in the parking lot and I bought some of 'em 'cuz otherwise Maridia was gunna start thieving. I got some extras do you want-"
A black unicorn walks into the living room. Technically black, anyway. Her coat's natural color is a dusty matte black, though thanks to the feathery nature of her fur it scatters light to give her a metallic purple sheen like a hummingbird's plumage. She's wearing a cap with her voluminous pony-tail mane pulled through the back, a nice cloak that's definitely not a horse blanket, and a scarf.
She pauses at the sight of-
"Oh. We've got company I guess? You must be Baccata's friends. Uuuh..." she says, stalling slightly as her train of thought is pretty effectively derailed because holy heck that unicorn looks creepy. "Do you guys like churros?"
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"Marriage would work. It's what grants me my power, swearing my life to my patron. Worship is heretical. Get enough of it, and legend says you'll be able to threaten the true gods. I don't know how true they are, though. It's also not a permanent claim on a soul. When they die, it'll pass on as usual, you won't keep it. Just absorb all the emotion and power generated by it when it's in its host, no matter how antithetical it usually is to your ethos." The legends have been rather thoroughly suppressed; gods that did ascend don't like the reminders they weren't always eternal, and few gods like competition. And if Jace was worshipped, he'd get empowered by even the doubt and uncertainty of his chosen priest.
"I... can't say if that's accurate or not. Might be you are now empowered by arcane magic, and automatically empower that nearby. My own unicorn can sense when somebody will die, more accurate as it gets closer, which is potentially a related phenomenon. Violence confuses that, however. The shape of a human should be easier than the actuality of humanity. The mantle has changed your soul, and how that interacts with your body." Her unicorn predicts death by starvation most accurately.
"My unicorn is, I have not met Baccata. Our spheres differ considerably. We have shared bread and salt; churros are... not required." Although Ingrid looks at them somewhat curiously, since she hasn't had one before.
"Marriage would work. It's what grants me my power, swearing my life to my patron. Worship is heretical. Get enough of it, and legend says you'll be able to threaten the true gods. I don't know how true they are, though. It's also not a permanent claim on a soul. When they die, it'll pass on as usual, you won't keep it. Just absorb all the emotion and power generated by it when it's in its host, no matter how antithetical it usually is to your ethos." The legends have been rather thoroughly suppressed; gods that did ascend don't like the reminders they weren't always eternal, and few gods like competition. And if Jace was worshipped, he'd get empowered by even the doubt and uncertainty of his chosen priest.
"I... can't say if that's accurate or not. Might be you are now empowered by arcane magic, and automatically empower that nearby. My own unicorn can sense when somebody will die, more accurate as it gets closer, which is potentially a related phenomenon. Violence confuses that, however. The shape of a human should be easier than the actuality of humanity. The mantle has changed your soul, and how that interacts with your body." Her unicorn predicts death by starvation most accurately.
"My unicorn is, I have not met Baccata. Our spheres differ considerably. We have shared bread and salt; churros are... not required." Although Ingrid looks at them somewhat curiously, since she hasn't had one before.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
It's hard to imagine all of that for myself. I certainly wasn't planning on threatening any true gods. Khannie and I are friends with at least two. Veronica and I will have to have a conversation about powers...
Jace pauses, not sure what to ask. He has so little to go off being a unicorn that he's honestly a little at a loss at where to start. Ingrid has explained his basic needs, at least.
And then a teenager!
"Oh, churros! Pass 'em while they're still hot. Cold churros are gross."
Jace nods. Cold churros are gross. Luckily despite his problems with having no hands Jace can pretty easily grab one item at a time to hold it for eating. And unlike some mages his mage hand isn't a weird actual hand.
It's hard to imagine all of that for myself. I certainly wasn't planning on threatening any true gods. Khannie and I are friends with at least two. Veronica and I will have to have a conversation about powers...
Jace pauses, not sure what to ask. He has so little to go off being a unicorn that he's honestly a little at a loss at where to start. Ingrid has explained his basic needs, at least.
And then a teenager!
"Oh, churros! Pass 'em while they're still hot. Cold churros are gross."
Jace nods. Cold churros are gross. Luckily despite his problems with having no hands Jace can pretty easily grab one item at a time to hold it for eating. And unlike some mages his mage hand isn't a weird actual hand.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
"Nice to meet you both? I'm Khannie, Jace's daughter. But I guess that's prolly obvious," Khannie says as she lights her horn with a crown of shadowy purple and midnight blue magic, a similar glow surrounding two little Styrofoam clam-shell containers in her saddle bags. One floats over to Jace and Zebes (because she isn't expecting Zebes to eat a whole container of the things he isn't a black-hole like Maridia) while she opens up her own.
These ones are short and fat, filled with various custards and jellies. The sweet scent of bread, cinnamon, and sugar fills the room.
"Are you sure?" Khannie inquires of Ingrid. "I've got plenty of 'em you can try one if you want. They're way better than... bread and salt?"
Is that...
A thing?
Like a ritual or something?
Like her father she really hasn't internalized the whole 'unicorns are small gods and I'm a unicorn' deal yet. She knows it on some level intellectually but it just doesn't seem real to her. She's just some kid who's been unlucky enough to trip into all sorts of weird.
Anywho! Khannie can manage two objects at once with her levitation and she snags the singular habanero jelly filled churro from her container before turning the container toward Ingrid and floating it a bit closer to her. Just in case she wants to take one. "It might not be NECESSARY but they're still good."
She takes a bite out of her churro and anyone watching closely will notice her eyes start to water a little. "Oh! Did dad mention he's been feeling kinda sick? We think it mighta been 'cuz he's not... um... eating? Enough determination?"
Is eating even the right word?
"Nice to meet you both? I'm Khannie, Jace's daughter. But I guess that's prolly obvious," Khannie says as she lights her horn with a crown of shadowy purple and midnight blue magic, a similar glow surrounding two little Styrofoam clam-shell containers in her saddle bags. One floats over to Jace and Zebes (because she isn't expecting Zebes to eat a whole container of the things he isn't a black-hole like Maridia) while she opens up her own.
These ones are short and fat, filled with various custards and jellies. The sweet scent of bread, cinnamon, and sugar fills the room.
"Are you sure?" Khannie inquires of Ingrid. "I've got plenty of 'em you can try one if you want. They're way better than... bread and salt?"
Is that...
A thing?
Like a ritual or something?
Like her father she really hasn't internalized the whole 'unicorns are small gods and I'm a unicorn' deal yet. She knows it on some level intellectually but it just doesn't seem real to her. She's just some kid who's been unlucky enough to trip into all sorts of weird.
Anywho! Khannie can manage two objects at once with her levitation and she snags the singular habanero jelly filled churro from her container before turning the container toward Ingrid and floating it a bit closer to her. Just in case she wants to take one. "It might not be NECESSARY but they're still good."
She takes a bite out of her churro and anyone watching closely will notice her eyes start to water a little. "Oh! Did dad mention he's been feeling kinda sick? We think it mighta been 'cuz he's not... um... eating? Enough determination?"
Is eating even the right word?
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Earl of Purple
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"I... will have one, thank you. My partner will refrain, he doesn't have tastebuds." Not much call to eat things when you're an embodiment of famine. "I am... less accustomed to encountering greater gods. I have traditionally tried to avoid them, save in the occasional case of a metrodeus. Elemental embodiments of a city, if you weren't familiar. Inside does not have a coherent enough nature to form one."
After taking a bite, and pulling an appreciative face, Ingrid turns to look at Jace. "You did not mention feeling unwell. That might be because you are drawing on more power than you are able to replenish, but in such a case I'd expect other things to occur. Loss of peripherals, mostly. Any thing you used to notice that you no longer notice? Minor effects tied to your presence? A circle of dry around you when it's raining that has shrunk? Hoofprints where there were none, or a quieter note when you step?" It's hard to say since Jace is still settling into his role, and Ingrid doesn't know all of Jace's peripherals.
"I... will have one, thank you. My partner will refrain, he doesn't have tastebuds." Not much call to eat things when you're an embodiment of famine. "I am... less accustomed to encountering greater gods. I have traditionally tried to avoid them, save in the occasional case of a metrodeus. Elemental embodiments of a city, if you weren't familiar. Inside does not have a coherent enough nature to form one."
After taking a bite, and pulling an appreciative face, Ingrid turns to look at Jace. "You did not mention feeling unwell. That might be because you are drawing on more power than you are able to replenish, but in such a case I'd expect other things to occur. Loss of peripherals, mostly. Any thing you used to notice that you no longer notice? Minor effects tied to your presence? A circle of dry around you when it's raining that has shrunk? Hoofprints where there were none, or a quieter note when you step?" It's hard to say since Jace is still settling into his role, and Ingrid doesn't know all of Jace's peripherals.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
Jace shakes his head a little. He switches to conjuring a voice out loud since Khannie is here.
"No, if anything the random occurrences have gotten more common. More stones enchanted when I sleep. Random breezes and notes. But I've only really been a unicorn for a month so it's not like I really could tell the difference so soon."
Zebes for the most part is snickering at the other use of the word 'peripherals' and is imagining Jace-branded controllers and light-guns.
Jace shakes his head a little. He switches to conjuring a voice out loud since Khannie is here.
"No, if anything the random occurrences have gotten more common. More stones enchanted when I sleep. Random breezes and notes. But I've only really been a unicorn for a month so it's not like I really could tell the difference so soon."
Zebes for the most part is snickering at the other use of the word 'peripherals' and is imagining Jace-branded controllers and light-guns.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
At the mention of the other unicorn's lack of taste buds Khannie gives the black unicorn (what's his name, anyway?) a look of genuine pity. "Oh... I'm really sorry. Tasting stuff is great. It's not really fair that you don't get to enjoy that."
But then again said unicorn is a pretty otherworldly creature. It probably has other things that are important to it but still! Being able to enjoy a meal together is an important part of being a family! And the poor unicorn can't really enjoy it.
Then talk of loss of peripherals!
Where Zebes just starts snickering Khannie actually voices the same through. "Wait, unicorns have peripherals? Like-"
Oh.
Weird stuff that happens when they're around doing things.
Like how Khannie leaves shadows of hoof prints rather than actual hoof prints. Or like how places where she's at get less dark. Not really lighter. Just less dark. It's weird.
At the mention of the other unicorn's lack of taste buds Khannie gives the black unicorn (what's his name, anyway?) a look of genuine pity. "Oh... I'm really sorry. Tasting stuff is great. It's not really fair that you don't get to enjoy that."
But then again said unicorn is a pretty otherworldly creature. It probably has other things that are important to it but still! Being able to enjoy a meal together is an important part of being a family! And the poor unicorn can't really enjoy it.
Then talk of loss of peripherals!
Where Zebes just starts snickering Khannie actually voices the same through. "Wait, unicorns have peripherals? Like-"
Oh.
Weird stuff that happens when they're around doing things.
Like how Khannie leaves shadows of hoof prints rather than actual hoof prints. Or like how places where she's at get less dark. Not really lighter. Just less dark. It's weird.
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Halae
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Elkthorn House - Emily]Keeper wrote: ↑Oct 12, 2023 1:35 pm The Elkthorn House - Emily
"Okay. Well it'll take another half an hour to make something anyway if it's a proper pastry. So um. How about this: make a request of me like you're a customer. What do you want this last one to do? I have to fulfill your needs before you go out on some dangerous job." Rowan suggests.
He's also going to be spending at least ten minutes on cleanup before he can start at this rate.
Emily considers that for a long moment, "... I'd like a vanilla chocolate swirl cake with vanilla icing, meant as a gift. It should carry with it a blessing for long-term health - perhaps about a year - as a good choice for a birthday cake."
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"My partner can taste things. Food isn't one of them." The black unicorn is now staring quite intently at Khannie, tilting its head to one side.
"You... mentioned a fiancée. Veronica? And she's compatible with your... diet, as it were? How much time in the last month have you spent together?" Ingrid takes a bite of churro as she contemplates what to say next.
Meanwhile, a mind brushes against Khannie's. Death comes in many forms, Khannie. Mine is a little more physical than yours. The mental voice is surprisingly deep, very croaky and dry.
"My partner can taste things. Food isn't one of them." The black unicorn is now staring quite intently at Khannie, tilting its head to one side.
"You... mentioned a fiancée. Veronica? And she's compatible with your... diet, as it were? How much time in the last month have you spent together?" Ingrid takes a bite of churro as she contemplates what to say next.
Meanwhile, a mind brushes against Khannie's. Death comes in many forms, Khannie. Mine is a little more physical than yours. The mental voice is surprisingly deep, very croaky and dry.
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Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Elkthorn House - Emily
"Oh, okay. That'll be a while. Um. Feel free to use the TV. Health is a little hard to do on a pie. Kind of antithetical. But I can do my best." Making a whole cake proper does require quite a bit of work. Especially since Rowan would never be caught using a mix on a custom order.
"So uh. Do you have any hobbies?" he asks awkwardly, realizing that while the plan to test his magic was good it involves spending a LOT of time with someone he only just met due to the nature of bakery magic requiring baking.
The Bluewood
"I would say that she is. She raised all her siblings for years after their parents abandoned them. She's very driven, even in mundane things." Jace says proudly. "And she's even alright with the unicorn thing." Somehow.
"...well, almost every day really. I wouldn't be a very good fiancé if I didn't see my wife-to-be regularly. We just never figured out our living arrangements. It'll happen."
"Oh, okay. That'll be a while. Um. Feel free to use the TV. Health is a little hard to do on a pie. Kind of antithetical. But I can do my best." Making a whole cake proper does require quite a bit of work. Especially since Rowan would never be caught using a mix on a custom order.
"So uh. Do you have any hobbies?" he asks awkwardly, realizing that while the plan to test his magic was good it involves spending a LOT of time with someone he only just met due to the nature of bakery magic requiring baking.
The Bluewood
"I would say that she is. She raised all her siblings for years after their parents abandoned them. She's very driven, even in mundane things." Jace says proudly. "And she's even alright with the unicorn thing." Somehow.
"...well, almost every day really. I wouldn't be a very good fiancé if I didn't see my wife-to-be regularly. We just never figured out our living arrangements. It'll happen."
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
At the mention of tasting things other than food Khannie pulls a face. "I think I know what you mean? Like I can taste when I'm around stuff that's good for me. Or I guess stuff that's sorta the opposite of that? But it's weird. It's a whole buncha different things that don't seem to have anything in common? Like dad feeds on determination. Cool that makes sense. But I get energized from kids having fun and exploring and stuff. But also from people creating beautiful things. But ALSO from torching zombies. Like, what the heck do any of those things have to do with each other? I was thinking maybe it had something to do with acting in innocence but blowing up gross creeps doesn't fit."
And then?
Telepathic contact.
Khannie jumps a little at the creepy voice suddenly in her mind. She's tried the telepathy thing before but if she can do it she's got no idea how. She just does her best with ghost sounds.
"Umm... sorry I dunno how to do with the mind talking thing. Baccata thought my magic was drawing more from life instead of death? I mean, I know I'm black under my coat's sheen but I don't feel very death-y," Khannie admits somewhat awkwardly. How would she be death, exactly? Death of something non-physical? What would that even mean?
She glances over at her dad as he talks about Veronica. Honestly Khannie feels like she hasn't gotten a big chance to really get to know her. Most of the time dad spends with her has been when Khannie was at school.
At the mention of tasting things other than food Khannie pulls a face. "I think I know what you mean? Like I can taste when I'm around stuff that's good for me. Or I guess stuff that's sorta the opposite of that? But it's weird. It's a whole buncha different things that don't seem to have anything in common? Like dad feeds on determination. Cool that makes sense. But I get energized from kids having fun and exploring and stuff. But also from people creating beautiful things. But ALSO from torching zombies. Like, what the heck do any of those things have to do with each other? I was thinking maybe it had something to do with acting in innocence but blowing up gross creeps doesn't fit."
And then?
Telepathic contact.
Khannie jumps a little at the creepy voice suddenly in her mind. She's tried the telepathy thing before but if she can do it she's got no idea how. She just does her best with ghost sounds.
"Umm... sorry I dunno how to do with the mind talking thing. Baccata thought my magic was drawing more from life instead of death? I mean, I know I'm black under my coat's sheen but I don't feel very death-y," Khannie admits somewhat awkwardly. How would she be death, exactly? Death of something non-physical? What would that even mean?
She glances over at her dad as he talks about Veronica. Honestly Khannie feels like she hasn't gotten a big chance to really get to know her. Most of the time dad spends with her has been when Khannie was at school.
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Earl of Purple
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"You might be pregnant. Unicorns can reproduce by spending time around a favoured mortal, and it's a mystical enough process that your... interpretation of self doesn't matter. Don't look into it. You're an incarnation of the ideal of purity, and that means the more you think you know about how pregnancy works, the more you're right and shape the pregnancy into what you expect." Ingrid wasn't expecting it to occur quite so quickly, however. It's not been very long at all.
Because you're a very unusual unicorn. You're purity of death through life. You are empowered by such things as they purify, the death of the taint corrupting unhappy children, malevolent undead, passionless art, and such things. You are unlikely ever to go hungry, and that is a good thing. I paired myself with Ingrid in part to find a source other than famine, and I found it- together, we summon and bind demons. They slowly weaken, as they are deprived of fear and pain, eventually starving. A form of famine that ensures I thrive without spreading misery amongst the mortals. Many black unicorns are hated or feared, due to them spreading pain and suffering in an effort to sustain themselves.
"You might be pregnant. Unicorns can reproduce by spending time around a favoured mortal, and it's a mystical enough process that your... interpretation of self doesn't matter. Don't look into it. You're an incarnation of the ideal of purity, and that means the more you think you know about how pregnancy works, the more you're right and shape the pregnancy into what you expect." Ingrid wasn't expecting it to occur quite so quickly, however. It's not been very long at all.
Because you're a very unusual unicorn. You're purity of death through life. You are empowered by such things as they purify, the death of the taint corrupting unhappy children, malevolent undead, passionless art, and such things. You are unlikely ever to go hungry, and that is a good thing. I paired myself with Ingrid in part to find a source other than famine, and I found it- together, we summon and bind demons. They slowly weaken, as they are deprived of fear and pain, eventually starving. A form of famine that ensures I thrive without spreading misery amongst the mortals. Many black unicorns are hated or feared, due to them spreading pain and suffering in an effort to sustain themselves.
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Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
What?! Jace is surprised enough he forgets to use his conjured voice.
What do you mean my interpretation of self? I haven't the parts. That's pretty clear-cut.
And what do you mean don't look into it? I'm an adult of course I know how pregnancy normally works. I mean, not on horses but...
"Um. Well you did just a few days ago have a big talk with V about wanting to have kids, Boss. Um. Ingrid how fast does that process of shaping work?" Zebes pipes up, as he can't help but overheard the images running through Jace's brain at the moment.
What?! Jace is surprised enough he forgets to use his conjured voice.
What do you mean my interpretation of self? I haven't the parts. That's pretty clear-cut.
And what do you mean don't look into it? I'm an adult of course I know how pregnancy normally works. I mean, not on horses but...
"Um. Well you did just a few days ago have a big talk with V about wanting to have kids, Boss. Um. Ingrid how fast does that process of shaping work?" Zebes pipes up, as he can't help but overheard the images running through Jace's brain at the moment.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
Oh.
OH!
Wait, okay, that makes a weird sort of sense right? If she's like... death of impurity or death of corruption then anything that makes the world more pure would work, right? More pure, more beautiful, brighter, happier. THAT'S why laughing children energizes her. And being around Mary making her paintings. And helping to cleanse the Ossuary. And why the Mad Science building felt so oogie to her.
"Huh."
She's gunna have to sit down.
So she does.
A unicorn sitting on her haunches looks funny.
"So I guess I got really lucky. For a black unicorn, I mean. Since the sorta stuff black unicorns usually eat isn't the sorta things people like," Khannie reasons. People usually don't like various forms of death. Or most people, anyway. Probably best not to count insane death cults of various kinds. "You know there's this one kid at Glog who's heart's corrupted by fear and trauma. And I've been trying to help her overcome it. And I don't think I've ever felt so great doing anything EVER before. If this is the sorta stuff I need to do to feed then I think I'm pretty okay with being a 'death' unicorn."
It looks like Khannie is about to ask another question but then-!
"DAD'S PREGNANT!?"
Yep.
That's a pretty shocked expression. It almost immediately gives way to a look far from confusion. After all, Khannie was born purely of a magical interaction between her dad and the Golden Die of Wonder so her dad having another kid doesn't even register as weird to her. No, her next expression is one of purest delight.
"I'm gunna be a big sister!"
Now she's prancing around the room.
"This is gunna be so cool! I never thought dad and Veronica would be able to have kids since you know but now I'm gunna be a big sister! Oh my gosh is he gunna be just like another unicorn? Is this like pokemon eggs where the baby is the same sorta pokemon as the mom no matter what the dad is? Wait... is dad gunna have to turn into a mom to have the baby? Or do they just appear like pokemon eggs do? This is so cool I'm so excited!"
Khannie is going to hug her dad with her forelegs just because. There are definitely some logistical questions but like Engrid said maybe those don't matter much.
Oh.
OH!
Wait, okay, that makes a weird sort of sense right? If she's like... death of impurity or death of corruption then anything that makes the world more pure would work, right? More pure, more beautiful, brighter, happier. THAT'S why laughing children energizes her. And being around Mary making her paintings. And helping to cleanse the Ossuary. And why the Mad Science building felt so oogie to her.
"Huh."
She's gunna have to sit down.
So she does.
A unicorn sitting on her haunches looks funny.
"So I guess I got really lucky. For a black unicorn, I mean. Since the sorta stuff black unicorns usually eat isn't the sorta things people like," Khannie reasons. People usually don't like various forms of death. Or most people, anyway. Probably best not to count insane death cults of various kinds. "You know there's this one kid at Glog who's heart's corrupted by fear and trauma. And I've been trying to help her overcome it. And I don't think I've ever felt so great doing anything EVER before. If this is the sorta stuff I need to do to feed then I think I'm pretty okay with being a 'death' unicorn."
It looks like Khannie is about to ask another question but then-!
"DAD'S PREGNANT!?"
Yep.
That's a pretty shocked expression. It almost immediately gives way to a look far from confusion. After all, Khannie was born purely of a magical interaction between her dad and the Golden Die of Wonder so her dad having another kid doesn't even register as weird to her. No, her next expression is one of purest delight.
"I'm gunna be a big sister!"
Now she's prancing around the room.
"This is gunna be so cool! I never thought dad and Veronica would be able to have kids since you know but now I'm gunna be a big sister! Oh my gosh is he gunna be just like another unicorn? Is this like pokemon eggs where the baby is the same sorta pokemon as the mom no matter what the dad is? Wait... is dad gunna have to turn into a mom to have the baby? Or do they just appear like pokemon eggs do? This is so cool I'm so excited!"
Khannie is going to hug her dad with her forelegs just because. There are definitely some logistical questions but like Engrid said maybe those don't matter much.
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Earl of Purple
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
Bluewood
"Do you have a gall bladder? Horses don't, humans do. You were human, and part of that perception is carrying over. You know how pregnancy works from a human's point of view... a male's interpretation of it, which might be good for you. It also might not. It generally hurts less for horses; humans are not built to be good for being born." Round heads and wide shoulders make things a lot more awkward than pointed snouts... Though Ingrid doesn't mention the horn, which makes unicorn birth trickier. Hopefully that won't occur to Jace, or the child will grow a horn after birth.
"Should be another unicorn, assuming Veronica is mortal. If not... things might get odd. And the child... depends on the unicorns involved, really. Both of them. I can't say how it'd work with blue births. I've not read of them or anything." Jace might develop female genitalia to make things easier, or he might not and the child will just emerge somehow. "If my unicorn had a child, the offspring would emerge from a grave. I don't know how that would work with mental purity." Ingrid would be interested in finding out, though.
"Do you have a gall bladder? Horses don't, humans do. You were human, and part of that perception is carrying over. You know how pregnancy works from a human's point of view... a male's interpretation of it, which might be good for you. It also might not. It generally hurts less for horses; humans are not built to be good for being born." Round heads and wide shoulders make things a lot more awkward than pointed snouts... Though Ingrid doesn't mention the horn, which makes unicorn birth trickier. Hopefully that won't occur to Jace, or the child will grow a horn after birth.
"Should be another unicorn, assuming Veronica is mortal. If not... things might get odd. And the child... depends on the unicorns involved, really. Both of them. I can't say how it'd work with blue births. I've not read of them or anything." Jace might develop female genitalia to make things easier, or he might not and the child will just emerge somehow. "If my unicorn had a child, the offspring would emerge from a grave. I don't know how that would work with mental purity." Ingrid would be interested in finding out, though.
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Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
I don't even know what that is, let alone how it's relevant. huffs Jace mentally. He doesn't have a lot of knowledge of the human body. That's the clerics' job.
But I suppose if a unicorn of death simply has their offspring appear in a grave a unicorn of thought is likely rather well, immaculate. Which is to say his lack of parts isn't necessarily a problem.
"V is mortal except for that one time." Zebes adds unhelpfully.
...I'm glad you're happy. Jace adds to Khannie. Really, he's very much into the idea of having a child which is why he said so to Veronica. He just wasn't planning on being the mother in this equation.
I don't even know what that is, let alone how it's relevant. huffs Jace mentally. He doesn't have a lot of knowledge of the human body. That's the clerics' job.
But I suppose if a unicorn of death simply has their offspring appear in a grave a unicorn of thought is likely rather well, immaculate. Which is to say his lack of parts isn't necessarily a problem.
"V is mortal except for that one time." Zebes adds unhelpfully.
...I'm glad you're happy. Jace adds to Khannie. Really, he's very much into the idea of having a child which is why he said so to Veronica. He just wasn't planning on being the mother in this equation.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
Come on, Jace, you were the mother when you had Khannie, too. Even if she just appeared because an adult kangaskhan always comes with a baby. Why should something so trivial trip you up this time?
"This is gunna be so cool. I wonder what unicorn babies are like? They probably start walking around real quick 'cuz that's how it is with most hoofy animals, right?" Khannie babbles aloud. She has a vague understanding that herbivore babies need to be able to walk and RUN quickly because otherwise lions or whatever will eat them. Of course unicorns are magical quasi-spirit things so that probably doesn't apply to them but who knows!
But then an important question occurs to Khannie.
A VERY important question.
"Wait, when I become a mom some day does that mean my foal's gunna pop outta some grave like a zombie? Since I'm a black unicorn, too? But since my magic is so life-y would it be different instead?"
Definitely important questions.
But also questions that probably would be relevant for another half a decade or so. The thing is, Khannie's kangaskhan momming instincts have never gone away.
"Heck yeah I'm happy!" Khannie laughs, doing a couple pronks around the room again. "This is such cool news, I can hardly wait! Oh! Oooh did the thing you said about what dad believes apply to how long it takes for the foal to develop, too? Like is it gunna take most of a year like it does with humans? Or is it just like POW! BABY APPEARS!"
Come on, Jace, you were the mother when you had Khannie, too. Even if she just appeared because an adult kangaskhan always comes with a baby. Why should something so trivial trip you up this time?
"This is gunna be so cool. I wonder what unicorn babies are like? They probably start walking around real quick 'cuz that's how it is with most hoofy animals, right?" Khannie babbles aloud. She has a vague understanding that herbivore babies need to be able to walk and RUN quickly because otherwise lions or whatever will eat them. Of course unicorns are magical quasi-spirit things so that probably doesn't apply to them but who knows!
But then an important question occurs to Khannie.
A VERY important question.
"Wait, when I become a mom some day does that mean my foal's gunna pop outta some grave like a zombie? Since I'm a black unicorn, too? But since my magic is so life-y would it be different instead?"
Definitely important questions.
But also questions that probably would be relevant for another half a decade or so. The thing is, Khannie's kangaskhan momming instincts have never gone away.
"Heck yeah I'm happy!" Khannie laughs, doing a couple pronks around the room again. "This is such cool news, I can hardly wait! Oh! Oooh did the thing you said about what dad believes apply to how long it takes for the foal to develop, too? Like is it gunna take most of a year like it does with humans? Or is it just like POW! BABY APPEARS!"
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Earl of Purple
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"The relevance of the gallbladder is whatever you give it. Don't worry about it? It has none. Worry about what a horse has that does the same job? Then it's important. Pregnancy is the same." Or perhaps not, as there will eventually be a foal with pregnancy.
Then, turning to Khannie, Ingrid looks confused. "Why should your foal- hypothetical at this stage, I hope- come out of a grave? You should pay more attention in your sex ed lessons. They're important. It would with mine as he's a he. And it'll take as long as it takes." Horses are pregnant longer than humans, but if Ingrid says that it'll probably be worse for Jace. And whilst she's not very good at it, she is trying to be kind.
"The relevance of the gallbladder is whatever you give it. Don't worry about it? It has none. Worry about what a horse has that does the same job? Then it's important. Pregnancy is the same." Or perhaps not, as there will eventually be a foal with pregnancy.
Then, turning to Khannie, Ingrid looks confused. "Why should your foal- hypothetical at this stage, I hope- come out of a grave? You should pay more attention in your sex ed lessons. They're important. It would with mine as he's a he. And it'll take as long as it takes." Horses are pregnant longer than humans, but if Ingrid says that it'll probably be worse for Jace. And whilst she's not very good at it, she is trying to be kind.
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Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"Aw, besides Boss. You're not a horse, you're a majestic mythical creature that happens to have hooves and fetlocks and a very equine shape between the end of your nose and your butt." Like how he isn't a flying lizard he's a very adorable mythical creature that happens to be a reptile with wings.
Ingrid's words help, but telling Jace to worry about what horses have is making him think of pregnant horses, which is not helping.
"...I can only hope that my process will be as painless." He would really appreciate if any of his prospective foals will have the kindness to manifest in a nice library instead of requiring a prolonged visit to a mythical hospital.
"Aw, besides Boss. You're not a horse, you're a majestic mythical creature that happens to have hooves and fetlocks and a very equine shape between the end of your nose and your butt." Like how he isn't a flying lizard he's a very adorable mythical creature that happens to be a reptile with wings.
Ingrid's words help, but telling Jace to worry about what horses have is making him think of pregnant horses, which is not helping.
"...I can only hope that my process will be as painless." He would really appreciate if any of his prospective foals will have the kindness to manifest in a nice library instead of requiring a prolonged visit to a mythical hospital.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
"I help at Glog with Mrs Frescot. I know how babies work," Khannie retorts, her tone deadpan. "So that's just a thing that happens with black guy unicorns? That's all I was trying to figure out. I'm not gunna have a kid any time soon; I'm only fifteen."
Fifteen is no age to be having babs. Unruly teens have other things they should be worrying about.
Maybe after another half a decade she'll be ready, but definitely not now.
"Um... I think that's basically all the questions I've got? We'll just have to take special care of dad until my baby brother or sister shows up."
"I help at Glog with Mrs Frescot. I know how babies work," Khannie retorts, her tone deadpan. "So that's just a thing that happens with black guy unicorns? That's all I was trying to figure out. I'm not gunna have a kid any time soon; I'm only fifteen."
Fifteen is no age to be having babs. Unruly teens have other things they should be worrying about.
Maybe after another half a decade she'll be ready, but definitely not now.
"Um... I think that's basically all the questions I've got? We'll just have to take special care of dad until my baby brother or sister shows up."
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Earl of Purple
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Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"Hope more than you worry. It'll help." Since both will influence how things end, the positive emotion is better than the negative one.
"You missed what I said on witchcraft. Do you have any questions there, whilst I'm here? Your father... only knows what I've told him." If Khannie asks, she'll repeat what was said earlier. So rather than rehash the same info you both already have, see if there's questions Khannie might think of that Jace didn't ask.
"Hope more than you worry. It'll help." Since both will influence how things end, the positive emotion is better than the negative one.
"You missed what I said on witchcraft. Do you have any questions there, whilst I'm here? Your father... only knows what I've told him." If Khannie asks, she'll repeat what was said earlier. So rather than rehash the same info you both already have, see if there's questions Khannie might think of that Jace didn't ask.
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Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Don't run now, my eggs are hatching.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
The Bluewood
"Well of course it's not all the questions I've got? How am I going to care for a baby unicorn?" It sounds like a very difficult prospect, though in reality Jace's foal will probably be as smart as a five year old very quickly and will have very few needs besides needing to figure out what they feed on and making sure they don't get kidnapped by mythical-creature organ hunters.
"Well of course it's not all the questions I've got? How am I going to care for a baby unicorn?" It sounds like a very difficult prospect, though in reality Jace's foal will probably be as smart as a five year old very quickly and will have very few needs besides needing to figure out what they feed on and making sure they don't get kidnapped by mythical-creature organ hunters.
Re: Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places
[The Bluewood]
"Baccata talked to me a little about that, the witchcraft thing," Khannie admits. "Dad says I'm not allowed to have any warlocks until I'm twenty."
That was a joke.
A joke that also doubles as practical advice. Just not a practical joke.
But then? Something occurs to Khannie. She gives her shoulders and hips a roll, letting them pop into a more bipedal configuration, then pushes off on the floor to stand upright. "Actually there WAS another thing I was thinking about? When I first transformed my front hooves were more chonky than my back ones. But now it's the other way around? I walk around on my hind hooves a whole bunch when I'm using my human illusion. Is my body just, like, changing to make that easier? Because I think of myself as someone who walks around on two legs?"
"Baccata talked to me a little about that, the witchcraft thing," Khannie admits. "Dad says I'm not allowed to have any warlocks until I'm twenty."
That was a joke.
A joke that also doubles as practical advice. Just not a practical joke.
But then? Something occurs to Khannie. She gives her shoulders and hips a roll, letting them pop into a more bipedal configuration, then pushes off on the floor to stand upright. "Actually there WAS another thing I was thinking about? When I first transformed my front hooves were more chonky than my back ones. But now it's the other way around? I walk around on my hind hooves a whole bunch when I'm using my human illusion. Is my body just, like, changing to make that easier? Because I think of myself as someone who walks around on two legs?"