Arc 2 – Part 5
"I may have gotten a bit carried away," said Kallian, grinning widely as Caprifexia and the others regarded themselves in the reflective illusory field that some kind of small magi-tek bird was projecting. "But they're looking for four humans and a horned elf, not five elves."
The group, Caprifexia, Chandra, Einar, Serana, and Lombardia, was still in the Planeswalker Kallian's hidden, subterranean workshop on the mage-phobic world known as 'Thedas.' According to the clocks on the wall it was early morning two days after they'd arrived, and most of the aches and pains from Caprifexia's stomach injury had faded. Their new Planeswalker acquaintance, Kallian, seemed to be a nice enough quasi-mortal: she'd gone out and bought some fish for Caprifexia, had a very interesting library that she was happy to let Caprifexia browse, and wasn't half as grumpy as Sorbet Melon. She hadn't found anything on chronomancy in the elvish Planeswalker's collection, but there was plenty of stuff on arteficing.
Caprifexia's horns were gone. Or rather, they were now hidden behind an admittedly pretty impressive glamour that Kallian had made. The general features of her mortal form remained: long black hair, dusky skin, and pointed ears, although her eyes no longer glowed and were instead a reddish hazel rather than regal-looking glowing blood red. The others were more or less unchanged as well, with the only real addition the points to their ears and a change to Serana's creepy glowing yellow eyes.
"You look so… normal," said Chandra, poking at one of Capirfexia's invisible horns.
Caprifexia blew smoke at Chandra.
"Hey! She blew smoke at me!" said Chandra, coughing.
"Children, play nice," said Serana.
"I'm not a child!" said Caprifexia and Chandra at the same time.
"Sorry – whelpling and teenager," said Serana. "Still, play nice."
"This is very impressive work," said Lombardia, peering at the earring that Serana was wearing that contained the glamour (Caprifexia had another ring for her now invisible horns). "It's radically different from Nirnian approaches to enchanting as well. Thank-you, but I don't believe we have anything to repay you."
"Don't worry about it," said Kallian, waving a hand airily. "Happy to help fellow multiversal travellers! Anyway, I wouldn't say I'm not getting anything. If Caprifexia and Chandra can show me how to take other people with me when I Planeswalk, I mean… wow!"
"And this will allow me to visit the local bookshops?" said Caprifexia.
"Bookshops? Oh, right, you wanted more information on the Fade?" said Kallian. "I don't know if they'll have much. Those sort of books are probably restricted to the Circles."
"Then take me to them," said Caprifexia. "This is important, I don't think you realise the severity of the situation. Your home-world is tainted by the Void."
"And has been for centuries upon centuries," said Kallian. "If this 'Void' thing is what the Chantry means by the Golden City turning Black. Yeah, it's bad, and I'd be chuffed if you figured out how to stop it, but I wouldn't call it the most pressing issue facing my people. And Circles aren't just things you can walk into. Well, you can, but… it's not a good idea."
Caprifexia harrumphed.
"But, of course, we can go to the bookshop," said Kallian. "My home city isn't great compared to the likes of Ghirapur or Ravnica, but the waterfront is quite nice – and I know a good restaurant: I'd love to buy you all dinner. Things were a bit calmer when I went out last night. They're blaming it on some Tevinter Magister who was in town. I'd like to say I feel sorry for him… but that would be a lie."
They emerged into an overcast morning half an hour later, this time from a house which seemed to be Kallian's, and had a hidden trapdoor in the cellar. It was, like the other entrance, located within the 'elvish alienage,' a place where the elves lived in the majority human city. Caprifexia wasn't an expert on mortal constructions, but even by their incredibly low standards she could tell that the elvish quarter was incredibly dilapidated and run-down. Kallian's house was much the same as all the others, with cracked walls and rough furniture, even though the other Planeswalker obviously didn't lack resources: her workshop had been very well equipped – enough to make Caprifexia positively jealous. There was a small school, which looked like it had been recently built, and a health clinic, but they were the only relatively maintained things.
"Why is everything broken here?" asked Caprifexia as they walked, gesturing to an abandoned, burnt out house. There were a few elves about, and they looked curiously at their small group, and a few waved to Kallian, but no one approached them.
"Hard to fix things when you have nothing," said Kallian, looking sadly at the burnt-out building. "And when you get blamed for everything."
"You knew them?" asked Einar.
"Cousins, they worked as servants for a local noble," said Kallian, shaking her head. "They got accused of killing a shem- sorry, a human child. They didn't do it, the kid turned up a day later – he'd cut his hand on the windowsill sneaking out. 'Course, that didn't bring them back.'" Kallian smiled tightly. "Long time ago now."
"Shem - 'quick' in Elvish?" said Chandra, translating. "That's what you call humans? Why?"
"Legend says that elves of Thedas were once immortal," said Kallian. "Apparently we lost it when we met humans. I don't believe that, to be honest, but that's where it's from. Derivation of shemlen – 'quicklings' – from the Old Elvish."
"It sounds nasty," said Chandra. "Like a slur or something."
"I guess," said Kallian, her a few lines appearing on her brow. "And I guess I wouldn't call you or your friends it. But… we have nothing, and its hard not to see that is the local humans' fault. Once, we had our own city, Halam'shiral. Humans invaded in the name of 'the Maker,' killed most of the population, dispersed a massive chunk of the rest. We've never recovered. 'A dying people' they call us, as if we couldn't thrive out from under their boot… " Kallian's hand tightened into a fist for a moment, before she slowly released it and took a deep, slow breath. "Sorry, I shouldn't rant about local politics. None of these things are your fault, nor your burdens to bear."
"That… sucks," said Chandra. "I'm sorry."
They moved through the alienage, and then into the city proper. It was more prosperous than the alienage, although there was poverty here and there. There seemed to be quite a large number of armed guards around, and Caprifexia spotted one of the anti-magic 'Templars.' She resisted, however, atomising them, after Einar begged her not to in a particularly whiny voice. They got a fair few looks, but no one stopped them, and it wasn't long before they reached a street lined with shops, the most interesting of which was called 'Borkin's Manuscripts and Tomes.'
"It might be best if just Caprifexia comes in with me," said Kallian.
"Why?" said Lombardia.
"Because most elves can't read," said Kallian. "And the owner might think we're trying to steal stuff if we all go in together. He knows me, but… well, just two would be best."
"Alright," said Lombardia, before turning to Caprifexia. "Little one, promise me that you won't set anything on fire."
"I resent that," said Caprifexia, crossing her arms.
"Or start a fight," said Einar.
"That- I don't do that-"
"Or kill anyone," said Serana, pausing for a moment. "Not unless they really deserve it, I guess."
Caprifexia glared.
"Or blow the building up," said Chandra.
Caprifexia sniffed and looked away. As if she would do such a thing. She was very mature: three years old. They were just dragonists, all of them.
The shop was stacked with books of every shape and size, although noticeably lacked magic entirely. On most worlds at least a handful of the books would have been enchanted in some way or another. Many simply with charms to preserve them against the passage of time, a few with curses designed to keep their contents secrets. On Thedas, however, there wasn't so much as a skerrick of energy in the stacks.
"Ah, the curious little rabbit, and you've bought a friend?" said the human behind the desk with a saccharine smile, looking at Kallian. "I'm afraid I haven't received anymore texts on military theory or history."
Caprifexia frowned. Rabbit? The Gift of Tongues translated that as a term of address for elves in Fereldenese – the language they were speaking. Caprifexia wasn't an expert on the insane convoluted nonsense that mortals called culture, but if any dragon addressed another dragon in such terms they would probably get their throat torn out – void-corruption or no.
"That's alright, sir," said Kallian in a level, polite voice. "My friend was looking for books on the Fade. Specifically the Black City. Might you have something?"
"Hmm," said the human, raising an eyebrow and turning to Caprifexia. "An odd topic, what's your interest in it, little rabbit?"
Caprifexia snarled. "I am no rabbit," she said with some vehemence that the shop-keeper jerked back.
"Uh! Sorry!" said Kallian, interceding in a very Einar-esque fashion. "She, um, had a bad night's sleep!"
"Quite rude," huffed the man.
"It's um, a purely academic interest," said Kallian quickly, stepping in front of Caprifexia.
"Hmm, very well, I suppose I have a few books," he said, moving around from behind his desk and wandering into one of the stacks and muttering to himself. "Extremely rude…"
"Caprifexia, please, you can't take offence to things like that," whispered Kallian urgently, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Not here."
"He called me rabbit!" replied Caprifexia, glaring at the human's turned back. "I am a dragon!"
"I know, it's demeaning and it hurts," said Kallian. "But if you cause trouble here, then other people will suffer for it. Elves. My friends. My family. I know you're a mighty dragon, and you're proud and strong and everything else, but- but sometimes…"
Kallian took a deep breath, setting her jaw.
"Sometimes immediate action isn't the best course of action," continued to elf in a low voice. "Sometimes you have to wait to make them pay."
Caprifexia was a mighty dragon, and she supposed she did understand the advantages to be had by delaying heroic vengeance. Yes, she'd remember this book shop and then, at a later date, she'd come and dispense justice for his slight against her. Rabbit, the nerve…
"Why don't you go outside and wait with the others?" said Kallian. "I'll buy the books for you, my treat."
"Alright," grumbled Caprifeixia, turning and wandering from the shop. Free books and not having to deal with irritating mortal shopkeepers anymore sounded nice.
"That was quick," said Einar, looking up from where he was loitering nearby. "How did… wait, where's Kallian?"
"That shopkeeper called me a 'Rabbit,'" said Caprifexia.
"Fuck. I knew this was a bad idea," said Einar, immediately grabbing her arm. "OK, we need to get out of here before the Guards come. Where's Kallian? Is the shopkeeper dead? Did you start a fire-"
"No, he's fine, the little bigot," hissed Caprifexia, jerking her arm out of his grip. "For now."
Einar, Lombardia, and Serana's jaws all fell open.
"What?" said Caprifexia. "Why are you doing that?"
"I think they're, like, just shocked you didn't kill him," said Chandra. "Or like, maim him. Are you sure you didn't smash his nose?"
The trio continued to stare at her in shock.
"I resent this," said Caprifexia. "I resent all of this."
"Capri," said Einar in an emotional voice, hugging her. "I'm so proud of you. You've come so far, you know?"
"Dragon's do not hug," she grumbled.
"Right, right," he said, releasing her and wiping his eyes. "Sorry, it's just, ah… well done!"
They waited for a few minutes before Kallian emerged with a large bundle of books tied together with rough leather cord.
"This was everything he had on the Fade and the Black City," said Kallian, handing it to Caprifexia. "I don't know how useful it will be, though – a lot of its just religious waffle. Next time I'm in Antiva I'll have a look for something dealing with the magical side of things. Laws are laxer up there, it's easier to get books and imports from Tevinter."
"You've been very gracious Kallian, thank-you," said Lombardia.
"You're my guests, it's no trouble," said the red-haired elf with a wide smile.
They made their way through the city toward the docks. As far as cities went, 'Denerim' was pretty mediocre. A bit more advanced than 'Astapor,' which had absolutely no magic, but the fact that this world kept its mages on leashes was obvious. Open sewers, a total lack of cleaning golems, old, dilapidated buildings, and poor and dishevelled beggars on every corner. Kaladesh had its short-comings, true, not least that it was seemingly run by blue-villains, but at least it was clean.
The port was a bit better, although they were stopped and forced to show some 'papers' which Kallian handled with some kind of enchanted slip of paper that felt to Caprifexia like it had mildly mind-bending properties. Down by the water the sea breeze hid most of the city's stink, and the air was filled with salt and the lovely tang of fish. There were lots of ships made of wood moored in the harbour, more even than the now booming 'Winterhold Port.' Her people had never built ships – why would they, they could fly? – but if they had, they certainly wouldn't have used wood. It was like the mortals wanted to die of immolation.
The restaurant that Kallian led them to at the end of the harbour wasn't bad either, and had an extensive collection of fresh fish, although for some reason the proprietor made them pay before the meal, which Caprifexia, who was gracious enough to admit that mortals were confusing and often insane beings she didn't fully understand, thought seemed a bit odd.
After that she only had to endure another hour of Einar poking around at markets and buying 'samples,' before, finally, they were off again with Kallian in tow.
"And the… eyes?" whispered Kallian. "Only we can see them?"
"Yes, the others don't," said Caprifexia. "Telling the others would probably send them mad."
"Huh," said Kallian, looking around.
They'd arrived back at the platform that led to the Plane with silver trees, golden grass, and purple leaves, Caprifexia were just waiting for the others to make their way over the slightly precarious stone bridge that collected it to a decidedly volcanic –and probably rather comfortable– plane.
"And we have to stop every fifteen minutes or so because otherwise… things find us?" said Kallian as Chandra opened the portal onto the calming, forested world.
"Yes, Old Ones," said Caprifexia.
"So it's a bit more dangerous than the other style of 'walking," said Kallian. "Still, I had no idea all these Planes were so close by. Pretty amazing, thank-you for giving me this gift, Caprifexia. I hope one day I can repay you."
The rest of their return was uneventful, thanks to Caprifexia's amazing dragon-map, and they arrived back to Winterhold Island without difficulty. The fact that she could sort of sense where it was thanks to her Red mana bond with Nirn might have also helped a little.
The others had turned off their glamours back on Thedas, but Caprifexia had decided to keep hers on. As much as she enjoyed how regal her horns looked–some small, pale reflections of her true form's majesty–having horns and glowing eyes had caused her more than a few problems in the past, and although she surely could have fixed it, had she turned her mind to it, the point of a mortal guise was to be undetectable as a dragon.
"Huh," said Kallian, staring out over the great 'Sea of Calamity.' "This… didn't used to lead here, from Denerim, I mean. It was to another town, Whiterun, I think? I haven't been here in over a year. I didn't get the impression there was much of a magical tradition on my first visit."
"Capri blew up the whole region," explained Chandra. "Future Capri, I mean. She gets super powerful."
"I was saving Nirn!" protested Caprifexia.
"Huh," said Kallian again, giving Caprifexia an inscrutable, almost calculating look, before her usual cheerful demeanour returned. "Well, I'd love to see the College! And you say it's free to enrol? I've never studied magic formally!"
"Of course," said Lombardia. "You'd be very welcome, although, outside the staff and the Psijic Order, we don't tend to spread around the existence of Planeswalkers too much. We're worried there might be some… concerns if too many people learned about beings like you."
Kallian looked out over the Sea of Calamity. "I guess I can see why."