The Crow's bill is blue as lead (Rayage)

[Panna Cotta]

Please put your timestamp It reeked of death in Sahova. He had just been welcomed by the vestibule golem, and was given a list of "tasks" that he may be interested in. All of them related to alchemy, none of them related to research. It took him a long while of answering yes-and-no to the golem's questions - TAR, despite all his cataloging prowess was limited by its own logic. It just had to know what exactly Rayage wanted from Sahova. Had he been a pulser, he would have been bored to death from the endless questions. "Have you any plan to stay permanently?" "What are your skills?" "What is your name?" "Do you have any family outside Sahova?" "Do you have relatives within Sahova? It must have at least asked him for his name for ten times, each one sandwiched between inconsequential interrogation. As if he was going to change his name. Then again, you never know. Rayage had the feeling that maybe, the golem was broken or something else. Or something else. Just as he was about to give up on the prospect of researching alchemy altogether, TAR sputtered some nonsense: "Vacancy. Abandoned alchemical laboratory at 45th floor." Which was odd, as he could swear Sahova wasn't that tall enough. Of course the secret lies deep within the underground caverns: the visible part of Sahova was but a minuscule fraction of Sahova's gigantic subterranean facility. Rayage was soon going to find out for himself soon enough. A small cylindrical golem arrived soon after, and spoke in a voice probably mimicked from somebody else. It sonorously articulated: "Greetings, Rayage. My name is Lector Qiao" - yes, the golem was definitely repeating the words of somebody else, unless the little animated scrap was Lector Qiao (in Sahova, nothing is ever what it seems!) - "you are hereby ordered to follow this golem. Meet me at Lab 45E." The transmission, if it can be called that, ended there. Something about the voice seemed foreboding. Rayage had been commanded, will he do as he was told? Should he agree, he will be escorted to a series of repeating corridors and stairs. Directional arrows and maps told him that he was heading into a place called Gug Andjak, which meant either "Great Prison" or "Safehaven" in the Ancient Tongue, depending on the translation. He descended deep into blue-lit stairwells, going deeper and deeper into the magical facility. Mostly there was nothing but endless walls, doors of various shapes and sizes, more stairs, and many more deserted pathways... It was like walking around an endless maze. Without the escort golem he was sure to lose his way. After what seemed like walking for eternity, the escort finally stopped in front of a big door. It looked more like the entrance to a big vault than anything. "LAB 45E" the metal sign on the top of the door dustily said.

[Rayage]

50th Winter, 510 AV The place smelled of death, but, then again, so did he. He was dead after all and, for now, made no attempt to cover it up. Being undead here wasn’t a big deal, the majority of the things, yes things, working here are undead; some too old to care about their past lives as pulsers, or as Ray likes to call them mortals. The nuit stood there facing the golem, the watchdog of the entire place, and just as robotically answered the questions that it asked. Sometimes, when prompted about his past or his family or anything of the sort, he would answer a quick and concise “No” or “I don’t care enough to remember”. Already growing bored of this machine, this golem, he wondered when the endless questioning would stop. It has asked for his name enough, and the other probing questions were just getting annoying. He didn’t like to be annoyed and if he knew anything about Animation he would make note to attempt to improve on the thing. Alas, he had no such knowledge, but the desire was there. Just as he thought it was pointless to even try to research Alchemy here, just as he was about to give up and go maybe look at other options, his patience with the device, with the golem, paid off. A vacancy! He could guess and imagine what that meant to him and his research. Maybe there was a hope. Though on the was in Sahova didn’t look like it had forty two levels, and if it had that many it just made him wonder how many more were above, or below, it. Not soon after the golem sputtered the words of vacancy he found himself in the presence of yet another golem. One that is, hopefully, more advanced than the thing he had been talking to. Disappointment quickly set in as it seemed only to be a messenger, though the message was quite interesting. He was ordered to do something… Interesting, he hadn’t taken orders in a long, long time. ”Lab 45E” Ray repeated to himself, committing it to memory before following slightly behind the golem. After the innital interrogation this place was really looking up, he smiled slightly to himself, a well amused smile, as he was escorted by the ‘drone’ to the lab he was supposed to meet this Lector Qiao. Whoever he was he sounded like he commanded some authority here, and the politics, even though Ray himself isn’t a being of such sport, he would have to learn and know in order to be slightly more productive here. Though nothing is ever as it seems. Following the golem though the mirroring passageways and flights of stairs. This place was definitely much bigger than outward appearances seem to suggest. Soon his feet started dragging as he walked yet another staircase. What is up with this place and the seeming endlessness? Is it some sick structural metaphor for the concept of time and un-life? But there was a curve, a flaw to this thought and state of mind, the blue arrows. The blue arrows that lit the way said that they were getting somewhere, to the ‘Safehaven”… And there, even there, were more endless, timeless, empty corridors though not uniform. The walking seemed to take just as long as the interrogation. Except now it was under orders, and things were just a bit, only a bit, more interesting to him. So far, the labyrinth he has been though has impressed him and he could only wonder if all the rooms were in use; if Sahova was using everything it has. Finally reaching the destination he realized without the help he would have been hopelessly lost. The huge, imposing door that looked like it could be guardian to treasures was really a door to the lab. Looking up he read the sign. LAB 45E. This was the place. Arriving he placed a hand on the door and attempted to open it expecting to find the Lector Qiao already waiting for him in the lab. After all he took long enough getting there.

[Panna Cotta]

The doors opened without a much as a nudge from Ray. It seemed to be working through the influence of magic, or maybe somebody inside the room used projection. Laboratory 45E was rather large, and it presented to him the reason why he came to Sahova: here was everything he was ever going to need for alchemical research. More than he will ever need, in fact. More than anywhere else could offer. Lector Qiao was a stately man. He had his hands laced upon each other, joined and wriggling. He was balding, typical of a decaying corpse, but there was something else about the wizard, he could tell. His body was not worn out due to a corpse’s putrefaction, but rather from having used magic. Ray could immediately tell that this man was not someone to mess with. Qiao turned his head around slowly - a full 360 degree - round bulging eyes wandering about the room before stopping to meet Rayage’s own eyes. “Ah,” he snapped and click his tongue, “Good to see you’ve made it. My name is Lector Qiao, Master Glypher.” His voice, though languid, carried self-assurance. “I am in charge around here.” He said it with conviction. If Ray even attempted to ask any questions, Qiao will reject him and motion him to stay silent. He was now an underling under Lector Qiao, and it be best if he learned to listen and respect the most powerful man in Sahova, politically, anyway. “So how much about alchemy do you know? A little bird told me you are interested in alchemical research? Pray, do tell me, what kind of research have you been involved before? Give me your credentials; tell me why we should hire you.” Suddenly, he was in a job interview. At the very least, Qiao offered Sahova’s story, “We are here to study about magic, research about magic. Of course,” a sarcastic laugh rippled upon his lips, “Sahova is a petching magical facility after all. But you see,” he waved a hand, “research produces nothing but paper, paper, paper. If you’re lucky you could publish a book? But what good is a book if you’re fighting a petching war?” This a monologue, and Rayage must force himself to hear it out. “You can’t exactly smack your enemy with your research. Unless you have thousands of books to attack them with, and even with that, you aren’t guaranteed victory. You know what I’m saying?” He gruffed. “I’m terribly terribly disappointed with mages these days, no vision and no cunning, no direction in life. I am looking for someone who will work towards a goal. And by a goal I do not mean seeing the end of a project. By goal I mean finishing a project,” his voice was powered with potency Ray has never heard of from a Nuit before, “and then using it.” Qiao reached up in the air and grasped his hand at an invisible idea. "Use it for the betterment of mankind." In other words, use it to conquer the world. “That’s where Sahova has been going wrong all these years, five hundred years of planning world domination yet we have not even colonized a small patch of island anywhere.” He shook his head morosely, “How does the idea of working on a laboratory of your own sounds to you? As you can see, this is a big laboratory, everything you need will be provided for. It's a little bit off the way, as a practitioner of Alchemy you know the occupational hazard... and we don't want to blow things up, not when there are many expensive and valuable things to break, especially here in Sahova. But... do not worry about the money,” he grinned, “I will be willing to fund you, as long as you give me a research worthy of attention.” Rayage did not know yet, but nothing in Sahova ever comes for free. Now was the time to put forward the best of his best ideas, in order to please Qiao, nay, to impress Qiao. Otherwise… well. A second death would be kind a punishment if he doesn’t rise to expectations OOCDo NOT come anywhere near Qiao. Just... don't. (Tip: Read his wiki) :|

[Rayage]

As the door opened with relative ease on the nuits part he walked in, and the room was just short of perfect. It only brought a smile to his face as he entered. There was nothing like it. Yes, perfect was the only word to describe such a lab. It was big and seemed to have everything needed for alchemical experimentation. That would be tested with time. The room blew his old set up out of the water, and then some. It was like more than he could have ever dreamed of, or even what he expected from Sahova. This place renown for its use of magic and research, but he had no idea it was to this precise extent. Spotting the man already in the room, the one who he could safely assume was Lector Qiao, he stopped some distance from him. There was something off about him. Something that brought up red flags, a sort of power; that was the kind of air that he felt was around this man. He was definitely of high stature in this place. That much was obvious. It was like man before him demanded respect and was very used to getting it. Too use? Maybe a bit arrogant, but he had to admit he had a streak of arrogance in him as well. All of his assumptions were proven correct when the man first spoke. He was indeed Lector Quao, and he was in charge around here. The last part was said with such force, such authority, that he a doubting thought never crossed his mind. He opened his mouth to speak a question, but it was quickly ushered away. Dismissed. Not being used to this kind of treatment the nuit had to bite his tongue around him. Just as he wasn’t use to taking orders, he wasn’t used to not being allowed to speak whenever he wants. He, personally, found it most annoying, but the man was in charge around here and he knew if he wanted any funding he would have to show the great amount of respect that his new ‘boss’ demands. A change, a big change. Qiaos questions provoked thoughts, great and grand thoughts, but also summoned alone with the dreams, the thoughts, the theories, the many failures that he has endured with his research. Ray kept biting his tongue trying not to speak during, what seemed to him at the moment, Qiaos rant. The physical effort showed and it revealed how restless he was just to answer the questions and get back to his research. It showed he had no interest in the history of the place, but the man did bring up some good points. The kind that Ray could play on further gain, or so he hoped, the mans support. As he listened to the speech he carefully ordered words in his head and planned every syllable, every tone in his voice, every action. He would nod politely when Qiao made a point that he agreed with like mages work being disappointing or actually completing a project and using it. He listened and planned, and before he knew it the little speech was over. With Qiaos last words a smile spread across his face. ”Research.” He started with that word and that one alone making it a sentence all its own, “It produces paper, and it is true one could publish a book, but I ask why? You are right books can hardly kill a worthy foe. Research shouldn’t be done with the mind set of publishing some book, no,” He shook his head, ”It should be used for results, the end product, a magical breakthrough that one could use to vanquish problems. I don’t plan to be writing any books.” He boldly told him. ”I plan to give tangible results. Not just thoughts on paper. Planning, research, theories do nothing for us if not acted upon, and that action, that, is what this place seems to be missing.” Another bold statement, ”I plan to bring action, get things rolling again. Action is the life blood of innovation. Books have no action, just theory. Books are useless unless the ideas are acted upon. Action is needed, and that is what I intend to bring.” like any good Politian he made promises, but he was challenged, and unlike many he was going to pull though. He was going to accomplish and personally complete every promise made. ”Five hundred years of planning world domination, how would you like to, personally, get the ball rolling?” he planted the idea in wizards head, his words laced with poison temptation, ”My kind of research will bring about results that you can smack, petch, disembowel your enemies with. My research isn’t confined to paper but to the products of the transmutations. You see, I aim to master the augmentation of living creatures. To better them, and, if so ordered, make them into weapons of war.” ”I began this research a long time ago. About my whole existence to be exact; with limited resources and the secrecy of my work I couldn’t get very far in the hundreds of years practicing. People don’t like it when you kidnap their son or daughter to experiment on only to have them horrifically altered and die at the same time.” he shook his head, ”Though I plan to start out smaller this time.” he laughed. ”And Ive thought of numerous ways,” though still all theory of course, ”of reducing the death toll and the failure rate of the transmutations.” he left it at that. Innovative, maybe, genius is questionable, but driven is confirmed. He was sure the alchemical experiments that he has planned would push Sahovas resources to the brink. A sly smile kept his face; he wondered how long this place could afford to fund him. He wasn’t planning on wasting any resources, just alchemy, especially the kind he does, can get rather… costly. ”With just a little bit more research I can get you results, and the little nudge Sahova so desperately needs.” ‘little’ of course was a bit of stretch. He had no idea how much more funding he would need or even just how much of a push Sahova would need to start sending out armies to conquer parts of the world. Direction was what he was giving Lector, and initiative, but most of all the power that is promised through his research. Ray could sure talk, but could he back his words with results? He sure thought he could, but he also thought his research was worthy of attention.

[Panna Cotta]

"Ah," Qiao said, with a slight hint of amusement and anticipation, "There is something I haven't heard for a very long time. Using alchemy to augment living creatures." He seemed to nod to himself, head moving side to side as if he was passing thoughts, judging them as they pass. "Ambitious. Quite ambitious. I actually like that." He gave Ray a disconcerting smile, "But can I trust you to stick to the fundamentals of alchemy? Many ambitious alchemists before you have attempted to recreate and modify life. There have been a few laudable results, most of them still far away from being successful. I am not an expert of the discipline, and the only sane alchemist I trust in the Citadel is dead from poisoning, no doubt the effect of being workaholic. I cannot recommend Master Karte yet, as he is currently being negotiated with. I'll send for him when he makes himself available." Qiao did not bother to elaborate and continued, "You will be largely on your own in this project. But don't mistake that for being unsupervised." His words were heavy, filled with authority. Rayage was imprinted with the mental memory that Qiao did not like being displeased. "If you need anything else, there's the Synchrograph Office. Familiarize yourself where's what and you should find it. The paper-pusher who keeps watch there is named Bebe, tell him I sent you and you should get anything that you want." He tapped his hand with the other, "But, don't even think about requesting for rare items or uncommon chemicals. I agreed to fund your research, not your caprices. However, if there's one thing we don't store, that would be anything that has a pulse. It is up to you to find living creatures to augment. If you want a test subject you merely have to travel to the Training Grounds, at your own risk. Not many wizards enjoy the outdoors these days." He laughed maniacally, "Too many wild critters." Or rather, wild golems. But Rayage wouldn't know until he saw them for himself. "This laboratory will be at your disposal, together with the equipment. And since you claim you have considerable experience on the subject of Alchemy," The man stared at him with strong imposing eyes, "and on the subject of augmenting living creatures, I expect you not to damage anything. Some of these equipment are more valuable than your promises." He paced a little bit to and fro, weighing Ray's words. "Everything here is being lent to you, on the assumption that you will provide satisfactory results." Again, that condescending grin, "Unfortunately you will have to write a book. For the meantime you could keep a journal of your progress and failures," he said, emphasizing on the last. "There should be action, proof, results - quantifiable evidence to support your claims. Prove to me you are a good investment, and then well talk about creating real weapons of war. I will not accept anything less than a bull-lizard, you hear me?" Qiao impatiently waited for any unnecessary questions from Rayage before explaining the terms of his apprenticeship, "You're required to at least stay for 40 nights, and I expect you to work round the clock. Your Master will be Master Karte, a later addition to Sahova, he will meet with you soon for consultation. Report directly to him, but you must also report to me. I don't usually face apprentices, my time is better spent with other important business, I'll send you a messenger golem soon." Rayage finally understood, a man like Qiao made concessions for his apprentices, everything laid out and everything must be followed. There was no room for mistakes, no room for apology. Serious business, real serious business.

[Rayage]

‘Ah’. One word that has so many meaning it’s amazing really and the only way to figure out the meaning for the word was how it was said and what follows it. Although it was good results that one word has the power to leave a person hanging on every word desperately trying to figure out if its use was good or bad, and what it meant in this situation. As he listened patiently to the man before him he nodded, this was the good kind of ah, the enlightened kind, the informed, and the pleased. Listening some more his face contorted a bit into disgust as Qiao questioned his form in alchemy. Can he trust that he stick to the fundamentals? Aren’t they the building blocks of any good Alchemist? The life blood of the art? The fundamentals cannot be deviated from of failure is sure to follow. That much is obvious, and should be obvious to any competent practitioner of the art. It’s inexcusable to mess with the fundamentals, almost arrogant. True, he was arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid. No, not enough to deviate from a system that works oh so flawlessly; the only flaws, being the failures of the transmutations, are in the Founts and Filters, and possibly the theory behind the said transmutation. No, Alchemy is an exact science and anything less than exact, anything less than perfect will either fail or not be worth the while it took to transmute. Alchemy demands perfection, exactness and those who cannot satisfy the art will soon find themselves at a loss and in a sea of frustration until, if ever, they get it just right. Alchemy, Rayage finds is much like life. Life is exact and though not perfect it is slowly working its way to that point. Much like Alchemy life stems from a perfect source, the divine. Through Alchemy life will evolve, change and manifest itself like nothing seen before. The perfect example of this would be the living men of clay, the Pycon. Genius was there creation and he wanted to make a name for himself as well, one that will be remembered, and one that is given credit towards the actual domination of the world though Sahova. The Alchemist who finally gave the little push that the nuits needed to take over the world, or at least start it. He wasn’t foolish enough to think that he would live long enough to see his creations or research take over the world. Though, he would want to be remembered for what he thinks is incredible work. He is driven in that he will finally get the transmutation of living beings down, and develop a formula, a recipe, an exactness that Alchemy demands, to pass onto other fellow Sahovan alchemists so they can continue in his footsteps, in his dark, dark shadow. He knew many alchemists have strived for this, for his goal, but they all failed and he, he would get it right. They all failed because they were not him, and, likewise, he will succeed because he is Rayage. It’s destined, fated, or so he believed. The Alchemist could only shake his head with a sort of misguided pity as the powerful man before him passed on the information that the only alchemist that he trusted was dead. Though it did pose a unique opportunity for him, yes, that it did, his pity soon revealed a smile on his face. The pity, if it was even that to start, turned to a golden grin as his gears were turning. He could work his way and gain the nuits trust. Yes, and all the more power to Qiao and, perhaps more importantly, to himself. He kept his silence, his thoughts turning over new ideas with every word that Qiao spoke. Something about a Master Karte…. He wouldn’t mind that, well working under a said ‘master’ just as long as the nuit stays clear of his project. You will be largely on your own in this project. But don't mistake that for being unsupervised. He smiled as he heard those words escape. Of course… What else could you expect from someone who offers to fund your research? To just fork over hard Miza and not look, watch, and wait for results. It was all an investment, and boy did Ray want more than anything to prove that he was a sound investment. Supervision was expected and totally foreseen. He would be a fool to expect anything less, and a fool he wasn’t. Or so he likes to think. Qiao seemed to be the type of person, who didn’t only expect results, but demand them, and anyone who fell short of such standards will be quickly overlooked, or something darker than that. Oh, Rayage was sure. It seemed to emanate from the nuit mages entire being, and Ray respected that. Bebe, Ray made note of that name for he was sure it would come in handy later. Another sly smile would break forth from the nuit as the other explained to him that he wasn’t to request the funding of any rare materials. That was just so funny to him somehow, and he was nuit without a good sense of humor, if he possesses one at all. Though he guessed that the piece of information should be mentioned formally, if not for only the sake of getting it out there and making sure all the rules and expectations were clear. He thought he had everything figured out, but there was one thing, one wrinkle in his grand plans: Obtaining the living creatures. This was only a slight problem that he was sure could be solved within a decent amount of time. He would either have to get good at capturing the creatures himself or hiring extra help. The latter seeming the most feasible, but already was thinking of ways to capture what he wanted himself. So the gears were turning again, and that might be obvious to those looking upon the nuit. He was slowly absorbing every piece of information thrown at him. Listening like a solider to his commander being sure he wasn’t leaving anything out. There was something about Ray that changed as he got word that the whole lab was at his disposal, and although he had heard the part about breaking the equipment he wasn’t at all concerned. He would make sure everything that was –that- valuable would be properly shielded. Even though he isn’t the best shielder in the world, just like everything, practice makes perfect, and perfection in this world is everything. Sometimes he even thinks the Gods imperfect. A journal cataloging all his attempts, progresses and failures, not hard, and he could do it nodding only slightly as he was told that he would have to keep one. Writing wasn’t one of his strong suits, but he could write… a bit. It would be sloppy. He couldn’t remember the last time he had to write something down. Everything is usually kept all in his head, locked safely there. He finds that it is harder to get into the mind and steal secrets than it is to just read them. That was his reasoning, and while few possess the ability to literally snatch information from the mind it was something that he was developing a defense against. Though he never really got all that far... Nothing less than a bull-lizard, uh? that statement amused him, but it was a challenge; one that he felt compelled to fulfill. ”One day you will have your bull-lizard.” he said with the upmost confidence in himself when Qiao stopped talking and it seemed he was allowing time for questions, but the nuit had none. He understood, or so he thought, the parameters of his stay here and where he was placed. He was sure he could produce quantifiable evidence, and he was determined to do so. If there was any place that he could study that could supply him better than Sahova he wouldn’t be here, and so this place was really his last hope, so to say. He had to get results here or he would get none at all. To him, failure isn’t an option. Forty nights of round the clock work. That was quite demanding, but now, Ray had to realize that he was on Sahovas time, and on their time nothing else existed but to further reach their goal of ‘helping’ the world. All of this time under the questionably careful watch of Master Karte, reporting to him, but the next thing to come out of Qiaos mouth surprised him. He was to report to Qiao himself also. This was going to be an interesting turn of events. He wondered who this Master Karte person was, but didn’t put much thought into it. His thoughts were more or less now occupied by trying to figure out how to exactly gain the creatures he wanted…

[Panna Cotta]

There was one kind of Sahovan Nuit, and it's the one who vigilantly pursues a goal and sees it to the end. Ray fit in that description like a glove, though he was still new to the Citadel. Not everyone was ushered to a laboratory, provided special treatment, and given an audience by Lector Qiao on one's first day. Rayage took the opportunity, one that was not offered elsewhere in the world. The magic he was looking for was here in Sahova, all he needed to do was to dig for it. "I've already wasted too much of my time here. I shall leave you on your own. Karte should be here anytime." And then Qiao took his omninous aura with him on his way out. Karte did not arrive until much later, and by the time his master showed up, Ray had already requested trapper golems at the Synchrograph office. The Master's arrival was silent, almost unnoticeable, and Ray would find himself unaware of Karte until the undead was but a few paces away. The voice was clear, crisp, in a sing-song manner that composed only of two notes. "I see you're in Sahova." The master spoke in the ancient tongue, which was a variation of a welcome greeting. He would switch to the common tongue if his apprentice had no talent for Nader Canoch. "I am Parsminy Karte, Master Karte to you." Karte was your next-door corpse. He looked rather silly, his thinning hair a nest of tangles. He wore old robes, no doubt once beautiful and expensive. His waning strength and tattered clothes were not caused by the passing of time, or the natural cycle of sickly undeath, but rather the effect of being exposed to great amounts of djed. That spoke of many great things about the Nuit, because he has managed to live this long with only few scars to show for his battles. "I am under the impression that Lector Qiao has hired you as my understudy. Are you just passing by?" Transients were not uncommon in Sahova. In fact, many people - of various races - visit Sahova in attempts to share its secrets, though some of them fail even before they begin. Some trade secrets are never revealed unless you have stayed for a significant amount of time. And that takes longer than the regular human's mortality. "I was told you are inspired to create a homunculus. It's been so long since one ever succeeded." Karte continued in his two-toned voice, "The valterrian caused a lot of trouble. A lot of trouble." There were many things that Karte could have said, but he wasn't in a chatty mood. He left his meaningless words and went on to interrogate his new apprentice, foregoing the trivial things like 'how old are you' 'how did you become a Nuit' or 'how long have you been practicing alchemy'. "May I hear about your ideas?" The man would listen, though his languid eyes and flat smile did not reveal his opinions. "What is Alchemy to you?" Another off-kilter question, as if in between asking one and another, Karte had come to a conclusion about his apprentice. "What do you mean to achieve?" Karte would accept even the vaguest answer. After all that, Karte asked, "Have you ever laid your hands upon a homunculus?"

[Rayage]

Ray was quite sure that not everyone in this place had such a warm welcome as his, no, he would be a fool not to. This was a petching magical facility after all and seemed to be under tight, unwavering order founded on power and supporters. Since Qiao had been so… what, accommodating? Yes, since he has been so welcoming he wouldn’t mind lending his support as well, that is once he is better known and has just a bit more power in this place. His ambitions were high, and supporting the ‘person in charge’ with his skills, and knowledge, not to mention his future creations, could be invaluable and vital if he ever wanted to be truly known around the island. Though he had no intention of running the place the nuit still wanted to be in good with the person who tries to run Sahova. Nodding a little to Qiaos he watched him leave knowing that in the future, hopefully the near future, he wouldn’t be such a ‘waste of time’. That was his goal after all. Though with the leaving of the powerful wizard the laboratory’s true air came to him and it came in like a whirlwind. It was only once that Qiao left that he really had time for the situation to sink in. He had got a laboratory for just walking in the place. LAB 45E was his, mostly. He knew, as Qiao had explained, everything here was being lent to him, but just this whole experience excited him. He had got a lab, with a silly grin on his face and not bothering to wait for the master to arrive he needed to get busy, show he was all too ready to work with what he was given, and so found his way to the Synchrograph office and submitted his form for trapper golems. He had to show he was ready to work and uphold the expectations that were trusted upon him, not that he cared they were, he was glad actually. Now he could get that breakthrough that he so desperately needed, and hopefully unlock the keys to the successful creation of homunculi. Too caught up in his thoughts to even notice the master walk in Ray would be pacing around juggling ideas around in his head, playing with the many alchemical formulas that he has developed over the years and trying to find the error in them. He didn’t want to make the same mistake twice, but it seemed over the years that he has made it many times over and is just blind to the fact that all his formulas have the same problem. It was a guess, and something to go on. His thoughts were obstructed by Nadar Canoch, something that he hadn’t heard spoken in a long time. Turning to figure in the room he nodded, ”Indeed it seems I am or…” he smiled, ”I hope this is Sahova” he would answer back in the same language he was addressed in. His though sounded like it took a bit of effort saying what he said. He hadn’t spoken, or really written it in such a long time that the memory of such a thing was almost foggy, but he would continue on anyways, “Master.” He told him almost in a challenging tone, though it was hard to tell with him if it was challenging or not, ”That would depend on your definition of just passing by, but,” he looked away at one of the labs far walls, ”I don’t plan to be leaving anytime soon, if that is what you mean.” he grinned at him knowing that plans could easily change. Though he did make some promises… He would stay until at least those are completed, and he didn’t see them done for quite a while. His voice was filled with a sort of god-like arrogance as he even addressed his master, like Karte should have known his answer or something. Though he only nodded, he had grand plans of creating homunculi, completely listening to the Master Karte as he spoke. He had no disrespect for him, though at times the tone in his voce would say otherwise, Karte was called Master for a reason and he had to at least respect that. His mind was reeling on all the secrets that this nuit kept that would, eventually be his. Or so he thought, so he planned. ”My ideas?’ this brought a grin to his face, ”Of how to create such a thing? Sadly” he shook his head, ”You don’t want to hear them because I’ve tried my ideas and they have all failed.” he said as if it was the saddest thing to ever happen ever, ”Though I do have a few ideas on improvement.” he said taking the chance to bounce one idea off of his master, ”Alchemy works by manipulating high velocity Djed and bombarding it against an object in hopes that, with speed, some of the charges will rub off, so to say, on the desired target. In my studies I have found that most animals and humans alike cannot take such force and power changing their internal structure, they cannot survive such drastic Djed enhancements.” he started hoping that so far he got his facts straight, ”So, recently I’ve come up with an alternative way of doing things that differs from approaches that I have done in the past.” he hoped he wasn’t boring his master, but he needed to get this answered, ”Before initial Alchemy can be done on the subjects why not treat them periodically with Djed blasts getting more and more powerful as the ‘conditioning’ goes on” The idea played off the idea of tolerance, and growing a tolerance to certain things. Humans can get tolerant to drugs, and that is why addicts need more and more of the same thing to feel the same effect after a while. Rays thinking was could it work with Djed as well? And if so, a whole new possibility, a new door, at least for him, would be opened. ”Then after much conditioning, that is if one can gain a tolerance to Djed, or course,” his whole theory riding on that, ”then the first actual transmutation could be done.” Oh, how he loved discussing theory, but what he desired was to see if it was possible or not. ”Of course, transmutations should be done with one fount and filter at a time,” this part much different from his past attempts when he tried to do it all at once, where they all ended up failures, ”to limit the amount of high speed Djed forcing the change in the subject.” It could be a tedious process doing everything one step at a time, but maybe that was what he was missing? He finished and waited for any comments on his ‘idea’. That was, until he was asked another question, “Alcemy.” finding it too exhausting to keep speaking in the Ancient Tongue he switched to Common and smiled, “Alchemy is my everything.” He answered simply, devoutly as if Alchemy was some kind of god. When speaking about Alchemy his voice softened up and he actually seemed happy, ”Alchemy is what kept me going all these years.” He nodded as if remembering some fond memory, ”It is what kept me from doing away with myself long ago. It is my art, my life, my expressions, but most importantly it is my teacher.” he said, ”It can teach much about life, about death, about the world really, an about people. All you have to do is ask that question and, well, the answer comes.” he smiled knowing he must seem just a bit crazy but he didn’t care, ”It teaches balance and art, measure and precision, absoluteness and law…” He could go on and on about what Alchemy was to him, but he realized when he took a brief pause to collect his thoughts another question was asked of him. Smiling at the question, ”With Alchemy I wish to obtain an ultimate understanding of the world, or life and death, and enough so I can create any homunculus I dream up.” He left it at that, short and not so simple. The next question caught him off guard. ”Have I… Have I…” it took him a minute to fully grasp what Master Karte just asked hin, ”No” he shook his head as if shamed, and answering the last part in Nadar Canoch, ”I have not, Master Karte.”

[Panna Cotta]

"Hmmm that sounds like you need to do a lot of copious note-taking. Observing, recording." Karte nodded at Rayage's proposed methods, hearing it all out and not providing his opinion unless it was asked of it. "You know, this reminds me of my earliest thesis on Homunculi. I was despised by my contemporaries for performing what they call bizarre and unethical experiments. Sahova does not discriminate like that, though it is not as good as a provider like it once was. Your method is sound, but like many other theories, it cannot be considered a theory unless it is tested true and proven constant through many experiments." "This world is not perfect, but I have my own ways of making up for that. You see, like all men of science, I have merely followed my heart and studied what interested me. I am pleased to know that we share the same interest in Alchemy. Do not treat me as your Master, though I expect to be called as such only in name. We can be comrades, we can work together. Perhaps a fresh mind such as yours will help me further my research." Wizards were always motivated by their own desires. Rayage was in a mutual benefit from learning in Sahova, that much was obvious. "Such a fascinating hypothesis you have there, would you care for a little demonstration?" There was a gleam in the other Nuit's eyes. "Living creatures hold a secret within the folds of their mortal lives. We can take them apart and build them together like - forgive the comparison - threads on a tapestry." Karte held out a hand and wriggled the fingers, "Success is usually determined by statistics, and results are usually dismal in the beginning, but as you climb one equation after another... the return is much more pleasant." "Hah." Karte said, "I apologize for rambling. I have received notification that you have requested trapper golems in the Synchrograph. While there are subjects in and around the Citadel, they aren't really very interesting. Though practice makes perfect, and lizards and dogs are just as good as any subject that you'll get. Not when Qiao has already sequestered keys to my personal dungeon." Karte shook his head. Would Rayage pick up the trail of politics left behind by these two figures? Or would he rather perform independent research? "The good thing is you're starting fresh, and I am in the understanding that it might do an old wizard like me to go back to the basics." He took out a rather thick notebook and a pen, "Let's see you perform a three-degree transmutation of solid material. Hmm, choose four items within this room and then come up with a formula that best exhibit what you wish to attain. Present your initial data to me, and then demonstrate your craft. Make sure that you will be able to demonstrate the theory that you held earlier. One fount and filter at a time," Karte reminded him, "And let's see if your ideas are worth a box of Sogs." Karte murmured, loud enough for Ray to hear, "You can't begin to understand life if you do not even know where to find its mysteries. The first step to finding your homunculus is to forget everything and know nothing." The Master scribbled notes, making sharp punches at his notebook, as he waited for Rayage's demo.

[Rayage]

Rayage listened to his master, nodding slightly. He was never much one for notes, but if that will get him to his goal then so be it. He would take as many notes as possible. Perhaps he despised notes so much because of his outstanding memory, having hardly the need for a notebook to observe and record events that has happened many years ago. To this day he remembers, like it was yesterday, the experiments of long ago. He was gifted in the since that his memory is almost perfect. Though he has no concept of time, which could be good or ill. Time is easily lost in the sea of memories and the flashes of reality that we call the present. Time has no meaning to him, one long dead, but also to one who has lived far longer than most beings could hope. Time isn't a river that flows in one direction, but a pendulum that goes both ways, with the help of memory. One can observe the past that they experienced, but you cannot change it. You observe and reflect and grow and every time the pendulum goes forward again you will be prepared to meet the future, which melds with the present, and then it will fall back, you will reflect, learn, and grow. It's a process. A small, amused smile would rise on the mages face as he heard of the bizarre and unethical experiments. Bizarre and unethical doesn't exist, and hinders the progression of science. Ethics shouldn't be brought into account when dealing with alchemy, or any other science out there. In the name of advancement ethics should be left at the lab door. If something would help the progression of any experiment then the ethical thought behind should be none. That is the problem with people today. They value ethics more than advancement, but what would the world be without advancement? It would be a cold dark place. Eventually one or two, or even a group of people will have to force a breakthrough that will lead to greater and a better understanding. Nothing can be gained without loss, and that is one of Alchemies key principals. For what happens to the charges when the transmutation is complete? He continued to listen, silently absorbing and analyzing every word that came from the nuit. He was a little set back when Karte offered to be his comrade, working together and only master in title. Sure he wasn't going to deny that offer. He would have to be an idiot. This was a perfect opportunity, and one like this was a once in a lifetime, many for him, chance. He was no fool and he wasn't going to turn away his chance to finally solve the homunculi puzzle. He wanted to put all the pieces together and finally see the big picture, and it seemed that the mage before him has seen the big picture, and therefore can help him in the assembly of the puzzle. Who knows, maybe even the master is missing a couple pieces of the puzzle? Laughing a little at the comparison it was obvious Ray didn't see anything to forgive. Like threads on a tapestry... That was a life wasn't it? After all, we all make up the big picture. He made note that Qiao had confiscated the keys to the dungeon. One can only guess what manner of creatures lie down there, but it was good to understand and unravel the basics before moving onto more complex transmutations. He would have to see what he could do to possibly acquire a set of keys. Work, results, and even more adventurous ideas. That was his formula to success, and to impressing Qiao even more. Yes, but the key to acquire the keys was probably results, and through that bond of confidence that will build when he reports to Qiao he will be getting the keys. Easy enough, uh? But the nuit understood the amount of effort that would have to be put in to support his words, give them merit and power. A lot of work was ahead, but he in his seconds of planning he was getting ahead of himself. "A demonstration?" He smiled at the chance to show off his skill at transmuting inanimate objects, "That sounds perfect," he concluded. Once said his eyes darted around the room looking for four items that could be used for alchemy, which technically included everything present because everything has djed, and that djed can be effected by the alchemist. Nothing can be safe as alchemy is everything just as the alchemist can effect anything. So the challenge wasn't finding something to transmute, but rather items that could complement each other, four, one of which having to be the target. That leaves three materials to transmute with. One fount, one filter each transmutation leaving one empty space. Sure he liked a challenge, but not an impossible one. A three-degree transmutation with only four items. It just didn't add up. With three items you can do one transmutation, with two more items you can do another transmutation, assuming you are only using one fount and one filter each time, with even two more items you can do another transmutation resulting in a three-degree transmutation. Unless he is horribly misunderstanding what is being asked, this just cannot be. Alchemy is a science; it demands exactness, and... That is when a light appeared in his eyes. He smiled at his master, "Master, forgive my questioning, but I'm curious as to how one such as yourself would go about this task." He indirectly questioned his masters competence of alchemy, though certainly not meaning to. It was just a thing that happened every now and then. Maybe he was going about the problem wrong? Or maybe he misinterpreted what a three-degree transmutation actually is. Whatever the case he was eager for an answer to his question. Sure he wanted to prove his ideas were worth a box of sogs, but he was just unsure about how to go about the transmutation without any more items. He was here to learn and show off a bit, but this task, this test seemed... Well whatever it was he was going to get an answer.