XX2 Entry

[roseofmay]

Sender: Beatrix
To: All
Subject: No Rest for the Weary

It would appear that I have been indisposed, though that seems to have been rectified. If for any reason, you have been seeking me, I can now properly attend to matters that were not appropriately handled before said indisposition.

That said, please refrain from entering my personal space and leaving books, regardless of the quality of reading material. Furthermore, please refrain from entering my personal space, period.

I had, prior to my temporary condition, been discussing how to better provide a defence for the town proper. As more dream walkers find themselves in this world, not only do we grow in population count, we also grow in the evolution of the town. The market, beings who are not exactly dream walkers like ourselves, yet present all the same, farming land, the coliseum in disrepair, and our other outskirts.

I would like to know if it is possible to create a defensive ward to otherwise protect Reverein citizens from potential outside threats by use of dreamotion in the establishment of wards. If we are capable of creating such things, it may also be possible to recycle or supply a consistent and constant flow of dreamotion in an effort to power said wards or barriers.

For some time, I have contemplated the ability to, for lack of a better term, 'bottle' dreamotion for later usage. If you have any experience in such matters, I implore you to share your results.

Comments

Sender: Emet-Selch

[recreator]

"Bottled dreamotion"...

Well, in theory I see no reason why it shouldn't work. After all, there are plenty of individuals who have imbued dreamotion energy into all manner of foods, beverages and even objects. One would only need to find the appropriate vessel and then determine a means of drawing that power out again at a potency relative to that which was first set aside.

Of course, the vessel would need to be something strong enough not to be so easily broken. Elsewise you could easily have a disaster on your hands.

[roseofmay]

I did wonder over what would constitute an appropriate vessel, myself. My own ability with dreamotion is not an expertise, else I would have tested various ideas before bringing such an idea to the attention of the others here.

I agree, however, that whatever the vessel is, needs to be selected with care. The consequences for an incorrect selection or something going awry would potentially be hazardous against all of us. There is also the matter of whether held dreamotion would lose or gain potency over time if it was not being readily put to purpose.

[recreator]

That certainly is the question.

Though, I should think, one obvious candidate would be some form of crystal. After all, the dreamcrystal lanterns which manifested upon our arrival must absorb a variable amount of dreamotion energy depending upon the length and intensity of whatever dreams we find ourselves within.

Yes. Perhaps if someone were to find crystals which naturally form in the realm itself, a source tied to Reverein rather than a single person, the result might be capable of serving as a vessel. Then one would need only find a way to reinforce it.

Though dreamotion, too, is another problem. Always changing, always in flux. Who knows whether its nature would shift between first being harvested until such time should arise when it is needed again.

[roseofmay]

A crystal. An intriguing idea.

If we failed to find one in natural form, it may be possible to create one, in one fashion or another. Although the nature of dreamotion changing could be a concern. We may not be able determine immediately how it is changing or what properties are going to be affected by said change.

[In short, all of this sounds like an adventure.]

You sound as if you have given this a great deal of thought. Or you are particularly experienced with dreamotion. Quite possibly both. Which one is it?

Sender: Dohalim

[menancia]

[Under different circumstances, Dohalim would likely be quick to offer his assistance in the practical measures that are mentioned later on in Beatrix's written message. As things stand, she may as well have said nothing of the sort, for all he can think of is the fact that he, himself, is quite guilty of having entered her personal space on multiple occasions while she'd been asleep in the interest of checking up on her— among other things he has been unable to put out of his mind. More than that, there is a distinct sense of relief at seeing an entry attached to her name at all, after so many weeks of silence.]

You've awakened. You had many of us worried, you know.

[It is far easier, he notes, to remain calm and collected while writing than it would be face-to-face— but the latter will come soon enough, whether or not he's prepared for it.]

How do you feel?

[roseofmay]

I assure you, there is no reason to hold concern for me. I am capable of handling my own things. Even in sleep.

[She suspects that Dohalim isn't the only one who was worried about her. It is entirely possible that she simply wouldn't have woken again. What happens to someone in such a case? Maybe she simply eventually would have returned to Alexandria. Isn't... that what she wants?

Except it's no longer that simple. The opportunities here. The ability to find herself. Some version of herself that lingers beneath her title. Perhaps she isn't yet ready to return home.]

I feel as I ever have. Nothing has changed, except that I have lost time, which I will remedy.

[menancia]

[Could he truly have expected any other response from her? No, of course not— she would always insist that she was fine, that there was no cause for concern. Such was her way.]

I had feared you might not wake up. There is much about this world and how it operates that is still unknown. Such a thing was not guaranteed.

[The words are plain, but there is heaviness in his heart as he writes them.]

I am glad to know you are yourself upon awakening, regardless. When it is convenient, perhaps we might meet in person?

[roseofmay]

[...There's something in the way he says that. He was afraid she wouldn't wake up? Since when did she become so important? Why, is a better question, she supposes. As such, faced with that admittance of his, which he seems to offer with relative ease, she has to sit in consideration before she should consider.

She decides, in the end, to do as she normally does and declines from addressing it so outright.]

I have some deliveries of parcels to make, but those will not take long, provided I can find the residences with little difficulty. [How hard could that possibly be?] I can meet with you following said deliveries. Unless this is something dire. Are you in danger, Dohalim?

[Because that would be a great way of snagging her attention right quick.]

Sender: Susato Mikotoba

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato perhaps does not know Beatrix quite well enough to have known about her "condition." There's a flicker of surprise when she reads the words, and in hindsight, they're familiar, and... for lack of a better description, it sounds like Beatrix.

They did have a lovely conversation among the flowers, after all. ]

What a specific request. I can't help but feel like that was directed at someone who was as excited about the Tree of Stories as I was...

Either way, I am glad to see you are well and awake once more, Miss Beatrix.

[roseofmay]

I have nothing against anyone being enthused about the Tree of Stories. I simply did not appreciate waking and finding that any number of people quite possibly have been wandering into my abode.

[Purely because Beatrix is immensely private and has attempted time and again to keep people at arm's length of her. Somehow, anyone in her residence, is a form of vulnerability. As if it may very well reveal more about who she is as a person.]

Your input is kind. Unwarranted, yet kind. Did the cookies you provided at the festival improve the patronage of the Wild Harvest?

[judicialassistant]

Oh, yes! We did remain closed for the festival, but we've been doing quite well. The fact that you asked is also quite kind.

[ Simply a formality, perhaps? She wants to tell her more, but the idea of finding out someone's been in your home while you were sleeping is kind of alarming. She's fine, as far as Susato can tell, but still, she wonders, and that should probably take precedent over gushing about Kazuma's place. ]

Did you find any of your belongings missing?

[roseofmay]

[...Whereas Beatrix would be quite happy to not discuss the nature of her sleep. She supposes she can humour Susato. Besides, the question is quite an innocent one.]

No. Not that I am aware of. I suspect some had concerned over my absence and thought to track me down. On the contrary, I found at least one thing in my residence that was not there previously.

I am simply a private woman. Inviting anyone to my chambers is not what I would consider appropriate behaviour. Having anyone invite themselves is equally inappropriate.

sender: venti

[concierto]

Good morning! Right back to it, are we?

[That's all he's writing for now... Perhaps just to strike a chord?]

[roseofmay]

[Her favourite... something-rather. She hasn't decided what that might be yet. He's something for sure.]

It is a bit difficult to accomplish anything when one is absent, is it not? I suppose you expect me to spend more of my free time in leisurely pursuits as opposed to working in some manner. How nice it must be to be so alarmingly carefree.

[concierto]

[He's pleased as punch already.]

Why yes, it's very nice to be alarmingly carefree! Thank you! Whatever is wrong with enjoying some leisurely pursuits, after all?

[roseofmay]

[She's successfully annoyed in moments. Someone give this guy a medal.]

'Some' is fine. I am under the impression you never take anything seriously, however. As such, for those like me, it becomes our responsibility to intervene where those like you will not.

Sender: Hans Westergaard

[sleightofhans]

I wasn't aware that you were indisposed for a while, General Beatrix. I hope that you've fully recovered.

I'm afraid I don't have much experience with bottling dreamotion, so I have little to offer regarding that matter.

[roseofmay]

I am as well as I can be per the circumstance.

You may not have experience with it, but you do have the unique skill allowing you to develop weapons. You may have more to offer than you realise. I would like to test my theory with your abilities. Not the literal crafting of weaponry, but rather the dreamotion with which you are able to do such.

[Unsurprisingly, Beatrix doesn't even ask for his input. Simply puts it in a way that she'd like to 'use' him.]

[sleightofhans]

[That's rather straightforward, asking him to use his powers for this project of hers. It's a little amusing, but he expects no less.]

Is that an order?

Sender: Eustace

[flamekthunder]

A different take from your original idea, I see. It seems worth looking into. Learn of anything yet?

[roseofmay]

My original idea continues to stand. I am merely extending the thought process to other possibilities. It would be unwise to connect ourselves to one concept. Things, after all, do not go the way that we expect them to. We ought to be prepared for those moments if we can be. Alternative ideas are clever and sometimes, necessary.

That said, I have ideas, but not certainties or theories on how to put them from word into action.

[flamekthunder]

Agreed, different possibilities is wise to have. Some kind of shield or barrier will also be more permanent unlike the people here where one could disappear without notice.

But no concrete methods yet, huh. A bit disappointing, but surely something could be done. Unfortunately my only experience in creating barriers via dreamotion is local and not sustaining.

sender: Barok van Zieks

[discourtesies]

I would be interested in potentially contributing to defensive measures such as those you suggest.

[He doesn't enjoy fighting despite how much he's trained for it, and preventative measures are a much more appealing avenue for him to focus his efforts than something like patrolling and the like.]

I could not say I am any expert in the matter of wards, but I have found some success in defensive magic, however accidental.

[roseofmay]

[That's pleasant input. Although she's not certain she would have pictured him the sort to lend assistance. Beatrix isn't being particularly finicky, however. An interest is an interest. A bonus to come from a familiar face.]

Defensive? You have my attention. Surely you do not mean curative ones. Can you give me a little more information as to what you are capable of?

[discourtesies]

Given certain circumstances, I have been able to conjure walls of ice, as well as a phantom of sorts that is capable of both offence and defence.

[... right, he should describe the circumstances. Time to be vague.]

They have thus far required a sense of urgency or immediate danger. However, I am certain I would be able to create such phenomena at will with practice, should they prove useful to others.