001 [Video]

[brat_from_hell]

[Phibrizzo has actually been here for a couple of days now, but he's been watching, learning, and staying out of sight. When the androgynous child appears on the screen, he looks very clearly confused. At first, he’s talking more to himself than to anyone else.]

I’m not even sure how this is supposed to work...like a magic mirror or something?

[

Comments

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

[A hint of curiosity in her tone.]

Welcome and all that. Is your communicator actually a magic mirror? What kind of spells do they use to enchant mirrors in your world?

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

Communicator? You mean this thing? It looks like a little skull. Only it's more like the skull I drew on a "Keep out" sign once instead of one that looks real.

I've never tried enchanting a mirror before...I just knew that sorcerors and sorceresses could do it.

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

I see. [Mildly creepy, but Raven had a goth phase too.]

Are you a sorcerer yourself?

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

I can't do too much yet, but I can use magic. Mostly to fly.

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

Gotcha. It's always interesting to meet fellow practitioners. [Slightly wary, too.] I'm Raven, by the way.

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

My name is Phibrizzo. Are you a really experienced sorceress? I was just starting to learn. I was trying to save up money so I could go to Atlas city...it's where the sorceror's guild is, so there's lots of great teachers there.

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

I'm not the most experienced out there. I'm a little young for that. [But you look like you're even more so...]

And my brand of magic may work a little differently from yours, since we're from different worlds. Or maybe not. Hard to tell. Can anyone in your world learn magic?

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

Not anyone...some people can use magical objects but they can't channel magic themselves. Like enchanted swords and stuff.

[He clears his throat and sounds like he's reciting something he memorized from a text book.]

Magic talent is defined by two categories - capacity and ability. A person may have no ability and a high magic capacity, or a low magic capacity but a lot of natural ability. Sorcerors and sorceresses who have both high capacity and ability are recognized by the Soreceror's Guild and sometimes have a colour attached to their name if they possess exceptional talent.

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

Hmm, I see. Seems a little different--more formal--than the way I know it. Well, if you happened to bring any spellbooks with you when you came, I'd be happy to compare notes.

[Brief pause, then another thought:] What kind of technology do you have?

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

I don't have any spellbooks with me. I have a few spells memorized, but flying is the only thing I'm any good at.

Technology? What's that?

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

I see. I don't think any of my spellbooks came with me either, but I suppose there's always the library.

[A pause...]

Technology. You know, non-magical devices. Usually running on electricity these days, but depending on where you come from, maybe coal, steam...

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

That would be useful if they had spellbooks there.

Oh...hm. Water is boiled by putting a pot over a fire. Rooms are lit with torches or candles. We have horse drawn carts and carriages. Do you mean things like that?

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

Yes. I'll probably go check sometime soon.

[Pause.] Yes. That is what I meant. But you'll find technology has advanced just a little bit beyond that level here.

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

You mean like those boxy carriages that move without a horse pulling them?

[voice]

[azarathmetrion]

Yes, they have internal combustion engines... um. [Raven doesn't know all that much more about them, really.] You'll have a little catching up to do in that regard.

[voice]

[brat_from_hell]

...sounds like I have a lot of reading to do, then.