Spell components [Video]

[draconic_historian]

I have been attempting to scry cities within United Earth's territory, but their cities and strongholds are simply too far away to reach with the components I have available to me now. A reflecting pool can barely reach across the channel to the south. A mirror can make it a bit further, but all I see is still ruins and wastes. To actually reach United Earth territory, I would need a crystal ball. Ideally it would be about 3 feet across, and made of very high quality glass. I wouldn't consider it possible for such a thing to be made to sufficient quality for the distances I have in mind, but with the machines we have here, I think it could be done.

Since I have never learned glassblowing myself, I turn to my fellow transports. If anyone things they could do it, it would greatly help our cause to be able to spy on United Earth by magic, which I highly doubt they have defenses against. Not to mention that a chance to see what life under our enemies is like directly might help firm the resolve of some of you who have had difficulty deciding whether United Earth or Exsilium is more worthy of your enmity.

If you are not willing to make such a thing out of the goodwill of your heart, I would consider myself in your debt, willing to return a similar favor at some point in the future. A dragon's favor is not a boon to turn aside lightly. Or if you'd rather, I suppose I could be talked into...

[He's hesitant to even suggest it, but desperate times call for desperate measures.]

...paying you directly.

[He makes a face as if getting a foul taste out of his mouth.]

But before getting into such extreme measures, I would know if any of you thinks a three foot wide, flawless, perfectly spherical ball of glass is within your skill to make.

Comments

video;

[barefootbender]

Piece of cake.

[draconic_historian]

Really?

[barefootbender]

Sure. You might have to help me a little to be sure it's just how you need it, but I can earthbend you something like that easy.

[draconic_historian]

Well that was easier than I expected it to be.

[barefootbender]

Everything's easy when you've got Toph Beifong on your side.

[she huffs and puts her hands on her hips proudly.]

...although, I hope you have the stuff for it. I dunno how specifically you need this ball of yours made, but not all sand is the same.

[draconic_historian]

I see.

[He sounds slightly dubious, but politely does not question her confidence.]

The ideal scrying ball is a mathematically perfect sphere with absolutely no coloration and no imperfections, and can see literally anywhere within this plane of existence. Naturally, no real specimen can reach this, but the closer to it you get, the further you can see.

My teacher had one that could see two hundred miles, and was quite proud of it. If these maps are correct, we're going to have to make it three or four times further at least.

[barefootbender]

Well, if you give me enough sand, and the right sand, I can bend it into a sphere and push the impurities out. You'll have to tell me if you can see through it the way you need to, but I can keep trying to tweak it until it's right.

[draconic_historian]

...Are you blind?

[barefootbender]

Uh-huh. But even if I weren't, I'm not some expert in crystal balls, so you'd probably have to help with that anyway.

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

There's...a lot of you around, isn't there? [He's a bit stunned to realise that, since Kilgharrah's technically the last dragon where he's from.]

Er...have you tried looking in the Initiate's supplies? Haven't seen a glass ball that size myself, but you never know. They have all sorts of things in that weapons room of theirs.

[draconic_historian]

Five, by my last count.

And no, they do not carry spell components in their hold. They have no magical lore of any kind, save children's tales.

[dragonspeak]

You're the second one I've spoke to, but I've seen the others from afar.

[He bottles up his questions and leaves them for later.]

Oh...no magic? [Merlin chews on his bottom lip while he thinks.] Maybe a bigger pool of water would work.

[draconic_historian]

That would just make my view bigger. And anyways all the rain we get interferes with any water based scrying.

Which was the other, out of curiosity?

Voice

[breakin_ur_lore]

A scrying crystal...it would be useful to be able to see things over a long distance.

[He pauses to think.]

I don't know if I can find anything, but I go around the shops here often. I can keep an eye out for crystal balls, if you want.

[draconic_historian]

I have done some looking myself, but decided finding one sufficiently large was unlikely.

If you find one though, that would be very convenient.

video;

[scienceinacan]

A crystal ball?

Not a telescope? Also, you're not really a dragon, are you?

[draconic_historian]

A telescope requires line of sight. All of United Earth's territory is over the horizon.

And yes, I am. I can burn your house down if you think it would help you believe it.

[scienceinacan]

So you're going to use "magic" to look at the United Earth territories?

[ So very curious. ]

By the way, how big are you? ♥

[draconic_historian]

That's right. It's a well known application of divination.

Size wise, we shall leave it at significantly larger than you

[scienceinacan]

I'd like to see the results! When you get it...

Bigger than a house or a building, or not too?

[draconic_historian]

Well that would depend on the house.

[scienceinacan]

A normal bungalow, then?

[draconic_historian]

Since you seem dead set on this, I am forty two feet long and weigh slightly under nine hundred pounds, with a wing span almost the same as my total length.

[scienceinacan]

Impressive!

I'd like to see you in person at least once!

[draconic_historian]

You probably have. I fly over the city fairly regularly.

[scienceinacan]

And you haven't tried flying over to the [ he makes gestures ] outside...?

[draconic_historian]

You mean beyond this island? To the continent to the south? A small amount. It is largely miserable ruins, much like here.

[scienceinacan]

The United Earth? You know the place you're trying to "divine"~?

[draconic_historian]

They do not hold the land to the south. Not for hundreds of miles. Just blasted ruins and mutated beasts.

[scienceinacan]

The other areas then. Have you tried flying closer to them?

If the south is all ruins, that's one less place to check out... for now...

[draconic_historian]

I ventured closer to their actual lands once, and learned of something they call "anti-aircraft guns."

I have seen been more cautious.

[scienceinacan]

That's useful information. And you'd be an open target without something to scramble their sensors! Or camouflage!

This sounds like a setting in a movie!