Dinnertime Interrogations

[Zazkiel]

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"It's Bel? Belenar Duskwhisper?" Jocryn called back at Avaric, stepping backwards and down the stairs as he kept his gave fixed on Belenar.


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"Wait, Eidric's elf?" He heard Vanalie say, obviously speaking towards Avaric.


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Well <em>this </em>was unexpected, Jocryn had gone from having no company to having three other people in his workshop in less than an hour. "You said Lils dropped you off? Did she have somewhere she needed to be?"


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--


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Stretching out further, Van thoughtlessly invaded Avaric's personal space in order to see through the basement door. Yep, that was <em>definitely</em> Eidric's elf, with Lillic's shiny silver cloak thrown over his form like he was a stray puppy that needed to be kept warm.


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It was almost cute, how everyone scrambled over themselves to please the shiny new high elf visiting their city.


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[Blakie13]

"Don't be silly Van. He's my elf too," Avaric chuckled, softly patting the woman's leg currently holding him down. The man watched as Jocryn let the elf into view. Jocryn better not fall backwards on those stairs... Avaric thought as the man in question continued to look at the newcomer, waiting for an answer. Avaric was curious as well, he figured Lils would have kept Belenar for just a bit longer.


Oh well, he had wanted Bel to get to know Van today anyways.


--


The elf shook his head, the gold and sapphires in his ears and around his neck catching on the light in the basement. The silver cloak that didn't belong to him shimmered as well.


"I don't think so. She didn't want me on my own, but Av and Eidric were busy..." the elf started, eyes wandering around the room and his host, the shop owner himself. He waved briefly at Van and Avaric where they were seated, Avaric jokingly blowing a kiss in response. "I think I might have tried her patience, so she cut our time together short. She figured I could get to know you, or explore the shop..." Belenar trailed off.

 

[Zazkiel]

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<em>I think I might have tried her patience.</em> Van snorted at that, nails digging into Avaric's shoulder as she thought of the clever agent.


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"More like he hit on something a little too close to home and she had to work not to stab him in the back." She mumbled, leaning in closer to her warlock so the elf's heightened hearing wouldn't pick it up.


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--


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"I mean, I can show you around the shop if you want!" Jocie said brightly, flashing a smile at Belenar.


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He glanced down at his sandwich, and then gestured at the makeshift pillow fort with it. "Or, we were in the middle of lunch. I still have an apple and some wine, or you can steal whatever Avaric hasn't eaten."


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[Blakie13]

"Most likely," Avaric whispered in return. "He probably compared elves and humans or something. You know how pro-human she is," Avaric teased, as a member of that very same race. He did well to not wince in reaction to her nails, he was used to it at this point. "on the bright side... you get to hang out with him today after all," Avaric stated.


He was more than happy for Belenar to get to know his friends, and Joice seemed off to a decent start.


--


Belenar smiled softly, "Wine sounds more than good, thank you. We can tour the shop later," Belenar assured. He would much rather get to know Avaric's friends.

 

[Zazkiel]

Jocie nodded and took another step back, stumbling slightly at the transition from stairs to stone floor.


"Hey Av, can you get Belenar some wine?" Van would just drink from the bottle out of spite, if he asked her.


"So how's your stay in Stormwind been? Has Eid shown you to all the fancy places in town yet?" Plopping himself down again in the very corner of the room, Jocryn gestured magnanimously for Belenar to sit.


"Has Av shown you any of the shady places in town?" Vanalie broke in, grinning as she passed over the now-full wine glass and snagged the bottle for herself.

 

[Blakie13]

Avaric had no issue complying with Jocryn's request, pouring Belenar a glass. An overly fully, destined to get such a small person at least tipsy kind of glass. He would never claim to be the best influence on anyone. As Belenar followed Jocryn's suggestion to sit, Avaric handed him the glass.


"This has been a nice stay so far, my longest," Belenar said to Jocryn at first. He was mildly overwhelmed by the three humans suddenly surrounding him with some form of attention. "Three weeks, and Eidric has taken me to quite a few places," he continued. "But how do you mean by fancy?" The elf asked, not sure what that meant by Stormwind standards, although to say as much might mean offending the humans. Possibly.


"And I'm afraid I'm not sure what you mean," Bel said to Van. "Shady? I mean there is not much sun in winter, so many of the places Av takes me are shady..." The elf said in a questioning tone. Humans are strange, he thought.

 

[Zazkiel]

"He's so cute!" Vanalie mock-whispered to Avaric, grinning widely. 


"Shady places! Y'know, irreputable. Of ill repute." Leaning forward, Van waved her free hand lazily. "Has he taken you to any prime demon-summoning spots? Places where someone probably got stabbed?"


"Places where someone definitely got stabbed?" Jocryn added through a mouthful of probably-turkey sandwich. He seemed entertained by the prospect, at least. 

 

[Blakie13]

The elf blushed in embarrassment over his misunderstanding. Curse Common vernacular and its countless slang terms. 


"Uh, well, he has taken me to the Slaughtered Lamb once or twice. It was very... interesting," the elf replied. 


Avaric intervened, "Well, and Lion's Pride a couple times, both with Eidric. And you know shit happens in Goldshire," the warlock stated with a laugh. "But you have so little faith in me, Van! Taking this darling little doll to such places with any amount of frequency would be a crime, truly. Look how innocent he is," Avaric said, pinching Bel's cheek good naturedly.  


Belenar stuck his tongue out at the human. "I'm not that innocent..." he mumbled. 

 

[Zazkiel]

"He's a magister though, right?" Turning his head slightly to face Belenar full-on, Jocryn raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a magister? Like, uh, whatshisface. Rommath?"


"What's being a magister got to do with anything, Jocie. It's not like they summon demons or create blood-slaves." Van took a long drink from her wine glass, eyes trained on Jcoie the whole time.


"No, but they do create people-slaves. The Magisters keep an iron fist on Silvermoon, if even half of what comes out of Tan's mouth is the truth." The mildly-insane N'zoth worshipper had plenty to say about his people's leaders.


Tales of mind-controlling and 'reconditioning' fell from Taneath's lips on the regular, each story more outlandish than the last. He was a damn good ritualist though, and Jocryn didn't want to lose one of the few connections to his chosen faith he had.


"But I don't know, the dude's pretty nuts. Does he have the right of it, Bel?" 

 

[Blakie13]

The elf practically snorted, a grin forming on his face. 


"Well, I'm training to become a Magister, I could graduate within very few years, actually," the elf stated. "But this Tan person is... well. Not lying, exactly. The uh... mind magic was employed primarily before the restoration of the Sunwell." 


"Told you Tan was full of it, Jocie," Avaric added in, taking a sip of his wine. 


"It's still used, from time to time, but only if a Magister or Magister-in-training has a talent for it. They try not to teach such magics to everyone within the Magisterium..." Bel muttered, thinking of Selarion who swore off that path despite being a master Blood Mage, and Rivena who preferred to use her indomitable (stubborn) will to get her way instead. "Silvermoon politics are very... complex." 

 

[Zazkiel]

"Tan was not full of it, Bel just confirmed it!" Jocie protested, and Van snorted inelegantly.


"So what determines what kind of magic you get taught? Your instructor? Personal preference? D'you have some kinda quota to fill? We need 'x' amount of arcane-slinging magisters and 'y' amount of pyromaniacs?" Van wasn't really that curious, but she could tell Jocryn was. 


She absently wondered if Belenar could know Taneath. Almost all of the Silvermoon elves died, didn't that mean that most of the survivors had some kind of connection to each other? Van knew the majority of the surviving Defias by name, and a solid chunk of Moonbrook's homeless by face if not name.

 

[Blakie13]

Avaric waved his hand dismissively at Jocie's protest. He was the resident elven culture expert, and Tan was definitely full of it. At least in how the Magisterium operated.


Belenar seemed almost excited to respond to Van's questioning. "It's all based on magical potential, actually, which is determined by your early studies. Magic is all en-en..compassing-" he stuttered out the clunky Common word, and continued as if uninterrupted,  "-in our culture, so magecraft is taught almost as soon as one can walk and talk," he stated. 


"Not to offend, but you humans keep putting magic into these very broad categories when discussing it. Frost, fire, and arcane are the three baseline schools, however. Well, at least in common mage circles. Among elves, there's a fourth mentally based school I can't really name in Common... it's what we use to power golem mental capacities, make objects move of their own accord, and so on. Humans confuse it with pure arcane a lot... Oh, what's the word..." Belenar mumbled, annoyed. 


"There's no Common approximation, Ginger Snap, closest you can get is telekinesis, and that's way off," Avaric cut in, saving Bel further frustration.


The elf nodded in thanks. "Yeah, but from those four schools you extend out further, and a Magister is usually a master of one or two of the baselines, and from there they're expected to master at least one more school during their time as a Magister. So no quota, really, to answer your question. It starts as potential and personal research, primarily. My cousin and teacher, Magister Selarion Duskwhisper, holds mastery degrees in arcane and fire, and a third in Blood Magic," the elf stated. 

 

[Zazkiel]

Jocie finished off his sandwich and leaned forward, stealing the bottle of wine from Van. She was too tiny, no matter how much of a tolerance she had she was still a five foot tall twig who weighed less than a hundred pounds.


"And your Magisters are only from those four schools? No shadow-trained spellcasters?" That was disappointing, although not surprising. 


But any shadow caster would probably end up a priest or hiding their abilities, same as in Stormwind. 

 

[Blakie13]

Belenar shook his head, smiling. "Oh, no, you misunderstand, sorry, I am not very well versed in explaining this in Common. Baseline schools. The majority of Magisters fit them, but there are a handful of others," the elf stated. His excited smile was accented by pink cheeks. 


Avaric caught himself staring at the elf's now empty wine glass. When had that even happened? The boy was definitely being cut off for a while. 


"Shadow magic is common enough in Silvermoon, but due to warlocks and occasional priest or cultist, there's a bit of a stigma. And most Magisters know at least the conceptual aspects of many schools, if not the practical application," Belenar continued.


Avaric snorted; the kid's Common was almost better when tipsy. 


"Lady Syridessia, for instance, is pursuing a mastery in shadow in addition to her mastery in fire. I don't know how she got the Grand Magister's approval for gaining her second mastery with a non-baseline school, but she must have made an impression. Or used her association with my brother."  The elf continued excitedly. "She would be the third Magister in the current Magisterium with a mastery degree in shadow, and the first to have it as her entry mastery to the Magisterium. There's four Magisters who work with nature magic primarily; they often work with the agricultural aspects of Quel'Thalas. And there's even a single holy magic using Magister. And of course Cousin Selly has a few fel tricks up his sleeve, not that it exactly pleases Rommath..." he trailed off, wondering if he had revealed too much to the humans.


It wasn't as if they could really use the information, of course. 

 

[Zazkiel]

"So, he has his mastery in fire and he knows fel magic." Van raised an eyebrow, snatching the bottle from Jocie and reaching forwards to refill Belenar's glass. 


"If he's fine with blood magic, I wonder if he'd consider becoming a warlock in full?" Her tone was conversational, but the air around her was faintly charged with anticipation.


A warlock magister would be interesting, at the least. The decriminalization of fel magics in Silvermoon would go a long way towards making an impression on Stormwind's elite. 

 

[Blakie13]

Belenar accepted the newly refilled glass with gratitude as Avaric shook his head, opened his mouth as if to speak, smirked, and decided to remain silent. 


"Oh, he's a full blooded warlock, as I've learned, but after the restoration of the Sunwell such things are not looked upon lightly. He takes pride in being able to channel pure fel fire, it's...slightly terrifying. Although... Considering Selarion's style of Blood Magic, I'd take his fel first. Not sure why Rommath doesn't feel the same," the elf replied.


He still remembered Velnerien challenging Selarion to a stupid duel, trying to show up his own teacher. Selarion had quickly turned every ounce of blood in Velnerien's body against him, without lifting his staff or even uttering a phrase. Velnerien's agonised screams had attracted a few other Magisters. Most were impressed, but Bel remembered the terrifying simplicity of it all. It was no wonder that Selarion was considered the current leader of Blood Magic studies in Quel'Thalas. 

 

[Zazkiel]

"Because he's not thinking about that, he's thinking about politics." Van said bitterly, shaking her head.


"It's the same problem I had, back when I ran with my original crew."


She was taking a risk by speaking of her earlier life, she'd mostly kept quiet about it around Avaric up until now. He knew what she had been and what she'd done, but the Defias had a reputation amongst humans that they didn't have around elves. Belenar would presumably take everything she said at face-value instead of warping it to suit his mental image of The Brotherhood.


"So I had this trainer, and I'd more than surpassed her in skill. Problem was, I was only like-what, fifteen at the time? And she was a frost mage, a hedge wizard but I mean who wasn't. So politics had to intervene, and that kept her in her seat of power." Realising she'd drifted from her point, she shook her head and looked ruefully at the bottle in her hand.


"It has nothing to do with magic at that point, cupcake. I coulda turned her into dust, if it had." 

 

[Blakie13]

Avaric made a slight humming nose, as he made a mental note to ask Vanalie some questions later. Not that he was in any place to judge her and her affiliations of course, given his collection of grimoires at home, borrowed from the Cult of the Damned.


The elf, on his part, merely nodded. "It would make the most sense, yeah? Politics in Silvermoon are anything but simple, and magic is the... Core? Centre? Both work I think..." He mumbled. "But yeah, politics would make the most sense. Fel magic was seen as perfectly acceptable as a means of life after the fall of Silvermoon, up until the Restoration."


"Honestly, cousin Selarion got off easy for his fel usage. Mostly because he's a damned good magister, and his lineage as coming from two separate Convocation families help..."


Avaric interrupted quickly; "Selarion Duskwhisper is the author of several of those tomes I've let you borrow, Van, he uses a lot of pseudonyms. The man is a genius," the man said, a smile on his face. 


Belenar chuckled. "True. He's destined for great things. Between him, Priestess Vellys and her shadow leanings, and a couple of shadow users in the Magisterium, there may be strides for the rights of shadow magic and fel in the future, although it will always be heavily regulated I'm sure," the elf stated, his hand unconsciously playing with the sun pendant around his neck. He didn't think mentioning Vellys would be all that harmful, the humans wouldn't know her...


The worship of the Eternal Sun was expanding and the Light as a whole had returned to his people. Holy would always win out in Silvermoon, even if it did not ban darker magics completely. "My brother, surprisingly, is quite open to aiding in the efforts for magical rights, for a Blood Knight."


Avaric touched his matching pendant in response. Eternal Sun guide us, he thought to himself, chuckling slightly.

 

[Zazkiel]

Jocryn placidly nibbled on the last of his sandwich until the top of shadowcasters came up, looking at Bel excitedly.


"Wait, there are shadow priests still in your clergy? Or what would you call it, working for your church?" Shaking his head, Jocryn tried to phrase it a different way.


"Living in Silvermoon, in whatever official capacity." 


That was...well, baffling. Not only was shadow magic damn-near illegal in Stormwind under any circumstances, it also held a great deal of disdain amongst citizens. 


--


Jocie obviously wanted his chance to grill the sin'dorei so Van took another sip of wine, eyeing Belenar shrewdly. So he was related to both a paladin and a warlock? No wonder he got along with both of the Northblades, and managed to capture Lillic's interest to boot.


She'd have to make sure to send him a letter asking for more of Selarion's works when he returned to Silvermoon. His ideas that she'd read so far were unique, damn near revolutionary in fact, and it would be much easier to compile them now that she had a potential inside source to ask.

 

[Blakie13]

Avaric filled his own glass with more wine as he watched excitement light up Jocryn's eyes. Clearly Belenar and the priest would get along fine.


--


The young elf nodded, a gentle smile forming. "In a manner of speaking. They aren't banned, but they aren't well liked, if you understand. Most likely because it's hard to track why priests would lean that way.  For some it's a natural inclination, and they make for a powerful force for war and defense. Some are cultists or, as is rumoured in hushed whispers down Murder Row, Old God worshippers. And still others simply follow the Light in the way they feel is best, such as through the use of the Forgotten Shadow, as the Forsaken would put it."


The elf was definitely better at Common when inebriated. Avaric suspected it was the sudden boost in confidence that alcohol provides.


"Religion being a complex matter in Silvermoon, even after the Restoration, means that the Magisterium gave up on trying to control it, leaving it to the priesthood itself. The priests, after all, would be more than willing to call into question Magisterium magics and ethics. A stalemate? That's possibly what I mean..." The elf trailed off for a moment.


"The priesthood itself is where they have semblance of stigma. Shadow wielding priests are useful, but not necessarily welcome. My cousin Aelnarion is a master healer, but after the Scourge he's never been quite right, and in his madness shadow took root. So some in the priesthood see it as a sickness to be watched. But then there are those like my brother who think of shadow as a necessary aspect of the Light and of the Eternal Sun, so his priesthood includes shadow priests," the elf finished his ramble, sipping at his wine.


The "Cult" of the Eternal Sun as some called it was rather inclusive, but well criticised for that very fact. It didn't seem to bother Corec, who used the Faith like a favoured weapon. Belenar grasped his pendant again at the thought. Eternal Sun guide my brother's blade, he thought.

 

[Zazkiel]

As Belenar spoke, Jocie sighed and leaned back into the pillows. So it was conditional acceptance, he should have known better. 


"At least it's something." 


Still, it was better than Stormwind. He absentmindedly glanced at his hand, allowing the Shadows to envelop his arm from the tips of his fingers to the cuff of his shirt. The slightly opaque nature of the Shadowform didn't bother him anymore, just another marker of how much power N'zoth bestowed upon him. 

 

[Blakie13]

The elf knew he needed to slow down on the wine. The deep, rich red liquid was a strong vintage. The floral and woodsy hints gave him a feeling that the wine was Darnassian in origin. And the kal'dorei rarely messed about with their wines, much stronger than most human vintners were willing to concoct. Although too floral for Dwarven tastes, as he understood from Corec's trade reports. That being said, Belenar knew he was reaching the point of inebriated. He was never all that great with his drink, a trait he shared with his brother, and supposedly their father. Two glasses of strong night elven wine, a petite body lacking in much fat, and little to eat except for pastries with Lillic, and the elf was definitely in need of being cut off. 


So of course he motioned for more, as he stared at Jocryn's arm, the shadow obvious. Belenar had never seen shadow magic in person, not the pure kind at least. Warlock shadow magic was often tainted with fel and fire, a deep, vibrant purple.


The shadow around the priest's hand was different. Opaque, but dark, a pale, almost lavender purple, if one could call a shadow that dark lavender. It shimmered, almost. As if it was alive.


"Pretty..." the elf whispered out, his free hand drifting towards Jocryn's as if to touch the man's hand, to touch the shadow, to see it more closely. He stopped short, realising it could be considered rude. It could be dangerous. "Ah, sorry," he apologised quickly, blushing as he pulled his hand back. 


He could practically feel the smirk Avaric was throwing his way, the warlock always having fun at the expense of Belenar's "ditzy" moments, whatever that meant in Common.

 

[Zazkiel]

Jocryn shook his hand roughly, an unnecessary but helpful physical reaction to help him dissolve the Shadows consuming his arm. 


"It's fine, it won't hurt you or anything. Well, not unless you really piss me off." Or sorta piss me off, he added silently.


Taking in Bel's flushed face and the glassy look in his eye, Jocryn reached out a hand to wordlessly ask for the wine glass. "I think it's probably time you slow down on the drink though."


--


"Guess the rumors about elven tolerance levels are bullshit after all." Van sniped, reaching out to take the glass directly out of Bel's hand. She needed a top-up anyways.


"So Av, I know you're busy with the elfling here and all but Sybil has some interesting new items for us at the Slaughtered Lamb. You should go check it out whenever you have a chance." 


Or he could go straight to the Vayne's house, he'd been given the address quite some time ago. She didn't know if he ever visited without her or anything, but Gareth went the most delightful shade of pink whenever she brought up Avaric's name. 


Fucking paladins. So easily eembarrassed.

 

[Blakie13]

Belenar stuck his tongue out at the man, teasingly, like a child. This was followed quickly by a pout as Vanalie took his glass away from him. "Needlessly cruel," he sing-songed in Thalassian, which only Avaric could understand as far as Belenar was aware. The man in question chuckled slightly in the background, embroiled in a new conversation topic with Vanalie. As such, the elf turned back to Jocryn, trying to remember what as last said.


"So what does it take for one to... anger you? You seem quite calm, in contrast... comparison? Both. To other humans I've met," the elf practically hummed his response at last to the human. "Sorry, I've just never really interacted much with humans. Or shadow magic. Both are curiosities to me? If that's the word... curiosities? Wonders? I hate Common..." the last part was in Thalassian, accompanied by a quick huff of annoyance. The grammar was fine enough and the syntax strong. But the vocabulary! It was a monster.


--


Avaric nodded in appreciation. "Oh does she now? I haven't had the chance to go to the Lamb in days. Care to drop any hints on what she has?" The warlock teased. He watched Belenar out of the corner of his eye. Technically, the elf was his for the night while Eidric went out with Marci and Ross for their near weekly tavern crawl. But he could use some supplies. Choices, choices...


"Ah, while he's distracted. What do you think of Belenar, Van? Honestly." Avaric asked quietly, shifting into demonic to keep the elf in question from understanding. "He was the, uh, donor, for that blood pendant for Winter's Veil, if you hadn't guessed. He's an interesting little thing..." 

 

[Zazkiel]

"Curiosities works, you're doin' fine." 


Really, the elf was doing stellar. Light knows Jocryn couldn't speak Thalassian half as well as the elf could speak Common, despite learning it for nearly two years. And as for the calm question...


Jcoryn couldn't prevent a laugh from escaping, mind flashing back to the most recent task he'd done for Vanalie last week. 


"I mean, I guess I just don't have too much to be angry about. If I'm upset I'll let you know before I do anything drastic." 


--


Vanalie replied in demonic easily enough, taking a deep drink from Belenar's glass. "I like his blood, of course. I'm not a fan of the whole cutesy innocent thing, but you know that. Even if it is an act." 


And switching back to Common, she made a teasing tsk-tsk sound, patting Avaric's calf reassuringly. 


"Hmmm, it starts with the letter F, if that helps. It also moves. That's all you're getting out of me, though! Syb'll kill me if I spoil the surprise."