Mysterium Meeting

[Corn]

To Aurora, Corn replied, "Of course I would, Mystagogue Aurora." Calling a master of Life as "neokore" seemed wrong to him. Then he turned to both her and Campanella "when it comes to studying these creatures, has anything been saved, even in memory?"

[Campanella]

Campanella paused, turned in his seat and glanced over at the terrarium.

"The grubs were found in an allotment garden, I believe. There is no reason why the allotment isn't there now. I believe that a magus called Langdon - who was present at the discovery - spoke of 'cracks' of some kind. His particular Legacy were specialists in this area. Or so I have heard. Aurora should be able to find the place. She was there. As for a study of the grubs themselves - they are a clean slate. I've monitored them but never made them a study. I deal with the inanimate, not living creatures."

He turned back with a sudden smile as he recalled the information.

FYI - search for (Heavenly Creatures) Grubs. That is the actual play thread. If you convince me enough I'll scrape together a small scene for you.

[Crystal]

Crystal simply continued to listen. Otherworldly creatures were pretty nifty, but studying them in depth was pushing it. He wasn't scared.

Really.

It's just that the last time he had to deal with stuff that came out of rifts or cracks- well, shit hit the fan. He'd stick to looking into Time 101, that seemed safe enough if he didn't try to fuck with it too much.

He mentally went through his list of things that were of interest: the lack of a firmly structured Consilium here (small and unstable numbers), the Order's agenda (aimless relic-hunting and expected studies), noteworthy dangers (nothing in particular) - as far as the Mastigos was concerned, most of his questions were matched with satisfying answers. Crystal relaxed his posture a bit, leaning harder into his chair.

[Aurora]

Shaking her head, “I was just beginning in the study of Life when they were found, so I don’t have much. It was years ago.” Too many years to count.

An eyebrow raises, “Maybe. This was quite a long time ago, a lot has happened and changed. Not that I’m not gaming for trying to find it.” Challenge accepted. “I remember they were in a greenhouse of sorts, the lock not much of an issue. But I don’t think much was learned about the cracks, I know he looked into them, but cannot remember if he learned much of anything. We were too eager to get the grubs to the Circle, though I did have to put them to sleep, as they were not too excited about being moved.” A small chuckle.

Glancing to Crystal, “You’ve been quiet. Everything ok?” was it putting him on the spot? Yeah. Did she care? Not really.

[Corn]

"For the time being, I was mostly interested to see what would happen to their auras and life patterns if I brought to them tass in the form of mushrooms. Perhaps this will jumpstart their mana-producing quality. I think it is better to try that to one or two first and study them using life and if possible, prime." Corn said. "Although I would not be against revisiting the place of their origin if Aurora is willing. Perhaps we can find more, especially if we use one or two of them. Crystal " he said to the other mystagogue. "I am not familiar with the mind arcanum. Do you think that perhaps you can use your magic to help us ... understand those creatures better? Communicate with them? I am not saying we could, or should, make them sentient or that they would have any memories of the place but if they are brought close to those cracks or the resonance from this place, they may react somehow. Feel fear, excitement, hunger, something that perhaps you, or Aurora could track. See what they 'think' in short. Perhaps, if possible, talk to them in a way."

A scene and the whole thing seems interesting, but it will take a bit for me to read the material there and deal with other things Corn does. But I plan to return to that in the future.

[Campanella]

Campanella simply watches, nods, and listens.

[Crystal]

Aurora's glance was met with a big smile. "Yup. I'm just not big on talking just for talking's sake - if I had anything of value to offer, I would." Which was mostly true and a fine argument to fall back on while Crystal pushed the memories of that night far away.

But then Corn doubled down on the idea of reading the minds of otherworldly insects. Fuck, the Moros could easily talk about the great discoveries to be made, since he wasn't the first in line if things went sideways. Then again, shouldn't he be making himself useful? He realized that he just looked at Corn without saying anything. What the fuck did he want, and why didn't Campanella decide on this either way?

With the responsibility firmly in his hands and not wanting to look like a complete sucker the Mastigos nodded enthusiastically. "That is quite the idea. Yeah." There, that's what you call a non-comital answer.

[Aurora]

Looking at Corn, “Sooo, you want to feed them mushrooms and study them?” really? “Not knowing what could happen, and risk killing one in the process? I’m not backing that personally. They’ve survived this long outside where we found them, and that, to me, is huge. I’m not risking hurting them.” Nope, count her out. “But I am willing to try and find the place again. Though like I said, a lot has happened between then and now, so my memory might be foggy.” Her memory was just fucked. Shrugging, “I used Life and I believe Mind to help put them to sleep so we could move them, and that was years before I was a Master. So I might be able to do more now.” Maybe.

[Corn]

"There is always a price to knowledge, Aurora. I believe the risk to hurting one of them by feeding them mushrooms is minimal. But as you wish. I would be glad to help you locate this place and visit it again." Corn said, letting the matter of feeding tass to the grubs drop. "What else do we know about these creatures? Is this their final form, or this is their larva stage before they turn to a kind of beetle or arthropod? If this is their final form, how long is their life cycle? Usually a larva spends a few months as a grub before turning to a beetle. From my understanding those are around for a few years. So... something may be blocking their evolution if they're larvae. Or perhaps the "adult" versions are the reasons for those cracks in reality in the first place.
In the case this is their final form, do they reproduce? "

[Campanella]

Campanella hadn't blinked. Now he shifted his pose slightly into something a little more thoughtful. Maybe the Athenaeum was not the best place for the grubs after all!

To Corn he nodded, acknowledging the other mage's idea.

"You are the first magus to consider feeding the grubs. Perhaps it may prove instructive - further down the line and when some safety protocols have been established. Magus Aurora is right. At this stage we know so little of the insects - we can't predict what, if anything, they would do. They haven't done anything in years. They'll still be here. We have to time to consider some protocols later. Maybe even sooner, now you mention it."

His eyes shifted from Aurora to Corn; and then from Corn to Crystal.

"Is there anyone versed in the Space or Fate Arcanum? I must confess I don't know much about Sympathy but surely there must be a connection you can follow?"