#earthrunes

August nods. "Cold Ones."

"Did you have an encounter with a willworker?" Concerned, "You have to be careful. They can drain balefires"

"Yes. I am aware." Grimly.

"August? You didn't answer my question."

"Ah. Well. Ah, yes."

"Tell me about it? you don't have to, of course, but you're a friend, and it sounds like the encounter was not to your liking"

"Ah. Well. Perhaps......" August gestures towards privacy.

And Bachdion follows.

Once ensconced, August says "I did encounter a willworker, at school, and I did not enjoy it. More than that, I do not want Coradel to encounter him, and I am worried about the mortals he was .... focusing on."

"Did he hurt you? Curse you? Or them?"

"I lost time. Other than that.... I don't think so. I have worked with Almandine on this. He helped reveal my memories."

"Your Mind was messed with? Amazing. you're one of the strongest wills I've ever met, my friend"

"Mm." Personally dissatisfied at his own performance but..... "I regained myself when I came home."

"My friend, their magics are different from ours. Sometimes permanent. I bet whoever did this hoped it would last. "

"I understand that, Sir."

"So, what did he want with the mortals?"

"Something about potential. I admit I don't understand."

"Mmm did he use technology? Or any other tools? "

"Tarot."

"That reduces the chance of the Cold Ones then, thank Pan. "

"Ah, yes?"

"While it's not a rule, the technocracy tends to use technology or modern seeming systems " He says "Now the Traditions... the 8.. or is it nine of them? They have... a greater diversity."

"The... what?"

"Practitioners of older magicks mostly, of which The Cult of Estacy is one. I don't know all their names"

"I think... I might have read something about...them."

"Maybe we should see what we can uncover in this book of yours"

(Pause)

"Ah, well..... I would like to investigate others."