thefinaljedi | Appointments

Curious. That is, perhaps, a difference. I have never noticed such a thing with the magics of my home. [He smiles crookedly.] It is nature. It is what it is.

[Magic isn't what drove him mad, after all. He needed people for that.]

Ah, I see. So you are unusually strong.

I am rather an anomaly, myself, but without good reason like you have, it would seem.

[Loki nods.]

What I discovered first was bending light. It comes quite naturally to me. I was a terror as a child because of it. And it's quite a flexible way to work.

One can be invisible, [He vanishes abruptly, though he has little doubt now Luke would be able to track him despite this simple trick; the mortal is quite powerful.] and then create images. [He makes a perfect image of himself, standing about five feet away.] It's tactically useful.

[He reappears, the illusion Loki shattering and disappearing at a wave of his hand.]

Of course, it's more flexible than that. A bit like art. [He does what he did for Ikki the previous day, spreading his hands and bending the light between them, this time making the shimmering image of fish swimming in the air.] And of varying sizes, of course, though I noticed here I can't make anything too large and complex.

[For him, this is life at its best, magic for its own sake. He relaxes almost imperceptibly, genuine joy lighting his expression.]

Impressive.

[Luke can track Loki, it isn't a particularly difficult task, the illusions appearing translucent to him, lacking the vital thrum that makes up a living organism. Illusions were not, in the slightest, an inconvenience to a Jedi who knew what to look for.]

Very, very impressive. So you favor illusion? [Luke returns Loki's smile, genuinely impressed with the fish.]

and yes I've noticed a significant decrease in my power as well, unfortunately.

It's what comes most naturally to me. [He lets the illusions drift away and unravel in the air.]

It sounds as if I can do the same sort of... mental tricks as you as well. Those also came quite easily. [He uses a bit of magic to make a rock leap to his hand, much like he would with one of his daggers.] Levitation. [A crackle of flame wreaths his hand for a moment as he heats the rock up.] A bit of this sort of thing, though I find it inelegant. I don't think I'd be able to do much with it here anyway, even just that is far more effort than it ought to be.

[He drops the rock on the ground carelessly. He makes a quick mental calculation, his current spot and a point ten feet away and on the other side of Luke. In a blink, he goes from one to the other.

That was much harder than he likes. He needs to be much more careful about it.]

Potentially the most useful thing I can do here. Potentially.

[Luke nodded, figuring Loki could do something like that. Most wizards and magi he'd met here could. It was one of the few things that he didn't feel was possible with the Force. ~~He was wrong...but thats way beyond his canon point~~.]

Teleportation is definitely useful. Would've been handy to have a guy like you around back in June.

[Luke's smile is genuine, and if that's any indication Loki isn't such a terrible individual at all. Angry and ruthless but...not wholly evil. Even if he had killed Phil.]

Not as useful as I'd like. I have not yet understood the spatial disconnect represented by the barrier.

[Loki taps his chin thoughtfully with one finger.]

I can also heal, but I'm quite bad at it. Not that I'm often called upon to do so.

What happened in June?

The Malnosso sent Droids and Shift Hunters to raid the village, and were repulsed by the efforts of the residents here. They had also instated a draft at the same time, so many of our most powerful were sent off to fight in the war.

[Luke shrugs]

Someone with teleportation and illusion skills would've made it a lot easier.

I see. An unpleasant situation.

[He looks calmly at Luke.

Of course the answer that springs immediately to mind is what makes the man think he would help. Loki is no hero. Many would claim he's downright evil. But as he informed Adele on no uncertain terms, he has little interest in helping people who hate him.

So perhaps there are a few he would have stirred himself to look after. Ikki, perhaps. Or the Traveler.]

It sounds as if you did all right for yourselves though...?

Yes, the plan worked. There was some unfortunate loss of life, but we managed to deceive the Malnosso.

[Luke had figured as much, and yet he also had pegged Loki for a pragmatic man. Bleed for other people? No. The Jedi felt that right away, but for a chance to stick a thumb in the eyes of the enemy and gain valuable information?]

We set up decoys in various places around the village, individuals and illusions disguised as the Malnosso's target: one of their own who'd been rendered unconscious due to a civil war within their organization.

[Loki nods.]

Ah, an interesting problem.

Was their target able to provide any interesting information to us?

[Now he begins to see why he might be motivated to help with a project such as that.]

Some, yes. Information regarding the droids, mostly.

However, he died during the battle, unfortunately. He was very old, and sick. We managed to keep him out of the hands of the Rogue faction of Malnosso.

He's apparently back in power, and has sent warnings to us since, of bad shifts. Since that time the missions we've been sent on have also been focused on removing the Rogue faction from play. It isn't much, but it is a start. Catherine, Bil, the Blue Man. Those are his names.

[Luke shrugs]

He certainly isn't the monster or the fool that the Malnosso are so often made out to be. We spoke, briefly, before his passing.

[Death and then resurrection. Multiple names. Rogue factions. It's an interesting bit of data to add to his understanding of the situation.]

What is it this rogue faction wants, precisely?

[He smiles wryly.]

Oh, I don't know why anyone would think them fools at all. This is all very cleverly set up.

As far as we know? Nothing. They've only interacted with us in childish ways, taunting us before shifts and in general doing things I'd expect of a school bully.

[He shrugs]

Some people do, mostly the arrogant, or people that don't quite understand the situation. You do know it's actually the world that brings us here, and not the Malnosso, yes?

Hm. Curious.

[Loki raises an eyebrow.]

And how is this known? Has it been directly observed, or something we're merely told?

Both, actually. The Malnosso are not native to this planet, for one. That has been admitted both by them, and from what I understand, the Third Party. Their stated goal is to find a way for everyone to return to their own world. Of course, that could be a lie, and probably is.

Either way, they have shown no control over much of the world in various missions. They have their Shifting technology, but that isn't how they bring people here. Its merely how they contain us. People come from other worlds and land outside the enclosures, and are then brought into the enclosures for safekeeping. This has been observed and recorded during drafts and missions. I believe its stated in the guide as well.

Make no mistake about this, either. The Third Party wants to kill us all, ritualistically sacrifice us to stop the cycle of death and rebirth in this world. They will not work with us against the Malnosso, and are more dangerous and savage than them.

Edited 2012-09-21 04:01 (UTC)

[Loki nods.]

I crave more detail. More data. It's difficult to consider strategy with what I have. While the guide has proven useful for certain aspects...

[He sighs.]

Ah well. Direct observation is best. And inevitable.

It is, and it will come with time. I can point you towards some people who may have more information, if you like. I've only been here 8 months myself, but there are those who've been trapped here for several years.

Certainly, any you might care to name would be useful.

[Loki smiles wryly.]

Though any number may have little interest in speaking with me. [He flicks his fingers.] It is of no matter. There is nothing but time.

But really, I came here more in search of new methodologies, so this is a distraction.

Very well. Raine Sage, Nara Shikamaru, and Trafalgar Law would all be worth speaking to for more information. Raine runs the school, and Law manages the clinic in the Battle Dome.

[Luke nods]

Well, the Force is certainly different than your magic. I'm afraid it isn't something that can be taught, though its principles could certainly be used by anyone. Particularly the traditional means of Jedi combat, which I believe could be imitated by sorcery.

[Loki makes mental note of the names.]

Thank you for that. [A little bow is added in for good measure.]

Ah, a shame. Energies came so naturally to me in my own universe, I'd hoped to expand my learning a bit here. [Loki shrugs.]

What sort of combat might that be? [He's far less interested in combat generally, but this could be an interesting avenue all the same.]

I could make an attempt to teach you, but the Force isn't magic in the same sense. I've tried with other magi here. If its learning new magical methods you wish, though, there is the spiritual magic of this land, and there are other magic users here with spells that can be taught. Both Harry Dresden and Helios Sprensonne have taught me some, and then there is the Filial magic native to this land.

Ah, lightsaber combat. Lightsabers are a weapon native to my land, though a suitably crafted spell or an enchanted object could likely serve.

[Loki smiles crookedly.]

If you'd be willing to try, I would too, for the curiosity of it. I am... unusual as a magician, I've noticed. Perhaps I shall surprise. Perhaps not. That's part of the fun of it.

Or perhaps I'll be able to teach you a bit of what I do.

[Lightsaber. That sounds... interesting.]

That sounds interesting...

I'll certainly give it the attempt. Perhaps you'll be an exception to the rule. And I would like that. I'm always willing to expand my own mind.

[Luke laughs]

A lightsaber is the weapon used by Jedi for the last 5,000 years. Its an energy blade that can cut through all but one known substance.

[Luke takes out a small, heavy ball of iron, and a 6 inch cylindrical tube that ignites with a hiss. He drops the ball into the green blade, neatly slicing it in half]

Cortosis Ore, a rare mineral from my world, is resistant to the edge. I've found nothing else capable of standing up to it.

[Loki is very pleased by this. He may well not be able to learn Luke's particular sort of magic, but trying will certainly be an interesting experience.]

Ah, interesting. I've only ever used steel blades. They seem to serve the purpose well enough.

[He watches the demonstration curiously.]

Impressive.

I think it would be more efficient to have the actual weapon, rather than attempting to ape its effect with magic.

[Luke deactivates the blade and nods]

Yes, that's likely the case. Unfortunately, constructing them is rather time-consuming and difficult, particularly with the parts that I have available. I managed to build one from scratch, a gift for a friend, and remove the limiter on my offhand blade, making it a full-length one that I loan during times of trouble. The real difficulty is finding a power cell. The rest of it is just metal tubing and crystal matrices altered through the Force.

I have, however, been working with Helios to attempt to enchant or otherwise create a power-supply via magic. Its slow going though.

[Loki snorts quietly.]

Time-consuming and difficult sound like ideal things at the moment, don't they.

[Since the whole point of this exercise, beyond curiosity, is to keep himself occupied while he waits and watches.]

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