Video and Voice - Entry 1

[reluctantguardian]

You know, this magic mirror device is really quite remarkable!

[There is a light chuckle, warm and friendly, as the mirror comes on with ease. It becomes apparent that Khadgar has mounted the device on a small shelf, enabling him to take a few steps back and gesture freely. Normally, he would have simply cast a levitation spell to ensure it didn't fall - but that was not possible at the moment. Stil, for not having access to his considerable magic, he was adjusting well. He smiles though, amused and friendly.]

I would like to extend my praise to the person who invented them; they certainly do make communication far more effective. I am deeply curious as to the manner of magic in this place; I feel as though I'm a boy again, having to learn it all from scratch. Humbling, but - even Archmages should be taken down a peg now and again! [There is another laugh. His eyes are bright and deeply blue.] I would like to get some practice in; I haven't had to practice magic quite like this in almost forty years, so if there is anyone who would like to meet me at a pre-arranged time at a location to do just that, I would be very happy to have the company. I'll see about bringing refreshments!

Also, might I inquire as to if there is a library within the Kingdom?

Comments

[phoenixwiz]

(Harry is busy looking at the Jobs Board after breakfast when his 3M beeps in, that he takes it out of his pocket and sees that there is an older man in robes he has never seen before talking.)

Hey there, I am getting the hang of using this mirror device as well (back home, PDAs were all over the Muggle community and he had seen Uncle Vernon using one for some time, but he himself never got one). It actually reminds me of the communication mirrors in my world, although the one I had was actually a shard of magical glass.

I even noticed that my magic doesn't work here either, so I can relate with what you're talking about. Also, what are Archmages? I used to be a wizard before coming here.

[reluctantguardian]

Oh! How marvelous; it's nice to meet a fellow wizard. Where I am from, we use the words mage and wizard, or sorcerer, a bit interchangeably. I'm realizing that it isn't those of us with magical talents who are bereft, but nearly everyone with capabilities beyond the basics of their native race.

An Archmage is someone who has attained the highest level of magical capability and status among his or her peers, in the city that I lead where I am from. It's merely a title bestowed, because one can always learn more beyond that.

[Khadgar is smiling; this young man seems to be quite insightful, and it really was nice to meet someone also familiar with magic of a sort. He was curious now, about what magic was like where he came from.]

Communication mirrors, you say? Now that is a fascinating concept. I've been toying with inventions of the like, magical projections and means of communication outside of seeking the person out in person or sending a letter. Back home, I mean - my abilities to do so here have been limited indefinitely.

[phoenixwiz]

Wow, that is a title for anyone who has gotten the highest level of magic in your world? We don’t seem to have that in where I am from. Oh, I didn’t know that anyone from your world can do magic. In my world, it sometimes depends on blood lineage, but sometimes it doesn’t: one of my friends has magic despite not having magical blood in her.

Yeah, communication mirrors are a thing in my world, so it is like the compacts we received. Though they are too heavy to carry around and, as I learn it the hard way, quite fragile too. (said the guy who smashed his mirror after failing to communicate to his dead godfather and later got 2 cuts from it on his right ring finger)

Anyway, I’m Harry Potter. What is your name? Those robes are something I haven’t seen back home.

[reluctantguardian]

Harry - it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Khadgar, and yes - these are robes more suitable for combat than for general casting. My world is....often fraught with war, and I had just come from one. Invaders were trying to destroy, quite literally, the entire planet, and we were able to fend them off.

Well, there are a number of titles - Archmage, Grand Magus - I suppose it really depends on a personal preference after a point. But yes. Where I am from, there are independent mages, but we also have an entire city state devoted to the study of all forms of arcane magic. [Khadgar chooses to not explain the political side of things, or the fact that he is the one in charge of said city state.]

The history of magic in my homeland - a world known as Azeroth - really begins with the kaldorei - the night elves. Originally, not all races on my planet were capable of wielding magics, but events in our history caused it to be so over many millennia. I wouldn't want to bore you with the details, though. [Khadgar speaks patiently, and kindly - and chuckles a little.] By and large, these days, though, anyone has the capability of learning magic, but some are not as gifted as others, much like any skill or talent. I had a great deal of struggle in my youth.

We do not have communication mirrors where I am from, though I was working on arcane means of message submission - I was able to enchant an orb and project an image into it, and send it to the person I was trying to reach. All very entertaining, I must say.

[phoenixwiz]

It’s really to meet you, Khadgar. So you went through a war back in your world? So did I: I came here just after one that ravaged my old school. But at least, they survived in the end, I guess? That is a lot of titles to go by, and many ventures a wizard could go for.

Magic in your world originally came from night elves? That must be a long story of magic spreading across species over time in your place, I see. Reminds me of how magic can manifest in anyone regardless of blood lineage in my world. Never of heard of Azeroth before, I never came across it or the name in any of the books I had to read for school.

Magical Orbs, you say? That sounds like an interesting concept, a lot better than getting a Howler mail like the one a friend of mine got after an incident with his Dad’s car. (The less one speaks of the Flying Ford Anglia incident, the better everyone will be)

[reluctantguardian]

Unfortunately, it seems to be one of the few things universal, no matter where we come from - war. My home has been the victim of war after war for countless centuries - sometimes on a small scale, and sometimes on a worldwide scale or beyond. You seem terribly young, for a war veteran - but I...was only twenty two when I led my first battle. [Khadgar looks a bit wistful for a moment.] Quite a long time ago. In this instance, we had dispatched one of our greatest and most ancient of enemies - a legion that had led a crusade across the stars to destroy all of Creation. They were finally defeated, at great cost.

[He considers the young man on the screen and smiles, however, glad for the distraction.]

Well, in a manner of speaking. I'd be happy to lend you a book about the history of Azeroth, if you are interested. In short, there was once a great font of magical energy in the center of our world, and the night elf empire grew up around it, great wielders of magics, and a font of elevated culture. It was in the first war against the, ah, legion that I just mentioned, that this well of energy was destroyed, and the destruction spread the energy across the entire planet. In this way, magic came to the so-called 'lesser races'. Humans, dwaves, gnomes, trolls, and the like. I'd like to know more of your world as well - I have set foot in other worlds, but not all of them!

A...Howler does not sound pleasant, no. [Khadgar has a sympathetic smile now - his familiarity with cars only extends to what the goblins have developed - which means that they're a bit loud and a bit dubious in their dependability.] The orb transmitted a message live from where I was in my quarters in the city to the person I was trying to reach out to, rather than a pre-recorded message or a letter. I'm still working out the kinks in it.

[phoenixwiz]

It is sadly true: that war I got involved with was the second one my world had to deal with: I was born in the first one and it was also when I lost my parents by the one who started them and had the same blood heritage as me. And yes, being 17 is quite too young for a war veteran. (Harry takes a deep breath, as he recalls memories from the Second Wizarding War.)

Oh sure, I can borrow the book from you after I can get a job today. I will admit, History of Magic is my weakest subject back in my world (not counting Snape-era Potions), but I’m willing to check out it. We can share information about our worlds too if you have free time.

Yep, not the most pleasant of letters. Those letters burn away or shred apart once they finish yelling at the recipient for who knows how long. Those orbs are quite brilliant to send in messages to anyone for certain. That could be handy on the go.

[creepyoldguy]

...you seem oddly chipper for someone forcibly ripped from their home, stripped of their powers, and forced to fight for a bunch of strangers.

Whassup?

[reluctantguardian]

Aha, well.

This isn't exactly the first planet, or alternate timeline, that I've set foot in. Come to think of it, it's also not the first time I've been stripped of my powers either. But I have found that, strangers or no, a good cause is still worthy of being championed.

[creepyoldguy]

[Beetlejuice launched into a ramble, sandpaper and gravel tones all the while.]

I’ve been banished before, but, losing all my powers is a new one. Especially losing powers when I’ve been summoned!

I’m only helping because they also kidnapped two versions of my best pal. And she seems to like it here. So, I’ll hold off on my reign of terror.

For now.

Unless one of her gives me the green light, and then, oh, do I have plaaaaans.

Also, have you noticed that they take like, a lot of kids and demons? Seriously, do a head count. I’m sure we’re both wells of imagination, but, cripes, maybe go looking for willing beings instead?

[reluctantguardian]

I have been exiled, and I have lost my abilities before - though it was due to a curse, in my situation. It isn't the first world not my own that I have found myself on, so I am more curious to understand why I was needed and who specifically was responsible. It must have taken a great deal of magic to bring everyone here.

[Khadgar looks mildly concerned for a moment, but it passes into a more thoughtful expression.]

I think your friend sounds wise - if we are here trying to subvert something unpleasant, perhaps you could vent your frustrations on those enemies. In that way, you are still ensuring a 'reign of terror', but also helping to make sure that you are returned home that more expediently.

But I have noticed the children. That is concerning...but not all demons are wicked, where I am from.