misplacedenthusiasm

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Dear Jae,

My apologies for the delay in this reply. Rest assured that I have not forgotten you nor our accidental encounter at Pharos Sirius. I hope you were able to return to Ishgard with less incident; Upon reaching Limsa two burly Roegadyn Maelstrom officers bundled me on the first ship to Sharlayan, so I suppose that is already a win in my book that I wasn't arrested for property destruction again.

Following that came the horrible terrible very no-good period of final exams which means days holed up in the office grading papers and even more hours of doubting my abilities to teach these students anything about Thaumaturgy. I'd advise you to only go into teaching if you'd like your confidence shaken. I emerged mostly unscathed though I have discovered I look rather fetching with long hair and have opted to keep it for now.

And then I went to the Sea of Clouds to procure material to upgrade my nouliths. It was exactly as eventful as you might imagine: falling into a whirlwind and getting thrown to another floating landmass, repeat until success. Again, I apologize for not calling on you as I did not go to Ishgard; the man responsible for my weapon of choice does not beat around the bush with pleasantries and that may be a blessing considering his character...actually you might both get along, now that I think of it.

The real reason I am finally able to write to you is because I am currently confined to bed following a rather brutal confrontation with the Goblin Illuminati and an Ascian. Or a Paragon, they all still wear black robes and a mask. A mask did not stop THIS one from trying to eat my shoulder, though the chirurgeons pressed that I should be thankful no vitals were affected.

A nurse is gesturing angrily at my arm so I shall end this missive for now. May you receive this letter in much calmer circumstances than I had writing it, Twelve keep you.

-Escher

[There is a simple drawing of what Escher's hair look like now: It is simply tied into a tiny ponytail at the back. Included are an unopened box of cookies and teabags - presumably gifts given during his convalescence.]

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Hello Escher!

This letter is short, I apologize. I wrote a longer one about the tea, and the holidays, but it rather blew up with the cart. It's supposedly my fault rather than the dragoon who landed on it to cut down the bandits trying to steal it, but I was told most emphatically not to label the leftover Heavensturn firecrackers box as explosives. I shouldn't have to expect to pack things in case they get stabbed by a fiery spear, hmph.

In any case, I've been 'remanded' to a Limsan aid squad who are off to support some 'dodgy researcher' at the Pharos Sirius lighthouse so I thought I'd at least get you a quick replacement in case this takes awhile. I am working diligently to look dejected and reluctant lest they suspect anything, I've heard Pharos Sirius is covered in corrupted crystals and I intend to take as many as I can cram into my gear!

I will write more when I return, hope your classes are going well

-Jae

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Happy Heavensturn and maybe even Valentiones, Jae.

Your contraption made it safely through the mail, though I had to reassure the postmoogle transporting it that it wasn't going to discharge levin bolts or 'zap the fur off of them', as they put it. Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to bring it with me to Gubal as the authorities were immediately suspicious that I would be using it for experiments and it was promptly taken to the faculty of engineering for examination. I poke in sometimes to ensure it hasn't been dismantled, but everyone has also remarked that there seem to be much less bugs in the Studium. Rumour has it they plan to use it at the isle of Haam for the researchers' comfort, I shall be able to confirm this by my next letter.

We had a short break for Starlight which I spent at my partner's family home. It went alright. Do you have any friends or found family to spend holidays with? Adrian declares nobody should be alone and giftless during holidays so I've attached something for you. Hopefully it will not be confiscated by Ishgard as it's not remotely contraband. (It's tea bags)

Mhach was interesting; the voidsent that haunt the grounds still live and are very much dangerous. We got swept through a raging current to explore further and thankfully still live. It's not a trip for the faint-hearted, those terrified of voidsent, or anyone unaware of Mhach's history. The only thing we possibly got out of it were some scattered manuscript pages, trinkets, voidsent body parts, and our lives. I don't recommend it, though I fear Adrian has developed a taste for adventure. You seem to be familiar with adventuring, do you have any advice for a budding one? I think he needs some advice that doesn't come from the company we keep.

I fear this letter has sat on my desk too long as I constantly think of things to add in so it's best I send it off ere your gift decays. May you enjoy the contents in good health.

-Escher

(Attached is a box of assorted tea bags -labeled, of course- from various regions , a box of tea biscuits, a Mhachi coin, and schematics for a noulith design)

[misplacedenthusiasm]

A belated Starlight Escher!

It seems impossible for Ishgard to be full of more snow but somehow in this season it is. If I could fit a bed in the Manufactory, or fit more fabrication equipment in my apartment, I think I would be happy to never leave until spring. How are you and your students doing, do you get a break for Starlight and Heavensturn?

I suppose I wasn't clear about the Darkhold, it seems like it needs a fairly regular visit from adventures, and several groups of them seem to use it as some kind of audition or test, so I simply took up station and asked any who came if I could come with them and gave them small demonstrations that I wasn't completely defenseless. Frustratingly, this didn't seem to make them inclined to take me along for some reason. Ophelie must have kept asking in my absence though, which was very kind, as when I returned she gave me the address for a group that had agreed to let me go with them, and off we went! Honestly, I'm not sure they really should be adventurers, there was a lot of running and screaming and they weren't very good at distractions, even when I supplied them with explosives so I could chip some crystal samples before they got trampled. All's well that ends well though, right?

Speaking of, your suggestion was a good one! I managed to acquire some magitek armor cores and am taking them apart to figure out how exactly they regulate things, though pieces keep going missing, I think others around here are swiping bits for their projects.

I'm not familiar with the Gubal Library but it sounds quite old, so I'm sending this whatever it is along. I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to do, I just sort of assembled it unthinkingly while I had to sit through a lecture on the new turrets we are experimenting with, but it seems to attract bugs and then discharges levin bolts at them. It might be useful when working with old books and my landlord made me promise to get rid of it because the other tenants were concerned about the mass of dead bugs outside my door.

Hope your expedition to Mhach goes well, I had to ask where that was and ended up reading about magic history. Maybe you'll find something better than old books and can negotiate for more free time not in broom closets!

Jae

[misplacedenthusiasm]

As autumn gives way to the snows from the Northern Empty I hope this letter finds you well and free from chocobo stampedes, and that you discovered the source of their distress.

Dear Jae,

I apologize for being terribly remiss in my replies. Work and distractions continue to pile up at my door, and no sooner do I complete one that another finds its way to me. This is annoying shite and so after six weeks of this 'assignment grading' nonsense I now write to you from a broom closet. It' narrow and cramped and the mop isn't happy to see me, but at least I can finally reply.

I'm confused about your efforts to enter the Darkhold. Does that mean you simply gave up your efforts? Is it safe after the adventurers' efforts? If you enter immediately after an adventuring party exits, will it be safer to venture alone?

While your update about Ishgard sounds positive, I doubt all the explanations in the world can forgive bringing the ceiling down from a spell gone wrong. But that was in the past and I am a better man now, now I make sure there is no ceiling before I cast a spell.

In my opinion, if Garleans can make a magitek containment core, then they will have a way to slow it down. I am not well versed in magitek engineering but reading your letters you seem to be a resourceful and able person. My bet is you will write about your solution in your next letter.

Practical applications can mean a good many things depending on the nation. To Ishgard it means warfare. To Sharlayan it means something that can improve and enrich our lives in the pursuit of knowledge. It's not necessarily warfare, but self-defense never hurt anyone either.

On my end I just completed an expedition to the Great Gubal Library with a friend and some hired adventurers. Adrian (that's the friend) decided to rescue some books for restoration. Unfortunately one of the adventurers teleported the books onto my bed and we returned to a pile of tomes and a broken bed. I am pleased to inform you that I have acquired a new bed and Adrian is planning our next expedition to Mhach.

Praying to the Twelve I'll be alive to read your reply,

Escher

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Good Autumn Escher!

Sorry for such a delayed letter, I was commandeered for field testing, and it turned out to be the longest trip I've had from the city by weeks. Did you know that wild chocobos can stampede? Apparently something about the prototype generator just drove them into a frenzy, and through our camp. Luckily Dravania has a bit more mild weather than Coerthas for sleeping outdoors.

But! The good news is I returned to resume my efforts to gain entry to the Darkhold to find that Ophelie had found some willing adventurers while I was away, it was very nice of her. She might be lonely without my daily visits though, as she remarked 'well I guess that means you won't be here everyday!' when we returned. I'm just too busy to continue that, but I didn't want to just abandon her after all the great talks we had so I'm hoping once a week will make it easier on her.

Hooded robes are still the fashion here, a sort of grayish green color seems to be pretty popular right now though I don't know why. Some of them have gold trim, too, which seems a bit strange to add if you can't pick a pretty color to start with. I like greens(and blues, but not too dark) but I don't like this one. Anyways, I'm sure if you explained what happened it should be alright though without having to wear one, I've heard that trial by combat isn't practiced anymore as it was terribly unfair.

I suppose I should include the bad news speaking of terribly unfair, though I successfully got a corrupted lightning crystal, and confirmed the magitech containment core worked, there was a slight issue with the rate of conversion that makes it unsuitable for use with our guns. Currently trying to brainstorm some ways to slow that reaction.

'Practical applications' here tends to mean warfare, with all of Ishgard trying to pivot away from everything being optimal for knights fighting dragons and nothing else, is it the same at the Studium or were you meaning things like better ways to toast bread? (I'm still defeated by that one, I really thought the warming potion infused jelly would work but it only lit the jelly on fire, the bread was still bread and not toasted at all)

I think I accidentally offended the Doman merchant who visited with it, but my go to right now is cheese dango. In Kugane dango is apparently a dessert, but it comes on a stick, which I thought was a great idea since my hands are often dirty or been splashed with alchemical solutions. It's made with rice though, and I didn't have that, but I did have cheese so I put some on a small stick, and covered it egg and rolled that around in flour, and then when I'm hungry I can stick one in the fire for a bit. Not too long or the cheese melts and it falls off into the fire, though. Or it looks fine and you take a bite and the cheese is really hot and burns your tongue. But it's mostly really great!

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Jae,

It brings me little comfort that not only your landlord is unaware of safety measures but remains willfully ignorant towards its benefits. If he must learn it the hard way, so be it. I'm technically banned from Ishgard after a botched trial by combat several summers ago but nothing glamour prisms and hooded robes can't fix. Are hooded robes still trendy in Ishgard? If yes, what colour?

I currently teach thaumaturgy at the Studium. There isn't much time for research due to the number of assignments I must grade, thus I concentrate on practical applications to ease the monotony and reduce paperwork. I seldom crave munchies, but there was the time I thought I could eat Archon Loaf with tartar sauce because fried fish goes well with it and Archon Loaf has a fish base. Don't try it, trust me. Are there any quick recipes that worked for you?

I hope your attempts at entering Dzemael Darkhold succeed. Do update me on your progress.

-Escher

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Most Enlightened Escher:

Armed with your knowledge, I approached my landlord about the dangers of levinstrikes and benefits of lightning rods.

Unfortunately, I have a lack of formal education so far as I'm aware, and credentials are hard to come by when you can't remember where you came from, so even with your letter in my hand he was not to be convinced.

Jae, and her put upon landord, Florin Colombe

I can't be too upset though, he's a very understanding landlord what with the neighbors constantly eyeing me suspiciously, and hasn't kicked me out yet. You must be well respected, being a professor, and I'm sure you never have to deal with people claiming you're a 'danger to public safety'. If Skysteel trusts me to work with aether, alchemy, or magitech shouldn't that be enough?

As disappointing as that was, it's not all bad news. Seeing how far Drybone was from Ishgard, I instead sent a missive to Lamberteint on your recommendation, as I could hardly travel that far and be absent from work for that long. Mere days later a large volume arrived by Moogle Post from him entitled On the Properties of Aspect Conversion which is really fascinating. Of course he, and his book, recommends direct observation and collection, and I despaired of having to put this off until such time as I could travel to Thanalan, but I've fortuitously learned that there are corrupted crystals right here in Coerthas!

It's been impossible to get an audience with House Dzemael, or to sneak into the Darkhold, but I've overheard adventures talking about going in from time to time in an effort to assist with maintaining safety. Ophelie and I have gotten to know each other over the last few days, I figure sooner or later some adventurers will show up and I'll convince them to take me with them inside!

I am in fact penning this letter while I wait, and it occurred to me that I've been pretty remiss in being a good conversationalist with you. What do you teach currently? Do you still have time for your own research on the side, or is it filled with letters like mine? What do you eat when you wake up in the middle of the night because you had a brilliant idea, but then you try it and it doesn't work? Mine's noodles with maple syrup.

-Jae

[misplacedenthusiasm]

Jae,

My student informed me of this communication oversight and has duly apologized for his presumptuous actions. Rest assured he will not repeat his mistake.

As for your dilemma of lightning rods and corrupted crystals, firstly educate your landlord on the cost-effective benefits of protecting his apartment complex from levinstrikes. Less lightning means less fire hazard, which means less damage to pay for. If the rod is installed at the highest point of the building it will protect all the other apartments without the need to isolate yours.

As for corrupted crystals, I always encourage people to indulge their curiosity as long as there are safety measures in place. I hereby refer you to a Lamberteint currently residing in Drybone, as he is the leading authority on containing corrupted crystals.

I await your success.

-Escher

[misplacedenthusiasm]

To Escher Strange:

Thank you for your letter! I admit I was surprised, I thought it was a long shot to get your opinion since your student warned me that we wouldn't get along since my lab was on fire when we spoke. I thought I was on the right track with lightning, but as is so often the case the more I think the less I know. It's complicated.

Thanks for the cage back, I'm sure I can find a goldsmith to rework it, and I'll look into installing a lightning rod, though I'm not sure my landlord will approve. Will have to isolate it from the other apartments, but how hard can that be?

Anyways, do you know anything about corrupted crystals? There's an itch in my brain that says I should use some with my aether conversion experiments, but everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when I ask about how to get a hold of a few.

-Jae

[misplacedenthusiasm]

To Jae Silvertears:

While lightning should spark fire, your polarities skew umbral. I put the crystal on a lightning rod to attempt to change it to astral (the quantity of lightning would have to exceed its current charge, of course), and I am pleased to inform you it was a success.

I couldn't save your silver cage. Sorry.

-Escher

[A package is enclosed with the letter: A burnt and wrecked tiny silver cage with ashes sticking to the bars.]