surely it's not hard to build a door to another realm of existence?

[aneikonic]

Who: The Entire Grove
What: Portal Shenanigans
When: Throughout the entire month and beyond if needed?
Where: The Grove
Warnings: portal crimes?? possible snake attacks. possible snack attacks.

Clive has never actually made a portal to some demi-realm before, so he has no idea where to start. Except he guesses if it's going to be a door, he can craft a doorframe? It's... well, it sure is! And it's right in the middle of the Grove the best he can, so everyone can access it who needs to access it. It just needs a door or a portal or whatever, he doesn't know.

He does know that he's not a carpenter, and that the benefits of having a stone hand is you don't feel it when you inevitably knock your borrowed hammer into said hand. But he does his best to get it started so those with the experience for these things have some sort of framework for which to build on.

And other than that, he's mostly on patrol with Torgal for any snakes that may be trying to sneak in to interrupt things.

Welcome to a Mingle, Investigation, Joint Build-a-Thon? This will run for however long it needs to run for until everyone either blows themselves up, or we succeed! Collab with your fellow nerds, watch others, sabotage.

Comments

[aneikonic]

"It should offer more security for it if needed," he agrees, turning his attention back to the door frame. Because that's truly all it is. Not even a door in it, because he doesn't know what a portal will look like. Or if a normal door would interfere with a door to another realm.

"What supplies are you going to need?"

He offered Ford the head of this and he meant it. He'll act as the go-between for Ford if needed, but he's deferring things to the older man.

[cryptograms]

"It's hard to guess the details this early into the process, but..."

He lapses into thought for a the moment.

"I think charcoal, chalk, candles, and matches are what we'll need the most. And then salt, silver, some common stones like quartz and amethyst, and some common plants like oak and mint."

Yes, he thinks that'll do. Magic varies quite a bit from universe to universe, but there are still some common staples.

[aneikonic]

That makes him squint a little. Charcoal, chalk, he understands. Writing utensils that can be used against ground. Candles and matches, okay, they need to see. But the rest?

"Why the different crystals, wouldn't one type work?"

Someday Joshua's manners will rub off on his brother and Clive will stop being so blunt about things, but today is not that day. Probably won't be tomorrow either. He doesn't understand the need for oak and mint, either, those go into medicines not... magic?

[cryptograms]

Fortunately for Clive, Ford is a scientist, used to working with scientists, and from New Jersey. The bluntness of Clive's question goes right over his head.

"That depends on the spellcaster. Some types of magic requires specific materials because..."

He waves a hand. Too time consuming to explain in granular detail right this second.

"... but for some types of magic—like mine—the materials are just a way of helping someone maintain focus. Where I come from, quartz is associated with amplifying energy in rituals and spells. So when I use quartz in my own rituals, it helps me stay focused on the idea of amplifying and channeling energy. I don't need it, but it makes it easier."

[aneikonic]

"And ease is what we want," he nods, agreeing. All right. He makes a mental list of things to look for. Salt should be easy, he will have to ask those who recognize the plants where to find some, silver might be difficult.... The others should be found at the General Store. Stones might be at the general store too, or he can ask Ydalir if they're used for magic.

A pause, an amused look. "You're not going to tell me the oak and mint are for tea to help you focus, right?"

Though even if it was, Clive would fetch it for the man. He's working on something Clive understands little of, but knows is dangerous, to reach a place that may be even more dangerous.

If the old man wants his tea, he'll get tea.

[cryptograms]

To that, Ford just laughs.

"If we're talking about focus, I'll take coffee over tea."

He doesn't really care for mint tea, but the idea of a tea made from oak is an intriguing one. Something to test another day.

"No, the mint and oak are just relatively easy ingredients to source. And both of them are easy to dry for burning, or keep as whole sprigs."

[aneikonic]

"That actually helps you focus?" Clive still sounds amused because while he likes coffee, it definitely does not help him focus. But at least he can run a marathon after.

"All right, I'll see what I can dig up. If you come up with anything else, leave me a list somewhere and I'll see what can be grabbed."

His tone says he's very used to fetch quests...