Theory And Practice (Preston)

[Bailey Oleander]

With only the rest of the day left before she would need to leave, Bailey would go off in search of Preston!  He was good company, and patient.  She could appreciate taking the time to talk to her, to explain things in a way she could comprehend and provide her own thoughts and theories.  Someone who didn't shut her down or want her to just accept things just as they were.

She needed someone who could challenge her in a different way, with the bonus of company she could enjoy.  She wasn't sure how much of that she was going to have soon, either.

She'd start with the library, and go from there!

[Preston Salabim]

The Library was a safe bet on where to find him, and she'd indeed find that he was there at a table with several books piled high around him. Though she'd also see several maps laid out over the table. One of the continent, and several others of much smaller areas. Among the books were also thick folders filled with papers.

Despite the mess and intimidating amount of paperwork around him, Preston himself didn't appear to be anxious or stressed about what he was doing. One might say he looked almost excited.

[Bailey Oleander]

Excited, or even at home. Bailey was almost sad to interrupt; she let him absorb himself in his work for a few more moments, enjoying the excitement on his face as he seemed to work through whatever the maps displayed.

"On the verge of a new discovery?" she asked as she stepped forward.

[Preston Salabim]

"Yes, but not what you may think."

He'd motion her to join him if she wished.

"I am comparing records from large battles of the war and the locations of Qi anomalies with a map of the continent. I am compiling a list of ingredients that I will use to construct my staff, using artifacts that contain vast quantities of power. Not only will it give me great power in return, but it's unique composition and rarity will grant me status among my peers."

The latter being more interesting to him than the former.

[Bailey Oleander]

She'd join him, of course! Standing behind him, fingers laced behind her back as she leaned in to take a look at the maps on display, surrounded by towers of research. Some of it, she recognized, and the explanation of the battles cleared up any confusion. She'd taken a look into his home territory since their last visit and knew they took great pride in the quality of he qi-infused items they created. Preston's sounded like a personal project, and a massive one at that. Surprisingly, he seemed more interested in the status his staff would provide than the power. Both seemed good if he was going to rise above the rest as a leader.

"Status and appearance can go along way with prestige." She nodded, looking over the other maps and where they were showing similar areas. "It looks like you already have a few things in mind."

[Preston Salabim]

"I do. You may not know this, since Mr. Blaze, the Storm Dragon is here. But it is said that he died in the early years of the war here."

He'd point at a spot on the map with a neverending Qi storm. One that ripped people apart under the weight of their own souls.

"One ingredient I would love is the bone of a Dragon, and if the rumors are true and he both somehow died and lived then that would make a potent artifact without having to desecrate a grave."

Of someone who was still dead at least.

[Bailey Oleander]

"Really?" She made a thoughtful hum at the revelation of David possibly having died previously. It was an interesting pattern, things that were coming up with similar once-was and current day situations, but she held on to that thought for a later time as Preston continued.

For a moment, she had to wonder, but then Preston brought up finding a way to not desecrate a grave. Which was great in her mind, but Bailey couldn't exactly deny that history as they knew it came form people digging up graves and places of the past.

"It would be fitting, if that's where it was. Did you have an idea for how to deal with the storm?"

[Preston Salabim]

"If I can get ahold of the right ingredients I can make a spell that will create an anti-magic field around me. With that, I should be able to make it through the storm untouched."

The problem was finding something that can negate magic that he can get his hands on...

[Bailey Oleander]

"Sounds like you may have another quest before you reach that one, then." He was already three steps ahead of her. Not surprising, considering he seemed to have been at this a while before she'd arrived.

[Preston Salabim]

"More than one. I would also like to acquire the ashes of a phoenix. The DNA of a symbiote. One of my own hairs, but that is easy. I need some Qi infused wood, so I am trying to figure out what I might offer the God's for a branch of Yggdrasil..."

[Bailey Oleander]

Her eyes widened as he went through the rest of the ingredients he wanted to acquire. Some of them seemed easier than others, at least in theory. She gave a small shake of her head, momentarily awed.

"I suppose it depends on who you asked, too. I feel like some would be more willing to trade or be open to suggestions than others."

[Preston Salabim]

"That is true. And obviously, my hair would be the easiest one to acquire. But it would bind the staff's magic to myself."

An important step.

[Bailey Oleander]

"A fail safe, then, in case something happens." She nodded, glancing over at him as her hands finally unfolded from behind her back, one of them resting on the back of his chair as the conversation turned away from the maps for the moment.

"Is that something you do often, back home? Or is it for things of important value like this?"

[Preston Salabim]

"It depends, some items we craft to be used by any that need it. But an item like this is supposed to represent me. And thus it makes sense to bind it to me, so that only I may use it."

[Bailey Oleander]

"True enough." Especially if that was important to him, the strength of his power and work that he was pouring into it, not to mention all the rare ingredients. No point in letting anyone just happen across the staff at use it. That wasn't just reckless, it was careless.

"I'd love to see it, someday."