Curiosity & The Cat

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Allow your mind to create our opening scene...

Our Story has yet to begin, The opening credits haven't even started rolling yet.

Before you the darkness of space, your facing the wrong way.

You feel your gaze pulled downward in such a way that that reminds you your not seeing through your own eyes this is big budget Lord Of The Rings wide screen-shot style scenario.

The celestial sight before you is somewhat familiar, that's our sun alright you'd recognise it anywhere and that must be earth.. Only a little lop-sided, ...And a bit cartoon-ish.

...And the wrong way up.

And when the credits start rolling your don't even notice them, your focus is drawn towards the vast and unlikely world before you.

A world where magic, talking animals & objects are perfectly normal.

A globe torn apart by magic and rebuilt by Wizards using sticky tape and other mystical means means at their disposal

.

The globe spins before you until the ever changing (and over dramatised) landscape slowly comes to a halt and our attention is brought to a most remarkable scene :

It is at this point you begin to notice the music,

Its that spooky music you think you've heard before but just cant quite place and it makes

it obvious that a significant plot event is about to occur.

For a brief second the lights go out, when they return we are inside our world, specifically the wild and baron mountain range of the Darklands where Magic is roaming free...

- -- --- -- -

- ONE -

'Expectations'

This day was far from typical, anything but ordinary.

This was not your normal, run of the mill, all as usual average day.... this day was all together more unexpected.

The morning however started as it always had, the sun slowly rose in to the sky where it lingered for the rest of the day.

The birds followed suit by joining in the tradition of screeching their heads off, as their daily routine begins.

The weather of the Darklands is such that creatures that find themselves capable of flight often resort to traveling on foot as opposed to their normal mudus operanti.

The wind howls across the hillside mostly unobstructed apart from the occasional patch of vegetation that desperately clings to the landscape.

Young birds frantically fly back and forth, occasionally facing the direction they are traveling.
As they do so a few of them take notice of the large dark shape moving across the landscape.

The dark shape was exactly that, a dark formless body of mass that neither seems to be one thing or another.
And like a distorted shadow it is moving, slowly, across the hillside silent against the howl and roar of wind.

- TWO -
'Meeaaaow'

The curious slap-dash architecture of Neu stands in high contrast to the natural lush green pasture surroundings with the yellow and grey hues of sandstone and grannit.
Its heavily fortified gates open, its iron and oak draw-bridge fully extended across the inadequately deep ditch that partially surrounds the main wall.

Inside however a maze of streets, stalls, inns and and the hub of commerce in the form of markets and various craft houses to feed their demand.
All roads sooner or later lead to the Wizard Enclave, in some cases it might require doubling back a couple of times.


Ben never wanted to be a Wizard, strictly speaking he wasn't Wizard material. He lacked the typical magely qualities one would associated with the profession such as attention to detail, a good memory and that familiar air of wisdom you would normally associate with the learned.
He didn't take Wizardry serious in the slightest. but it was what the family wanted so he went along with it, after all what could he say?

Getting in to Wizardry is easy, and getting out is just as quick providing you don't actually learn any spells and this was exactly what Ben planned to do as soon as he returned from his visit to the Darklands.
Unfortunately, Ben's future as a Wizard is now set in stone.

Ben- Hey how are you doing?
Cat- Hi, I may look like your every day kitten but I'm far from it, I make your average wonder dog wishing it could learn new tricks. But don't let him know that , the less he knows about things the better right. 'meaaaaoow'
Ben- Oh' right you are Cat, and this is cat ..He's kinda my side kick...
Cat- Ahem! "Meaaow!"
Ben- We're kind of in the middle of saving the world right now... cant stop, ..sorry!
Cat- " Maaow"


Ben scurries of down the cobble stone streets clasping his spell book tightly, cat following at a short distance behind.

- Three -
'Robes'

The ancient city of Neu's olde district's name does not do it justice, if fact be known the town dates back far before the word city had even been thought up.

The olde district as it is now known consists of the Wizard's Enclave and the ruins of the old town hall, which is mostly unused,

Ben is in the main library of the Wizard enclave where a collection of bewildered old men in purple pointed hats are fussing over him.

Suddenly the muttering turns to silence as the group turn to face Ben.
Their expressions are far from optimistic.

Underwizard Fantastic- Hes going to need some robes, should I inform the tailor?

Grand Wizard Flash - Its quite simple really, your have contracted a spell there is no disputing that. Now what kind of spell it is has still to be determined.

Ben - Is there some way I can get rid of it that doesn't involve me being killed in the process?

Grand Wizard Flash - none. So were all agreed?

The Grand Wizrd's question was answered with a reluctant chorus of ayes and nods and the occasional sigh.
The Circle return to their murmurings for a few more minutes before breaking in to another forced silence.

Grand Wizard Flash - Ben, you have been here long enough.. tell me you understand what is going on?

High Wizard Rizla - Would it help if I draw a diagram?

Grand Wizard Flash - Thank you for your input Rizla but on this particular occasion a diagram wont do. ..Now Ben, you understand, you must! How on earth did you manage to aquire the spell in the first place? ..Spells don't capture themselves! Think, THINK!

Take your time, tell us slowly what happened.

Arch wizard Bookworm - I'll take notes..

Ben - Well...

- Four -
'Fantastic Names'

There is a reason Wizards wear a uniform, its a matter of health and safety... specifically the Wizards health and your safety. Nothing says danger like a robe and pointed hat.
This is down to the nature of the materials they may be carrying and the unpredictable nature of the spells the carry.

Acquiring a robe and hat however is a matter of skill, it signifies that the Wizard in hand is in possession of a potentially harmful spell.

Underwizard Fantastic and Ben are in Underwizard Fantastic private study, the room is stereotypically tidy adorned with exotic artifacts and cutting edge interior design.

Light floods in through the west facing window cascading across books, sculptures and highly fashionable throws.

In the center of the room a green felt topped oak display table lies, arranged on its surface a large selection of garments of varying materials and design.


Underwizard Fantastic - Now if you just follow me I've layed out a small selection of ideas I've put together, Oh' and congratulations by the way.. Anyway your going to need something to..

Ben - But?..

Underwizard Fantastic - Don't worry about hats I've booked you in for a fitting later today... As I was saying, your timing couldn't be better blue is this season's black.. now how do you feel about spangles? Personally I favour the blotch or polka but don't let that sway you.

And don't worry about about the coordination, I'll take care of that.

Ben - Uhmm.. All I really wanted was..

Underwizard Fantastic - The spangles? I knew it! Now do you have any preference with material? no? We'll go with the standard for now shall we..

Ben - I was thinking maybe I could...

Underwizard Fantastic - Accessories? You read my mind.. now we have talons, trinkets, idols ..was there anything in particular you had in mind?

Ben - Will they give me a Wizard name like you and the others Underwizard Fantastic?

Underwizard Fantastic - well that is the usual process yes, shall we look over the staffs and wands?

Ben - I suppose so, but I can't even get a simple fire spell right, how can they make me a Wizard? Is there nothing I can do?

Underwizard Fantastic - They didn't make you a Wizard, you became a Wizard when you acquired that spell. Now.. we have more important matters to tend to..

Ben - Do I need to carry a staff?

Underwizard Fantastic - Are you trying to tell me you'd rather... a broom?

Ben - Oh' no, nothing like that. I mean, I'm only small and they look heavy.

Underwizard Fantastic - I suppose you don't need to worry about it right away, best ask the Grand Wizard.
Now lets focus on these designs...

- Five -
'Fire In Hand'

The fireplace of the Grand Wizard's room burns with a pale green hue, it has no effect on the temperature of the room which sits somewhere just above a level tolerable to humans.
The flame casts no shadows, it simply acts as a piece of interesting furniture.

A focal point for study and discussion, the flame ripples and flows in exactly the same way water doesn't.


Grand Wizard Flash - Listen and take heed Ben, from this day forth you will wear the colours of the wizened. Your going to require a name.. You will return to me in eight days, do you understand?

Ben - I think...

Grand Wizard Flash - pay attention you either understand or you don't. You cannot think you understand, you cannot presume to know.. now do you understand of not boy?

Ben - Yes.

Grand Wizard Flash - From the looks of you Fantastic has been you to indulge his obsession with modern fashion and the likes, we'll it takes more than a shiny cloak to make a Wizard let me tell you that! Its not all disappearing acts and smoke tricks, you had no business being out there... Did you never ask your self why they thought to call it the Darkland? Have you learned nothing of magic?

Ben - I try..

Grand Wizard Flash - You try my patience... Never the less the situation is as it is.

You will receive special tutoring, well call it a crash course, or in your case an idiot's guide.

Obviously with time constraints being as they are I have had to make considerable arrangements to ensure you learn enough before you return.

Ben- Return?

Grand Wizard Flash - Well Ben as you seem to be unable of providing us with a simple coherent explanation of how you managed to acquire this spell and how you managed to get all the way back here without a scratch on you there is only one possible way of establishing it is there? And if you think I'm going to waste anymore of my time you have another thing coming.

And don't think I haven't noticed that pet of yours either, there are rules about pets.

- SIX -
'Cat's Out Of Water'

Neu's market district with its cobblestone streets is overflowing with activity.
Fresh and not so fresh food and produce is displayed on, in, under and between every conceivable location including the floor its self at times. The inconceivable places are reserved for the more rare items.

Carts are slowly dragged from destination to destination by donkeys beyond their years.

Meanwhile at Mad Barry's Fish Emporium..

Mad Barry - But your a cat.

Cat - I know I'm a cat, I'm talking to you ...I'm the cat.

Mad Barry - But your talking..

Cat - I thought we'd move past that already.. lets talk business.

Mad Barry - But if it gets out people will think I've gone insane..

Cat - Barry if you turn down this business opportunity they'll say your crazy.

Mad Barry - But why me?

Cat - In a word Barry, ...Fish.

The wants of a cat are not the same as human, where a human man be motivated by profit or personal gain, the feline counterpart's only desire is a free mean and to be treated like a king. ...Something cats are highly skilled at achieving.
The most common attribute of the cosmopolitan cat is their absence of speech, something this cat is defiantly aware of.

- Seven -
'Lightening Strikes Trice'

 

The lavishly decorated hallway of Underwizard Fantastic is filled with music as various conjured instruments play melodies of popular show tunes. A small top-hat wearing Blue Imp occasionally sings some suggestive lyrics that cause it to blush a sea-blue hue in the cheeks,

Fantastic whistles along as he rhythmically finger his way through one of the many book stacked upon the table before him until songthing catches his eye,

“Fantastic!” - he exclaims, before adding “Thats enough music for now, thanks Barry”

The Imp shuffles off twirling his can before vanishing in to the woodwork, as he does the band of instruments evaporates in to sweet scented mist. Silence creeps back in to the room for a moment before Underwizard snaps his fingers loudly.

“I wish you would stop doing that, what if I was taking a bath?” - An irritated Wizard barks having just been summoned mid-way through negotiating a free drink at the expense of Ranken a local Tavern Keep, “I was attending to some important business”

“Sorry about that, I thought you woul like to kn---” ventured Fantastic before being cut off by the visitor.

“--Have you been burning insense in here? You know the policy on insence.. remember the truble we had with the Witches Union!”

“That, oh' no. That's not incense, just a little spell of mine ...I'm trying to achieve an authentic Lavender aroma, but thats not why I summoned you here. Look...” - He pointed to the book that had been laid out on the table before them. It wasn't a spell book as such, the book pre-dated spell books ...It was the Magicaticus Dictionarium (picturographic edition). - one of the few books to make it out of the Darklands intact.

The Wizard was clearly surprised Fantastic would own such a book as it is highly unlikely it features interior design tips. His wizened face peered down searching for answers. - He found them.

“Oh, I see.” He said, scanning the text and accompanying diagrams. “We'd take precautions” he added before requesting he be unsummoned as soon as possible so he could finish what he was doing.

With a puff of not-quite lavender scented smoke the anxious Wizard vanished.
Underwizard Fantistic picked himsself up and carefully carried the book in to the hallway. Where an overworked broom was taking a breather,

The broom jumped to attention and began sweeping at the red-raw floor where it had lay a few moments earlier.
“Good job, keep it up!” he said as he side-stepped past it and out in to the adjacent room.

 

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