therookery | written + crystal

FORM: written + crystal
SENDER: Jaskier
RECIPIENT: Everyone
NOTES: cw: language and links to dirty ditties sung by Jaskier.

[ having not quite figured out this magic stuff yet (he's a bard, not a mage), when he first starts writing in the provided journal, he doesn't expect it to be broadcast for others to read. oops. so experience the following, with some words ~~struck out~~ as he tries to figure out the best to use. ]

The fairer sex, they often call it
But her love’s as unfair as a crook
It steals all my ~~thoughts~~ reason
~~And all I have bought~~ Commits every treason
Of ~~logic~~ ~~thought~~ logic, with naught but a look

Shit, I forgot- Well, I guess you've all gotten a sneak peak at my latest masterpiece.

[ a beat as he clears his throat. ]

I don't suppose I can convince you fine people to forget what you've seen. Unless you like it, in which case, please do applaud me for my exceptional talent with words. It'll sound even better once I get all the chords for it written. If I can manage with this- This thing in my hand.

[ another pause. ]

Oh, I also assume I should introduce myself. Julian Alfred Pankratz, poet and bard of great renown. Though I have heard that being a bard means something quite different here, so you'll forgive me if I refuse to kill anyone any time soon.

[ there's the sound of a few lute strings being plucked before he continues. ]

I would like to learn more about this land, if someone can direct me to a university. I'm afraid I don't have my professor's credentials with me, but if someone can contact Oxenfurt University, they'll speak well of me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fuck them.

Oh, I plan on it. Already, I've almost tarnished my reputation by taking up with a witcher... Well, I was. For a little while.

[ does he sound a bit bummed? no. not at all. what are you talking about? ]

Am I supposed to know what a witcher is?

Ah, apologies, my dear. I forget that not everyone is from the Continent.

[ he takes a deep breath before he continues, a sign that he is about to tell quite a tale. ]

When the Conjunction of Spheres first brought the worlds into alignment, monsters from many different worlds were trapped on the Continent. Among them were the Aen Seidhe, the dwarves, humans, and many other strange and interesting races. It was the Aen Seidhe, or elves, who first taught humans magic. They controlled Chaos and delivered it into the hands of humans who promptly saw to the slaughter of most elves in what was known as the Great Cleansing. At about this time, human mages realized they needed powerful people to kill off the monsters that would frequently attack villages and towns. A select few of them experimented on young boys, filling their veins with unknown amounts of poisons and potions until one in three of boys gathered were turned into mutants we call witchers. With abilities stronger than normal humans and a bit of magic known only to them, witchers are take up contracts on killing monsters for coin. They travel what they call "The Path" and live long lives where often times they are mistreated or mistrusted. It's a hard life, but someone has to do it.

[ a beat. ]

Ah, that's a good line, I think I'll write it down.