Private message to Augustus Rookwood

[alt_sinistra]

I've been asked to make myself available for conversation with you regarding the wards. I have access to the stone at Dover and can arrange communication with those in charge at Stornoway.

Our previous social encounters did not allow much chance for deeper or nuanced discussion, but my own field of astronomy does of course touch on locational magics in various forms and combinations. My first published work (now rather outdated, admittedly) was a study of the effects of strongly magical locales on benchmark charms and directional tools, though my research has gone in other directions since.

What aspects are most urgently in need of discussion from your perspective?

Comments

[alt_sinistra]

I will see about appropriate observation tonight.

I fear geomancy is rather outside my usual line of work, but I believe I follow the basic theory on the gems. I remain curious why opal was less suitable in your eyes, though I suppose it is a rather contrary sort of stone at the best of times.

Regarding the adjustments, because I'm quite sure Stornoway will ask: is there significant further risk to the dragons? Either of death or of the strain causing permanent injury?

Also, what's a muggle replant function? And do you have any other examples of the kind of disaster we might see? Are we talking geomantic effects, like the earth quakes, or magical effects, or weather, or something, but we've no idea what?

And what are the possible outcomes if the adjustments do not go smoothly?

I suppose this is a good time to ask: you are quite sure the rest of the network is sound and behaving as you would normally expect? There've been so many odd effects around the country, and I was trained to check everything at least three times.

[alt_sinistra]

I did observe sparks in the eyes of the Dover point at 11 minutes after astrological midnight. Do you have a theory about the time slip?

As to the state of the eye stones, I'd like to have someone with more experience with stones take a look under different lighting conditions (as my observational skills are honed for distance work, not small details close up.)

I can see a couple of signs that might be nothing, or might be the stone cracking. It may take a couple of days to find someone with suitable skill. Are there any diagnostic charms you would suggest?

Also, the colours were running a little oddly, perhaps. The left eye is tending more towards reds and oranges, the right toward blues and greens. Is that to be expected? (The sparks, in both cases, were a rather vibrant yellow)

I remain interested in my previous questions, but I also had another one occur to me.

You mentioned that it was the Ireland wards were the ones that caused an increase in the tensions and strain. Is there any way to undo those, rather than transitioning to the Octoboros wards, if either the dragons or the opal stone cannot take the strain?

[alt_rookwood]

Undo the Ireland wards? Why would we want to? In principle they could be undone, all magics can, but the obvious ways are not presently feasible and might have unintended consequences. Their deleterious effects were on the first wards.

No visible cracks is acceptable for now. Part of the solution to the risks introduced by use opal for that Eye was a variety of stability and weather protection charms. Kasperski's Enclosure and tueri gemma, the de Vos variation, should be renewed on each opal. May correct the colouration variation.

Because he couldn't keep his fingers out of things, even when there was no reason to meddle. "Minimally tied" does not mean "not tied".

Risk to the dragons? Yes. The more of them that remain to hold the load the less risk to any individual dragon. That's what Marsh and the others were sent to Stornoway to evaluate. If they could be allowed to do that evaluation, it would be helpful. The fewer there are the faster we would need to work, the more likely for additional injury. You could assuage the keepers feelings by telling them no additional dragons would need to be added after the rite. Everything would be anchored through the Octoboros.

All of the ancillary effects are related to the first, hastily raised, moronically anchored wards. The geomantic and weather effects, the shifted ley lines, the portkey troubles (and yes, before you ask this will confound portkey arithmancy again) all of it. The end game I'm trying to prevent is apocalyptic. We would join Atlantis.

The muggles considered the country here one of the great realms of the world. The Eternal Sunrise Empire or some such juvenilia. They would have been pounding on our borders in their unceasing waves with their pitchforks and witch burning fires. Therefore we made it so they had trouble noticing the absence or remembering us after we won our righteous victory. Those most closely tied to the former country remembered more, but ask the average muggle in Poland about the Union of Kings they'll shrug, uninterested.

[alt_sinistra]

I was trained that a thorough researcher looks at all the possiblilities, even those that might be distasteful. (And my field does rather reward thorough diligence.)

I believe I can arrange to renew the two charms you mention. I'm more familiar with other variations of the tueri gemma but I've consulted the library here and the de Vos variation seems quite manageable.

I'm seeing what I can arrange about conversations with Stornoway, but as I said, it will take some more time.

I admit, I find the idea of the wards against the muggles rather fascinating. And you're certain those aspects will shift to the Octoboros wards when the process is completed?

I suppose my last question is this: clearly, something must be done to avoid Atlantis, but can you measure the urgency in doing so before the summer solstice, as opposed to six months later? If various parties get stubborn about various parts of this, of course.