strangetrip | [GP / EP] Welcome to the Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

Freedom from her bonds had given Illyana more than freedom of movement. It had returned to her the use of her magik and her ability to teleport. These abilities had, in turn, allowed her to finish making ready the library for public use. It was less about collecting books and media from around the premises (and some from Limbo, or donated collections harvested from the Otherworlds) and arranging shelving and seating, most of which had been relatively easily done. It was more a matter of laying the appropriate wards, and negotiating the finer points of the old-fashioned catalog and check-out system, which included odd donated items such as sporting equipment and electronic devices available for rental. Xavin's espresso machine counter necessitated a mini-bar refrigerator, glass-domed cake stands for assorted pastries brought in from the kitchen, and various cafe sundries.

Repurposed from what had been the 'Garden Room,' the library space with its high wooden ceilings, chandeliers, and landscape murals over busy floral carpet still looked somewhat like a touristy banquet hall, yet the area was now also highly saturated with layered magic. The hodgepodge collection of random books and so on were fiercely protected by these magics. When needed and as possible, worn volumes had been restored. The books could not be damaged nor marred from here on out, at least not by coffee spills nor page-tearing or inconsiderate attempts at margin notation. Nor would they leave the boundaries of the library area without proper dispensation, simply stopping mid-air and dropping should the attempt be made at the threshold. Ask at the Desk for Assistance With These Items, prompted the signs on several glass display cases featuring certain perhaps unsettling curiosities within - books in arcane languages, skulls from indeterminate creatures, and artifacts such as a green glowing cube suspended on a chain. At said desk, a gleaming service bell sat waiting, should the staff be needed and not clearly present.

Illyana finished affixing the large engraved plaque to the wall beside the double-doors, and then returned to attend the newly opened library with little fanfare:

Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

Established ~01.25.2018 Earthly Gregorian Calendar

Open All Hours

Volunteer Staff on Duty as Schedules Allow

Classes & Tutoring for Most Subjects Available Upon Request

Donations Encouraged

Disruptive Patrons Will Be Zealously Evicted

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Illyana hitched an eyebrow at the audacious approach. Particularly once the woman with the pointed ears said what information she wanted. She could not possibly appreciate the irony involved.

"Rakshasas are more accurately classified as devils," the blonde stated simply.

Then she turned to walk away.

"Because they originate in the Nine Hells, not the Abyss," Vex replied as if by rote. It was a distinction she knew, but rarely made in general speech.

When she continued, it was with the confidence in being Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt and a noble of Whitestone. "I'm looking for information on fiends. Specifically rakshasas and shadow or other vengeance demons, but more general sources work as well. Especially since I can't assume what it true of fiends that appear in my world will be true of fiends found in other worlds. As you are not only familiar with the collection, but obviously with the specifics of various fiends, you are the obvious person to ask."

Interesting. Not many of Earth would be able to distinguish the hierarchy of planar creatures in such a way. "You sound as if you already have a rudimentary understanding of the subject. Yet you aren't of the arcane disciplines, and you aren't touched by such infernal influence yourself," she observed. That had more to do with the woman's energy signature than her mode of dress.

"I have made a study of such creatures. Not for as long or as in depth as dragons, not yet, but the better you know your prey, the more successful the hunt." And she would hunt them, before they could hurt her brother, her beloved, or the rest of her family ever again. Vex had never minded study or schooling when it was something useful. Given some of the things that had happened in the past year, learning everything she could about fiends was definitely useful.

Illyana shifted back to face her in full. Haughty, informed, and supposedly a hunter of demons. She didn't know that she liked this person, but she may have to afford her grudging respect. "Who are you?"

Well that had gotten her attention. Good. Vex met her gaze evenly. "Lady Vex'ahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt, ranger of Vox Machina. Who are you, other than our voluntary archivist?"

"Your mouthful of titles would be more impressive if they weren't relatively meaningless in this place," Illyana pointed out flatly. "I am Illyana Nikolaevna Rasputin."

Her lips quirked, then, chin lifting to accept the ranger's challenge. "I am Sorceress Supreme, Queen of Limbo, the demon-mage known as the Darkchilde. I am called Magik amongst the mutant paramilitary forces that would fight for co-existence with humankind. I have fought alongside the New Mutants and the X-men."

Vex could have pointed out her titles weren't meaningless to several of the inn's residents, but it was enough she knew. She was a part of Whitestone regardless of where she was, and Whitestone of her. That was the gift Percy had given her. "You did ask."

A demon-mage. She looked human enough, but that could be illusion or some other spell. Or she could be a demon of a different sort. Kitty had talked of being a mutant. "Mutants. Would that be like Kitty?"

"I did ask," Illyana agreed evenly. "And yes, like Kitty, though the exact nature of X-gene mutations typically vary between individuals. We spent some formative years together, training our gifts on the same team. She's a friend of mine."

"So you've also been saving the world on weekends since you were fourteen?" she asked, recalling how Kitty had described it after showing her own mutation. "Although not, from what you've said, by turning yourself into a gas." Her imagination was good enough to see how effective Kitty's abilities would be in a fight, but there was still a part of Vex that couldn't ignore the memories of the disastrous first time Keyleth cast Wind Walk.

Illyana could dither about which world, but the answer was more or less the same. "Sixteen," Illyana countered. "And... No. My specialties lie with magik, mobility, and a well-placed blade."

"An interesting set of skills." Most sorcerers Vex was familiar with relied on their magic and had little use for or skill with blades. Unless they took the time to develop those skills at the expense of their magic. "And potentially useful."

"It isn't counting pinecones in the forest, but I manage," Illyana parried dryly.

Vex raised an eyebrow. "Not accustomed to people acknowledging your abilities? That's a shame."

That was a strange leap to make, but Illyana just tipped a shoulder to shrug. She was starting to feel that she was being baited, and that grew tiresome. "I know their worth. It's more convenient if others come to appreciate their value, but actions are more likely to prove themselves to strangers than words." She gestured at the library around them.

Not baiting, well, possibly Vex's last response. Slightly. And probably when she called her 'voluntary archivist'. Mostly she'd been attempting to speak in a manner the librarian would appreciate, but perhaps the woman was harder to read than she appeared. Either way, Vex gave a small shrug of her own.

"Actions and words both have their place, but I know a centralized library will be appreciated by many. Including me, if there are resources of interest, but perhaps it's better I explore for myself, and let you get back to your work. Librarians are the same in many worlds, it seems." Jealous with their books and knowledge.

"I take that to mean that librarians across the various worlds are inquisitive, knowledgeable, industrious," Illyana proposed. "And in possession of a book that would offer you some insight regarding rakshasas."

"Something like that." Being in possession of such a book and being willing to direct Vex to it were very different things, and from Illyana's behavior Vex still wasn't sure of the first part. Let alone the second. Being direct had had mixed results, but she could make a last attempt.

"If you are in possession of such a book and would direct me to it, that would be appreciated. If not, it's probably better for both of us if I explore the collection for myself." She could also ask Trinket to help. Wonder what the Sorceress Supreme would think about that.

[GP / EP] Welcome to the Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

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