Main:
Gwynviène Avenloré, Lowen Foss
Other:
Myrtle the Mouse, Panvier
Where:
The Laughing Pooka
When:
Present-day Evergild Era,
Theme:
Trust, vulnerability, magic as memory, friendship, wonder, connection through echoes
Summary:
Over flickering firelight in the Laughing Pooka tavern, Gwynviène shares her magic with Lowen for the first time — not just the theory, but the feeling. Her magic touches the echoes in objects, memories in spaces, even emotions woven into moments. She reveals how she can briefly read forgotten texts, imbue charms with feeling, and—at a cost—cast visions drawn from memory itself. As she opens up, Lowen watches with quiet awe, offering her steadiness and warmth. It is a night of closeness, trust, and subtle wonder — a step toward something more, unspoken but deeply felt.
Gwynviène sat curled on the worn bench of The Laughing Pooka, eyes bright but uncertain in the flickering firelight. Lowen was watching her with quiet curiosity, the familiar warmth in their gaze encouraging her to continue.
“I’m still not sure exactly how it works,” Gwynviène admitted softly, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. “It’s like…feeling the memories that places or things carry. Little echoes. Sometimes it’s clear, sometimes not.”
Lowen tilted their head gently. “Can you show me?”
Gwynviène nodded slowly, rising to approach the mantelpiece. She rested her fingertips lightly on the worn wood, breathing in deeply as her eyes fluttered shut.
“Echoes,” she whispered, voice almost inaudible. The tavern shifted subtly around her, a faint, ghostly laughter filtering through the air, the sound of music long quieted, glasses clinking gently from unseen hands. “Joyful evenings linger here. Moments of warmth, friendship. Even when the patrons leave, the joy stays.”
She swayed slightly, eyes reopening, visibly more drained. Lowen reached out instinctively to steady her. Gwynviène smiled gratefully.
“There’s more, too. Sometimes it helps me read.” She moved toward a shelf cluttered with faded parchments, pulling out a crumbling page of illegible scrawl. Her fingers hovered over the faded ink. “Whispers in parchment,” she murmured, and for a brief moment, the faded letters darkened and clarified. The ink bloomed clearly, then faded back just as quickly, leaving her breath shallow.
“And then… there’s this.” Gwynviène reached into her satchel and withdrew a small pendant, handing it carefully to Lowen. “Memento magic. I…imbued this with the memory of the day we danced here—the laughter, the music, how carefree we felt. If you hold it, you might feel a bit of that joy.”
Lowen closed their hand gently around the charm, eyes widening softly in surprise. A nostalgic warmth spread visibly through their expression, a soft, joyful recognition of a shared, carefree moment.
Gwynviène settled back onto the bench beside her friend, calmer now, though still determined. “There’s one more thing. It’s…harder.”
Lowen waited patiently, concern flickering briefly in their eyes.
Taking a shaky breath, Gwynviène focused her gaze on the empty hearth, whispering, “Vision weaving.” Softly, the air before them shimmered and shifted, revealing a delicate vision—Gwynviène and Lowen laughing, spinning across the tavern floor as music surrounded them, carefree and bright.
As the vision faded, Gwynviène slumped slightly, utterly exhausted. Lowen caught her gently, offering quiet reassurance.
“It’s beautiful,” Lowen murmured, genuine awe in their voice.
Gwynviène smiled weakly, eyes heavy but satisfied. “I’m still learning its limits. It tires me. But I think, in time, it could be something special.”
Lowen squeezed her hand gently. “It already is.”
Summary of Gwynviène’s Magic:
- Echoes of the Past: Sensing emotional memories tied to specific places or objects.
- Whispers in Parchment: Temporarily revealing faded or hidden writings.
- Memento Magic: Imbuing objects with specific memories or emotions.
- Vision Weaving: Creating soft, ephemeral visions based on memories, which require significant energy and focus.
Boundaries and Limitations:
- Gwynviène’s magic is emotionally and physically taxing, particularly with Vision Weaving.
- Her sensitivity to echoes can overwhelm her, especially in emotionally charged places.
- Manifestations and effects are temporary and subtle, requiring repeated effort for permanence.
Potential for Growth:
- With practice, Gwynviène might deepen her connection to ancestral memories, accessing collective histories.
- Future mastery could include permanently preserving powerful memories, anchoring them into enchanted objects or writings.
- Developing the ability to shield herself emotionally, managing her sensitivity to overwhelming echoes.