[ Adrian's expression softens with sympathy. He can't know what Martin is thinking, but he feels some hesitance about wandering himself. Being stranded in Barovia had been a lot to take in, but this place is in many ways far more disorienting and alien. It feels wrong in a way he can't quite put into words. Something beyond trying to adapt to a world that has long since left him behind.
He listens as Martin explains some of his situation, brows furrowed in thought, fingers curled just beneath his chin. An evil archive? That sounds like something that would be right at home in Barovia. His expression only grows more incredulous as the tale unfolds, and he begins to understand just how strange Martin's experience must have been. These Fears sound an awful lot like patrons of warlock pacts, though even Devils sound friendly and predictable by comparison. ]
You and your companion have been through quite a lot, Mr. Blackwood... Perhaps this place will be a nice vacation? [ A terrible joke, he knows, but what else is there to do in such a situation? And speaking of jokes... Adrian takes a moment to process Martin's flustered expression before he laughs, shoulders shaking with quiet amusement. He'll leave it at that, if only to be polite.
He understands better than Martin might know, how he might feel about the lack of magic. He hesitates a moment, then: ] I haven't always had magic. It was granted to me by my patron... patrons, I suppose. I don't think I understand your abilities well enough to assume we are similar beyond the superficial, but I can't think of anything to call it besides magic. Where I'm from, you and I would be thought of the same: we are warlocks. People don't much care for that.
[ He considers saying more, but he bites his lip for the moment. There are other patrons who might grant Martin power that's more to his liking, but Adrian knows that it's hardly the sort of thing one goes seeking when their bargain feels as if it was coerced... and what's more, there's a very real danger of one ending up in a worse position than where they began.
Adrian gives him a wry smile. ] I like to think it's the other way around. People are often very kind to me despite any misgivings... but I suppose it's true that I haven't quite got the trick of knowing when it isn't genuine. My companion, Lady Fern, worries herself over much... I'm sure your John is the same.
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He listens as Martin explains some of his situation, brows furrowed in thought, fingers curled just beneath his chin. An evil archive? That sounds like something that would be right at home in Barovia. His expression only grows more incredulous as the tale unfolds, and he begins to understand just how strange Martin's experience must have been. These Fears sound an awful lot like patrons of warlock pacts, though even Devils sound friendly and predictable by comparison. ]
You and your companion have been through quite a lot, Mr. Blackwood... Perhaps this place will be a nice vacation? [ A terrible joke, he knows, but what else is there to do in such a situation? And speaking of jokes... Adrian takes a moment to process Martin's flustered expression before he laughs, shoulders shaking with quiet amusement. He'll leave it at that, if only to be polite.
He understands better than Martin might know, how he might feel about the lack of magic. He hesitates a moment, then: ] I haven't always had magic. It was granted to me by my patron... patrons, I suppose. I don't think I understand your abilities well enough to assume we are similar beyond the superficial, but I can't think of anything to call it besides magic. Where I'm from, you and I would be thought of the same: we are warlocks. People don't much care for that.
[ He considers saying more, but he bites his lip for the moment. There are other patrons who might grant Martin power that's more to his liking, but Adrian knows that it's hardly the sort of thing one goes seeking when their bargain feels as if it was coerced... and what's more, there's a very real danger of one ending up in a worse position than where they began.
Adrian gives him a wry smile. ] I like to think it's the other way around. People are often very kind to me despite any misgivings... but I suppose it's true that I haven't quite got the trick of knowing when it isn't genuine. My companion, Lady Fern, worries herself over much... I'm sure your John is the same.