One. || Video; 391.

[palebee]

[ Filtered from Barty, Merope, and Voldemort.

There's a reedy man in bright blue robes perched at a desk, one stacked high and neat with various odds, ends, and books. Those familiar with Snape's school may recognize the room -- a small, relatively unfurnished thing, until recently spare of occupants.

It's not immediately clear when he arrived, or how precisely he did so without notice  ... let alone with half a library and a bird in tow -- why is there a crow on the desk? It looks quite content for the moment, tearing away at a ball of sparkly red yarn. ]

Hello, Asgard!

Congratulations -- and my gratitude -- for your efforts in Alfheim. It is heartening beyond measure to witness firsthand the courage and generous spirit that so many of you exhibited upon the battlefield. I believe that thanks are also owed those who stayed behind, to protect our own gracious city, and all those who live within it. It takes a great deal of bravery to face an unknown, and to hold fast in spite of it. 

There were two matters that I should like to discuss.

First, I suppose, and of least note at any level other than the entirely personal: I seem to have damaged my glasses during the reclamation efforts. Do any here make or repair spectacles? The frames are bent, and the lenses quite thoroughly shattered, but I still possess all component pieces.

 

Of potentially greater interest; the ever-talented Evelyn Carnahan and myself have embarked upon a project to begin translating something of the elvish language. Words shape our lives in more ways than one, and as our two peoples grow closer in friendship, it seems only fitting to search for methods of more easily sharing and interpreting those experiences.

Before diving in, I thought it prudent to ask whether any here have existing experience with the language? A bit of a silly project to begin if the knowledge is already widespread -- but perhaps no less engaging for it.

To clarify, the script in question is Elvish of the variety spoken in Alfheim, and may or may not bear relation to that spoken in other worlds. I should, however, be delighted to compare any extant forms with this, once cracked! It will be interesting to know whether they should exhibit any similarities.

There's quite a deal of work to be done, and as in all such endeavours, the many the hands, the lighter the load. All those with prior linguistic or analytical experience are welcome to join the team.

Thank you for your time, and be well.

[ The crow horks, once, and returns to its work. ]

Comments

[Video]

[madcuriosity]

Translating Elvish, Mr. Dumbledore? [She would think such a thing was already done. Apparently not.]

Perhaps though, it shouldn't just be Elvish? I wonder if it's similar to any of the Norse languages that are around already!

Video.

[palebee]

We all require projects, Miss Liddell! And I confess that while knitting is good for occupying the hands, when taken alone it does perhaps something less for the mind.

An interesting puzzle to pick at, if one that may yet prove unnecessary. There are near-infinite possible ways of arriving at a conclusion, and each path lends itself new sway for the step. Often, we find ourselves on subtly different roads, alone by the virtue of our initial intentions. Translating, I find, is little different.

You bring up an excellent point! The Nordic languages of Earth, and of other worlds may also prove familiar to the form.

May I ask, Miss Liddell, whether you care much for stories?

Video

[bythewaves]

Your pardon, sir, but I heard you mention a translation of the language of Alfhiem? I do not know how closely their speech comes to my kin, but I think we are not entirely dissimilar, and I would be honored if you would see it suitable if I might have some small contribution.

video;

[palebee]

The honour is all mine, sir. I will set aside one of the stacks for you, then -- what means are the best for contacting you with further information?

[mortuimagistri]

I would offer assistance, if still needed. I am hardly a linguist, but I have on occasion studied codes in my spare time.

[palebee]

Of course, Mr. Booth, your expertise would be much appreciated. I believe that you'll find striking similarity between the two fields, if perhaps a touch more irregularity in the matter of language.

I am portioning out the material as we speak, and I will be certain to save a stack for you -- how do you best prefer to be contacted? I am happy to deliver it anywhere about the city, or you are welcome to pick it up yourself.

[ffuckoff]

Hey, nice office. Where'd you get it?

[palebee]

Ah, Miss Gallagher.

An excellent question when taken in the abstract -- can any of us ever be honestly said to have obtained a room? Does an interior space, by its nature as an absence of material, truthfully consist of the same matter for which we, as a society, have established social mores of claimancy?

Of course, you have to be a bit of an utter prat to ever take anything in the abstract. I am told that might be telling, or rather, I am often told something along those lines.

As to a more immediate answer; just down the hall. Would you care for some tea?

video;

[necrowmantic]

[Ignoring the questions and the topics at hand, Henry's just watching the crow with interest. There's more than a few hanging around him, one perched on his shoulder, tugging at his hair. He doesn't seem to notice.]

Geez, they get into your yarn too? I managed to mostly convince 'em to stop teasing cats, but strings are way too tempting.

video;

[palebee]

[ Birds?? Birds. Albus grins to Henry. For its part, the crow turns its attentions to the screen, tapping at the lens and clacking its beak. ]

Oh, he's been amusing himself with the stuff all morning. Frankly, it's less destructive than some of what he might be up to -- the crow that I kept as a boy had a terrible habit of dismantling our entire kitchen if left alone for more than a few minutes.

May I ask how yours get along together? Lovely birds, they look quite well cared for.

voice;

[standsonhigh]

I can give it a shot fixing your glasses but I'd have to see just how damaged they are.

[He's never tried but hey, he likes a challenge. And he has yet to find anything he can't fix. He's bored, he'll do anything to amuse himself.]

I also speak more languages than I can count so if you're in need of assistance. I suppose I could help.

voice;

[palebee]

Near about wrecked, I'm afraid.

[ He sounds cheerful enough about it. There's a video still attached to the message; a slightly mangled pair of frames clings to its few last shards of glass, beside a painstaking arrangement of tiny, shattered lens pieces. ]

Without magical aid, I suspect that the glass itself is all a bit buggered, there.

In any event, it would be wonderful to have another pair of eyes on the material -- perhaps less blurry ones! I'll see to setting aside a portion of it for you, how best do you prefer to be contacted?

video;

[madeforwalking]

Humans can usually only speak a handful of languages, huh--? Are you guys always willing to put so much effort into everything?

video;

[palebee]

Oh, undoubtedly, though the precise lengths that one is willing to go vary wildly between each of us -- as a species, we lack inborn understanding; as individuals, inborn motivation.

I understand several languages with fluency, while several of my colleagues speak many more yet, and my younger brother only the one. Perhaps, somewhat questionably that one at all.

Does your species typically meet with less trouble, sir?

video

[subecho]

There stood a queen who seemed to speak both tongues. She cannot leave you writing in help?

video

[palebee]

Queen Skuld's assistance would be both welcome and invaluable, however I hesitate to ask it at present.

Her Majesty's attentions are doubtless already stretched thin, over a kingdom and a people now looking to rebuild. Perhaps when Alfheim has had greater opportunity to recover, it might be asked after -- if not expected. For all that she has graciously granted travelers her audience here, I admit a great deal of unfamiliarity in seeking the aid of royalty.

[ Private. ]

Sir Thor, correct? I have heard much of you.

[ None of it very good, but bygones. ]

Miss Granger tells me that you hail from an Asgard different to this own.

video;

[asofwar]

A guard is as commendable as a soldier.

[Very nod, such agree.]

video;

[palebee]

To be sure! The guard, the medic, the builder, the baker ... All contribute their own, separate share; without each the community could not survive and flourish.

To each, a purpose, waiting only to be discovered and encouraged.

May I ask, Madame, whether you stayed during the recent troubles, or accompanied the group to Alfheim?

{ video }

[applegoddess]

Hey Albus! I'm glad to see you made it back from Alfheim in one piece. Things back there weren't very pretty at all...

[She tilts her head questioningly.] Seems you have quite a project on your hands. I'm sorry to say I can't help much. We don't have any Elves in my world, except in fairy tales.

[Or maybe they do? After all, if there are Norse gods, giants and dwarves...]

{ video }

[palebee]

Hello, Gaia!

I’m afraid that I soon lost track of you in it all, I’m pleased to know that you returned safely as well.

The sentiment is appreciated, I assure you, and its own assistance enough. We each have our separate skills, and those of encouragement are not easily dismissed.

We’ve elves where I come from, though of a markedly different sort – much smaller beings, and generally far less inclined to writing. Are humans the only sentient folk of your realm?

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

You could ask someone with Drawing Life to replace your spectacles. It might be easier than fixing it when it's already broken into pieces.

About the Elvish--if you find anything about runes, I'd like to stop by and take a look as well.

[Video]

[palebee]

I suspect that it would be indeed!

In honesty, I had no notion that one those with the power were able to draw forth the inanimate, my only introduction has been through Miss Liddell’s marvelous creatures. Might I trouble you to ask whether you know of any sort of directory of those able?

I’ll be certain to keep you updated – the initial focus of the investigation is a small volume of children’s tales that we've found mirrored in Asgard's own library. Once we've established a basic understanding of the language, we'll be expanding out.

Have you a deal of familiarity with Asgard's runes, sir?

video.

[livedtwice]

Do you mean to make it easier for us to communicate with them? [There's a beat.] Sir. That should help in the future, certainly. ... And it will show that we do care about them, too, I'd think.

video.

[palebee]

That is one of my hopes, Harry.

Asgard and Alfheim already possess a common enemy, one intent upon forwarding itself –- it strikes me that we ought to grant our friends the same effort.

On point of curiosity, how would you personally show that interest?

text/private;

[infomodder]

There's a songbird outside Sigyn that thinks 3AM is the best time to start chirping.

Do you want it? I'm sure you can see why I can't take it.

[deet it or beat it, albie]

text/private;

[palebee]

Is this a reminder to send you that list, or are you honestly looking to rehome a wild bird?

[Video]

[onebadapple]

Elvish! Why that sounds so lovely, and what a challenge! I've never heard elvish.

video

[palebee]

Nor had I until very recently, Miss White!

It's a very lovely language, if I might say. Should the attempts prove successful, would you care for the opportunity to learn?

text;

[feathery]

dude what the fuck is with this place and crows
are we the asgardian pet of choice or something
like dont get me wrong im not gonna argue against the feathery assholes being pretty cool
weve got hells of kinds of merit
but its starting to get a little cliche
more than even

text;

[palebee]

An interesting question!

They are a bit of an unusual choice to find so widespread, aren't they? Though I'd be quick to suggest their larger cousins more thematic to the setting, I suppose that all corvids hold some inherent associations of the gloomy and strange. Intelligent, opportunistic creatures, and much taken with the air; it is little wonder that crows are so heavily associated with the magical.

Still, while the argument bears as much merit as we both agree the birds to possess, I believe that we may find a simpler answer by looking to the streets outside. Pigeons, of course, strut about in abundance. Songbirds are present, and chickens, whenever they should find themselves loose.

But none of those are particularly affectionate or winsome pets, they simply lack the interest in human nature to make the most fitting companions. I suppose that were there more wild parrots about, or even cockatoos, we should see a great deal more of those fluttering from the shoulders of travelers.

Davesprite, correct? I've heard a deal about you from Miss Carnahan. It's very good to speak to you now in the flesh -- or at least, in the written word.

Out of curiosity, what sort of bird would you prefer?