The fire was contained behind carefully constructed screens that let warmth out but kept stray sparks within the hearth itself, protecting the overstuffed chairs and rug that were arranged just beyond it. The nerd, however, was exactly what she thought he was - he even had a pair of spectacles tucked into the fold of his tunic, though he wasn't wearing them at the moment. "It's more a question of where in the collection and how far I'll need to walk to fetch the right books," he admitted cheerfully. "Our historical texts on the gods are woefully lacking, but we have numerous entries from the past year or so that may prove useful to you - depending on what it is you're hoping to learn, of course," he added with a rueful shrug. If she wanted to know how to guarantee summoning one, for instance, he knew for a fact that no such book existed in the Atheneum's records, or else it would be the most popular text in the building!
He listened to her explanation solemnly, retaking his seat as Isuma fluttered down to land on the table and wend her careful way between the books to approach Ingrid curiously. At the mention of 'theologians across Caido', however, his brows went up and he took another long look at the young woman, tilting his head in consideration. "By chance would you happen to be from the Fangs?" he asked, suspecting the answer but wondering if she was perhaps from farther abroad than even that. "Simply put, there are no books here from before the barrier went up," he explained soberly. "None that have been found yet, at least. The earliest tome we have is still from years, perhaps decades, after the Hollowed Grounds were cut off from the rest of Caido... and from the Old Gods. We have some bits and pieces that Ludo, Safrin, and Frey have shared with us, and other pieces of the puzzle from the Voice's side of things, but most of our understanding of the Old Gods - of Vi, Mort, and Rae - come from that single tome, from the stories of the herald-gods, or from interactions within the past year."
He bowed his head slightly in acceptance of her compliment, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I think," he said slowly, "that we could both benefit from sharing what we know, both of what's been going on inside the barrier, and what has happened outside it. You mentioned the war between the old gods and the new ones... what do you know of the new gods that were shut away here? The Voice, and another who was trapped within the Spire... the Core, I think it was called." He didn't want to waste her time by telling her what she already knew, and he was curious as to what those beyond the barrier thought of the Ascended gods who had caused so much trouble and strife for so many.
He listened to her explanation solemnly, retaking his seat as Isuma fluttered down to land on the table and wend her careful way between the books to approach Ingrid curiously. At the mention of 'theologians across Caido', however, his brows went up and he took another long look at the young woman, tilting his head in consideration. "By chance would you happen to be from the Fangs?" he asked, suspecting the answer but wondering if she was perhaps from farther abroad than even that. "Simply put, there are no books here from before the barrier went up," he explained soberly. "None that have been found yet, at least. The earliest tome we have is still from years, perhaps decades, after the Hollowed Grounds were cut off from the rest of Caido... and from the Old Gods. We have some bits and pieces that Ludo, Safrin, and Frey have shared with us, and other pieces of the puzzle from the Voice's side of things, but most of our understanding of the Old Gods - of Vi, Mort, and Rae - come from that single tome, from the stories of the herald-gods, or from interactions within the past year."
He bowed his head slightly in acceptance of her compliment, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I think," he said slowly, "that we could both benefit from sharing what we know, both of what's been going on inside the barrier, and what has happened outside it. You mentioned the war between the old gods and the new ones... what do you know of the new gods that were shut away here? The Voice, and another who was trapped within the Spire... the Core, I think it was called." He didn't want to waste her time by telling her what she already knew, and he was curious as to what those beyond the barrier thought of the Ascended gods who had caused so much trouble and strife for so many.
