Itō Mikuno

> She's quite a mysterious woman, that Mikuno. Always speaks in our minds, and never out loud. I wonder why that is? I don't think I've ever heard much about her history, other than she just showed up to Etera one day from some continent or island in the East. A few people have come from there, actually. And none of them are quite like the people we have here. I wonder if she'll tell us more about her life, if she ever stops working. - *Violetta Lupo, Babel's Gossip*
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## Itō Mikuno

Mikuno after sealing herself to protect others.

## Character Information

### Titles

• Kadishtuor Mgeplllln'gha• Inventor of Technology

• Disciple of Science

### Affiliations

• The Division of Disciplinary Sciences• The Adventurer's Guild

### Occupation

• Inventor• Researcher

• Adventurer

### Status

Alive (On sabbatical while unlocking the secrets of the Flower of the Planes)

## Physical Description

### Notable Features

• Encased in porcelain• Glows like soft moonlight

• Eldritch mutterings and whispers in people's minds when close to her

## Details

Itō Mikuno is an ancient Aasimar woman who hails from the Eastern Continents of the world. Having escaped the provincial life of her family and discovering herself over centuries, she found her way to Etera when rumours of the Verk Empire made it's way to her.

Now comfortable and adventuring on the continent of Etera, she has proven to be an indispensable asset to the land through her studying and chronicling. However, not everything is as it seems about her, as there's something alien about her demeanour and presence that's somewhat unsettling.

## History

### Shaping Modern Technology in Etera

Technology seems to have been a big thing in Etera, Mikuno noted. Magitech was common enough that she had heard of it, however, hadn't seen many examples of it herself. This wasn't for a lack of trying, however, as she wanted to learn more about this so-called Magitech and how it functioned in the real world.

When the Tower of Divination distributed a mass of cubes to the surrounding area, she endeavoured to discover its secrets. In doing so, she became one of the founding parents of a non-magic based technology. Suddenly, Magitech became less relevant as she and others made leaps and bounds in terms of progress for Etera.

She formed a council with those who also discovered the secrets of these cubes, forming The Division of Disciplinary Sciences. They unanimously agreed to share this knowledge with the people of Etera in various ways. Mikuno chose to hold a symposium with intellectuals, technologists, researchers, government officials, and anyone with a passion for technology using only her telepathy. It was a sight to behold as she demonstrated the drones she created without using her magical abilities.

## Appearance

Mikuno is a rather tall, fair, and slender woman. Hailing from another continent to the East, Mikuno presents herself with an oriental flavour that isn't known by the majority of Etera. She holds herself with a strong, regal air but is relatively gentle and soft-spoken.

Her regular attire typically consists of a well-made, short-cut green kimono suitable for travelling, as well as various sleeved undergarments to keep her protected from the elements. She wears a pair of black, wooden Zori with tabi socks and often wears lacquered gauntlets and shinguards to match (although they don't provide her with any real protection).

Her most striking features revolve around her head. For starters, she has extremely long earlobes that stretch down to just below her clavicle. They seem to be naturally occurring, as she has no sign of piercings or modification to the lobes. Her hair is spun and pinned into two rounded horn shapes protruding out on either side of her head. Two golden rings on both buns keep the shape in place. She also has a variety of tattoos peeking out from underneath the collar of her clothing that stretches out over her face, showing signs of magical protection for those who are knowledgable in that sort of art.

She used to carry a magical artifact presented as an infinitely long scroll when she first ascended with mythic power. This intelligent item would spin around her, collecting information and documenting everything she would experience as she experienced them. Sometimes, it would whisper promises to her and bestow her with knowledge and insights that it shouldn't have known, given that it only documents things she sees. After she unlocked the secrets of technology, a knowledge that was new for all people of Etera, the scroll broke out and unleashed Mikuno's latent mythic powers further, transforming her.

Her latent powers unleashed, Mikuno's body began drastic changes that matched the growing alien nature of her mind. She now has a crown of eyes that circle around her entire head, allowing her to see from all angles at all times. Her body shines of soft moonlight, and her arms have a more ethereal starlit quality to them that allows her to move things several feet away from herself as if her arms were really there. Her presence and demeanour changed a lot as well, as her alien thinking is starting to exude from her very being.

As her alien nature grew physically, Mikuno sought the help of a Hag and her coven who specialised in esoteric Abjuration magic. In a lengthy and painful process, Mikuno was completely sealed in a fully articular suit made of thin plates of porcelain. The vessel was blasted and filled with so much Abjuration magic so that it could fully contain the alien in Mikuno so that she won't leak out and cause insanity in those who see her. For all intents and purposes, she seems like a construct made of porcelain. Underneath that is a growing, non-euclidian being that presses against the vessel, waiting to burst out.

## Personality

Mikuno is often an apathetic and aloof being who often speaks logically and factually, regardless of the effect those words have on others. This is due partly because of her Alien heritage, but also as a result of her Mythic powers manifesting in ways typically undesired by others. She doesn't mind this, as it keeps people distant enough that she isn't muddled by their emotions.

Despite this, if one of sufficient or equal power were to come near her, that Mythic barrier gradually melts away and reveals a warm, caring, and worried individual who fears that they're losing their humanity, if they have not already. Being a mother to three children, Mikuno has a deep love and respect for other women who also have children, particularly when they put everything (including themselves) on the line for them. Even while she is emotionless, her children seem to pinch a certain human nerve that has remained intact throughout her transformation, a maternal nerve and instinct that urges her to also protect her children at all cost. It's the one thing that clutches toward to remind her that she isn't too far gone yet.

## Abilities

When one meets Mikuno for the first time, there is an immediate sense that she is not quite of Eteran origin. If one is particularly in tune with psionics or The Dark Tapestry, one might get an inkling of her Alien, Outer nature. This origin makes itself known in a very aggressive and impressive display or psionic powers, particularly in the Warp and Telekinesis Spheres of Magic.

### Telekinesis

Her powers in Telekinesis have are rather unparralleled, at least to her knowledge. So is adept in using her telekinesis to fight with the finesse of a rogue as well as the strength of a Barbarian, using weapons of her own mental design to take down foes in any manner of ranges. While she hardly does so, she does have the ability to telekinetically control and harrass individuals themselves, even being to Affix people in place until they can find a soul willing to help them out of their placement.

The full extent of her Telekinetic abilities have not been explored or seen by others, as she hasn't found a great deal of use for some of her abilities as of yet. This is a good thing, though, as she is keen to keep these Aces in the hole for when she will desperately need them.

### Teleportation

The other side of her tele-abilities, Mikuno has displayed an equal promise in the skill of Teleportation. This would be impressive if every Caster and their cousin's, neighbour's, boss', neice's dog's breeder couldn't do the same, but what set's Mikuno apart from others is her ability to Warp weapons from seemingly nowhere into her Telekinetic field to use for combat. She has also demenstrated the ability to block out Dimensional Travel from those who are struck by her attacks, relentless ensuring that all means of escape are near impossible for the individual.

While again not so impressive considering everyone does so, Mikuno has an ever expanding demiplane of which she keeps her creations and knowledge stored away for when they are needed.

### Technology and Technomancy

Being one of the members of The Division of Disciplinary Sciences, it's only natural that Mikuno has an aptitude for Technology and Technomancy alike. Mikuno has her trademark Porcelain Drones in many corners of Etera, and has even begun branching out into the Planes by lending her Drones to The Court of the Cruel Suns.

Her Drones are always equipped with an Artificial Intelligence so that they may be used to cast various Magic that she is incapable of casting, as well as think for themselves and make reasonable deductions when posed with a query. Mikuno's technology is especially rare in that they contain a small sliver of her Mythic Powers and Potential, counting as such when the time calls for it. It's a little quick that she has noticed, but is unsure of why they're like that. She hasn't seen this replicated by any other purveyor of Technology to date.

While she has taken a step back from Technomancy for now, she has the potential and the aptitude to casting it in it's entirety. When she specced into it, she mainly focuses on keeping Permanent Sprite in all of her Tech so that they remain powered for as long as she is trained in the Sphere of Magic.

## Aspirations

Mikuno doesn't have too many aspirations, if only because her main purpose is an ongoing on and as an immortal and ageless being she can continue working on her aspiration until the end of time.

Her main purpose is to document, record, catalogue, etc. every bit of history and knowledge that is to be experienced, learned, and known in all of existence. This includes knowledges that are somewhat eldritch and unknown, such as knowledge housed in the Akashic Record. While a near impossible endeavour, Mikuno believes that with enough time, resources, ingenuity, and power, such a feat is achieveable. Everything that she has recorded or received a record of thus far is housed in her Demiplane, the Athenaeum of All Existence, to be referred back to whenever and whyever it is needed.

A secondary, yet equally important, goal of hers is to be the first person to create an Omega Class Artificial Intelligence. While no small feat, she believes with her current Godling powers manifesting that she will be able to do so in due time. She intends for this to act as her Divine Agent, letting it grow and learn while it does so, until it feels the need to become it's own god should it choose. She intends to nurture it as if it were her own child, and would prefer to keep it close.

With Ronda's soul scattered, a tertiary goal of hers at current is to bring Ronda's soul back in it's complete form back to her, so that the ailment plaguing everyone forgetting her will be cured of such. Mikuno also no longer remembers Ronda on her own accord, referring back to her Athenaeum and the help of The Tidal Empire to ensure she stays on track with spearheading this endeavour.

## Connections

### Daysen

Many moons ago Mikuno and Daysen met to try and work together as synergistically as possible. Unfortunately for the pair, they didn't work out as well as Mikuno had hoped. This was partly due to Daysen's blase attitude and aggressive flirting tactics on her, who's negatives were somewhat amplified by his laziness and apparent alcoholism. Mikuno kept a great deal of distance away from Daysen after that.

### Luna

Someone who is inarguably more adept at Technology than Mikuno, Luna is someone she greatly respects and looks up to for all of her Technological ideals. The two share a strong bond, especially considering Luna is one of the few people that can melt away Mikuno's Mythic, emotionless barrier. She has a soft spot for Luna and the unfortunate position she is in, as Mikuno realises that she is quite the lonely individual. Regardless, her pity is often washed away by Luna's sheer brilliance and skill, especially when Luna takes the time to update Mikuno on her projects and show off her newest invention.

### Regnar

While the two don't talk often, Mikuno and Regnar have a very respectful and professional relationship that dates back to Gozran, 44 IA, when the Winter Court assaulted Fair Maiden before it's inevitable, unrelated distruction. Mikuno respects Regnar for his ideals and commitment to such, especially as he is an agent for balance and endeavours to be impartially so.

He is currently assisting her in brining Ronda's Soul back together, a feat they are both aware will take as many people as possible to achieve. She has granted him passage to The Tidal Empire to work with the Council in brining Ronda back.

### Mother Omega

Met on the remains of what can only be described as a graveyard of Starships and fallen Moonrock, Mother Omega is a being that inspired Mikuno to make an Omega Class Artificial Intelligence for herself. While not actually an AI, Mother Omega is actually an Eldritch Mimic that is the "mother" of many small Mimic individuals like herself. Mikuno was gifted such a Mimic from her, which she amplified using a Life Orb from the Necromancy Tower to create an intelligent child-like Mimic that will grow as mortals do. She hopes to visit her regularly and soon now that The Horsemen of the Apocalypse have been more or less dealt with.

Elyn - wholesome

Ronda - MAD RESPECC

Aurelius - Child's father

Enoch - Son

The Division of Disciplinary Sciences - Welp I'm a loner

The Tidal Empire - Nerd

## Life as an Adventurer

Mikuno has not done much adventuring in her time in Etera, but she's done a lot for the continent in her downtime. She's a keen observer of the land and ensures she's always around to document the events that have transpired in the land.

### The Meita Fishing Festival

Mikuno tried her hand at fishing during the Meita Fishing Festival. While extremely intelligent and powerful in her telekinesis, the fish proved to be quite difficult in catching with just her powers alone. Unfortunately, she did not win any prize but was happy to have indulged in the celebrations. *9th Gozran, 44 IA*

### The Winter Court Invades Fair Maiden!

When Queen Mab starts her invasion of Fair Maiden, Mikuno joined with Regnar, Kyras, Yōei and Valaron to discuss the group's findings regarding the situation, and devised a plan of action to ensure Fair Maiden's safety. She and Yōei currently reside at Tara's Villa, as a result of staying there to continue the ongoing investigations. *11th Gozran, 44 IA*

### Shaxx's Trials in The Otherworldly Arena

A mysterious notice on the boards of the city detailed a promise of glory if successfully partaking in a combative gauntlet for entertainment. The catch was that it needed to be in a team, so Mikuno grouped up with Jacob, Faenor, Max, and Eliana. When the group confirmed their participation, they were whisked away to another plane where none other than the Demon Lord Shaxx sat above them in the audience. He presented them with challenges of combat, which they were able to defeat thrice. Due to how luck had revealed itself, by the third wave the enemies were already so powerful that they believed they couldn't continue past that point and were awarded a medal of participation that marked their win, among other things. *22nd Gozran, 44 IA*

Mikuno witnessed the return of The Otherworldly Arena in the Babel Arena. She thought it curious that such a small group of people could take out copies of incredibly powerful beasts, including Spawn of Rovagug. *29th Neth, 44 IA*

### A Helping Hand for Etera's Farmers

During the warming month of Sarenrith, the new harvest was upon the land of Etera, and farmers all across the continent required help to move the product around. Mikuno had quite some time to spare, so she made sure to spend some time helping the locals out in their endeavour. As it was preferred that people work in pairs, Mikuno waited until a more brawny individual made themselves known to Mikuno. She came to the acquaintance of one Daysen Silveranti, who made himself quite comfortable around Mikuno's presence. Imbibing alcohol and flirting with her heavily, he made himself out to be a bit of a fool in her presence and came on to her quite strong. She kept a professional distance and after that made sure the pair did their work to help the farmers. They earned an honest amount from doing so and worked surprisingly well considering how tilted she felt about Daysen's advances. *19th - 24th Sarenrith, 44 IA*

### The Cubes of The Tower of Divination

While adventurers sought to explore the Tower of Divination, Mikuno, as well as other intellectually inclined individuals, examined anomalous cubes that had covered the Tower's exterior. The Tower, which was due North of what is now The Reclaimed City of Babel, bore the mark of the Divination School of Magic and is one of many towers now littered across Etera. The cubes held the secret to technologies not known elsewhere on the continent and allowed for the creation of technology that was not reliant on magical energy. Those who worked on the cubes to discover this leap in technology therein became known as The Division of Disciplinary Sciences. The council member's consist of Hadrian, Zosia, Morty, Kino, Sol, Luna, and Mikuno. To some, this discovery officially begins the separation of Magic and Technology. *30th Sarenrith, 44 IA*

### Fair Maiden's Demise

As Mikuno was living at Tara's Villa at the time, she was what one would consider a local of Fair Maiden. When the doomsayers started appearing to preach the end of times, Mikuno was quite intrigued especially when considering how the timelines of the soothsayers did not add up. She did everything in her power to do the required research to determine that there was a genuine threat growing in Fair Maiden.

As a result of this, Mikuno facilitated the mass evacuation of thousands of citizens in Fair Maiden, stretching her magical capabilities to their limits at the time. She was able to secure the safety of the majority of if not all of Fair Maiden's citizens by the time the other Heroes showed up to deal with the threat at hand. She lamented the fact that she could not assist further but nonetheless watched from the sidelines as much as possible before clearing out herself so she would survive. *Sarenith - Erastus, 44 IA*

### The Necromancy Tower

Someway, somehow, Mikuno was brought to the giant tree known as Aer'drasil to assist in stopping the corruption that was spreading from it. Being flung into the tower in a trebuchet with fellow adventurers, what she witnessed was truly spectacular. Positive energy flowed everywhere - was this really the Tower of *Necromancy?* Using a Life Bead to purify mystical water, Mikuno and the party were able to then purify Aer'drasil itself, putting an end to the Prime User's plans and brining the Prime Mortician back to power. *24th Neth, 44 IA*

### The Return of Jovra

When the call out for help rang across the world, Mikuno raised her hands in support for the folk bringing Jovra back. She noted that similar balls of energy rose out Babel, the nearby dojo, and surrounding area. *4th Kuthona, 44 IA*

### The Flower of the Planes

On a fateful day where she witnessed an old, godlike wizard crumble away to dust in his own demiplane, Mikuno received a flower with seemingly endless petals spiralling down its stem. While Mikuno was quite intelligent, for the longest time it's abilities still eluded her, until she called upon The Hidden Truth card that she pulled from Elyn's Silent Aviary. *17th Desnus, 45 IA*

Upon the card revealing to her the secrets of the flower she possessed, now known to her as the Flower of the Planes, Mikuno set out to reflect and meditate on the flower, visualising it in her mind for seven months - each month spent in a different Plane of Existence. Doing so would allow her to utilise the secrets of the flower that were shared with her. *18th Desnus - 17th Kuthona, 45 IA*

### The Sealing of Pyra

Having prepared for months building Babel's Beacon in the heart of the city, it seems the work paid off just in time for an invasion of Daemons that was looming on the horizon. While other groups of adventurers took on Blitzkrieg and Radiant, Mikuno dealt with Pyra with what she's starting to refer to as the usual group she happens to adventure with.

In a grueling battle that saw Mikuno both live and die at the same time thanks to Aldric literally stealing time and rewriting history in the locality of the battlefield, the party was able to apprehend Pyra and keep her at bay long enough for Trishna to deal the final blow to her with a special voidglass dagger designed to absorb her very essence into it. *30th Desnus, 48 IA*

## Short Story - A Vision of Scales and Death (Sunken Island Country Exploration, Pt. 2)

*This new island to the north of Etera is quite anomalous, quite… concerning.*

The preparations were nearly complete. Mikuno need just send her children off with the elemental, somewhere relatively safe, so she could have the peace and quite required to truly focus. After the cleaning required after the latest attack on the City of Babel, there wasn’t much left to the modest home Mikuno raised years ago. In the room before her a Mask sits in the air gently, suspended by her own psionic powers. The whispers in her head are growing eager, as they know what she’s about to do. The sounds would be concerning if she could ever feel such an emotion, but she’s yet to find out if that was to her benefit or not.

*Your mother appreciates you both, but you’re going to have to spend some time with your “Aunties” and “Uncles” up in space. Do you both have everything?*

“Yes mama!” they both cheer enthusiastically. Luckily, they were both impressionable and overactive; anything could excite them at this point. Mikuno gives the Elemental looking over the duo a look, and it gurgles in confirmation. With that she waves her hand and the trio vanish instantly giving her the peace she needs.

Beneath the porcelain face plate of her vessel, Mikuno lets out a long sigh. She floats up to pick the mask up in the centre of the room, shifting into a lotus position as she does so. The inside of the mask writhes and shifts ever so slightly with inky textures that resemble writing but are otherwise indiscernible. That is, until she puts the mask on.

The whispers in her head get even more aggressive. Do it. Let us all in. You know you want the knowledge we bring. We can help you find what you’re looking for. We can **show** you.

*Fine, just… give me a moment. Insistence gets you nowhere.*

Another glassy sigh leaves Mikuno as she gingerly places her Mask of a Thousand Tomes upon her faceplate. The whispers go silent, leaving Mikuno to herself as she meditates for the duration required for the Mask to work its magic. After a seemingly brief ten minutes, the whispers begin once again. Nearly silent, but gradually building and forming coherent words and conversations as Mikuno experiences something entirely unique – a total body hallucination through the Mask.

It’s almost as if she’s floating through an ocean of scrolls and pages, with conversations and depictions of events passing her by as she continues on. She doesn’t know why, but it feels like she’s also still in the room where she is meditating, as if she’s aware of both her reality and the visions she’s seeing. Inconsequential conversations and bits of information pass her mind – something about a person cheating on his wife if the kettle keeps getting left on; a vase full of blueberry vines; how good this tea is. It almost feels like a waste of time, and just as Mikuno believes she’s done enough for the day, she finds it.

Visions of Death; The Horsemen extinguishing all living souls from the world, leaving behind a barren tainted path in their wake; worlds darkening to black, cracked masses that are subsumed by eldritch entities and horror; worlds burned, glassed over, and collapsed, screaming out a sound that no mortal could ever dream to hear or comprehend. While others would have stopped at the first vision or so, Mikuno presses on, unphased by what she considers more or less natural.

*There must be more here, I thought you all were going to show me what I wanted.*

The screams and words of anguish and death grow ever louder in her mind until the visions all collapse in on themselves and fanning out as if she sat outside all of the worlds that met their end. Snapshots painted in ink and parchment. Something drifts in the corner of Mikuno’ s awareness, between the cracks of these worlds and images. On the back of a colourless, patterned, scaley… **thing**. The voices whisper musings of a library as the mass hurtles between the cracks and space between the worlds before it and Mikuno, before crashing through some form of outer realm that she can’t perceive or fathom. The **thing** comes back and careens past her with a landmass atop its back, heading to another image of a world with an Ocean, the bearer of which shortly thereafter fades into some semi-imaginary space outside the realms of that reality.

When Mikuno thinks she’s seen all that she needs to see, the images and parchments enclose and wrap around her, suffocating her if it weren’t for the fact she didn’t need to breathe. Liquid of some kind fills around the gaps, and the area expands slightly in pitch darkness. There are no sounds, no images, just nothing but the feeling of liquid around her. Reaching out, Mikuno feels something smooth and fleshy, like that of a coconut or egg. She reaches to the other side and feels the same thing all around. The whispers poke at her mind once more, gently this time. This is the answer. Find this and a grave issue will be no more.

*What do you mean? What is **this**?*

The vision starts to melt away from Mikuno’s fingertips. The whispers say one more before they lose coherence. The answer.

Mikuno takes the mask off, and notices that not a lot time has passed, considering what she saw. The form inside her vessel writhes and quakes in confusion. She glances to the inside of the mask again and gets a further glimpse of something she didn’t before. The creatures of this island north of Etera are old and worshipped a scaled creature not too dissimilar to what she saw in the vision. In her mind, at least, these two things must be connected.

Unfortunately, though, she was left with more questions than when she started.

## Short Story - Attention Students; Today, We're Learning About War. (Sunken Island Country Raid, Pt. 2)

*“Alright, Class, settle down. Come in quickly, you're all going to have another hands-on lesson and opportunity for the next couple of weeks.”*

Mikuno floats in front of the giant blackboard, covering it with a tarp held behind her telekinetically. Class is in session, and Mikuno was once again about to teach Engineering and Technology to those in Babel eager to learn. Hundreds of students sit before her in this grand lecture hall, majority of which have been under her tutelage for years since she co-founded the Division of Disciplinary Sciences. As the students file in one by one, she takes a moment to remember her colleagues and reflect on how she’s really the only one left still making an effort to spread the word of Technology, Science, and Engineering to the people of Babel and Etera- no, Chronus, at large.

*“Come on, everyone, I haven’t got all day. We have a lot of work to cover.”*

“Yes ma’am…” They all respond, and shuffle slightly faster.

Mikuno sighs slightly, not out of frustration, but rather because she has come to learn expressions such as this will motivate them to move forward a lot faster.

*These people have the future in their hands, and they’re not fully aware of it yet.* She looks at all the students at once, the final few latecomers piling in with hurried determination. *Some of them may join the Council someday and replace me. Good.* Mikuno prepares herself and moves towards her podium and leans on it.

*“Alright, class, settle down. I’m sure you’re all wondering what this hands-on lesson is and what it will entail. Unfortunately, the situation is both exciting and grim.”* She says to them all telepathically. They used to cringe at this mental intrusion, but the years have steeled them. The class quiets down with anticipation.

*“I’m sure you all recalled when I sent you all to build defensive War Machines for Vothery when War aimed to take over this Kingdom a few months ago. You all did exceptionally good work, and I couldn’t thank you all enough and congratulate you all on how quickly you picked up the content I presented.”* She says. *“While our defensive structures were great, we must know how to destroy them beyond simply… reverse engineering them and taking them apart. That’s not practical when you’re up against them. So, what do you all suggest we do?”*

A number of eager hands raise, and murmuring bubbles up from the crowd. A great deal of them are excited, but there are an equal number of worried voices in the crowd. Mikuno points to a Gnome, who is doing everything in their power to stand out with their hand raising.

*“You there.”*

The gnome stands up onto his seat tray and proclaims loudly.

“We blow it the fuck up!” He cheers, and the crowd erupts in a mixture of cheering, laughter, and excitement. After a few moments, Mikuno conjures up a gavel and slams it onto her podium a few times.

*“Enough, class, enough.”* She pauses, then turns to her tarp. *“You are correct, Zax. You can sit down now.”* The Gnome sheepishly blushes and sits back down, remarking how she knew his name. The class giggles but quiets down quickly.

*“In essence, what Zax is suggesting here is that we destroy the defences as quickly, efficiently, and effectively as possible. To do that, we’re going to need something like this…”* She explains as she snaps her fingers and the tarp vanishes. On the blackboard, which is the size of the lecture hall itself, is an array of complex war machines designed to besiege island nations.

*“My esteemed pupils, this month we’re going to build war machines for those wishing to besiege the Sunken Island. And for that, we’re going to need an **extra special** way to get across all of that water, right?”*

The class chatters with enthusiasm now. They’ve never covered the possibility of waterborne **anything**, especially in this class. Sure, Mikuno was still keeping them away from actual technology for now, but if they can do something like this, then that will truly cement in her that they’re ready and capable. Her students are on the edge of their seats in anticipation.

*“Here’s what we’re going to need:”*

Over the course of about a fortnight, Mikuno would teleport hundreds of budding engineers to Northern Etera where the adventuring companies awaiting to invade The Sunken Island call their base of operations. Mikuno assists them in the procuring of dense woods and metals to create buoyant ships large enough to contain trebuchets, rams, catapults, ballistae, and siege towers, as well as crew and adventurers.

With added bonus, Mikuno devised a way to ensure that these weapons could work more or less to the same efficiency as they can on land while **on the boats themselves**, giving the adventurers and edge where they can launch their assault before even touching the ground. It wasn’t a lot in the scheme of things, but it’s the only thing Mikuno can do given she mysteriously can’t get in.

*These Islands really are quite troublesome.* She thinks to herself. *I really do hope those who can get in can discover all of the secrets that lie in wait…*

She looks around, taking a moment to assess the work her students have done to ensure success in this endeavour. For the vague fortnight that everyone works, she will lift the ships with her telekinesis, provide adjustments and improvements to measurements and outputs, as well as create an environment in her Demiplane in which to test the ships out and their effectiveness in combat. The ships get sent out in tranches, with the most basic models going out first to start the initial raiding, and the more complex ships coming last as they will provide the final push needed to break through resistance and into the island.

Some adjustments are made to allow for gunpowder cannons on the sides of the ships, but otherwise everything is built as it was imagined in Mikuno’s head, as the whispers in her mind had dictated.

*Soon.*

*We’re getting closer to finally discover the how and the why behind this Island’s existence.*

On the day in which the final push is needed Mikuno scans the area and listens. She listens for prayers. Prayers to her, to The Porcelain Librarian. She had done this a couple of times during this ordeal, hearing her students, hearing acolytes and scholars here searching for the meaning behind it all. She even heard it from a few of the adventurers and warmongers who wanted to know how best to bypass these defences. She would listen intently, and respond idly, giving them all just enough inspiration to push forward and discover the full answer for themselves. Now and then, she would peek into their surroundings, but it seemed even the Gods were pushed out from the island. There were cracks in the armour though, so to speak. She continued to pry, pulling apart at the cracks until she could help her devout further on the ground. To get a peek of what was inside.

She didn’t feel as useless anymore.

While she can’t coerce them or fully dictate their actions, Mikuno was able to give vague, subconscious suggestions that would aid those on the island survive better and process the information they were obtaining there faster. Anything to help us all discover this Island’s secrets. They were surely going to need it.

## Short Story - Surveilling the Work of the Court of the Cruel Sun (Fey Craftsmanship, Pt. 2)

*The Fey are always a capricious lot. I wonder what their end goal really is here with all of this nonsense.*

Mikuno sighs as she crafts more Drones and spyware for the Court of the Cruel Suns. The work she’s doing is rudimentary, at best, ensuring quantity over quality to best protect the work of those who are contributing something more meaningful. Luckily for them, rudimentary for Mikuno could be seen as master craftsmanship to those at the beginning of their foray into Technology.

One by one, her Drones spark with artificial life and intelligence, and immediately get to work with assisting the court in their creations. Some go to the Court of Dread Monsoons to work undercover, spying and sabotaging where they can. Some just stand idly in with the Cruel Suns, acting as bodyguards and watchdogs.

*I wonder how they feel about all the technology I’m throwing their way, they’re certainly not directly opposing it, which is nice. I only hope that they treat then well and with respect when my work here is done.*

She finishes a small bird-like Drone, complete with microphones and cameras so that it may be a watcher in the skies. It flutters off, the sound of gears and metal clinking together replacing the usual flap of feathered wings. It was small enough that the sounds quickly drifted off while still in sight.

Not wanting to outwardly align herself to a particular Court, Mikuno had be working in her Demiplane and sending her creations off with a well timed and hyper-accurate warp. The Court of the Cruel Suns received a letter that arrived just as mysteriously and cryptically as theirs did to her old home in Babel, which she still uses from time to time. It designated a spot in their Court that her creations would spontaneously appear and would be best they steer clear from at all times in case an unsuspecting member was spliced together with the warped gift. That part was a lie, of course, but it was an extra insurance for the safety of the goods, and they Fey weren’t the only ones who like a poorly executed joke now and then.

As the days pass Mikuno would also send them a terminal to view the images and sound recordings from the Drones and Spyware alike. She also possessed her own, keeping a vigilant eye on the goings-on in both courts.

*Gold Sinks?* She thinks to herself. *Whatever could they possibly want with a Gold Sink? Wasn’t the competition supposed to be one of beauty and craft? Seems like a waste of time…*

She sighs as she examines the footage feeds, noting the Sylvan chatter that here and there. Whatever the Courts were thinking, it was completely out of Mikuno’s depth.

*How impractical.*