Ray
"Oh well, we should change that at some point. There's really nothing better than seeing the ruins up close. The Animunculi in action. The tonal architecture, still working to this day."
Rose
"Ah, I have actually been planning a trip to Arkngthamz to try and find the Aetherium Forge. I just need to amass the gold for mercenaries and bring a few other researchers along."
Ray
"When I'm settled in to life in civilization once more, I would be glad to join you." He says, "I doubt you'll even need to hire mercenaries." He says with a boastful laugh
Rose
"I'll hold you to it, friend," He chuckles, "Maybe not, but you can never be too safe, no? I'd rather be a thousand in the hole than six feet underground."
Ray
"That's the beauty of Conjuration magic, no? You can summon fighters for you without wasting a single septim." He says with a smirk
Rose
He raises a brow, "Are you a conjuration mage, then? I have nothing against it, honestly. Even necromancy has its uses."
Ray
"I have a focus in Mysticism and Destruction, but I am well trained in Conjuration." He says, "Many of the spells I know served me well when observing the falmer. Both in fighting them and studying them."
Rose
"I did not know Mysticism is still used, but I do not doubt its usefulness. I've heard many things of what spells can be used for, both good and bad," He says.
Ray
"Only one of its spells is still commonly used," He says, "Wrongfully assumed to be a Conjuration spell." He continues, "Soul Trap. Every enchanter knows it."
Rose
"You've caught me, I assumed it was a Conjuration spell. All I know of Soul Trap is the arguments over its use on humanoids or creatures with black souls."
Ray
"The power of the black soul is great, but the question of if its worth damning them is... A complicated one."
Rose
"That is why I stick to white souls when I dabble in enchanting. I would not feel right keeping anyone out of their respective afterlife, even if we do not agree on what afterlife there is."
Ray
"There isn't one single afterlife. There are many. I believe it depends on whom you worship."
Rose
"You know a bit more about this than I. Are you a religious man, Haliochtus?"
Ray
"Somewhat. I am a follower of Syrabane, one of the Aldmeri God-Ancestors, his domain is Magic." He says, reaching into his bag, removing a statuette made of red crystal, it bears the likeness of an altmer figure, "This is a Safeguardian, an etched piece of crystal, said to ward off disease and curses. Many Altmer carry these on them, as a good luck charm of sorts."
Rose
He nods and says, "Huh, I had never thought of Altmer as particularly religious folk." His tail twitches as he eyes the statuette, "I do not consider myself very devout, but I revere Azurah like any proper khajiit, and as a scholar, I look towards Hermorah. And of course, I try not to stray from my Path, which I believe will lead me to great inventions and very warm sands."
Ray
"Ah, Azura and Hermaeus Mora, I've never been one to worship the Daedra, but I won't judge you for it, many cultures do worship them." He says, "If I recall the Khajiit refer to the gods as Spirits, no?"
Rose
"Yes, we do not have Daedra and Aedra. We have the Sky, Worldly, Wandering, and Dark Spirits. It is... Odd, hearing others speak of them as if Azurah or Hermorah are inherently evil because they deem them beings of chaos and change. Although, I am sure it is strange for you all to hear us revere your chaos deities as normal spirits," He says.
Ray
He chuckles, "I don't really care, so long as you aren't worshipping one of the truly depolorable Daedra, such as Molag Bal or Mehrunes Dagon." He says, "If you did I would be, rightfully so, cautious, as they are not known for being benevolent."
Rose
"You know, we actually see Mehrunes Dagon as a kitten, which is why he has a tendency to rend and destroy the world around him. And I forgot a type of spirits, I will admit. The Adversarial Spirits include Merrunz, Molagh, and Merid-Nunda. They hold no love for our kind. I have always found it curious that some see Merid-Nunda or Meridia as one of the few good daedra, while we see her as light without love," He explains.
Ray
"It could be due to her hatred of the undead, as well as how other cultures see light as a wholely good concept, while the Khajiit instead show reverence to the moons, rather than the sun."
Rose
He nods pensively, "Perhaps, perhaps. I still think it is amusing to see a spirit of destruction as a kitten. Kittens love to get into places they do not belong and tear apart everything their little paws touch." He grins.
Ray
"Indeed. It is quite humorous" He says with a laugh, "Isn't Sheogorath known as Skooma Cat by your people? I recall hearing something about nothing being more mad than a cat on skooma"
Rose
"Yes, he is. Though, he is also called Sheggorath, no 'o' and two 'g's, in Ta'agra. He is indeed called the skooma cat because there is nothing madder than a cat on skooma. He is said to cause all negative effects of skooma and moon sugar," He explains.
Ray
"So was it Sheogorath who created Skooma or was it the Dunmer?" He asks, "I've heard it stated both ways, and I want your opinion on the matter. Many blame the Khajiit for the skoom crisis, but I feel like they are just victims of the circumstances."
Rose
"From what I know, khajiit have used skooma in religious ceremonies for a long time. The Dunmer, however, started mass producing and abusing it, even making it with spoiled moon sugar. Spoiled sugar results in much harsher negative effects such as the rage."
Ray
"Interesting." He says, he then rolls his eyes, "The things they do to cut costs down. The scum."
Rose
Dar'zaddha shakes his head, "It is a tragedy what they have done. So many people lost to abuse."
Ray
"And your people are taking the blame." He says with a disappointed expression, "We should move to a less depressing topic, I think."
Rose
"Yes, that would be best, I would say," He does indeed say. He checks the pot on the spit and sinks a fork into one of the chunks of potato. It sinks in easily, the potato soft. He gets out two bowls and heaps some potatoes into them. Handing a bowl to Haliochtus, he says, "Here, food's done."
Ray
He takes the bowl eagerly, starting to eat the potatoes, savoring them like they're fine eating, "These are wonderful, thank you!" He says with a tone of near pure bliss
Rose
"Your taste must be truly shot after your time in that cave," He says with a chuckle, "I am not a good cook in the slightest, let alone with camp rations."
Ray
He laughs, "You spend a century eating nothing but cave plants, mushrooms, insects, and skeever and get back to me one what good cooking is."
Rose
Dar'zaddha laughs in return, "You are right, you are right. Even my mediocre cooking must taste divine compared to that."
Ray
He chuckles, "You could have fed me anything I would have enjoyed it, I'm sure."
Rose
"Well, I am glad I could be a good host. Even if you are easy to please," He grins.