"Jotunbrud are very large langbrud, I would say at least 15 feet tall? They live in inhospitable environments- mountains, volcanoes, tundras, storms, clouds- and they claim to be one of the oldest type of people. Daragarum are incredibly large, winged reptiles with innate magical reserves and powerful natural weapons- claws, teeth, and breath."

"Wow, cool."

"Daragarum claim it too," Bharrik says, reminding everyone that he's here. "Oldest things in creation, they say. It's a major point of contention. They like saying that even if they weren't first, they were the best."

Torrig snorts.

"If you gotta say your species is the best, that means you're nothing special."

"Anyway, what about seeing the future?"

"That is a bit of an exaggeration, in my opinion. We can't see everything. We see- threats, dangers, opportunities. We see things that we can use. We don't see anything that's useful for anyone but ourselves. A thief's vision is narrower than the eye of a needle."

"Oh. That's not nearly as exciting as it sounded."

"I don't want to give you the wrong idea- it is exciting, for the right type of person, but your ambitions seem bigger. I would recommend learning a bit of thievery- the tiniest bit, enough to pick up our more useful basic skills. Not enough to 'predict the future'."

"What are the most useful basic thievery skills?"

"For the very very basics, we're talking dodging, goading, or feinting, along with a few pieces of highly specialized knowledge you can't find anywhere else- even spellcasting tidbits, if you're that type."

"Hmph."

"I'd like to be a spellcaster but I don't have a soul."

"Well, aren't you a lucky bird! It's not proper spellcasting, you see, not when thieves do it. It's war-gymnastics that looks like spells."

"I think we ought to ask a god or at least an angel for advice before we assume anything, but thank you, Bharrik."

"If I pray to Mahli about it and someone else does too they can get my answer back for me."

Nod.

"If you'd like the answer now, I'm sure they don't mind waiting."

She looks to the others to confirm this, and none of them evince any objections.

So she asks Mahli.

And after a few minutes, Nue reports back.

"Mahli believes that thieves do not use souls to cast their spells- they learn them as an extension of their other magic, to mimic the effects of spells. That sounds promising enough, although I'm not sure it means you should learn any thievery. There are advantages to learning the basics, but you don't seem to be someone who needs the skills of dodging or feinting."

"If I ever need those something has gone wrong."

"Agreed. Thank you, Bharrik, but we won't be needing your expertise."

Shrug.

"If you're sure. Hope these lawful types take care of you, little wanderer."

And with that, he heads off.

"...well. Back to business, I think! What do you need to know about xæmā?"

...Lintalai surreptitiously consults her notes to remember which that is. "I want to know what plants have to say, and about flying!"

"Plants are quite interesting, but you might be more interested in how they're useful to you, yes?"

"I am also interested in that but I didn't think they would have anything to say at all so I'm really curious what it is."