[Closed]

[chronosynthesis]

Who: Syrlya, Strange, Lavellan
When: Day 36
Where: The training grounds
What: Three mages nerding about magic and also playing with a dangerous magical conduit.
Warnings: Something might get blown up.

With the competitions winding down and the apparent ease of the Olympics, there's some time for Syrlya to spend doing what he really signed on for--testing magic to find a solution for his own world, and he's got the Bloodstone to do it. It's something he knows Strange has wanted to see so, after some personal, careful deliberation he calls him up to invite him along to the open training area one afternoon to see it in action.

And although he didn't tell Lavellan specifically about it before, they did have a lengthy discussion about magic and he thinks she'll appreciate the chance to learn. Also, he'd like to have some assistance because he doesn't completely trust this rock in Strange's hands.

He's using one of the training dummies as a resting pole as he waits, Bloodstone, pen, and paper in hand. ARe the last two just confiscated from Strange's desk? Possibly, but they share a trailer so it's okay.

Comments

[kingsroads]

And thus Syrlya and Lavellan learn that Strange is a bit OP. Because at their question, Strange stares a little, frowns, then starts thinking, trying to come up with a detriment or a disadvantage to his magic. His expression brightens back up when he thinks of an answer.

"Well, I'm usually limited by what surrounds me. Ah, and a large amount of my spells require a verbal incantation! I've whittled a few down to something more instantaneous, most notably any spells of traveling as well as a basic lob a fireball at something sort of spell."

But it's still nothing like being poisoned or possessed by a demon. What's the consequence of misusing English magic? Not much of anything! Still, Strange has a smile on his face as he talks, like he expects verbal incantations or limited surroundings to be a solid answer and perfectly comparable to Syrlya and Lavellan's detriments.

[chronosynthesis]

"His magic in it's current state is still very new, so I'm sure the limits are still mostly untested." Because Syrlya doesn't believe it starts and ends there. That's like saying fire isn't at risk of burning you, as far as he's concerned.

He glances aside to Lavellan as he continues. "We were discussing the possibility of using one another's magic directly. This is a replication, rather than the actual thing--" he waves the bloodstone slightly. "So I do not know precisely how it will react to other forms of magic, if it matters at all."

It's as much a warning as an explanation. He has no idea how replica bloodstone is going to respond. "In Tyria, magic is an external energy anyone can access and manipulate it. You are most familiar with mine, which is Mesmer magic."

[dirthena]

Lavellan also doesn't believe that Strange's magic has no sort of consequence at all -- that isn't how magic works. There is always a tradeoff, and whether or not he's found it yet hardly matters. Well, it will, once it comes back to bite him in the ass. But she has confidence in Strange's capabilities to survive whatever it is.

She nods, however. "I am used to magic objects of some difficulty," even if her's was a mark on her hand. "But it will be interesting to see if it works at all. And -- time magic, was it not?" It had looked useful, and she was all about expanding her knowledge and her toolkit.

But she turns to Strange, unhooking the sword hilt at her waist and holding it up for the other man to look at. "Magic in Thedas, as you both are aware, is not something that simply everyone can learn. One must be born with the ability to draw magic through the Veil and reshape reality." So as to whether or not any of them would be able to use magic unique to Thedas would be up in the air. "But I believe I promised a demonstration." She no longer has two arms, so she has to take each by turns -- switching from staff to sword against a dummy -- a quick routine: various electric spells, and then unleashed in a swing by a glowing sword that is quite possibly longer than her.

It leaves a sizable gash in the training dummy she's using before fading away and turning back towards the two of them. "My magic is more combat oriented, but it can also be used for average, every day things."

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help it: as soon as Lavellan unhooks the sword hilt and holds it up, he takes a few steps closer to look it over. Well, that thing certainly is...something? It's a sword hilt. But, one that she's going to do cool magic to and that's what matters the most. He listens intently as Lavellan explains some of her magic and, as soon as the demonstration turns to the magic itself, Strange watches with rapt interest.

He's focusing more on the magic and the effects of the magic than Lavellan herself. Strange is downright staring at the electric spells then the glowing sword, like if he stares hard enough, he can spot the foundations of her magic itself. It's only when Lavellan starts speaking again that Strange turns his attention back towards her, ignoring the travel dummy for the moment. He's pumped, though. Any aspect of viewing someone's magic is enough to get Strange interested and ready to ask ten billion questions.

"Is there something important about that specific sword hilt or can the spell apply to any weapon?"

[chronosynthesis]

The sword is the most personally interesting part of Lavellan's magic to Syrlya. Not that it all isn't interesting, but if he could manage similarly magic based weaponry without having to wield his spells through the heavier physical form... well, it would greatly change the way that Mesmers fight.

But right now, he'll let Strange field the questions. He's already spoken up, and they probably have similar curiosities. Instead, he'll focus on writing down quick notes for himself to reference later about the behavior of their magic.

[dirthena]

That her blade draws the most attention isn't a surprise to her, and she holds it out for both of them to look at. "Within the hilt is a spirit, willingly bound to it. It creates the blade when I will it to." Again with the willpower. It was the hallmark of magic users in her world, after all. Those that couldn't muster the will to handle magic ended up dead or Tranquil, as horrible as it sounded.

"It's the remnants of a technique used by the ancient elves of Thedas, called the dirth'ena enasalin. Spirit warriors, who used magic to increase their physical abilities to fight with weapons rather than simply relying on magic."

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help it: as soon as she says the word 'bound', something lights up behind his eyes. Willingly bound...he could do something like that. Couldn't he? Not that Syrlya or Lavellan know the specifics (and they certainly WON'T know the specifics, that blood magic quill he got for Solstice is probably something that they'll fuss at him about) but the gears in his head are already turning.

"Dirth'ena enasalin," he murmurs, absolutely mangling the Elvish in the process. And then, in full voice, he asks, "How does one bind a spirit in Thedas? The binding magic I know of is imprecise, something that could easily be broken or could not bind the spirit to something so static."

He's focusing his attention still on the sword hilt, still staring at it as if that will somehow cause the blade to precisely reveal it's inner workings.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya does lean in to inspect it more closely this time, hold his hand out in silent permission to take the hilt and give it a more thorough review. "Is it inscriptions?"

He's not expert in spirit magic--it's different manipulating an element than trying to work alongside what is s sentient form of energy. But he knows enough that if you wanted to unite a spirit with a physical object... "At least, in Tyria you would use etchings that maintain the spell even without direct involvement, thereby keeping the spirit in place or--whatever else you wished to bind."

He glances aside to Lavellan. "Is it a spirit of a similar nature to Cole, or something else?"

in which i make shit up

[dirthena]

"It depends -- binding something like a spirit against its will is far more involved than asking one to remain in a sword. But yes, there's some sort of enchantment laid down first, depending on what you want with the spirit and what you intend to do." She would never bind one against its will, as should be obvious. At his question, she shakes her head.

How to explain Cole -- "Cole is... different. The spirit bound does not have an attachment to a physical form, and is... diminished, before the binding." It's the best way she can put it, and givs them both a shrug as she hands it over to Syrlya.

[kingsroads]

Thankfully, Strange knows enough about Cole that he gets what Syrlya and Lavellan are talking about. They haven't talked much (gee, wonder why the spirit with a thing against being bound doesn't like the guy who's aokay with blood contracts) but it's a small carnival, you can't ignore people.

Still, all of this is intensely interesting. Asking one to remain in a sword? Spirits without physical form? This is like catnip to Strange as he takes all the information in. Already, more questions are jumping into his mind.

"What about you?" Strange asks, as he looks over at Syrlya. "My world doesn't have things like Lavellan's spirits—though I assume talking to the trees could be seen as a primitive form of that sort of communication. Does your world have spirits?"

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya turns the hilt slowly as he inspects it much more closely. 'Diminished', he assumes, means it's a weaker or less sapient spirit. Perhaps one closer to an elemental than Cole. Which makes enough sense, given Cole's reverence for her.

"Yes. There are natural spirits, part of the essence of Tyria itself. And then there are the spirits of the dead. Some linger, some are simply powerful enough to be called to or cross over to."

He furrows his brow, turning slightly from the two of them and holding the hilt out in form--wondering if he can beckon the spirit out himself, if it'll respond to his desires to materialize.

"You would bind or communicate with them in a similar manner, and it is easier if they are willing." He tilts his head sideways in confirmation to Lavellan's words.

[dirthena]

It does not, but then again it took training before she was able to -- there's no shame in not being able to. She shoots Syrlya an encouraging look to try again before refocusing on the conversation at hand. "There are no spirits of the dead in Thedas. Well --" She frowns, thinking. "Sometimes a spirit might imprint upon someone recently dead and take their shape, but a person crosses over the Veil and into the Fade after death."

That much everyone agrees upon, at least.

"Is it not something relatively common?" It wasn't really in Thedas, either, but it just depended on where one went. Lavellan's curious to know if it's the same.

[kingsroads]

"Not in my world," Strange explains, with a shake of his head. "I've only encountered one spirit of the dead and that was one I had to directly summon."

Souls could be brought over from the realm of the dead to the living via necromancy but there's no way in hell Strange is bringing that up to Syrlya or Lavellan at the moment. Instead, he stares off into space, obviously lost in thought somewhat.

No spirits of the dead, no spirits like Cole, only a handful of magicians, they haven't figured out the magical flaws yet...Strange knows his world's magic is fairly new: after all, it's only just been restored. But there are moments like this where it's all way too apparent that the magic of Strange's world is new and he feels annoyingly inadequate.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya isn't too disappointed when it doesn't work. He's definitely not the spirit master, and he's generally had the help of others when he's needed to contact them... or dealt with those with enough sense of self to make their own deals.

But he looks up, because a spirit adopting the identity of the dead is something Tyria doesn't experience. Spirits of nature and ghosts were two very different entities, and he raises a brow.

"Really, not a one ever lingers? Can the realm of your dead be reached at all?"