|
Post by Drei on May 15, 2017 13:23:03 GMT -6
Her final statement evoked a full on laugh from the ashen haired shaman while he clasped his palms together and wove fingers in-between one another while bridging them again. He propped his chin upon cold pale digits and quietly listened to her evaluation on Etruria. Again, it took all his effort not to think or even speak horribly upon them as little more than mindless butchering beasts of crazed destruction and massacres. Hmm. Perhaps he'd have to deal with that absolute unwavering mindless bias of his towards them. To be blunt that was probably not the case. He simply unable to fathom himself without a hatred of literally every etrurian that wielded light magic or feared dark magic ever. Then however..as he listened to her something special happened. He felt levity concerning those who scrutinized Shamans.
His tone lightened. He felt a slightly theatrical side of him surface he hadn't felt in over a year. The young sacaen shaman wove his hands as if laying out a poster while he laughed quietly with a bit of a smile upon his face.
Haha..ahh...I can see it now. Posters everywhere saying Magic is impressive..but now justice leads. Swords for everyone!
He settled softly before gazing to her curiously. At this point he uttered a faint "huh" before actually observing Althea for a moment. she was...strange. Not in a bad way by any means but he had..an absolutely singular hatred for Etruria. He was such a hot mess of mental trauma and hatred for all things Etrurian in holy magic or the like that he just assumed he'd need major cognitive troubleshooting and therapy to ever get through it all. Yet he felt at-least, when talking to her, able to just take it lightly. As if talking to her was therapeutic.
He would shelf that as well for a later time. Tapping his chin in thought Drei tried to expound upon what she brought up prior.
"I..do agree that a few role models for younger shamans to serve as heroic figures wouldn't harm the image of dark magic. Perhaps to show the world that it's not all so black and white. Though I do fear that there will come a point where all magic is viewed so harshly and that does worry me."
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 15, 2017 13:46:19 GMT -6
"Plowshares into swords as the saying goes. I'm afraid I would be among the first to die. Weapons and I get along about as well as humanity and monsters. As for which is which..." she shrugged expressively. Best not to think about it too much. Despite her birth as human, Althea was not blind to her exceeding eccentricities and how relatively... little death affected her. How even in the harshest of situations her mind tended to wander, thinking of terrible things or simply casually calculating chances of survival. It was not so hard to imagine that there could be a beast more human than she, at times, when darkness not born of the Nether clouded her mind and threatened to consume her.
It seemed Drei as well had his own thoughts to contend with, a malady that the slender shaman could only understand too well. It was a sickness born of thinking too much, caring too much; a disease with no cure save death. The inability to turn off that endless procession of thoughts and worries and concerns and fears and dislikes. She did not pry nor interrupt that moment, content to dwell within her own mind as well.
When he spoke again it was of different subjects, lighter moments... to a degree at least. It seemed neither of them was quite capable of optimism. "Certainly it would not harm Elibe were the Dark to police itself better. But at the same time. Elder magic is the science of understanding. We are they who probe the deepest secrets of the world, of all things; to limit that is to betray who we are. How does one find a balance between investigation and insanity? Are we to become judge, jury, and executioner to any dark mage who even thinks of studying the darker arts? We can at least agree that Hargus was a menace who should have been stopped long ago - but what to do with the knowledge contained in his dark tome? Attempt to use it, perhaps be used and consumed in much the same way that the one who resurrected him was? Destroy it, and allow that knowledge to be lost forever? Save it in secret, and risk it being discovered, stolen, and unleashed by a less scrupulous magician?"
Truly, a question with no answer, at least that she could see. It was easy to say that Hargus was evil. But they had just spoken of the value of knowledge and it usage. That it was how it was used, not what it was, that made something 'evil.' But how did one objectively define even its use? Perhaps the bandits she had slain could have been reformed into good men, given the chance. She did not grieve their death, nor did she regret it. But if they had families, loved ones, they well might. Even knowing the fact they might still accuse her of murder or worse. And magic had done great damage to the world already, hadn't it? "The Ending Winter was born of the misuse of magic. Whether human or dragon matters little. We have already seen what havoc that unlimited power can wreak upon our world. It has lessened us, as a people. It has lessened Elibe, left it a wasteland compared to what it once was. What will become of our world if the legendary weapons are used again? If dragons return? Will magic die entirely? Or could the Nether be used to... resupply the world...?"
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 15, 2017 14:59:42 GMT -6
Her point was valid. Only those who stepped into the shadows understood the depths of the darkness. Only those who gazed into that which gazed back and didn't flinch, could ascertain its meaning. Drei's eyes closed slowly as he tried to mentally expound upon the notion. Gaze concealed now through sealed lids as he tried to recall his own interactions with that sprawling darkness. His father had, as he later learned been far more apt than a simple showman. As he tried to recall it in fullest, Drei slowly spoke. Translating, filtering, and processing his thoughts as he compiled and consolidated them.
"We should not place restraints upon any magic user. Limits and regulations are counter intuitive to the very nature of it. Magic in possibility is limitless. As far as our minds can comprehend it, at-least. However I do believe that there is a trouble in the public's eye of it. The fact that Hargus was able to get such unchecked power to them prompts the question of "How could this be allowed?" or the like. I've...heard it uttered many times. However to those without magic they see it from a far more simplistic viewpoint. It is not as easy a situation to us practitioners as to those without it. I do not believe that it is a simple solution, if there even is one. To that end I believe it may fall upon a balance of more righteous magic users coexisting with the malefic ones. Which is a far more complex acknowledgment and relies on far too much to chance."
Her final statement was one of most interesting notions. For though he pondered it, her question prompted the Nether to be looked at for more of a power source and less of an entity. However...
"Were we to utilize the Nether to resupply would that not infuse it with magics aspected towards the nether? Or would that infer a level of...synergistic exchange between magical types? Could magical energy be purified of its alignments into a raw form of essence and be re-allocated?"
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 15, 2017 15:17:29 GMT -6
No restraints, hm? On a surface level, Althea found she liked how that sounded. Certainly it spoke to her; she had always done her own thing. Digging further into it though she saw the issues with that approach. No limits meant more Harguses, more monsters. More hatred. But was there a deeper level? Could there be a deeper truth to it all? "Hypothetically speaking," she said carefully, still mulling the idea over in her head, "I do not believe that known control would work well. But a more secretive policing structure might help provide the defense necessary against Hargus and his ilk. Dark mages keeping an eye on their kin from the shadows, only stepping in when necessary to retain the peace." Though that, too, was easier said than done. To live in darkness beyond even the Dark was to commit one's self to loneliness beyond solitude; in a way betraying their fellows and even their discipline for the good of them all. It was... not a kind ideal. Nor an easy one. But practically speaking Althea could see little other way to actually limit and control the most dangerous of individuals from going too far with their research, since dark magi as a whole would never agree to an active system of control.
"The only other lasting solution that comes to mind would be an Elibe wide council. Allowing some sort of agreements and conflict resolution. But the difficulty in getting a bunch of dark magi to agree with each other..." Althea couldn't help but smile wryly. She didn't need to say anything more. Whatever the strengths and weaknesses of their kind, there was no arguing the fierce independence that so many practitioners of the Elder magics sought. Nor the simple truth that most of them didn't like taking orders from anyone. Speaking of a global coalition was even less likely than everyone suddenly being OK with dark magic.
The subject of energy though. That was more interesting. And open to debate, not to mention aligned with her interests. "Perhaps. I have been experimenting with the usage of our magic. All of Elibe knows the use of the Nether in its most typical form, inky darkness given weight and form, but not mass. Some know of its use as mass, lacking weight. Fewer still recognize its existence as emotion and the manipulation thereof. But..." Despite her exhaustion she was not completely dry, and so Althea concentrated, building up a small quantity of darkness in her hand, encased lightly in a dimly visible sealing array to hold it incontinent rather than spilling out of her palm into the cart below... or her dress, which would be even worse. "In much the same way that Anima embraces different aspects of nature, I believe that better comprehending the multifold nature of the Nether is fundamental to a better understanding of its existence."
"And to do THAT," she noted, the last word slightly forced as she focused more on the darkness in her hand, slowly molding it as she further tested her beginning work with loosely pre-prepared strategies, "is to accept that rather than mass, or liquid, or emotion, it can also be viewed as-" another pause, her brows creased. Trying to convert it was... difficult. She hadn't figured out an effective filtering system yet. The barrier was as much mental as physical. And yet it was something she had been working on for some weeks now. She was not entirely unprepared. Nor had she never tried this before. The blob pulsed with force, darkness becoming light as the inky shadow transformed into a small ball of pure energy, a purplish-white sphere of light laced with tendrils of darkness that struggled against its confines. Satisfied, Althea looked up at Drei, smiling ethereally in the moment of success.
"...Energy."
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 15, 2017 17:42:48 GMT -6
Silent observers. Watching quietly from the distance and monitoring shamans and other dark magic users as they explore the depths of magic in their own respective ways. Which truly was the trouble. So unique and individual was the uses of dark magic that every dark magic user felt it was their own to wield. The sense of self emphasized more so over others. However there was merit in the notion. Perhaps had such a thing existed, the ravages of Hargus would've never transpired. Drei's left hand wove through ashen bangs and quietly messed them up slightly while combing through them. His tone soft spoken as he tried to process and sculpt the thoughts in his mind.
"I think...that could be a possibility. But unless all members agreed upon the morality of ever situation it could cause in fighting or disagreements. Then there's the question of recognized authority on the almost judicial aspect of it. Even then, to remain best hidden so as to not prompt others to hide from their gaze directly it would have to be an unofficially formed group without legal or authoritative recognition anyway."
Ah. An Elibe wide council. That was doomed for certain failure in every avenue. There was no way that so many different individuals could reliably agree singularly on many varied affairs. Especially involving magic. At-least in the instance of dark magic users secretly observing and governing others their field is limited to the pure moral standing of dark magic users. The "Do's and don't's" were far more limited then at-least.
Drei leaned forward a bit. Hair's on his neck quietly raising as he felt the pulse of energy that was power of the Nether. Eyes glued to the orb of energy that she altered and converted. Sculpting in almost the exact inverse of his own. The faint light such a beautiful and wonderful sight. It inspired him. Gave him ideas quietly for future "Show's" potentially. Theatrics acts. Drei did not speak at first though.
His own hand extended. Similar to her own. As if mirroring her initial process. Energy birthed within his palm and restrained or sculpted in manners similar to Althea's wonderful demonstration. To this end, however it differed upon manifestation in full. He quietly solidified it. Making a wonderful contrast to her own. His magic hardened. Turning into an entirely dark orb that could entirely interact with the physical environments. He looked to her. A smile soft upon his lips while he spoke.
"It is truly a marvelous thing. Utilizing the same source...we can create total opposites. Exact contradicting existences. Though...I suppose with that..ahah I could certainly see such utilization. It...has been a very long time since I've seem someone utilize magic in the manner you do and I've never seen it in a combative setting. Both you and your proclivity for Elder Magic are amazing Althea!"
For the first time, in a long time, Drei felt a bit like his old normal self. It was truly wonderful and he couldn't quite hide his excitement at their topic or his own feelings. For once, Drei did not wear his mask.
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 15, 2017 18:24:11 GMT -6
"Mm. A secret police, to be blunt, with all that that entails. Betraying true freedom in the name of the greater good. It is not a thing that I could do personally, I think. But that approach fits the parameters to best solve two kindred issues, limiting misuse of dark magic and showing the world that the Dark can handle its own problems." Security - at the cost of freedom. And what would that do to trust in their fellow kind? How would she live knowing that there might be a strike force of dark magic users coming to execute her for the crime of speaking of freedom or lack thereof? What when the truly vile identified them and decided to preemptively strike to wipe them out in turn? Perhaps it had already happened. Nonetheless as with all too many ideas, what sounded good on the surface was fraught with difficulty in practice. That did not mean that it was not an equation worth solving, but it was not one she could trivially solve in the next few minutes.
While she wasn't quite sure what Drei was doing with his own magic, it made sense after a few moments when his own small orb came to light. Or more appropriately, the opposite of light. To transform the tenebrous, almost liquefied 'natural' Nether into physical mass or pure energy; neither was more impressive than the other per se, but they showed how incredibly varied that single existence was. Nether could be so many things that it never ceased to amaze her. "You flatter me." And it was... true. Not simply the words of one trying to play at being humble. With so many variations on the Nether already existing, many of which she knew little of, finding one more was not inherently impressive in her opinion. "Though I admit. It is... gratifying to feel as though my studies finally bear some fruit. As much hardship as has come in recent months, so too is the possibility and potential equally grandiose."
"Though the question is..." Well, there were more than a few of those. "Allow me to rephrase. The primary concern is converting larger quantities before I can consider using it in combat. I am attempting to modify some of my work in the use of seals and gates to purify and convert the energy within the process of drawing it from the Nether rather than doing so afterward to limit the stress on my body, but that too is slow going and exceedingly intellectually testing. Performing the calculations to keep each seal stable in action takes a great deal of concentration and some time; I must find ways to streamline the process." To say the least. If it was THAT easy she would have just bloody been spitting out lasers and doom explosions like candy long ago. "Certainly the efficiency problem must be solved before any grandiose proclamations of free energy can be issued. Without combat utility or effective distribution for peaceful purposes it is but a waking dream rather than a true realization of my ideal."
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 15, 2017 18:45:55 GMT -6
"The group would likely garner distaste from their fellows. Which would thus require them to be accepting of that. I...don't know if many could handle that. To mar their image to those that understand them best in the name of a societal safety. It is certainly uncommon in most situations or circumstances. To that end it becomes even less likely because most Shamans are detached from society and more likely to associate with kindred spirits. So it's not without it's potential faults and consequences. "
Though he didn't find any serious appeal to the notion himself, provided he preferred his freedoms. He also knew though that it was easy to say that when not in the presence of an entity of unbridled dark murder like Hargus or the beasts born of it. Though she dismissed his praise he worried little on it. In his eyes, she was a talented individual with an open mind who took the potential she saw and molded it best how she could. That drive itself warranted his praise if nothing else. But he did not press on the matter. He was feeling happy enough to simply be able to briefly forget the horrors within his own mind that he did not want to ruin the very moment which brought him that distraction.
Their topic on energies and Nether themselves were ones he was enjoying talking about. Drei quietly laced his fingers as he collapsed the magic between his palms. Diffusing his spell as he let it fade back into the void it had come from before speaking further. Adding his own opinion to the conversation.
"That seems like a fairly practical use if the expenditure can be properly navigated. The seals and gates acting like a catalytic to the conversion process is fairly unheard of from my own experiences but seems to work well thus far. I suspect though once you've finally laid out the foundations for an efficient system you could even get the streams of energy flowing seamlessly. There would obviously be mental strain upon you still but I could believe it vastly lessened as your mastery of it and the familiarity with it ascend to higher calibers. I've..been attempting similar feats with my own magic. Often I'll materialize a larger mass and expand or manipulate the magic from it as the origin point. This way instead of perpetually summoning magics and maintaining them I can hold a greater mass with a less constant cost. Though the strain of physical interaction is one I am not sure I'll be able to adjust to fully for some time.
Going back to your own ideals though. I believe it would be exceptionally intriguing to explore peaceful applications of it once you've formulated a regular method efficiently. "
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 15, 2017 19:03:16 GMT -6
Well... no point in trying to show off forever. Keeping the magic sealed once purified was not exceptionally difficult, but well, Althea was not exactly at the top of her game. Even that small amount of magical exertion had been a nontrivial effort for her and she ill wanted to waste even more holding it like an idiot. Also... Drei had banished his. When in Rome. Somewhat whimsically, the shaman lightly tossed the orb of energy into the air, the sealing magic surrounding it quickly dissipating, and in its wake the energy as well. It vanished in a multichromatic puff of purple and black and light, and a bit of a burnt smell, a very small-scale explosion that was essentially just a fancy firework rather than actually dangerous to anyone. It still looked kinda cool though, and the irony of darkness producing light was not lost on her.
"A candle whose light is shadow... well, I suppose I was envious of the easy lighting provided by Fire magic. Perhaps that is all this will turn out to be; the first spell dark magi learn to enhance visibility in darkened areas. They'll call it... Althea's Lightbulb. What a legacy to leave." The so-named shaman chuckled in quiet amusement at the thought. In truth she would likely leave MUCH less of a mark than that. And the energy was too unstable, too dark, to provide much real light for anyone. But it was amusing to think of nonetheless. "You are correct. Much of my current struggle is simply in hypothesizing and testing appropriate methods of delivering and... purifying the energy, if you will. Once I crack that problem it will be much better suited to real combat use at least, and that in turn will help me better tune its usage and efficiency."
"Magical origins certainly seem to hold great use as well. Depending on the purpose of course. Repeated casts, sustained beams, or in your case constant use of the same tendril of magic, all definitely lend themselves well to a solid base of creation, whereas projectile magic I find typically easier to use a simpler but single-use formation when required. A matter of efficiency in creation versus efficiency in use. I suppose on some level it could be compared to the use of Gaea - earth magic - to the lightning of Thoron? Though I am unfamiliar with the usage of anima magic spirits so it may not be an exact comparison."
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 15, 2017 19:49:34 GMT -6
"There's an irony not lost to me in creating light with darkness. Literally using the dark magics to create illumination. If there is a singular fell spirit that resides within the Nether I'm sure their screaming at the very thought of it heh. Though I can certainly see a special...appeal to utilizing softer lights like that as opposed to the poorly still lights of flame or the abrasive lights of well...light."
Drei cast his gaze to his own hands as she spoke of the struggles in testing various theories involving her magic. He entirely understood that, and multiple instances of testing were required even in the event of success. So many variables involved after all that it generally took effort just ensuring it wasn't a fluke. Consistency was the name of the game after all when trying to produce results. He had to practice his magics literally daily to gain any real progress. His mornings usually beginning as his nights ended. Attempting to guide or sculpt tendrils from his palms.
"It is true. I can imagine though that when utilizing Anima magic the spirits have some degree of influence? I...don't know that I like that inconsistency."
Drei felt like the pro's of that were also the con's. You did not interact with the same spirits, to his knowledge. They traveled or danced through space idly. Often called upon to lend their guiding presence to a mage's elemental spells with the body as both conduit and translator of thought to form from the mage and spirit's intent and mind. This meant you were likely to interact with a diverse range of spirits, and to his knowledge spirits housed personalities of extreme differences. While he loathed the personality and aspect of the nether, at-least it was a constant. Consistently the same entity so he knew what to expect. He imagined it distracting in combat,to never know what to expect.
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 15, 2017 20:06:03 GMT -6
"The mechanics of anima magic are... inconclusive." Althea said the word as if it had personally murdered her family, dashed a small child's brains out on the wood before her, and then launched every other dark mage alive into the sun. Inconclusive. A word used by simpletons, charlatans, and those who weren't willing to work hard enough to find an absolute answer. So.. simpletons, yes. "There seems to be a significant give and take between mage and spirit. To what degree relies heavily on the individual. An emotional... bond... or some other such nonsense. Some claim to use the spirits to cast directly, others say that spirits simply aid them in knowledge. I do not know the truth of it, and I am not sure I wish to. It seems entirely too uncertain for my tastes. Whatever the vagaries of dark magic and its usage, it is at least consistent. Molded. Calculated. When I create a seal-portal interface I do so through the appropriate application of a solved formula. I know exactly what will go in one end and come out the other. I do not wish to... guess with this power."
Yeah real open minded there hun.
Still entirely convinced that she was right - at least as it applied to her personally - Althea still had the presence of mind to realize that not everyone would agree with her. That was fine. There was no law against being wrong! Them, of course. Not her. "Perhaps it is simpler, easier, for those with the wherewithal to empathically connect to those beings on a constant basis. Much as any muscle, any manner of intelligence, it is something that no doubt can be practiced, improved, mastered. I... simply do not see the value in it," she stated simply and honestly. Matters of perspective were always a sore point to the shaman. She was intelligent, that much she knew. Not necessarily brilliant, but reasonably smart. She tried to always think of both sides of the question before answering. But whether in spite of or because of her mind, she struggled to comprehend what she did not see. Where her perspective was lacking, all too often she saw nothing at all. Were her criticisms of anima magic valid or simply her own failure? She didn't know, couldn't know, as she was now.
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 16, 2017 14:11:09 GMT -6
When he thought of Anima magic however he couldn't help but imagine dancing lights of fire and lightning quivering within casings of ice that would swiftly dance through the air around writhing shadows. His father and mother had both wielded elemental magic. Though he'd only seen it done for the sake of their shows, and the potential ideas danced before his mind for future shows. If nothing else, he would attempt it to feel slightly closer to his family, lost though they were. He was a bit more sentimental than he'd ever lead on or let anyone know.
"I may not like the reliability of spirits, but I do know that I would like to try my hand at it some time. Purely to gauge how I am compared to my parents in it's brandishing. Both were gifted in Elder Magic as well as manipulating the elements. I doubt I will take to it as I have the magics of the Nether, but I'm fairly positive that I'll be able to with some caliber at-least."
That wasn't to say that he would become a master of every element that could bring balance to the world or anything but he simply couldn't justify not trying either. It would be a most shameful display, to bring dishonor to his family by flat out ignoring a potential gift passed onto him from them. Drei stirred from his spot briefly to adjust and turn himself to better face Althea before speaking up once more.
"I can certainly understand though the distaste for inconsistency in it, especially when your style is so very..precise. You are accustomed to calculating everything out. This is hard to do when you can not possibly know even one factor, especially an X factor as large as a being dependent on a spirit regularly."
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 16, 2017 14:40:38 GMT -6
To gauge himself to his parents, hm? That was an... interesting metric. Althea wasn't sure if she pitied or envied him, to be honest. She'd never seen her parents fight. She knew they were dark magic users, they had taught her after all. Their control had seemed effortless. So in her mind at least, they must have been powerful. But how much so? How could she gauge herself against such vague ideals? She didn't know, and so she didn't. It had never been about surpassing them. If anything she had only originally clung to dark magic as a reminder of them, before eventually coming to love it on its own merits as well. She wondered if it was the same for Drei, but it didn't seem like an appropriate question to ask. Certainly not given his generally reserved demeanor and well, given how he spoke of them in the past tense, and about how fond she was of talking about her parents' deaths at the hand of their former friends in the name of Kraft, she kinda had a feeling that it would be better to let him share that particular story on his own terms.
Or never, if that was more his speed. Again, His decision. For now, she was just enjoying the... togetherness as they both wallowed in their own weakness. "I can respect that," she responded, trying to be at least open minded and pleasant if not entirely on board with this whole Anima crap herself. But it wasn't like she hated Anima users or anything, it just wasn't in her interests was all. "It takes all manner of men... and women... to make the world what it is. Thinkers and doers, creatives and scientists, warriors and poets. That I cannot now understand the beauty of Anima does not mean it does not exist. Whether expressed through careful calculation or empathetic connection, creativity is creativity nonetheless." Admittedly by this point she wasn't sure if she was babbling in the vague hopes of not insulting Drei - and since when did she care about that anyways? - or trying to sound wise. Neither really felt like it was working very well. "But, um, yes. I do not crave absolute structure in all things. But when it comes to magic and research I do strongly prefer a system. An undisciplined mind is a terrible thing to waste."
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 16, 2017 15:11:59 GMT -6
Drei had, for a brief moment at her final statement feared he'd implied that she was obsessively focused on a rigid structure. Had he slighted her? Was she simply not assailing him with terrible insults out of a kind sense of restraint? Yes, that'd work out wonderfully Drei. Insult the person who at the moment seemed likely to understand you most. That'd do wonders for establishing a stable bridge of communication and understanding wouldn't it?
Maybe he was just...over-worrying. After all, he was utter garbage at socialization. So perhaps he was just letting anxieties not quite understood by him dictate his logic? Drei quietly clasped palms together and gazed towards Althea with a fairly reserved expression. Gaze absently scanning her as he tried to formulate his response, shoulders hunching slightly and leaning forwards. Simply trying to ensure that he responded as best as possible. At this point he was absolutely enjoying her conversation but he did not want to step out of line or say anything insulting. Anxieties came from some form of legitimacy.
"While I believe that there can be progress in natural growths that are left to their own designs, I do not believe it is safe. Nor do I think it apt for Elder Magic. Given the potential costs, lacking control seems like a disastrous endeavor. There are documented cases of individuals wielding dark magic or even magic weapons imbued with dark powers being rendered mere puppets of flesh to the void.Though the precise internal workings is a mystery obviously. That said I imagine that some of the greatest progress is made out of a combination of the two. A system that becomes self perpetuating and grows at its own rates determined by the individual. Methods of teaching that were tailored to the many always seemed to..broad for my own tastes. No matter how you weave the structure in those instances it becomes a system the student conforms to singularly in every case instead of letting the individual bosom to their own strengths."
|
|
|
Post by Althea on May 16, 2017 16:17:31 GMT -6
"Puppets of flesh..." Slave to the void, bereft of will and self. Yeah, that wasn't ominous at all.
Whatchu lookin at?
...Yeah she'd be fine.
"It is true that standardized instruction must always be tailored to the lowest common denominator lest it leave out both high and low performers rather than simply those that rise above. But it is true that there are necessary precautions and lessons that must be learned within each branch of magic. Finding the balance therein must be an interesting struggle for those who would teach." Though it seemed to be working out decently enough for Etruria and Laus, as she recalled, two of the largest magic academies on the continent - even if few of their students went on to great things, they were prestigious enough that they must be doing something right after all.
"Though it is also true, I believe, that neither major academy teaches much in the wise of dark magic." Etruria for... obvious reasons. Laus, given that they were up against Ostia, now the land of dark magic and undead, probably similar. Though as she had heard it, Laus had been forced to be pragmatic enough that they typically recognized strength as strength regardless of its source; a territory besieged so heavily could ill afford to waste what strength it had. "Perhaps Laus is more open to the subject. I do not know. I have mostly avoided it due to its, ah, undead problem." Heh, undead problem, that was a nice way of saying it. More accurately it was splat up against a literal country of dead people that didn't have the common decency to stay dead, and were prone to coming over to nearby countries to preach the good word of undeath to anyone who would listen.
|
|
|
Post by Drei on May 16, 2017 17:13:47 GMT -6
"Obviously not all who wield darkness are taken in by it. For example well..us. However there are noted instances. Many say that at the city of heroes, not just the dead were risen but that some living were corrupted entirely. Turned into winged abominations, gargoyles, and set upon former friend and foe alike. Unable to resist a compulsion of absolute corruption. Or instances like one of the treasures formerly of Tania, and I believe once belonging prior to Araphen? A blade that required one to be entirely devoid of emotion while brandishing it, lest they be enthralled to its blood lust and savagery while it supped upon their life force. Thus growing and resting control from future wielders with greater ease and perpetuating a murderously horrid cycle. "
Dark magic was certainly cruel to the unprepared. Nor did it go without heavy punishment towards those of soft heart. The young sacaen couldn't help but note just how horrid some tales regarding it could get. Drei leaned forward a bit, palms still clasped as Althea spoke before expounding his own thoughts mentioned prior.
"Oh absolutely. I agree that a base level of foundation is still needed no matter what, that foundation being universal basics. However as you have observed, the minimal common denominator is always the concern then. So it does become a more difficult point of growth post basic tutelage."
Ah yes. The population's xenophobic nature towards the dark arts. Oh how...well he'd become familiar with that. Drei's expression did not darken, but did deaden. Gaze going even distant for a fraction of a second before he quietly closed his eyes. His shoulders rose and chest expanded as he inhaled a single deep breath through the lungs. Trying to forcibly calm himself before speaking further. He broke his hands apart as he straightened his back, palms resting on either knee and taking a near meditative look before speaking through a fairly clenched and heavily reserved voice.
"I do not believe Etruria will ever recognize dark magic...as anything beyond a demonic primitive Hersey that they strive to purge at every step. Lycia as a whole...seems to loath anything tied to dark magic after the hordes of Ostia spread through its land. At-least...from my experience."
|
|