magic

[afflatusexarch]

Type: Voice
Sender ID: afflatusexarch ( G'raha Tia )
To: General
Subject: Magic
Warnings: N/A


This last moon or so I've been speaking to several people about magic and the ability to use magic. Now I understand we all come from varying stars - worlds, realms, whichever you prefer - and the laws governing such arts may differ.

Thus I find myself curious about how others are able to cast their spells. I certainly wouldn't mind an exchange of knowledge on the topic. In fact, I've already offered to conduct some lessons to some individuals here as an experiment, of sorts. I, myself, am no great mage but I am capable enough, I should hope.

Comments

voice; id: gruffier

[gruffier]

[ Magic has always been a sort of sour subject to him, but knowledge is knowledge. ]

Where I come from magick was obtained one of two ways; either being born with the gift, or using a crystal to mimic the ability. There were those who had their magicks awakened at a later time... [ A slight pause. ] ... but this is no longer the case.

[afflatusexarch]

This seems to be consistent with some of the tales that I have heard so far. It is interesting, since where I come from most are born with the ability to channel aether. Some are more adept than others, having some natural affinity or their pathways are simply more... Conductive.

[gruffier]

So aether are on other stars, too…

Tell me, have there been accounts of consuming too much aether?

[afflatusexarch]

In... Which sense? Consuming another's aether is something I have only observed in creatures called Voidsent and Sin Eaters. That is due to the nature of what has been done to them.

If it is simply taking in an outside source of aether, the burden may become too much for someone - though that limit may well be different for everyone. Then there is the matter of what kind of aether to consider as well.

[gruffier]

I haven’t considered there being more than one “kind” of aether… But I have witness those who were exposed to an over saturated amount in the air be consumed by it and… turn into something completely different.

Those born with magicks didn’t seem to be affected by it, though.

[afflatusexarch]

How to best explain...

Aether, in its natural state, does not not possess any unique qualities. However, it be affected by the elements. That's when we get different kinds of aether. Lightning-aspected would create levin. Ice-aspected, frost. Fire-aspected, flame. So on and so forth.

On my star, these all need to be in balance with one another. Should one type of aether fall out of alignment, then there are consequences. The primary example of it would be I have seen the stagnation that occurs when a star bears too much Light.

Though it hardly surprises me that those that are exposed to an oversaturated amount of aether would be transformed by it. Of course I have seen this through Dynamis as well but that's neither here nor there.

[gruffier]

[ … If only you could hear his eyes glaze over HE IS REALLY TRYING TO COMPREHEND, HE REALLY IS… ]

I see… [ Yes Clive understands. Somewhat. ]

Are you able to channel more than one elements if aether, then? You seem to be very knowledgeable of the subject.

[afflatusexarch]

[ He is none the wiser. G'raha is a scholar by nature. ]


I am nowhere near as knowledgeable about aetherology as some of my companions, I assure you.

[ Now that seems like an oddly specific question. But to answer it - ]

As for the question, the simple answer is yes. I can use all sorts of magicks - elemental and otherwise.

[gruffier]

[ They seem rather proud of their ability, too. Such a stark contrast to his own experiences that it feels a little daunting.

However, his voice will remaining mutual. If not peaked with a little interest. ]

Forgive me for all the questions. Magick was a cornerstone to people's lives on my star, but the consequences for using it were often grave.

[afflatusexarch]

What might those consequences be?

[ He has a feeling that he already knows ]

[gruffier]

It was a clutch to some who didn't know how to live or function without its usage. But to those who could use magick naturally... [ A hard pause. ]

The "Bearer's Curse", they called it. Eventually your limbs would turn to stone, and body no longer cease to function. It was a cruel and painful way to die.

[afflatusexarch]

Then you are from Valisthea, just as two others I have spoken to are.

It was actually upon hearing this that I thought about how to help. Drawing upon one's personal aether to cast magic isn't unheard of where I come from, but it also comes with consequences. Burning one's life candle shouldn't be the default method, in my opinion.

Adding a warning for spoilers, just in case!

[gruffier]

I shouldn't be surprised. There are quite a few of us here. [ Even though he was just as surprised to see half of who arrived alongside him. But that was entirely a different story- ]

I agree. Those born with the gift were treated as lesser, and their lives held no meaning to others. Yet there were those who felt the same as you... who no longer wished to see the suffering inflicted upon them for so many years.

[ He seems lost in his thoughts temporarily, as if reliving those vicious moments in his past, before continuing ]

That's why we discovered a way to rid Valisthea of magick entirely.

Good good!

[afflatusexarch]

There are, yes. Even more surprising, to me, to hear that many of you are one with entities that are not unknown to my star.

That is one solution, yes. Ridding everyone of their ability to channel any sort of aether, that is. Though I have been proposing to your fellows to teach them how to use ambient aether.

[gruffier]

Entities? What do you mean?

[ He couldn't mean that, could he...? ]

That sounds like it would be helpful. I'll admit I have not used my abilities much since my arrival... if only to avoid mistakes from my own star.

[afflatusexarch]

The term "eikon" has been used by the Garlean Empire. Some have used different phrases, but we term entities such as Ifrit, Phoenix, Shiva, and so on and so forth as primals.

Some find their essence drawn from the various gods of the different Spoken races of my star. Others were once people. Shiva and Bahamut, in particular. Technically Anima too, but that might be stretching it a bit.

[gruffier]

... So you really have met us, then.

[ His voice drops, slightly concerned. ]

Who have you spoken to?

[afflatusexarch]

Aye, I have. Primarily Joshua and I've spoken to Dion a little.

I said this to another: using your own aether is not the only option that you have. Rather, if you have the capacity to channel aether at all, it would just be a matter of changing where you draw it from.

[gruffier]

Joshua? [ He didn't mean to sound so surprise, but the name does come with a bit of alert swirled in. That is his brother, after all. And since he hasn't heard anything ill about G'raha, one could only assume that his intentions were for good... but still-

He falls silence for a moment, contemplating. ]

Is that what you meant by "experiments", then? To have us test a theory of yours?

[afflatusexarch]

Yes, though it was not he that made mention of Dominants. I find it curious in general because of the shared names and, perhaps, even elemental alignments. He was concerned since I mentioned one of my companions is known to many a Garlean as the "Eikon Slayer."

[ A beat: ]

Which the method of summoning a Primal is much different, I assure you. The consequences of allowing a Primal to be summoned and then free to do as they please happens to be dire.

[ A drain on the land's aether. Further enslavement of the wills of people... So on and so forth. ]

I suppose "experiment" sounds a bit cold. Unfortunately, I know of no other method to test the theory.

[gruffier]

[ "Eikon Slayer"? He could see why Joshua was concerned, and that makes Clive all the more weary. ]

I suppose it wouldn't seem unlikely to have more things in common than not. Though I would ask you exclude the use of my brother in your theories.

[ The poor boy has already been through enough, and Clive isn't too sure what this all entails... ]

[afflatusexarch]

...Brother.

[ One moment. It clicks. ]

Ah. You are the brother he made mention of.

[gruffier]

None other. [ Well, they did have a half brother, but.... that is an entirely too long of a story to explain. ]

It should be obvious then why I would caution his participation, even should he ask for them himself.

[afflatusexarch]

I can understand the sentiment, truly. Yet...

Need I remind you that your brother is no child. There comes a time where all siblings must learn to trust in the other's judgement.

Thus if Joshua is inclined, I am not going to turn him away. However, I am not one to allow someone to needlessly put their life at risk either.

[gruffier]

Relay your clichés all you’d like, but you don’t know the first thing about us.

[ He never meant to get this heated, but as his voice drops to that of a low growl he’s unable to censor his thoughts. ]

You don’t know how much he’s been through- how much we’ve both suffered to get where we are now.

[ He’ll attempt to quell a bit of his sudden anger with a deep breath. Sorry G’raha, he’s at least trying— ]

I trust his judgement above all else, but that does not mean I will overlook something that could be potentially harmful.