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[horsepowered]

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Archer of Black/Chiron
@Ponytail

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[horsepowered]

[I regret nothing.]

--You have limits on what spells you can use?

[Now that is new to him. For mages, the only limit they have is their energy supply. To be restricted in spell use takes Chiron genuinely by surprise, and it shows on his face.]

[fernbeleafer]

Oh, yeah. I like to think of it like you have a pool you can tap from. Some spells don't take much effort and I can just whip 'em out whenever. But something like feeding twelve people and beefing them up with some charms? I'll need a long nap before doing it again.

[ after she realizes what his surprise might actually mean, keyleth looks at chiron a little differently. ]

The only beings with unlimited access in my world are like, archfey or gods I guess.

[horsepowered]

...Hm.

[Chiron considers this for a moment, and then nods. He understands, but the contrast is sharp.]

For magi, the only limit is how much mana they can process, and how long until they are depleted. There's no particularly strict limit. For example, a mage could maintain myself and still be able to cast offensive and defense spells for a substantially long fight.

[fernbeleafer]

Hmm. So it's less the size of the lake and more the depth of the river?

[ that would be dope. color her officially kind of jealous. ]

[horsepowered]

A perfect metaphor. For some, the river can be exceedingly deep. Others, shallow. Regardless, it's a factor in their ability to perform magecraft

[fernbeleafer]

That sounds incredible. It must take a lot of discipline.

[ hang on ]

So is COST technically maintaining you right now?

[horsepowered]

--I am, very technically, maintaining myself.

[fernbeleafer]

Why are all centaurs always so extra? [ said with love, and also she doesn't know any others and is fully talking out of her ass... ] So, what? You were a mage and now that you're post-life you're technically still also a mage and therefore get to sample your own supply?

[horsepowered]

Are we, truly?

[He's gently going to call that bluff, but continues to explain.]

In life, I was simply me. I manifested because I was summoned to a particular ritual, one that links me to the mage who summoned me. It's a battle royale by proxy, with spirits fighting each other in the mages' stead. Normally, we take our energy from the mage who summoned us.

In this ritual, the mage who summoned us, called a Master so I can save words, will sometimes die. Us summoned spirits can try to sustain ourselves, sometimes long enough to find another Master to take us on. Otherwise, we can die.

There are additional means of gaining magical energy - mana is what we call it - as well. For the time being, because I have no Master, I am relying on other means.

[fernbeleafer]

[ she at least has the good grace to look chagrined at his call. she can't help it-- stoic types are fun to emote at!!

but she listens intently to the rest, crease between her brow deepening with every new detail. this will be at least the second time she's asked him this, again because she feels very out of her depth-- ]

Are you OK?

[horsepowered]

At the moment, the input and output ratios are slightly askew, but it is manageable.

[Chiron's completely calm though, making it clear that for him this isn't a big deal. Not yet at least, and that's only because all challenges so far have not been magical in nature.

then that mist happens and there's some problems]

[fernbeleafer]

[ damn dramatic irony. quietly, keyleth revisits one thing. ]

You lost your Master. [ it's a weird word even with context. were it anyone but chiron, she might feel awkward using it. ] How do you find another one?

[ shouldn't cost have considered such a thing? ]

[horsepowered]

A contract can be formed with anyone, but it's better if it's with a mage. Or a broader magic user, as the case may be here.

[Chiron's unbothered by the question, but it does highlight one thing. He genuinely misses Fiore's company. She's a calm, sensitive young woman with a heavy burden. A good soul, far better off away from the cutthroat world of magi.]

[fernbeleafer]

Contract? That sounds pretty serious.

[horsepowered]

Perhaps. But it keeps both parties alive, in theory, so some level of seriousness is appropriate for such a thing.

[He pauses, then tilts his head.]

Summoning spirits is not a branch of magic in your world?

[fernbeleafer]

Hmm, not for me. But probably clerics or other religious types could.

[ but there is something else, and keyleth suddenly feels a little weird about it. ]

I've conjured elemental servants and fey creatures. I think I can do celestials, but that's really expensive because you have to have gems to destroy for it to work.

[horsepowered]

Ah, then you're at least familiar with the overall concept. Not that gems are a requirement to summon a spirit such as myself, but I believe that gems are sometimes used by mages in their craft.

[fernbeleafer]

When my teachers talked about the balance between power and destruction, they often used gem materials as an example. Even the strongest diamond can be consumed by powerful magic.

[ keyleth scoops up a pine cone, tightly closed against the cold. with a whisper, the seeds separate and open in a slow ripple. ]

But nature always regrows. Trees consume ruins and water smooths away jagged edges. Diamonds reforge in the heart of earth.

[ she feels like she should offer chiron something, and yet at the same time isn't sure it's hers to offer. a little lamely, keyleth holds the pine cone out to him, instead. ]

[horsepowered]

You had very wise instructors.

[Chiron takes the pine cone without hesitation, his fingers brushing against Keyleth's palm as he finds purchase on the little thing. It's...reassuring, seeing nature, seeing seeds and promises of growth here.

He chided Achilles for being softhearted on the battlefield, didn't he? It was shameful to not listen to his own advice.]

How long did you learn under them?

[fernbeleafer]

[ the press against her palm reminds keyleth that he's truly here, and she startles a little. she chuckles and rolls her eyes at her own awkwardness. ]

Oh, uhm. All my life.

[ true, she hadn't received the dedicated and rigorous training meant to shape her as her people's leader until her mother was declared officially missing, but she'd always been a sort of tribal royalty. that came with expectations that stretched beyond sheer talent. ]

Until I left for my Aramenté about a year ago. So, about fifteen years of real dedicated lessons and practice?

[horsepowered]

[It's endearing is what it is, although Chiron offers no comment to that effect. Just a smile, and keen ears as Keyleth continues.]

That's a very generous amount of time. I do have to ask though, what is an Aramenté defined as?

[fernbeleafer]

It's the journey future leaders of the Ashari take to prove themselves worthy of the position. We venture out to learn about the world beyond our lands, and to retain diplomatic relations with the other Ashari tribes.

[ a future she's not sure of these days, considering her cooperation with cost, and inability to remember joining up. ]

It can take years. Not everyone succeeds.

[horsepowered]

I see. A practical test of everything you've learned and then some.

[From the sound of approval in Chiron's voice, it's clearly something he likes the concept of.]

You've certainly been able to venture out into the world beyond your lands.

[fernbeleafer]

I guess that's true, yeah.

[ he makes her smile just by understanding. she so rarely feels seen let alone understood. ]

And I've met people a lot like my own, which is pretty nice.

[horsepowered]

I'd dare call it a luxury.

[Chiron shifts a little in his seat, and closes his eyes, content. This is such a welcome break that it feels both too long and too short. Surely someone will notice this absence sooner or later.]

Where in your own world have you journeyed, if you don't mind my asking?