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?
[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.
[ 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-- ]
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.
[ 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?
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.]
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.
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.
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. ]
[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.]
[ 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?
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. ]
[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?
[ but she's a bit of an unreliable narrator, prone to getting swept up in missing the place. her rose-tinted specs are firmly on! ]
Gosh, where do I start? These days, my friends and I are based out of the beautiful capital city on the west coast, Emon. After we helped the Sovereign with some pesky dragony and demony business, they rewarded us with seats on the political council and our own keep to stay in. I have my own garden there.
It's really dense, and all of the districts kinda smoosh up against each other, but they're pretty distinct. I think the business district is the biggest since the port makes it a big trading city. We do a lot of shopping whenever we come home, it's great. And pubs. Good place for a pub crawl.
[ omg don't shush me shush keyleth she's rambling ]
As far as buildings, the Cloudtop District is where the Sovereign and nobles live, so it's really shiny and pretty and classic. But then there's the Alabaster Lyceum which is super white and super tall and really kind of just intimidating on purpose? Like, ooh, we're so smart and magicky, look at our big white vaulted ceilings...
[I AM GOING TO ENABLE THE RAMBLING I HAVE NO REGRETS.]
..I see. Is there a predominance of a particular style? Domes everywhere, or steeples, or columns? Since it's a port I might guess at the buildings themselves having a great variety of shapes and colors and er. Levels of being shiny?
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[ hang on ]
So is COST technically maintaining you right now?
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[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.
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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?
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[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]no subject
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? ]
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[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.]
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[He pauses, then tilts his head.]
Summoning spirits is not a branch of magic in your world?
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[ 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.
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[ 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. ]
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[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?
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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?
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That's a very generous amount of time. I do have to ask though, what is an Aramenté defined as?
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[ 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.
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[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.
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[ 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.
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[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?
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[ but she's a bit of an unreliable narrator, prone to getting swept up in missing the place. her rose-tinted specs are firmly on! ]
Gosh, where do I start? These days, my friends and I are based out of the beautiful capital city on the west coast, Emon. After we helped the Sovereign with some pesky dragony and demony business, they rewarded us with seats on the political council and our own keep to stay in. I have my own garden there.
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Mmm. What is the atmosphere there like? The buildings and the design of the city?
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[ omg don't shush me shush keyleth she's rambling ]
As far as buildings, the Cloudtop District is where the Sovereign and nobles live, so it's really shiny and pretty and classic. But then there's the Alabaster Lyceum which is super white and super tall and really kind of just intimidating on purpose? Like, ooh, we're so smart and magicky, look at our big white vaulted ceilings...
ugh and now i must go to work
..I see. Is there a predominance of a particular style? Domes everywhere, or steeples, or columns? Since it's a port I might guess at the buildings themselves having a great variety of shapes and colors and er. Levels of being shiny?
[Did he use that right?]
gasp how could you
believe me i didn't wanna
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this is too cute help me
yesss i'm living and dying all at once somehow
it is far too complicated and this is FAR too cute i'm gonna die