Closed [The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Venser learns more about the use of Auristics in relation to other magics.

(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy role playing forums. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)

A city floating in the center of a lake, Ravok is a place of dark beauty, romance and culture. Behind it all though is the presence of Rhysol, God of Evil and Betrayal. The city is controlled by The Black Sun, a religious organization devoted to Rhysol. [Lore]

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Venser Rush on May 30th, 2014, 7:54 pm

Image
75th of Spring, 514


With each passing visit to the Institute for Higher Learning, Venser Rush was learning what it was to be not a practitioner of magic, but a wizard in both name and knowledge. The exploration into the magic of Aurisitics was, more than anything else, an eye-opening experience to him. It lent a simple additional insight, a singular bead of information to an otherwise unknown thing, but that bit, that preview of understanding. The knowledge of what it was and the looming awareness that delving further into this path was to tap into the all-sight that was desired. Power. Knowledge. Beads on the same necklace that led to Venser's ultimate ambition, freedom from the chains that his mind created for itself. Gone were the days of abuse at the hands of a father, but still their scars remained. Some more obvious than others.

The Rush twin cast his gaze about in search of the room that Thadeus Lazarin and Venser had used for the blonde's Auristics induction. A fond, if terrifying memory to call back to, but the Rush twin had no the time to delve into it. Venser found that the room was laden with tools. Several differently sized hammers arranged meticulously in order of height, and a closed box that caught the man's interest more than anything else. It seemed that Lazarin's presence in the place was not yet needed, and that he left the tools available to look upon, but in truth, Venser had no idea what they were for.

Little hammers set in a room? A closed box with no inclination as to what's inside? Looks like Lazarin has some plans for me, today. Not that it's a bad thing... just unexpected.

He had no idea what to expect. or how to react. Lazarin was a harsh master and a man that asked of much from his pupils. Venser wanted to impress him, but there was fear of the man in him, as well. Which side won was contingent upon Venser's further actions, but for the moment, he was content in allowing himself to look about.

There is a set up for... three?

Venser noted the presence of two working desks placed side by side, Thadeus' own and obviously the largest sitting in the front, implying that they were to be doing some sort of craft that involved the hands.

Certainly not Malediction. Perhaps the other one? Magecraft? The more... refined of the disciplines? It's interesting to see how the discipline works. If anything, perhaps I can even participate. If not, then there will be, at the very least, a great deal of analysis possible through the use of Auristics. Perhaps that's why I'm here. To lay witness to the Magecrafter's craft and assess it? It seems a solid way to learn.

But where was Lazarin and this other person?

LazarinFeel free to introduce him into the thread ^.^ I just set a stage, but I tried not to really add too much.
Image
Last edited by Venser Rush on June 11th, 2014, 5:39 pm, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Venser Rush
Seeker of the Angst
 
Posts: 293
Words: 350153
Joined roleplay: December 8th, 2013, 9:06 pm
Location: Ravok, Sylira Region
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Featured Contributor (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding.

Postby Elias Caldera on May 30th, 2014, 9:04 pm

He could feel it creeping up on him, like a spider behind his eyes, it slithered and crawled, burrowing its way into all the little nooks and all the little crannies that its spindly legs could find. Rubbing his face with a calloused hand, Elias grimaced at the incoming headache. Another day, another close call with over giving. It seemed that with each passing visit to the institute of higher learning he was learning what if felt like to push himself to the very brink. With each lesson he eventually found himself standing on the precipice between just enough, and busted blood vessel. The whispers, of course, told him it was all just fantastic, a challenge to go beyond what he had allowed himself to grow complacent with. But even they sounded tired and bedraggled in their false jubilee, so much so their words fell on deaf and weary ears. Strange then, that their words weren't theirs at all, but his own... Are they still sweet whispers if you know they're sweet whispers?

He frowned at the ridiculous thought, and at himself. It was an expression that only deepened when the pain in his head began to prick at him again. The young mage tried to shove it down and away with pure will alone, but the effort was akin to trying to douse a smoldering inferno with a bucket of oil. With an explosive sigh he fell against the hallway wall, clutching at his forehead while he waited for the pulsating agony to fade and dimmer. He hadn't realized how close he had come to the laboratory he was actually heading for that morning. That was of course, until he heard Lazarin's voice. "Out of the way, Caldera." The old wizard breathed impatiently, as he strode past him in a whirl of black robes and and air of no none sense. "Sorry, sir." Elias stammered after the master mage, hopping out of the way. Even with all his might and confidence at times, Thadeus Lazarin still had a way about him that made the Caldera stammer and stumble like he was a school boy on his first day of class.

It was annoying.

He followed the paladin into the room, noting immediately the other man already present inside. Young and blond, Elias thought he recognized a brief flash of hesitation on the stranger's face when the professor suddenly flowed into the lab unannounced with the novice hot on his heels. "Rush, good, you're here." Lazarin murmured while quickly surveying all the equipment on the three desks. "There's something to be said for punctuality, isn't there, Mr. Caldera." I was right outside... He hissed in jaded offense. Naturally no one would hear his mental ravings, so he instead he nodded and wandered over to find a seat. He decided against it however, when Lazarin failed to continue with any sort of instructions. The Ravokian had learned the hard way how taking the initiative was both a good thing and a bad thing with this blasted man. He did, however, take the time to observe the hammers splayed out on one of the tables before him.

The most recognizable tools of magecrafting, each was a different size and different metal from the other. Each also contained an indescribably unique gift for shaping djed, for molding and guiding it, for bending the latent magic within all things to the will of the wielder. He had his very own set just like this one back at his home and he often felt naked and unprepared for some reason when he didn't have them strapped around his waist. It was this university, this teacher. He cleared his throat. "Uh, master Lazarin, what is it exactly we're meant to be doing today?" He was practically wincing by the time the last syllable left his lips. He was already expecting what was coming next, yet still he could not resist his own curiosity. "Well, Mr. Caldera, I'm going to teach, and you, you're going to strive your darnedest to learn, and maybe, just maybe, you and Mr. Rush here will leave this class a little less ignorant than when you walked in. Now, Any other foolish questions before we begin."

Elias frowned and shook his head.
User avatar
Elias Caldera
Playa
 
Posts: 901
Words: 1255799
Joined roleplay: September 14th, 2013, 1:28 am
Location: Ravok
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Scrapbook
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 7
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Overlored (1) One Million Words! (1)
Ravok Seasonal Challenge (1) 2018 Mizahar NaNo Winner (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Venser Rush on June 11th, 2014, 4:27 pm

Image
A chuckle threatened to break loose from the Rush twin's lips as he listened to the words of Thadeus Lazarin. Obviously, the other pupil had failed to earn the Magecrafter's respect, which was valid, for the Lazarin was a gruff, powerful man of influence. Lazarin found his way into instilling fear into his pupils, a deep, foreboding chill that warned them of his harsh nature, but most of all, it was his status that frightened. A Paladin in the Ebonstryfe was frightening enough, but he was also a prominent figure in the Lazarin household. The family had deep ties in Ravok, wealth and power allowing them status and sway. It was a frightening combination to be possessed of power, wealth, and magical prowess.

The thoughts distracted him for a moment, a moment which Thadeus Lazarin took to his advantage and rounded on Venser, instead, moving himself away from the stranger with a push and quick turn of his feet before his looming figure moved over the Rush twin,

"One instance of praise allows you a moment of distraction, Rush? Keep within the moment, there is much to learn. Unless you feel that you are capable of showing us something?"

Venser struggled to hide his disdain, the Lazarin tugging on a hidden string that he sought to keep so, the status that he held as Legate was generally kept in a small circle, but Lazarin had figured it out. He had seen the artifact and concluded that Venser had made it, and this, more than anything else, was an invasion of privacy that the Rush twin found to be an assault. Both to him and to his work, which he sought to keep from the world until the time that he considered himself ready to share it. So, the Rush twin decided to answer, his vibrant blue eyes staring at the man as he said,

"No, sir. I have nothing to teach either of you. I would much rather allow the lesson be held by your capable hands. You are, of course, the Master, Instructor Lazarin. I am here to learn. Please forgive me."

The words struck their cord, a laugh eliciting itself from Lazarin's lips before he moved towards his own table, the instructor raising the hammers before pointing to Venser,

"You, boy! Do you know what these are?"

Venser considered his answer for a moment, rather unaware of their purpose, but given their presence and his previous assumptions, he had an idea,

"They are hammers used for Magecrafting, correct?"

The answer was basic and incomplete, for Venser had no wish to betray his lack of knowledge and delve deeper into the craft without being aware of what their purpose was. Venser picked one of the hammers from the work place he was give, allowing himself a moment to notice the smooth grooves at the surface of the hammer's head, an intriguing set to be sure, of varying sized and presumably varying purposes, but none of these hammers seemed fit to actually shape an item.

Perhaps Magecrafting is done with a finished item that is then modified with magic. A strange contradiction, for I tend to shape an item when I employ the use of Zapatl.

Lazarin easily turned his head towards Elias, allowing him his redemption,

"Correct. Caldera, do you have anything to add? Mr. Rush seems oh so unaware of what it is to be a Magecrafter... Perhaps he has other talents, eh? More... primal ones. Only time will tell."

The Rush twin glared at Lazarin for a moment before reluctantly turning to the stranger, Caldera, apparently. The explanation was, despite Lazarin's cruel nature and teasing at knowledge, one he wanted to hear.
Image
User avatar
Venser Rush
Seeker of the Angst
 
Posts: 293
Words: 350153
Joined roleplay: December 8th, 2013, 9:06 pm
Location: Ravok, Sylira Region
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Featured Contributor (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Elias Caldera on June 14th, 2014, 3:03 am

Brow furrowed and mind jarred, Elias quickly realized he was at a loss for whatever truth it was Lazarin was toying with. Most cruelly, He seemed to enjoy playing with his students in between berating and crushing them, it made the paladin difficult to stomach at times, a monster at others. 'Mr. Rush' however, seemed to be taking the ebonstryfe's unabating taunts and prod with surprising ease however. The way he addressed their professor with such assured composure and unflinching resolve was a tad bit unsettling, as if Caldera was the odd kid out on the playground. It was certain the two were already acquainted, that much was undeniable, but the manner in which the other apparent mage's blue eyes refused to break and hit the floor under the dark scrutiny of Lazarin, told the Ravokian he was either brave beyond reason, or he had somehow managed to earn the begrudging acknowledgment from the old wizard who stood across the room. Or... was that respect the young Caldera was watching exchanged between them? Whatever it was, Elias had decided he did not like the man, this Rush fellow. Other mages were never to be trusted and always suspected of the worse. Plus, there was just something off about his eyes.

"You, boy! Do you know what these are?"

The sudden question snapped Elias from his compulsive and heedless distaste as their teacher lifted a set of hammers from his desk and presented them to Rush. The student's prompt answer was correct and plain enough, earning him a brief reprieve from the inquisition as Lazarin next turned on his least favorite of the two. The question wasn't one so much expected to impress with his knowledge than it was to simply inform. As a magecrafter, he had done more than his fair share with tools like these to know all the gritty, beautiful detals about each and every one. It seemed this was all mostly for the blonde haired man's sake. Elias didn't mind much, showing off and putting down other, lesser mages was just part of the game in centers of magical learning like this one, probably more so now that he considered which city they were in. "Its a product of magecrafting itself." He answered, straightening with the confidence that came from his experience cocksure-ity in all things magecraft. "Designed to elicit and mold the djed with an item, it is a finely tuned tool that will never again..." He paused, picking up a golden hammer and tapping the desk he stood next to with it. There was a resounding, reverberating cry from the table in response, so unnatural and uneasy in its suddenness it was easy to be caught off guard by the high pitched eeriness. "...Strike something with physical force again, only send out an evoking pulse of djed though the pathways of the item." With that, he nodded, convinced he had just gone above and beyond. He turned from his analyses of the other student and glanced at Lazarin.

"Elias."

"Yes, sir?"

"Don't magecraft my table."

"Yes, sir."

As Elias cleared his throat uncomfortably, Thadeus went on, explaining that the ardent young mage was indeed right and that most everything a magecrafter used was in fact a magecrafted item in of itself. The pedestal to contain and collect, the lenses to observe and study, the tongs to transport and avoid contamination, the basin to cool and solidify. They all played a part in the process, but each was potentially replaceable with the right knowledge of other magics. Shielding, glyphing, auristics, these things, if properly trained, could save a magesmith a great deal of time and money if they were lucky. "Go on, Mr. Rush, look into the tools around you, see what sets them apart from all else in the room and elaborate on your discovery."

Elias decided that must of meant Rush was an aurist, else Lazarin's statement would have made little sense otherwise. It would probably be prudent to do the same, he thought, djed already flowing to his brown eyes while he watched the other man inspect the arcane tools at his disposal. Was he hear to learn magecrafting? Was Elias just some assistant? That was ridiculous, the mage was more than just some novice's laboratory nursemaid, he had better things to do than hold the hand of some stranger while he stumbled to find his feet. The hypnotist grimaced, glaring intently at Rush with eyes that gleamed with unspoken power boiling behind them. The man's aura was deep, dark in its shade and ominous in the concentrated way it weaved about him. It was more than just his use of auristics that could have formed such a foreboding profoundness, and Elias became acutely aware of how dangerously restless yet calmly placid the waves of the other man's energy seemed to be.

Just who are you, Mr. Rush?
User avatar
Elias Caldera
Playa
 
Posts: 901
Words: 1255799
Joined roleplay: September 14th, 2013, 1:28 am
Location: Ravok
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Scrapbook
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 7
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Overlored (1) One Million Words! (1)
Ravok Seasonal Challenge (1) 2018 Mizahar NaNo Winner (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Venser Rush on June 16th, 2014, 6:16 am

Image
Venser had not entered the Institute this day with the intention of learning about the pursuit of Magecrafting, but it seemed that Thadeus Lazarin had his plans. The man was a genius, that much the Rush twin knew. A fair teacher, if strict, but Venser cared little for the sweeping word games that others took to mask their incompetence with things such as small talk and idiocies. The blonde instead took to listening, his mind registering the words that Elias spoke, his hand reaching into his rucksack and taking from it his notebook. His left hand easily then took hold of his charcoal pencil, his right flipping open to the fifth page of his journal, the compendium of his thoughts and understandings regarding the magical arts that he was going to undertake. While Magecrafting had not yet made the list, it was in his best interest to allow it.

Venser's left hand swept along the page, a neat scrawl marking its presence upon the sheet as he listened to Elias conclude his lecture.
.

  • The tools of a magecrafter, the hammers, are formed from the magic itself.
  • The intent of the striking the artifact with the hammers is to mould and shape the djed within an object... Further inquiry necessary.
There was no laugh escaping him, no sort of acknowledgement of the people around Venser Rush as he blocked the world out. The last command, Thadeus Lazarin's instruction to delve into the item would be heeded, but first, a breath. With the intake of oxygen, Venser Rush delved into the weave of his djed, plucking from within his soul the very essence that was his identity. He brought it from the depths, guiding it, weaving it into his mind, where he then brought it forth.

The connection between Aurist and Magecrafting Hammer was bridged as Venser Rush synchronized his mind with the item. There was an immediate, present sensation of djed, the item's aura thicker than that of an ordinary object. Venser allowed himself to probe deeper within the hammer. The reading drove a thought into his mind, the recollection of the echoing clang that Elias had instigated sounding through the Rush twin's thoughts as he decided to delve into a different aura. He severed the connection to the hammer, noting that his reading had brought with it the analysis that the hammer was, if anything, given djed, charged with it. He documented the idea into his mind so that he could write it down in a moment, but he did not allow his thoughts the chance to escape.

Thadeus Lazarin reprimanded this man for striking the hammer upon the table and stated that he had magecrafted the table. It's obviously part of the process, given this man's... Caldera's explanation. This implies that there should already be a change. There's no way that a mere chime would erase the change.

Auristics did not fade, Venser continuing to channel the sensation of djed through his eyes, though his gaze shifted. He focused now on the table, intent on drawing what he could from it as he bridged into the table's aura, a breath taken again as his mind solidified the connection with the metal surface. It took fifteen ticks to bridge the connection, and ten after that to receive information. The Rush twin felt a familiar sensation materialize within his mind as he watched the table, weak, spidered lines materializing across the surface, concentrations of djed pooling within the lines, but Venser could see no more. Weak and faint, it required feeding even more djed into the action to understand what was going on, a gasp escaping Venser's lips as he realized what he was seeing. Venser severed the connection, allowing Auristics to fade as an immediate wave of fatigue fell upon him. Breaths filled his lungs in slow, raspy rhythms, the Rush twin knowing that he required rest before he could allow himself to dive so deeply again.

It's making a NEW pathway. Re-structuring the very essence of the item itself. That's what Magecrafting is.


"These hammers are, as Caldera stated, tools used control and warp the flow of djed within an item. Though, to do this, it... changes the djed within the item, I can only assume that it restructures the djed pathways of the item and then, using the hammers, presumably different hammers to accomplish different tasks, create entirely new pathways. It's rather remarkable. A completely different concept than..."

Venser cut himself off, the realization that he was on the verge of speaking about his craft pursing his lips in frustration, though the expression quickly faded.

"Than Malediction, Rush? Finish your sentences, boy. Your filthy Sylirist of a father did nothing to teach you manners before he was murdered, I see. Typical of inbred Sylirist scum."

Venser scowled, his face turned downward towards the table before he faced Lazarin, nodding as cold, crystalline eyes faced his antagonist,

"Yes, Instructor. Malediction. Though, we prefer to call it Zapatl. By its true name."
Image
User avatar
Venser Rush
Seeker of the Angst
 
Posts: 293
Words: 350153
Joined roleplay: December 8th, 2013, 9:06 pm
Location: Ravok, Sylira Region
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Featured Contributor (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Elias Caldera on June 18th, 2014, 9:43 am

Elias grimaced and hastily stepped to the side as Venser's gaze fell on the table the young mage stood against. The glint of the true sight was evident upon his blue eyes, something Elias could clearly note not because of some magical intuition or sense for these kinds of innate details, but because with his own auristics still fully enveloping his own brown hues, he had watched in silence as djed began building and eventually stabilizing behind the man's studious gaze. What he also noticed however, was the unmistakable strain Rush was displaying as his employment of the arcane art dragged on for more than a few ticks too long. It was a burden Elias himself was all too familiar with. Though he could tell by the subtle way the blonde man struggled with his djed that he was likely better practiced in some regard, the Ravokian himself was far from a master. More often that not his attempts at implementing auristics would end with vague, hollow interpretations of the inner workings of a thing and its aura that left him more teary eyed and frustrated than anything else. Of all the talents the ravokian mage had acquired during his days in Zeltiva, it was surely the reading of auras that irritated and tormented him the most. The strain of its use was just so immediate and inescapably poignant that it was difficult to truly embrace the talent as much as he earnestly wanted to. He thought he understood why that was however; as the eyes were not just a window, but instead an actual conduit for the magic's power to intertwine and envelope, it put a very tangible stress on the human body that other magics like say, reimancy which worked solely with manipulated djed outside the astral body, did not.

He let the magic fade just in time to witness the finer details of Rush's awe struck amazement at the sight of -what Elias had to assume- were the deeper depths of not only the table;s galvanized djed network, but also magecrafting's pure intrinsic brilliance as well. That was when Lazarin decided to whirl his wicked fury back unto the new mage, letting loose a flurry of insight and insults that caught the Caldera off guard and totally shocked. Usually Lazarin found it more prudent and apparently satisfying to be a tad bit less... abrasive when he was verbally decimating one of his wards. It seemed however, the very notion of a Sylirian from the hated south did away the with wizards familiar, dreadful tact and replaced with some less cunning and more painfully crude. Despite his startled reaction at the professor's cutting remarks, there was still one tiny detail in there that had Elias smirking in smug satisfaction. He could hardly resist helping himself once Rush had the gall to not only admit it, but also attempt and give the silly thing a shred of credibility by calling it by its old and ancient name. "A legate?" He chuckled, unable to keep the venomous mirth from tinging his tone. "I'm surprised they even let you in here, body snatcher. You can call it whatever you wish, a legate is still the poor man's magesmith, and malediction the idiot cousin of a true and vastly superior world magic." Shaking his head at the easily dislikable grave robber, Elias could admit that yes, he didn't know the intricacies of malediction like he did most other arts, but he knew enough as a magecrafter to none thes less pity those poor fools who thought it an actual talent to be compared to others in the world of the djed. Legates might have considered themselves mysterious and darkly arcane, but in reality what they were was just vile, usually dirty hermits, and had no real ability with magic, so instead masked their ineptitude with a shrouded veil of mysticism too thick for most mundane people to see the ineptitude beneath, and too thin to hide their pungent stink of graceless disappointment from any real mage worth his salt.

An air of distaste had also settled heavily upon the prideful use of the ancient language as well. Elias knew it well enough, but he knew legacy and heritage in particular meant more to him than it ever would to Rush, irking the younger man as he was forced to endure having it thrown in his face by a stranger. With a murdered sylirian of all things for a father, what did this man, this voodoo witch, have that Elias, son of the Caldera bloodline and marked by Viratas, possibly have that could even remotely match. The answer was nothing the Ravokian true born cared to hear. He had rarely ever had need to feel so up and mighty about his blood's purity before, but when it came to the nemesis behind their walls -and Rush distinctly, who Elias was growing more and more contemptuous of regardless of how little he truly knew- it just felt unreasonable not to. Rhysol's chosen people had to stay judicious in their unwavering despisal some way, right? It wasn't as if the two cities were constantly at each other's throat long enough for anyone to really get a good grip on hating the other properly anyway. The occasional half blood here and there was good practice for the real thing at the very least.

As for the paladin, he seemed thoroughly content to enjoy the little dispute he had initiated, and looked perfectly happy with letting his two students have at each other's egotistical throats. Something Elias was completely grateful for in all honesty, because it meant the man wasn't as inclined to speak about the Caldera's own less than boastful family issues like he had Rush's. He wasn't sure how much the magical son of the major family had discovered about him and his mother, but he was certain the bastard had done the diligent thing and dug as deep as his rank and imposing nature would allow. A part of Elias hoped the Black Sun would be too scrupulous and jealously greedy with their own secrets that such shaming details would never surface for the likes of him. It was probably asking for too much...

Instead, the young mage would contend himself with the competition of words the other, more paltry mage would surely try and raise in defense. Rushed just gave off a feeling of too much bold defiance to do anything less. Tolerable enough, as Elias would welcome reveling in an opportunity to bash malediction like the unwanted step child that it was for a few while he waited for the wizard watching over them to forget all about anything he might have currently swirling around in his dark thoughts that concerned the fallen apprentice specifically. Unfortunately, it wasn't more than tick after Venser's rebuttal, or lack thereof, that two men stumbled into the room from outside, a giant wooden mirror strewn ungraciously between them as they struggled with its sheer weight. The young man cocked a questioning eyebrow at the delivery as it was oh so carefully lowered to the laboratory floor per Lazarin's incessant cursing and threats of death should any fool so much as dent its lacquered woodwork. Sweating and terrified, the two laborers were immediately shooed from the room like a pair of hens who had stumbled out of their pen.

The thing was big, nearly as tall as the three diverse men whose reflection it now cast back at them. Its mahogany framework was also impressive and worthy of note he found, a clear display of intimate craftsmanship upon every inch and seam that might have been more appealing had he any taste for such artistry. Regardless of how it fancied him, Elias recognized it immediately of course, as an aurist's mirror, a tool that had only just recently been explained as part of the arsenal all magesmith's wielded during their hallowed work. Perhaps more gaudy than he was used to, with its detailed and intricate patterns of swirling designs that spiraled up and out from the base all the way to the top and down again, but what else could the mirror be in a place like this one?

The mage turned to the professor then, watching as the older man nodded in approval while inspecting every nook and cranny his dark eyes could scour. After a moment of anxious silence and uncertainty, he finally straightened.

"Good, now we can begin."

So...I just had the greatest idea! Elias and Venser should do a rap battle completely in the nader-canoch!
User avatar
Elias Caldera
Playa
 
Posts: 901
Words: 1255799
Joined roleplay: September 14th, 2013, 1:28 am
Location: Ravok
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Scrapbook
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 7
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Overlored (1) One Million Words! (1)
Ravok Seasonal Challenge (1) 2018 Mizahar NaNo Winner (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Venser Rush on June 18th, 2014, 10:46 am

Image
A laugh escaped the Rush twin's lips as he listened to Caldera speak. The man obviously knew nothing about the craft of Malediction. If Venser were in a better this mood this day, he would have allowed the insults to pass unabated, the better man in the midst of the pettiness that was both Elias Caldera and Thadeus Lazarin. But this was not the case. The Paladin had struck a nerve with Venser, eliciting the desire to manifest revenge. Djed flowed freely from the depths of Venser's soul, flowing from the astral pathways that made up the body's travel for djed. He gripped at the table with his left hand, his right losing strength as he called upon the force of the Flux.

It flowed through his body, the transfer of djed taking mere ticks before Venser Rush felt his left arm strengthen, deep, pleasurable chills flowing down the Rush twin's spine. The metallic table would creak under the pressure of Venser's grasp as he clenched his fist around the edge of it, metal slowly bowing to brute strength as laughter bubbled within the Rush twin's throat. Elias bore few scars to show the hardships of his trade. Marks at his hands reminded Venser of his own initiation into Reimancy, but little else told the story of his advancement. The Rush twin cleared his throat to speak as thin metal warped in his grasp, pressure building in his fist until he finally decided to release his grasp.

"You speak of this craft as if you understand it, Caldera. You speak of magic as if you understand it. Only the weak lash out incessantly. The fearful and the insecure."

The Rush twin pulled at the djed within his arm, his words passing as he smoothed out the flow of Djed within his body, raising the original, imparted djed from the depths of his soul and raising it to his eyes, a grin materializing upon his features as he stared at Caldera in the attempt to see him for what he was.

What he witnessed was fear. Insecurity. It had passed from him, hidden away by words and false superiority. Fear for Thadeus Lazarin, Caldera's aura visibly shirking away from the superior and far more intimidating Magecrafter. Auristics died down, faded away as Venser continued to speak, the laughter in his words as he continued on,

"You know nothing. You speak of magic in terms of inferiority and superiority. Your mind is closed and inhibited, hindered by the displays of weakness called prejudice towards matters that you fail to understand. Can you tell me how Malediction works? How the djed is pulled from the essence of the bodies that a Legate supposedly snatches? I can tell you how your craft works now, to an extent. Knowledge is power, Caldera.

And what I see in front of me is an ignorant, close-minded and pathetic shell of a mage, limited and weak, whose knowledge was brought upon him not by his own merit but passed to him by station and prestige. Failure is pre-destined for the foolish, backwards mage who believed in inherent superiority of a craft and inferiority of another. It is the mage who is inferior, not the magic. Any wizened practitioner of magic knows this.

Is there proof of your work in Magecrafting? You claim yourself so knowledgeable yet you turn to a teacher in order to tutor you. You claim yourself to be superior, yet I see no examples of your so-called superiority. Call upon me and you will see several examples of Legacies. I could craft Legacies before your very eyes and bring about the ushering of new magic. Could you do that outside of this place? Could you even begin to fathom what it is to use one's hands to create? I doubt this, Caldera. It shows on your face and in your aura the extent of your ability. It shows the pathetic, self-gratifying little shyke that you are.
"

Venser felt the pleasure that came from the Flux dissipate as he turned away from Caldera, three short laughs escaping from his lips before he re-sorted the hammers that he was given for this lesson. Thadeus Lazarin simply looked amused, a laugh pooling from the Paladin's lips as he looked over to Caldera,

"Do you have a rebuttal, Caldera? Or can we proceed. Mr. Rush is correct. I have yet to see anything to prove to the contrary of the opinion that you are a 'pathetic, self-gratifying little shyke.' Not the most eloquent choice of words, but effective. In any case, in light of the turn of events, an idea occurs. You and Venser are going to work together on an artifact. A simple tier one artifact, using whatever you can find in the room. You will not be allowed to leave until this task is completed. Rush, invoke further damage upon my table and I will ensure that you suffer a like fate."

A nod moved the Rush twin's lips as he ordered the hammers, reluctantly bringing them to Elias' table and setting them there. Thadeus called out once more,

"If either of you wastes my precious resources, I will personally make sure that both of you are punished in... whichever fashion strikes my fancy at the time. Proceed."
Image
User avatar
Venser Rush
Seeker of the Angst
 
Posts: 293
Words: 350153
Joined roleplay: December 8th, 2013, 9:06 pm
Location: Ravok, Sylira Region
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Featured Contributor (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Elias Caldera on June 24th, 2014, 8:35 am

He was practically shuddering with rage by the time Rush's diatribe had fallen into full swing. As insults and accusations began to rain down unbidden, the utter arrogance and audacity of Rush's words nearly drove the young Ravokian to violence. Clearly the nerve Elias had struck with what he had rightfully claimed about about malediction was a tender one indeed, for Rush, in some feeble attempt at retaliation for the honor of his chosen path, unleashed a series of vain attempts to not only justify its meager existence, but also belittle his better with a grueling personal assault. Thadeus seemed completely enraptured in his own amusement by that point, elated in the verbal combat he had spurred on. As for Elias however, he was quickly growing more and more furious with every ignorant syllable of the Syliran's rant. Underneath that bubbling anger, the hypnotist was surprised to learn the amateur even had the gall to say some of things he did to the ex apprentice's face. Did he think Lazarin would be fast enough to interject? That he would be fast enough to save himself should the mage he was so eloquently disrespecting decide he had heard more than enough? The very fact that such an assumption was wrong was what made the legate's ridiculous argument even more erroneous and naive. He needed Venser to understand that very clearly now that the other man had gone about making his point so resolute at the expense of his fellow student, but before he had the chance, Lazarin stepped in, throwing oil on the fire with his uncanny knack for being a prick at just the right time... which was all the time for the dark wizard.

Elias ground in his teeth in frustration, an unbelievable amount of annoyance and dissatisfaction weighing heavy upon his seamless tsunami of thoughts, even as the professor informed him of the dreaded fate that awaited them both. Magecrafting, and alongside this self righteous fool of all people? Brown eyes widened in disbelief and his mouth literally fell agape for a tick. This was too much, even for Lazarin. There was no way he would be trapped here with an adolescent magic user and then be expected to take on full responsibility for the man and his imminent failings. Venser actually believed what he did with his silly little bones, and what went on behind the locked doors of a magesmith's hallowed laboratory were really on par with one another. Someone as misguided and untested as that could never truly grasp the importance of the glorious discipline Elias was now expected to demonstrate, let alone understand the its resplendent fundamentals.

He snatched the set of hammers the blonde brought over, practically snarling with a contemptuous glare that bellowed "give me that before you break something" as he did so. Elias had to say something, the idea of letting the swine's tirade go unanswered was all that ate at his mind at that point, and it now distracted him from all else. He couldn't have that while he worked. He threw up a interrupting and affirming finger at the paladin, letting the wizard and any repercussions for his perceivable rudeness drift from focus as he settled his attention solely on Venser. By the outrage clear upon his countenance, it wouldn't be all that unexpected when the dam of restraint finally gave way and Elias's 'rebuttal' came crashing through.

"Every ass in Ravok must stand in sheer petching awe at the amount of shyke that just poured out of your mouth, legate." Elias spat coldly, rounding on the man as if to intimidate him with their slight difference in statures. Instead he opted to slip around Rush, walking a few paces away until each was clear of the other and Elias had room to do what he planned. "Do you know how many famous maledictors there have been throughout history?" He continued, finally turning back around to face his blue eyed accuser. "Let me answer that with fact, since you seem far too preoccupied with your own fantasies to see the truth; There have been none. Not one that anyone even cared to remember. Why? Because over the centuries they've all been overshadowed by real mages, doing real magic." His hands lifted out in front of him, as if straining to hold something heavy level with his chest. Even as the mage continued, his attention was now entirely centered on the air between his calloused palms. Djed began to rumble within, trickling into his arms and thoughts as his mind began to penetrate the spot his eyes were equally drilling into. "If you think what you do -digging up corpses and scribbling on cartilage- is even remotely tantamount to what a magecrafter represents, to the shaping of the djed itself, to even the mundane magic I wield..." Flames burst forth from his fingers, exploding outwards in a sudden rush of ignited res that left two barely contained gouts of fire colliding chaotically with one another in a furious battle near the center. The fires whirled and raged under his will, the heat licking at his face and drawing forth beads of sweat almost instantly. "Then you're just as naive as you sound."

The flames died out, dispersing entirely within only a heartbeat as Elias waved his hand through the lingering wisps of smoke and djed. The whole demonstration had lasted barely a chime, but the reimancer figured he had impressed upon Rush the point he was trying to make. The world wasn't a fair place filled with rainbows and unsegregated sunshine. Just as there was slave and citizen, so too was there superior and inferior magics. Anyone who believed such insincere shyke as the opposite of this undeniable fact was either lying to themselves, or had never truly experienced what it was to be humbled by a discipline they had yet to conquer. He wasn't surprised it had rested upon the shoulders of zapatl to take up the mantle of preaching equality. Being such a poor excuse of a talent itself, he suspected it had little else to offer that could validate its place in the world when compared to magecrafting.

"So while your bones crack and crumble into dust, it will be my craft that weathers the ages, my craft that shapes history, and me, the 'ignorant, close-minded pathetic shell of a mage' who will rise to the top and see this city ascend to a greatness unparalleled by any other." The conviction behind those last sentences were palpable as Elias glared defiantly at the flux user across the room. He hadn't intended for his aspirations for Ravok to slip out, but in the heat of the moment is just did, so Elias resigned himself to simply going with it. "But if you find that dose of reality too much to handle, then please, feel free to scurry off and find whatever helpless house pet or small rodent you require, so you can carve yourself up something to help ease the burden." With one final moment of tension between them, Elias tensely wandered over to the mystery box they had first come across when entering the room, quite confident he now knew what lay hidden inside. There had been a peculiarity surrounding the small thing that the young mage had barely noticed when initially using his auristics to inspect Venser earlier, but had recently flared to mind just a moment ago. The box had no aura inside it. There was a void of colorless nothingness within the confines of the small wooden thing that even now, Elias's djed enhanced gleaming could not penetrate. When he focused then on the container itself, it became embarrassingly obvious that the construct was magecrafted, no doubt to hide the contents of what lay within from prying eyes just like his.

He turned his attention back on Lazarin after the stryfer can concluded their assignment with a threat meant to scare them off mistakes and oversights, something Elias was obviously immune to... obviously, but Rush not so much. Opening up the box with a cautiously slow finger, the mage was relieved and satisfied to see no explosion of crippling spell sat waiting for him inside its contents, just a pair of small gems that would prove invaluable later. His eyes instantly registered the immense amount of djed trapped within before he shut the box again, cloaking the reagents within the veil of secrecy the closed lid provided. "I can't be held responsible for whatever idiotic mistakes Mr. Rush here will no doubt make, but I will revel in the opportunity to show this arrogant son of a whore just how great the art of magecrafting truly is."

Already he was making up a list of what he would need: Something to draw with for starters, the glyphs would need to be done first before anything else. Perhaps a shield around the mirror as well in the mean time to keep the latent djed from infringing upon it. If he was going to implement auristics into the mirror, the electrum hammer would definitely need to come into play as well. Its allow empowered abilities was the only thing that could get the job done. The mental preparations went on and on as Elias readied himself for the grand undertaking that had suddenly been thrust upon him. This was his passion, and Elias wouldn't falter under something as trivial as pressure or being caught unprepared.
User avatar
Elias Caldera
Playa
 
Posts: 901
Words: 1255799
Joined roleplay: September 14th, 2013, 1:28 am
Location: Ravok
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Scrapbook
Journal
Plotnotes
Medals: 7
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Overlored (1) One Million Words! (1)
Ravok Seasonal Challenge (1) 2018 Mizahar NaNo Winner (1)

[The Institute] The Foundations of Understanding. (Elias)

Postby Nemesis on August 1st, 2014, 7:40 pm

Image
Elias Caldera


Knowledge :

Skills

Skill XP
Auristics +2
Malediction +1
Observation +1
Rhetoric +2


Lores

    *Overgiving: Headaches
    *Overgiving: Sweet Whispers
    *“Mr Rush”: Another Magecrafter[
    *“Mr Rush”: Aurist
    *“Mr Rush”: Legate

Micellaneous :

Injuries
    *None

Loot/Expenses
    *None


Venser Rush


Knowledge :

Skills

Skill XP
Auristics +2
Flux +1
Malediction +1
Rhetoric +1
Observation +1


Lores

    *Caldera: Magecrafter
    *Magecrafting: Restructuring
    *Magecrafting: Use of Hammers
    *Magecrafting vs Malediction
    *Son of a Sylirist

Micellaneous :

Injuries
    *None

Loot/Expenses
    *None


____________________________________________


Notes

    *Shame this wasn't finished, but I appreciated seeing both of you take turns in NPCing Thadeus Lazerin.
    *Great beginning, though, guys... found the debate about Malediction highly amusing.

Feel free to PM me with questions, comments, or concerns, if you have any.
Also, remember to either delete your grade request or edit it as 'graded'.
Thank ye!
Nemesis
Fortune and Retribution
 
Posts: 549
Words: 296717
Joined roleplay: March 30th, 2014, 8:36 pm
Location: DS of Ravok
Race: Staff account
Office
Plotnotes
Medals: 2
Featured Contributor (1) Donor (1)


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests