Closed A job for Clyde

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Valerius watched Clyde closely as he inspected the box with his magic, but as far as he was concerned, he wasn’t doing anything. He just stared at it. So Valerius was quite surprised when the mage eventually claimed that the item was not magecrafted, but animated. He was tempted to ask him how he had found that out, but decided to refrain from it. The mage didn’t seem to fond of his questions. While Valerius normally didn’t care what anybody thought of him, he still had need of Clyde’s skills. The man hadn’t made anything yet. So he just remarked, „That’s unfortunate. The box was my main reason for inviting you into my home. I’m tired of being overly polite every time I want to access my notes, and conventional boxes just aren’t as safe. Is there no way you could replicate it? You mentioned that it wouldn’t be expensive. If you needed some time to study it and think about the best way to go about it, I would certainly give you access to a work room and even assist you as I assisted Miss Tock. I would of course also buy the necessary materials …“ „Several of my relatives are members of the Ebonstryfe“, he remarked as Clyde told him which organization his instructor belonged to. As Clyde explained more about staffs and the different levels of enchantment, he nodded. That was all he wanted to know for now. As he heard how much a mere lamp would cost, he arched an eyebrow, and then he frowned. That was rather more expensive than he had thought. Even though he was a Nitrozian, he didn’t have all the money in the world, especially since he intended to make another big investment in the future. „A discount, Mister Sullins?“ he asked, although he had already made his decision. „What would that discount be like? Since we are already speaking of money, could I convince you to tell me even more about what you do? I would pay you … eighty golden mizas. That is more than an entire semester at the University of Zeltiva costs, for a few evenings worth of classes. I have to admit, our conversation inspired me, but it is impossible for me to study the subject at a school right now.“

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde thought on his words for a bit... Could he replicate it? He suppose it was possible, though it certainly would not be as easy for him, as it had been for the first person... He had a very limited understanding and range of skills in Animation... So he was not for certain he could... But with the time, he probably could... "It is possible to replicate it yes... But I am by no means an expert in Animation... My skills in that skill, while existing, are limited... It might take me more than one try to get it right, if I could at all... Which would mean needing at least two of the such boxes, one for the test one, and the second for the one to give to you... And I would need to know exactly how this one works... Such as how it hears you... I would need to examine it much better, to find the mechanism..." Clyde thought on his words a bit more, taking a moment or two to mull it over... "Yes... If you gave me the needed room, and time, I could probably manage it... Though that would probably be better off done on another day, fully devoted to the task..." Clyde did in fact give off a rare smiling, at hearing the Nitrozians words, who had misunderstood him as saying something negative. "Oh, you misunderstand, I am not saying it in a negative way. In fact, I myself plan to become one of the Stryfe, when I am accepted. I am right now working on the process. What I meant was he literally works for the Stryfe, as a Magecrafter. A part of that is in teaching, but he also supplies the Stryfe with there Magecrafted items. Which means he is busy doing that. I doubt he would have time to do things for people outside of the Stryfe. Magecrafting full time is a rather busy job, without much free time." As he asked of the discount, Clyde gave him a small smirk. "I don't know what it would be. Perhaps you could convince me to cut into my profit a bit. We can cross that bridge when we come to it. No point in quibbling over it now, since who knows what decision I would make then." But he did find it interesting, that Valerius wanted to know more of Magecrafting. He supposed he could teach him, at least enough to understand better the underlying principles of the craft. "I suppose I could go over the basics... At least enough for you to have a general knowledge, and understand why things work the way that they do. What exactly about it did you have in mind to learn? Or just a basic lesson covering the main principles? Though bearing in mind, this would be a theoretical lecture, without much of the actual practical applications, which can only be learned in... Well, practicing it."

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„I understand“, Valerius replied as Cylde informed him that he might need more than one try. „I’m willing to give you material for at least two boxes and more than enough time to examine this one thoroughly. I don’t think Miss Tock – the mage who made it – was an expert in Animation either. Why, she even told me that her old master threw her out!“ He shook his head as he remembered that particular conversation. Compared to Tock Clyde was the epitome of sanity and a very reasonable man. „I didn’t mean for you to start working today. I’m aware that magic takes time. Miss Tock and I met more than once when she was making the box for me. As for the Ebonstryfe …“ Here he smiled very lightly as well. „I didn’t have the impression that you were speaking about it in a negative way. I was merely remarking that we seemed to have something in Common, contact to people that are members of the Ebonstryfe.“ „I have no doubt that you will eventually get accepted. The Ebonstryfe always needs skilled people. I have to admit, I’m more interested in the Black Sun myself though. But let’s not talk about our future plans anymore. I’m more interested in magic right now.“ „I did indeed have a lesson convering the main principles in mind, and I don’t have a problem with a purely theoretical lecture. I would like to understand magecrafting before I begin practicing it and find out why it works the way it does.“ „Are you interested in helping me in this regard as well?“

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde simply smiled, as he went on about some woman named Tock. Clearly, from the way that he protested about her, and complained as he did, she had made a mark on his life... Though it seemed he was saying it was all bad... But he had not seen many people to constantly bring up someone, that they did not at least a bit like... Even if they did not admit it to themselves... "She seems like a rather untrustworthy mage. I assure you, I am not like her. When i set at a task, and promise to it, I see it out to the end, for ill or better. And so far none of my works have gone wrong. Honestly, though many people do not think of it, Magecrafting especially can be a very dangerous magic, if not done correctly, and just so. Many a famous mage has ended their famous career, by being blown up by one of their creations. And even things like Animation which seems safer, can go wrong, if the construct imbued through Animation does not go as planned. Few magics are without risk." He took a moment to pause, and take another sip of his drink, before continuing on... "But I would not be opposed to giving you a short lesson in Magecrafting principles now, and perhaps at some time making you a replacement chest." Clyde thought for a moment, wondering what to cover... Clearly, he did not know much on the topic, so he would be starting nearly from scratch... Best to start at the beginning... Though he could not get rid of the nagging feeling about the chest, of which he was not quite sure how it worked... How did a box hear? Some mechanism... "I suppose to start... You must think of an item, as a vessel. Now, the first most important fact of it, is its construction. You want a firm strong well made vessel to begin with, before you set off on anything further. Once you have that, you can begin to enchant it. An enchantment though is a curious thing. Normally, a mundane object has a limited ability to channel and hold djed. A person would have much more djed constituting its form, and would have much more djed pathways, by which it flows through you. I believe some magics actually focus on this fact, and use it for its own ends. But bear in mind , the object is in fact made of djed." "But when you enchant the item, you are working upon the very djed and makeup of the item, deepening these pathways that hold and channel djed. You are enhancing its ability to hold djed, deepening its makeup so that it is able to do things at a intrinsic level, that mundane such items cannot unaltered. That is why someone with my skills can tell apart a enchanted item from a mundane one, it holds more djed, and its pathways have been enhanced making it noticeable. The stronger the enchantment, the deeper these djed pathways must be expanded and deepened, which is why it steadily becomes more difficult the further you enchant it, and the higher the total level." Clyde stopped here, more or less done telling him how the magic worked, and why. Now he was on to what it did to the object, by manipulating and altering its djed pathways. He took another sip of his drink, which had cooled, and let out a sigh, before turning back to Valerius. Perhaps he had not known it before, but he would now, Clyde had skills in much more than just magic and the arcane. Teaching was anther of his most prodigious skills. "Now, when the item is altered, it manifests in one of five ways, altering the item and the way it interacts with the normal rules. Sometimes even skirting the rules, and allowing it to do things normally impossible. It can make a change to its: Structure, Behavior, Intellect, or allow Magic, and Gnosis in it."

[Valerius Nitrozian]

If Clyde had told Valerius that he might like Tock, even if he didn’t want to admit it, the Ravokian would have thrown the mage out immediately and not cared about the consequences, so it was good that he kept his thoughts to himself. „She was very untrustworthy“, he confirmed. „But she had some skill when it came to magic, and thus I decided to bear with her. By the way, it’s good to hear that none of your works has gone wrong so far. I’m very aware of the negative side effects of magic, especially after meeting her. It’s good to know that you are such a sensible man.“ As Clyde said that he wasn’t opposed to giving him a short lesson in Magecrafting principles, something resembling a smile was visible on the Ravokian’s face (normally he rarely smiled), and then he proceeded to listen. Clyde, he decided was a remarkably good teacher. He was capable of explaining the principles of Magecrafting in a way that even a man like him, whose experience with magic was limited to one half insane mage, understood them. „I see“, he remarked once the mage stopped talking. „You said that people have much more djed. Has anybody ever tried to enchant a living thing, apart from a wooden staff? I cannot help but wonder about that. You also mentioned that an altered item can do things that are normally impossible. Could you give me an example? Why would any god give a gnosis mark to an item?“ „By the way“, he added after a short pause to give Clyde the opportunity to answer his questions. „You seem to have some skill as a teacher. Have you ever considered applying for a job at the Institute of Higher Learning after you have finished your studies there?“

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde simply smiled, as Valerius asked such a obvious question, to that of enchanting a living being... Silly really, since any mundane being would wither away and die, so i would not last in perpetuity. Really, the idea was silly. "You can certainly enchant things that were once a part of a living thing, however it all depends on the ends you are trying to finish at. As in the case of a magic staff, it is required for it to have once been a part of a living thing. But you must also take into mind decay, of that of flesh and blood bodies. But no, I am fairly certain that you cannot enchant something that is still alive and growing in its own right. I believe that has to do with a different branch of magic, something to do with carving up dead bodies and there bones and such. I do not deal in anything as crass or unrefined and unpredictable as that." Even if he did not know of it by name, he knew of some stories of malediction. Enough to know that he did not like it, perhaps especially for the similarities people drew between it and his own magic. In his mind, they were completely different things. Perhaps Clyde was becoming a bit of a magical snob, but he would stick with Magecrafting, and steer clear of that odd bone magic. Clyde thought on things for a bit, considering really... He was fairly certain it had something to do with auristics. "And I know people have more djed than mundane things, it is clearly visible in their aura. But I believe that is only while they are alive. Once they die, it seems a good bit of it leaves." Clyde of course had seen dead bodies in his lifetime... Petch, he had even made some... He had never really thought before on why only living beings had such great auras, and that dead bodies, diminished... He would have to ask and find out why that was... "As for a item doing something impossible. Well as I said, you are able to change the fundamental nature of an item when Magecrafting it. This could be as simple as making an item more sturdy, or as amazing as enhancing the swing of a sword, so that it swings faster. Normally by mundane means this would not be possible, but something about Magecrafting allow you to bend rules, and even do such a thing as that, breaking the rule on how fast a sword should be able to be swung." He smiled on the last bit. Why would a God give a gnosis mark to an item? Well, that one seemed pretty self explanatory. "Why? Why would a God mark an item? Why does a God mark a human? Because they want to, or wish to give the person some power or other. I would think it would be the same for marking an item." Clyde smiled a bit as Valerius tried to flatter him, and accomplishing his goal. Really, it was nice to hear from a student he was a good teacher. He knew it, but it was still nice to hear. "Possibly. I might consider becoming a teacher at the Institute. I already know enough of a few magics, to be a expert on the subject. Perhaps one day I will, perhaps even that will be my job as a member of the Stryfe, as it is my teacher in Magecrafting, Lazarin's."

[Valerius Nitrozian]

As he noticed that Clyde smiled at his question about enchanting living beings, the Nitrozian frowned. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing wrong with his question. „Why can you not enchant living beings?“ he wanted to know. „Does it have something to do with their djed? With the fact that living beings change and grow older?“ For a moment also considered asking Clyde about the magic that involved carving up dead bodies, but then he refrained from it. It did indeed sound a little crass – and disgusting on top of it. Those dead bodies were likely full of disease. Valerius didn’t want to touch a dead body, let alone stick a knife into it and cut parts off, not even if he was wearing gloves! He shuddered which made it obvious to Clyde that he didn’t like it either. „What exactly is this ‚something‘ about Magecrafting that allows you to bend the rules?“ he enquired because he hadn’t understood that part yet, as much as he hated to admit it. “And what happens if you fail to enchant an item? I hope you don’t mind all my questions. I’m trying to understand. I do not want to get a wrong idea of the magic you practice.“ „I suppose“, he murmurred as Clyde talked about why a God would mark an item. He wasn’t that interested in the gods and why they marked items or people right now. „Maybe the Ebonstryfe will indeed decide to employ you at the Institute. What other magics do you know besides Magecrafting, Animation and Auristics?“

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde scratched his head for a moment. Honestly, he had not thought much on it, and the question Lazarin was posing was an interesting one... Why did one not magecraft living things... He took a few moments to think on this in silence, closing his eyes even for a few moments, as he churned it over. Finally done thinking, he responded as best he could. "I do not know for sure you can not enchant a living being. But why would you want to? In order for Magecrafting to work, and be successful in the long term, a very expensive magic to start, you need a stable form and body, that consists of the item you enhance. If an item is damaged or broken, you risk that enchantment leaving it. Part of the enchantment, at least in most items but the strongest and highest levles, is in its physical mundane form. So changing that mundane form, risks breaking the magic. A body decays and changes when alive, so it is highly possibly a living body could not hold an enchantment, at least for very long. Neither could a rotting body, only something that is more or less stable." He was happy that the man also did not like malediction, the magic he knew little of, but that it was crass. Honestly, this conversation was taking a bit out of him, due to how rigorous it was proving to be. "If you fail to enchant a item, nothing will happen, at least at lower levels when you are newly starting an item. It will not be enchanted, and will fail. But at higher levels, and as you get further and further into the enchantment process, if you mess up you run the risk of making the item unstable or unbalanced. In that case, the item will likely be destroyed... Along with anything near it. This being worse the stronger the item you are making. That is why stronger items needs catalysts to balance and stabalize the item. Many Magecrafters have died that way, even the most famous and skilled of all Areese Tallshade." Looking about, he realized they had been talking for quite some time. My, they had gone through enough to fill a full lecture, or a small book. It was a good thing he listened so well in class, and had recalled so many facts his teacher had said. He always was careful to listen when he spoke, and took extensive notes, never knowing what tidbit might be vital someday. "Perhaps one day I will teach there. I know a little of a lot, but a lot of a few. Reimancy... It is about the only other one of worth that I know much of. And glyphing, I know it well. But those can be discusses another day. Do you perhaps have a final question? We should probably wrap this up soon. I would not want to take up to much of your valuable time. Though do you have any final thought on the item you were considering commissioning?"

[Nemesis]

Clyde Sullins

Knowledge :

Skills

Skill	XP
Auristics	+3
Meditation	+1
Negotiation	+2
Observation	+2
Rhetoric	+3
Socialisation	+2
Teaching	+5
Writing	+1

Lores

*A Job for Valerius
*Meeting With Valerius Nitrozian
*Nitrozian Family: Valerius
*Valerius Nitrozian: Curious

Micellaneous :

Injuries

*None

Loot/Expenses

*None

Valerius Nitrozian

Knowledge :

Skills

Skill	XP
Hospitality	+2
Investigation	+5
Negotiation	+1
Observation	+2
Rhetoric	+2
Socialisation	+4
Writing	+1

Lores

*A Magic of Carving Bones
*Clyde Sullins: Aurist
*Clyde Sullins: Glypher
*Clyde Sullins: Magecrafter
*Clyde Sullins: Reimancer
*Difference Between Animation and Magecraft
*Djed: Animate vs Inanimate
*Magecrafting: The Basics

Micellaneous :

Injuries

*None

Loot/Expenses

*None

____________________________________________

Notes

*Shame this thread wasn't finished; I was starting to see the beginnings of a wonderful working relationship there!

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!