[Stone Garden] Vision and Execution [Lucas]

[Hadrian]

"Well, perhaps there is an Eypharian knight in the Order...? If they aren't magical themselves, perhaps they could write you a letter of introduction? Just a thought. And..." He peered closely at Lucas, imagining how he would have to look to accommodate another set of arms. It would have been easier if he were shirtless, but Hadrian didn't want him getting the wrong impression. "It would be easiest to study musculature and anatomy, to see how the joints and muscles work, because you would have to... well, alter your shoulders, your ribcage, and everything that interacts with your native set of arms... make room for more, all that. If you can observe an Eypharian long enough, though, you should be able to bring your anatomy into line with theirs..." Saying anatomy was correct, but suddenly he thought of it being used as a euphemism and flushed slightly before moving on to the next question. "If you work the muscles and joints correctly, you should be able to use them, although your brain would have to wrap itself around the awareness and control of new limbs, which would take more time and practice. It'd be easier to make dummy arms that didn't really work, but not impossible to make working ones. After all, they work for the Eypharians themselves... I'm actually studying birds more and more, because it would be nice to be able to change into a bird, but it might also be nice to just grow wings of my own that work with my body... and then I could retain my opposable thumbs for fine motor control, you know... Oh." He shrugged. It always seemed like giving up secrets to say what he knew. "I've dabbled in different things, but my main skills are sensing magic, hydromancy, and magecrafting."

[Lucas Arias]

„That could be!“ Lucas agreed as Hadrian mentioned the possibiity of an Eypharian in the Order. He hadn’t heard of one yet, but the Order was big, and he didn’t know every single member. If there were Konti and Ethaefal knights, then why not an Eypharian? He decided that he would ask around the next day, and maybe he’d go to Ahnatep when he finally was a knight. The prospect of being where all those beautiful six armed people were and studying actually made him want to try harder to be a good squire! „It sounds complicated“, he murmurred as Hadrian spoke about studying musculature and anatomy. He had very little idea what people had under the skin, and how muscles and bones and joints worked. Maybe, if he found an Eypharian knight, he could ask them so spar with him and observe them while they fought? And how could he make his brain aware that there were more arms now and that it should please control them? Maybe he could hypnotize himself? Hadrian sounded rather excited about changing into a bird which made Lucas momentarily look at their drawings again. „You must show me when you’ve managed to grow wings“, the boy said. „Being able to fly must be wonderful. You’d be like one of those Zith, without the fur and the evilness!“ He grinned. „Imagine flying knights! That would be something, wouldn’t it?“ Maybe he could turn himself into a flying Eypharian? As Hadrian told him what kind of magic he practiced, Lucas nodded, and then he admitted, „I don’t know any of those. But I want to learn!“

[Hadrian]

"It can be very complicated," he agreed, "or very simple. It's... a different order of complexity, I suppose. Just not one with which we're used to dealing. It's... something I'm sure you could understand with study. People think magi speak in riddles, but really it's just another education, another language. It isn't so much that it's more complicated, but that one needs to become accustomed to another version of reality. But yes..." He chuckled. "Someday I might have an alternate form, more akin to a bird than a Zith, I hope... though they aren't evil so much as... well, most housecats would probably kill a man if they were bigger. They're only tame-ish because they're small... But flying knights would surely be a scourge upon the Ebonstryfe. Perhaps I will have to come up with artifacts that would allow your average knight to be an aerial combatant..." He would think about that. He considered all ideas that came to mind, after all. "Well, Nightshade is a good teacher. But... I should be going. I've lots to do, but it was nice to meet you, Squire Lucas. I hope you shall be happy with the course upon which life takes you." With that, he gathered up his things and took his leave, considering this new batch of squires who would become knights with his little brother by and by. END

[Templar]

Hadrian: Drawing: 3 – Teaching: 5 – Morphing: 3 Lore: Ethics of magic – Concept of Flying Knights Lucas: Drawing: 3 – Interogation: 5 – Observation: 2 Lore: History of Syliras (Basic) – Pure Art – Looking at your own Reflection – Morphing – Devandil Nightshade - Concept of Flying Knights Additional notes: Well done thread! If you have any problems with ym grading, feel free to PM me.