☠ 4th of Frost, Year 122, A.o.S ☠
Company: Taidryn| Thoughts: A magic to interact with Spirits?| Mood: Curious, Excited
Company: Taidryn| Thoughts: A magic to interact with Spirits?| Mood: Curious, Excited
☠ All he could hear was the sickening sound of fire crackling and the screams of villagers, the smell of burning flesh filling his nose. He was back in that village, with nowhere to run nowhere to hide, engulfed by fear as he held his mother's corpse in his hands. It was all that accompanied him within this hellscape. He couldnt move, just like that day.
He could see the approaching form of his mother's murderer, twisted and snarling at him, his visage materializing from the shadows. One by one his disturbing figure lurched toward him, sword raised to cleave Læbirius in two. The feeling made him sick to his stomach. He winced and whimpered in the bastard's grasp knowing full well there was no escaping it.
It was all too surreal to him, and he found himself crying, it was all he could do just like that day. He was pathetic in this state, and even on that day, he was pathetic despite his best attempts. This time however there would be no one to save him. No one to aid him in his time of need. He wished for it to end and as if the brute had been reading his mind his blade found its way buried into his chest.
With a gasp he awoke, covered in a cold sweat as his head looked about his room, heavy breaths escaping his lungs and he wiped the sweat from his face. That's how most of his mornings began, that's how they always started ever since that day. Even though it happened so long ago the memory of it all was still as fresh as if he had just lived it moments before.
Læ decided to take his mind off of it by doing some light reading. He decided to read through one of his foster father's journals out in the estate courtyard. It was peaceful there and the garden was his favorite spot, it was beautiful to him. It was nice to see such things, helping the young mage clear his head of those nightmarish thoughts.
This was the one journal his foster father kept out of his reach for the longest time but he left it, and a part of Lae wondered why that was. He ran his fingers over the leather cover of the string-bound book, before opening its pages. Most of what he was reading didn't make too much sense, but he understood the gist of what was written if only vaguely. He was a fast reader so every three seconds or so he flipped to another page, until one page caught his eye.
"The Legend of the Black Pyramid of Setrah is real. He was a powerful world mage that lived before the Age of Sundering, somewhere within the realm that is now the Solunarium. He was of unparalleled skill in world magic, so much so that he created a codex, a series of nine books that detailed his work and secrets. I believe I may have found the first piece of the puzzle, but I won't know till I go to find it for myself."
Before he could continue on though, his father called to him. Læ looked in the direction in which his father was coming from, with him were two gentlemen, one of which Læ had never seen before, but as they got closer it was clear his father knew him very well and he could the other male with them was Varinios. Læ stood and bowed to his father and guests. "Is there something I can help you with father?" he inquired with a quirked brow. Now that they were close enough he could see this stranger more clearly.
He was a tall man, with a clean-shaven face and short cut hair that was kept tight and crisp and a look in his eyes that Læ hadn't seen before. He also could see the hint of small tusks peeking from out under the man's upper and lower lip which denoted Orkhan which would explain the robustness of his muscles that were being held at bay by his tunic. He felt his body stiffen a bit, but soon relaxed as he was in the safety of his home, so he had nothing to worry for. His eyes danced over the new face with scrutiny as his father introduced his guest.
Læ, this is Taidryn. From this point on he will act as your personal bodyguard. I have known Taidryn for quite some time now. Since he was a young man in fact. Mælor explained, patting the man on the shoulders. Læ bowed to Taidryn again, as custom when meeting someone of the patriarch of the family. "As much as I appreciate your concern for me, I dont need a bodyguard." he refused, going back to where he was reading at. Both men accompanying Mælor couldnt help but laugh at that response.
I think you misunderstand my son, this was not up for debate or discussion. Taidryn will be your personal guard from henceforth if you need something he will get it, you need a shield he will be it, if you need a blade he shall slay your enemy. he added, an end all be all expression on his face. The half-elf looked between his father and mentor, Varinios giving Taidryn a look one would associate with silent and unspoken scrutiny. He couldn't place it but he had seen such looks before since coming from Kalzasi.
Taidryn knelt down and bowed to him, and the two eyes met for the first time. Something about this man resonated within Læ, he couldn't quite place what that feeling was, but it sent a jolt through his body. "Besides, I come bearing a gift at your father's request, a gift I'm sure you will come accustomed to in time and with adequate training." he added, giving a smile that was meant to put any concern Læ had at ease. Læ was confused somewhat but intrigued by this gift. What gift could this man possibly have for him? Læ's glowing amber eyes looked to Taidryn who seemed to be peering back into his soul.
He began to mumble to himself, looking off the side every now and again and it baffled him. The longer he observed, the more he noticed that was not the case. It looked as if Taidryn was having a conversation. But no one was there but himself and the man so who could have been talking too? It was baffling to him, but then he saw it as it crept into materialization. The visage of a flaming tiger came into view and eased its way around Taidryn. The man seemed to be at peace, the tiger nuzzling against him and only him. He looked to Læ with a smirk, his hand went to pet the beast. Læ was astonished to witness this first hand, a twinkle of curiosity in his eyes.
"This is my Aidolon, Shahl Kor, a spirit I can summon using the Rune of Summoning. It's a rune magic, and it's the gift I come to give you." Taidryn explained, his eyes now falling onto Læbirius, "I'm certain a young man with a fascination for spirits and necromancy and a magic enthusiast like yourself can appreciate such magic as this one." he said with a chuckle, beckoning Læ to approach him. Reluctant, Læ finally moved to sit next to Taidryn, observing how Taidryn interacted with the fiery spirit. He couldn't help but find himself staring at the spectral animal, observing how it acted and finding it mesmerizing to behold. To think one could actually commune and interact with spirits simply with a rune of magic.
The urge to learn all he could about the magic gleamed within his eyes and Taidryn took notice of that. "If you want I can explain this particular rune of magic as I inscribe it on you?" he proposed, gesturing to Læ to touch the spirit. "It's the least I can do as your new bodyguard." he chuckled. "I don't think I could pass up a magic that allows me to interact with spirits directly, so I thank you for the gift." Læ chimed, a smile beaming from ear to ear on his face.
Standing, Taidryn gestured for Læ to follow him. "In order to initiate someone into Summoning, we must go where the veil between this reality and the next is thinnest, it helps in ensuring a successful initiation. Your father has already made the needed calls so we can complete this without being disturbed." he noted. The two went from the Luxium out into the desert, walking for what seemed to be miles in the young half-elf's mind.
Coming to a small oasis Taidryn's fiery spirit companion appeared once more, burning eyes of red gleaming at Læ with an intensity akin to the sun itself. Once they had arrived at their destination, Taidryn gestured for Læ to sit on the grass of the oasis. With a nod, his aidolon came to walk around Læ circling him like it would wounded prey in the wild. "Show it where you would like to have the rune inscribed." Taidryn instructed, Læ showing the fiery spirit the back of his left hand, opposite of his Rune of Mesmer.
Placing its paw on the back of his hand, the spirit began inscribing the rune upon Læ's flesh, Taidryn explaining what was to come next for the young lord. "I must warn you that what you are about to experience is more than an out-of-body experience, you will be thrust into the realm of spirits, and they will try to coerce you, even go so far as seize your body as their own, but you must maintain your will while asserting dominance over not only the spirit that will approach you but your very soul as well."
That bit of information caused Læ's body to tense a bit, which caused the spirit to growl at him, a means of warning the young mage to keep still. "Relax, I shall be here to help you if need be." he assured, the spirit continuing its inscription of the rune upon Læ. "What can you tell me about Summoning? Do you know its origins?" Læ inquired, turning his head slightly to look at Taidryn as he asked the question.
"From what I've learned in my years, Summoning is as old as the Age of Wonders where many scholars believe the first form of the Rune Magic appeared. It comes with the fundamental ability to form pacts with ethereal entities and call upon them to aid them. In most cases, both mage and spirit form a bond, a symbiotic bridge between them, though an unprepared soul can find themselves at the mercy of malignant spirits or can be overpowered if weak-willed. Throughout history many Summoners have come to be revered, feared, praised and reviled across so many cultures, igniting a form of magic that is steeped in as much lore as it is controversy." he noted with a hearty laugh.
"In any case, the Rune of Summoning allows for the communication between mages and the world of spirits on a whole new level. As you venture into the realm of spirits, you must be aware of the four spheres in Summoning. Once you enter the world of spirits you will be met with a spirit from all four Spheres. Wild, like me, Celestial, Infernal, & Eldritch."
His words seemed to hold some weight with Læ, why he really could say for sure. At the same time, the spirit had finished etching the rune onto his right hand, and Taidryn knelt down to look Læ in the eyes. "Now comes the fun part." he smirked, and before Læ could ask, it all went black. ☠
"Common Speech"
"Vastian Speech"
"Vallenor Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
"Everybody is going to be dead one day, just give me time!"
