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Unity
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 11:17 am
by Taelian
33rd of Frost, Year 119
Two Hira'lotha orbited around him. They circled around his view, fluttering before him and to each side, behind. Their cool, ivory-green coloring filled his vision, a light in the darkness. Taelian touched the soft bell of one of them. It had a gooey texture to it, though he found the contact to be... almost therapeutic.
Lethiril was there again. As strange as Taelian found his actions of late to be, he couldn't really learn anything without him there, and the Siltori was easily willing to admit that he'd developed something of an obsession. It started casually at first -- he would spend, perhaps, half an hour attempting to hasten and perfect the Ritual of Binding. Then... longer. An hour. He managed to complete it in far less than that, once or twice, though only when actively seeking Archetypes he was familiar with. Eventually, Taelian spent a large section of his day performing rituals and communing with Archetypes, calling them forth. He rested in-between such things to recuperate his aether, and to spend time with Riven . . . but aside from that, the magic had consumed an undisputed sector of his life.
And thus, Lethiril. As hesitant as he was to spend time with him, after their strange and uncomfortable experiences in his cabin to the southwest.
"You've gotten quite good, very quickly," the Dratori pointed out. Taelian nodded, directing one of the Hira'lotha to cease its movement by planting his palm upon the center of its bell, holding it still for a moment. After that, it stopped moving, but the other continued to orbit until the two ran into one another. The Archetype was truly rudimentary.
"I've always been talented at magic, or so they say," said the Siltori. "I'm one of the most skilled Clerics in Sigilic Pyromancy. Haven't learned Emblem, yet, but... I'm almost there. I've gotten the theory down, now I just need to put it into practice."
"Emblem?" Lethiril questioned.
"It's--I really can't explain it incredibly easily. We wield what we call 'Enkindled' weapons, enchanted by the Beacon to carry an internalized flame. This adds all manner of benefits to them, and allows us to utilize them as conduits for the magic. Emblem super-amplifies that, sort of. All of our swings, lunges, strikes, shots... they are followed by a dangerous, high-velocity flame arc. It's massive; especially for bigger weapons. Incredibly useful for culling Dranoch; makes our swings very difficult to dodge or parry, as the arc will fling right past their claws and other defenses and burn them, severely. No regenerating from that."
The Dratori stared quietly as he listened, his eyes appearing to wander upwards as if he were imagining these things visually. When Taelian finished speaking, he smiled and nodded brightly. "It's a wonder what things we've learned to combat the Dranoch threat. I know the Black Sigil is an ancient... commodity of ours, but to recall it for the purpose of culling the Court of Dusk was wise of Aldrin. It was created by Wraedan to kill the undying. And we just so happen to once again be beneath the thumb of death-defying Lords."
"Exactly," the Siltori replied. "Wraedan was the downfall of our Empire. The introduction of the Sigil was a slow rot within our old society; we used it to war and raze until it eventually claimed us, killing our immortal elite. So why not use that curse as a gift? Transform the Sigil not into the burden of humility, but a symbol of justice, brotherhood and retribution. This is the belief of the Ebon Knight. It is one that I wholeheartedly agree with."
Re: Unity
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 11:27 am
by Taelian
He focused, raising his fingers back towards the ceiling, with the same ethereal lines of old ascending from the length of each digit and from the core of his palm. He was attempting to perform another Ritual; a new one, one that he did not know. Unification. It was why he had brought Lethiril here.
"What's your plan after... after you win? If you do. I mean, does Aldrin become King of Sil-Elaine? What comes after it all?"
Taelian sighed. "I don't know, Leth. We haven't gotten that far. We've not killed a single Courtier since Dalen -- we're still so far away..."
The Dratori shook his head, crossing his legs together and petting one of the Hira'lotha as it floated by.
"Big things happen all at once, Tael. One moment, Sil-Elaine was comfortably beneath the Dranoch's boots, and the next, Aldrin had killed a Courtier and thousands were joining him in rebellion. You may feel that the current situation is stagnant or even hopeless, but a year from now there could be millions of Siltori rising to kill their oppressive Lords."
"...Or," the Ebon Knight interrupted, "...the Courtier of Dusk could be storming the gates of the Citadel Gallows, and mounting Aldrin's head on a spike to overlook the Dusk Palisade."
The Dratori exhaled, nodding his head slowly. "You're correct," he conceded. "Let's--let's focus on Summoning, right? The Ritual of Unification... you issue your Archetypes a command, one that overrides any of their rebellious impulses. Highly necessary, especially for some Archetypes. Do you remember how it is issued?" he asked, testing Taelian.
"With a gesture, and a thought inlaid. The gesture sends out the thought - more of a command - to all of the Archetypes I wish to send it to. It can be... a simple task, or a formation, or even potentially a tactic or style that I would like the Archetype to engage in. Defensive, offensive, auxiliary. Is that correct?"
"Good," the Dratori smiled. "Now enact it."
Taelian focused. First, on the command itself -- he had to feel it, to wholly and earnestly desire it, in order for it to be adequately compelling for the Nahl. It was strange, because there was nothing in particular that he wanted them to do. He supposed it would be fun if...
Orbit me in the opposite direction, he commanded, turning over his palm to where the flat of it faced the ceiling. His gesture.
The Nahl, both of them, immediately pivoted and began to move counter-clockwise rather than clockwise. Taelian smiled brightly. Wiggle while you move.
And they did. Lethiril began to laugh, and so did the Siltori; it looked absurd. They were undulating and swinging about, completely content to do so.
"You're a good teacher," Taelian grinned.
"And you," Lethiril leaned forward to flick him on the nose, "...are a poor student. What was that -- your fourteenth try?"
"Hey, weren't you just commending my skill in magic?"
The two of them both laughed, though Taelian's was more of an innocent chuckle. Things with Leth were better now; he wasn't trying to compel the Siltori to heed demonic whispers, anymore. He wasn't trying to steer him towards one, unwanted direction.
Re: Unity
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2019 11:54 am
by Taelian
Maybe because they both wanted it now. Taelian could only admit that he had been gripped by... something akin to arcane greed. He'd heard cautioning of such things from others before him, older and wiser Ebon Knights. It didn't matter, though. The end result for the losers of those stories always met their end in death. But without risk of death, one could not change things, certainly not of the magnitude that lied before them.
"You've gotten Unification down," said Lethiril. "Now -- you will do the rest of your learning with Archetypes, and with the Ritual of Reminiscence, soon enough. I would recommend a break of a few hours or so, though, as you've expended a lot of ether in the last week. Why don't we spend the remainder of the afternoon discussing our plan to contact Ridhain? I feel--"
"Lethiril," Taelian cut him off. "We're far away from that moment, right now. Before that time comes, circumstances will surely change. Why don't we focus on something tangible, instead? What do you intend to do from now until then? What do you even do with your spare time now?"
The Dratori curled the corner of his lip, staring flatly at his old friend. "Alright, yes. Well, ah -- I plan to return to Atinaw for a time. There are intriguing ongoings happening there, particularly due to the current Queen. I was hoping to serve as a sort of magical adviser to her."
"Why?" Taelian asked.
"Because she may be worth the attempt. I don't know for certain -- everything is stunningly vague -- but I've heard that she is good to the Elves of her dominion. She is one of us, after all, at least partly. I've heard that she looks almost as Siltori as you do -- striking silverine hair, bright, enchanted eyes. Vibrant. Not all... grey and blue like me," Lethiril softly smiled, almost sorrowfully.
"Leth."
"What?"
"You know you're a handsome man. Don't let others' prejudices get to you. Now, you were saying...?"
And, they continued on like that, wading into politics and mystery alike, the two often converging together.
Re: Unity
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 5:37 pm
by Paragon
Taelian
XP: 5/5
Magic? Yes, for Summoning.
Summoning: Ritual of Unification
Summoning: Unification can be used for formation, command and mode
Summoning: Reducing the necessary duration of a ritual through practice
Summoning: Nahl are very unintelligent
Politics: Atinaw's Royalty
Politics: What comes after a war?
Atinaw: Queen Luteria Rutheesee-Sil
Atinaw: The Queen is a Siltori
Comments: Please reach out to me if you have questions or concerns.