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Still Waters
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 4:34 am
by Kotoru
☵ 19th of Frost, Year 119, Age of Steel ☵
"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
☵ Koto was eager, excited even as he awaited the lesson to begin. Ever since gaining the Summoning Rune from his mother he had begged her to show him the way of the summoner. She was apprehensive at first, given his propensity to jump headfirst into things without thinking. She, like any mother, worried for him as he feared he'd die from allowing a powerful summon to drain him of his ether.
With some convincing of his father, she relented, seeing as a way to instill caution in her son. As she prepared for the lesson ahead, he sat in the center of the floor. The space they were occupying was sacred to the Hattori Clan and was the best place for mother and son to train in their arcane talent.
His fascination with the arcane was nurtured by his mother, whether he was listening to her debates with other like-minded wizards, or just reading over her notes and books. It was something about the unknown of magic that allured him to becoming a wizard himself, at his mother's behest of course.
Of all the children of the Hattori, he was the best suited for the path of wizardry anyway. Kojima was a marksman and capable tactician, and Ayane was more suited for support and defense. Kotoru was their warrior and needed to be armed with the right weapons. Summoning was the first in his armament.
His mother soon joins him, sitting on the floor in front of her child. The two exchange a smirk and begin. "First things first, before you can summon anything you must understand the different classes of summons." she began, etching something into the sand.
He watched intently as his mother finished her drawings, and pointed to each one as she continued. "There are four classes a summon falls into. The first is known as Nahl class. Small, expendable and inexpensive in ether these summons are best utilized by beginners such as yourself. Though easy to call upon, they are not meant for enormous undertakings or anything of the like. When contracting one, keep their task simple and easy." she finished, moving to the next.
"Next in line is the Vrannik class summons. These summons are a bit more adequate in the amount of ether they require for their servitude. Think of them as the basic infantry of the patron's archetype as they are neither weak nor powerful in scope." she explained, drawing rudimentary pictures to illustrate her words. "Even still they can still be effective and dangerous when used correctly, and with greater knowledge and control, calling them forth becomes easier."
Taking a moment she caught her breath, looking at Kotoru making sure he was keeping up with her, noticing the glint in his eye. He truly was enthralled by the magic, which showed from the bright smile he held on his face. Amused she brushed some stray hair from her face and continued.
"After the Vrannik class comes the Tyrid, and with them comes a certain level of......danger. If one is not careful or mindful, a summoner could very well be drained of their ether. This class boasts a higher level of capabilities than a Vrannik as they are reserved for the more experience summoner. It would be wise to note that only once you become of my level of proficiency or higher as they will rob anyone of lesser control and expertise of their ether."
Finally, her hand landed on the last word etched into the sand. With a deep breath, she cupped his cheek in her left hand, placing her right on his clasped hands. "Listen carefully as this is the most important of them all. The final classification of the summons is none as the Qe'zhod. These are the cream of the crop, the best of the best of their respective archetypes." she began looking in his eyes to make sure he understood.
"It's imperative that you use caution, the Qe'zhod are powerful creatures. Intelligent and discerning, they can take advantage of those foolish enough to attempt to summon them without the correct amount of ether offered in tribute. Know that a summoner can only contract one Qe'zhod, as the cost of their service is extremely high." she finished, sitting back with a sigh. "Well, any questions so far Koto? That was a lot of information to absorb in one go. I can go over things again if need be, or explain something in further detail for you if you like?" ☵
Re: Still Waters
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 3:31 am
by Kotoru
☵ 19th of Frost, Year 119, Age of Steel ☵
"Common Speech"
"Synskrit Speech"
☵ Sitting there, Koto shook his head as his mother asked if he had questions, wincing a bit as his ribs were still healing as most of his injuries from the bandit culling had healed on their own. He was more so eager to try his hand at summoning a spirit and contracting with it. Without wasting any more time he cupped his hands as if trying to catch water falling from the sky in them, and began to pour his ether into them.
Standing his mother began to watch him, instructing him as he practiced calling them forth on his own. "Keep a clear mind and concentrate on journeying to the realm of your patron." she whispered, watching him as he did so. "I know mother, I know." he mumbled, doing as she instructed, clearing his mind and allowing himself to be open to "otherworld" around him.
For a while it didnt seem as if it was working, he didnt feel like he had moved or shifted from where he was. The silence was killing him, only to be broken by the faint sounds of the fires that lit the sacred space flickering about. "Do you hear anything, my child? Voices perhaps?" she inquired watching for signs of trouble, ready to step in and stop him if things got out of hand.
"No mother, nothing has chan.........." his eyes suddenly shot open, glossed over which scared his mother greatly as she ran to his side. "Koto!? Koto darling!? What do you see!? Answer me Koto!?" she demanded, though a look of confusion fixated itself upon her face as the look on her son was alarming.
He was smiling, eyes white as if filled with Cataracs, his head moving about as if he was looking around himself. "I see wispy sea creatures mother, they are so beautiful......" he began, his smile turning into a giggling grin. "Though the voices that are coming from them are saying things even I wouldn't wish on my enemy." he noted looking around as if at an aquarium.
"What does the landscape look like, where are you Koto? she asked with a hint of fear in her voice. Koto was silent for a moment, and it only made his mother worry more. With a nudge, she pressed the question once again. "Koto darling I need you to tell me what the scenery around you looks like." she urged. Koto shook his head, then looked to the floor and back up again. "I don't know to be honest mother. It is so black and dark. It feels like I'm floating like I'm underwater. Your voice sounds as if you were talking into a cup of water." he described, though something caught his attention, his head whipping around to looking behind himself.
"What's the matter Kotoru!? What are you seeing now?" she asked, but it was clear whatever it was had filled the young mage with fear. She had never seen him look so startled, frantic as his head shot from side to side as if looking for something. Then his head looked to the floor and the color faded from his face.
There in the abyssal void of water he saw it, a looming figure of pure black, and for a split second it was small, then expanded and swallowed him. He was devoured by darkness he had never seen before, wracked with such an overwhelming feeling of dread that would send a normal man insane. But then something changed.
The fear soon began to fade from him, the nothingness that enveloped him calming gave him a sense of calm......to better put it he felt at ease within this endless void of nothingness. It was euphoric, blissful, so much so he began laughing until it turned into a hysterical cackling.
Well at this point to say his mother had seen enough, as the entire time he had been experiencing this she had been calling to him, so desperately in fact that a few attendants came rushing in to see what the commotion was about. She wasn't able to get through to him as he was within the otherworld, calling out to the spirits of his patron, one his mother had assumed chose him, one that filled her with dread and worries for her son.
Koto, still enraptured in the bliss of the void seemed to notice something coming towards him within the black abyss. it was ethereal in appearance, fading in and out as it came into view. No bigger than the average male torso, he could see it, clear as day. It was an odd-looking creature for sure, but one that reminded him of jellyfish, the only difference being that there was a skull in the center of it.
Reaching out his hand he attempted to touch it, but couldnt. With a hard slap, his mother brought him back to reality. Dazed and confused his eyes fluttered till everything around him came back into focus. The pain of his ribs from his laughing settled in. His hands were throbbing, red from the ether he had been pouring into them, acting as the bait for his would-be summon.
Cupping his face firmly into her hands he fed her son some water and attendant had brought over. "Are you alright my son?" She asked, concern clear in her expression and tone. With a smile and nod, he rested his head onto her chest. "I saw it mother, I saw a spirit, it was more than just flickering lights and hushed whispers. I could hear their voices, clear and unhindered from the deep waters. It was beautiful, a true experience." he told her, chuckling in heavy breaths as he was exhausted.
"I'm just glad you were not harmed, I thought I lost you for a minute there Koto" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "Come you need to rest, you are still in recovery." She was urged, helping her child to his feet and to his room. ☵
Re: Still Waters
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 11:09 pm
by Paragon
Kotoru
XP: 5/5
Magic? Yes. Summoning.
- Summoning: Nahl class don't need much aether to be contracted
- Summoning: Using ether as a lure
- Summoning: Hearing the voice of an Archetype
- Summoning: Entering the purview of your patron
- Summoning: Concentrating on calling out to archetypes
- Summoning: The "Otherworld"
Comments: Kotoru's relationship with his mother seems altogether gentler and more nurturing than that which exists with his father. I have no doubt she's taught him just as many lessons, just differently. I opted not to assign any injuries as this wasn't really a situations warranting them. Kotoru strained himself but not so much that it would leave a permanent marking upon him. Merely weariness. Also, "aether" not "ether".