within the chains of hope
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:06 pm
D A E M O N
76 Glade 123 Steel
Talon observed the illusory projection of the shining gemstone that was casting its light over the whole of the Atraxian Expanse and the Kingdom of Solunarium. On some level, it warmed him. The light of the Sceptre of Avaerys called to him. Whether that was because it was somehow tied to him or simply because of the enthralling presence of its namesake, he was not quite sure. For several weeks there had been preparations being made. Between overseeing the collection of reagents with his team from the Skyforge and working fastidiously in the citadel with both experts from the Circle of Spells and the Collegium Arcanum, he had made several breakthroughs that otherwise would have taken him much longer. It was not merely their help however, but his grasp on the flow of aether and how to manipulate it had grown as well.
Talon never would have considered himself ill-educated in the ways of the arcane. He knew quite well that he was considered prodigy even by the strictest of standards. In days of late however, he had noticed that magic flowed more easily for him. Perhaps that was because he had finally accepted and stepped fully into the realm of being a deific power. In many ways, gods were simply mages that operated on colossal scales of aetheric potential. It certainly made navigating the challenges of manufacturing a nation spanning blanket of protection much easier.
“So…remind me how this is going to work again?” Mathias picked up one of the runeforge tongs, turning it over in his grasp. Talon picked up the staff that he had been working on for the past several weeks. An entire team of master runesmiths had been hard at work creating it, pouring every ounce of skill that they could must into it. There was still one last act to perform.
“I will be invoking my dominion over the Light and infusing this staff with the power of the Light, linking it to the network of spells that the Collegium Arcanum has built across Solunarium. It will be a control device of sorts. The Light is merely a bridge. One to connect its powers to the power of the jewel. Through it, I will be invoking the domain of Hope and weaving a spell that amplifies the supremacy of Avaerys and Varvara’s faith in their kingdom.” It would be a very complex feat of weaving both magic and Archmagic, one that he had been carefully considering.
“Okay. So, faith is being used as the power source for this whole thing?” Mathias sounded a little confused. Talon chuckled.
“Demigods derive a portion of their power from Faith, Mathias. The people of Kalzasi. The Dawnmartyrs. They are my faithful. Even the Sky Guard and people in other parts of the Free Cities. I receive their prayers. It strengthens our hold over the domains we preside over.” Talon grasped the staff and turned so that he could look at Mathias. The young man was nodding.
“So you’re harnessing the faith of Solunarium’s masses into a power source that they can tap into more directly? I don’t really know how I feel about brainwashing masses into religious dogma.” Mathias set down the tongs. He looked at Talon squarely. He understood the hesitation in Mathias. The young man had come from the Imperium and the both of them had experienced, in part, some of the totalitarian aspects of Solunarium.
“Harnessing and empowering. I do not work in the realms of domination and subversion. If you lack faith, it will not create it. If you do believe, however, it will strengthen that belief.” They both turned as the sound of footsteps drew their attention. Aoren entered the workshop, bringing with him a tray of refreshments that was well-timed after a morning spent entirely working on putting on the finishing touches on schematics and directions for the ritual at hand.
“I see I am interrupting something heavy.” Aoren set the tray down. Talon arched an eyebrow.
“What makes you say that, love?” His partner nodded to Mathias.
“You always get that look on your face when discussing something complex.” Aoren smirked. Mathias blinked.
“I just don’t know about this. I mean, why do it at all?” The young man looked squarely at Talon again. It was an honest question, one that demanded a careful answer. Talon considered it before speaking.
“You see the Eclipse.” Mathias nodded. “You see the Imperium.”
Again, Mathias nodded.
“You were not there for the cataclysm of Zaichaer. Nor was I. We have seen its effects. Feats capable of bringing even great powers to their knees. This is an act undertaken to protect a nation and its people by granting them a boon for their culture and their faith. It is a way of shielding them that does not involve violence and bloodshed.” Those words seemed to make a revelation spark in Mathias mind.
“You are using it as a testing ground to see if you can replicate this protection for Kalzasi against the Imperium. Like with how the Citadel feels safe. Feels like…like you?” Talon just smiled. The sound of voices drifting down the corridor made him quirk his head. Aoren was in the middle of biting into a snack when he paused.
“Expecting someone else?” Talon shook his head but remained attentive nevertheless. The ritual was not scheduled to take place until later in the evening, when the Sceptre was primed to shine the brightest.
Talon observed the illusory projection of the shining gemstone that was casting its light over the whole of the Atraxian Expanse and the Kingdom of Solunarium. On some level, it warmed him. The light of the Sceptre of Avaerys called to him. Whether that was because it was somehow tied to him or simply because of the enthralling presence of its namesake, he was not quite sure. For several weeks there had been preparations being made. Between overseeing the collection of reagents with his team from the Skyforge and working fastidiously in the citadel with both experts from the Circle of Spells and the Collegium Arcanum, he had made several breakthroughs that otherwise would have taken him much longer. It was not merely their help however, but his grasp on the flow of aether and how to manipulate it had grown as well.
Talon never would have considered himself ill-educated in the ways of the arcane. He knew quite well that he was considered prodigy even by the strictest of standards. In days of late however, he had noticed that magic flowed more easily for him. Perhaps that was because he had finally accepted and stepped fully into the realm of being a deific power. In many ways, gods were simply mages that operated on colossal scales of aetheric potential. It certainly made navigating the challenges of manufacturing a nation spanning blanket of protection much easier.
“So…remind me how this is going to work again?” Mathias picked up one of the runeforge tongs, turning it over in his grasp. Talon picked up the staff that he had been working on for the past several weeks. An entire team of master runesmiths had been hard at work creating it, pouring every ounce of skill that they could must into it. There was still one last act to perform.
“I will be invoking my dominion over the Light and infusing this staff with the power of the Light, linking it to the network of spells that the Collegium Arcanum has built across Solunarium. It will be a control device of sorts. The Light is merely a bridge. One to connect its powers to the power of the jewel. Through it, I will be invoking the domain of Hope and weaving a spell that amplifies the supremacy of Avaerys and Varvara’s faith in their kingdom.” It would be a very complex feat of weaving both magic and Archmagic, one that he had been carefully considering.
“Okay. So, faith is being used as the power source for this whole thing?” Mathias sounded a little confused. Talon chuckled.
“Demigods derive a portion of their power from Faith, Mathias. The people of Kalzasi. The Dawnmartyrs. They are my faithful. Even the Sky Guard and people in other parts of the Free Cities. I receive their prayers. It strengthens our hold over the domains we preside over.” Talon grasped the staff and turned so that he could look at Mathias. The young man was nodding.
“So you’re harnessing the faith of Solunarium’s masses into a power source that they can tap into more directly? I don’t really know how I feel about brainwashing masses into religious dogma.” Mathias set down the tongs. He looked at Talon squarely. He understood the hesitation in Mathias. The young man had come from the Imperium and the both of them had experienced, in part, some of the totalitarian aspects of Solunarium.
“Harnessing and empowering. I do not work in the realms of domination and subversion. If you lack faith, it will not create it. If you do believe, however, it will strengthen that belief.” They both turned as the sound of footsteps drew their attention. Aoren entered the workshop, bringing with him a tray of refreshments that was well-timed after a morning spent entirely working on putting on the finishing touches on schematics and directions for the ritual at hand.
“I see I am interrupting something heavy.” Aoren set the tray down. Talon arched an eyebrow.
“What makes you say that, love?” His partner nodded to Mathias.
“You always get that look on your face when discussing something complex.” Aoren smirked. Mathias blinked.
“I just don’t know about this. I mean, why do it at all?” The young man looked squarely at Talon again. It was an honest question, one that demanded a careful answer. Talon considered it before speaking.
“You see the Eclipse.” Mathias nodded. “You see the Imperium.”
Again, Mathias nodded.
“You were not there for the cataclysm of Zaichaer. Nor was I. We have seen its effects. Feats capable of bringing even great powers to their knees. This is an act undertaken to protect a nation and its people by granting them a boon for their culture and their faith. It is a way of shielding them that does not involve violence and bloodshed.” Those words seemed to make a revelation spark in Mathias mind.
“You are using it as a testing ground to see if you can replicate this protection for Kalzasi against the Imperium. Like with how the Citadel feels safe. Feels like…like you?” Talon just smiled. The sound of voices drifting down the corridor made him quirk his head. Aoren was in the middle of biting into a snack when he paused.
“Expecting someone else?” Talon shook his head but remained attentive nevertheless. The ritual was not scheduled to take place until later in the evening, when the Sceptre was primed to shine the brightest.
