04-04-2014, 05:56 PM
"Thaumaturgy, in essence, is power. It is control and dominion over aether, manipulating it, shaping it."
Jace stood in a line with other hopefuls of the Thaumaturge's Guild. Lalafells, Hyur, a prominent figure of a Roegaedyn, and a few Elezen stood alongside her.
The guildmaster was addressing them, walking down the line. To each, he handed a cheap, but well manufactured scepter.
"A Thaumaturge bends the world to their will. Through manipulation of the basic elements, properly focused, they bring flame, ice, lightning, or sheer aetheric force to bare. We are not without our weaknesses, but they are a weakness that a mind as sharp as ours can easily deal with." Cocobuki stopped in front of Jace, offering up the scepter.
The tiny mage then Lala-waddled to the center of the room, holding up a polished staff with a prominent ruby affixed to the top.
"We begin with the basics. Aether and manipulation of it. As the aether flows through you, that is when you shape it and give it form. Feel it within you." As he spoke, he begin to glow slightly, the energy about him seeming to trail towards the gemstone of the staff.
"We route this energy into our focus. In your case, the scepter. The vessel that channels and releases magic is strained, and though magic without a focus is possible, it is not recommended." When the ruby was burning bright, he thrust the staff upward and released a mighty jet of flame. The four instructors around him shot up their own spell, meeting the flame with a barrier of ice. The sizzle and pop of the elements meeting captivated the would-be mages.
"Even so, aether and its manipulation leave marks upon the body. It is these marks you will learn to exploit. You are here because you have shaped aether, and wish to learn further. Our first lesson shall be with the basics." He, and the other instructors, formed a barrier in front of the aspirants. "Fire flame at this wall."
The scepters glowed faintly as each of the initiates formed their spells. Jace noted the effect almost immediately. Though the spell was brought to her scepter, the flame brought a ravished feeling. It required more, and more. She let the spell fly alongside the others, ten balls of flame slamming into the wavering field.
"Again."
The same effort as before brought on a greater blaze. A natural hunger to feed the flame as more of her aether fed the blast. It wasn't until it flung from her scepter that she realized the strain.
"Again."Â Came the callous Lalafells command.
Twice more it was commanded, and the initiates were kneeling on the floor. Cocobuki lowered the barrier and matched eyes with each of them.
"Aetheric flame has a curious aspect. It opens our channels, dampens our sensibility. Aether flows more freely and in greater abundance, but it is not kept and only fuels the flame further. The greatest blaze starts with the smallest spark, and Aetheric flame is no different." Cocobuki raised his staff again, the barrier forming.
"Shape your spell into ice."
A chorus of groans echoed through the halls, but they stood. As before, Jace noted the effect almost immediately. It took much more effort to shape the spell, but a cooling sensation came over her. More than that, she felt invigorated. As the shards of ice slammed into the barrier, she noted her fellow initiates had the same realization.
"Again."
Cocobuki commanded them over and over, and the shards of ice, though slow and steady, came without pause.
"Aetheric Ice, fittingly, has the opposite effect." Cocobuki said, lowering the barrier and walking forward before pacing along the line. Though for many he had to look up to match their stare, there wasn't a single one of them who looked down upon the small master.
"Aetheric fire opens our channels and lets our aether go with reckless abandon. Aetheric ice closes them, letting it build within us. It invigorates us. It is ill suited for the ravaging destruction the flames bring, but Ice is a wall. A barrier. It protects and stores, and this basic balance will be your initiation." Cocobuki turned, nodding to one of the guild servants.
"You are to leave the city and meet with the local guard stationed outside. There is never a shortage of vermin, and though you will be in little danger, you will find exterminating them without magic a long and tedious task. The guard will write you a note to bring to me when you are finished." Cocobuki waved off his brothers, sending them back to instructing the advanced students.
"Be back before sundown, or you will fail."
Jace stood in a line with other hopefuls of the Thaumaturge's Guild. Lalafells, Hyur, a prominent figure of a Roegaedyn, and a few Elezen stood alongside her.
The guildmaster was addressing them, walking down the line. To each, he handed a cheap, but well manufactured scepter.
"A Thaumaturge bends the world to their will. Through manipulation of the basic elements, properly focused, they bring flame, ice, lightning, or sheer aetheric force to bare. We are not without our weaknesses, but they are a weakness that a mind as sharp as ours can easily deal with." Cocobuki stopped in front of Jace, offering up the scepter.
The tiny mage then Lala-waddled to the center of the room, holding up a polished staff with a prominent ruby affixed to the top.
"We begin with the basics. Aether and manipulation of it. As the aether flows through you, that is when you shape it and give it form. Feel it within you." As he spoke, he begin to glow slightly, the energy about him seeming to trail towards the gemstone of the staff.
"We route this energy into our focus. In your case, the scepter. The vessel that channels and releases magic is strained, and though magic without a focus is possible, it is not recommended." When the ruby was burning bright, he thrust the staff upward and released a mighty jet of flame. The four instructors around him shot up their own spell, meeting the flame with a barrier of ice. The sizzle and pop of the elements meeting captivated the would-be mages.
"Even so, aether and its manipulation leave marks upon the body. It is these marks you will learn to exploit. You are here because you have shaped aether, and wish to learn further. Our first lesson shall be with the basics." He, and the other instructors, formed a barrier in front of the aspirants. "Fire flame at this wall."
The scepters glowed faintly as each of the initiates formed their spells. Jace noted the effect almost immediately. Though the spell was brought to her scepter, the flame brought a ravished feeling. It required more, and more. She let the spell fly alongside the others, ten balls of flame slamming into the wavering field.
"Again."
The same effort as before brought on a greater blaze. A natural hunger to feed the flame as more of her aether fed the blast. It wasn't until it flung from her scepter that she realized the strain.
"Again."Â Came the callous Lalafells command.
Twice more it was commanded, and the initiates were kneeling on the floor. Cocobuki lowered the barrier and matched eyes with each of them.
"Aetheric flame has a curious aspect. It opens our channels, dampens our sensibility. Aether flows more freely and in greater abundance, but it is not kept and only fuels the flame further. The greatest blaze starts with the smallest spark, and Aetheric flame is no different." Cocobuki raised his staff again, the barrier forming.
"Shape your spell into ice."
A chorus of groans echoed through the halls, but they stood. As before, Jace noted the effect almost immediately. It took much more effort to shape the spell, but a cooling sensation came over her. More than that, she felt invigorated. As the shards of ice slammed into the barrier, she noted her fellow initiates had the same realization.
"Again."
Cocobuki commanded them over and over, and the shards of ice, though slow and steady, came without pause.
"Aetheric Ice, fittingly, has the opposite effect." Cocobuki said, lowering the barrier and walking forward before pacing along the line. Though for many he had to look up to match their stare, there wasn't a single one of them who looked down upon the small master.
"Aetheric fire opens our channels and lets our aether go with reckless abandon. Aetheric ice closes them, letting it build within us. It invigorates us. It is ill suited for the ravaging destruction the flames bring, but Ice is a wall. A barrier. It protects and stores, and this basic balance will be your initiation." Cocobuki turned, nodding to one of the guild servants.
"You are to leave the city and meet with the local guard stationed outside. There is never a shortage of vermin, and though you will be in little danger, you will find exterminating them without magic a long and tedious task. The guard will write you a note to bring to me when you are finished." Cocobuki waved off his brothers, sending them back to instructing the advanced students.
"Be back before sundown, or you will fail."