riverview | video; un: liches.get.stitches

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video; un: liches.get.stitches

[Today on your screen is everybody's favorite shitty wizard, who's currently sitting in a park somewhere and using mage hand to make sure the camera is at a good angle.

#priorities]

What's up, my dudes? It's ya boy Taako, here to make a super important announcement to save anyone getting their panties in a twist about this shit.

[He's already nailing this whole polite and informative announcement thing.]

Soooo, the people here aren't evil. [Taako shrugs.] It's a fucking revelation, I know, but listen, they're not lying about the whole portal thing and we're not here to be turned into people soup or whatever the hell folks are worried about. I mean, there's for sure some dicks in the bunch so totally not my fault if you get mugged, but uh, the people overall? Have good intentions.

[There's a shrug there, just to finish off his very well-constructed explanation.

Although he should probably also say how he knows this:]

The spirit of some real old and powerful witch told me this shit, bee-tee-dubs, and yeah, before you ask, I know she was telling the truth. That's how the spell works.

[Just take his word for it, folks!

He looks like he's about to hang up, before pausing.]

Uh, right, there's a whole new load of us idiots, isn't there? Hi, I'm Taako, in case you missed it when I said it thirty seconds ago, and that's T-double-A-K-O, not like the food. Sorry to start you off on such a fucking boring note, but here we are. Welcome to Riverview Quarantine or whatever.

[ok bye]

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[ And that has her eyebrows rising, but not at all for fear or malice. No, the wheels in her head are turning and her head is tilting at the same time. It sounds familiar enough to her to be a strange comfort. ]

You can see it? That is truly amazing. Is it impossible to make up spells on the fly?

Kiiinda? It's hard to explain, I've never really had to before.

[He's getting better at it, here, but the words still aren't perfect.]

And no luck on that front, some wizards do it? But it's really hard to pull off without blowing yourself up. I'd rather use the tried and tested stuff.

I can only imagine.

[ She'll be pondering that for a good minute, trying to turn it over in her head even as she presses into the remainder of his disclosure. ]

That's different. My people, we Hear it -- [ and she taps her left ear once, twice ] -- and improvisation isn't an uncommon thing. I would even call it integral past a point.

Ohhhh, like a bard!

[Taako doesn't really have opinions about bards one way or another, but it's sort of exciting to hear about magic that sounds familiar.]

They're magic users back home that use songs to shape their spells, though they also kinda stick with known shit, but unlike wizards there's no single way to cast a spell.

[Most wizards spells have specific hand gestures or words that needs to be spoken, but every bard sings a different song to cast their spells.]

[ Now that's a familiar term and it sees her perk up that much more. ]

That is an apt description of how my people utilize magick. Mind, we don't necessarily need to use words, but spells tend to be stronger and better when we use meaningful words in spellcrafting. As I said, improvisation isn't uncommon. It's the means of our learning; though, there can be some rather undesirable effects.

[ It's taken in stride as part of learning is what's left unsaid. Tapping her cheek thoughtfully, she nods. ]

There are bards among my people as well, but they tend to stand apart from the rest in terms of sheer power and skill. They are those who dedicate themselves to the study the Great Music, to the strengthening of their voices and the honing of their skill exclusively. I've heard it said that a bard could walk the river bed and call to himself a great and terrible storm with little more than a few verses. Can you imagine?

[Taako is pretty good at looking bored and uninterested a lot of the time, mostly because he's terrible at paying attention, but right now he's totally focused on what Líadan is saying. Learning about magic in other worlds is fascinating, especially when they sound similar to his own understanding of magic; it's comforting, in it's own way.]

So all of you do some kinda magic?

[Just to check he's following along - it's an odd concept to think about, because even though everyone is technically capable of magic, but it sounds like all her people actively use it.

He even has enough tact not to point out that summoning a storm is only a level 3 spell.]

I haven't met a child on the Isle who couldn't do some magick, be it a simple illumination spell or coaxing an animal to follow, a seed to grow, or someone to sleep. Is that strange to you?

[ She gets the sense that that may be strange to Taako even as she shifts slightly for greater comfort. She is so fully involved in their conversation that she has forgotten the hot drink beside her, but then, that's hardly surprising. The number of people with an understanding of magick seem to be quite few in Riverview in her experience. It's still a strange thought to her that most likely don't Hear, so coming into another person who understands what she's talking about is... well, it's a breath of fresh air. ]

[He makes a sort of so-so gesture with his hand.]

Most elves know at least some magic by the time we're adults, but not all races have the same kinda propensity towards it, you know? They're capable of it, but unless they're gonna make a career out of it most folks don't bother.

The Etan don't have any natural inclination whatsoever to magick. Until recently, none of their race could Hear or Sing. On the other hand, Nemedians -- that is, my people -- have a natural inclination toward magick that is a point of great pride. It's... integral to us, to our culture. Not every Nemedian is a bard, but you won't find a Nemedian who hasn't honed their ears and voice and learned some magick.

[ 'Don't bother'? That's a curious word choice and a strange thought to her. ]

Is it really that troublesome to learn magick?

[He's not sure if the difference between Etan and Nemedian is just that they're from different places, or if they're as different as elves and dwarves, or humans and gnomes, but it doesn't seem vital to the conversation at hand, so he'll ask later.]

It's like any other skill, some people are gonna find it easier, others might try and try and never get it. But like, my friend Magnus could maybe learn magic, if he tried real hard, but he hasn't got the time to spend learning, he already knows he's good at hitting shit real hard with an axe, it makes way more sense for him to keep honing that skill instead of fucking around with magic.

I think that may be something of a difference, then. As I have said, magick is innate among my people, to the point you would not find a child who does not possess some skill with the most basic utility spell. Everyone's voice and potential is different, however. What one person learns another may not learn with the same ease or even in the same way. A Nemedian may not seek to learn a particular discipline at all if they have no use for it or they find the difficulty to great and instead seek to hone others.

[ She looks thoughtful for a moment. ]

But that does not tend to detract from our physical skills and our need to hone them as well. I could not speak with such confidence about other clans who inhabit the various settlements across the Isle, but there are things better accomplished with a well placed arrow or axe than a song.

[It sounds more like a sorcerer, to Taako, someone who has magic in their blood rather than it being something they've learned or channelled from another source, but Lí's explanation makes sense.]

Most bards tend to carry around a weapon as well, if they're doing the whole adventuring thing, but like, I'm not gonna waste my time with a sword when I can kill someone with magic.

[He still carried his sword, but he used it all of once, in an entire year. He doesn't bother with it in Riverview Quarantine.]

I can certainly see the logic in that. My own approach tends to depend upon the situation. Some tasks are better accomplished without the physical, but then, the reverse can be said just the same.

[ Hearing him say that does stir up some questions, though, and a particular word stands out among the others. ]

Are you an adventurer, Taako?

[His strength modifier is just, it's real bad. He's never going to successfully hit anything with a sword.]

Yup! Or, well, I'm like, employed, all official and shit, we don't just pick up odd jobs from taverns or whatever. Technically we're called Reclaimers, but adventurers covers it. What about you, pumpkin?

[Obviously she's had some experience with weaponry, but she could be military or just a defender of her people.]

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video; un: liches.get.stitches

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and sorry this is grossly late

no worries!!

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