kaisou | un: GoldenGuard; text

WHO: Hunter
WHERE: Network
WHEN: Early March
WHAT: It's raining!
WARNINGS: Morbid/gory weather patterns. I'm serious.

[Weather is something Hunter learned about in the Boiling Isles, but this is really the first time he's had the chance to experience it. It's raining out, the first real rain of the year, Hunter's very first rain, and you can bet he has headed outside to experience it.]

I was told the rain doesn't boil here like it does back home.

[Remembering how he learned about rain in the human realm is... complicated, but for those scant few minutes it was a good memory. It was nice learning about the differences between here and the Boiling Isles, and even better getting to hear the fondness Belos holds for this realm. Moments like that were a rarity with the man, and Hunter values each and every one of them.

... He really wishes Belos was here, so he could experience this with him, but he isn't and Hunter tries to not dwell on that.]

Experiencing weather instead of plagues is really something else! This is normal throughout the entire world, right? It must mean there aren't any boiling seas here, as well. Does anyone know what other kind of weather this city has?

What's the weather equivalent of a painbow again? A rainbow, I think? What about those?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Depends on the severity and the type. You can check the internet for specifics, since that was never my area of expertise even in my own world.

[Their ears perk up at the second question though.]

And no, it would be earth elemental magic, actually, although it can certainly have applications in construction. I take it the Boiling Isles tends to categorize magic by what it's used for rather than what it is?

Oh, right. These things work similar to scrolls. I didn't think to try searching for this. Books are better, but phones have their uses, I suppose.

It's organized according to the Coven System. Earth magic would fall under the umbrella of the Construction Coven.

If you manage to get your hands on a data pad-- or, well, I suppose "tablet" is the common term here? Anyway, they're no match for the feel of a proper book, but they do have the advantage of being able to store the contents of books, so you could easily carry the equivalent of a modest personal library on your person that way. Very useful if you're a fast reader like I am, especially when space is rather limited.

[They rest their chin in a hand.]

But this Coven System... How exactly does it work? Would plant magic be considered a type of construction magic as a subtype of earth magic, or is it considered something separate?

I haven't heard of a tablet before. I'll keep that in mind. [He's still going to prefer books, though.]

Plant magic is its own track. There are nine main specializations, Construction and Plants being two of them. The Coven System was brought in by the Emperor according to the will of the Titan, as part of him ending the Savage Ages. Instead of using wild magic witches go through school and pick a track, and when they graduate they join a coven, where they receive a brand that locks them into that specific kind of magic. There are hundreds of covens all following different specialties, but they all fall under the main nine.

[Hey, no judgement there from Ghaleon. Nothing beats the feeling of sitting with a book while in the company of so many more.

But the rest of it... The system seems interesting in theory, but a few select mentions of things have their face sliding into something intended to look more like one simply absorbing new information. One who claims the title of Emperor acting at the supposed will of what seems as if it's viewed either as or akin to a deity... And that combined with locking people into only a single type of magic... The method is different, yet it rings too familiar for Ghaleon not to spot the red flags there.

Now, to approach this delicately or...]

And let me guess. If you're considered both gifted and loyal enough to the Emperor, you may be allowed to use more than one type of magic?

[...A measure of sass it is, then.]

It sounds like if it - or at least a version more compatible with our magic - were pitched on the Silver Star, it might have gained some traction amongst humans, given most who are even capable of casting rarely manage more than one element with anything resembling skill.

I'm afraid you would have been hard-pressed to sell it to any of my people though. It's one thing to ask someone who has magic, and quite another to ask someone who is magic.

Of course. The most skilled witches are recruited directly into the Emperor's Coven, after they've proven they're strong enough to retain all their magic. I'm the head of it.

[Which is equal parts daunting and exciting. Belos has put a great deal of trust in him with this role, but that doesn't change the fact that he's entirely magicless and is living one gigantic lie in a desperate attempt to make Belos proud.

Not that anyone here needs to know any of that. They can keep right on thinking he's one of the strongest witches in the Boiling Isles.]

It's the will of the Titan, so it isn't about 'selling it' to anyone. They already know it's how magic should be. If for some reason someone doesn't agree then they get to deal with the consequences.

[It's so much easier being back home, where everyone knows the whole Titan business and he doesn't have to prattle on about it. It's boring, especially when there's something way more important to talk about!!

You're made of magic? How does that work? Do you mean it's just an inherent part of your anatomy, or was your kind literally carved out of some kind of magical essence?

[Hey you know what's better than talking about being one of the heads of a strict, limiting, extremely hierarchical system that oppresses people? The exact opposite of that!]

...I have to be honest, my own experiences have me skeptical about whether your Emperor is actually hearing the voice of your Titan, but perhaps I'm just a little jaded. Regardless, it's impressive that you've obtained such a high position at your age.

[The compliment is sincere at least, even if Ghaleon is highly suspicious of why someone who looks about the age of their apprentice when last they saw the lad.

But probable tyrants are a depressing topic, and there's the particulars of magic to explain.]

But generally speaking, my people are not crystallizations of magic the way dragons are, but it wouldn't be entirely inaccurate to say there's as much magic as blood in our veins.

In my specific case, however? It's both. And before you ask, no, I did not choose this. I'm just making the best of it.

[Hunter knows better than to bother arguing with someone about the whole Titan Messenger thing. He knows what Belos can do, what he's capable of, and since no one else here is a resident of the Boiling Isles it doesn't really matter if they're skeptical or not.]

Thanks.

[It is, however, nice to get a compliment. So far very few people have treated him with anything close to the respect (or fear) he received back home, so that's nice.]

What do you mean? You're unique compared to the rest of your species? [Tell him more, Ghaleon!!]

As a consequence of a significant portion of my body having been replaced, yes. In theory I would count as undead, but considering that I am for all intents and purposes very much alive, "construct with a soul" feels more accurate. The basis of said construct just happens to have been what was previously my corpse.

[Their tone remains light through the explanation, as if discussing a more run of the mill biology question that didn't raise so many more questions. No sense in being angsty about it, after all.]

On the bright side, I look fantastic in purple.

[Alright, all of this is incredibly interesting and he's probably going to be taking notes like a big nerd.]

Do you know if your situation is similar to Zelos'? He mentioned being dead (or undead, however you want to put it) as well.

What reconstructed you? Or who, that might be the better question. I'm guessing they used magic to do it? Did your actual death have any role in bringing you back, or was it unrelated?

un: GoldenGuard; text

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw: discussion of body horror

cw: discussion of body horror