"Complete healing!? The blade would be able to heal me? How complete is 'complete'? Does it involve regenerating limbs that have been severed? Could it reattach a severed limb days after it was severed? I lost a limb once, before I had magic. Severed feom a teleportation incident with another verser, Pollux. We managed to reattach and heal the injury, good as new, but it took a few days. Could the sword do that?"

I chuckle, "Healing is the only thing I can't do well."

At the mention of comics, "Comics aren't really my thing. I prefer light novels. 'Super beings' like Hegemons or Autarchs in Desolate Era require supreme mastery of a dao. Similarly, Paragons in Coiling Dragon completely fused all the mysteries of a single dao path. Comics, from what I've heard, tend towards the cheaper or cheesier methods to power."

"Some of them can. The cheap ones just do basic healing. My bad."

"You never answered me. What are you willing to give up for blacksmithing lessons?"



"Whatever kid. You're speaking Greek to me. So are we gonna do business or what?"

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:05, Sun 12 Nov 2017.

"Funny you should say that, I actually know Greek, a dialect, at least. Learned it during the Trojan War.  But yes! If not necessarily lessons then a sword.  I'm not certain what you would find appropriate, but at least these two things."

I take my ninja sword from my waist and present it. I also take out the triangular healing device.

"The sword is from the same place I got the shurikens, so it's probably also... what did you call it? Mithral?  I can't recognize it on sight. This triangular pyrmid device I got from... somewhere. I don't know what it was supposed to be called, but it was a massive battlefield - quite a few versers showed up. A medic was carrying it. As far as I can tell, it can be used once a day to heal any injury, regardless of severity. It is how I reattached my severed limb.

You've seen the rest of what I have, but these are probably the only two that would interest you.  As far as items go.  I do have some magic skills, I'd be willing to teach, from some basic elemental magic to nifty tricks - opening doors, mending tears in paper, levitation, temporary color changes, but they probably pale in comparison to your own. Still, they are on the table as well.

I'm not willing to exchange the healing device just for lessons, but if it's possible for a similar effect on a sword, I'd trade it, with whatever is necessary to go with it."

He examines the sword and says "Yeah, that's mithral alright. Tell you what, I'll trade you a complete blacksmithing toolkit complete with a Chaos hammer for this sword. But you're never gonna see the sword again. Not as a sword anyway. Free blacksmithing lessons come with the purchase of a toolkit."

You need to have minimum 2@1 skill using his tools as tools to do any magic with them. His free lessons will get you to 1@3. The Chaos hammer will create heat, light and basic healing once you've got 2@1 blacksmithing.



"You didn't get me kid. I said I'm giving up my time and expertise. Aren't you willing to do likewise? I could always use a gopher. That might get you blacksmithing lessons. Remember though, I'm not the only blacksmith here. Feel free to look around."

But then he pauses and says "What's up with you and Carly Rae? I saw her this morning and she was dog sick and pissed at you for something."

OOC) Like I said, I'm gonna change her drastically.

(Doing Therapy)

"Hmm? Not sure.  Ladies are not my forte. Most of the ones I've known have died, usually because of my actions, though not directly.  Once turned down someone's offer to join them, and he raided the academy I was learning magic at, killed the few girls I was getting along with and versed me soon thereafter. I wasn't under my own control when I met, dated, and married my wife, so I doubt that counts. One was eaten by zombies, others were killed shortly after I met them. My luck after becoming a verser with ladies is less than splendid.

That, and I'm just a naturally aggressive and violent person. Maybe my aura made her sick?

Questions: learning blacksmithing from you, do you only teach hammers? I don't need a fancy sword, only an effective one. Would I be able to create that if I learn from you?"

I put away the healing device as I consider my options and wait for a response from Magehammer.

Huh. Illness. Gonna head to the tower and see about acquiring that device, then maybe head over to Karin, if I have time.

"I dunno man, just, uh, I'd keep an eye on her at survival class if I were you."



"You'd be able to make an iron and steel sword, sure. Nothing magical unless you get really lucky and find favor in the eyes of the gods of Order and Chaos."

He makes swords but he doesn't know how to fight with them. He can fight with his hammer of course.

OOC) He's my character and don't think I could ever bring myself to use a sword in a fight. Something about it bugs me. Bludgeons on the other hand........

(Doing Therapy)

"Oh. Gods. Yea, realistically that'll never happen.  My luck with gods is on par with my luck with ladies. The few gods I've interacted with have been terrible experiences. Though Ares did send me to the Trojan War where I got to fight Achilles, so that was cool, but still not a pleasant experience with gods on the whole.

Not at all familiar or even ever heard of the gods of Order and Chaos. I'll keep it in mind, but deities and I do not get along. Maybe if one of them introduces themselves and wants a chat without trying to kill me or sending me to a place that will kill me.  Maybe when I find an agreeable god I could do the whole faith and favor thing. For now, it's not really an option."

I put my sword away, strap it to myself and turn towards the tower. "I'll keep it in mind. Might not show up tonight, give her time to cool off. Agitated ladies that are versers don't stick around for long."

After bidding farewell I head towards the tower. When I reach the tower I will head towards the shop that sells the biometric body stat device thing. I'll also inquire about the price.

---

Yea, that's something I'll never understand. None of my characters ever use bludgeoning weapons. I understand their purpose, and possibly the appeal, but I could never do it. Swords, daggers, magic, pistols, sniper rifles. If high tech, both long and short covered, med range is irrelevant. If low tech, short range covered, long range is irrelevant in low tech. If magical, then I've got it covered.  Even in other games.

"I am an Order/Chaos mage. Through proper manipulation of the forces of Order and Chaos, I can Do Anything. There's a couple of Order/Chaos priests that live in The Tower. You'd be a Tool User. But yeah, that's what the gods of Order and Chaos do. If you're selected to be a mage, they'll visit you. They're extraordinarily polite. Never had a disagreement with them yet."

He tells you that the selection to be an Order/Chaos mage is completely random. Having a tool won't change your odds. He didn't have any tools when he was selected.



"The gods of Order and Chaos don't really require worship or devotion. Sometimes they ask mages and priests to do jobs for them, but most of the time, you're free to do whatever you want. Personally, I think they just get a kick out of giving random people magic powers. Just looking at you, I think you'd probably be selected to be a Chaos mage. I was first selected as an Order mage. Worked my way up."

OOC) Is that a path you'd be interested in? Would you like a visit from the gods of Order and Chaos?



"Uh, no, bad idea. Come to the class. Get it done and over with. Do Not give her time to stew on it. If you saw what happened to poor No-Me when she ignored Carly......"

And he will not elaborate on that.



It's a wristwatch that projects a 3 dimensional hologram of your entire body. You can see at different levels, from the skin to the center of the bone. It will diagnose lots of body problems.

When you ask how you pay for it, they offer you a job.

(Doing Therapy)

I shrug in response to Magehammer. "We'll see."

Later, in the tower when offered a job I raise an eyebrow at that.

"A job. Doing what? For how long? What are the hours like?"

---

Honestly, I have no idea. I have only ever encountered chaos magic in a manuscript a friend wrote. Flip quarters, one lands tails, one lands on its side, the other stops and hovers in the air before transforming into a chicken. Chaos magic.   It sounds interesting, but honestly, Avahur needs to refine his tool set.  If a god of Chaos showed up and was like 'here, have chaos magic' I'd probably set it aside for a while until I was reasonably happy with the skills I have.

Avahur can draw his sword and attack in one smooth motion, faster than most people can react. he's a pretty good sword fighter. He can also shoot people from far away, but that requires bullets, specific caliber bullets. That's cool, but very, very, specific. It's not versatile at all. I don't like the current state of Avahur's elemental magic. Once that gets sorted out, even if I don't improve in any of my other skills, just confidence in elemental magic would make me ready to have Avahur take on the whims of the universes and whatever gods and magic they may hold.

"It depends. Do ya just want the biometric watch? That'll cost ya 16 hours. Gotta package ah some stuff what's so unstable it ain't safe to teleport it by any means. Can't move it faster than 6-8 MPH either. Gotta move it on foot. Anyway, I got this stuff for a gentleman what lives in one ah the outer colonies. Need it delivered. Sixteen hour walk. Then they can teleport ya back here."

Or do you want something more permanent?



OOC) This is not anything like that. Order/Chaos mages create Order and/or Chaos on an atomic level. Chaos is movement, heat, light, radiation, fire, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes. Order is slowness. Stillness. Create darkness, cold, solids from liquids and gases, creating rain from the humidity in the air.

It would probably work with your elemental magic actually. Earth, wind, fire and water right? Wind and Fire definitely. Tornado and flame thrower, anyone?

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:33, Sun 12 Nov 2017.

Hmm, 16 hour walk. Would definitely miss the class.  Do I care about Carly Rae being mad? No, not really. This is her first verse, and she doesn't seem the outgoing type.  Even if she's fierce when mad, I could just kill her.  I refuse to believe some noob verser that hasn't been to a battlefield would be able to kill me.  So long as I don't die, the triangular device can heal me to full. Plus I've got armor protecting most of me.  She can teleport, only to places she can see, which means not behind me, facing me. That's far enough away to react. Let's do it.

"Yea, sounds good. I'm up for a 16 hour walk."

I deliver the package to the outer colonies.

---

Yea, sufficient mastery of elemental magic would let me do all of that. Tier 3 could do it in a small, localized area. Tier 4 for within the area that I can see. Earth with a touch of fire for volcanoes, water and fire for gas (I did that in my last gather thread, generating fog), pure tier 3 water for solids, tier 3 wind for tornadoes, tier 4 fire (or tier 3 fire and light) for plasma Tier 3 light for radiation. Tier 1 fire or tier 2 light for heat.

OOC) Don't forget though. Carly Rae has been taking that survival class for a century. She's expert with bows, knives, hunting, tracking, stalking. A super assassin in the form of a shy mousy librarian. Not to mention the fact that you have no idea what other psionics she can do. I wouldn't dismiss her as a threat that quickly.



But that kind of moot because the guy tells you:

"Not till tomorrow. That's when it needs to be delivered. Show up here at first light so you ain't walking in the dark."

So you can still go to the class tonight.



OOC) Suit yourself. I realize it's not for everybody.

"Huh, ok."

I leave the store and head toward where Karin is/was.

When I get there I will try to ascertain her achievements with elemental magic, in particular how she fuels it.

<Negotiation start>

---

How much time left til the class starts? Not sure how long these errands are taking and how long it will take me to reach the wilderness.

"First off, you show me what you got. Then I show you what I got."

She wants you to demonstrate all of your elemental magic before she shows you hers.

OOC) I'm trying to buy myself time to study up on it a bit. Do you have any suggestions for websites to read?



OOC) You'll know when it's time.

(Doing Therapy)

"Sure.  Just to preface and give you an idea of where I'm coming from and what I want to accomplish: What I can do now is magic of most of the elements, but my application is limited. I need to think or somehow invoke words to put them into action for pre-defined effects. It's too limited. What I'm looking for, is mastery. I want to be able to think or plan an action, and be able to put into use through mastery of magic. Lastly, I need to use my body's energy to fuel the magic.  I'm in excellent shape, but a fight where I have to use magic as well is incredibly draining.

"So, starting with fire," I proceed to demonstrate my fire spells, saying their name aloud when I invoke the spell.. I snap a finger to help invoke 'flamma' and create a small flame. I then move through the rest of my fire magic. 'Incendo' to shoot fire, 'flammas jacio' to shoot stronger fire, 'flammacio' (stronger version (and shortened) of flammas jacio) to shoot much stronger fire. 'Flamma Munimenta' to create a shield of fire.

"I am aware of the spell 'Circumcaesura Flamarum', which should cover my body in fire, though I've never successfully cast it, and have only seen another verser do it successfully. We learned magic at the same academy.

"Water magic includes 'Aqua'," I cup my hands and fill them with water, then I drink said water.

Afterwards I demonstrate 'Lavo' to shoot a jet of water and 'Aqua Tutela' to form a water shield.

"Wind magic isn't as noticeable, so if you extend your arm I can blow it past it: 'Flabra'" I create a small gust of wind blowing towards her arm if she extends it, or otherwise at a flap of fabric to demonstrate. 'Inflo' for a stronger gust of wind, and "'Flabra Tutamen' requires constant motion for the shield.  Mildly annoying."

I wave my arms and hands in a circle as I demonstrate the shield, then stop and move on to earth magic.

I extend my hand, 'Terra', to create a small amount of dirt. (I don't recall if it was specified, but I could probably do any form of dirt, like sand, for example.)

I drop the dirt and point my arm at the ground, 'Humo', and shoot dirt in that direction. Then I crouch to the ground placing my hands on the floor and rise them up as I create a shield of dirt, 'Humus Munitio'.

"So, that's it. Limited in scope, but diverse. One hand fire, the other water, creates a fog when put together. Fire in one hand and wind in the other for a blow drier. Some combinations are nifty, but still limited applications."

I raise an eyebrow in her direction.

"So, what can you do?"

---

To study up on what? Elemental magic?  Depending on the (magic) system you are using or basing it on, there's lots of ways to handle it.  My personal preference is a combination of dao from chinese web/light novels, and wizards from western fantasy. You've got graded step by step progression with the ambiguity of personal preference. I could write a book just discussing magic systems. If you're interested I could provide links to specific examples, as well as web novels.

Edit: This link is an excellent resource: http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/Elemental_Magic
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

Karin takes you into her house. It's made out of pressed clay walls. The roof is some manner of dried animal skin. Inside, she's got lamps burning some kind of oil.

She's also got numerous potted plants in clay pots. You've heard of crazy cat ladies? She's a crazy plant lady.

"You put a lot of emphasis on the words you speak, is that right? Words are just words. It's what the spell means to you."

And she draws a circle on the ground in the dirt with her finger. Then she waves her hand over it chanting "Poteth riseth." and a circular clay pot rises up out of the ground. Some more hand waving and chanting, and she picks up a clay flowerpot.

"It's how I built this house."

Then she waves her hands in the room with all of the potted plants and says "Humideth falleth."

And it starts raining inside, watering all of the plants.

Then you step outside. She holds her arms out at length, starts spinning in a circle and says "Tornadoeth Rideth"

And while she spins, a solid wall of wind, perfectly round in shape, begins to form underneath her feet. It lifts her off of the ground. She invites you to step up on top of it. Assuming you do, you ride on top of a tornado going about 10 MPH up and down the block.

Then she tells you to light a little piece of trash on fire with your magic, saying "You can light a fire, but can you put one out?"

Waving her hands and chanting "Flameth Dieth." and the fire goes out.

"That's just a sampling of what I know. Now let's talk about price."

(Doing Therapy)

In response to:


"Oh, word emphasis was how it was taught. I've been going from battlefield to battlefield and haven't had time to focus on actually learning or experimenting with it, or even really understanding it. The academy was attacked long before I was ready to leave."

I consider for a moment.

"I'm not sure if I have anything you would consider appropriate. Back in my room at the tower, I have a variety of guns, armor, and ammo from previous worlds, all of which are up for grabs if that sort of thing interests you.

"I can be considered a very skilled swordsman, specializing in sword draw one hit K.O.s, Battoujutsu, or Iaijutsu as it is sometimes called. If that interests you, I'm willing to teach that in exchange.

"I'm moderately proficient in unarmed combat, which I'm also willing teach. If none of that interests you, then I'm willing to do unspecified work in exchange for tutelage."

Looking around at all the plants.

"You've got a lot of plants. I know a spell that summons flowers too, not sure if you know it or something similar, I've got a small smattering of non-elemental magic."

"Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, consider these lessons a gift from me."

(Doing Therapy)

"Deal. Doesn't matter what it is, from a one man assault on heaven or hell, a trip to the abyss, or to a trip to a world where violence is prohibited. Whichever or whatever service you may require of me in the future, I will do it to the best of my ability when you call upon it."

I cup fists and bow to Karin.

"When do we start, teacher?"

She ponders. "You strike me as a combative sort. Good. This will do you well."

She starts waving her left hand around, chanting "Rocketh Skineth."

Then she pulls out a small caliber revolver from somewhere and shoots herself in the left hand. The bullet mushrooms in her hand and she drops it on the ground at her feet.

1@1 Rock Skin. Makes your skin hard as a rock for one attack.

Then she starts waving her hand in a circle chanting "Tornadoeth attacketh"

And throws a tornado at you strong enough to knock you on your butt.

1@1 Tornado wind attack

Then she starts waving her hands in front of her chanting "Atmosphereth freezeth"

And a wall of ice forms from the humidity in the air.

And lastly:

She points her finger at a piece of firewood. She's chanting "Nuketh appeareth"

And the piece of firewood explodes. Bursts into flames from the inside out.

1@1 Nuke Em.

This takes hours to teach. But whilst you're practicing, Magehammer sticks his head in the door and says "Hey Karin, do you have those plants I asked for?"

And she says "Yup." and gives him two potted plants.

He thanks her and hands her a bag of coins. And he is about to leave when he spots you.

"Hey kid, ya coming to the class or what? I'm telling you man, it's best to get this thing with Carly Rae done and over. Do Not give her time to stew on it."

He promises he won't let her hurt you....... too badly.

(Doing Therapy)

As I learn the magic, "It's just word association?"

When Magehammer comes in and asks about the class, I turn and bow to Karin.

"Teacher, may I be excused for 2 days, tonight to attend senior Magehammer's wilderness class and hopefully clear up this misunderstanding with Carly Rae, and tomorrow I have to make a delivery to the outer colonies for a tower shop as repayment for a device. I've heard it's a 16 hour walk."

If Karin agrees, I'll go to Magehammer's class, otherwise I'll stay here.  I'll also stay and  ignore both if it's the ultimatum 'stay and learn, or go elsewhere, choose one.' Magic always takes precedence.

If Karin agrees, then when Magehammer mentions 'he won't let her hurt me... too badly'.

I look at him, "I've already mentioned I'm a violent and aggressive individual. This I know, and can't help much. If she wants to yell and be irrational, that I can handle. I'm not even sure why she's mad, I haven't done anything to her, we barely even spoke.

"If she attacks me, however, she may wake up in a new world, or at least have to bear burning for a while.

"Still, I'll apologize for whatever and see where it goes. My luck with ladies is terrible, as you may recall."

---

I linked this in Cala's thread when he just started to learn magic, but it's especially appropriate now, with what Karin mentioned.  Not sure how you feel about anime, but this 4 min 30 sec clip is super appropriate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Lr-o6YvNM

"Words mean whatever you want them to mean."

And that's all she'll say on it.



Karin just says "Yeah, sure. Go have fun."




He just says "Look kid, I don't know what's going on with her. All I know is she was dog sick and pissed at you for something."

Then he says "You ready to go?"

Then he puts his hand on your shoulder. The world tastes purple, you cease to exist, and you're in the woods. He drops you off next to Carly Rae and teleport himself to a safe distance to watch.

Carly Rae still looks a little green. When she sees you, she turns around and loses her breakfast on the ground. Then she turns to you and says, with no trace of stammering:

"I don't know what that smell you were putting off was. It smelled amazing. Like Joy and Happiness all rolled into a smell. But when I woke up this morning, I had a hangover from the pits of Krogerton itself!!! Don't you EVER do that around me again!!!"

Then she turns around to Magehammer and says "Ya know what? I quit this class!!! The chess pieces told me to try woodworking anyway!!!!"

Magehammer looks at her puzzled and says "Chess pieces?"

But Carly Rae has already teleported herself as far as her eye can see.

OOC) So now she's not attracted to you anymore.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:35, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

Appearing next to Carly Rae suddenly, I raise an eyebrow as she loses her breakfast.

Yep, that's gross. Reminds me of the first time someone sees a dead body, or kills someone.

"Sorry." I cast florae, and summon pink carnations, which I then extend to her.

Assuming she still rants and teleports away, I shrug. "Guess it was the aura."

I attend class as normal.

Carly Rae smiles a little when you hand her the flower, before going off on her rant and teleporting away.



You hear Magehammer muttering to himself "Chess Pieces. She's been selected. Wonder if she's going to be Order or Chaos....."

But then he snaps back to reality. "Today's lesson is how to make spears, bows and arrows with the stone tools you made yesterday."

1@1 Construct spear
1@1 Construct bow and arrows.

Class happens.

After class I walk back to the tower, practicing the magic I learned today.

Words mean whatever I want them to mean? Ok, 1 syllable words. Affix the word and their meaning in my mind, picture what I want to happen, say the word, cast the spell.

I recall practicing rock skin, "Hard", and cast rock skin.

Once it works, I move onto the tornado attack, "Gale", and cast the tornado attack.

Once that works I move onto the ice wall, "Wall", and cast the ice wall.

Lastly I look for sticks and branches on the ground on the way back, concentrate, recall the practice and example of Karin doing it and say "Nuke", and cast Nuke 'em.

Once I get to the tower and back to my room, I'll get some rest.  If there's an alarm function in the room, I'll set it for 4 hours later, and try the sleeping trick to be more rested with less sleep.