Originally posted June 16, 2008
((Leaders of SG's are expected to create structures for characters to interact within. As a mage, Shiv started a magic class for those so inclined. This was the introduction.
I've included a description from the original posting at the end.))
Siobhan sits on one end of the big couch in the lounge. She’s got her legs tucked up under her, having traded her kilt for a pair of well worn jeans. She holds a large earthenware mug. Its steaming contents smell vaguely earthy and sweet.
"Thank ye fer coming," She begins. "Macy asked mae tae put something taegether regarding a magic class. Ah thought meeting with the members that were interested fer a cuppa and a natter would suite jist as well."
"Here’s mae thought. Ah’m going tae share some ideas an thoughts about what Ah ‘ave in mind as far as what Ah ken teach ye. Listen fer a little bit and feel free tae ask mae any questions. Ah cannae say Ah know all of ye that well. If there is something ye dinnae want tae ask in front of others, ye ken contact mae later."
"Ken?" Shiv looks around, noting a few nods.
"Ye should know from the start that magic tis nae easy. Magic is ‘ard. Magic gives, but it also extracts a toll, a price. Magic requires discipline an focus. There are easier ways tae power, Ah ken."
"Simply put, magic represents the expression of will ontae the environment. More that anything, magic requires strength of will; the belief that ye can affect the world around ye. ‘ow one uses their will tae control reality differs from school tae school, individual tae individual. The monk that receives visions of the future while meditating is performing magic equally with the witch that stares intae ‘er boiling cauldron. Tis all magic, jist manifest in different ways."
"Tae mae knowledge, there be three types of magic."
"Some spells require a number of components and a recipe. Ye put certain items taegether in a certain way while saying certain words and making precise gestures. Tis called ‘Hedge’ magic. If any of ye ‘ave joined the Midnighters and made the curing staff, that ritual is a guid example of Hedge magic. Anyone ken do Hedge magic. Ye jist need tae ‘ave the right recipe and the right parts. Tis not usually very powerful, ‘owever."
"Ah dinnea teach Hedge magic."
"A person ken make a trade with an extra-dimensional being in exchange fer magical power. This is called "Infernal" or "Diabolical" magic. Tis powerful, very powerful. Nearly anyone ken make a pact. Tis very, very dangerous. No matter ‘ow clever ye think ye are, these beasties, formori, and demons ‘ave been plying this trade fer a long time. Ye will always lose more than ye think. It t’will always end in suffering."
Siobhan looks away from the group for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Ah will nae teach anyone ‘ow tae make a pact. Ne’er again. Dinnae ask. If Ah found out ye’ve made such a bargain, Ah will nae show ye anything else about magic and will nae stand near tae ye at meetings. Ah dinnae want tae go down with ye as collateral damage."
"Ah ken teach True Magic. True Magic comes from yer creativity, yer focus, and yer will. Tis channeled from yer avatar; ye spirit self, if ye rather. Some of ye may nae ‘ave an avatar. True Magic will ne’er be available tae those unfortunates. Learning tae use yer avatar to direct mystic forces allows ye incredible flexibility an power. There’s very little ye cannae do with enough practice, experience, an time."
"Now, thoughts on 'ow best tae use this energy differ according tae any number of magical schools. Ah know of nine schools, each of them with a slightly different take on things. Ah would be burned as a heretic fer saying so. All the schools 'ave equally valid points of view, Ah ken."
The young mage shifts a bit in her chair, passing her mug from one hand to the other. "Ah need tae tell ye. Ah was nae always the clear 'eaded, collected, grossly undersexed lass ye see before ye taeday. Ah've been booted from tae schools of magic fer different reasons. Ah 'ave ne'er completed a course of study. Ah know a wee bit about magic, an Ah know 'ow much Ah dinnea know. Ah think Ah ken 'elp those who want tae learn."
"Ah've studied in what tis known at the Hermetic school. These mages control reality through an understanding of secret symbols and glyphs. The runes on mae sword 'elp guide it tae its target and drive it 'ome with more power than Ah ken muster. The pattern on Macy's back protects 'er from outside magical influences. Ah use Hermetic magic fer general protection and tae direct the sphere of Forces."
"Ah also studied with a coven of witches." She pauses for a moment, her mind wrapped in some warm memory. "We worked in the Life sphere, using blood, sweat, split, semen, snot, and bile tae affect our will. Ah use these magics tae improve mae healing abilities, grow wings, etc. Ah ken also heal others, given enough time."
"That's important tae note. Uses of True Magic ken di jist about anything they set their mind tae, provided they 'ave the experience, the focus, and the will. It dinnea matter what school they belong tae."
"That's what Ah can offer. Ah would run things informally. Ah'd like tae get taegether as a group once a week, maybae after one of the Phalanx's regular meetings. We wounnae be sitting in a class at those times. Ah would look tae take us all tae the streets tae apply what we've learned. Ah could meet with ye all as individuals tae introduce new topics. A lot of the magic Ah ken reflects the individual nature of the caster. A whole group session wounnae work tae well, Ah reckon."
She takes a long draw from her mug. "Ah reckon Ah've nattered on long enough. Any questions or thoughts?"
--
((A couple of notes here. This likely goes without saying, but the ideas expressed above represent Shiv's thoughts on magic. There are a ton of different ideas and thoughts about how magic works. The above borrows from the paradigm developed from the P&P RPG, Mage: the Awakening. Big surprise as Siobhan is a port of an NPC from a long term World of Darkness chronicle I used to run.
They do represent the kind of magic she would likely teach, however. Keep this in mind if you decide to join the class.
I thinking of "Magic Class" as primary a social group that gets together regularly to run patrols and missions together, with a common RP theme. I'm thinking once a week on a weeknight to get us started. We could also use the forums to participate in shared RP that doesn't necessarily work well in the actual CoH gamespace. We would have our our forum and could interact with each other there with shared fiction, building on each other's stories.
That's what I was thinking. As the young lady asks, any thoughts or questions? Please post if you're interested.))
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