S2 Mission 4.4 - Let Your Magic Grow

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

You've been invited to a special area within palace grounds that stands as part of the Paladin training area. It's relatively open, and at the center stands a fae with large swirling horns wrapped in vines. Ser wings are long and a pale yellow in color. Se turn to you all as you enter and give a tight grin, nodding in recognition. "Hello SpectreCorps people.... witches and I believe cryptids, I presume, considering the invitation. I am Thea.. I will be your instructor for this event." se bow. It's notable by ser outfit that se could be of a higher council of the Paladin ranks, noted by various metal trinkets and emblems on their uniform.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

Ryder was nervous going somewhere in Elfame without esme, and even more nervous when considering it involved 'witch' stuff with the current state the witches were in away from earth. "Hello, um.. thanks for inviting us." He tried to be polite.

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle arrives along with Jarno and gives a small, polite curtsy in return, murmuring "Hello."

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

Lana cheerily greets the fae, bowing in return "Thank you for this opportunity Thea, I'm sure this will be very informative!"

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼 

Jarno tags in with Thistle and feels wildly out of place here, being the only human-human person. He reflexively bows a little following Thistle's cue.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

Bones stands in the back of the group silently, giving a confused side glance to Jarno's presence, but doesn't question it.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami came in gently staring at the other witches there, but it probably ends up looking like he glaring out of habit. He's a bit curious about what this was all for or what the fae could possibly be offering after his own experimenting with some of their magic here. "Hello."

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle staticks "He has been learning to use arcana from me" in Archaic Speech by way of explanation to Bones.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

Bones remains mildly confused, but less so.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror crosses her arms and stands near the back of the group. She's here.

Thea nods "I am happy to see so many of you were willing to participate. I've been informed that you are users of arcana and magic on a regular basis, and being the lead instructor of the use of magic through our Paladin arcana, I thought I could be of some assistance and give you some advice. Are you able to explain a bit more to me how your arcana functions and how you connect to it?"

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺

Thistle glances back at Jarno and Bones and murmurs "For cryptids, we draw on the subtle arcana that occurs naturally in the world around us, and have an innate ability to connect to and direct it...Jarno is human and so does not have that ability naturally, but I have been teaching him to connect to the arcana indirectly through a magical item he came into possession of recently."

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

Ryder looks around at the other witches and realizes that he's the one who's probably gonna need to explain this. "Um,, as a witch. We're born with arcane cores instead of hearts like other humans. We pull our magic from it,, uh. As well as we come from covens that worship different gods and higher beings that we have a connection with."

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼 

"Yeah, I use this," Jarno says and lifts the pendant on his chest."It's an artifact that allows me to tap into arcana, but I don't really know how it does it. It just does. Without it on me, I'm just a regular old human with no magic whatsoever."

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

Bones gives a single small nod. It's contributing.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀

Ryder seems to be admiring Jarno a bit while also slapping around on her chest to make sure she can feel both amulets there as a reminder. Listen he's afraid.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Camis side eyeing Ryder a bit for the end of that explanation

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

Lana nods along adding "While witches tend to be stronger with a divine connection its not necessary to cast spells."

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

Thea listens to their explanations before nodding. "I see. That's quite interesting. Here in Elfame, arcana is a blessing and a birthright equally. You see, we fae are all born with the ability to connect to magic and feels its pulse in the things around us. But our ability to manipulate it is only present when we are given the right to do so." Se motions to ser wings. "Our wings are bestowed on us by the Queen and the Grand Tree Bethadh. You've probably noticed, but Paladin's wings are all different from each other. This is because when we are given the right, our wings form from a connection to our heart and souls. They are a representation of our very selves. Thus, together, we draw upon the natural arcana around us and the connection it has to us internally. Almost like a combination of what you've describes, wouldn't you say?"

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle nods.

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

Jarno also nods. Sounds plausible.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

"Given the right? How strange." Bones comments.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

"Woooow." Hes trying (?)

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror just snorts at Cami's 'enthusiasm'.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

"So you,,, you have to. Ask the tree's permission?" Ryder has so many questions about their magic and asks the stupidest one first.

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

"So the wings act as a source of your arcana? Interesting..." Lana also has many questions

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

"We do not ask. We swear an oath." Se steps forward and raises one hand, ser wings glowing and morphing into wisps of sparkles and magic, swirling around Thea's torso and extended arm. When it finishes, with a flash, se have intricate pale yellow armor and in their hand is a rapier, also pale yellow in color and visually looking like a daffodil in theme and shape. "We swear an oath to Bethadh and we work to keep that oath. It's a promise, not permission. A dedication." 

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

"A promise that give permission." Bones nods.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

"...so if you were to go to earth or some other dimension away from here would it still be the same? Or is it affected by distance." Blinks knowing fae used to live on earth.

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺

Thistle quietly pipes up "Is it moreso 'permission', or that swearing this oath simply gives you a deeper connection to the tree you draw life from and therefore unlocks the ability?"

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

"What kind of dedication? Just a vow to the tree? Or is it anything you can think of?" Camis interested now

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹

"Fascinating, are there certain types of vows? Or is that more personal to each fae?"

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

"There are three oaths: Radiance, Nature, and Shadows. Each have their own tenants and these oaths draw upon different archaic connection.  I took an Oath of Radiance: I swear to protect the light in the world, to shelter it and let it grow. To protect its brilliance and the hope it brings." Se adjusts ser stance and the weapon disperses into sparkles as se cross ser arms. "While our arcana has a connection to Bethadh, what we truly draw upon is the arcana around us and within us. This allows us to be able to perform our duties without needing to be close to Bethadh. If we went to Earth, our actions would not be restrained." 

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle softly asks "And how is it you think we can use your techniques to improve our own casting?"

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

"Well, take away the fancy tree, and it sound like your source is pretty similar to the cryptids."

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

"I believe taking away the tree is the opposite of our purpose here."

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

"An exhange of information, learning more about our friends here might help us later on." Lana chides in

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

"Yes I suppose I am going on. Its an old habit" Se chuckles. "I agree that it seems more similar to how cryptids function than witches, but I would say there is still similarity in the arcana cores as well. Our wings, the mechnism of our magic and casting, form from our own soul and heart. And I believe it is what allows our connection to be more poignant. Which does lead to what I wanted to share today-" Se smiles at them. "I believe when you use your magic, you rely on the ability to cast a spell yes? We're able to do similar. And over the years, I have developed a technique that could aid you against stronger enemies. The act of honing your power by holding it within you." 

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺

"It is alright, it is interesting to learn, I am just curious about the logistics of mixing techniques." She tilts her head. "...like incubation?"

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

"I suppose it is worth trying." Bones hums.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Camis squinting. "Hold it in you'? This is starting to sound like a yoga class."

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror scoffs "Where are we? We're practically in a yoga world."

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

"What is yoga,"

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C

"Closer to a cult, but we'll go with Yoga world." He chuckles back

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

"Special stretches"

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼 

Jarno is a little intimidated. He just got his metaphorical druid license. He can just about direct the energy, now they want him to hold it? It sounds plausible but someone needs to explain it to him.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

"Let me give an example. Would anyone like to volunteer?"

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

Ryder nervously coughs no thank you.

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹

Lana rolls her eyes at Cami and Mirror "How do we go about holding it within? As in within our arcana core?"

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺

Thistle looks around and raises her hand slightly.

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

Jarno's not volunteering.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami smiles at Lana "What, we're participating~" He raises his hand to join in, expecting this to not do much

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

Thea motions forward. "Step forward please. I've laid out our practice mannequins" and se motions behind ser, "I'll need you to choose a spell that does some form of damage that you're well familiar with and begin casting it. Then, I want you to focus on holding it right here" and se pats ser chest "And feel magic swell and build as you do. Then whe you feel ready, release the spell on a mannequin." 

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami steps to line up with their dummy, and follows the instructions as they're described to him. If this was something worth while, it was better to actually try. He took a deep breath as he cast the spell, trying to focus and feeling the odd uncomfortable swelling before releasing the fire ball. (20/ DMG 62) He may have incinerated the mannequin-

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

Thea motions with ser arm, created a shield up that protects them from the flames.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

"dear heimdall Cami??" Ryder stared at the now pile of ash where this poor training dummy stood.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

Bones watches, mildly impressed.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami blinks and looks at their own hands a bit. He really wasn't expecting it to do that much more damage. "Uh.. fuck ok, whoops-"

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹

"oh mio dio-" Absolute horror as the mannequin instantly becomes ash

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

"Helvetti," Jarno swears, taking a step back. That's a lot of firepower.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror fixes her hair after it moved from blowback. "Well that was loud."

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle blinks and holds out her hand. "...I will try and put it out with an ice spell, one moment." She holds her hand out and a swirl of ice starts forming above, holding the ice storm spell longer than she typically would before casting. It does feel odd, but she keeps her focus without too much trouble before releasing it on the burning area (21; 16 bludgeoning dmg, 30 cold dmg).

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea smiles and nods. "Good job. So you see, by honing the spell and holding it closer and longer than you typically would, you can funnel more arcana into it and make it more potent. This is just quite tiring, so I don't recommend doing it too often within the same window of time." Se turns to the others."Would anyone else like to try?" don't mind the annihilated grounds behind them. 

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

",,,I would. Possibly." Lil hand raise while staring at the pits in the ground.

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle steps back into the group to make space for someone else.

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

Lana slowly raises a hand "...I'll take a swing at it."

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami also steps out of the way and goes to sit on the floor for a minute. That was a lot.. and it was really hot.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

"Is it two at a time?"

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

"We have many mannequins. Just try to mind your surroundings." se motions around them. "Wouldn't want to hurt someone."

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀

"Does it always have to be ranged?" Ryder steps out so she's turned to a mannequin.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

"Ranged is easiest with our set up, but it does not have to be."

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

Jarno puts a hand on his chin, looking at the ground and thinking about it. It does make sense, but he needs to figure out how to convert that into an image on his mind."I'm new to this, but I've been using mental image training to figure out new things... Do you think it would work here? Like imagining the arcana pooling into my chest like a lake, flooding from melting snow?" he asked Thea. 

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea turns to Jarno "All you can do is give it a try." Se nods. 

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

Taking a deep breath, Lana lines up with one of the dummies and focuses her energy on the spell. Feeling it bubble up to a boiling point she launches a chromatic orb (19/ 30 acid dmg)

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

Ryder pulls out the pen from behind her ear, spinning it until it was her wand. "..So I just.. uh.." With a little shake of her hand blight was casted on the head of the mannequin leading it to rapidly spread black from the inside out and rot it to dust. Her heart lightly dropped when it spread into the floor, rotting a divot in it before it fizzled out. (75 dmg idk man help). "..oh. jeez, uh. I didnt want to,,, set something on fire-" Looks at Thea in fear.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea just nods and grins. "Are you understanding how it feels? What you're doing... Feeling your magic to hold in"

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

"You are going to run out of manequins." Bones comments.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

"...is it supposed to hurt so much?" Ryder was a little wobbly on her feet going back to the group.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

"There tends to be some discomfort, but nothing extreme."

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

"I'll go next," Jarno says. He doesn't want to be the last one to go, being the odd man out here. He's got a solid plan for what he's gonna do. 

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

"Somewhat... its unusual. Feels unruly, but useful." She smiles at Thea "Thank you for sharing this!" 

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

"I think there's something wrong.." It felt like a mix of heartburn and constipation and she wasn't doing very good even after the spell left. A cough didn't help the choking up in her chest.

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle murmurs "Yes, thank you."

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami tilted their head at Ryders reaction "... bitch are you choking?"

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

"Ryder dear, are you ok??" Lana worriedly turns to him

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

Mirror hums "I imagine the runes on your body are not interacting well with the magic you're swelling."

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

"I think I'm too young to have a heart attack." Is this the monster energy drinks coming back to nerf her from god. She ends up sitting down, pulling up her sleeves to watch if the runes are glowing. "..I've never felt anything like this. Maybe? ah.."

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami watches him for a minute. "What me to hit your back? Might help." grins

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

Bones steps forwards while the witches talk, preparing for a moment before aiming an ice knife at one of the least damaged manequins (12 damage, 14 cold damage.) "...That was uncomfortable. I will likely not do it again. Thank you for the lesson."

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea grins "To each their own."

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹

Lana scowls up at Cami "I doubt that's going to help him right now-"

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀

"No it's okay- I mean it'd probably help if it was a normal uh.. burp or something. This just feels worse." Little wheeze as she looks between the witches.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

"You dont know. Maybe she just needs like a good whack to get the rest out." knife cat smile

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹

"Or you could make it worse!" she stands between them to block Cami

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea looks over before making ser way over to th witches. "Something the matter?"

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C

"Hmm?" He looks at the fae "Nothing. Just joking around~" and then he leans on Lana like an arm rest

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

Jarno is nervous as he braces for the spellcasting, facing the dummy and raising both of his hands before him. He imagines water pooling into his chest as he works up to get the spell in control and struggles to hold the tide back for the first time in his life. He finally lets it go and an icicle shoots out from between his hands and strikes the mannequin [11, 8 dmg] and shatters, ripping it apart [15 dmg]. He's winded from the effort, but very proud he did it first try!"HELL YEAH!" Jarno throws victorious fists in the air. He can barely feel the uneasiness from his elation.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

",,,are you open to talk once we're uh,,, done with the demonstration?" Squeak from floor Ryder to their poor fae teacher. "I just,, don't wanna bother people with my problems I mean."

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺 

Thistle is mildly paying attention to the seeming health crisis behind her but gives Jarno an approving nod regardless.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴 

"Hm. Impressive." Bones nods, still feeling a little odd as seeing a human cast druid magic.

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

Lana swats at the arm on her, huffing at her annoying colleague. "Must you always act like a child-"

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

He grins "Yes, mainly cause it annoys you. And its fun~" sticks out his tongue

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror sighs and steps forward. "Suppose I'll give it a go." she summons her wand then channels the spell, although she doesn't sort out where her target is first and just fires, releasing lightning bolt at a magnified state. The damage streaks across the training grounds loudly. (62 dmg)

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami quickly covered one ear, but wasn't fast enough. "Fucken ow-"

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

"Oops. Hopefully I didn't hit anyone." Mirror grins

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼 

Jarno is now a little afraid of the firepower the witches have in general. His ears ring and his chest is tight.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea looks at Ryder. "I'm sure it wouldn't be bothersome to speak about it now."

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

Lana clings to the nearest thing, in this case, Cami. Cursing in italian "Ay-- Mirror, a little warning next time please."

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

"If you had hit somebody, you would be liable. Be more careful." Bones comments to Mirror.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror just shrugs and puts her wand away.

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami looks at Lana suddenly cling to him and snarks "Wow, you changed your attitude fast? Need me to protect you?"

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

",,oh. uh. okay." Rubs her ears a little bit to get the ringing out. ",,,I think I'm running into some difficulty because uh... when my magic first manifested I had these runes tattood on me that uh.. gave my magic specific path points? So it didn't get.. explosive or anything. Um. So I think,, that's why it hurts and maybe why this isn't working for me." sweats.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Thea hums. "That's an odd practice. The act of controlling your power like that seems... unnatural." 

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹 

"N-no.. sorry." clearing her throat and quickly backing off. She doesn't even bother firing back.

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀 

",,I would uh. Love a way to reverse it but.." Kind of comes out as a 'haha' joke. ",,,,my coven thought that I was too unpredictable so when it came up as a suggestion by the elders I,, got them. Which is fine! It's just sort of developing into a... a pain? Maybe." 

👽 Bennie | 🌸 A 💀 F 🍵 C 

Cami blinks, not expecting that. He doesn't say anything, but he is very curious about that response. 

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

"You could always speak with the Queen and see if she'll hear you out. She can perform grand miracles that many of us can only wish to do."

Ari | Syd 🔥 Ryder 🐀

"Oh o,, okay. Um. Thank you? .. is there anything else we need to do here."

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋

"Not really. You all picked that up quite easily. You're free to use the training areas and continue to practice, if you'd like. Just try not to hurt anyone or destroy the grounds too much."

Tiu | Jarno🌲Nera👼

Yeah Jarno is gonna need a break before going back to training it. But he will come back. Just need to digest and masticate on the experience a bit.

Goose | C📚 L🌻✨ J🛹

Lana bows at Thea “Thank you for your time.” And swiftly makes her exit

✨ Blue | Wisty 🌇 Thistle 🌺

Thistle wordlessly disappears into the background somewhere.

Rob | Esme 🍄 Sushi 🍣 Bones 🦴

Bones does the same.

👻 Bec | R 🥀N👁M🦋 

Mirror just leaves.