Post by Non-Player Characters on Nov 7, 2006 21:54:28 GMT -5
(Transferred from Beyond Four Forests)
Nikore leaned against his staff, feeling the whisper of the smooth rowan wood against his palm. He had spent nearly the entire past year creating this staff, and he still had not completely perfected it. Working with a staff was a different experience entirely, and one he had not yet mastered. The construction of a Master Staff was one of the hallmarks of an Adept Mage, and when they had asked him to lead the Wizards, Nikore had known he needed to make such a staff. It would prove his prowess once and for all, and it could come in handy. After all, it was a power-focus, and the gods knew he needed all the focuses he could lay his hands upon. Even his layers of focus-gems - rings, pendants, brooches - could not control all of the power-leak he experienced. Master Rasert declared that he had never seen a mage with as much leakage as Nikore experienced. Power-leak only occured when a mage's unleashed power was strong enough to completely evade control. Most mages dampened power instinctively, but apparently Nikore had burned away any chance he had at dampening when he was younger and had no control over his rogue talents. He was forced now to rely on artificial dampeners, the focuses. Perhaps the staff would help...He had put more of himself into the making of his staff than he had ever dared in other projects. Now, he carried it with him at all times, letting himself grow accustomed to its presence as it grew more attuned to him. His fingers traced down the intricate carving, a unique design he had created to describe himself, in feeling, aura, and appearance. The self-carving was one that could only be done in deep trance, and it was an exhausting process. The carvings seemed to be a blurring of his elements - fire, wind, water, earth, healing, spirit, light, and dark.
Nikore's eyes rose above the gemmed head of his staff. Even through the thick foliage of the trees he could see the spire of the Mage's Tower. It always amazed him that such a massive structure could be raised in such a short amount of time. His office was near the top, giving him a grand view of Mixteca. At the moment, he was glad to be down here, away from the pressure of daily management for at least a little while. He tapped the copper-capped end of his staff against the root of a tree, smiling as the tree responded with a whisper of leaves.
Avalys should be coming out of her trance soon, if she remembered to set her timeclock. It's her first unassisted, unaccompanied Searching. By all rights I should be nervous, but I'm confident in her ability... Ironically, he began to feel a shiver of anxiety as he let his thoughts run. But perhaps I'm too confident of my own prowess as her instructor...Oh well. What comes, will come. He dismissed negative thoughts, determined not to cloud the site with destructive energies. That was one danger of holding a staff - suddenly, his ability to affect the lines of power increased tenfold.
Willing his mind to empty of all thought, he sat down next to his protege, staff laid across his lap. Reaching in, then out, he grasped the power within him and fed it into the surrounding area. With extreme control he traced a perfect mental circle around their site, cementing the shield magics as he went. When he finished, he checked the shield for flaws. After a thorough examination, Nikore was satisfied. That should prove enough...With a smile, he closed his eyes and sank into a trance, sending his mind outowards in search of Avalys.
Come back... His thoughts were gathered and spread by the winds. Come back, Seeker, and tell of your Find. The ritual seeking words held power of their own, power gained by centuries of use. Avalys would certainly recognize them from the many tomes she had perused.
Avalys returned to her physical body and blinked a few times. It was an odd feeling to transition from Searching to being in your normal body. She had located Katara on the other side of the forest. The mountain cat had killed a deer and was working away at it. Avalys looked over to Nikore, happy that he was back as well. She had forgotten to se her timeclock, so she was relieved that Nikore had told her to come back. She might have stayed in her trance for a long while had he not.
"I found Katara," she said with a smile. "She was clear across the forest, killing a deer." Avalys paused a moment. "I uh...forgot to set my timeclock too....thanks for calling me back. I won't forget next time." Avalys could sense the vast amounts of energy flowing from Nikore. She had gotten somewhat used to the feeling now, but it still felt strange from time to time.
Nikore leaned against his staff, feeling the whisper of the smooth rowan wood against his palm. He had spent nearly the entire past year creating this staff, and he still had not completely perfected it. Working with a staff was a different experience entirely, and one he had not yet mastered. The construction of a Master Staff was one of the hallmarks of an Adept Mage, and when they had asked him to lead the Wizards, Nikore had known he needed to make such a staff. It would prove his prowess once and for all, and it could come in handy. After all, it was a power-focus, and the gods knew he needed all the focuses he could lay his hands upon. Even his layers of focus-gems - rings, pendants, brooches - could not control all of the power-leak he experienced. Master Rasert declared that he had never seen a mage with as much leakage as Nikore experienced. Power-leak only occured when a mage's unleashed power was strong enough to completely evade control. Most mages dampened power instinctively, but apparently Nikore had burned away any chance he had at dampening when he was younger and had no control over his rogue talents. He was forced now to rely on artificial dampeners, the focuses. Perhaps the staff would help...He had put more of himself into the making of his staff than he had ever dared in other projects. Now, he carried it with him at all times, letting himself grow accustomed to its presence as it grew more attuned to him. His fingers traced down the intricate carving, a unique design he had created to describe himself, in feeling, aura, and appearance. The self-carving was one that could only be done in deep trance, and it was an exhausting process. The carvings seemed to be a blurring of his elements - fire, wind, water, earth, healing, spirit, light, and dark.
Nikore's eyes rose above the gemmed head of his staff. Even through the thick foliage of the trees he could see the spire of the Mage's Tower. It always amazed him that such a massive structure could be raised in such a short amount of time. His office was near the top, giving him a grand view of Mixteca. At the moment, he was glad to be down here, away from the pressure of daily management for at least a little while. He tapped the copper-capped end of his staff against the root of a tree, smiling as the tree responded with a whisper of leaves.
Avalys should be coming out of her trance soon, if she remembered to set her timeclock. It's her first unassisted, unaccompanied Searching. By all rights I should be nervous, but I'm confident in her ability... Ironically, he began to feel a shiver of anxiety as he let his thoughts run. But perhaps I'm too confident of my own prowess as her instructor...Oh well. What comes, will come. He dismissed negative thoughts, determined not to cloud the site with destructive energies. That was one danger of holding a staff - suddenly, his ability to affect the lines of power increased tenfold.
Willing his mind to empty of all thought, he sat down next to his protege, staff laid across his lap. Reaching in, then out, he grasped the power within him and fed it into the surrounding area. With extreme control he traced a perfect mental circle around their site, cementing the shield magics as he went. When he finished, he checked the shield for flaws. After a thorough examination, Nikore was satisfied. That should prove enough...With a smile, he closed his eyes and sank into a trance, sending his mind outowards in search of Avalys.
Come back... His thoughts were gathered and spread by the winds. Come back, Seeker, and tell of your Find. The ritual seeking words held power of their own, power gained by centuries of use. Avalys would certainly recognize them from the many tomes she had perused.
Avalys returned to her physical body and blinked a few times. It was an odd feeling to transition from Searching to being in your normal body. She had located Katara on the other side of the forest. The mountain cat had killed a deer and was working away at it. Avalys looked over to Nikore, happy that he was back as well. She had forgotten to se her timeclock, so she was relieved that Nikore had told her to come back. She might have stayed in her trance for a long while had he not.
"I found Katara," she said with a smile. "She was clear across the forest, killing a deer." Avalys paused a moment. "I uh...forgot to set my timeclock too....thanks for calling me back. I won't forget next time." Avalys could sense the vast amounts of energy flowing from Nikore. She had gotten somewhat used to the feeling now, but it still felt strange from time to time.