Post by Non-Player Characters on Nov 7, 2006 21:59:03 GMT -5
(Transferred from Beyond Four Forests)
Nikore released his magical 'grip' on the node in the elevation-platforms spellworkings. The marble platform shook as magical energy transformed into mechanical. Without the magic key holding the catches in place, spring-loaded metal bars shot out from their shafts to slip tight into the elevation-shaft's walls. Metal sparked for a second as the bars caught, but without the magic force to keep the platform moving upwards the bars only had to prevent a downwards motion. As it was, the protections on the platform were heavy, and accessory spells helped in case of emergencies. Nikore smiled; this platform represented more than an easy trip. It was a representation of what a group of mages working in concert could create.
The elevation-platform could be run by any mage, as long as he had even the most basic grasp of magic. It required being able to 'hold' a magic node, the only 'visible' portion of the spell, set in a bright ruby to help those who needed to have an object as a focus. The platform would then accelerate under a self-contained levitation spell. The spell levitated not only the platform, but those on it as well. There was no acceleration discomfort, and technically no weight limit. The only true limit was size - the platform was only six feet in diameter, with a shielded six inch leeway between the circular platform and the expanse of wall that was the 'shaft' of the elevation platform. The walls were grooved to guide the support bars. The platform needed to align completely with the wall-holes that marked each floors. In addition, one had only to think of the floor to send the platform there; runes on the white marble helped to mark the current floor as well as destination floor. Only the bottom floors, the dorms and dining halls, had free access; the Teaching and Workroom floors were only open during the school day. Full mage and teacher rooms were passcoded, as were the experimental floors, Nikore's office, the Mage Library, and Weatherwatch. Nikore wished such precautions were not necessary, but inevitably a large bastion of mages would prove too tempting as a possible takeover.
Nikore stepped off the platform and out into his office. A casual caress of his mixed magic 'informed' the variety of spells set around his office that he had arrived. Traps and sensors faded, and the various magelights flared into blue-white brilliance. Nikore smiled; the artificer-mages and architect-mages that had been ignored for centuries only needed acceptance. Although he had lost ground with the elemental mages, Nikore had forced the gathering and teaching of these 'lesser mages.' He firmly believed that the mindmages, alchemist-mages, artificer-mages, architect-mages, and weathermages were just as powerful and just as numerous as the elemental mages, but that war cherished its fighters. Most kings could not see the use in a mind-reader on the eve of a battle, but a fireball flung at the enemy's wood-and-leather armor and weaponry...
Nikore hated the whole war aspect, but he knew it was necessary. There would always be someone fighting someone, and he would never let his mages turn away from offensive magics. But that did not prevent them from turning to other uses, either. He 'pulled' the magical nodes that dimmed the magelights, then he triggered the larger one sewn into the very stone of his room. With a shimmer, the very particles of the walls rearranged, turning transparent. He walked over to the wall-turned-window, admiring the forest below. His office was his one allowance to his title; it spanned the entire level, circling entirely around the elevation-platform shaft. When he triggered the window, he could get an amazing panoramic view. Even the elevation-shaft turned transparent, and a layered illusion spell prevented people from seeing into his private room. The same layered illusion spell could also be triggered around the outside of his room; but he had yet to find a necessity. He was thousands of lengths above the ground as it was.
Prying himself away from the window, he plopped down into his chair. His staff easily slid into a hole in the floor near his desk. His adventuring was never far from his mind, and he always wanted his weapons as close to him as possible. He laughed at those mages who would laugh at him for still carrying his scimitars. There was no way to be too prepared...Ha. And I had shown them, too. Most of them had never even thought to set physical shields when I fought them with magic. They only see their opponent as a magic-user or blade-wielder, and react predictably. He ran his eyes over the various reports and papers sent up. ...At least we're almost over paying the families of those students who died in the merger accident...I know we should try to legally protect ourselves from these types of problems, but it really is something we shouldn't. These families NEED that closure...They need something in exchange for their children. He slipped that report into its appropriate folder. I wonder when Rasert will contact me...He wanted something. Nikore organized the last the papers, placing a few aside to answer. He was about to pick up his quill and a clean sheet of parchment when a light red-and-gold glow snaked over his desktop. Hurridly, he swept the objects off his desk, then prodded Rasert's spell. Given the 'go-ahead,' Rasert 'sent up a hastily-scribbled note. Rasert and his 'conservation of time...' He could have just handed this to me...The old man probably just couldn't talk himself out of his chair... Nikore laughed into the silence of the room. Suddenly, his private joke was cut short. WHAT are they thinking? They're doing THAT? According to Rasert, he and some of his promising full-mage graduates had found ancient texts speaking of 'portals' and 'the use of small-gates, like yet unlike the Gates between Realms'. They're trying to open a gate? But.... Rasert was apparently requesting his help. They'd better not be getting into more than they can handle... Grabbing his staff, he raced out of the room, calling the elevator-platform as he ran. With a thought, he reset the sensors and 'closed' the window. The elevation-platform whisked down, to the Experimental Rooms.
Nikore released his magical 'grip' on the node in the elevation-platforms spellworkings. The marble platform shook as magical energy transformed into mechanical. Without the magic key holding the catches in place, spring-loaded metal bars shot out from their shafts to slip tight into the elevation-shaft's walls. Metal sparked for a second as the bars caught, but without the magic force to keep the platform moving upwards the bars only had to prevent a downwards motion. As it was, the protections on the platform were heavy, and accessory spells helped in case of emergencies. Nikore smiled; this platform represented more than an easy trip. It was a representation of what a group of mages working in concert could create.
The elevation-platform could be run by any mage, as long as he had even the most basic grasp of magic. It required being able to 'hold' a magic node, the only 'visible' portion of the spell, set in a bright ruby to help those who needed to have an object as a focus. The platform would then accelerate under a self-contained levitation spell. The spell levitated not only the platform, but those on it as well. There was no acceleration discomfort, and technically no weight limit. The only true limit was size - the platform was only six feet in diameter, with a shielded six inch leeway between the circular platform and the expanse of wall that was the 'shaft' of the elevation platform. The walls were grooved to guide the support bars. The platform needed to align completely with the wall-holes that marked each floors. In addition, one had only to think of the floor to send the platform there; runes on the white marble helped to mark the current floor as well as destination floor. Only the bottom floors, the dorms and dining halls, had free access; the Teaching and Workroom floors were only open during the school day. Full mage and teacher rooms were passcoded, as were the experimental floors, Nikore's office, the Mage Library, and Weatherwatch. Nikore wished such precautions were not necessary, but inevitably a large bastion of mages would prove too tempting as a possible takeover.
Nikore stepped off the platform and out into his office. A casual caress of his mixed magic 'informed' the variety of spells set around his office that he had arrived. Traps and sensors faded, and the various magelights flared into blue-white brilliance. Nikore smiled; the artificer-mages and architect-mages that had been ignored for centuries only needed acceptance. Although he had lost ground with the elemental mages, Nikore had forced the gathering and teaching of these 'lesser mages.' He firmly believed that the mindmages, alchemist-mages, artificer-mages, architect-mages, and weathermages were just as powerful and just as numerous as the elemental mages, but that war cherished its fighters. Most kings could not see the use in a mind-reader on the eve of a battle, but a fireball flung at the enemy's wood-and-leather armor and weaponry...
Nikore hated the whole war aspect, but he knew it was necessary. There would always be someone fighting someone, and he would never let his mages turn away from offensive magics. But that did not prevent them from turning to other uses, either. He 'pulled' the magical nodes that dimmed the magelights, then he triggered the larger one sewn into the very stone of his room. With a shimmer, the very particles of the walls rearranged, turning transparent. He walked over to the wall-turned-window, admiring the forest below. His office was his one allowance to his title; it spanned the entire level, circling entirely around the elevation-platform shaft. When he triggered the window, he could get an amazing panoramic view. Even the elevation-shaft turned transparent, and a layered illusion spell prevented people from seeing into his private room. The same layered illusion spell could also be triggered around the outside of his room; but he had yet to find a necessity. He was thousands of lengths above the ground as it was.
Prying himself away from the window, he plopped down into his chair. His staff easily slid into a hole in the floor near his desk. His adventuring was never far from his mind, and he always wanted his weapons as close to him as possible. He laughed at those mages who would laugh at him for still carrying his scimitars. There was no way to be too prepared...Ha. And I had shown them, too. Most of them had never even thought to set physical shields when I fought them with magic. They only see their opponent as a magic-user or blade-wielder, and react predictably. He ran his eyes over the various reports and papers sent up. ...At least we're almost over paying the families of those students who died in the merger accident...I know we should try to legally protect ourselves from these types of problems, but it really is something we shouldn't. These families NEED that closure...They need something in exchange for their children. He slipped that report into its appropriate folder. I wonder when Rasert will contact me...He wanted something. Nikore organized the last the papers, placing a few aside to answer. He was about to pick up his quill and a clean sheet of parchment when a light red-and-gold glow snaked over his desktop. Hurridly, he swept the objects off his desk, then prodded Rasert's spell. Given the 'go-ahead,' Rasert 'sent up a hastily-scribbled note. Rasert and his 'conservation of time...' He could have just handed this to me...The old man probably just couldn't talk himself out of his chair... Nikore laughed into the silence of the room. Suddenly, his private joke was cut short. WHAT are they thinking? They're doing THAT? According to Rasert, he and some of his promising full-mage graduates had found ancient texts speaking of 'portals' and 'the use of small-gates, like yet unlike the Gates between Realms'. They're trying to open a gate? But.... Rasert was apparently requesting his help. They'd better not be getting into more than they can handle... Grabbing his staff, he raced out of the room, calling the elevator-platform as he ran. With a thought, he reset the sensors and 'closed' the window. The elevation-platform whisked down, to the Experimental Rooms.