Our Archipelago - A Chaotic RP

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Shh." Vance held up a finger, falling into a light meditation himself. "Let your body focus itself."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"Shh." Vance held up a finger, falling into a light meditation himself. "Let your body focus itself."

Again, Antin tried his best. He remained silent, breathing in, out. In, out.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Vance had started the meditation thing as an example, but soon enough he fell into a full breathing cycle himself. It had been... actually quite a long time since he'd last let himself truly relax like this. He'd tried a couple times around the campfire, but Kealie and Quest weren't exactly the best bunkmates for calming the mind. Not Antin though. Antin was fine.

It took him far less time to drop into the total concentration than it would most, as he had quite a bit of practice from all his training. Soon enough he was strikingly aware of every feeling in his body; or, rather, the lack of. There really wasn't much to feel or see or smell in here. The void of nothingness really did do the trick here.

Warmth in his chest from his tunic, itchiness up at his head where he hadn't washed his hair in a few days, the familiar tightness around his waist where he kept his blades... from there Vance expanded outwards, pushing the natural spirit sense that all living things had within him to the edges of the room. Usually that would mean feeling at the faint magical eminence from plants and insects - even in more secluded places, he was almost always with his sister or someone else to feel at - but the decided lack of magical radiation from Antin was... really uncanny. By all rights this man should be giving off even the slightest bit of aura, but... nothing.

What exactly are you? Vance mused, keeping his senses broad and open.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

4 minutes ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

Vance had started the meditation thing as an example, but soon enough he fell into a full breathing cycle himself. It had been... actually quite a long time since he'd last let himself truly relax like this. He'd tried a couple times around the campfire, but Kealie and Quest weren't exactly the best bunkmates for calming the mind. Not Antin though. Antin was fine.

It took him far less time to drop into the total concentration than it would most, as he had quite a bit of practice from all his training. Soon enough he was strikingly aware of every feeling in his body; or, rather, the lack of. There really wasn't much to feel or see or smell in here. The void of nothingness really did do the trick here.

Warmth in his chest from his tunic, itchiness up at his head where he hadn't washed his hair in a few days, the familiar tightness around his waist where he kept his blades... from there Vance expanded outwards, pushing the natural spirit sense that all living things had within him to the edges of the room. Usually that would mean feeling at the faint magical eminence from plants and insects - even in more secluded places, he was almost always with his sister or someone else to feel at - but the decided lack of magical radiation from Antin was... really uncanny. By all rights this man should be giving off even the slightest bit of aura, but... nothing.

What exactly are you? Vance mused, keeping his senses broad and open.

In, out. In, out. Antin was beginning to grow frustrated, but he tried to push the feeling aside. I hope Vance knows what he's doing.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Vance totally knew what he was doing. He cracked an eyelid to see how Antin was faring.

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

Vance totally knew what he was doing. He cracked an eyelid to see how Antin was faring.

Antin remained perfectly still. In the dark environment, his skin seemed to give off a faint white glow.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Huh. Vance raised an eyebrow. Glowing?

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

3 minutes ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

Huh. Vance raised an eyebrow. Glowing?

How much longer am I going to sit here for? Antin was starting to lose track of time. Vance never even told me what was supposed to happen.

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Looks like you've got the hang of it."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

2 minutes ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"Looks like you've got the hang of it."

Antin perked up, eyes opening to reveal pure blackness, as always. "The hang of what?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I think," Vance said, "that you've always been able to detect magic. You just don't notice because you always absorb the stuff you detect anyways."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

Just now, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"I think," Vance said, "that you've always been able to detect magic. You just don't notice because you always absorb the stuff you detect anyways."

"What? Then how come I couldn't tell with the hit?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Again, 'cause you didn't notice." Vance stood up, gesturing for Antin to do the same. "Look, you're always taking in magical energy. And when you have enough of it you give off not a magical aura, but a physical one. You are, quite literally, metabolizing magic."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"Again, 'cause you didn't notice." Vance stood up, gesturing for Antin to do the same. "Look, you're always taking in magical energy. And when you have enough of it you give off not a magical aura, but a physical one. You are, quite literally, metabolizing magic."

Quote

I think we might need to work that out, because the intention was that he does, in fact, produce his own magic that counteracts the magic he touches. I guess I don't have the best internal logic for this system yet, but dampening more magic changes his appearance and also apparently builds up a usable reservoir of magic that he can channel. However, channeling said magic triggers his innate ability which, instead of dampening the magic he produces, just recoils and hurts him.

It could be argued that he absorbs a small amount of the magic he dampens just because he's around it, and that the light being given off is somehow a result of that, but I don't really get the metabolization thing. Why would he be metabolizing it?

"I guess, maybe. I never really thought much about the glow."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

This might be a good thing to figure out in full

To the PMs!

*Batman 1966 fanfare*

 

[Going_North_cal]

Hyron stood firm, folding their arms. "If you think I'm leaving you here," They said, "Then you're stalking insane."

Hyron breathed in deeply, tears forming in their own eyes.

"That is not happening. I'm staying." Hyron turned to Yerik and said, "Acolyte, get out of here. Regroup with.. the other guy, and find a better plan. I'm staying here."

@Ookla the Kobold @Ookla the Forgotten

[Mr. Misting he/him]

2 minutes ago, Ookla the Crow said:

Hyron stood firm, folding their arms. "If you think I'm leaving you here," They said, "Then you're stalking insane."

Hyron breathed in deeply, tears forming in their own eyes.

"That is not happening. I'm staying." Hyron turned to Yerik and said, "Acolyte, get out of here. Regroup with.. the other guy, and find a better plan. I'm staying here."

@Ookla the Kobold @Ookla the Forgotten

"Hey! It was my plan to try to assassinate the queen! My life's already been spent, you've still got the world to see." Miyako palms tightened on her sword and she closed her eyes. "Me and my Shadow can take a few with us", she said resolute. 

[Going_North_cal]

5 minutes ago, Ookla the Kobold said:

"Hey! It was my plan to try to assassinate the queen! My life's already been spent, you've still got the world to see." Miyako palms tightened on her sword and she closed her eyes. "Me and my Shadow can take a few with us", she said resolute. 

Hyron strode forward, placing their hands on Miyako's cheeks. "No," They said, "You're not letting that... thing out again. I don't know what it is, but it isn't natural. Do not sacrifice yourself, because if you do, chances are the ones you kill will only be replaced, and it will have all been for naught. And I will not let that happen."

Hyron waited, hoping Miyako would open her eyes.

[Mr. Misting he/him]

59 minutes ago, Ookla the Crow said:

Hyron strode forward, placing their hands on Miyako's cheeks. "No," They said, "You're not letting that... thing out again. I don't know what it is, but it isn't natural. Do not sacrifice yourself, because if you do, chances are the ones you kill will only be replaced, and it will have all been for naught. And I will not let that happen."

Hyron waited, hoping Miyako would open her eyes.

Miyako opened her eyes, tears streaming down her face. They stood there for a moment, Miyako searching their eyes.

Miyako suddenly stepped forward, placing her hands on their face. She kissed him.

Edited December 17, 2022 by Ookla the Kobold

[Channelknight Fadran]

13 hours ago, Ookla the Inverted said:

"I guess, maybe. I never really thought much about the glow."

"Well, either way, my point stands. The fact that you take in magical energy at all means that your body must have a way of detecting it, unconscious or not. So instead of learning how to extend your senses out to detect it, all you have to do is really fine-tune the detection system that you already have."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

1 minute ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"Well, either way, my point stands. The fact that you take in magical energy at all means that your body must have a way of detecting it, unconscious or not. So instead of learning how to extend your senses out to detect it, all you have to do is really fine-tune the detection system that you already have."

"Okay... Any suggestions?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

"A vibration in your chest, you said?" Vance tapped his chin and thought about that. "Try feeling out the frequency. See if you can deconstruct it or something."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

3 minutes ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"A vibration in your chest, you said?" Vance tapped his chin and thought about that. "Try feeling out the frequency. See if you can deconstruct it or something."

"Deconstruct it? Well, I don't think I will be able to notice differences in frequency if I don't have magic to detect."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Hm? Oh yeah." Vance wrung out his hands, took in a breath, then started slowly siphoning a bit of energy to one of his arms. He clasped both onto Antin's shoulders, which was a little awkward, but would probably provide the best results. "See if you can tell which one you're draining."

[The Aspiring Archivist any pronouns]

13 minutes ago, Ookla the [Redacted] said:

"Hm? Oh yeah." Vance wrung out his hands, took in a breath, then started slowly siphoning a bit of energy to one of his arms. He clasped both onto Antin's shoulders, which was a little awkward, but would probably provide the best results. "See if you can tell which one you're draining."

"That one." Antin indicated the correct option. "I've always been and to know where I'm touching the magic. But how do I detect without touching?"