A conversation is happening on this psychic plane from Kyle, it was brought up that the banishing spell done against the nightmare creature might be helpful for other reasons, such as banishing gods. However no one knows if it was written down anywhere we would have access to.
However, I assumed that a skilled mage who was there might be able to remember it, so I thought of you first.
[Oh? Now there's a thought. Istredd doesn't have to wait terribly long for a reply; Stephen's message glistens into his vision with neat and legible handwriting.]
Flattering. But it just so happens that I have a photographic memory.
[A generally helpful trait. One that helped him get through med school and learn the basics of magic without spending too much time looking like a newbie. (One that burned knowledge of the Darkhold's pages into his mind, for good or ill.)]
I can relate the process to you or anyone else interested. Though I should point out that it wasn't something that a single individual could cast. It required a group.
[ In fact, he was certain the man would at least have very good retention for spells. ]
Yes, I assumed as much, it would have to involve several skilled mages. We have some of those within our group and others can learn. It may be worth learning.
[His retention for spells might be impressive, but little good it does him without those willing to work with him - especially for spellcraf that requires more than one person. Rituals, especially.]
I’m more than willing to relate to any who wants to know what I recall. And barring that, it’s not as though it can’t be pieced together from the library again.
[Though that had been a monumental headache he’d rather not repeat if at all necessary.]
I suspected that if the spell worked against the gods they would have attempted it again, but a banishing spell of any kind could be useful. I doubt this is the last time it will come up.
[ It seems more like it is escalating these days. With that in mind, he goes on his other train of thought. ]
I have a theory that I was hoping you could present to Ambrose. I was informed that this time called the Dimming is when the Singularity is at its least powerful. I think this may be the ideal time for us to attempt to get physically close to it and see if we can get any further answers. But it would require permission from Thorne for us to leave.
Definitely not the last time. Like I said, I'll share it, just as long as I'm promised to be kept in the loop when it IS needed. Every extra pair of hands counts.
[Even his!
The next request takes a moment to reply, if only because Stephen is crafting one with some consideration.]
Sure, I could ask. And if we spin it as wanting to gather up more information, which would be true, I'm not wholly certain he'd have a reason to deny us. But what's the plan, exactly?
I assure you, I would never attempt a spell like that without your assistance.
[ Istredd has a tendency to be a lone wolf but he's definitely not stupid. ]
I want to take Rhy, he has a personal connection to the Singularity, it draws him to it. Perhaps it will speak with him or interact with him in a way that we can measure. I suppose the answer is I don't have an exact plan yet, but this would be our last window for another year.
[Rhy. Stephen has no qualms about that — his unique connection with the Singularity isn’t news to him, either. From a strictly experimental standpoint (ignoring his fondness for the kid outright), it would be good to have him there as another way to measure the magical activity of the monolith.]
No objections here. Rhy’s a good kid, he’ll be helpful as a companion. I’m pretty sure we can count on his experience with the Singularity being different than ours, either way.
I have a few things I’m working on in the castle that a trip to the monolith might provide more data for. I’m sure if I mention that much to Ambrose he’ll agree, so even if your plan’s not much more than that, I think I can still get us approval.
Good, I would appreciate that. I know it might seem a bit reckless to go without an exact list of plans, so I'll work on it. I would defer to your expertise, if I'm being honest. Going to the monolith could divulge important information, or it may not. But we're not going to get anywhere without the chance.
[ Istredd suspects by the time they go, they will not be reckless at all, but it won't stop him from going. It is too important. ]
Yennefer will want to go as well.
[ Not for the same reason they would want to. She has her own motivations that he's aware of.]
[Far be it from Stephen to stop them from going, an airtight plan or otherwise. Information is important; that's the priority. It's not as though he's never dove head-first into less thought-out situations with less.]
Yennefer? I don't have a problem with that, either. Have you talked to her about it yet?
No, but she knows that was my primary goal since arriving here. It won't be a surprise. We are both trained by the same organization, the Singularity is the type of thing that would draw all of us in.
Since we were very young. We have two magic schools in our sphere, one for women and one for men, but they are right next to each other. We are found when we use magic for the first time, they have a way of tracking us, and they take us there. We train for many years separately, but she and I became friends early on.
[That’s interesting, and fairly different from how he was taken into Kamar-Taj. Definitely not when he was young, and not at all separated by men and women.
There’s something else about that which catches his attention, though.]
They track you? Does that mean anyone with a whiff of magic has no choice but to study?
Yes. They take us, we have no choice. Magic is dangerous, it kills magic users if not used properly. Not to mention everyone around them if it's out of control. It's not a kind way of life, but you learn to accept it.
[ Istredd doesn't bother being critical of that part of his situation, because it is simple fact, and there is no way it can be changed. Stephen would be horrified if he ever heard about the students turned into eels. And Istredd would agree it's horrifying. His world is a dark and cruel place a lot of the time. ]
The source that we draw upon requires a give and take of energy. There is balance in how you learn to channel it. If you are untrained, Chaos can take your lifeforce in exchange for your magic, killing the user. It happens accidentally sometimes, that's why they get us as early as possible. Many students start out resenting their situation, but eventually, you learn to make peace with it. Magic itself can be a worthwhile reward.
I assume that is not what it is like in your world.
[No, he would not find it a very comfortable notion, being turned into an eel. Kamar-Taj wasn't perfect, of course, but he does not recall anyone being transformed into something non-human as a result of being a... not ideal student.
After all, the same would have happened to him, then, once upon a time.]
No. I had to go looking to get trained in magic, not the other way around. And even then, they didn't want me at first.
Magic is dangerous if someone uses it recklessly, of course. But "untrained" doesn't necessarily mean dangerous in my world, it just means someone has untapped potential, or they need to practice controlling what comes naturally to them. Some people have the innate talent for it, and probably go their whole lives without knowing.
There's more than one type of magic, of course. Mine's called Eldritch magic.
[ After a beat, he reminds himself that not everyone likes bluntness, but to be fair, Stephen did start this exchange of information about their magic. He put that information out there, so it is going to be questioned. ]
We learn many types, but we have preferences. I lean toward being a psionic mage. You saw my illusion-making at the ball. I am strong in telekinesis and telepathy, although I try to be exceptionally respectful with the latter.
[ It would explain why it seemed so easy to him. He hid their cards and even hid them from the room so they could talk privately and work on the cards together, an illusion cast in only seconds and almost perfect in presentation. But anyone who has been doing it for over sixty years would have it that strong. He also learned from the greatest illusionist in the Brotherhood, like it or not. And he mentions the telepathy because his mentor used it very improperly. Violently, at times. He likes to be honest.]
Because I was kind of an asshole, if I'm to be honest with you. I was arrogant, and I wanted to learn magic for all the wrong reasons. I'm lucky they ended up taking me in at all. But Kamar-Taj taught me plenty of life lessons I should have picked up long before then. I owe a lot to my old master.
[As for explanation of Istredd's magic, well. That's fascinating. It reminds him a little bit of Wanda's abilities, or at least a branch of them that deals with illusions and manipulations of the mind. when does Istredd get to meet my psionic character huh]
Telepathy? That's impressive, and it's good of you to practice boundaries. I imagine it's an easy line to cross otherwise.
Eldritch magic is varied in uses and how it even manifests. But it's often defined by casting using specific hand gestures, and the sort of magical energy it exudes. Think lots of warm light, lots of mandalas. I'm due to show you sometime.
It seems as if you both ended up getting what you wanted.
[ Stephen and his master, whoever that was. Humility for one, an excellent student for the other. Istredd hates his mentor so it's always interesting hearing about healthier versions of that bond. ]
It is, I have very strong mental wards and defenses, and part of them are specifically to keep me from accidentally reading other people. Otherwise it's uncomfortable in general.
[ Not only because he wants to be good and not intrusive, but also, exhausting to have minds talking to him too much. While mages back home rarely have to worry about that, most of them focus more on their own gifts or preferences, he went heavily into that area. Istredd could likely read a great many minds in this very building, whether intentionally or not, so this helps keep him from it. ]
I would love to see it. Have you found it easy to transition to using some Abraxan magic? It is astounding to me how easy much of it is.
[Stephen is nothing but blunt at least ninety percent of the time.]
Not what I wanted, at least. What I needed. Your powers, though... Do you mean uncomfortable for the person whose mind is being read, or the other way around?
[He tilts a smile at Istredd's admission that Abraxan magic has been easy for him.]
Some of it comes to me pretty naturally. But I'm the "burn the candle at both ends" kind of guy. Stay up all night reading and studying, that sort of thing. So I don't know if I'm a good baseline to compare to. I've been mostly studying the healing magicks of this world, too. Might as well keep my title as "doctor" relevant.
Uncomfortable for me. It's not as if I want to pick up on average thoughts everywhere I go, and when people think loudly, it's not always for good reasons. They would be unlikely to notice if I heard it.
[ It isn't a criticism that the magic is easy, if anything it has made adjustments to using all forms of magic simpler. ]
I am the same way. But I've been a master of our magic for decades, and it is interesting to supplement. For instance, fire is a very difficult form of Chaos to control because it is inherently more chaotic. But here the spells are as simple as anything else. That has been a pleasant adjustment.
I will remember you are a healer, it probably will come in handy some day. And you were one before?
Pleasant from an intellectual standpoint, I'm sure. It's almost a shame evidence points to those who return home as not having memories of this place. All this knowledge, just gone 'poof' one day.
[Assuming that he returns to his earth someday, preferably on the heels of solving this Singularity problem. God, he hopes so.]
That's right. I was a surgeon that specialized on the human nervous system, to be specific.
Yes that is a very curious reality. How is it that our bodies and minds remain there continuing life while we are here? Does this version of us die the moment we disappear, as we do not exist in the original timeline? Grim, perhaps, but probably accurate.
Oh a formal medic, not a magical healer. I suppose you haven't had as much reason to use those skills here.
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A conversation is happening on this psychic plane from Kyle, it was brought up that the banishing spell done against the nightmare creature might be helpful for other reasons, such as banishing gods. However no one knows if it was written down anywhere we would have access to.
However, I assumed that a skilled mage who was there might be able to remember it, so I thought of you first.
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[A generally helpful trait. One that helped him get through med school and learn the basics of magic without spending too much time looking like a newbie. (One that burned knowledge of the Darkhold's pages into his mind, for good or ill.)]
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I am not surprised in the least to hear that.
[ In fact, he was certain the man would at least have very good retention for spells. ]
Yes, I assumed as much, it would have to involve several skilled mages. We have some of those within our group and others can learn. It may be worth learning.
i'm back, sorry for the delay!
[Though that had been a monumental headache he’d rather not repeat if at all necessary.]
Never any worries!
[ It seems more like it is escalating these days. With that in mind, he goes on his other train of thought. ]
I have a theory that I was hoping you could present to Ambrose. I was informed that this time called the Dimming is when the Singularity is at its least powerful. I think this may be the ideal time for us to attempt to get physically close to it and see if we can get any further answers. But it would require permission from Thorne for us to leave.
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[Even his!
The next request takes a moment to reply, if only because Stephen is crafting one with some consideration.]
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[ Istredd has a tendency to be a lone wolf but he's definitely not stupid. ]
I want to take Rhy, he has a personal connection to the Singularity, it draws him to it. Perhaps it will speak with him or interact with him in a way that we can measure. I suppose the answer is I don't have an exact plan yet, but this would be our last window for another year.
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[ Istredd suspects by the time they go, they will not be reckless at all, but it won't stop him from going. It is too important. ]
Yennefer will want to go as well.
[ Not for the same reason they would want to. She has her own motivations that he's aware of.]
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Stephen decides yes, why not.]
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There’s something else about that which catches his attention, though.]
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[ There is no other option than to accept it. ]
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He has sense enough not to write that much back, else he sound critical of Istredd’s situation.]
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The source that we draw upon requires a give and take of energy. There is balance in how you learn to channel it. If you are untrained, Chaos can take your lifeforce in exchange for your magic, killing the user. It happens accidentally sometimes, that's why they get us as early as possible. Many students start out resenting their situation, but eventually, you learn to make peace with it. Magic itself can be a worthwhile reward.
I assume that is not what it is like in your world.
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After all, the same would have happened to him, then, once upon a time.]
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[ After a beat, he reminds himself that not everyone likes bluntness, but to be fair, Stephen did start this exchange of information about their magic. He put that information out there, so it is going to be questioned. ]
We learn many types, but we have preferences. I lean toward being a psionic mage. You saw my illusion-making at the ball. I am strong in telekinesis and telepathy, although I try to be exceptionally respectful with the latter.
[ It would explain why it seemed so easy to him. He hid their cards and even hid them from the room so they could talk privately and work on the cards together, an illusion cast in only seconds and almost perfect in presentation. But anyone who has been doing it for over sixty years would have it that strong. He also learned from the greatest illusionist in the Brotherhood, like it or not. And he mentions the telepathy because his mentor used it very improperly. Violently, at times. He likes to be honest.]
What is Eldritch like?
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[As for explanation of Istredd's magic, well. That's fascinating. It reminds him a little bit of Wanda's abilities, or at least a branch of them that deals with illusions and manipulations of the mind.
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It seems as if you both ended up getting what you wanted.
[ Stephen and his master, whoever that was. Humility for one, an excellent student for the other. Istredd hates his mentor so it's always interesting hearing about healthier versions of that bond. ]
It is, I have very strong mental wards and defenses, and part of them are specifically to keep me from accidentally reading other people. Otherwise it's uncomfortable in general.
[ Not only because he wants to be good and not intrusive, but also, exhausting to have minds talking to him too much. While mages back home rarely have to worry about that, most of them focus more on their own gifts or preferences, he went heavily into that area. Istredd could likely read a great many minds in this very building, whether intentionally or not, so this helps keep him from it. ]
I would love to see it. Have you found it easy to transition to using some Abraxan magic? It is astounding to me how easy much of it is.
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[He tilts a smile at Istredd's admission that Abraxan magic has been easy for him.]
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[ It isn't a criticism that the magic is easy, if anything it has made adjustments to using all forms of magic simpler. ]
I am the same way. But I've been a master of our magic for decades, and it is interesting to supplement. For instance, fire is a very difficult form of Chaos to control because it is inherently more chaotic. But here the spells are as simple as anything else. That has been a pleasant adjustment.
I will remember you are a healer, it probably will come in handy some day. And you were one before?
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[Assuming that he returns to his earth someday, preferably on the heels of solving this Singularity problem. God, he hopes so.]
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Oh a formal medic, not a magical healer. I suppose you haven't had as much reason to use those skills here.
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