faderift | [Open] Mage Lyfe 101

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[Open] Mage Lyfe 101

WHO: OPEN, Anders
WHAT: Mage conferece on practical magic
WHEN: Kingsway 24th, all day
WHERE: Just outside Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post and IC announcement.

The tables and chairs are set up, there's some parchment and a few quills for note-taking, and a table on the side has pitchers of water as well as a motley assortment of cups. He's done what he can, done the footwork and talking, and now has to hope it catches and spreads.

And hope Purrelden doesn't tangle herself around something with her leash again.

[ooc: hop on in, put up a header! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them on the ooc post or ping me on Plurk at Nadat!]

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Teaching

Ice is Inessa's strength, has been since she was little. So that's where most of her focus is today. It's not hard to tell that she would have been a fine Enchanter had she progressed in the Circle, relaxed and in her element as she explains in a relatively straightforward manner. She naturally demonstrates as well, making sure everyone who wants to see can do so and going over her work more slowly if need be.

"This is where control is most important; when you use frost to ease pain, you only summon just enough to your fingertips or at most your palms, like this...."

"You'll want to be careful about how you line the container with ice, since otherwise you might not leave enough room. And remember to reinforce it every so often...."

"...and this way, if you don't have enough debris or other items to energize, you can still create a stable walkway. Just don't make it too smooth...."

Being a Grey Warden, she naturally gets into the topic of darkspawn. This part is less magic-focused than the rest, focusing more on ways to help avoid getting tainted due to their blood. She doesn't want to focus just on ice for this, trying to make it as applicable as possible to all.

Learning

If there's one thing Inessa loves to do as much as teach, it's learn and whenever she's not busy on her end, the elven mage will check out the efforts of others. Of particular interest is Entropy magic and general survival techniques that she hasn't already learned from the Wardens. She can be found just about anywhere, though, quietly listening whether she has the aptitude for that area of study or not.

Wildcard

Before, after, taking a break with her and Garahel? Put whatever you want here.

He doesn't have a lot of spare time, giving a few lessons and walking around the tables to make sure everything is going well, but Inessa's offerings had definitely caught his attention and have him stopping by where she's working.

Quietly he mimics what she's doing with the walkway, carefully trying to make sure it's not too smooth; no one wants to slip. But it's an exceedingly useful thing, especially considering trade wagons needing to get through snow or flooded creeks or rockslides. Mages could travel with traders just for this... and he's getting mentally ahead of himself, and the walkway is getting a little distorted.

Anders looks up and offers her a slightly apologetic smile. If there's ever any time when he needs to keep from getting too wrapped up in his own head, it's right here, today.

"Would, if you've access to some, adding rocks help keep the surface from being too slick?" It makes sense to him, but that doesn't mean the answer is yes.

Inessa gives the question some serious thought and tilts her head. "It might, though be mindful of the kind you add. You want something that will give you a bit of friction but not create the opposite problem. This is especially true if you're traveling with a cart or some such. If the weather is bad, I would suggest lining the edges with them, as a stopgap measure. Any edge you can get there might help, unless you're truly pressed for time or need to reserve your energy."

"Mm." It makes sense. He's seen plenty of things get stuck in sand and loose ground. Anders wonders if he should try experimenting with what helps and what doesn't before realizing that's a useless path to go down. They won't always have the right type of rocks, but he'll always have ice. Provided a Templar isn't present.

"Would you mind showing me the surface we'd want again, please?" Ice isn't his strongest elemental ability, but it's also not his weakest. This is something he feels he can learn.

"Of course. You had a good start, but you'll want to keep a steady focus. Ice may not backlash as spectacularly as fire or lightning, usually, but it's still best to be careful with how you shape it." Inessa smiles, understanding that Anders has a lot on his plate today. Still, for general reference, she'd be remiss if she didn't provide some caution.

She begins much as she did before, careful and precise. It may not be pretty, for those who prefer their surfaces as smooth as glass, but this isn't for ice-skating. The point is to get across, and efficiently at that. Inessa does her best to balance what's needed, and the result is mostly even but just enough provide even the smoothest of soles some friction.

He smiles back before working to focus back on the magic. It's not easy as he's trying to keep an ear out for everything else going on around them, but it's rare that magic can be practiced without distractions.

Carefully Anders copies what he sees and feels, before reaching over to run his fingers over the top of her ice path and double-check it, comparing it to his. Almost. With a frown, he resurfaces his, rubbing his chilled fingers together absent-mindedly. Once done, he glances back at her.

"Better?" He thinks it is, but she's the ice expert.

Pausing in her own work, Inessa takes to observing Anders at work. Her smile lingers as he seems better able to focus this time. There's a certain beauty in focusing purely on the magic and nothing else. It's something she's not sure that her non-mage companions will ever quite understand. How could they?

Upon being asked, the elven Warden steps close and inspects it, likewise running her hand along since eyes alone don't always give enough information. After a moment, she nods thoughtfully. "Definitely better. The last attempt was a little distorted, and that could easily prove a hindrance, but this is a much steadier attempt. It doesn't need to be perfect in form, just enough to suit your purposes. This would hold nicely, I believe."

It's peaceful, working with magic, feeling the flow of it through his mind and breath and working with it. Even when he doesn't have something just right, he's satisfied to create.

After her judgement, Anders offers her a smile. "Thank you." This is exactly the thing he'd been hoping to see, and hoping to see spread. Roads are important. This is a skill that can be taken by mages and used out there, away from the Inquisition, to make a life. To have hope.

"I'm glad you came. I know we don't know each other that well, and you... very likely did not come for my sake, but you came and this lesson is invaluable. Mages can take it and use it tomorrow for traders, and so on." There's something in his voice she might not have ever heard before - today he can even feel some hope.

And Inessa has no intention of squashing that hope, for him or anyone. She nods in full agreement regarding the mages, taking a moment to glance around at the work of the rest. Having already paced around and offered suggestions, she seems some fairly solid attempts and it makes her smile, both at them and Anders in turn. She's not about to bring up the past now, or likely ever unless pressed. Her concern seems to be on the present and future, and will remain so.

"I'm glad to provide what help I can, Anders. Much of what I learned was through many instances of trial and error...more error than perhaps I would care to admit. If anything I have learned can help others avoid those pitfalls, then it's time well-spent. And there is much I still have to learn as well, so seeing what others have to offer could prove vital away from Skyhold." She's only been out in the world for a short time, after all; not even two years. Much of her sheltered upbringing has been shed, but there's still progress to be made.

"If there's ever anything I can teach you, let me know." Aside from one notable exception, he's eager to teach what he knows. This is laying a foundation for a healthy future, which is... not what he did in the past.

"I had to learn a few things from trial and error myself. Including some of what not to eat. I'd prefer people not have to follow in those footsteps in particular." He looks around again and his smile gets a little open. "I didn't think any of my internal organs would ever be the same after one such risky meal. I almost welcomed the shackles when they found me like that."

Not really. But that's probably clear considering who is speaking.

That gets a chuckle of sympathy from Inessa, a wry smile curving her lips. "I'm lucky to have gotten something of a crash course on that with the Wardens, though I can't say I didn't have some mishaps before them. The more pressing issue with me was realizing how quickly food can spoil--and sometimes not even visibly. As you might have guessed, I suffered for that. It's why the preservation technique with ice is important to me, in terms of passing it on."

She tilts her head, thoughtful. "I wouldn't mind learning more swimming techniques than you showed me up north, when you have the time. Though I admit I don't know where would be a decent spot for that nearby." And with them in the mountains and the weather cooling, that window is closing unless they travel north again.

He nods; it makes sense that a preservation spell came from spoiled food. And it's a very useful spell, too.

"Between the two spells, the preservation and the road-making, a mage could be a useful asset for any number of traders." Fruit, meat, vegetables, traders could take them all even further. The only thing to worry about is mages being treated as objects or slaves, rented or sold for that. It's something to be wary about... but not yet. Right now they've the chance at this on their own terms.

"As far as the swimming goes..." Anders exhales and looks around as if a good place would present itself. It doesn't. "We can review in the hot springs, but it's not going to be a good place to truly practice and build muscle. How are you with the cold? My swim across Lake Calenhad was not... in the best weather, and it didn't kill me..."

Inessa doesn't seem terribly surprised at the news, and takes it in stride. Perhaps they'll find a better place later; at the moment, there's little to be done about it, and many other things on which to focus. As for the cold, she shrugs. "I can't say it's always pleasant, but so far I've been able to manage. At any rate, I tend to deal with cold better than heat. My stay at Griffon Wing Keep was not very pleasant, even with nearby water sources.

I wonder, would cold resistance tonics be of some assistance? I know they don't last long, but even so...."

"And personally, I've always preferred heat," he says as he considers. It's often easier to think while his mouth runs. ...Or think on non-complicated topics while talking.

"They might," Anders says after a moment. "We could certainly try. Build a bonfire nearby first, in case, try them, hop in, and if they don't work we've the fire right there so we don't turn into overlarge icicles."

That gets an approving nod from Inessa, now interested in seeing how that would play out. There's still this day to get through, of course, but later. "A lot of planning, but I don't mind that. It's always better to be prepared, when there's time to spare. Now I wish I had thought to mention the subject of tonics in daily use here as well, but perhaps there will be opportunities later, for later meetings?"

Edited 2016-10-11 23:34 (UTC)

"There will." There's certainty n his voice as he looks around. People are here and they're learning. It's beyond satisfying.

"I'll give it a few weeks, perhaps more, let the lessons settle, and then see about a more open one, one that's not simply mages. That's the way I'd like the future to look. Lessons for all, to attend or not as they please." To come and go as they please. Freedom.

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[Open] Mage Lyfe 101

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