[AM&F] Works of Nature (Initiate Druidism, Moria)

Whisper · August 24, 2008, 02:11 AM

Third Cycle of Melora, Winter, Era XV

Room 101 turned out to be just down the hall from the front desk. The wooden door opened onto a small room, which was empty save for a small bookshelf and a smattering of tables and chairs. There was another door with a large glass window, revealing an entrance to a small garden and courtyard. A variety of wild plants and trees grew there, some familiar and some never before seen outside of the little island of Demios. There were flowers the size of a giant's hand, bright orange and purple. There were stalks that bloomed into fantastic spiraling leaves, blue with a white stripe down the middle. The smell was incredible to behold, and everything was bathed in the quiet white light of winter.

The only person in sight was a woman with her back turned to whoever entered the room. Her blonde hair fell loosely around her, almost to her feet, and she was wearing a soft white dress. She was humming softly, looking up at the plants around her and touching them gently with her fingertips.

Moria Black · August 24, 2008, 02:21 PM

Moria had gotten up early today , because today was when the rest of her life started. Maybe being a mage was better than being a warrior, prehapes the Elders would be pleased and she could finally leave her childhood name behind her and recieve the ritual scarring that all people endured to mark their place in the tribe. Moria sighed as she approached the Universty, her world was resting on alot of maybes lately.

She walked through the large wodden doors and crossed the lobby acknowledging the clerk along the way with a slight nod of her head. Her sister , Maolisea, had been a mage and lead a happy life as a high ranking memeber of their tribe. Moria sighed again, she had really never gotten along with her older sister, she much preferred her brother, Rhys the warrior. They where twins by birth but not personality, different as day and night.

She stopped realizing she had passed room 101 quite a ways back and turned around to find it. After a few minutes she came upon room 101 and knocked softly before entering.

She entered the room and looked around , very sparten but nothing she hadn't expected . She hadn't noticed anybody in the room but she had noticed the door leading to the small courtyard, the pale women shrugged her shoulders and opened the door.

When she saw the plants and growth around her Moria couldn't help but stifle a gasp. She had been here two years away from her icy mono-colored world but she could have never been prepared for the sights and the smells that she faced now. And in the throws of winter as well! She walked around slowly lost in the beauty of the garden , sticking aout like a sore thumb in her snow white ,tousers,vest and blouse. Her skin and hair where pale, compared the garden she looked like translucent albino.

She was so lost in everything saw around her she almost bumped into the women also in the courtyard. Luckly enough she heard her humming, and snapped around to face her. She saw a women totally at ease with her surroundings compleatly emmersed in this tiny world within a world. Moria almost felt bad for breaking the moment by clearing her throat and saying,

" Serale Miss, my name is Moria Black I'm here for Initate Druidism, and I believe your my teacher."

She let that hang heavily in the air as she waited for the women to respond. She was trained not to let her feelings show , but today was harder than most. " Gods above please klet this be my path and not another failure."

Crimson · August 25, 2008, 11:28 PM

Chrysia Midios turned the moment her student walked in. There had been a charm placed about the room, a simple but useful spell taught to all initiates. But as a Mistress in Druidism, she could sense anything out of place within a great proximity from her. Mora's arrival was no different but it was like slamming a giant into a cup of water. The disturbance was almost annoying, but the druidess smiled beyond her light features and bright eyes. "Welcome" she told Moria with a graceful inclination of her head "please, find a seat there." She indicated a corner of the quaint classroom where several square pillows were on the wooden floor. "Sit" she said before following suit.

When both women were comfortable, the druidess extended her hands forward and motioned for Moria to place her hands above hers. "You seem tense" the druidess said almost abruptly "hmm. Either way, you will be Unbound this brightening ... unless you prove incapable or incompatible with Arcana." A soft smile filled Mistress Chrysia Midios's darling features. Her amazingly long blond hair was curled on her lap like a yellow cat but those wise eyes never left Moria Black.

"You see" she continued "not everyone can be Unbound." She paused. "We, magi, wizards, what have you, have been granted a sixth sense so to speak. An ability that can only be possessed by Blood Right or fate." Her smile brightened. "My mother was a mage, see, and her mother before her. You can say that it's in my blood. What about yourself, Miss Black?" She tilted her head curiously "do you have any mages in your family?"

Moria Black · August 26, 2008, 11:27 AM

Moria didn't fail to notice that the women's wise, all knowing eyes never seemed to leave her face , Moria didn't mind she just wasn't used to the attention. She was snapped out of her thought s by the women's voice soft and at the same time powerful in a way Moria couldn't quite place.

She tilted her head, causeing her long pale hair to shift, " Well actually magick is realtivly new to my people. But there are quite a few gifted mages amoung the Rhagrnd. My sister actually is one of those gifted few ," she paushed. She didn't really get along with her older sister. In all actuallityt her feelings about her sister boudered on hate. Which was wrong Rhagrnd shouldn't hate other Rhagrnd. But she didn't want her teacher to know so she bit her lower lip realized she was doing it and stopped. " Moalisea always showed early signs of magick in her blood. My younger half brother Nilo is leaning toward the arcane arts as well. My mother practices a small amount of healing medicine, although her early training was limited at best. "

She stopped talking and looked at the floor, she didn't want her teacher to know that magick was something she never saw herself doing. She didn't want her to know that she hungered for the sword and the song of battle. She espacially didn't want her teacher to know that she picked Druidism on a whim. Maybe the elegant women was correct about one thing, maybe Moria's purpose in this classrom had to do with fate. Maybe the Gods themselves pushed the Elders into deneying her a seat in the warroir's lodge, so that on some longshot she would be seated here in this classrom with this women who radiated power.

She took a deep breath and pushed all her doubts aside . She vowed she would be the best at this even if it killed her. She would throw herself into Druidism, and bring honor back to her name and family replacing the shame. She would earn her place there and at the same time become one with the world around her. Moria's will was like steel it didn't bend or break. She then realized she had been lost in her own thoughts and reflections for a few moments leaving a akward silence between them.

" I'm sorry Mistress , I was lost in my thoughts for a few moments," she gave the Druidess one of her rare smiles that lit up her otherwise harsh face. Moria was excited now , this was proably the most exciting thing she had done in two patterns, but then again she couldn't really remember that far back. She waited for the druidess to countinue, and to Moria's surprise she found herslf almost excited about learning the arcane art of Druidism.

Crimson · August 26, 2008, 03:14 PM

"A rare trait" the druidess smiled despite Moria's sudden reverie "to acknowledge that magick is in one's blood." She nodded thoughtfully then, setting a moment's pause between master and student before she continued. "Shall we test your inclination to Arcana then?" the druidess asked with a ghost of a grin "when you are ready, attempt to clear your mind of thoughts ... this is called meditation -- but not the traditional style many monks and other enlightened mundanes pracrtice."

"In Arcana, meditation is the act of quieting one's mind, yes, but we do not allow it to flow naturally. Instead, we channel our mind upwards, focusing on the Astral Plane, the source of our powers." She paused then waited for Moria her first attempt. Then she added, "as a Bound individual, or mundane, you are unable to completely enter the trance-like state known as Clara or Clarity. This is why you struggle so." Without pause, she quickly collected a pair of colorful candles from a nearby shelf and placed them on the floor between herself and her aspiring student. She lit it with a wave of her slender hands and soon two flames danced atop the candles, filling the air with a sweet, soothing aroma. "This will help you transition" the druidess said "now, close your eyes again. You are about to be Unbound."

Secrets :

Moria Black · August 27, 2008, 01:16 PM

She listened carefully to her new Mistress' words closly. Moria didn't miss the challenge in her words or the slight smile. Not much passed Moria's attentions.

Mediatation; that sounded easy enough she could do that........ or so she thought. The pale Rhagrnd women closed her eyes , took a few deep breaths, and tried to clear her mind.

Nothing happened.

Her eyes snapped open , almost demanding an explaination.

Her mistress spoke again and again Moria listened carefully, soaking up eveything that was said. Moria then watched as the women lit the candles with a simple single gesture. Moria arched an eyebrow but before she could reflect the sweet soothing smell hit her. It was like a warm blanket surrounding her, urging her to close her eyes and relax. Moria did close her eyes, a small sigh passed her lips and just before Moria passed out on to the pillows she heard her teacher say, " Your about to be unbound."

Moria was standing in a snow covered field, the surpressing silence surrounded her; the cold sharp air filled her lungs and she sighed, "Home..." She looked around and smiled she had missed everything so much . The black cedars and thier contrast to the pure snow. The clear blue skies that looked so close it felt like you could reach up and touch them. And most of all the silence , the Arhagc world was so noisy and distracting, she really didn't realize she had missed it this much.

A low growl shattered her perfect silence. She turned arond in the direaction of the sound and a large snow cat padded out from the tree line into the snow covered field a couple of yards away from Moria. He snarled and bared his teeth giving her and idea of his intentions, she drew her small blade and readied herself. He crouched down and in and instant lunged himself at her. Five hundred pounds of killing fury sailing through the air at her. Moria crouched down and brached herself for it, the best way to kill a snow cat was a dagger in its belly, she wouldn't hesitate when it came down to his life or hers.

And suddenly a loud thundering voice shook the earth,

" Stop!"

And time stoped, the snowcat was frozed midair, the snowflakes fallingfrom the trees stopped halfway down. Moria found herself able to move but not understanding what was going on at all.

Then a tall women entered the clearing , Her hair was long and dark, and fell in waves down her back. She was wearing flowing white robes that for some reason reminded Moria of the wind in the cedars. Her face was beautiful for lack of a better word, Moria would never be able to describe he radiant beauty in the speech of man. Her eys which where forcused on Moria now where a blazing shade of green, the color of spring grass or moss . Her face was tainted by anger and then she spoke, " Moria Black , daughter of the mighty Rhagrnd, you hve come dangerously close to breaking my laws and disrespecting my realm."

She ripped the knife from Moria's hand leaving a rather long large gash across the palm of her hand. Moria gasped at the hot burning, sudden pain unlike any other she had felt in her life. She pulled her hand closed to her chest and watched as drops of crimson blood hit the white snow.

"Look you now at the price those must pay for disrespcting my Realm," the women said as she pointed to the blood on the snow, " The blood price has been paided you are even with my house now Moria Black," Moria looked up at the women still clutching her hand, she felt the first few tendrils of fear creep their way into her heart.

The women stepped closer to Moria and took her hand , " Your people ritualy scar themselves to mark thier place in the world no?" Moria couldn't speak all she could down was nod dumbly. The women's face softened and she smiled as she pried open Moria's hand. The wound was deep,flowing with blood , and still burning painfully. " Then look you now at the scar you will carry for the rest of your natural life." The women blew on Moria's palm and the blood disappeared, and the skin knit itself together; leaving behind a knobled very noticable scar running across Moria's palm.

The women smiled again as she looked down at the scar and then back at Moria, " Moria Black I mark you in the palm of your receiving hand as a servent of my House for eternity. You cannot an will not waiver from the path now placed infront of you . You have destiny and now are marked in the service of Carmelya." The Goddess pulled Moria closer so she could whisper in her ear, " I picked you Moria before you where born I picked you to enter my service as a noble priestess of nature , a druidess. It was I that pushed your Elder counsil to deny you the path of a Warrior. It was me that guided you to Demios and it was by my hand that you marked Druidism. You have enormus untapped power Moria , listen to your teachers, learn your craft well, and I will call on you again when there is a need. "

She pulled away and looked at Moria with unfathomable eyes, " Remeber what I said Moria , heed my words and use them well. You are part of a mighty Order now. You have a destiny. Now go child and serve me well."

She snapped her fingers and everything around Moria blurred like someone poured water on a still wet painting, the last thing she remembered seeing where the Goddesse's burning eyes.

Moria sat up with a start gasping for breath . She looked around her quickly and then her eyes focused on her Mistress, " Why didn't you tell me ?" She looked at her right hand and ther it was the knobbled scar she had recieved. Her heart beat faster and blood pumped in her ears. Moria Black marked as one of Carmelyas own had a destiny and it was written in the palm of her hand.

OCC: Sorry bout the length and yeah I know its cheesy but it was fun to write. I know its not normally allowed but can Moria keep the scar on her hand? Its something thats important to her , ritual scarring and all. If not I'll go back and edit it

Crimson · September 3, 2008, 01:06 PM

Mistress Chrysia Midios Unbound her new Initiate using the traditional methods taught to practicioners of her rank: it used a considerable amount of energy, or Mana -- more than enough to conjure up Treants or an army of magical creatures when used otherwise. But now, the four mana-shaping techniques led to the simplest yet most complex results of all -- Moria Black was now a mage, a beginner no less, but a mage regardless.

Darkness overtook the young druidess but the Mistress maintained her trance-like state effortlessly just in case any more spells was needed. The Mistress in Druidism has had dozens of students during her career and was by no means inexperienced with the arts. She had seen students suddenly collapse, still bound, due to their mental resistance to Arcana; others who were more inclined toward magic such as elves and their kin were adapted more easily to the mental strains required to cast spells; but then there were those unfortunate few, often times darker races, whose bodies and minds rejected Arcana so violently that it led to great personal harm.

Yet nothing could have prepared Mistress Chrysia Midios for the scene that unfolded before her. She watched in utter disbelief as Moria Black was suddenly siezed with tremors and her entire body became jagged and stiff; her back arched as she fell to the floor, her arms and legs slamming hard onto the wooden boards as if she was struck by some powerful force. The druidess seized her student then, and chanted the secret words which unlocked the powerful charms she had imbued onto objects along her person: the first was a diamond necklace she wore beneath her robes -- it contained several charges of a potent healing spell. Awakened, the spell flowed upon Moria's form like a blanket of soothing light -- and it was then that the Initiate awoke.

She was panting, sweating profusely, and her right hand was bleeding. The Mistress gasped. "Impossible ..." she muttered "what did you see, Initiate? Wait..." Closing her bright eyes, Chrysia Midios grasped Moria's bloodied palm and once again muttered the incomprehensible words that unlocked the secrets of her enchantments. Within moments, Moria's hand was covered with a thin green film that looked like sea weed. And when the Initiate panicked, her Mistress shook her head and assured her: "This will help the wound and seal it from any infection" she said "now, please ... tell me what happened."

Moria Black · September 3, 2008, 03:35 PM

Moria's breath came in ragged gasps, she couldn't get enough air. She couldn't get enough air dammnit! Everything was so foggy she couldn't queit get her eyes to focus on anything, it was like her world had changed into one fast moving blur. She raised her hand to her forehead, and felt a strange warm wetness . She pulled her hand down and suddenly her eyes focused on the long gash and the red life blood oozing out of the angery looking wound. Her breath slowed down and everything slide intop focus . Her mistress muttered something Moria didn't catch and grabbed her hand. She whispered something and a green something spread out over the wound, the pain lessened but Moria arched her hand and sqeaked in a very girlish manner.

Her Mistress spoke again and this time Moria heard her. What had happened; Moria tried to remember and then after a few moments it all came rushing back. She closed her eyes,tried to focus, and spoke quietly, " I was back home , in the cold mountains where I grew up. The cold air, the silence, the peace. It was very clear vivid almost. then a snow cat entered the clearing I was standing in. i drew my knife and the cat pounced . Somebody screamed stop and eveything froze. A tall woemn entered the clearing she had dark brown wavy hair that fell past her waist. Her eyes , her eyes where this intense shade of green. She told me I was close to breaking her laws and disrespecting her realm. She ripped the knife out of my hand leaving this cut. It burned and the pain was unlike anything I ever felt . The blood feel on the snow and she smiled and said the blood price had been paid. She asked about the ritual scarring of my people smiled and blew on the wound it closed up and she said she had marked me for life as one of her own , a servent in her House, something about entering the service of Carmelya. She told me I had a destiny and she had picked me , she said she had guided my path up till now . Then she said I had 'enormus untapped power' and I had to learn my craft and someday she would call on me again," Moria took a deep breath. That was the most she had spoken in three cycles. She looked at her Mistress ," Is something wrong?"

Crimson · September 3, 2008, 04:07 PM

Mistress Chrysia Midios said nothing while Moria spoke. She simply regarded the girl, her deamnor revealing nothing but understanding and comfort. It was only when Moria mentioned Carmelya did the druidess' countenance shift into that of being perplexed but otherwise remained quiet. At her Initiate's query, she shook her head and smiled. Her bright eyes remained on Moria for a very long time after that then she said: "I have said before that your inclination to Arcana will determine the success of your Unbinding. I see now that you are not only inclined to practice Arcana but your fate may be woven deeper into the fabric of Carmelya's plans than I realized." She sighed, but it was one of great relief rather than sadness or fatigue.

"According to your vision, your potential was revealed to you. Let us discover this 'enormous untapped power' than shall we?" She maintained her smile but otherwise said nothing else. Once more, the Mistress closed her eyes but this time she gently placed her hands on both of Moria's shoulders. She took in a cleansing breath, exhaled then opened her eyes again. "I have just imparted the knowledge you will need as an Initiate in Druidism" she continued "you will discover this knowledge necessary if you are to understand the complex mechanisms of Arcana. Unfolding these new 'memories' should not be difficult. But as a test, let me ask you a question" she grinned.

"Tell me the five mana-shaping techniques and their uses in Druidism please. As thoroughly as you can, if possible."

Moria Black · September 3, 2008, 04:38 PM

Moria breathed a sigh of relief to find that nothing was wrong with her and that what had happened could possibly turn out for the better; go figure. Her Mistress then placed her hand on Moria's shoulders took a deep breath and then released her. Moria arched and eyebrow and her Mistress smiled. She told her she had imparted knowledge to Moria everything she needed to know about being a Initate Druid. Well if it was that easy...

Then she asked Moria to answer a question , it shouldn't be too hard she said. "Five mana shaping techniques and their uses in druidsum, perfect I don't know any of ..." and as if by magick Moria did. She suddenly understood what her teacher was talking to her about .

The Rhgrnd women cleared her throat and spoke clearly, " Abjuration, Alteration, Conjuration, Divination, and finally Evocation. Abjuration is simply taking energy from one thing and giving it to another, for example in Druidism one could take energy from a tree plant or animal and give it to a person or vice versa. Alteration can be used in shapshifting , for example the spell bark skin is Alteration. Conjuration is the act of summoning something , an animal for example. Divivnation is the art of foresight, in druidism this art is applied in Detect. And Evocation is simply put evoking someone or something , in Druidsm it can be used to evoke Nature essence to heal." She finished and looked over at her teacher try to gauge her response, Moria wasn't sure if she had gotten everything correct or not, but she was sure on some level that she was in the general area.

Crimson · September 3, 2008, 04:56 PM

"Very good" the Mistress in Druidism grinned "each spell you learn at this stage will consist of a single mana-shaping technique -- alteration, abjuration, conjuration, divination, or evocation. A single spell will cost you one third of your total magical energies or vis. So, as practice, you do not want to overexert yourself -- two spells every brightening is more than enough. This may seem too stingent at first but ... you'll discover soon enough why it is unwise to not test your limits for now, Initiate."

Mistress Chrysia Midios paused and allowed her student to take in all that information. She continued a second later: "To begin, I want you to understand the principles of each spell -- how it works, how it is applied. These are fundamental steps should you ascend into apprenticeship with me or another master. To start, please explain how to cast a spell as a mage -- starting from the first step and then the last, which is releasing the spell into existence. Be as thorough as possible. Then" the druidess smiled "you may attempted to cast your first spell -- it is called Forest Calm."