audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen (After Newt's post)

[bindsthedead]

I have some good news, and a request.

I've worked with Doctor Geizler, and it seems that some types of magic are effective against the infection- except I'm not sure it's an infection. Spells designed to purge magical corruption seem to be effective- particularly when combined with Finn's blood. More ordinary curative magic, the kind I was taught to use against ordinary infections doesn't work.

[Which raises even more questions about the origin of the infection. If it came from the orb, what does that say about the orb's nature? Or is this just a consequence of misusing it?]

But while that combination helps more than either alone, it's not a cure. For that, it's likely we'll need more magical power- either from So-Yeon and the orb, or from other mages among our number- or preferably, both.

If anyone here has some experience in the matter of purging magical corruption, we could use your help. The more of us working together, the greater the chance we can devise a true cure.

[There's a long pause before her next words, one born of hesitation. Sabriel's regret- the one she's here to undo- is the death of her friends and classmates. Schoolgirls who'd died because they'd needed more mages to open Kerrigor's coffin, and they'd been the only ones nearby. If she takes on students... Sabriel's not sure if she'll end up sending them into harms way too.

Except they're all in danger already, just by the nature of their mission. And future missions will probably put them in danger too.]

Or if you lack such experience and wish to learn... The magic I use can be passed on by baptism, and taught. Charter Magic takes time and dedication to master, and carelessness can be dangerous to both the mage and anyone around them- but more magical help would be useful, and the sooner people start learning, the sooner they can work up to learning the relevant spells.

Comments

[bossily]

I'm a teacher back home, so I understand the taking it seriously thing. I'd like to be able to help more, and anything I can learn to do that would be an asset. And please, call me Clara. No need for formality.

[bindsthedead]

All right, Clara. Meet me in the courtyard outside our rooms. Charter magic requires a baptism, so that will be the first thing... And after that, you'll learn your first spells.

[bossily]

Give me a mo' and I'll be right there. Just a quick question though. What all does a baptism meant for the use of magic involve...exactly?

audio > video

[bindsthedead]

It means gaining a baptismal mark- and a connection to the Charter. That's what all Charter magic derives from.

[And there's a quick switch to video, with Sabriel holding up a mirror to her forehead to show her own mark- it looks amost like a nearly faded scar, or an old tattoo. Faint lines, that are very easy to miss if you're not looking for them.]

The Charter contains and describes all things. By drawing on the appropriate marks, you can use it to cast spells.

[bossily]

[She squints a little as she really looks, and quickly decides that a mark isn't all that bad of a thing. ]

Do you get to choose where the mark appears? Not that it really matters, but I thought it'd be better if I go into this fully informed so there's no surprises.

[bindsthedead]

No. It's always on the forehead. And it's... not something that can be undone, but if you're sure you want this...

[Sabriel's already gathering the water and wood ash.]

[bossily]

But other than making you able to study this magic and be able to use it, it doesn't change who you are in any fundamental way?

[She's on the move herself, heading out of her room.]

[bindsthedead]

Baptism? No, that doesn't change you. It just allows you to use magic.

[It's easy to trace over her own mark with the wood ash, and fill the bottle up with water again.]

I would like to believe that studying magic imparts some amount of wisdom, but that's not always the case.

[Sabriel's a skilled mage, and she knows she's made stupid decisions on occasion.]

[bossily]

[That makes Clara laugh, because it sounds like something she might say.]

Course not. There's always a few bad apples in every batch.

[She disconnects then, and hurries to their agreed meeting spot.]

[bindsthedead]

[And Sabriel's waiting, posture ramrod straight with a glass bottle clutched in one hand and wood ash traced over her forehead.

She regards Clara solemnly.]

Are you ready to begin?

[bossily]

[Clara, being as short as she is, feels the need to make herself stand as tall as humanly possible. Not because Sabriel intimidates her, but because standing nice and tall makes her feel like she's taking this more seriously.

Her hands, though, are nice and fidgety. She winds up crossing her arms over her chest and nods.]

There's definitely no time like the present to get started.

[bindsthedead]

Then let's begin.

[It's a little easier the second time- Sabriel knows what to expect, and the marks come a little easier, the Charter flowing through her with an intensity she's rarely felt outside of this rite.

The bottle pulses with light, Charter marks passing through her into the water, until by the time Sabriel falls silent, it's emitting a continuous, steady glow.

The glow remains as she touches the bottle first to the earth, and then to the ash on her forehead before emptying it over Clara, shutting her eyes against the sudden flash of light, the feeling of the Charter surging around her and through her and into Clara.

Sabriel wonders if Clara sees what she's seeing- the split second vision of an endless, swirling sea of Charter Marks, like falling into a sea of stars.]

By the Charter that binds all things, I name thee Clara!

[And with that, the ash vanishes from Sabriel's forehead, reappearing on Clara's as a baptismal mark forms beneath that.]

[bossily]

[At first, the flash of light and all that follows is a rush that shocks her. She's been among the stars more times than she can count, but the feeling of knowing this particular cosmos is made up of Charter Marks is something new and awe inspiring. She's going to be a part of something that will enable her to really make a difference, something that will make her stronger here.

That knowledge warms her heart and fills her with a sense of purpose. Her eyes close briefly and when she reopens them, there's an edge of certainty in her gaze that hadn't been there before.

Her hand reaches up, fingers lightly touching at her forehead.]

That was more intense than what I was expecting. In a good way though, really.

[bindsthedead]

Well. Let that be a lesson- magic's always intense. It's magic.

[Beautiful and awe inspiring, but never entirely safe.]

Now. Ready to learn your first spell?

[bossily]

How old are you, anyway?

[She grins a little, impressed with someone so young being able to command like a proper teacher. She doesn't know Sabriel well at all, but she still feels a sense of pride that she's making the choice to help people learn magic. It's not something she had to do, but is choosing to anyway.

But she does nod, eager to learn her first spell.]

[bindsthedead]

I'm eighteen.

[And hopefully not the youngest of the Ximlia's crew. That would be embarassing.

But Sabriel presses on, speaking in what she thinks of as her Prefect Voice- reassuring and mature, but not lecturing.]

What I need you to do is focus on what you saw when the water hit you. Reach out to it, visualize it- you need to establish a connection to it. Touch my mark if you need to.

Don't worry about how long it takes. Just keep trying until you can connect to it for more than an instant.

[bossily]

[She's going to grow into becoming a force of nature at this rate. Clara respects that. So she doesn't make a comment about her age and instead simply nods, getting right to work.

Her eyes close and she tries to picture the sea of stars she had seen before. Of course, they hadn't been stars but rather Charter Marks. It was easy for her to visualize it, conceptualizing it as an endless expanse of her beloved stars. They stretch on forever, until it's just her and them and she's completely surrounded by endless galaxies of possibilities.]

What happens once I make the connection?

[bindsthedead]

I want you to reach into it, and look for this mark-

[And Sabriel traces out a single mark, the mark for light, with a slow, easy motion and a ripple of power, watching as it collapses into a single point of light as she completes it.]

And draw it out. You need to maintain your connection to the Charter as you do so, but also hold the mark in your mind- let it flow out of your fingertips.

And- don't be alarmed if it feels like you just ran a sprint. Charter magic can be draining, particularly if you're just starting out.

[bossily]

[Clara focuses on that mark, nodding when she thinks she's ready. She tries to regain her concentration and focus deeply, letting her vision of the Charter Marks take shape into her magical galaxies. She can feel the Charter that way, is able to maintain a connection through it.

But seeking out that particular mark is work for her, and takes a great deal of concentration. When finally she's able to pull it forward, the mark seeming to glow within her mind as it's singled out.

Her arm extends slowly, and she tries to focus on letting it flow through her mind and out through her fingertips. She's already feeling winded, but isn't going to give up until she makes it work.]

[bindsthedead]

Good, good, keep going.

[Sabriel can feel the small sensation of Charter magic- not a feeling easily assigned to any of the five senses, but one Sabriel knew by experience and instinct meant that someone nearby was drawing on the Charter.]

Just let it flow as you trace it out, then break the connection and take a deep breath.

[bossily]

[Clara's never had difficulty with concentration, but she finds this exerting in a way she hadn't anticipated. Her mind reaches while she also quite literally reaches out at thin air like she's going to grasp Charter magic that way.

She allows it to flow through her as best she can, keeping that singled out Charter in her mind. Her focus shifts to that and only that, and she allowed the sensation of drawing on the Charter to guide the flow of the magic.

By the point she broke the connection, she felt like she had just run for miles. It was a fascinating sort of exhaustion, one that put a tired smile on her face. The deep breath follows, along with a slow and shaky exhale.]

Right, so, wasn't expecting to be knackered right out of the gate. But here we are, making it obvious I need plenty of practice.

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel is smiling- and there, hanging in the air like a tiny star, is a Charter light, Clara's first spell. It flares as Sabriel pokes at it, but holds steady, and Sabriel, apparently satisfied, turns back to Clara.]

Well, congratulations, you've cast your first spell.

Now, for your homework, I want you to practice it- that and meditate. Connect to the Charter, even when you're not trying to cast a spell. As your connection to it strengthens, spellcasting will become easier.