Miresa?"
"Hm?" Miresa looked away from the dusty road leading into the town square. "What is it, Arune?"
"Why are some beings afraid of the silliest things?" the chocolate haired fairy asked as she landed on her Other's shoulder.
"Now what makes you ask that?"
"I was passing by the temple this morning, and Losi was acting unusually fearful of going up to the highest tower--a very unusual fear for an avri. Usually, avris are fearless of flying."
"Well..." Miresa racked her brain for the simplest way to explain such a fear to the fairy on her shoulder. Sometimes a being will have a very unatural fear of something--healers call fears like this a phobia. In Losi's case, she is afraid of going into tall buildings or a location that is high off the ground."
'But when you fly, you go high off the ground!" Arune protested. "So does that mean Losi is afraid to fly?"
Miresa giggled. "No, Losi enjoys flying just like any other avri would--it's just that when she is on a tall cliff or a high point of a building, she is afraid." She wasn't a healer, but Miresa felt that was an easy enough explaination
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Viginette #9: Mother used to say
"Not again..." Arune sighed as she ran a finger over her crystal chimes, restoring some charred books to normal. "Are you sure you really want to be a blademage, Miresa?"
"Yes..." Miresa sighed--this was the third fireball she had accidentally unleashed in the library that week.
"Well, a good blademage knows how to control the magia inside them, even if they don't know they have named a spell until too late." Arune explained as watched the newly healed books fly back on the shelf, hiding all evidence of her Other's accident. "If you don't mind my asking, why do you continue to try to harness magia even though it usually winds up being a mess for me to clean up?"
"My mother asked me that same question when I was young--but back then, I was too young to understand why I kept making things happen when I unknowingly named spells--and I said I wanted to be a blademage." Miresa explained. "But after a week went by where I inadvertantly caused an accident at least once per day, I was seriously reconsidering my childhood dream and leaving the mage's lodge. Mother took me aside and said "Set yourself as the standard". I took that to mean 'believe in yourself', so whenever someone tells me to just give up, I just remember that little proverb, and it gives me the strength to keep trying."
"Yes..." Miresa sighed--this was the third fireball she had accidentally unleashed in the library that week.
"Well, a good blademage knows how to control the magia inside them, even if they don't know they have named a spell until too late." Arune explained as watched the newly healed books fly back on the shelf, hiding all evidence of her Other's accident. "If you don't mind my asking, why do you continue to try to harness magia even though it usually winds up being a mess for me to clean up?"
"My mother asked me that same question when I was young--but back then, I was too young to understand why I kept making things happen when I unknowingly named spells--and I said I wanted to be a blademage." Miresa explained. "But after a week went by where I inadvertantly caused an accident at least once per day, I was seriously reconsidering my childhood dream and leaving the mage's lodge. Mother took me aside and said "Set yourself as the standard". I took that to mean 'believe in yourself', so whenever someone tells me to just give up, I just remember that little proverb, and it gives me the strength to keep trying."
Monday, October 19, 2009
Viginette #8: My Idol
Had to edit out the world name in this viginette, since I don't know what the new name of the world will be yet
The day of the festival dawned warm and sunny, and all of Telrain turned out on the town square to watch the Festival Dance. Some in the crowd wore flowers in their clothing--girls and women in their hair, men and boys in the pockets of their shirts.
Galia and Losi were present, both in their ceremonial clothes, as the four members of the ensemble filed onstage with their instruments. A feather from Losi's wings was pulled free by the breeze and swirled out to land on Miresa's leggings. She blushed, but Losi gave her a reassuring look, as if wanting Miresa to take the feather.
Miresa found her seat in between Caronna and Ailina and made herself comfortable, her heart pounding like a drum creating a reel of nervousness. She could feel her hands shaking and her feet jerking a little, as if wanting to dance to the uneasy rhythm reverbrating through her.
Caronna noticed Miresa shaking and placed a reassuring hand on her. "You'll do fine--so long as you've practiced your part, nothing will go wrong."
The words did nothing to soothe the nervous rhythm inside Miresa as Aeskan--or as she was known all around (unknown), Fleetfoot--stepped onto the stage. Her jet black hair, a sign among elves that the elf had innate darkness magia, made a stark contrast between the pure white dress-like outfit and leggings she wore. In just a few short moments, Miresa realized, she and her fellow bandmates would be transforming the white outfit into one with the four primal colors of magia--dark green for earth, red for fire, light blue for water, and light green for wind.
Galia stepped out towards center stage, hushing the murmuring crowd. "People of Telrain, a special day has arrived--the day of celebration that marks the return of spring and the new life born from it..."
Miresa tried to listen to the speech, but the nervous rhythm her pounding heart had created was now quickening to a fever pitch. She didn't know why her nervousness had increased to this level--her being in the presence of one of her idols, Fleetfoot, or the fact she was now minutes away from playing in the ritual she had always dreamed of playing in. Galia's words seemed muddled in her mind, drowned out by the frantic reel seemingly pulsing through her body.
She snapped to attention as Galia finished her speech and took her leave with Losi, leaving her, her bandmates, and Aeskan the only ones onstage.
Torian waited for Losi to give the starting signal, then whispered "Magia Flower", making his instrument glow deep green as he began to play the simple, yet stately jig-like melody that made up one half of the Prayersong's tune. The deep bass notes of the lute created flowers shining with all twelve magia colors around Aeskan's feet, which she deftly tiptoed through as her outfit absorbed some of the sparkling deep green swirl creating the flowers.
Once the lute played the complete A section, Caronna whispered "Ruby Sphere" before lifting her glowing red instrument to her chin and joining the tune. No sooner had the fiddle joined in did large red balls begin to form in the air alongside the elven dancer swirling and swaying across the stage to the stately melody, bursting in showers of rubies, which Aeskan picked up and spread around her and the Magia Flowers, absorbing some of the stream of sparkling red energy into her costume. Some of the Magia Flowers burst into flames at the ruby's impact, making some in the crowd ooh and ah.
The concertina joined in with the spell Sea Rune for the B section of the tune, creating waves of sparkling light blue energy that set the Magia Flowers and remains of Ruby Spheres afloat. But Miresa knew that the "water" Aeskan was now splashing and jumping through was not water, but water magia. She swallowed hard as a wave engulfed Aeskan for a moment, making her outfit absorb some of the water magia that now drenched the stage. If this were real water, her idol would surely slip and fall; but Aeskan did not slip on the waves of water magia and the showers of rubies and flowers around her. Every step, every twirl, every jump--each of them well rehearsed and masterfully executed--affirmed to her time and time again why Aeskan had been dubbed "Fleetfoot"
The lute, the fiddle, and the concertina playing the B section a second time snapped her from her awed trance--she had been too focused on Aeskan to notice that after they finished, it would be time for her to join in at the A section! She nervously fumbled for the peridot Galia had given her and stammered "Prism Storm", making her whistle glow light green. After waiting for her cue, she gingerly joined in with the tune, making colored wind gusts out of the light green energy of wind magia, completing Aeskan's transformation from pale white form to a Magia Dancer of many colors. The melody of earth, fire, wind, and water joined with the dancer swirling among the energy to create a harmony fit for a goddess.
As she played, Miresa thought she saw Arune nodding her head to the rhythmical jig-like tune, and Bradlin flashing the sign of the sprout to her in encouragement--and it gave her more resolve to play stronger, and louder, strengthening the Prism Storm.
After several more renditions of the tune, all four instruments ended together on a D note as Aeskan struck a triumphant pose. The last of the four combined magias combined in one last explosion of color in the noonday sky before the crowd began to cheer....
The day of the festival dawned warm and sunny, and all of Telrain turned out on the town square to watch the Festival Dance. Some in the crowd wore flowers in their clothing--girls and women in their hair, men and boys in the pockets of their shirts.
Galia and Losi were present, both in their ceremonial clothes, as the four members of the ensemble filed onstage with their instruments. A feather from Losi's wings was pulled free by the breeze and swirled out to land on Miresa's leggings. She blushed, but Losi gave her a reassuring look, as if wanting Miresa to take the feather.
Miresa found her seat in between Caronna and Ailina and made herself comfortable, her heart pounding like a drum creating a reel of nervousness. She could feel her hands shaking and her feet jerking a little, as if wanting to dance to the uneasy rhythm reverbrating through her.
Caronna noticed Miresa shaking and placed a reassuring hand on her. "You'll do fine--so long as you've practiced your part, nothing will go wrong."
The words did nothing to soothe the nervous rhythm inside Miresa as Aeskan--or as she was known all around (unknown), Fleetfoot--stepped onto the stage. Her jet black hair, a sign among elves that the elf had innate darkness magia, made a stark contrast between the pure white dress-like outfit and leggings she wore. In just a few short moments, Miresa realized, she and her fellow bandmates would be transforming the white outfit into one with the four primal colors of magia--dark green for earth, red for fire, light blue for water, and light green for wind.
Galia stepped out towards center stage, hushing the murmuring crowd. "People of Telrain, a special day has arrived--the day of celebration that marks the return of spring and the new life born from it..."
Miresa tried to listen to the speech, but the nervous rhythm her pounding heart had created was now quickening to a fever pitch. She didn't know why her nervousness had increased to this level--her being in the presence of one of her idols, Fleetfoot, or the fact she was now minutes away from playing in the ritual she had always dreamed of playing in. Galia's words seemed muddled in her mind, drowned out by the frantic reel seemingly pulsing through her body.
She snapped to attention as Galia finished her speech and took her leave with Losi, leaving her, her bandmates, and Aeskan the only ones onstage.
Torian waited for Losi to give the starting signal, then whispered "Magia Flower", making his instrument glow deep green as he began to play the simple, yet stately jig-like melody that made up one half of the Prayersong's tune. The deep bass notes of the lute created flowers shining with all twelve magia colors around Aeskan's feet, which she deftly tiptoed through as her outfit absorbed some of the sparkling deep green swirl creating the flowers.
Once the lute played the complete A section, Caronna whispered "Ruby Sphere" before lifting her glowing red instrument to her chin and joining the tune. No sooner had the fiddle joined in did large red balls begin to form in the air alongside the elven dancer swirling and swaying across the stage to the stately melody, bursting in showers of rubies, which Aeskan picked up and spread around her and the Magia Flowers, absorbing some of the stream of sparkling red energy into her costume. Some of the Magia Flowers burst into flames at the ruby's impact, making some in the crowd ooh and ah.
The concertina joined in with the spell Sea Rune for the B section of the tune, creating waves of sparkling light blue energy that set the Magia Flowers and remains of Ruby Spheres afloat. But Miresa knew that the "water" Aeskan was now splashing and jumping through was not water, but water magia. She swallowed hard as a wave engulfed Aeskan for a moment, making her outfit absorb some of the water magia that now drenched the stage. If this were real water, her idol would surely slip and fall; but Aeskan did not slip on the waves of water magia and the showers of rubies and flowers around her. Every step, every twirl, every jump--each of them well rehearsed and masterfully executed--affirmed to her time and time again why Aeskan had been dubbed "Fleetfoot"
The lute, the fiddle, and the concertina playing the B section a second time snapped her from her awed trance--she had been too focused on Aeskan to notice that after they finished, it would be time for her to join in at the A section! She nervously fumbled for the peridot Galia had given her and stammered "Prism Storm", making her whistle glow light green. After waiting for her cue, she gingerly joined in with the tune, making colored wind gusts out of the light green energy of wind magia, completing Aeskan's transformation from pale white form to a Magia Dancer of many colors. The melody of earth, fire, wind, and water joined with the dancer swirling among the energy to create a harmony fit for a goddess.
As she played, Miresa thought she saw Arune nodding her head to the rhythmical jig-like tune, and Bradlin flashing the sign of the sprout to her in encouragement--and it gave her more resolve to play stronger, and louder, strengthening the Prism Storm.
After several more renditions of the tune, all four instruments ended together on a D note as Aeskan struck a triumphant pose. The last of the four combined magias combined in one last explosion of color in the noonday sky before the crowd began to cheer....
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Viginette #7: Holiday
"Let me see if I heard you correctly, Miresa..." Arune gasped. "Lady Galia wants you to be one of four that will play the Festival Dance Prayersong to accompany this year's Magia Dancer?"
"Yes! Yes! I can't believe it myself." Miresa replied.
"You realize that the Festival Dance is not the kind of dance tune you are accustomed to playing..." Arune started. "It's actually a slow and stately tune....also know that you are actually casting magia."
"I'll be receiving a peridot to cast the spell with and control it, don't worry." Miresa sighed. She knew full well that if the festival was ruined because of an errant wind gust, Halliwen wouldn't let her live it down.
"Then who else is playing with you?" Arune was piqued.
"Well...Caronna's playing fire again this year..." Miresa began. "Torian is also back this year, playing earth on the lute he made last year...the only other newcomer this year is Ailina, who will be playing water. So the ensemble will be a lute, a fiddle, a concertina, and me on whistle."
"And who is the Magia Dancer this year?"
"You'll probably think this is a Stone of Power, but Aeskan, the elven dancer everyone calls "Fleetfoot", is coming this year." Miresa replied.
Arune stiffled a giggle. "Like THAT's a Stone of Power! What would motivate Fleetfoot herself to come to such a small town like this?"
"Lady Galia probably asked Fleetfoot to come, I'd wager." Arune mused. "But at any rate, you'd best get practicing if you stand a chance of controlling the magia." With that, she flitted over to the empty music stand before Miresa and ran a finger over her chimes of crystal, making the book of Prayersongs lying on the bed fly up and settle before Miresa, the pages ruffling until they came to the Prayersong called Festival Dance.
Miresa studied the music for a moment--she did too play this kind of dance tune! Festival Dance was simply a slowed down jig set in common time, and the tune was fairly easy, or so she thought.
She tried to play the beginning of the tune, but the well hidden triplet in the first measure threw off her concentration and made a screech echo through the room.
Arune winced from the whistle's squawk. "Have you had your power locked, Miresa?"
"No--I've just never seen this rhythm before." Miresa explained. Arune rolled her eyes as her Other screeched and squawked through the melody--the festival would be ruined for sure if Miresa played the Prayersong as badly as she was playing it now.
"Yes! Yes! I can't believe it myself." Miresa replied.
"You realize that the Festival Dance is not the kind of dance tune you are accustomed to playing..." Arune started. "It's actually a slow and stately tune....also know that you are actually casting magia."
"I'll be receiving a peridot to cast the spell with and control it, don't worry." Miresa sighed. She knew full well that if the festival was ruined because of an errant wind gust, Halliwen wouldn't let her live it down.
"Then who else is playing with you?" Arune was piqued.
"Well...Caronna's playing fire again this year..." Miresa began. "Torian is also back this year, playing earth on the lute he made last year...the only other newcomer this year is Ailina, who will be playing water. So the ensemble will be a lute, a fiddle, a concertina, and me on whistle."
"And who is the Magia Dancer this year?"
"You'll probably think this is a Stone of Power, but Aeskan, the elven dancer everyone calls "Fleetfoot", is coming this year." Miresa replied.
Arune stiffled a giggle. "Like THAT's a Stone of Power! What would motivate Fleetfoot herself to come to such a small town like this?"
"Lady Galia probably asked Fleetfoot to come, I'd wager." Arune mused. "But at any rate, you'd best get practicing if you stand a chance of controlling the magia." With that, she flitted over to the empty music stand before Miresa and ran a finger over her chimes of crystal, making the book of Prayersongs lying on the bed fly up and settle before Miresa, the pages ruffling until they came to the Prayersong called Festival Dance.
Miresa studied the music for a moment--she did too play this kind of dance tune! Festival Dance was simply a slowed down jig set in common time, and the tune was fairly easy, or so she thought.
She tried to play the beginning of the tune, but the well hidden triplet in the first measure threw off her concentration and made a screech echo through the room.
Arune winced from the whistle's squawk. "Have you had your power locked, Miresa?"
"No--I've just never seen this rhythm before." Miresa explained. Arune rolled her eyes as her Other screeched and squawked through the melody--the festival would be ruined for sure if Miresa played the Prayersong as badly as she was playing it now.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
More viginettes coming
I've been meaning to share some more writings, but some of them I may have to edit in the new name of the world.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Another name for your consideration
My friend (who is helping me with The Video Game) suggessted the name Shokiyu for my world--what do you think?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Is there an artist in the house?
As much as I want to draw Miresa and co. and their world, I can't draw to save my life--so if there are any artists out there that want to help bring my world to life, let me know!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
In case of trimming...
In the event that I have to trim some elementals, how much is enough to trim?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Rearranging magia
To start, I'm taking psychic abilities out of Time and putting them in Spirit. Pearl's possible new elemental is Ether, which manipulates the fire-like substance ghosts are made of, as well as summoning beings and items
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Some new names...
Here's a list of possible new names for my world--starred names are ones I like a lot.
Utana*
Tiriata*
Agrion
Minagas
Eurion
Utana*
Tiriata*
Agrion
Minagas
Eurion
Friday, October 9, 2009
What to rename the world and more
Since I found out that my initial name of Sekiya has inappropriate implications, I'm back to square one-naming the world.
Should I still go with combinations of real words in other languages, or should I just generate a name?
I then got criticism that I need to rework the magic system. While paring down elementals is my last resort, I decided to start by moving psychic power out of Time elemental magic and putting it in Spirit (or whatever I ultimately re-name it)
Pearl needs a new elemental, and I could change Spirit to something like Ether.
Any ideas for what Pearl's new elemental should be
Should I still go with combinations of real words in other languages, or should I just generate a name?
I then got criticism that I need to rework the magic system. While paring down elementals is my last resort, I decided to start by moving psychic power out of Time elemental magic and putting it in Spirit (or whatever I ultimately re-name it)
Pearl needs a new elemental, and I could change Spirit to something like Ether.
Any ideas for what Pearl's new elemental should be
Thursday, October 8, 2009
A world by any other name...
Over the course of the year I have built my world, I have been careful to avoid words that could mean inappropriate things--so imagine my shock when I learned that Sekiya has an inappropriate meaning/implication in Japanese.
So that means back to the drawing board for naming my world....
So that means back to the drawing board for naming my world....
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Traveling in Sekiya, Day 3
For traveling short distances within a city, what are the alternatives? Can people hire a cab, a litter, a rickshaw, or do they have to walk or rely on their own servants or horses?
Besides walking, a Sekiyan can also hire a carriage (akin to cabs) or use a teleporter (which, unlike teleportation magia, is very unlikely to fail)
Besides walking, a Sekiyan can also hire a carriage (akin to cabs) or use a teleporter (which, unlike teleportation magia, is very unlikely to fail)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Traveling in Sekiya, Day 2
Are there magical means of transportation (teleport spells, magic carpets, dragon-riding)? How do they compare in speed, safety, and expense to non-magical means? How commonly are they used, and for what purposes (industrial shipping vs. travel for fun)?
Teleportation and dragon/wyvern riding are common in Sekiya, and are usually faster and safer at the cost of a slightly higher price. Teleportation is mainly used for shipping items, as the risk of teleportation failing rises with the more people you need to teleport. Dragon/wyvern riding is used for both purposes, with each dragoon charging their own rate per person
Teleportation and dragon/wyvern riding are common in Sekiya, and are usually faster and safer at the cost of a slightly higher price. Teleportation is mainly used for shipping items, as the risk of teleportation failing rises with the more people you need to teleport. Dragon/wyvern riding is used for both purposes, with each dragoon charging their own rate per person
Monday, October 5, 2009
Traveling in Sekiya, Day 1
What are the common domesticated animals used for transportation at various levels of society -- e.g., oxen, horses, donkeys, camels, etc.?
Oxen and horses are generally used on the plains, but elk are occasionally used on the plains, as well as the mountains and the highlands. Camels are also used in the desert
Oxen and horses are generally used on the plains, but elk are occasionally used on the plains, as well as the mountains and the highlands. Camels are also used in the desert
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Sekiyan Countryside, Day 5
Last question on this topic:
Can peasants/yeomen own their own land, or does it all belong to the lord? What kinds of rights over land, crops, game, etc. does the lord/landowner have? Is poaching a problem?
Commoners do own their own land, but will occassionally allow migrant workers to work. In this case, the migrants are given room and board in exchange for a portion of what they harvest each month.
Can peasants/yeomen own their own land, or does it all belong to the lord? What kinds of rights over land, crops, game, etc. does the lord/landowner have? Is poaching a problem?
Commoners do own their own land, but will occassionally allow migrant workers to work. In this case, the migrants are given room and board in exchange for a portion of what they harvest each month.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
The Sekiyan Countryside, Day 4
•How are farming/food-producing areas divided up between humans/nonhumans? What kinds of conflicts are likely?
The humans and the elves usually do not intrude on one another's lands, but the elves will contact the humans if they feel a proposed farm would require clearing some of the Forest of Dawn
The humans and the elves usually do not intrude on one another's lands, but the elves will contact the humans if they feel a proposed farm would require clearing some of the Forest of Dawn
Friday, October 2, 2009
The Sekiyan Countryside, Day 3
What kinds of catastrophic/weird weather are common--tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, waterspouts, dust storms? How do people cope? How do non-humans cope?
Tornadoes are common on the plains, while hurricanes are more common on the coast. Blizzards will usually occur in the mountains or highlands, but a blizzard striking the valleys is not unheard of.
Dust storms usually occur in the desert, but they will also occur on the plains if it has been a unusually dry summer
Whatever the case, magia is usually used to protect crops, animals, and beings from wild weather, but everyone also knows what to do in the event of wild weather
Tornadoes are common on the plains, while hurricanes are more common on the coast. Blizzards will usually occur in the mountains or highlands, but a blizzard striking the valleys is not unheard of.
Dust storms usually occur in the desert, but they will also occur on the plains if it has been a unusually dry summer
Whatever the case, magia is usually used to protect crops, animals, and beings from wild weather, but everyone also knows what to do in the event of wild weather
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Sekiyan Countryside, Day 2
•How reliable is the weather from year to year -- is crop production relatively dependable, or do people have to cope with regular famines due to drought or floods?
Production is mostly reliable naturally, but when weather threatens, magia is used to protect the crops, but depending on the severity of the weather, the magia may not hold.
Production is mostly reliable naturally, but when weather threatens, magia is used to protect the crops, but depending on the severity of the weather, the magia may not hold.
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