The Entrancement Enhancement

[Miro]

9th day of Winter, 513 AV

Miro stirred from his sleepless slumber and lifted himself to sit. He had allowed himself to rest for quite some time now. The sun had only just set when he first closed his eyes. The shine that proved it had risen hit his eyelids while he rested, but was again gone. It was one of those nights, the kind where being an undead was hard. Never to sleep or dream again. It was something he quite missed, though there were plenty of other things. Somewhere under all of the curses be was made of was the true Miro, but by now it was completely lost. Mind, body and soul, all of them corrupted, his existence was now drenched in darkness.

For the day rested, the Chained One was lost deep in his memories. At first he thought all the way to his beginnings. His mother, when he learned magic, the majority of his life. The way he was raised, how he was always free, only able to dream about the world told in stories to him. That was all it was to him, fantasy, tall tales that taught ideals and grand values. He did not understand how harsh things could really be until he had lost his mother. Despite all of his magical disciplining, the young wizard became wildly Overgiven and took his mother's life.

There were so many fond memories he still held, but an important that important one was gone. He was sure Overgiving was to blame again, for his dear mother's face was lost to him, just as it was to the rest of the world. All of the lesson's she had taught him, some of them he could only realize the truth of years later. He wondered if she could be proud of him how he was. A powerful wizard indeed, but lost from all the love she gave. Though she was not the only one who cared for the undead in his time alive.

There was also Kinneas, a Human, the young wizard's first and best friend. Together they traveled through Kalea for years. They took care of each other and grew close. The two shared more adventures than any could count. So many close calls to meeting their end.. Too many, Kinneas would say, if he were still alive. But their sharp wits and skills always pulled them through. The man was like a father and brother to Miro. And though Kinneas always loved and cared for his young companion, it was obvious that without one the other could not carry on. Until finally they settled down in Alvadas.

The city of Illusion, Alvadas, what a horrid place. Full of wonder, grand illusions, magnificent performances, every instance of wonder and excitement one could imagine. The entire city was colorful and filled with a magical charm unlike any other. There was always an event, some strange occurrence, new sight to see, it was hard not to find entertainment. Though Ionu provided all of this to his people, sometimes the god provided too much excitement. The city would open up and swallow people whole. Drop them into a perverted world of illusion within the city. A place where the darkest and worst things twisted minds could imagine were. And other times it was some trick the god played on his residents.

Though the wizard tried to think on all of the great times he had with Kinneas and the wonderful people in the city, his mind was drawn to darker places. Thoughts of fighting in the Akeldama Colosseum and meeting Alric and other impressive people faded. In their place came cursed items, locked away evils, and that damned mirror. Miro missed his face, almost as much as he missed having one. The Mask of Many took that, another token from his time in Alvadas. But the worst of all was the event that took Kinneas, as well as many other residents. Even the great Colosseum of Alvadas was destroyed. That damned mirror.

The Kasai Dala Mirror, a toy Ionu dreamed up to cause misery. With it wishes were possible. In his time in Sahova, the undead had picked up a little of the Ancient Tongue. Kasai meant hope or optimism, and dala meant to shape, change or improve. Maybe it meant the optimism improving mirror, an ironic name, or perhaps hope changing, for a wish never truly came out right. Miro knew this better than anyone. He wanted to be hero of Alvadas more than anything. When he got the chance, he rushed in headfirst, and he lost his life. Then he wished on that damned mirror, and he tainted himself. Though through these losses, he finally was given the title he so desired.

The leaders of the city named him hero, but he would have traded it all back given another wish. The entire city was saved by his actions, and his sacrifice was not made in vain. But it was the hardest time of his life, and from there it was a harsh decline to darkness. Uldr marked, cursed by wishes and Malediction, Alvadas had taken everything from him. So he drifted across the Suvan until he ended up in Zeltiva. It was here he met Rayage, a Nuit, and a brilliant soul. If there was any chance of redemption for Miro before then, it was lost upon that first spark of contact with the Alchemist.

Rayage taught a manner of dark things, initiated dark magics, took him along to Sahova. Indeed he filled a hole in the lost undead's existence, and they too had adventures. But instead of lessons filled with positive morals, instead the things learned were filled with treachery. Together the duo strengthened their magical abilities and began to seek out personal gains from the darkest channels. Eventually they were sent to Ravok, a place where a great many things had happened, and so many more would follow. It lead up to this moment here, right now. All of the power and knowledge the wizard had earned in his existence, he kept asking himself what it was meant for.

The thought that stirred him from his slumberous thoughts was his answer. There were many things he had found in his reflections of the past, but one thing in particular stuck with him. The mortals of the world were but flashes of light with their existence. They would dull out shortly, visit Dira, and shine again. The undead were greater for knowing how to maintain their light, but none were as brilliant as the gods. They shone magnificently and without cease. They were the only true constants in the world, and would exist through each incarnation a soul took. The ideal state of existence.

Truly that was a purpose worth serving. A way to grasp for the same eternal shine the gods possessed. But there was only one kind of god for Miro. One with an existence so warped and cursed. It was the gods who could feed his wretched existence as a curse upon the world. Those who would fuel his ability to spread domination and gather power. Where he was now, why he was better off cursed, it was because he accepted them. Uldr's cravings, his horrid mask of a face, cravings for flesh, even the tainted Ink that consumed his form, he was better off for them. His misery and darkness only strengthened the realms of the gods he was meant to serve. His tainted mind, body and soul were dedicated to them.

Miro rose to his feet and stared at his next dedication to Uldr. No, Vien wouldn't become undead, not now at least. But he would become a testament his master's domination and power. This was how the Lord of Undeath was served. This was the task given to the chosen servant. The power that would be given to Vien was that of magic, and the domination put over him would be that of apprenticeship. His loyalty to the master was the most important thing the trance accomplished. But also it allowed him to assist the learning process. How perfect a dedication it was to Uldr.

The Symenestra apprentice still rested on the bed. He hadn't been waken from his trance, not until the wizard snapped his fingers again. The Reimancer pulled the blankets from the still body and moved to retrieve his staff. He stood near Vien with Ionu's Light in hand and slowly lowered it to touch the still man's chest. Without use of the staff the wizard was not at his usual peak, but with it he was exceptional. He had formed a strong bond with his staff, and without it he did not feel whole. Indeed more and more he seemed to rely on it for support. However with its support he was unmatched.

The Hypnotist began to flow his Djed into the tranced man and speaking hypnotic words. He began to envision a location, a peaceful place. As well he thought of a man, one any would be drawn to. He thought of Reimancy as well, all the information gathered in his life. He began to weave these things into a scenario in his mind. A setting and scene, a grassy plain, a teacher and a student. He knew the play so well by now. He had acted it out in so many ways. Teaching a fresh initiate was second nature to him. He was sure that Vien would wake from his trance with an understanding of the discipline unlike any other newly initiated Reimancer.

”Vien, you are in an open field, and you see around you a forest, lush trees, stand in tall soft grass. The sky is clear, the sun is bright, and the weather is perfect. A soft breeze brushes against your skin, and you feel a sense of ease and relaxation. You are with your master and you feel peace and comfort in his presence. He is a kind man, one you respect greatly. Tall, handsome, with long black hair and a robe of glimmering red silk. His eyes are soft and full of compassion, and you love this man for all he has done. This setting is familiar, a place you know very well. This is where the two of you go for magical training. It is your favorite place to be, and you are very excited to begin learning.”

Miro induced flashes of the setting, of the man described, and also instilled emotional responses to correspond with the feelings mentioned. As well he implanted a sudden thought in the apprentices mind, the spells easily guided through his magic staff. Though the Hypnotist spoke the words, Vien would imagine himself saying them within his dream. He was even likely to repeat these words, maybe even elaborate on them. Each person would react differently to the technique though, so it was hard to predict the outcome. He spoke in a soft voice for the spell, ”So master, what will you teach me today?” To which the master would follow up in a mature voice, ”Ah, yes, today we have a special lesson. You have been initiated into Reimancy, and today I will teach you to harness this gift.”

So far he was quite pleased with this technique. How it was received was unknown, but the effect it had on the caster was a marvel. It was like a tale woven for his apprentice, some homage to the Vantha heritage that the undead had lost, but was so proud of. He gave pause to draft the next scene of the story for a moment and continued on in the master’s voice. ”Yes, finally, what you have been waiting for. You are ready. Through your training you have matured, and finally it is time. Like I taught you, focus on your inner essence, your Djed, and began to push it forth to build behind your palms.” Miro pushed feelings of focus, tension and confidence. As well a flash looking down at upturned palms with tattoos in the shape of a colored star in their center.

The Chained One returned his voice to the dull tone of the narrating Hypnotist. ”You feel the flow of your very soul course through your core and push through your limbs, an excitement that tingles down to the bone. It is like a river flowing within you, a movement inside your body, though your being does not move. You feel the tingling build behind your palms, behind the stars drawn on your palms you focus on, and it turns to vibrations.” Again his voice shifted to that of the master. ”Now envision Res, as I have shown you, and pull your Djed to separate from your palms. Emit your Res however it feels natural. Some will favor a gaseous form, others a liquid.”

The narration continued, ”You struggle to push your Djed for a moment, but remember all that your master has taught you. You have seen him produce his Res a thousand times before, the translucent blue liquid, and have envisioned your own countless times. It is what you have been training your mind, body and soul for, and finally you are ready. From the stars leaks a transparent gas that floats a few inches from your hands and starts to amass. You feel a connection to it, though as well you feel a great sense of strain and loss from your own body. You recognize this as the cost of casting Reimancy, a most taxing discipline. Nonetheless you are proud, filled with excitement, and as you look at your master, he is very pleased. This fills you with a sense of belonging never before felt in your life.” Again emotional responses were cast to match the feelings said, and a flash of the image of Res above the apprentice’s palms was as well impressed.

Though casting through the medium of Ionu’s Light made the strain of channeling quite minimal, it did not reduce the strain upon the caster’s soul. Indeed the Hypnotist had spent some amount of Djed in this short time, and he knew he needed to hold a pause. The time drew near where the wizard would finish this session of his hypnotic lesson, but this break would hold purpose for master and apprentice alike. Miro shrugged off any built fatigue and donned his soft apprentice’s voice yet again and cast a sudden thought. ”Master, I have done it, I am a Reimancer!” Though the master replied in a plain voice, ”You have done it Vien, yes, but you are not yet a true Reimancer. I am very proud of you, but the true nature of the magic comes from transmuting Res into the four elements. You haven’t even the ability to transmute one yet.”

Now finally Miro could set the stage for the tranced initiate to meditate amongst the elements. The master himself, in his youth, meditated along the elements for weeks before finding his own affinity. Finally atop a thawing frozen river he found the ability to manipulate and transmute water, but had found some unity with all of the elements during this time. Using the mind’s ability to produce any scenario would make it seem real and profound.. Again the master’s voice rang down upon the ears of the dream student. ”Come now, you know what comes next. I have just the place picked out.” Though the comment would leave some amount of confusion, it would quickly be remedied with narration.

”You know well what your master means, as he has explained it many times before, how he himself learned to transmute his first element. Already has he made preparations and you know this. The task he speaks of is to meditate alongside the elements and grow to understand them in a profound way. To find the element which you are best attuned and learn to transmute it. Your master guides you to a shallow river, and begins to trudge across it. He arrives on a small rocky platform with two trees upon it, and a strong and constant breeze. There is a raised platform in the center where obviously one is meant to sit and meditate, which you promptly sit upon. Quickly following this the trees of the small island are set ablaze by a fireball, though the flames seem unthreatening and eternal by some feat. And suddenly you find yourself alone.”

Miro pushed another flash of this magical island, and as well emotional responses to assist in meditation. Feelings of peace, focus and determination. Though from this point on the apprentice would be on his own. Left with the devices put into the trance to weave the dream, he would be left to meditate for some time alone. This would give a much needed break from everything. A time where the wizard could sit and rest. Though it was just as well tempting to Leech from the helpless man, this would be put away for now. Instead there was a better way of Leeching. But perhaps later, if needed, some amount could be borrowed from the student. Even enough to cause an initiation, if it was necessary. With a fledgling, who could be sure how much was too much.

Ender had been listening to this all quite silently, impressed by what he saw. Such a side as to send a mind on such a journey was not one shown before. It impressed the Irylid in a profound way, and praise was surely earned. ”Truly astounding, the way you have used the trance. Truly you have learned well from Master Alric, and have adopted some of the lessons shown to you. To see such a manipulative magic used to such benefit for its target is refreshing indeed.” The Chained One remained silent however and moved to the wall. Once there he sat with his legs crossed and closed eyes. He opened his body to the environment, heavy with Djed from an extensive session of casting. His body opened itself to the magic in the air and began to pull it in. He began to use Environmental Leeching, a technique that slowly filled him with the Djed in the air. In a few bells he would be ready to continue again.

[Vien Lotus]

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[Nemesis]

Miro

Knowledge :

Skills

Skill	XP
Hypnotism	+2
Observation	+1
Philosophy	+2

Lores

*None

Micellaneous :

Injuries

*Effects from Overgiving, will pass in a couple of bells.

Loot/Expenses

*None

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Notes

*I wish you would split up your posts more, Miro... even if it's not a solo, there's no reason you couldn't have had three or four posts to begin with and then Vien posts... you deserve so much more than what I could give you.
*Also think this thread had great potential. Very interesting concept.

Feel free to PM me with questions, comments, or concerns, if you have any.
Also, remember to either delete your grade request or edit it as 'graded'.
Thank ye!