002, written, Charter nerd having thoughts on magic

[keyandstar]

ooc: If you guys aren't already aware, I'm kind of an idiot. Hence I must request a minor retcon. Due to brain failure I've been operating along the line of thinking that goes Game setting = Nothing Works in terms of character powers when tagging. Hence I've probably mentioned in a couple of places that Lirael can't sense Death or the Charter as she normally would. Well, since her sister has erected a working Charter Stone that's obviously wrong and I must've been writing with my brain half shut down or something.

SO, basically I just ask all of you to completely ignore anything I've said that seems to mean that Lirael's power's aren't quite working because they are. That would be all, and now to the actual post!

[ Lirael contemplated making a video or at least a voice message for this, since it would probably give a more outgoing impression, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. It was just so much easier to fall back to her old habit of writing notes. ]

The Old Kingdom, where I'm from, is separated from another land called Ancelstierre by a great wall. I've never been there myself but I've heard that Charter Magic doesn't work there.

Now I'm wondering, since Sabriel could raise a Charter Stone here, if the same could be done over there and if in that case magic would begin to work.

I've only ever known two kinds of magic to exist. Charter Magic and Free Magic. Free Magic is dangerous and shouldn't be used, though sometimes it's necessary. As I understand it the work of the Abhorsen requires it. That work being putting the risen dead back to rest.

It seems, however, as if there are a lot of other kinds of magic here, and I'd love to hear about them. Even, perhaps and if possible, learn how to use them myself.

I also know that death is a very different experience here than where I'm from, and that makes me wonder if it's also different from what I know in the places others have been taken from. If you don't know the facts I'd be just as pleased to hear of legends or beliefs.

Death as I know it is a cold and grey place with a great river running through it. It's divided into nine precincts separated by gates, and it's full of dead trying to make their way back to Life. What lies beyond the ninth Gate is a mystery, but if one passes beyond that there is no returning.

So, if there is magic where you're from, what is it like and do you think I could learn how to use it, and what do you know of what happens after death in your world?

Comments

[Written]

[keyandstar]

There is a symbol for everything that exists. That is what the Charter is. All the marks together, describing the universe.

[Written]

[complicatedliar]

Ah, I see. So thus to do magic, you write expressions with these symbols?

[Written]

[keyandstar]

Write them, speak them, hum them, whistle them... marks are handled in many different ways.

[Written]

[complicatedliar]

Does it have syntax like language?

[voice]

[keyandstar]

Not exactly, though it does matter what order you put the marks in when you construct a spell.

[voice]

[complicatedliar]

[He's a bit surprised at the sudden switch over to voice, but continues on naturally enough.]

I see. So perhaps more like order of operation, as seen in maths?

Wow how did voice even happen? /facepalms at self

[keyandstar]

[ Maybe she just decided to practice the whole not hiding so much thing a little. ]

Perhaps a little. It's hard for me to explain properly I'm afraid. I hope to get better at that. Understanding magic and explaining it.

[complicatedliar]

Much of that will come with practice. It is a thing difficult to articulate.

[keyandstar]

So much of it is just... a feeling.

[complicatedliar]

I have found that instinct and feeling gives way to reason with study.

But our magics are rather different.

[keyandstar]

No, I agree. You can figure it out if you try hard enough.

[complicatedliar]

Hah.

And then with study, one surpasses instinct.

[keyandstar]

You just have to be careful that your mind doesn't get ahead of your ability.

[ Voice of experience. ]

[complicatedliar]

Oh, I've had more trouble with raw ability outstripping my mind, when I was much younger.

[keyandstar]

You're probably a lot more powerful than me.

[complicatedliar]

The bit where I'm a god helps.

[keyandstar]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what a god actually is. One of my housemates is one, apparently.

[complicatedliar]

There isn't really any single definition for it. Other than perhaps, immortal and greater than yourself.

[keyandstar]

What makes them greater?

[complicatedliar]

Mostly it's to do with power.

Though one might hope a god has a greater scope and scale of understanding than a mortal due to having lived a long life.

[But thinking of Thor...]

...though that isn't always the case.

[keyandstar]

Some people don't seem to ever learn, guess that's true of gods too.

[complicatedliar]

I think you grasp the situation perfectly.

[keyandstar]

It's a lot easier to think that people are basically the same than to try to understand a mind that follows paths you can't even imagine.

[complicatedliar]

'Tis true. Most people simply assume everyone is like them. Or if not like them, bad.

[keyandstar]

Sometimes it's hard not to agree. Even if you're the different one.