Sex toy, usually looks like a dick. I would not recommend using your tail for that lol
If you wanna tie him up I can teach you some solid bondage knots. those can get really elaborate, it's fun. Good kink if you're into that sort of thing.
Take this with a grain of salt, but in my experience, that kind of body disconnect can take a lot of time to get over. but sex super helps with it, not gonna lie. done right, it can be really intense, your whole body tingles and comes alive, and for a while you forget you've got a body at all, never mind any problems you might have with it.
Whyever not? In theory it would function adequately.
I was thinking magical binding, though I suppose physical binding would work just as well. There are knots specifically for such purposes?
His race is not one that has ever put great stock in physical form. They were a race based upon the soul. Perhaps if I could learn how to use mine in more intimate ways? But that is a consideration for another time.
In theory, yeah, but in practice you have to be careful about the shit you stick up there
I had a Dragonborn try that with me one time and I was itchy for like a month
there's loads of different bondage knots. I don't know 'em all but I learned a few over the years. Some are just decorative but others there's no way of getting out of them without help. Magic binding's fine too, but I don't really get into that so idk. always felt too invasive for me.
yeah there's ways for souls to get frisky too. sounds like that's something you'd have to ask him, though, if he's an expert. save that for later.
My tail is not dirty. It is quite lovely and well kept.
I've only really had experience with being bound by magical means. They are something I am confident in my ability to escape from, as opposed to more physical bindings. Though if there are some physical knots that one can escape from on their own, I think that would be a good place to start. Do you know of any books on the subject?
Are there? I would not dare attempt such a thing on my own, but would you be able to give examples? I must admit such intimacy is something I can hardly comprehend.
I'm not here to comment on your grooming habits. scales have different textures than hands, lots of little grooves tucked away for things to stick. like a mouth, it can be clean but still carry stuff that makes you sick if you put it somewhere uhhhh porous
you can try it if you want but don't @ me if you get an infection, you're the one who came to me for advice
anyway dunno if they'd have a bondage book in this place but who knows, maybe they've got a fantasy kama sutra tucked away somewhere.
examples, uh... I guess you could compare it to ghosts getting like. intimate? no body, just a floating pair of souls and hearts intertwining. it's different, letting someone touch your soul. not sure how to describe it.
Au Ra take great pride in their Auri features. If you ever have questions about my race, I am willing to answer them to the best of my ability. But I shall otherwise make sure not to bring up my less-than-human aspects, since they are, as I'm certain you've noticed, something I am quite sensitive about.
I will also add, since you've no way to have known, that am perfectly aware of the vectors of infection and how to protect oneself from them. I am unfamiliar with sexual intimacy, but basic anatomy as it applies to medicine is something I have studied. So while I may be an imbecile with regards to sex I am not wholly unintelligent.
The libraries here have offered little in the way of useful texts thus far, but I had never considered searching for anything pertaining to sexual acts. I shall make sure to visit within the next few days to check.
I've a guardian that is a manifestation of part of my soul. He enjoys the company of my partner, and the sensation when they touch is far from unpleasant though impossible to explain. I imagine that feeling would be far more intense were it the entirety of my soul being touched.
I am truly grateful that you are so willing to offer your input. This is all quite new and overwhelming for me, and I have little skill in the art of conversation. Thus, I apologize if I've been rude.
[She's not gonna argue, it's no business of hers. Her opinion and expertise is all she can offer.]
considering how long it's been since the people here had bodies to bone with, unless there's some secret VR sex game no one's told us about (and if that's the case then FUCKING CRIMINAL TBH) you might be better off asking in the museum or something. more clinical than erotic, but you can read between the lines if they recorded their own reproductive history.
is that anything like a familiar?
[She asks, as if it's guaranteed that Era knows what that even means in context. Though you never know, with the way the multi-world travel system works. She's found that too often magic is called by the same or a similar name regardless of how different the rest of the world is.]
and sure, whatev. just consider me the duck of the day
To me, if I were to call anything of mine a familiar it would be my Carbuncle. It is my aether given shape and form; an extension of my magic, and life essence. There is a connection between it and I. If someone touches it it feels uncomfortably... intimate, I suppose. But that discomfort is much more mild; easy enough to ignore, with a preference for it to go away.
With Ardbert it is a very visceral, deep feeling when someone touches him. Unimaginably uncomfortable if I do not trust the person, but pleasant when I do.
sometimes can't pull my noggin out of slang mode, I'll chill with the shorthand
a wizard's familiar is different, sounds like. it's a spirit summoned & bound from the fey plane. more a partner than a fragment of the person themselves, though there's a certain level of soulbonding for lack of a better word. it's kinda shitty to touch someone's familiar without permission but I wouldn't call it intimate, just bad manners
don't know how comfy it would feel to involve familiars in sexy times in your case, but eh, that's between you and yours. no judging here if all parties are sentient
[That's a little beyond her wheelhouse, since it works so differently. If someone's going to grab any puss in her bed it ain't gonna be Ditto.]
It's fine. I enjoy learning the 'text speak', even if I don't use it frequently myself. Emoticons are rather clever as well.
I have heard tell of similar pacts being made in my world, however they are more nefarious than a friendly partnership and rarely do the summoners survive the initial ritual.
I would never involve Ardbert in such things, nor my Carbuncle. I mentioned it because I thought it may have been similar to the soul intimacy you described, at least in terms of the sensation it offers.
sounds like certain aspects of our mutual magics aren't that compatible. makes sense, the multiverse is an awfully big place. well, places. since there are many.
anyway, if the familial-touching is something you enjoy with the right person, then you'd more likely enjoy the kind of soul-intimacy I'm talking about. don't know if your fella can do it unless you can manifest yourself outside of your body, but hey, you can take it up with him if you feel so inclined.
It is unfathomably large. There are many kinds of magic I would love to learn more about.
I haven't the slightest idea of how to do so, but I've an ability that would allow me to vacate my mortal form. It is near identical in function to his own, so I suppose there would be no harm in asking if he might be willing to teach me.
It is called the 'Echo', though the Ascians — my most dangerous of enemies — possess it and call it the 'Gift'. They, however, are in control of it where I have none at all.
The Echo manifests differently for each who has it. Some can track individual aether trails like a dog tracks a scent, for example, or the ability to understand all language when face-to-face with the speaker, while others are possessed of some manner of precognition. Some may be in possession of multiple boons, while some none apparent save for protecting the mind from the influence of gods, and perhaps the occasional vision.
It has been described to me once as the 'power to break the barriers of existence'. I believe it to be more akin to the power to transcend the barriers of the soul, though I honestly know very little about the Echo.
I experience combat precognition to some degree, often sensing what an opponent is about to do before they do it, though it happens so quickly I often haven't the time to do more than assure the blow will not kill me. It is more passive and instinctual, and could easily be mistaken for a keen intuition.
I also am in possession of the lingual blessing to a stronger degree than most. I can parley between any group in any language, provided they have a soul.
My Echo resonates with the souls of others more strongly than most, from what I have seen. This leads to various other benefits, the most important of which is my ability to have visions of another person's memories.
This ability seems more potent each time I've a new vision. It used to be as though I were an outsider watching from the sidelines, albeit with full awareness of what the person felt at that time.
Then it became more difficult to keep their emotions distant from my own. Instead of dissociated awareness of their emotions, I felt a dissociated awareness of myself.
My most recent visions have been as though I had lived through the experiences myself. The most recent one I had in my home world did not leave any lingering disorientation, though I cannot say the same for the one I had here.
Then there is the issue of an artificial mimicry of the Echo having been created. The procedure is incredibly dangerous, and I know of only two who possess what they call the 'Resonant'.
My apologies for the length. It is something rather complex, and difficult to explain.
it's all good, though, I went to school for this kind of shit. not Echo specifically but you know.
Actually it sounds like a more automated or intuitive version of a lot of spells I'm familiar with. We've got schools of magic capable of doing a lot of what you mentioned, but it takes a lot of work to get them to weave together properly under the command of the same person. I'm in that wheelhouse myself and it's nothing to take lightly. Kudos for getting there.
The memory stuff sounds disorienting as hell. Can be dangerous, too. Do you have methods of separating yourself from that kind of thing? Mentally I mean.
And what's the artificial Echo mimicry? I get why someone would do that, if the Echo's so useful. What makes it dangerous?
A good portion of my family and closest allies were taught in a prestigious academy. It is unfortunate that you cannot meet them, as I imagine they would have a great deal more information of interest to share with you.
You've disciplines of magic for such things? I do not believe they are something that can be taught in my world — I've only ever heard of them being connected to the Echo.
No, I haven't had any need of them before. A boon of the Echo is protection of one's mind and will, so there has always been a disconnect between those memories and myself. The timing of these more potent Echo visions coincides with my soul becoming more... powerful, I suppose. I recall my partner once referring to being within a mortal's flesh as 'stifling', so perhaps my soul is feeling more confined within my form than it had been prior, and thus is reaching out further than it had been? With the addition of feeling trapped by this world, it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that my soul is experiencing some form of claustrophobia.
My apologies — it seems that even in text I am prone to rambling about such subjects.
The Resonant was created by the Garlean Empire, and as we are enemies I'm not privy to much detail. What I do know is they kidnapped Echo bearers and experimented on them to see how it functions, then replicated it within test subjects. All I know regarding the procedure to bestow the Resonant is that it is incredibly dangerous, most often resulting in death.
Of the two I have met, the Resonant was still largely passive in one. She had no control over it, and found it overwhelming when a vision would come to her. The other... I imagine also gained the passive combat precognition of the other, though he had a great deal more control over one particular ability the Echo possesses — subjugating weaker wills. In theory I could do the same. So too could I learn to merge myself with another, as that man did.
That power in an Empire that seeks to dominate and spread... It is dangerous. Luckily the procedure fails far more than it succeeds, and my allies and I did much to destroy the program. I don't doubt that the research had been saved elsewhere, though for now it has been stalled so far as I'm aware.
That's okay, I'm used to getting by on little information. What helps most is experience and observation- I could probably learn plenty just by seeing you in action. Maybe put a pin in that.
More specifically it's for types of spells, but they hail from different schools of magic, which is what we call specializations. I know of a spell that lets the caster understand any language, written or spoken, like the skill you mentioned, and the school is divination. Usually the school it belongs to just indicates the kind of energy you're calling on, and the method you're using to channel it. Every wizard picks a specialization, and they're not limited to only that class of spells, but the ones they use from it are exponentially stronger.
The rambling's fine, more info's a good thing in my opinion. I will say uhhhh
some of that shit you're saying is resonating, I think is the word to use. What's your boyfriend's name, if I can ask? Might need to hit him up at some point.
[What's a stranger's equivalent for heart-to-heart? A soul-to-soul, in this case? Anyway.]
If I can make a suggestion, try to look into developing some coping mechanisms, or wards against those memories messing with you. Even if it isn't necessary now, preparation for the future can't hurt.
Garlean Empire sounds like a Big Bad if I've ever heard one. Experimenting on people to the point of death? That's fucked up. Hopefully the damage you guys did to it will stick for a long while.
We've various branches of magic in Eorzea: conjury or White Magic, thaumaturgy or Black Magic, Red Magic, Blue Magic, Arcanima, which then can branch toward either healing or offensive spells, and Astrologian magic, which is healing and temporary boosts in strength by use of divining the stars. There are other types of magic, of that I am certain, but I've yet to hear tell of any of them.
Our disciplines of war also use magic, albeit not in the same way. Augmentation of strength or weaponry are the primary uses of aether in that regard.
Resonating... There is a method to train apprentices with greater speed, and it is by use of what we all soul crystals. Crystals that one holds close to them as they train and battle and live, etching the echoes of their skills and accomplishments into unique facets. They are not as common as they once were, but disciplines of magic long thought dead have been revived by resonating with a soul crystal and receiving the knowledge.
Soul crystals have always responded exceptionally well to me. I wonder if perhaps it is due to my Echo?
But that aside, my significant other goes by Emet-Selch. I would ask that our discussion of intimacy remain private, but you are free to share with him what I have told you here about my Echo.
I know nothing of coping mechanisms or wards, nor where to even begin with such a thing. Most often if I experience something unpleasant I will simply put it aside, like one might place something within a lockbox. It has served me well enough in other ways, but I'm unsure of how I might apply this to Echo visions.
The Garlean Empire is suffering from internal rebellion within their occupied states, particularly after I liberated two nations from their grasp and defeated their crown prince. At current, the Eorzean Alliance is fighting at the border to keep the retaliatory invasion at bay, whilst I... am trapped here. And suffering from feelings for the founding emperor of Garlemald himself.
Both? either? I'm open. Depends on your comfort level.
Interesting. I can already see some crossover. Our schools are: abjuration - shields and protective magic conjuration - producing something tangible or useful out of magic, like items or energy divination - for gathering information, mostly enchantment - imbuing magic into people or items evocation - calling and controlling magic as raw power illusion - name says it all necromancy - manipulation of the energy of life and death transmutation - transforming the properties of creatures or objects
So I recognize conjuration, obviously, but it has nothing to do with healing (that's cleric evocation usually). thaumaturgy for us is a spell, not a specialization. Funny how some words can be the same but mean something totally different across other worlds. I noticed that the last time I did this whole world travel thing.
Soul crystals remind me of our spell scrolls, except a much speedier version. More permanent, too, but with the same basic concept. Sounds useful as hell.
Emet-Selch. Doesn't ring a bell, but I'll remember it. No worries, this is just between us. I'm more interested in the soul stuff, personally.
The mental-lock shit can work for a while, I totally get that. Can bite you in the ass later, though. There's probably a better way if things start to bleed over, but I can't really say what that would be, yet. If you're worried at all, I can do some research.
As I've no control over it it would be quite difficult to demonstrate, but were there a way I would not be opposed.
We have some forms of enchantment, though it is less its own discipline and more a concept applied throughout various others.
Necromancy exists, but is taboo and most oft considered a branch of Thaumaturgy or Black Magic.
I actually have a soul crystal with me. My Soul of the Dark Knight... Which I suppose relates to locking things away.
These repressed thoughts and feelings are sent to what is referred to as the 'Abyss' within me, giving life to and fueling my Darkside. My Darkside is its own entity. They have two forms, and can create a simulacrum of themself to fight by my side.
One form is Fray, the previous holder of my soul crystal, though they are not truly him. They acted as my teacher and guide to the Dark Arts in the beginning.
The other is Esteem, who is my doppelganger when they take physical form. Esteem appears less frequently.
Neither are 'evil', nor 'bad'. They love me and seek nothing more than to protect me and those I care for.
Gotcha. Well, that's life. I'm long past the point of getting fussy when I can't have what I want.
Interestingly enough, a few healing spells are categorized as necromancy. for the most part it delves into the death side of things, so it does still get a lot of side-eye. I have no problem with it, personally- it has its uses.
Dark Knight sounds pretty heavy. Compartmentalizing is all well and good, but on top of the rest, oh man. No idea how you keep all that stuff straight in your noggin, it sounds exhausting.
So that's the simulacrum you mentioned earlier? Sounds useful as hell, especially to have a choice of two on demand like that. I know of a similar spell in our schools of magic, but the cost is pretty high, both for material components and power.
Visions of the past tend to strike at either the most opportune or most inopportune moments possible, though also tend to provide very useful insight.
It is quite easy — while my Darkside is me, they do not feel like me. What they feel is all their own. But yes, they are the simulacrum I mentioned, though I haven't really a choice between them. Fray is who appears when I summon my Darkside, and who most frequently appears when I am in need, for they — he — is still my mentor in some ways. Esteem appears whenever it best suits them, though will occasionally come when I call for them outside of combat.
The cost is a portion of my aether, of which I have ample supply, even with this place having reduced my reserves considerably. I can sustain a simulacrum for a handful of weeks, and that simulacrum can then create much shorter-lived simulacrums... Though that is a situation that has happened only once, and it was under unique circumstances. I had experienced a surge of anguish whilst holding my Soul of the Dark Knight, and the result was said emotion stealing a portion of aether from me and giving itself physical form. I hadn't the faintest idea that he had been of me, not merely a living orphan.
In theory a mental instability could cause another such occurrence, though it is not something that concerns me. Fray offers me protection.
if it happens at inopportune moments, I hope there's a way to control it. you seem pretty in-touch with your abilities otherwise but something like that could def get you killed if it happens at the wrong time, yeah? or with the wrong person
So you can kinda have a simulacrum nesting-doll situation... nice. our version is permanent until dispelled or killed, but the cost is so high most people don't bother unless they're highly-paid casters. Or I guess if they find a convenient spell scroll for it. I've never cast that one myself, never really had the need. having a twin's enough double for me.
the orphan thing sounds trippy though. is there a way to tell a simulacrum from a regular person?
While the Echo was not the cause, something similar happened at the worst possible moment with the worst possible person. I was lucky in that a friend jumped in and saved me, but it is troubling to think it could happen again with a vision.
You are a twin? My little siblings are twins.
Not so far as I'm aware. I imagine one with soul- or aether-sense would be able to tell the difference right away, but not even Fray was aware of it until some time had passed. Perhaps one day I could bring my Darkside forth and you could see for yourself.
Yeah, might want to look into that while you're thinking about the other stuff. Inconvenience aside, might be bad for you to get visions of shit you'd rather not see.
He's in town, keep an eye out for the very fashionable wizard hats. we're identical so you can't miss him.
If you're cool with that, sure. Show me that dark side girl, haha
(Seriously though I love seeing new magic, I'm all for it.)
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If you wanna tie him up I can teach you some solid bondage knots. those can get really elaborate, it's fun. Good kink if you're into that sort of thing.
Take this with a grain of salt, but in my experience, that kind of body disconnect can take a lot of time to get over. but sex super helps with it, not gonna lie. done right, it can be really intense, your whole body tingles and comes alive, and for a while you forget you've got a body at all, never mind any problems you might have with it.
might work that way for him too
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I was thinking magical binding, though I suppose physical binding would work just as well. There are knots specifically for such purposes?
His race is not one that has ever put great stock in physical form. They were a race based upon the soul. Perhaps if I could learn how to use mine in more intimate ways? But that is a consideration for another time.
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I had a Dragonborn try that with me one time and I was itchy for like a month
there's loads of different bondage knots. I don't know 'em all but I learned a few over the years. Some are just decorative but others there's no way of getting out of them without help. Magic binding's fine too, but I don't really get into that so idk. always felt too invasive for me.
yeah there's ways for souls to get frisky too. sounds like that's something you'd have to ask him, though, if he's an expert. save that for later.
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I've only really had experience with being bound by magical means. They are something I am confident in my ability to escape from, as opposed to more physical bindings. Though if there are some physical knots that one can escape from on their own, I think that would be a good place to start. Do you know of any books on the subject?
Are there? I would not dare attempt such a thing on my own, but would you be able to give examples? I must admit such intimacy is something I can hardly comprehend.
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I'm not here to comment on your grooming habits. scales have different textures than hands, lots of little grooves tucked away for things to stick. like a mouth, it can be clean but still carry stuff that makes you sick if you put it somewhere uhhhh
porous
you can try it if you want but don't @ me if you get an infection, you're the one who came to me for advice
anyway dunno if they'd have a bondage book in this place but who knows, maybe they've got a fantasy kama sutra tucked away somewhere.
examples, uh... I guess you could compare it to ghosts getting like. intimate? no body, just a floating pair of souls and hearts intertwining. it's different, letting someone touch your soul. not sure how to describe it.
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I will also add, since you've no way to have known, that am perfectly aware of the vectors of infection and how to protect oneself from them. I am unfamiliar with sexual intimacy, but basic anatomy as it applies to medicine is something I have studied. So while I may be an imbecile with regards to sex I am not wholly unintelligent.
The libraries here have offered little in the way of useful texts thus far, but I had never considered searching for anything pertaining to sexual acts. I shall make sure to visit within the next few days to check.
I've a guardian that is a manifestation of part of my soul. He enjoys the company of my partner, and the sensation when they touch is far from unpleasant though impossible to explain. I imagine that feeling would be far more intense were it the entirety of my soul being touched.
I am truly grateful that you are so willing to offer your input. This is all quite new and overwhelming for me, and I have little skill in the art of conversation. Thus, I apologize if I've been rude.
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[She's not gonna argue, it's no business of hers. Her opinion and expertise is all she can offer.]
considering how long it's been since the people here had bodies to bone with, unless there's some secret VR sex game no one's told us about (and if that's the case then FUCKING CRIMINAL TBH) you might be better off asking in the museum or something. more clinical than erotic, but you can read between the lines if they recorded their own reproductive history.
is that anything like a familiar?
[She asks, as if it's guaranteed that Era knows what that even means in context. Though you never know, with the way the multi-world travel system works. She's found that too often magic is called by the same or a similar name regardless of how different the rest of the world is.]
and sure, whatev. just consider me the duck of the day
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I've enough clinical texts to work from.
It would depend on how you define a familiar.
To me, if I were to call anything of mine a familiar it would be my Carbuncle. It is my aether given shape and form; an extension of my magic, and life essence. There is a connection between it and I. If someone touches it it feels uncomfortably... intimate, I suppose. But that discomfort is much more mild; easy enough to ignore, with a preference for it to go away.
With Ardbert it is a very visceral, deep feeling when someone touches him. Unimaginably uncomfortable if I do not trust the person, but pleasant when I do.
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sometimes can't pull my noggin out of slang mode, I'll chill with the shorthand
a wizard's familiar is different, sounds like. it's a spirit summoned & bound from the fey plane. more a partner than a fragment of the person themselves, though there's a certain level of soulbonding for lack of a better word. it's kinda shitty to touch someone's familiar without permission but I wouldn't call it intimate, just bad manners
don't know how comfy it would feel to involve familiars in sexy times in your case, but eh, that's between you and yours. no judging here if all parties are sentient
[That's a little beyond her wheelhouse, since it works so differently. If someone's going to grab any puss in her bed it ain't gonna be Ditto.]
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I have heard tell of similar pacts being made in my world, however they are more nefarious than a friendly partnership and rarely do the summoners survive the initial ritual.
I would never involve Ardbert in such things, nor my Carbuncle. I mentioned it because I thought it may have been similar to the soul intimacy you described, at least in terms of the sensation it offers.
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sounds like certain aspects of our mutual magics aren't that compatible. makes sense, the multiverse is an awfully big place. well, places. since there are many.
anyway, if the familial-touching is something you enjoy with the right person, then you'd more likely enjoy the kind of soul-intimacy I'm talking about. don't know if your fella can do it unless you can manifest yourself outside of your body, but hey, you can take it up with him if you feel so inclined.
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I haven't the slightest idea of how to do so, but I've an ability that would allow me to vacate my mortal form. It is near identical in function to his own, so I suppose there would be no harm in asking if he might be willing to teach me.
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you have an ability but you don't know how to use it? is it triggered by something you haven't figured out yet?
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The Echo manifests differently for each who has it. Some can track individual aether trails like a dog tracks a scent, for example, or the ability to understand all language when face-to-face with the speaker, while others are possessed of some manner of precognition. Some may be in possession of multiple boons, while some none apparent save for protecting the mind from the influence of gods, and perhaps the occasional vision.
It has been described to me once as the 'power to break the barriers of existence'. I believe it to be more akin to the power to transcend the barriers of the soul, though I honestly know very little about the Echo.
I experience combat precognition to some degree, often sensing what an opponent is about to do before they do it, though it happens so quickly I often haven't the time to do more than assure the blow will not kill me. It is more passive and instinctual, and could easily be mistaken for a keen intuition.
I also am in possession of the lingual blessing to a stronger degree than most. I can parley between any group in any language, provided they have a soul.
My Echo resonates with the souls of others more strongly than most, from what I have seen. This leads to various other benefits, the most important of which is my ability to have visions of another person's memories.
This ability seems more potent each time I've a new vision. It used to be as though I were an outsider watching from the sidelines, albeit with full awareness of what the person felt at that time.
Then it became more difficult to keep their emotions distant from my own. Instead of dissociated awareness of their emotions, I felt a dissociated awareness of myself.
My most recent visions have been as though I had lived through the experiences myself. The most recent one I had in my home world did not leave any lingering disorientation, though I cannot say the same for the one I had here.
Then there is the issue of an artificial mimicry of the Echo having been created. The procedure is incredibly dangerous, and I know of only two who possess what they call the 'Resonant'.
My apologies for the length. It is something rather complex, and difficult to explain.
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it's all good, though, I went to school for this kind of shit. not Echo specifically but you know.
Actually it sounds like a more automated or intuitive version of a lot of spells I'm familiar with. We've got schools of magic capable of doing a lot of what you mentioned, but it takes a lot of work to get them to weave together properly under the command of the same person. I'm in that wheelhouse myself and it's nothing to take lightly. Kudos for getting there.
The memory stuff sounds disorienting as hell. Can be dangerous, too. Do you have methods of separating yourself from that kind of thing? Mentally I mean.
And what's the artificial Echo mimicry? I get why someone would do that, if the Echo's so useful. What makes it dangerous?
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You've disciplines of magic for such things? I do not believe they are something that can be taught in my world — I've only ever heard of them being connected to the Echo.
No, I haven't had any need of them before. A boon of the Echo is protection of one's mind and will, so there has always been a disconnect between those memories and myself. The timing of these more potent Echo visions coincides with my soul becoming more... powerful, I suppose. I recall my partner once referring to being within a mortal's flesh as 'stifling', so perhaps my soul is feeling more confined within my form than it had been prior, and thus is reaching out further than it had been? With the addition of feeling trapped by this world, it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that my soul is experiencing some form of claustrophobia.
My apologies — it seems that even in text I am prone to rambling about such subjects.
The Resonant was created by the Garlean Empire, and as we are enemies I'm not privy to much detail. What I do know is they kidnapped Echo bearers and experimented on them to see how it functions, then replicated it within test subjects. All I know regarding the procedure to bestow the Resonant is that it is incredibly dangerous, most often resulting in death.
Of the two I have met, the Resonant was still largely passive in one. She had no control over it, and found it overwhelming when a vision would come to her. The other... I imagine also gained the passive combat precognition of the other, though he had a great deal more control over one particular ability the Echo possesses — subjugating weaker wills. In theory I could do the same. So too could I learn to merge myself with another, as that man did.
That power in an Empire that seeks to dominate and spread... It is dangerous. Luckily the procedure fails far more than it succeeds, and my allies and I did much to destroy the program. I don't doubt that the research had been saved elsewhere, though for now it has been stalled so far as I'm aware.
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More specifically it's for types of spells, but they hail from different schools of magic, which is what we call specializations. I know of a spell that lets the caster understand any language, written or spoken, like the skill you mentioned, and the school is divination. Usually the school it belongs to just indicates the kind of energy you're calling on, and the method you're using to channel it. Every wizard picks a specialization, and they're not limited to only that class of spells, but the ones they use from it are exponentially stronger.
The rambling's fine, more info's a good thing in my opinion. I will say uhhhh
some of that shit you're saying is resonating, I think is the word to use. What's your boyfriend's name, if I can ask? Might need to hit him up at some point.
[What's a stranger's equivalent for heart-to-heart? A soul-to-soul, in this case? Anyway.]
If I can make a suggestion, try to look into developing some coping mechanisms, or wards against those memories messing with you. Even if it isn't necessary now, preparation for the future can't hurt.
Garlean Empire sounds like a Big Bad if I've ever heard one. Experimenting on people to the point of death? That's fucked up. Hopefully the damage you guys did to it will stick for a long while.
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We've various branches of magic in Eorzea: conjury or White Magic, thaumaturgy or Black Magic, Red Magic, Blue Magic, Arcanima, which then can branch toward either healing or offensive spells, and Astrologian magic, which is healing and temporary boosts in strength by use of divining the stars. There are other types of magic, of that I am certain, but I've yet to hear tell of any of them.
Our disciplines of war also use magic, albeit not in the same way. Augmentation of strength or weaponry are the primary uses of aether in that regard.
Resonating... There is a method to train apprentices with greater speed, and it is by use of what we all soul crystals. Crystals that one holds close to them as they train and battle and live, etching the echoes of their skills and accomplishments into unique facets. They are not as common as they once were, but disciplines of magic long thought dead have been revived by resonating with a soul crystal and receiving the knowledge.
Soul crystals have always responded exceptionally well to me. I wonder if perhaps it is due to my Echo?
But that aside, my significant other goes by Emet-Selch. I would ask that our discussion of intimacy remain private, but you are free to share with him what I have told you here about my Echo.
I know nothing of coping mechanisms or wards, nor where to even begin with such a thing. Most often if I experience something unpleasant I will simply put it aside, like one might place something within a lockbox. It has served me well enough in other ways, but I'm unsure of how I might apply this to Echo visions.
The Garlean Empire is suffering from internal rebellion within their occupied states, particularly after I liberated two nations from their grasp and defeated their crown prince. At current, the Eorzean Alliance is fighting at the border to keep the retaliatory invasion at bay, whilst I... am trapped here. And suffering from feelings for the founding emperor of Garlemald himself.
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Interesting. I can already see some crossover. Our schools are:
abjuration - shields and protective magic
conjuration - producing something tangible or useful out of magic, like items or energy
divination - for gathering information, mostly
enchantment - imbuing magic into people or items
evocation - calling and controlling magic as raw power
illusion - name says it all
necromancy - manipulation of the energy of life and death
transmutation - transforming the properties of creatures or objects
So I recognize conjuration, obviously, but it has nothing to do with healing (that's cleric evocation usually). thaumaturgy for us is a spell, not a specialization. Funny how some words can be the same but mean something totally different across other worlds. I noticed that the last time I did this whole world travel thing.
Soul crystals remind me of our spell scrolls, except a much speedier version. More permanent, too, but with the same basic concept. Sounds useful as hell.
Emet-Selch. Doesn't ring a bell, but I'll remember it. No worries, this is just between us. I'm more interested in the soul stuff, personally.
The mental-lock shit can work for a while, I totally get that. Can bite you in the ass later, though. There's probably a better way if things start to bleed over, but I can't really say what that would be, yet. If you're worried at all, I can do some research.
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We have some forms of enchantment, though it is less its own discipline and more a concept applied throughout various others.
Necromancy exists, but is taboo and most oft considered a branch of Thaumaturgy or Black Magic.
I actually have a soul crystal with me. My Soul of the Dark Knight... Which I suppose relates to locking things away.
These repressed thoughts and feelings are sent to what is referred to as the 'Abyss' within me, giving life to and fueling my Darkside. My Darkside is its own entity. They have two forms, and can create a simulacrum of themself to fight by my side.
One form is Fray, the previous holder of my soul crystal, though they are not truly him. They acted as my teacher and guide to the Dark Arts in the beginning.
The other is Esteem, who is my doppelganger when they take physical form. Esteem appears less frequently.
Neither are 'evil', nor 'bad'. They love me and seek nothing more than to protect me and those I care for.
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Interestingly enough, a few healing spells are categorized as necromancy. for the most part it delves into the death side of things, so it does still get a lot of side-eye. I have no problem with it, personally- it has its uses.
Dark Knight sounds pretty heavy. Compartmentalizing is all well and good, but on top of the rest, oh man. No idea how you keep all that stuff straight in your noggin, it sounds exhausting.
So that's the simulacrum you mentioned earlier? Sounds useful as hell, especially to have a choice of two on demand like that. I know of a similar spell in our schools of magic, but the cost is pretty high, both for material components and power.
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It is quite easy — while my Darkside is me, they do not feel like me. What they feel is all their own. But yes, they are the simulacrum I mentioned, though I haven't really a choice between them. Fray is who appears when I summon my Darkside, and who most frequently appears when I am in need, for they — he — is still my mentor in some ways. Esteem appears whenever it best suits them, though will occasionally come when I call for them outside of combat.
The cost is a portion of my aether, of which I have ample supply, even with this place having reduced my reserves considerably. I can sustain a simulacrum for a handful of weeks, and that simulacrum can then create much shorter-lived simulacrums... Though that is a situation that has happened only once, and it was under unique circumstances. I had experienced a surge of anguish whilst holding my Soul of the Dark Knight, and the result was said emotion stealing a portion of aether from me and giving itself physical form. I hadn't the faintest idea that he had been of me, not merely a living orphan.
In theory a mental instability could cause another such occurrence, though it is not something that concerns me. Fray offers me protection.
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So you can kinda have a simulacrum nesting-doll situation... nice. our version is permanent until dispelled or killed, but the cost is so high most people don't bother unless they're highly-paid casters. Or I guess if they find a convenient spell scroll for it. I've never cast that one myself, never really had the need. having a twin's enough double for me.
the orphan thing sounds trippy though. is there a way to tell a simulacrum from a regular person?
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You are a twin? My little siblings are twins.
Not so far as I'm aware. I imagine one with soul- or aether-sense would be able to tell the difference right away, but not even Fray was aware of it until some time had passed. Perhaps one day I could bring my Darkside forth and you could see for yourself.
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He's in town, keep an eye out for the very fashionable wizard hats. we're identical so you can't miss him.
If you're cool with that, sure. Show me that dark side girl, haha
(Seriously though I love seeing new magic, I'm all for it.)
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