Practice of Magic: Alteration, Lesson Three

  • It may seem beyond belief that an entire community could be so skilled in these spells hundreds and hundreds of years before the Mages Guild was formed to teach the ways of magicka to the common folk. There does, however, appear to be evidence that, just as the Psijics on the Isle of Artaeum developed Mysticism long before there was a name for it, the even more obscure Ayleids of southern Cyrodiil had developed what was to be known as the school of Alteration. It is not, after all, much of a stretch when one considers that other Ayleids at the time of Bravil's conquering and even later were shapeshifters. The community of pre-Bravil could not turn into beasts and monsters, but they could alter their bodies to hide themselves away. A related and useful skill, to be sure. But not so effective to save themselves in the end.

     

    What a load of horse's shit, Grulmar thought. He was halfway through Daughter of the Niben and now he understood why it was in the Fiction section. The things this guy is pullin' out of his arse… And here I thought there might be at least a little piece of good information on Alteration. Dumbarse.

     

    Though the mention of Psijics and Mysticism with the connection to Ayleids and Alteration is interestin'. Just think about it, Grulmar. Psijics were the pioneers of Mysticism. Apparently, Ayleids with their earth, water and starlight were the innovaters of Alteration. Hmm. What if the magic was initially based on racial talent? Or...restricted to a race? Think, Grulmar. Do other races have or had something others not?

     

    He heard a knock on his door and frowned. Who's botherin' me again? His eyes than narrowed into thin lines and then popped. He quickly ran to the door and opened, seeing Tolfdir outside his room. “Shit. Sorry, Grey. Lesson, we were meant to have lesson, right? I completely forgot.”

     

    The old Nord smiled and shook his head. “Been keeping yourself busy? Probably planning some pranks with J’zargo, eh?”

     

    Grulmar scratched his slowly growing goatee and looked into his room, on the book. “I was actually readin'. Daughter of Niben. And it's so full of crap I got lost in thought.”

     

    Tolfdir walked into the room and lifted the book from the table, turning it around, narrowing his eyes. “I remember it. Something about Ayleids and a Lucky Lady.” He then looked at Grulmar and pointed at him with the book. “So it is nonsense you say but it got you thinking? I think there might a lecture in that. Even foolish things can lead you on a path to understanding.”

     

    Grulmar rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Yeah, whatever. Doesn't change the fact the book is full of shit. So the lesson?”

     

    “Younglings,” Tolfdir shook his head and took a seat at the table. “Yes, the lesson. What do you know about flesh spells?” he asked and pointed at the chair opposite to his. “Or Shield spells. They are called that sometimes.”

     

    Grulmar took a seat and grimaced. “I can guess. That tuskin' thing that makes mages invulnerable?”

     

    “Invulnerable?” Tolfdir chuckled. “Oh, very far from that.”

     

    “Yeah, then explain it. ‘Cause I met a few tuskers usin' those spells. There was one necromancer who was usin' it  and everythin' we threw at him just rebounced. Knives, arrows, swords, even bolts from a crossbow that could punch a damn big hole into a wooden door,” Grulmar sneered. He remembered that very well, nearly ended up like another brainless brain-sucking zombie. Aim for the head. What bullshit.

     

    Tolfdir raised his eyebrows, intrigued. “Sounds like there is a story behind this. So how did you take him down?”

     

    “We played hide and seek until he ran out of juice.”

     

    “Ran out of juice?” Tolfdir asked with puzzled look on his face. Damn, ya are really old, Grey.

     

    “Magicka,” Grulmar explained and waved with his hand near his kneck. “Ran out of magicka and got his head chopped off. But ya were talkin' about flesh spells. So? How does it work? I imagine myself indestructible and I can take a warhammer to the face without even flinching?”

     

    “It's not quite like that,” Tolfdir shook his head. “It doesn't make you indestructible. Shield spells are to protect you from danger, from harm, so you have to understand both these concepts. Do you fear it? Being harmed? Being endangered? Fear is just an emotion, but don't make the mistake, the danger is very real. Casting Flesh spells means you have to overcome that fear, you must accept that the danger will try to pierce, slash and crush you. But you don't let it.”

     

    To Grulmar it sounded like if he was meant to just stand and take a blow instead of dodging. “That's some nice bullshit right over there, Grey,” he murmured. “So I just should take a hit, yeah? That's what ya are sayin'?”

     

    “No,” Tolfdir shook his head. “I'm saying you must overcome the fear of getting hit. But as I said, Flesh spells don't stop everything thrown at you. Take Oak flesh for example.”

     

    “Yeah, heard about that one,” Grulmar nodded. He was actually eyeing the Flesh spells for some time during his stay in the College, but he wasn't able to find anything he would really understand. Urag had a few spell books in his possession, but Grulmar wasn't able to understand the instructions. Not yet. “So what does it do? Change my skin into the bark of an oak?”

     

    “Very common misinterpretation,” Tolfdir frowned in slight irritation. “You already know something about the School of Alteration, so you must know how difficult is to lift an object, change the reality. Imagine how difficult it would be to change your skin or flesh into bark - I'm not saying it's impossible though. And if you would, how would you move if your flesh and skin were made of bark?”

     

    “Spriggans are movin',” the Orc pointed out.

     

    “Ah, yes. They do. But do we know how?” the old Nord smiled and took the Daughter of Niben to his hands. “And what about stone or metal? That would be even more difficult.” He looked at a few pages of the book and then set it down. “No, these spells cover your body as a cloak, as a second skin. Giving protection to you and all things you are wearing.”

     

    “Nice,” Grulmar smirked. “I think I'd be sick of buying new clothes all the time.”

     

    “Yes, that could be tiresome.” the Nord chuckled. “So, Flesh spells cover your body. But they don't make you immune to damage, not completely. Low tier spells that are easier to cast might protect you from getting cut or stabbed by a knife or dagger. Some might even stop an arrow shot from a bow. But anything with more force will be able to break your bones while leaving your skin intact. You can't go and block swords with your hands. You wouldn't get them cut off but the impact would break your bones. But if you practice, you might be able to use more magicka to cast these spells. And-”

     

    “The more magicka, the more potent they get,” Grulmar finished, his mind trying to grasp the concept. It was more difficult that he hoped for, but easier than he expected. If they'll ever try to execute ya by beheading, castin' this spell won't save ya. Ya won't get decapitated, but get yer neck snapped instead. He blinked few times and felt the urge to slap his face. Lovely thought. Where do ya dig this things from, ya idiot? “So how do I cast this?”

     

    “You have to reach to what is most firm in magicka. What is the most solid, hard,” Tolfdir explained and Grulmar closed his eyes, his mind leaving his body, plunging itself into the space where magicka flew freely, swimming in between the streams.

     

    He passed several streams, streams that were calling to him, whispering in his mind to use them, to reach for the power. Grulmar noticed those streams were different from the others, each one having a different taste, smell then the pure ones. What are those? he wondered, but he decided not to heed their calls, because he was hunting different prey.

     

    And then he found it, a stream that felt very similar to the one he was using to cast Telekinesis, but at the same very different. The previous one was slow, almost unmoving and so heavy, but this one was moving, and it felt so light to him. He reached with his hands towards it, plunging-

     

    But he couldn't. The stream was so solid he wasn't able to tap into it.

     

    “I can't use it,” he murmured and opened his eyes. “It's so firm it won't let me tap into it.”

     

    Tolfdir chuckled. “Yes. Did you think you'll be able to do it the first time you try? So impatient. You have to keep trying, my boy. You have to figure it out on your own how to use it. I showed you the way. Now it's up to you.”

     

    Grulmar grimaced. “Yeah. I'll go grab a pickaxe or somethin',” he mumured to himself, but already he couldn't help himself but to think about how to reach the stream. The reality will be more likely change if ya are subtle about it. Convince it that it would be better to change than remain the same. And emotions. Emotions are the key too.

     

    Tolfdir chuckled and got up from his chair, patting Grulmar's shoulder on his way to the door. “It's getting late and these old bones need to rest. I'll leave you to your experimentation.”

     

    “Yeah, thanks,” the Orc nodded, already lost in his thoughts. Tolfdir was right that it was getting late, the sunlight was already gone and he found out the room was slowly drowning in shadows and darkness. He didn't mind it, but he wanted to read little bit more from another book before fully focusing on the Flesh spells again.

     

    He reached in and out, his mind searching through the space around him, fighting small pieces of light. When people say that darkness is an absence of light, they are not completely true. There is always some light, small pieces that any mage can squeeze together, shape them into a ball of light. And he was doing precisely that, adding one grain of light after another in his mind and then he poured magicka into it. A faint light appeared over his head and he breathed out in relief.

     

    The first time he casted that spell wasn't exactly...successful. I tried too hard, poured too much shit into it. I saw spots in front of my eyes for a few days. That is once I was able to see again…But there's no deniyin’  that it could prove useful one day.

     

    Someone suddenly stormed into his room and he jumped from his chair, expecting a raging dremora or something, but it was just Mess. Brelyna Maryon. “Can't ya knock, Mess?” he growled. “I said I won't be helping ya with anything. Go away. I'm busy.”

     

    She was breathing heavily and he grey skin was slightly red, as if she was running. “You have to come with me. Quickly!” She grabbed him by his hand and started pulling him out of his room.

     

    “What the tusk is going on?”

     

    “Just come! It's urgent!” she kept saying and pulled him out, heading to the door leading outside the Hall. Then she stopped and turned to him. “That's perfect. Now don't move at all.”

     

    “What the-” he started but then Brelyna casted a spell on him. “-mooo,” he finished. What the-? He looked down and saw a pair of hooves and then looked back at Brelyna. “Moooo!” Tusk! That's definitely not what I wanted to say. He felt something twitching near his arse and turned his head around, only to see… an arse of a tuskin' cow! She just made cattle out of me!

     

    "Oh my. That isn't right! Just wait. Just... I can fix this,” she reassured him and then cast another spell. Strange tingling came over his body and he was suddenly seeing Brelyna from higher point of view. And now I'm a tuskin' horse! I'm goin' to kill ya, Mess! He stomped the ground with his hooves and started walking towards Brelyna.

     

    “Let's all calm down, alright?” Brelyna said with trembling voice.  "Oh no, that's not it at all. Let me try again..." The Dunmer cast another spell and this time Grulmar felt an itch, and his rear leg scratched his neck. Shit! He barked and then growled at Brelyna.

     

    "This really isn't turning out the way I'd hoped," she said, embarrassed. "I'll get it right this time, I swear." Another spell and this time Grulmar finally felt like himself again. He extended his arms, to look at them and then he touched his face and ears and even his arse to make sure there isn't something that shouldn't be there. “There, all better,” Mess said and smiled at him.

     

    “I'm goin' to rip yer head off and stuff it up yer arse-” Grulmar growled, pointing with a finger at her.

     

    She waved her hand, dismissing his frustration. "Well, it all worked out in the end, didn't it?" The Dunmer smiled again and looked around if there wasn't someone watching them. “But...we'll never speak of this again, alright?”

     

    Grulmar raised his hands to grab her by neck and then sighed. “Yeah. We won't ever talk about this ever again.” He reached into the streams of magicka and pulled all the light from them to his hand, closing his eyes and then released the energy. There was a bright flash clearly visible even through closed lids and Brelyna shouted out.

     

    “My eyes!” she screamed and Grulmar turned around, going back to his room.

     

    “It will pass. Maybe,” he growled. Bitch.

     

    Sources used in this Lesson: Daughter of Niben

     

     

Comments

10 Comments   |   A-Pocky-Hah! and 9 others like this.
  • Caladran
    Caladran   ·  December 1, 2017
    Very lovely chapter! Informative too. :)
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 11, 2017
    Haha...... I likes...
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  January 9, 2017
    I daresay Grulmar's magical flash bomb will come in handy some day.
  • Ben W
    Ben W   ·  January 5, 2017
    Ha!
  • Paws
    Paws   ·  January 5, 2017
    Grulmar reveals his much darker side as he gets his revenge on bungling Brelyna. Even though we see hints of this darkness, this is the first time so far we see what he is capable of. There are striking parallels between him and Raistlin Majere starting t...  more
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  January 5, 2017
    Ah flesh spells a.k.a armor spells in my book. I always wondered how it really works outside gameplay mechanic. Also poor Brelyna, you just had to 'mess' with the Orc. Get it, mess?  :P
    • Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      Ah flesh spells a.k.a armor spells in my book. I always wondered how it really works outside gameplay mechanic. Also poor Brelyna, you just had to 'mess' with the Orc. Get it, mess?  :P
        ·  January 5, 2017
      Hehe, nice pun. :D

      And yeah, Shield Spells always annoyed me, mostly because people really think that it changes your skin into Oak or Stone. But they are still the same Shield Spells from Oblivion and Morrowind. I don´t know, maybe Nords or...  more
      • Exuro
        Exuro
        Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Hehe, nice pun. :D

        And yeah, Shield Spells always annoyed me, mostly because people really think that it changes your skin into Oak or Stone. But they are still the same Shield Spells from Oblivion and Morrowind. I don´t know, maybe Nords or just Colleg...  more
          ·  August 19, 2017
        I actually liked the idea of altering the composition of your skin for the flesh spells. I like the image of Vigilantes of Stendarr turning into golems to fight Daedra. My reasoning is that sometime in the last 200 years someone discovered that instead of...  more
        • Karver the Lorc
          Karver the Lorc
          Exuro
          Exuro
          Exuro
          I actually liked the idea of altering the composition of your skin for the flesh spells. I like the image of Vigilantes of Stendarr turning into golems to fight Daedra. My reasoning is that sometime in the last 200 years someone discovered that instead of...  more
            ·  August 19, 2017
          Thank you, Exuro, for reading.


          And Flesh Spells...well, I gotta be honest. I just don´t like it, the idea of those spells transforming the skin. It´s like Waterbreathing you know? Do you use magicka to allow you to breath air from wat...  more
      • The Long-Chapper
        The Long-Chapper
        Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Hehe, nice pun. :D

        And yeah, Shield Spells always annoyed me, mostly because people really think that it changes your skin into Oak or Stone. But they are still the same Shield Spells from Oblivion and Morrowind. I don´t know, maybe Nords or just Colleg...  more
          ·  January 5, 2017
        I agree, I always disliked the very literal interpretation of flesh spells.  You handle it much better.  And tehehehe, Grulmar and Mess.