Studying Abroad, Part 29

  • Studying Abroad, Part 29

                Admetus and I uttered simultaneous curses as we drew our weapons, but Admetus was faster. He lunged at the draugur with his dagger, and I dropped to a crouch. The draugur’s torso slid from its legs as it flailed in a feeble attempt to attack us. I stood up once again, my hand still clenching around my war axe.

                “That was easy,” Admetus said as he wiped the corpse’s entrails off his blade. Rustling sounds and muffled grunts could be heard the next room over.

                “You didn’t think it was over, did you?” I strode past Admetus, war axe in one hand and fireball spell in the other. Admetus brought up the rear as I walked into the room.

                Coffins; Lots of coffins, all opening. That was the sight I was treated to as I ventured into the next room. I quickly went to work, blasting as many coffins as I could with fireballs. Flaming chunks of wood from the coffins of those yet to rise lodged themselves in the bodies of those who had, crippling many. Admetus rushed in to finish them off, and after a cast of Ironflesh, I was quick to do the same.

                Admetus moved like a dancer, his silvery blade gleaming in the lowlight between slashes. He was a blur of movement, always turning and slashing, seeming to know where his next victim was even before they themselves knew. Many draugur found themselves decapitated before they were able to lay a blow upon him. I was more of a wall, breaking those who threw themselves upon me with fire and steel. I would constantly throw flames at my foes while engaging them in combat, some unfortunate draugur even burned to the point of inability to move.

                Even the greatest dancer can falter, though; as can the most solid wall be breached. After suffering through innumerable numbers of draugur, we found ourselves running low on energy.

                “Admetus! Do you have any potions for this?” I asked, half-joking.

                “As it happens, I do!” I turned just in time to see Admetus disappear from the battlefield, leaving me to deal with the remaining draugur.

                “Damn you…” I muttered as I plowed my way through the room, looking for a method of escape as I used the last of my reserves. The doorway caught my eye, and I sheathed my war axe. I focused the last of my magicka into my arms, preparing for a massive shock of pain and power. I braced myself and pointed my arms toward the door. Twin jets of lightning shot forth from my arms, disintegrating any who stood in its path even as draugur hacked at my back. My Ironflesh spell held, but barely; I felt several swords slash across by back and leave sizable gashes in the skin.

                The way cleared, I made a mad dash for the exit, pulling the chain on the other side of the door as I barreled through it. Iron bars slammed shut behind me. Draugur reached through the bars in a desperate attempt to attack, and for a moment some of them looked so emaciated as to slip through. I stumbled to the nearest stone bench and sat, waiting for Admetus to appear through some bizarre means.

                I sat for several minutes, listing to the pained groans of the draugur and looking at all the ruined books. I eventually remembered the cause of the incident, and pulled the book out of my pack.

    APPLICATIONS OF THE ALTERATION SCHOOL

                One of the most underappreciated schools of magic, Alteration is unique in the fact that, rather than produce mystical objects (like the Destruction School’s fireballs), it alters that which already exists. In this aspect, the Illusion School could be seen as a branch of the Alteration School, as it alters the already-existent processes of the mind.

                But I digress. The Alteration School is different from most other schools of magic, and as such cannot be utilized in the same ways. For example, the set of so-called “-flesh” spells, the likes of which include Ironflesh and Ebonyflesh, merely change the physical structure of skin, using magicka, in order to provide maximum protection. The nature of Alteration also explains its rather taxing magicka costs; complex objects, such as humans, require a lot of magicka in order to ensure that no bodily harm comes to the user.

                Using the basic set of Alteration spells already known to most students of magic, many more can be created. For example, a complex reversal of the spell Telekinesis could be used to provide a consistent pushing force, or a slight change to the spell Paralyze could make one’s muscle move with more force than usually possible. This isn’t to say, however, that the base spells aren’t useful on their own; Telekinesis can rip a man’s sword from his grip, and Waterbreathing has certainly saved more than one sailor’s life.

                The difficulty of the Alteration School lies in the fact that to develop a new spell you must learn the subject that you wish to cast the spell on: rocks are naturally resilient, trees can bend and adapt, etc. Only true masters of Alteration can develop spells that affect humans, as such spells require a full understanding of all bodily functions, as well as testing on animals similar to humans, such as the pig, and incredible insight into the arcane arts.

                “I’m glad that you’re enjoying that little troublemaker.” I jumped as the voice echoed throughout the room. Admetus grinned, baring his fangs.

                “Someone’s got to, I suppose,” I said, putting the book back in my pack. “I could’ve died back there, you know.”

                “Yet you didn’t. Why should I care, though? You said it yourself: I’m no friend of yours.” Admetus grinned again as he leapt up from the table, tossing an empty vial into the draugur still crowded at the door.

                “No going back now; let’s hope there’s another way out.”

                “And plenty of gold to go along with it.”

                Admetus and I began to make our way through the gloomy, silent tunnels. I began to think of Claudia, and a tear crept into my eye. For Claudia. For Tolfdir. For my friends.

                To be continued…

Comments

2 Comments
  • Genkami
    Genkami   ·  November 9, 2013
    Creative License, my friend. 
  • Vazgen
    Vazgen   ·  November 9, 2013
    Ha! This Admetus fellow is a thief to the core, huh?  I don't remember draugr there, there were ghosts in Ancient Nord Armor in Forelhost...