(Priorities:)
Ani arrived at the airport from in the middle of a fight with Joelliane. After noticing that the airport was abandoned, and a small bout of worry about where he might be, he headed inside in search of a first aid station. The first one he found was looted, which told him that other people had been at this location within the past year, though much of the airport had been untouched for much longer. On his way to find another one, he found the two gima-raptors Richie and Hotori had killed, and surmised some of their combat capabilities. Then he finally found another med station, and started patching himself up.
A message from Micas to the message board reminded him to check the Journal out, and he discovered that there were some very not-human looking people, like Linex and Robin. Then he saw Zee, recognizing him from having known a female version of him, and contacted him.
(Private message to Apollo Stardust: )
Ani and Zee chat back and forth a bit, Ares, Kororen and Mara are mentioned with regards to healing, though Ani is warned that Mara is a Demon and charges for services rendered.
(back to Priorities:)
Ani had just recently gotten off the journal with Zee when he was surprised by the sudden arrival of Robin right in front of him. Robin hugs him and asks for compassion and affection. Ani starts back in alarm and trips on a rolling chair, taking the fae down with him. Ni'ci lands more comfortably in the chair. Confronted with a very not human person in his lap, Ani clings to the only familiar thing that presents itself in the situation- Shakespearian speech- and comforts Robin.
Robin and Ni'ci lead him to the Atrium, there to tend his wounds, feed him, and put him to bed. Sounds pretty good, considering Ani's been up for some 18 hours and recently engaged in a vigorous fight.
(We're all a little mad here. . .:)
In the Atrium, Ani, Robin, and Ni'ci meet the Yellow Flicker and the newly arrived Officer Miggx. Flicker tells Ani that he was sent by Apollo to retrieve Ani to the Fountain. The first formal introduction Ani gives of himself, in response to Hatter's Military title, is "Captain Angelo Duncan, of the IRSS Emerald Ixia." After some small hedging on promises and trying not to offend various people, it is decided they will all go to the fountain. Robin taking Ani through the Vines, Hatter by Hat transit, and Flicker and Ni'ci flying. It is also reveled that Robin knows a way to heal people. Before they all depart, Flicker warns Hatter and Ani that Ghost is protective of Lady Kasuga, that the people of the Fountain might be mind-readers, and that 'Dastardly Demon Dame' lives nearby. Ani is a bit alarmed that Flicker knows that Zee is a Reader, but is distracted by Hatter's flamboyant departure. Then off to the Fountain with another hug for Robin.
(Tea And Crackers: )
Ani is pulled through the tree network and finds himself suddenly, instantly, and disconcertingly outside and not 6 feet from Zee, who is in fact a man as opposed to the woman he knew, but Zee all the same. They are joined by Herrigan and Ghost. Ghost offers welcome and hospitality, which Ani accepts and attempts to square out introductions.
Robin inquires after a healer on Ani's behalf and Zee tells them that Kororen is out and Arshan is discouraged for being associated with Mara. The first hints of Ghost not being well, and bleeding from Psychic stress, a mention of him having 'machinery inside'. Robin laments the lack of healers, and Ani makes it clear he is not to blame.
They are both distracted when Ares arrives with linens, flying in and projecting her usual, unintentional, aura of sexy. Zee dishes out stew and introductions. Hatter takes a walk and Ghost leaves to take Niji food. At Zee's questioning, Ares grudgingly admits to being able to heal Ani. Ani declines, speaking 'body-laguage' fluently and knowing that Ares doesn't really want to come near any of them, and has already admitted to being tired. Zee drops a few more names, Linex, Phantasy, Richie, before helping himself to food.
Then Robin lovingly cuddles up to Ares. And she stabs him and runs away. From the expressions that cross her face, Ani presumes that she is a rape victim and that her sexy-aura is unintended and magical. He gives Robin medical assistance, and explains the concept of 'personal space' while wordlessly suggesting that Zee check on Ares, which he does. Ani removed the knife from Robin's stomach and Robin heals himself using the vines. Ghost apologizes to Robin for Ares, and Ani and Robin both reassure him that it wasn't his fault. Ani then takes food for himself, Zee, and Ares, along with her knife, to go make sure that Zee is okay.
(The continuation)
Ani goes to find Zee and Ares talking, and convinces himself that it's better to get any bad blood out in the open where it can be dealt with, rather than just avoid Ares because she is a 'stabby-bitch' (a classification of women inspired by Joelliane). He apologizes to Ares on Robin's behalf, offering his understanding of her reaction, and an apology of his own for staring, as well as food and returning her knife. She accepts the food and makes herself less-patetic looking around Ani than she had been willing to be around Zee.
Zee invited Ani to stay and talk. Zee's comment on Ani 'still having his arm' and Ani's comment on the ball leads to them discovering that they are from different times as well as alternate universes, with Zee being some 3 years beyond the time Ani was pulled from. Ani accepts the idea that he might end up in a Coma, and even loose his arm, much more readily than he accepts the thought that Joelliane might one day stop trying to kill him and even propose marriage.
A misunderstanding with a timeskip happened in the middle of that thread.
(Morning Has Broken)
Ani was put in a tree with Robin that night, and the result was both a deep and long sleep, and a healing of superficial wounds. His ribs are still cracked, but Ani's never been one to let broken bones stop him from being up and about. Meets Niji, Richie, and Linex. Ghost comes out, looking pale and sick, and goes back inside to get more dressed. Ani actually gets to see his implants. More snuggles with Robin as Ani vaguely wishes to be able to fly. Again. Meets Phantasy. Gets breakfast, and realizes that he doesn't need to be wearing bandages, and could stand to have a shirt on himself. Listens to the others plan a trip to the music store. Robin displays his ability to locate people using the vines. Ani finds a sleepy Fairy in his clothes. Niji delegates Flicker, Linex, Robin and Ni'ci to scavenging and music shopping, Ghost to hunting, Richie and Ani to help Apollo in the Bakery, and Phantasy and herself to laundry. Ani pulls on his ballistic-weave tank-top and then takes his breakfast into the Bakery.
(Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement:)
Ani and Zee banter happily and Ani gets to work pulling up carpets starting with the top floor of the bakery. Ani is using the physical labor to keep himself too distracted and physically tired to worry about the fact that he is stuck planetside. The dust of pulling the carpets up proves problematic and Ani must make liberal use of his handkerchief. Richie's arrival brings Ani back downstairs, where he helps Zee set up some gravity based plumbing, with a basin upstairs for running water in the kitchen. Ani gets sent to Zee's apartment to fetch a basin and more pipes, more banter with Zee, and finding out that as a woman Annie used to call Zee "Hot stuff" Happy men being productive and some lighthearted affection.
(Taking Care of Business: [aka, The Arch Incident])
Ani interrupts Niji and Phantasy at their washing to tell Niji that he's finished pulling up the carpets from the third floor and to ask where to take them. Niji points the way but suggests he not go alone. While he's there, Robin pops out of a tree begging for a healer, saying he's got a badly injured woman suffering from bloodloss in the tree still. This brings Kororen, unsummoned in any way Ani could tell, and Ani assumed the blond kid is another Reader as well as apparently a healer.
Ani helps Kororen set up for healing Archturous, then backs off to the get carpets out of the way. He sees Ana shrink in on herself in the face of the crisis, and goes to try to help her. When things started to go wrong in the psychic level and Zee burst out of the Bakery, Ani ordered her harshly inside the bakery to keep her and himself from getting caught in any collateral.
(What do you make of me, then?)
Ani gets Ana inside and apologizes for bossing her around. Ana remains frightened of him, and Ani pretty much writes her off for useless and gets back to work, with a playful parting shot that should could try pulling herself together instead of moping.
Back upstairs, Ani gets back to trying to de-carpet the bakery, this time prying up tack-strips with his dagger. He slips in the dust as one of the strips of wood cracks and cuts his arm as the knife slips. Ana and Richie respond, Ana ripping off the lower half of her shirt to cover the wound and bind it. Ani is pleasantly surprised that Ana is doing anything, and amazed at the Alchemy. Richie gets sent in search of water and a crowbar. Ana finished up bandaging his arm and Ani suggests she try using her alchemy to get the tack-strips out of the floor. She does so but nearly feints. The boys take care of her, complement and make her eat and drink. Ani and Richie get to discuss human nature a bit. Ani flirts with Ana to keep her motivated and happy. More alchemy talk and History. Ani asks Richie how things look outside, and when the answer is "not too good," Ani goes to check it out, in spite of Ana's misgivings.
(Taking Care of Business: again)
Ani pokes his head back out of the Bakery, and when nothing tries to kill him, ventures out to see what he can do. Arch is gone, Robin is in a tree, and then gone. Ghost is bleeding, Phantasy is in agony, Kororen and Niji are unconscious. Zee runs away, and the only thing that stops Ani from chasing after him is the knowledge that this needs cleaning up.
Flicker and Rosa appear, Flicker assuming an active attack and Rosa quietly slipping into shock. Ani kneels to help Phantasy first in her obvious pain, trying to explain the situation as he found it to Flicker, but is cut off by Kororen speaking into his head. Flicker carries Niji, and Ani helps Phantasy while Rosa walks, the goal to get everyone into the Bakery at Kororen's suggestion. Ghost trying to walk, but doing so slowly and in obvious pain. Rosa offers to help and Ani suggests she help Richie and Ana inside. Once he has Phantasy inside, he heads back out to give Ghost whatever assistance he will accept while Flicker carried Kororen's body inside.
(Here Comes The Flood)
Ani brings Phantasy into the Bakery and places Rosa in the care of Ana and Richie before dashing back out. Assisting Ghost without robbing him of his dignity, Ani picks up on the tail end of the accounts of what happened and threw in the details he remembered from the start of it. He moves Niji over next to Ghost and states his intention to go back out to look for Zee. Those who were involved in the incident, he prescribes rest and recuperation (he's such a hypocrite XD) and gently encourages anyone with idle hands to continue working on the building, knowing that sometimes having a task staves of fretting. He is amused when Ghost calls him "boss", reminded of Jo, but then Ana clings at him pathetically and begs him not to go back out.
Flicker comes bustling back in with Kororen to take care of people and supports Ani's leaving. That and Phantasy's gentle gratitude save Ana from being dismissed, and though Ani does pull away from her grasp, he takes enough time to clarify that (1) he's a big boy and can take care of himself, (2) his friend is out there, (3) there are honesty injured people she should be worrying about. After hinting that he will be very angry if he comes back to find nothing done, he does concede to contacting someone if he doesn't find "her" (still thinking of Zee as a woman)
(Fool Dancing on the Edge: or 'In which Ani and Zee discuss many things, both deep and frivolous')
Ani hunts down Zee without incident, but kept his eye open for trouble anyway until he reached his friend. Still surprised that Zee is a man, but relieved that he looks fine. Zee explains his actions, how Arch had noisy nasty things in her head, and that his intention had only been to silence them, and Ani lets him know people were safe when he left. Friendly banter of understanding and teasing and a lot of unspoken reassurance, comfort, and cuddling.
While they lay there, they discuss the ideas of how they might be able to figure where Solluna is if they got into space. Or even if, given that, if they would even be able to find their way home, give how the two of them are clearly from the same words but different times and universes. Zee uses the Journals as evidence that they were put there deliberately. This leads to pondering what power exactly pulled then to Solluna, be it magic, or technology, or (Ani ponders) even Divine. (Zee was educated about religions, but taught not to believe in gods himself. Ani was raised Christian, even if he's bad at acting like it, and does honestly believe in God. Something about the beauty of infinite Space spinning out before his eyes. . .) Ani, being practical, points out that, regardless of what the means are, finding where and who will be the first step to getting them home, and thus the more pressing concern.
More snuggling for the comfort of that which is mostly familiar. Ani promises to find a way to Get Zee home, and in the mean time working on ships again where he's happy. Some insinuation, but nothing serious, before they decide it's high-time to head back. Ani finally noticed that the cut on his arm hasn't hurt in a while (Kororen had to touch him to be able to talk into his mind) Touching on the subjects of secrecy and trust regarding the Solluna people. Ani even teases that maybe Zee can't trust him, since he might not be the same as Annie, hinting at his own ruthlessness toward strangers.
On the way back they find a Liquor store and load up on intoxicating goodies, including two local types of alcohol that they don't know what it is, 'Lur' and 'Agraki'. Ani also finds an older style journal and the signs that, a long time ago, someone had gotten drunk and eaten in a corner. Zee keeps the journal. While they load up on bottles, they observe how it didn't seem like the Solluna locals, way back native inhabitants, had actually planned on leaving. There was evidence of daily goings on that were just interrupted in the middle. Cups of long evaporated coffee sitting moldy and dust-covered. Ani remarks on how it's like none of them planned on coming to Solluna, and muses that the folks back home probably think them dead.
Back to the matter of the original disappearance of people from Solluna, the fact that some things were closed down neatly suggested that some people knew what was going on, and didn't bother to tell the rest of the populace. And then wondering if the whole planet was vacated, or just the small part they are in. Thoughts for exploring outward and looking forward to the Conference.
(The Forest and the Swamp:)
Ani and Zee get back to the fountain to find Ghost in a tree and Ana and Robin doing something to said tree. Zee asks questions while Ani CSI's the scenario and comes to his own assumptions. They watch Ana and Robin make the tree grow and spit out Ghost's lung implants. Ana smiles at them before feinting. Zee states that he's going to take Ana to sleep it off in his room, while Ani takes Zee's load of liquor as well as his won into the Bakery, going from lightly encumbered to heavily encumbered.
(Cool Reception:)
Ani successfully makes it into the Bakery without breaking a bottle of alcohol. Slipping on a pool of Ghost's blood, still pooled on the Bakery floor, does not make that task any easier. Kororen is inside, wrapped in a blanket, and observes dispassionately that the blood will need to be cleaned up before the delegates arrive. Ani is strongly reminded of Estevan "Ess" Morgaine, Zee's only surviving brother. Ani is reluctant to clean up blood without some kind of barrier, being aware of blood-born illnesses, but Kororen assures him that he will clean any such illness from Ani's blood once he is done. Ani decided to trust him, since the boy seems sure enough of being able to do such a thing, and just sop up the blood with the rags that were strewn about. Ani asks what happened, but gets no answer. Then Niji arrives with Kororen's change of clothes, thanks Ani for cleaning, and remarks on wanting servants to do menial tasks. She gathers the bloody blankets and rags, as well as Ghost's shirt, for washing. Kororen dresses quickly, then rushes out the door, answering Ani's silent mental wish for a damp rag by throwing the wet blanket he'd been wrapped in into Ani's face.
Zee pops his head in and says he's going to go looks for Richie and "a missing woman" who Ani guesses to be Rosa, since he hasn't seen her since coming back and Zee knew all the other women at the Fountain. Ani describes Rosa for Zee, and asks him to keep an eye out for furniture stores while he's out, and says he'll make sure some lunch is saved for Zee. Niji returns in time to catch the comment about food and volunteers herself for cooking detail. She also asks Zee about how Ghost's armored shirt might need to be washed, and if there is any way he can make the journals tell her when people arrive or disappear. Zee geeks out on the idea for a moment before remembering his stated task. Ani gives Niji the last of the blood-rags, states his willingness to be drafted for laundry duty, but also his intention to finish up with the carpets. He teases Niji and she sizes him up. At Niji's suggestion Zee says he'll Take Flicker with him, and everyone parts ways.
(I dub thee pack-mules)
Ani emerges from the Bakery with the last of the dusty carpets in a roll over his shoulder, his shirt tied up in a dust-mask about his face. He's in pretty high spirits, music playing in his head to keep him entertained. Was not expecting to find a boat-load of new people milling about. Sees Connie and Adobe looking tired, Ahime unconscious, Zeek and Sampire waiting to be told what to do, Ares interrogating Phantasy, Linex waiting by Phantasy, Niji cooking and trying to welcome people, and Kelly sitting on the fountain looking like he's going to cry. Also there's these odd creatures who don't look like they are planning on attacking anyone. (which I as a player had forgotten about, oops) He greets Ares and Niji, asks the way to the dump again, and extends an open invitation to the assembled that anyone who wants to help would be welcome and appreciated. Watches Zeek go to comfort Kelly, then volunteer to help. Connie ogles Niji a bit, then is thoroughly distracted by Ani and his dust-covered shirtlessness, leering as she offers her hand as well and treats Kelly like a witless coat-rack. Ani calls her on that, glad that Ni'ci is being cheerful at the sad boy, and offers Kelly an alternate to guarding people's stuff if he wants it. She apologizes. Hatter shows up again, spectacularly and distractingly. Niji assigns Phantasy to guide Sampire, Adobe, and Ahime to her own room for resting. And Linex to guiding Ani, Connie, and Zeek, laden with carpet rolls and Ana's Alchemied Tackstrip-roll-ups, to the dumping grounds. They all head out.
(Trash Talk:) In progress. . .
Ani and the others head out for the dump. Introductions are finished. Linex does his best to be a leader. Ani can tell he doesn't have much experience, but lets him try, since there's no better teacher than your own mistakes. Connie's still eyeing Ani, which makes him a bit nervous. As flirtations as he is, he's not used to women noticing him without him putting forth some effort to attract that kind of interest. Trying to make conversation to keep tension low, Ani asks where they are from. Zeek is from Montana, Linex from New York State, and Connie from "The Windy City" Chicago. She expresses wonder at how there could be different New Yorks, Ani works out that they are from place on Earth and is delighted by this, asking what Earth is like. He's studied Earth in school, and loved it. Zeek wondered at Ani's reference to "old Earth" and asks where he is from.
Then Mara arrives dramatically, with Kororen in her arms. Linex gets irritated with the demon, and assumes that Kororen is somehow hurt, and Connie worries. Ani had drawn his gun when she showed up in the air, but held off firing in part because he had recognized Kororen and the boy actually looked like he'd been enjoying himself. With the new distraction, Ani reminds people to keep an eye on defense as well. Mara toys with Linex and puts Kororen down, then appraises Ani, Zeek and Connie, verbally introducing the concept of hauling one of them off but saying that she is being good and will not.
Ani is intrigued, and takes being looked over as an invitation to do the same, holstering his gun and introducing himself when Linex fails to. Mara gets insulted when Linex tries to order her around, apparently missing the part where she said she would not be taking people, and then proceeds to introduce her like an embarrassment. But rather than storm off after making her ire known, sidles up to Ani and asks if she can walk with, specifically, him.
"People it would be a shame to have to kill"
• Nei'ess
• Ares
• Niji
• Mara/Arshan
• Ghost
• Ana
• Apollo
• Tyr
• Micas
"People I don't especially care about"
• Linex
• Phantasy
• Richie
• Hex
• All the people I haven't met or have only met in passing
"People it would be a pleasure to kill"
• Rory
• Ani
• The Yellow Flicker
• Anyone who tries to pat me on the head or pinch my cheeks
- Music:"Lady Snowstar Supernova" Barry and Sally Childs-Helton
So anyway, here we go ^_^
12/ 01/ 08:
"What do you make of me, then?" fountain thread by spacestationani, started 11/ 30/ 08
Gau Guhn: "awesome" or "brilliant"
11/ 30/ 08:
"Taking care of Business" fountain thread by kasuga_niji, started 10/ 18/ 08
Rung Tse Fwo Tzoo Bao Yo Wuo Muhn: "Merciful Buddha, protect us."
Ma Shong: "Now"
9/ 18/08:
"Tea and Crackers" fountain thread by havenmechanic, started 9/ 16/ 08
Cau: "F*ck"
9/ 15/ 08:
"We're all a little mad here . . ." airport thread by hatterherrigan, started 8/ 30/ 08
Wo Bu Shin Wo Dah Yan Jing: "I don't believe my eyes"
7/ 08/ 08:
Private Message to Apollo Stardust, personal journal:
Wuo Duh Tian Ah: "Oh my God"
6/ 29/ 08:
Intro post, Airport:
Hwo Gai: deserving of bad consequence or fate. Here used to mean something like "Damned"
Ta Ma Duh: "Damn" or "Damn it"
Mi Tian Gohn: excrement. "Shit"
In the first dream, I woke up outside, on an air mattress in the back yard to find big insects all over the place. It was creepy, and it felt kind of like a zombie dream, even though the insects were not attacking, just flying bout, landing on things, and sort of crawling on walls like insects do. I was using a broom to smack them until they curled up all dead-like. My housemate was terrorizing them with a live manta ray ^^,
So last-night's dream, I woke up outside again. I was sleeping on the ground, with my thick comforter, near a leafy green tree, next to a deserted parking lot. Dark green leaves, dark bark and grass and pavement, like it's been raining. Only I can tell that the storm hasn't gotten there yet. So I scramble over to my bed, which is sitting on the parking lot surface right near the grass, not 20 feet from where I had been sleeping. I tuck all my pillows in, and pick up my stuffed animals, which have been strewn all across the grass nearby. All the stuffed animals from back home, my bears and my moogle and my charizard. I set them very carefully across the pillows, like they are laying in bed, but I'm moving very quickly, because the rain is coming. Then I pull the blanket that's on the bed, which is not the one I was sleeping with under the tree, but looks about the same, up over everything to protect it from the rain. Dream logic and all. Next moment, it is torrential downpour, and I'm running barefoot across the open pavement with my blanket bundled around me. I'm wearing my purple shorts and a loose white teeshirt. The tree and bed aren't even visible, but I'm running for the overhang sheltering the door leading in to an apartment building. I knock, and try to open the door, but it is locked. So it's raining so heavily that the world outside ten feet from the door is a curtain of grey. I'm huddled in the corner, against the brick and concrete, shivering cold and wet with my big blanket pulled all around me, feeling lost and alone and vulnerable in a childish way. Then a van pulls up in front of the overhang. It is not my van, but at the same time, I know it is. The same way I can't actually see into the van, but for some reason I know it's my brother. The door to the back opens on it's own, and I'm running through the rain out to the car. Then the dream ends. I didn't actually get to the car, but it didn't really matter, because I had been 'found'.
Perhaps a word of further explanation is in order.
The Rules:
Fleshcraft: The name given to the field of magic that is used on living creatures. If an object contains a soul, the only magic that can affect its physical body is fleshcraft. People, animals, plants, microorganisms, and artifacts are all considered 'objects with souls'.
Fleshcraft is known as a healing magic. This is because the caster can only use the magic to do things to the target's body that the target's will/spirit agrees to. Even an unconscious person, or a non-sentient, will agree to being healed. It's a lot harder (for all intents and purposes impossible) to convince a living thing to just let you do something that will damage or kill it.
Fleshcraft has its most extravagant expression of potential when used by a caster for self-manipulation. It is obviously easier to convince your own body to change, since you've already decided to, and there is no battle of wills. However, you cannot make something out of nothing. A caster using fleshcraft to alter their own body is limited to their own body-mass, or else must draw raw materials out of the environment. Self-manipulation is limited to altering physical shapes, not their output. A caster could make their legs longer to be able to cover more distance in a stride, but cannot make themself arbitrarily faster. Likewise they could increase the size, and therefor output of their muscles, but cannot simply make themselves stronger. All boosted states can only be achieved by creating the physical form that would allow for that skill.
It should be pointed out that self-manipulation is both incredibly painful and incredibly dangerous for the caster. It is not a comfortable thing, to reconfigure your body at the cellular level, and because the caster has already convinced them-self to do the manipulation, if they do it wrong, or are interrupted, the results could be crippling or lethal. 80-90% of mages with fleshcrafter potential lack either the raw power, or the control, to successfully alter themselves.
Metalcraft: The name given to the field of magic that is used on nonliving objects. This covers all objects which cannot be fleshcrafted, not just metal. All varieties of metal and stone can be shaped using metalcraft, as well as ice, and formerly living matter such as wood and bone. Water and other fluids lack the structural unity to be shaped meaningfully in most instances, but there have been stories from the age of legend of Mathias (a god) being able to increase the surface tension of a liquid to the point that it could support weight like a solid surface.
Most metalcrafters will have an affinity to a certain material. This is mostly due to the essential structure of the material being similar to the way a person is predisposed to thinking. Casters can still alter materials that they do not have an affinity for, just not with the same ease, precision, and overall elegance.
Because a dead body no longer has a soul or a will attached to it, the taboo craft of Necromancy is a specialized application of metalcraft.
Since it involves working with things that are not alive, metalcraft is, by default, safer to use than fleshcraft. However, casters making mistakes or being interrupted can lead to accidents, such as unintended spurs or structural collapse. Metalcraft is also highly effective when used offensively, since it is technically possible to shape your opponent's clothing, armor, and weapons to either hinder or harm them. But, like any magic, metalcraft takes control and concentration, so only the strongest of metalcrafters have the potential to become Battlecasters. And even fewer of them have the will to become so.
Thoughtcraft: The name given to the field of magic related to extraphysical perception. Thoughtcrafters are empaths and telepaths, who's range and specific limitations are dictated by a combination of their innate skill, their personal mindset, and their training. A weak, untrained thoughtcrafter might only get a general sense of the intentions and feelings of people they are touching, or very close to. A decently talented and trained thoughtcrafter can read the minds of people they are in the same room as, and speak into the minds of people they know or are touching. A powerful throughtcrafter can send to people they have met across distances, and, with the proper training, safely leave their unconscious bodies to travel and observe the world incorporeal. A person who has "Stepped Out" leaves their physical body unguarded and susceptible to attack, and their spirit body is incapable of effecting thy physical world outside of magical manipulation.
The importance of having met or touched a person to be able to read their mind is key. In order to read or send direct thoughts as intelligible words rather than subjective impressions, a thoughtcrafter must leave a tiny piece of their own magic inside a person. This is usually done reflexively and unintentionally, though trained thoughtcrafters are taught how to avoid unintentionally leaving these spiritual momentos in other people.
Regardless of skill level, any thoughtcrafter is susceptible to what is known as "Prophesy Dreaming". Prophesy dreaming is the ability to predict the future. For specific people, for specific places, either a few moments ahead, or- rarely- years away from occurring. For some people it is a brief flash of warning or insight, for others a looming sensation of for-boding or anticipation. For the most open-minded and lucid of dreamers, it is like watching the future unfold in specific detail, as though it was happening at the present. To be able to dream the Prophesy a thoughtcrafter must be sufficiently detached from their own sense of self, and capable of sensing the trends of probability that surround all people and things- their living history. Prophesy visions are never things that will be- set in stone, end of story. They are only those things that are most likely to become, given what has occurred. Good prophets are masters of pattern recognition.
Thoughtcraft is, without a doubt, the most dangerous craft to personally possess. Mortality among untrained thoughtcrafters is extremely high, as mages unknowingly step from their bodies and wander, only to find themselves lost and unable to find their way back to their physical location, or to find their way back in a timeless daze, to find their physical bodies dead, either starved or somehow slain. Since the physical body collapses without a spirit inside it, there have been instances where the body dies as a result of the fall, before the spirit body has even left. As a result, children are tested regularly for thoughtcraft potential, and trained as soon as they are discovered to possess any magical tendencies that might develop into craft.
Exceptions: There are always exceptions. But the exceptions to the general rules still follow the specific rules, and these exceptions usually occur when a caster is capable of using multiple kinds of magic in synchronized cooperation. Before Leirian was drawn to Solluna, there were only 7 Mages on all of Kashis capable of combining thoughcraft and metalcraft to shape a living body against its will. Now there are 6. Because he is not aware of what magics he is using when, he assumes that all the things he does to living bodies is fleshcraft. It is not. Fleshcraft cannot kill a person who doesn't want to die. And fleshcraft cannot cure diseases. When Leirian kills things magically, what he is doing is using his thoughtcraft to grab the other creature's soul (be it rat, hawk, or bacteria) and pull it out of their body enough that the creature is spiritually dead. Since it is dead- since it has, in that instant, no will to fight against his- he can then use metalcraft to make sure it stays that way.
Fair warning: Because Leirian's powers are so great, he is capable of performing incredible feats by will alone. He just needs to imagine that something might be do-able, and try it. But because he is entirely untrained, the chances of him making a mistake and harming- or killing- himself or others is also incredibly high. There are two sides of Epic, and the more Epic the win, the more Epic the fail ^^,
I don't expect anyone will be visiting the journal save people who already know me. Most of the things I post here, at least for the immediate future, will likely be related to the LJ role-play community Solluna City, where I currently play three characters: Leirian, Micas, and Sierra.
I'm not really too big on posting personal stuff, but I will be using this space to make notes related to my characters, partly to keep me consistent, partly to let the other players know that there is a method to my madness. I might also eventually get around to posting a "The story thus far" summary for each of my characters. But please do not hold your breath ^^
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