A Shield

[00:02] Rain Multhunder says, "Hello, Sapphire."
[00:02] Sapphire Ashfall says, "Mmm.... Hello Rain."
[00:02] Howert says, "I guess giving it a fancy name other than "Town Guard" is a good way to get folks to join up."
[00:02] Rain Multhunder asks, "Any reason in specific for you to approach me?"
[00:02] Sapphire Ashfall says, "I could use your assistance, I think.."
[00:02] Adonis cos Solenne says, "The town guard is different from the Order."
[00:02] Rain Multhunder says, "I see."
[00:02] Cleo says, "Kind of. They're more like Osrona's military force, if that makes sense."
[00:04] Rain Multhunder says, "Hrm..."
[00:06] "Hmm... So, I'm too weak offensively." She said bluntly, "So Kircheis suggested I try and store all of my mana into one singular attack. But that's taking too long in practice..." She'd sigh, rubbing her forehead. "I'm defeated before I can even remotely cast it, usually."

"Do you have any ideas on... Gathering mana into a single point faster?" She'd look to her masked teacher, a worried frown worn upon her face. She had a long ways to go in her own training, and she knew it. Yet... Others already wished to learn from her. She was seen as a leader, yet didn't belong on the pedestal.
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[00:13] Thinking about that, he just tilts his head to the side and shrugs. He didn't have a perfect answer for that.

"Well, the way I do it is somewhat simple I suppose."

Bringing his hands up, mana starts to build up in them at large ammounts.

"I simply concentratea large ammount of mana in my hands, the more, the better."

It starts to get to a point where it is honestely a little dangerous to the user.

"All this build up pressure needs a escape valve. If you can hold it in, and, open a small path for them, you can easily do something like this."

Bringing his palms together, he points them towards a nearby tree, and a second later, a pressurized beam of water is shot forward, causing the tree to shake and lose quite a few leafs, but nothing beyond that.
(Rain Multhunder)
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[00:18] "I considered that, but in a battle, unlike a typical spellcaster... I have a sword and shield in my hands." She had to admit, when her hands were free, she had a bit easier time manipulating her mana. But to be a weaponless, shieldless paladin on the frontlines of battle?

Well, that wasn't quite worth the risk, was it?

"On top of that, I'm usually using my mana in tandem while trying to do it. I can't just sit there and charge the attack, unless my opponent is a complete idiot..."

"It needs to be faster. A lot faster than what it is. Like... I know some lightning magi hit themselves with a bolt of lightning to increase their power... Maybe I could do something like that? I don't know..."
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[00:25] With a small sigh, he shook his head a few times, but then nodded. He has an idea of what she was going for.

"Usually when doing beam attacks, you need to build up that mana in a Split second before firing it. You will usually only be defenseless while you discharge it but..."

Humming softly, he tapped the chin of his mask.

"First, I encourage you to try and build up that large ammount of mana as quickly as you can. That will be the first step."

"Second, you don't necessarily need to use your hands or your own body. All I said is that you need to concentrate it somewhere, and then give it an escape valve, but at the same time, it needs to be somewhere that can handle the recoil from the technique."

Looking at the Ashall from behind his mask, he made two simple, but obvious suggestions in his opinion.

"The first option in my opinion would be to fire it from your chest."

A shrug was given.

"The second, is to engrave your shield to be able to handle a large ammount of power. Ethereal runes alongside Light one's, with the escape point being it's center.

Orchilacum would be needed to make such, but if you managed it, it would be more reliable than firing it off from any other place, maybe even more reliable than firing it from your hands."
(Rain Multhunder)
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[00:30] From her shield? That was... An interesting twist indeed! She'd never thought of that. "I see! Yeah, that could work! Then, I wouldn't need to concentrate so much either... It would cut down the number of things I need to focus on!"

"And a shield bash while firing that would be super strong! Okay, so I just need to get some orichalcum engraved onto my shield..."

She'd take the shield off her back, placing it down. Untying a pouch, a single piece of golden ore would roll out. "Huh... I do have the material, but I don't know how to do runes and such... I wouldn't even know where to begin on that part."

Sapphire would suddenly slap her forehead. "Oh. Right. You. You're good with runes and stuff, right?"
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[00:41] With a single, the man observes the shield she had put on the ground alongside the single golden ore.

Taking a seat then and there on the gras, he takes out a piece of chalk from his pocket and starts to write runes on the ground that would glow with an azure color.

This time what he would do was a bit diferente from things he had done in the past, but he didn't care that much about it. Time to try a new technique when it came to enchantments like this.

As he proceeded, he would make a bit of small talk.

"I have an idea about the kind of technique you're going for, I have seen it being used in the past by the former Stellus of the Church, Osric Durai. It's quite an incredible technique."
(Rain Multhunder)
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[00:51] "Is that so? Good to know it's viable, then. I could use a little more punch. I figure, if I'm ever going to win any fights, it's going to be a battle of attrition. This hopefully will help swing things in my favor."

Sapphire wasn't foreign to combat, but she definitely wasn't a powerful magi by most terms. Any time she'd been victorious in the past, it had been through skill and ingenuity, over raw power.

She'd watch with interest as Rain made some additions to her shield. It honestly would be wise of her to try and pick up a craft...
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[01:05] With a nod of his head, the masked figure picks the shield up, and puts it between his legs, what he does next is with very careful movements and control.

Carefully concentrating a small ammount of mana into the tip of the chalk, his hand moves into incredibly precise and minute motions, carving runes into the shield.

Each time the tip of the chalk was pressed against the shield's surface, it would glow with an bright azure color reminiscente of the mana used, much like the one's already glowing on tbe ground which had formed a rune circle.

As he finishes inscribing the ethereal runes on the outer edges of the runes equation, with the Light one's concentrated around it's center, his job with them is eventually done. A few runes even inscribed on the other side of the shield where it would be held.

Done with it, he places the shield on them iddle of the previous rune circle he had made and puts the piece of chalk away.

Taking the orchilacum into his hand, he places it on top of the shield.

Making use of the runes previously inscribed into the ground, it would be as though the metal became water and melted itself on top of the aegis, however, it doesn't spill to the ground and instead, as though it's being sucked by it, it starts to coat the runes, transforming their blue glow into a golden one.

Once he's done, the lights from they start to lose their brilliance and the runes become just like the one's a person could see on a staff.
(Rain Multhunder)
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[01:15] Huh. Magic, chalk, and metal. Well, it was mostly the magic part that made it all, right? Otherwise, they would have just been fancy golden inscriptions on her shield.

Humans and magic. Was their anything they couldn't accomplish? Spells let them bend reality to their whim, so long as they could figure it out, and it didn't always need to make sense, either.

"... Might have to teach me some of that at some point too, Rain." She'd speak, smiling. "So, is it ready then?"

She was trying to remain formal, but one could see on her face that she was definitely like a child ready to unwrap a present on the inside. Just how well would this new shield work?!
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[01:18] Getting up, he doesn't utter a sound for a few moments as he offers her the shield.

"Since you're using a tool where you'll store the mana before releasing it, you should understand that it'll require quite a bit of training to get the hang of it."

"What I mean by that is, you'll have to keep track to not overload the shield nor put in too little mana. You need to find that ammount between almost damaging your shield due to massive ammount of energy and putting too little to the point that what will happen is just a bright... blinding light that will come out."

After saying that, he stretches himself a bit.
(Rain Multhunder)
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[01:21] Oh boy. More work on mana, huh? Sapphire would take the shield back, equipping it on her arm. Already, she could feel the orichalcum calling to her mana circuit, adding itself to the flow.

"I'm honestly pretty good at that part, the managing. Just, getting to the exploding part was difficult. I'll have to try it out sometime."

She'd put the shield back over her back, and give a curtsy to the man. "Thank you again Rain. Really, you're amazing."
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[01:28] "Meh... not any artificer can do that, but it's not like I'm the only one. It was nothing incredible."

He truly didn't think it was amazing or anything of the like, so the praise bothered him slightly for some reason.

"So... anything else you need my help with? If not, I would like to ask if you managed to talk with S騅en."
(Rain Multhunder)
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[01:32] "I'm not talking just about the runes, Rain." She'd say, before nodding her head. "Yes. Seven is willing to exonerate you of your crimes, in return for five years of community service at the Church. Considering there was some talk about you facing life in prison, that's the better alternative, isn't it?"

She'd smile a bit, "She's gotta talk it over with some other higher-ups, but hopefully it will all come together. I know you're not on good terms with the Church, but you're not on good terms with anything are you?"

Sapphire giggled, "Time to change that. We'll get your life back on track in no time! Trust me."
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[01:39] Raising an eyebrow from behind the mask, he was slightly confused when she said it wasn't just about the runes, but soon after focused on what she had to say next.

"If I was sentenced to life in prison, I would never truly spend my life there."

He doesn't elaborate on it further, but in his mind, there were three possibilities. Tonashi would do something to try and rescue him while the other two were simple, fight his way out or die trying.

As for him being on good terms with anything... that... was somewhat accurate, to the point he actually groaned slightly in frustration.

"Get my life back on track... and indentured servitude to the church... I do not know what to say about it, but I do dislike the idea of serving Osrona."

With a frown, he looks towards the Ashfall.

"Disregarding that, you do know that if it comes down to it. I'm willing to throw away everything to help those close to me, right? And some of those people are not in good terms with Osrona."
(Rain Multhunder)
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[01:44] "Well, yeah, so am I. Really, you know that those people you're close to? You should be trying to get them on better terms with Osrona. As long as they're not like, Demons or Witches," She'd speak, still choosing not to believe those rumors about Rain, "If you managed to convince them to surrender, they could be shown leniency. I mean, look, even Sajid's managed to work out a deal, and he was a wanted murderer!"

She was becoming quite the cheery ray of hope, and Rain was being exposed to a sunny day. The girl brought her hands up to her chest, clenching them into fists. "That would be for the best, wouldn't it? I bet if we worked together, we could find a place perfect for all your friends and family!"

"Redemption's possible for anyone! Even gloomy things like you."
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[01:50] * You have been awarded 2 Roleplay Points! *
[01:50] "I know what Sajid was."

He had killed a friend of his.

"I don't really think some of my friends such as Tonashi would be able to get on good terms with Osrona."

A nod was given, and he didn't stop there. Considering how hard Sapphire was trying, he thought that she deserved to know at least one thing he wouldn't change his mind on, but he wouldn't go further than that.

"I still don't think every single Demon is evil or beyond being capable of living a peaceful life."

"Besides that, it's whatever, I suppose. What does this community service entail, will I still be forced to wear this collar?"

A hand came to grip the restraint around his neck.
(Rain Multhunder)
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[02:29] "Peaceful? Rain. A Demon's existence can't be peaceful. They're literally born of destruction." She would riposte, clearly stating her position on that matter. "If a Demon is acting peaceful, that's because it wants something Rain. They're manipulative. Love, compassion, friendship - All things good, they're incapable of by their very nature."

"Trusting one will come back to haunt you."

It was a very stern warning. There were many tales of Demons whom had seemed peaceful, but only waited until they were powerful enough to devour innocents by the hundreds. They were conniving and intelligent, and played on the human sense of sympathy.

Something they did not have. Nor would ever have. Demons didn't have those emotions.

"As for the collar, I don't know. That will be up to how much trouble you decide to be,I think?" She'd smile suddenly, a teasing one. Perhaps Rain would have to earn the removal of the collar.
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[02:30] {Item} You drop Sapphire's Leggings.
[02:31] {Item} You picked up Sapphire's Leggings. Dropped by Sapphire Ashfall. .
[02:36] "Well, we'll see if I'll stay around after the collar is taken off."

He replies in a slightly joking but also slightly serious manner. He really thinks that he would probably just up and leave to see his beloved children. It was only a matter of time, either until it came off by itself due to lacking mana or because someone decided to trust his goodwill and honesty.

"As for the demon part..."

Rain shrugged.

"You're not the first one to tell me that, maybe if you met them in first person, you would change your mind."
(Rain Multhunder)
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[02:38] "Alright." Sapphire would cross her arms, "I'll take you up on that. Bring them to the Church sometime. I'll preach, they can listen, and if they're even slightly capable of redemption, I should be able to see it."

She'd tap the hilt of her blade. "But if not, I'm going to remain by my convictions of banishing each and every last one of them until Esshar is clear of this darkness. Understand?"

Well, it seemed she'd extended somewhat of a hand of mercy.
(Sapphire Ashfall)
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[02:40] {Item} You drop Fried Eggs.
[02:42] A nod of their head was given to the Ashfall.

"It needs to be a secret, none of the others can know. I'll kill anyone who tries to harm them."

Saying that, the eyes behind the mask become incredibly sharp and vivid.

"I made them a promise. I would protect them... but if they turned to evil, I would be the one to kill them. I can't let anyone make me break that promise."

With a small sigh, he rolls his shoulders a little.

"But I understand your suspicions. I'll see when this can be done. Probably gonna take a while since I'm locked with this shitty restraint... they are not gonna be happy when I come back."
(Rain Multhunder)
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[02:46] "Well, I'm not dumb enough to announce a meeting with a Demon." Sapphire would wave a hand dismissively. "Though if anything goes awry, I'm not afraid to fight. You better be sure about this Rain, I'm taking a large risk."

With that, she'd turn, and start heading back towards the city. "You should probably check back in, make sure they don't start another manhunt for you or something."
(Sapphire Ashfall)