video; un: jean

[rustyhonesty]

[As he needs distractions now that the whole fighting ring fiasco was over, he decided to work on his magic... but not on his primary one. Hence why he's here.]

It's been a few months and I'm still struggling with Alchemy, so... I need some tips on how to become better at it. It's only my secondary magic, so I'm not surprised I'm not that good at it, but it's been a while.

[He holds up a weirdly shaped cup he "transmuted". It certainly used to be a coffee cup, but it definitely no longer looks like one.]


This is the best result I've managed so far. I tried to repair a coffee cup and... as you can see, it didn't quite work. I haven't even dared to try potions.

[So he knows how to do something, just not in the right way it would seem.]


If anyone needs tips or something about Animal Magic, though, that I'm pretty good at by now. I can finally transform into animals as big as lions without exhausting all of my magic.

Comments

video; anonymous

[hor]

[ He's using his device not logged in, you're just gonna have to deal with it, really. Just as much as the camera aim is off and so the video is of mostly the sky and the top of his head, nothing below his bangs really visible. He's still very much learning his device. ]

I've recently begun learning alchemy as well! Share any tips you gain from others.

[rustyhonesty]

[It's probably not the worst thing that's ever been shown in the network angles. It's not like he knew how to use his device properly at the beginning.]

Sure. As long as you'll share whatever you learn.

[hor]

If scholars don't share what they learn then how would they make a mark on the world?

I'm most interested in transmutation and movement of materials.

[rustyhonesty]

That's true.

[Not that he wanted to leave a mark onto the world, really. He was fine without making one.]

Transmutation is what I've been trying to work with, but I still haven't found what really interests me about this magic.

[hor]

What kind of magic would you want given the choice?

[rustyhonesty]

I'm honestly fine with having just one magic, but if I had to choose another... maybe elemental or healing.

[hor]

A wonderful friend of mine has healing. He's always impressive.

[rustyhonesty]

Healing would be convenient, definitely. Less useful if you need to fight, but even more useful post-battle.

[hor]

My friend and I are war gods, we need no assistance improving our skill in battle. The ability to heal means the ability to make much bolder maneuvers. Why wait until after battle? Take a mortal wound to fell an enemy in a surprise move, then have your healer recover you to continue your battle. I look forward to seeing how far we can push his talents.

Audio; un: Rubitsune

[rutilance]

[ The voice on the other end is that of an excited child. ]

You've learned how to transform? Could I ask for tips? I've gotten back most of my range, and I can communicate with a few animals at a time even though back home I could talk to more, but I'm not sure where to begin with transformation?

Oh! Um. If you'd like something in return I've gotten pretty good at cooking some things so I could make a meal as thanks!

[rustyhonesty]

I funnily enough learned that before I learned to talk to any animals. There are still animals who I can't talk with.

[Or just those he doesn't understand well enough to make sense. Which is the same thing.]

The main thing that I've found that helps with transformations is to imagine how the animal you're turning into would move as you turn into one. I noticed when I turned into birds it helped if I jumped from a little higher and spread my arms. Also start with small animals. As you get better you can advance to larger ones.

[That's the basics of how he's got into transforming into animals.]

I don't really need anything in return, don't worry about it.

[rutilance]

I think that maybe the reason I can talk to pretty much any animal is a mixture of being able to talk to them in my world, and also not knowing it's supposed to be harder with some animals.

[ It made sense in her head anyway! ]

Oh! Is there any small animal that was easiest for you? I wonder if starting with the animals I'm most familiar with would be a good idea...

[ She doesn't remark on his lack of needing anything in return. Instead... ]

Thank you. A lot of the books are written in a way that I didn't understand what they meant by 'visualise the animal's form'. What part of their form? All of it? I didn't know! But if it's about movement, that's easy.

[rustyhonesty]

Well, the first animal I ever transformed into was a hare. Nowadays all hares, rabbits and bunnies come to me rather easily. I also find small birds rather easy.

[Not the smallest of animals, but still small enough to be good starting options.]

I think the more you know about an animal the better it will work, so starting with the ones that are familiar is definitely a good idea.

[rutilance]

I'm most familiar with crows. Do you have any advice for how to fly? Oh. And how to turn back. Is it just the opposite of turning into the animal you're trying to turn back from?

[ She won't lie, she's looking forward to flying. ]

[rustyhonesty]

Flying... well, it definitely takes some practice. But mostly you just have to trust your instincts and mimic the movements of a bird. You could talk to one to show you an example or you can have another animal mage like myself to support you.

[He had a tiny sparrow help him and he's still a friend he talks to sometimes.]

And yeah, it's pretty much the opposite. Just be careful, if you use too much of your magic you might have difficulties turning back and may need to rest before you can. I've lost count how many times I've had to sleep for a while as some kind of an animal.

[rutilance]

Would you be willing to..?

[ She seems quite surprised by the suggestion that it's an option, using himself as an example. ]

How do you know if you're using too much of your magic? I, um. I don't really know how to tell. I'm also a wild mage, and I don't know um... Do they share the same... pool? I suppose? Do they not share resources? I... I've reached skill limits with my animal magic, but not energy limits. But with my wild magic I've reached both, sometimes at the same time.

[ There is science to be done, and by gum is she gonna do it! ]

[rustyhonesty]

I would. I don't mind helping out at all.

[He's assisted quite a few by now and it's always nice to do.]

What does wild magic do? [He hasn't heard of that one before.] I think in time you start to feel it. Also your familiar is able to sense your energy levels somewhat, so having it warn you is a good start.

But I'm not sure if the two magics we have share the same energy levels. Most likely? It would at least make sense.

[rutilance]

Oh! Thank you! Um, what times are you generally free?

[ It had yet to occur to her just how many people she was meeting from the internet. ]

Oh, I think that it's also called Green magic? Or maybe wild is what they call it when you have both Green and Animal...? [ She sounded very unsure. ] I don't really know the specifics of a lot of magic stuff...

I'll try to ask Trouble when he's back next. I do most of my practicing without him around. I wonder if I'm just much more suited to animal magic because I have the ability to communicate with animals back home, too... Maybe that's why it takes so much less energy?

[rustyhonesty]

I usually leave work around two in the afternoon most of the time. Usually after that anything goes.

[More or less, at least.]

Hmm, that could make sense, both of them combined being "wild". As well as the accustomed to animal magic due to having that at home. Some people I know have magic similar to what we have here, but I haven't asked how they've adapted.

[rutilance]

Most of my deliveries are in the morning, so that works out well for me! Where would be a good place to meet?

What types of magic does your world have? In mine magic is a gift from gods, usually for some great duty. I don't know where mine comes from though, not for sure, as I've not done any great duties, let alone for gods, and Santa-san only gives physical objects, not powers.

un: 119

[alchemists]

I think having a clear idea in your head can make a big difference. Also understanding what the material make up is is also something to keep in mind as well.

[rustyhonesty]

Material make up. Knowing what materials make the item or what the materials that make it are like?

[alchemists]

What materials make the item, so if you're trying to make something like glass you need sand, heat and whatnot. Knowing that you can think about the make up and it gives you a better picture.

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean nods.]

That does make sense. I think some of my attempts might have been missing a key material, now that I think about it.

[alchemists]

What where you trying to make? I can help make lists if you need them. That way you can maybe memorize what you need to do.

[rustyhonesty]

Oh, uh... one item I remember trying to make was a glass bottle with a metal cap.

[alchemists]

You would want to make the cap separate from the bottle that way you don't need to focus on too much.

For glass, sand and a few other materials used when it heats up would be needed. Maybe gathering some from the local beach is a good first step?

Text; un: SpaceHobo

[tookashirototheknee]

I can probably help with some Alchemy tips. I'm not the absolute best yet, but I can hold my own.

[rustyhonesty]

Is it your primary or your secondary magic? It's a rather big difference.