Nimda

Myriad Reality

NOW...

*The light fades as my physical body reforms, reality stabilizes, and the words and intentions cease. Bound in the constancy of flesh once more*

My world did have mages like you describe, although in our case it was a shell generated by their souls that they could "burn" to create a variety of magical effects in mundane reality. They could also use it for defense with enough training, which was quite smart of them since those who lacked the knowledge of how to defend themselves with their shells would find themselves at the mercy of mages of a more... malicious persuasion.

@Caldizar

And was the yelling required for that to work? I'm taking notes.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Fractured>

*Halts midstride*

Hmm. Perhaps it's best if I give a demonstration.

*Places a hand over my chest as my body falls away to reveal a brilliant golden light, from the center of which flows endless streams of arcane words, esoteric variables, and pure primordial intent, all of which reach out to affect the surrounding landscape in some random way*

AS YOU CAN SEE...

*A blade of grass sitting nearby shifts into a rabbit before morphing into a crab, and then returning to its original form*

IT IS NOT EXACTLY CHANNELING THROUGH REALITY, AS I AND MY KIND EXISTED LONG BEFORE IT, MORESO REALITY BENDING ITSELF TO ACCOMODATE OUR DESIRE.

@Caldizar

*Stares in awe, with a stupid grin chiseled onto my face*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Fractured>

*Chuckles*

Not exactly. What I can do is more akin to channeling one's own will to change reality. Putting it simply anyway.

@Caldizar

Most mages from our world channel spells through their own body, which gives them a lot of control over the spell being cast. At least until they run out of mana.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

*Thinks for a moment*

Well beyond the dangers of someone finding out one's true name, if we are speaking solely of naming magics of course, no there aren't many. At worst the symbol could merely be controlled by a malicious force and used to redirect or possibly even injure those who use it.

*Smiles*

Of course this is why I'm not sharing any names I may or may not be thinking up for it just yet.

*Motions to the rest of the tavern*

Too many ears around, you see.

@Caldizar

*Smiles*
I know what you mean. I’d love to find out eventually though.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Ignacious>

No thank you, and just Mazius is fine. Formality is something I've... largely left behind.

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

That is true I suppose.

*Steps back toward the symbol, peering down at it curiously*

Hmm. There might be a way for me to make this work at zero cost, although it would require the use of very ancient magics indeed. Specifically naming magics. The symbol would need a Protonymic bound to it, that way a caster can simply use it by intent and speech alone.

@Caldizar

*Laughs*
It always feels like lost magics can get just about anything done—some of them had really ugly costs though. Do you carry any of them?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

You shut your mouth; you’re older than dirt!

@Fractured

*Sticks my tongue out at you*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Ignacious>

Give me a break, how old could you possibly be?

@Fractured

You never ask a lady her age, Gio.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

True. Although I was looking at it from my perspective. We gods do not run out of energy, even if we can get tired, battered and bruised, so the cost never occurred to me.

@Caldizar

*Nods*
I understand. I usually have to go out of my way to design spells with... constrained casting requirements. And limited mana drain.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote>

It is, though that seems like a lot of work for a teleport. Although I am one to talk being a god and all...

*Leans in closer, examining the etchings in greater detail*

Hmm. Let me try something. Maybe instead of harnessing light, and paying off a cost, we could do something a bit more subtle.

*I alter the runes, the shape and its meaning becoming completely different in the process until it was naught more than a single symbol*

There! Rather than teleporting one somewhere, that symbol will enact a bargain of sorts with reality, one that allows you to transport yourself wherever you wish the moment you envision it in your mind. At least in theory anyway. These are just notes after all.

*Steps back and crosses my arms*

Anyway, what do you think?

@Caldizar

Hmmm...
*Looks more closely*
It looks like it'll take a lot of mana control on the part of the caster to get right. Is that true enough? The evolved travel spell was only as convoluted as it was to allow teleportation to different universes.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Nimda>

Wait, you did what to my soul?

@Fractured

Calm down Gio, you can only do it with especially resilient souls. Otherwise, you would've burnt up.