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zlabya[took 2 nights off while I was at a science fiction/fantasy convention. Learned Ursula K. LeGuin wrote at least one book on writing with highly-recommended exercises; will try those soon and may they help when I edit this!]
Akka on magical creatures such as Sola:
We don't know how many kinds of magic-based creatures exist, only that they both contain and feed on magic as well as air, light/fire, earth, water and/or metal, depending. Sola is a creature of light and heat that lives on sunlight, warmth and magic (though products of sunlight such as the chlorophyll in leaves can be eaten safely in small amounts). "Normal" animals have some magic in them but aren't wholly made of their element + magic as magical creatures are. Some of the strongest magic is in corvids (hence stories about ravens, etc), cats (also named in magic), dolphins and a few others. The concept of "familiars" rises from being able to sap some magic from the creatures in order to do divination or other magical work; any decent musician will provide food and possibly shelter in return. Some humans with telempathy can tell what such beings are "thinking" or have seen recently though it takes a lot of practice as one has to learn how a cat/crow/whatever perceives things. (Yes, one reason Akka likes the cats around is to "borrow energy"--in return they get warmth/coolness, food and water, and sometimes take energy off of her, usually in the evening when she knows she won't need it and will build up more during the night. You think your cat likes being petted for the physical touch and grooming only--ha ha they also are taking magical energy from you through your hand--unless you know how to take it.
Akka on why humans can't fly: it's a matter of how much mass magic and/or telekinesis can move. It takes great effort to, say, bend a spoon or move a coin. Telekinesis' most powerful uses tend to be cracking safes and moving shrapnel and other foreign objects in a body to where they will cause less damage. Animals, and what some call "astral bodies" can fly, but again, that's an advanced skill although some people with psychic abilities of certain types take to it fairly easily. Others need a lot of mental work, learning, and possibly calling on certain supernatural beings (deities, angels and the like). Stories of angels, deities, kami, etc., doing things to help humans are based on such calls. Such beings seem to be mostly if not entirely magic and soul/spirit/personality though they may inhabit a statue, work of nature, or person at some point. They don't always answer or help and it's hard to tell why; speculation includes their own opinion on the matter, rules they need to follow, or how much energy they have at their disposal. (Note: I might have Akka do astral travel to Ari for a bit...)
Akka on hiding: one can cover or shield one's psychic/spiritual presence from being detected or from negative influences/attacks; such skills is on the "advanced beginner" level (Al is fairly good at this.) Making oneself seem invisible is harder as it's a combination of shield and putting out a "nothing to see here" sort of anti-message. That's intermediate-to-advanced work. One can do it on oneself--a focus object can help--or do an Obi-Wan Kenobi "these aren't the droids you're looking for...move along" verbal insinuation the other person will pay attention to--if they aren't also advanced in magic in which case they'll pick up the deception like a magnet picking up a nearby piece of iron.
Akka on magical creatures such as Sola:
We don't know how many kinds of magic-based creatures exist, only that they both contain and feed on magic as well as air, light/fire, earth, water and/or metal, depending. Sola is a creature of light and heat that lives on sunlight, warmth and magic (though products of sunlight such as the chlorophyll in leaves can be eaten safely in small amounts). "Normal" animals have some magic in them but aren't wholly made of their element + magic as magical creatures are. Some of the strongest magic is in corvids (hence stories about ravens, etc), cats (also named in magic), dolphins and a few others. The concept of "familiars" rises from being able to sap some magic from the creatures in order to do divination or other magical work; any decent musician will provide food and possibly shelter in return. Some humans with telempathy can tell what such beings are "thinking" or have seen recently though it takes a lot of practice as one has to learn how a cat/crow/whatever perceives things. (Yes, one reason Akka likes the cats around is to "borrow energy"--in return they get warmth/coolness, food and water, and sometimes take energy off of her, usually in the evening when she knows she won't need it and will build up more during the night. You think your cat likes being petted for the physical touch and grooming only--ha ha they also are taking magical energy from you through your hand--unless you know how to take it.
Akka on why humans can't fly: it's a matter of how much mass magic and/or telekinesis can move. It takes great effort to, say, bend a spoon or move a coin. Telekinesis' most powerful uses tend to be cracking safes and moving shrapnel and other foreign objects in a body to where they will cause less damage. Animals, and what some call "astral bodies" can fly, but again, that's an advanced skill although some people with psychic abilities of certain types take to it fairly easily. Others need a lot of mental work, learning, and possibly calling on certain supernatural beings (deities, angels and the like). Stories of angels, deities, kami, etc., doing things to help humans are based on such calls. Such beings seem to be mostly if not entirely magic and soul/spirit/personality though they may inhabit a statue, work of nature, or person at some point. They don't always answer or help and it's hard to tell why; speculation includes their own opinion on the matter, rules they need to follow, or how much energy they have at their disposal. (Note: I might have Akka do astral travel to Ari for a bit...)
Akka on hiding: one can cover or shield one's psychic/spiritual presence from being detected or from negative influences/attacks; such skills is on the "advanced beginner" level (Al is fairly good at this.) Making oneself seem invisible is harder as it's a combination of shield and putting out a "nothing to see here" sort of anti-message. That's intermediate-to-advanced work. One can do it on oneself--a focus object can help--or do an Obi-Wan Kenobi "these aren't the droids you're looking for...move along" verbal insinuation the other person will pay attention to--if they aren't also advanced in magic in which case they'll pick up the deception like a magnet picking up a nearby piece of iron.
