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[milkisgross]

[Edward's been seeing all of these different posts come up. It's obnoxious to him, but he can see the potential of being able to communicate with so many like this, so he decided to give it a try.]

It's come to my attention that there's a few people here who use "magic." From what I've seen, there's nothing like it where I come from and I have a few questions for anyone who's willing to answer.

In science, you've got different laws that everything follows. Is that the same for magic? Does some magic have laws while others don't?

Are there different fields of magic? What are they?

Where does the energy or power come from?

What makes it "magic" and not a field of science?

Comments

[milkisgross]

Where I'm from messing with souls has dire consequences. Does this guy still have all of his body parts? Also, what are planar systems?

I'm asking to get a better idea of what kind of stuff I'm dealing with here. It's usually best to know what you're fighting against before it starts. There's also the chance that I could learn something that I can apply to my own alchemy.

[abracafcku]

Who Lucas? Yeah, he's got his limbs and shit - against our better judgement, mind you, but he's fine. Merle on the other hand? Literally lost his hand. Or, I guess, his whole arm, but that's not from the whole death crimes thing.

And do you-- I guess, yeah, you wouldn't. Uh the planes are complicated? We're - I was, technically, we are? We're on what's called the Prime Material Plane - that's the world we see around us and all the shit we can touch. Then there's the Astral Plane where you go when you beef it and die. The Celestial Plane is where the gods Netflix and chill. Then there's the Plane of Magic, where we tap into to get our spells on. The Ethereal Plane which is like overlaid on top of the Prime Material Plane and lies between 'em all - which is where we make pocket dimensions and where I go when I Blink.

Uh...there are others? I think the Plane of Thought? And some others. I fuckin' forgot, it was a weird ass lecture.

But you're in alchemy, huh? Me too. Transmutation specialist over here. Holla at cha' boy.

[milkisgross]

[Ed was having a hard enough time keep track of who was telling him what. The weird references that flew over his head weren't helping him, but he thinks he got the gist of what was being said?]

When you blink? What do you mean?

And you learned all of this from a lecture? This is all considered common knowledge?

[The bit about the alchemy is better received.]

I think you're the first person who's replied to this that actually practices alchemy. What do you do with your alchemy?

[abracafcku]

not "blink," Blink. It's a spell - you disappear from the Prime Material Plane and reappear into the Ethereal Plane. Get to move around and then pop back into the PMP easy as pie.

And fuck no it's not common knowledge. Well, it's common enough? I guess? Everyone knows the gods are chilling on the Celestial Plane, we all know when you die you go to the Astral one, average Joes don't need to give a shit about things like the Plane of Magic or Fire or Thought or whatever, but most people got a general idea that the world we live on is layered by a bunch of other shit. No one can really travel between 'em though - except for magic-users or, like, gods and their emissaries.

As for my transmutation magic, I do a lot of shit. Polymorph's a new one I learned - turn into a different creature. Uh there's things like Fabricate, changing a material into something else, Stoneskin...uh....stuff. Been experimenting with getting back into the culinary game lately. Easy junk. What about you?

[milkisgross]

Your alchemy sounds a lot different than what I'm familiar with. You're not going to be able to change your shape very easily with mine, and even if you did you're probably not going to be able to change back.

I mostly use my alchemy to compliment my fighting. My right arm is a metal prosthetic and I like to transmute the plate on my forearm into a blade. I also transmute swords or spears if I think I need them. There's a lot of stuff I can do with the environment to make obstacles and such.

[abracafcku]

arcane fun with wizards, my dude. We got an array of spells, and just 'cause you got a specialization doesn't mean you can't learn something from the other schools either. I got shit like Melf's Acid Arrow and then I have True Seeing - totally different schools.

so you some kinda adventurer or just Fighting for Funsies? Sounds useful if you can just pop a sword outta your arm.

[milkisgross]

I see. It's convenient that you can pick and choose from different schools like that. It doesn't look like that's something everyone's capable of doing depending on what world they came from.

I'm a State Alchemist. Or I was. My license doesn't apply here. The military seemed to like me being able to transmute weapons well enough.

[abracafcku]

being a wizard is pretty much the bomb, yo. i met a few other people here who seem to use the same magic that I do. kinda curious how this world is maintaining all the different magic systems in sync with each other though, y'know? like, you'd think they'd all interfere with each other and blip us out.

Are you a lawful good type? I mean, "State Alchemist" sounds kiiinda like you are, but just gotta check. For reasons

[milkisgross]

It's enough of a hassle to figure out what all of these systems are let alone figuring out how they're all working here. I'll let you worry about that.

What are you talking about? "Lawful good?" I work for the military so most people back in my world wouldn't say I'm very good.

[abracafcku]

mmm how about i don't and just say i do? it sounds like a lot of work

and you're the military! isn't it like, your thing? keeping order and peace and whatever the fuck else the militia does? maybe research?

[Basically everything that a mercenary/adventurer like him doesn't do.]

[milkisgross]

It is a lot of work, but you'll have to do it on your own if you want an answer to that.

I don't know what the military is like where you're from, but for me it's less about working for the interest of the people and more for the interest of the state. There was a whole genocide campaign carried out against a people that rose up due to tensions between them and the government after a child was shot and killed to give you an idea.