[Hlaeth] Ch 21 - Skills vs Magic, Chord and Song

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            Skills are wonderful things as modifiers on them approach transcendent levels. Magic can’t stop them from working, which is why I drove so many of them to such insane heights. Insight/Sense Motive checks were the flip side of Diplomacy and Intimidation checks, measuring people on many levels as to their physical and mental capabilities, assessments that only the Bluff/Deception Skill could counter in return… and the Sidheshalar crown princess didn’t have nearly the modifiers needed to hide herself from me.

            She knew it, too. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. She could tell I’d just given her a once-over, and she was below me, and not even in the same way as she was below the Wyrms.

            She was below them in age, power, and wisdom, that was a given. Elder Coronus’ introduction made it plain that I was at least an equal to them in power, and I was above her in social status, human or otherwise. That status was in the eyes of an elder dragon, who didn’t give a damn for elven measures of the same.

            She was a Minstrel/10, probably the Courtier Path of the Class, as befitted someone with royal status who had to deal with nobles and politicking and rulership as she grew up. The skills overlapped the Noble Class, which it was basically an evolution of, with additional magical and Heartsong abilities that would be of great use in a society with so much emphasis on social skills and art of various sorts.

            Her abilities in personal combat were not high at all, merely average for her Level, although she was likely very graceful and pleasing to watch as a Finesse stylist. Some martial ability was to be expected of all elves, it being another artform to be mastered and displayed, but she didn’t appear to be a spellsinger or sword-dancer of any kind, focusing on the social side of the power equation.

            Likewise, her magical ability was at Ten, with a focus on the Enchantment side of things, complemented with Illusion and some Transformation spells, i.e. a normal Minstrel array of spells. They were doubtless enhanced with some elven cross-training of some sort or another so she had SOME true combat magic, distasteful as it might be.

            She was a bit Deeper than an Ironskull Ten, probably because of royal training, but she wasn’t a true Deep Ten, and certainly not a Broad one, by our measure. She was, however, so far below me in power that Elder Coronus was right, the only thing she might be able to leverage would be her status… and in the eyes of the dragons, what and who I was Monarch of definitely trumped her status as an elven royal princess.

            That said, she was a Ten. She was alert, perceptive, and definitely fast-thinking when it involved something she wanted. “Oh! Might I join you, then? I am sure the Elders have stories of things that took place that I have not heard, and would be delighted to accompany you! My parents have not sent word to receive you as yet, Master Aelryinth, but I am sure it will not be long.”

            Especially since one of her invisible escorts had just withdrawn urgently to hurriedly relay the Wyrms’ assessment of me and make sure a colossal diplomatic blunder was not made here.

            There was a significant difference between entertaining a human spellcaster, however powerful, and receiving a Monarch acknowledged by multiple Wyrms!

            “Elders?” I asked them, as they were the ones who had to come up with the stories.

            It was Elder Brass Laufengel who spoke up cheerfully, “Oh, that incident with the twin pixies and the princess’ grandfather comes to mind. I believe that took place on Coldriel’s Meadow up ahead?”

            All of the Elder Dragons both groaned and smiled at the same time, while the eyes of the younger elves all widened at what was certain to prove to be something scandalously entertaining in the royal background.

            “Just how embarrassing will this be to my grandfather?” the princess asked, all artfully wide-eyed even as she smoothly inserted herself next to me as if she belonged there, and all her escorts wisely fell in behind the Wyrms as we resumed moving.

            “Why, I don’t think I’ve heard it repeated in at least a generation. I’m sure it’s time to be heard,” the Brass Wyrm replied cheerfully. “It all took place on a fine and sunny summer day, not too much different than this one, as a matter of fact...” the Brass Wyrm began enthusiastically, pleased to be the center of attention as he warmed up for a delve into his tale, which would no doubt last exactly as long as it needed to be convenient.

------

            The princess was quite diplomatically astute. She waited patiently for her chances to inquire about things, tolerating and perhaps even enjoying the stories the Wyrms offered up for our collective amusement and insight into the foibles of passionate and artistic elves with Chaotic tendencies getting up into all sorts of mischief, definitely to the amusement of the watching dragons.

            She was watching me for signs of reaction to her presence, from pheromonal- suggestive perfume to to the faint musical tinkles when she moved, as well as exquisite breath control, timing, and cadence to her words. The elven language was melodic and flowing at the worst of times, and she was definitely a master at it. I was learning plenty more about it just listening to her speak it with the power of a true Heartsinger and courtier.

            Of course, I was ignoring her beauty entirely, and if she was weaving some very subtle Heartsong effects into her words, I was polite enough not to call her out on it. I instead just crushed them out of existence with a few words of my own that steamrolled her flowery speech with just enough Truth to make her realize it was really dangerous trying that with me.

            She hurriedly dropped all such attempts, probably unaware the Wyrms could see and understand it all, and were hiding their amusement at her antics.

            “My teachers reported that you were a master of Song Magic, Master Aelryinth,” she finally spoke up carefully as Elder Urblingfoa finished a tale of elven courtship one of his former riders had engaged in, much to the amusement of everyone here. “They even hinted that you had gained insight into the True Melody…” she added in a slight tone of disbelief.

            “That is known as the Sublime Chord among humans, and is a standard measure of one’s capability into Lore Theurgy, Your Highness,” I replied politely, making an encompassing gesture. “You have the requisite exposure to Fey influences and Draconic wisdom. How is your own insight into it progressing?” I inquired of her.

            I had wrong-footed her with my casual reference to what was obviously a highly revered Tradition here, obviously not considering it very important or mystical in the slightest. Just another branch of magic to look at.

            “I… have made little if any progress towards my understanding of True Melody,” she admitted, after setting aside a little bit of pride to let her curiosity and willingness to learn shine through.

            “Demonstrate it for us,” I said calmly.

            “Of, of course.” She inhaled a long breath, opened her lips, and out poured a wonderfully clear and sharp soprano voice, soaring towards the heights of artistic splendor.

            It was a Heartsong note, but she was absolutely right. It barely brushed at all upon the Sublime Chords.

            I let her show off her vocal range, but nowhere inside it was she showing any insight. When she finally let it go, I noticed many of the elves nearby were half-dazed by her Heartsong’s Fascination effect, but the Wyrms and I were naturally unaffected.

            “Your opinions, Elders?” I inquired of them.

            “The barest of brushings against a sliver of the Melody,” Silver Styllaris replied instantly. “The princess has great insight into Enchantment and Charm magicks, and is drawing on a portion of that to accentuate her Singing, but there is no direct use of the Chords whatsoever.”

            The other Wyrms nodded agreement, and the princess looked artfully crestfallen and humbled. “Is it then not possible for me to learn the True Melody?” she asked with wonderful woe in her voice.

            “On your current path, that is correct,” I replied directly to her question, undeterred by her expression. “Your Heartsong and Voice are woven with threads of domination, control, and pride, they are weapons used to humble and command others. The Sublime Chord is the song of all magic. You aren’t going to master the Sublime Chord by the tricks you use to stake your claim of rulership. The Chord is far, far greater than any throne, elven or otherwise. You don’t bend it to your will, you join to it in greater joy and celebration of all things magical.

            “To master singing with the Sublime Chord, you first have to completely restructure the spirit that empowers your own Heartsong. Then you need to expand your singular focus on the Charm aspect of your Song to include all aspects of magic, a feat mastering the Draconic language is ideal for. Then you weave the Draconic mastery of definitions of aspects of power to the music of the Fey, and suddenly, the Sublime Chord will be right in front of you, waiting to sing along with you.

            “But it is the Song of All Magic, not the Song of Charms and Enthrallment. If you want greater insight into the latter, go listen to a scream of Harpies or a lure of Sirens Singing away. Such exposure will give you greater insight in how to make haplessly Charmed fools and forcibly manipulate the hearts and minds of those about you.”

            The princess flushed a definite reddish hue that made the accents of gold at the tips of her pointed ears more distinct, like revealing a sharpened metal blade. “That, that is not very politely worded, Master Aelryinth…” she pouted, trying to make me feel guilty for my words. Alas for her, I couldn’t see her show of charm very closely, and so it was less than effective on me.

            “Well, mastery of mental domination and Charm magic is basically seen as the mastery of enslaving others among my people. It is no better than enslavement of the dead and undead via Necromancy and the enslavement of the supernatural via Conjuration, and is often worse, for all its practitioners continually claim that it is ‘harmless’ to others and a ‘gentle art’ that does no true injury when wielded humanely.

            “The three Schools together are called the Triad of Tyranny for a reason, as the preferred magicks of conquerors and tyrannical overlords. The siren song of domination of the living, the dead, and the supernatural calls to those who love shackling the wills of others.”

            “But Heartsong magic primarily centers on the arts of glamour!” she refuted with defensive spirit and pride.

            “Untrue. The Bardic path of Heartsong Magic is born of the land and Primal power, directly akin to Druidic magic,” I corrected her immediately and sharply, actually making her flinch at the rebuke. “Minstrel’s magic is, however, primarily born of Fey influences, and is thus heavy with Fey glamour effects across its limited spectrum. The Fey are also notoriously uncaring of messing with mortal minds and wills, yet become hypocritically indignant when so treated or their will is shackled in return.

            “If you cannot understand the derivation of power for Heartsong, the Sublime Chord and Lyric Theurgy will remain beyond you. Only Minstrel’s magic will respond to pure willpower and desire, Bardic Magic requires understanding and harmony, and you must have both to wield the Sublime Chord at more than the most simplistic level.” My dismissive gesture effectively settled her mono-focused understanding as irrelevant and unworthy of further discussion.

            “There are two levels to the Sublime Chord?” Elder Coronus asked as a point of interest.

            “The Sublime Chord is nominally denominated into the basic Chords and the Sublime Songs. The latter require a far more elemental and Primal understanding of magic and its interactions with music. If you just wish to gain the Chord and its nominal effects of enhancing Cast Magic, that can be done with only one Tradition, enough understanding of magic, and perseverance.

            “If you want the Songs, you must have both.”

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