💾 Archived View for lantashifiles.com › writing › lantashi-funScenes › screenMagic.gmi captured on 2022-07-16 at 14:02:32. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
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It was early morning in the Platinum Duckling. The inn's servants were moving about, cleaning up the tremedous mess left from the party of the night before. It had been something! With a raging Orc starting an incredible row, many of the servants were doing their best to piece together broken chairs and tables, while others swept up the glass and various liquids and fluids on the floor.
Some customers had already wandered in, travelers staying at the inn who were looking for a bite to eat. They were limited to the side of the dining area that was already mopped and patched up. A few of the early-risers that lived in the area were also there grabbing food or information. There were some houses that surrounded the inn, which was located at a cross-roads between the western forests and the cities of the east.
Sitting at one of the intact tables was a strange collection of adventurers - a Sylvan, a Horned-One, a Catfolk, a Minotaur, and a Pact.
"You're crazy, Lantashi," the Horned-one informed the Sylvan. He had dark reddish skin, a black leather tunic, and had several religious symbols adorned across his clothing. A breakfast of steak and eggs lay before him, half-eaten. He was pointing his fork at Lantashi.
"There is no magic like that, cast by Horned-one, Human, Sylvan or otherwise. It is impossible for it to exist!"
"You're wrong, Aynos! I've seen it! Screen magic is real, and it is powerful. Our enemies are starting to master it, and if we do not respond to it, we are going to be at a horrible disadvantage the next time we encounter them." Lantashi's red hair swayed back and forth with her gestures, her deep brown eyes flashing with excitement. She winced though. A dark circle surrounded one eye, where she had been hit the night before.
"Oh, Lantashi, don't be silly," said the Catfolk, with an exaggerated gesture. His eyes were barely above the table, though his wizard's hat was high enough that Lantashi's eyes were level with the top of it. In the Catfolk's paw was a spoon, and he quickly took another bite of the oatmeal that lay before him before he continued.
"Magic surrounds us, sure. But as we craft it to our will, the effects are either instantaneous, or we need to concentrate on it to keep it under our control. It doesn't just go off and do its own thing. That's like saying trees talk to each other."
"Trees *DO* talk to each other, Metoo!" Lantashi said in an exasperated tone. The Sylvan ranger was in touch with the trees, *LOVED* the trees. She was *FRIENDS* with the trees. How *dare* the Catfolk wizard denigrate them!
The minotaur ate a bite of his morning salad before jumping into the conversation.
"Now guys, let Lantashi talk. She's obviously very excited about this. Who knows? Maybe there is more to this magic than we understand. What school of magic is this, anyways?"
Lantashi squared her shoulders and puffed up her chest a bit.
"Thank you Mardoth!" she started, then got an intense, serious look on her face before continuing. "The school, I don't remember the exact name. NuxLi. Xunil. Something like that."
"Or Linux?" the elephant gal piped in.
"No, not that. That's just silly." Lantashi replied.
"And what does this new spell do?" Aynos asked skeptically.
The Sylvan leaned forward conspiratorially.
"It's called *screen*," she whispered. "You create the spell, and it stays in existence. It doesn't end right away, and you don't have to baby sit it either. And, get this, you can cast other spells inside of it, and it will keep those spells alive while you go do other things. When you come back to it, it is still there, executing your other spells. It is so awesome, so powerful!"
The Sylvan's companions looked at each other, smiles breaking out on their faces. Metoo giggled, and then everyone around the table started to laugh.
"Come on Lantashi," said Mardoth. "The Linux school of magic? The Screen spell? You obviously had way too much to drink last night! Look at the trouble you caused!!"
Lantashi blushed and looked down at her plate. It was she that had started the bar brawl last night. She had had too much to drink, and when the Orc doubted her fantastical stories, she had smashed her mug of ale over the varmit's head.
That orc varmit was the local sheriff, and he immediately went into a rage and started smashing furniture as he ran after Lantashi. Then the Sylvan ranger had started casting every spell she knew, trying to teach the doubter a lesson. Half the tavern jumped in to help the orc, the other half to help the pretty red-headed gal.
When all was said and done... it wasn't a pretty sight.
But Lantashi knew the screen spell was real, not just a silly legend. And she was out to prove it.