9 Chirreb 4385: Why It's Called "Change Places"

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

[[ The previous entry was accidentally posted friends-locked. Sorry if you missed it -- please go back and check it out. :) ]]

Most of the prisoners had all died at least once so they were kind of out of it already. Mirhandrax made the Cani accept spells that would keep them from sponting or casting pattern spells, and tied them up. The mewellicaps didn't have any real spell casting ability. Mirhandrax wrapped a lot of rope around them to tie their mouths shut and their wings and tails to their torso. Then he tied them to a tree so they couldn't float away. Purrzhon watched with his tail lashing. "You cannot tie up mewellicaps. They still float. The Destroc in their mouths eats away at bindings."

"Their bite-magic is Destroc Corpador and the rope is made of Herbador," Mirhandrax said. "How did you trade places with that Rassimel boy, Delight-in-Flight?"

"Change Places."

"Change Places does not trade your place for someone else's," Mirhandrax said.

"Yes it does."

"No, it doesn't."

"Yes it does why do you think it's called CHANGE PLACES and you SAW me do it so why are we arguing about this?"

"You didn't bind it to exchange places for us," Mirhandrax said.

"Well no but that's because you usually want a bound Change Places so you can be somewhere else like the other side of a wall or out of range of a sword. Not so you can swap locations with a willing target. That you'd have to hit with a bead or something to trigger the spell. It'd be extra annoying."

" ... But you could have."

"Sure."

"What complexity spell are you using?"

"10."

Mirhandrax shook his head. "This makes no sense. The complexity 10 Mutoc Locador spell I know of only teleports the caster. One that can teleport the caster to the subject's place and vice versa should be at least a 15 if not a 20. Who sold you this spell?"

"No one we found it boxed in an abandoned Chromodon lair and I got it because no one else had enough Locador to cast it."

"You're sure it's complexity 10?"

I gestured to my magerium, bending my head towards his. "Do you want to inspect it for yourself?" I asked because really this was getting pretty annoying. Like I don't know what's grafted to my own magerium!

Mirhandrax waved his hands apologetically. "No, no. I'm sorry. It's just ... have you ever scribed the spell yourself?"

I shuddered. "Ewwww no."

"She dislikes boxing spells," Nightbloom explained. "A great deal."

While we were talking, Purrzhon had grabbed one of the bound Cani and dragged him off to interrogate him. Mirhandrax watched him go and said, "I'd better help with that. Trust, please come with me. Delight, would you and Nightbloom please talk to the residents and see what they know? Windchime, Chain Lightning, I'd appreciate if you'd watch the prisoners." Mirhandrax flew after Purrzhon (Mirhandrax was the only one of us still attending to his flight spell) and Trust trotted obediently at his heels.

Chain Lightning watched them go. "So why does he get the position of all-powerful, all-knowing, all-commanding Duke?"

"Nobody else wants it," I said. "C'mon Nighters let's go see how grateful the rescued Primes are."

Comments

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Oh! I've heard of times where the gods sometimes let a spell that shouldn't be powerful enough or complex enough to do a particular task, actually do that task because they're feeling generous or amused or whatever. Do you think that might be what is going on? Do you think Mirhandrax thinks that's what's going on? Why does he seem so interested in this?

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

I don't know why it was such a big deal to Mirhandrax unless it's that he just likes to know everything that everyone can do so he can plan better? He is really fussy that way.

It might be because "Here" likes me I guess? Or the spell might not be the same Change Places Mirhandrax is used to but CHANGE PLACES how else would it work?

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

I've heard that spell you used described as "Benign Transposition" before. Why don't you ask Mirhandrax what the spell that does what yours did is called where he's from?

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

Benign Transposition what a funny name for a spell.

Mirhandrax says he didn't know of a pattern spell that works like my Change Places does.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

It's a name made by people who want the spell to sound more important than it should be. You know the type, those that want to make everything they do seem more esoteric, complicated, or elitist than it is?

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Zi ri?

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

Zi Ri are like that but that doesn't sound like a Zi Ri name they'd call it ... I dunno ... Transposition of the Intimate Associates or something.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Some sort of coastal wizards... ;)

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

I do know people like that but "Benign Transposition"? It's just a weird name maybe that's the sort of thing they call spells in Hanija or one of those strange foreign places.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Also the Benign one does actually change your places with a nonrestisting target in a short range. That's why it's benign, for tactical repositioning in combat. Also works well if you've got, say, some trained animals that are much smaller targets flying around to swap with, and you have a flying spell up. If bound and done like that, it's a good 'oh crap I'm going to get stabbed' spell.

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

So you HAVE to use it to swap with a living target? tThat's not how my spell works I can change places with air if all I want is to get away.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

Yea, yours sounds more versatile...

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I think he wants a copy of it for himself, so that he can be the sacrificial hostage-replacement next time.

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh do you think? That would be like him wouldn't it?

I really hate scribing though even if it's only cplx 10 I guess I could MAYBE box a copy for him. He should've just asked though!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

What about a mental change place? So you can see things from the other person's point of view. };)

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

That would be Mentador and ewwwwwwww GROSS!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

You're right, you don't know where the other person's mind has been. You don't want them tracking in mental mud!

[delight-in.livejournal.com]

And Mentador is ALWAYS ALWAYS horrible!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

That too. >_>

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

I think tuftears is kinda playing with you... you know, trying to get a reaction... zie's joking, but I guess sarcasm and jokes don't transfer well via text, especially between cultures?