> > > From: <Randi128 at aol.com> > > > (snip) > > > In the dragaeran world, only the aristocrats are > > > > allowed to learn sorcery, Teckla, the largest group, are generally not > > > > taught, though they are allowed a link to the orb. In _Teckla_ there > is > > > one > > > > teckla who had studied sorcery, on his own, but he is not the norm. > > > > John D. Barbato OD > > > > > > I would say that only the aristocrats are _expected_ to learn sorcery > beyond > > > the easy stuff the Orb basically does on request for anyone who is > linked. > > > I would submit that Dragaeran society as a whole has such a low opinion > of > > > the theoretical top-end Teckla sorcerer, that most Lords don't even > bother > > > to check for potential. More a case of: "You'll never be good enough > to be > > > worth the bother of training you." than: "This knowledge must be > shielded > > > from you lest you become a danger.". > > > > On the contrary, many Teckla learn sorcery. They just learn spells > > designed to help them perform their standard agricultural duties. > > We see this in _Athyra_ ("ratkill" spells, others I'm forgetting at > > the moment). In _Brokedown Palace_, Miklos demonstrated knowledge of > > various wood-shaping spells and basic fire-starting. I'm AFB, but I'm > > sure there are other examples of "country sorcery". > > This is somehow contrary? I think it contradicts the statement "only the aristocrats are _expected_ to learn sorcery beyond the easy stuff..." A Ratkill spell is probably a lot simpler than a teleport, but I wouldn't call it trivial, either. OTOH, I agree that the aristocracy doesn't much care about what Teckla do with sorcery (presuming they don't start getting revolutionary, at any rate). I presume that the Teckla are for the most part teaching each other these relatively-simple spells. > > Alexx Kay > > Opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employers > > alexx at world.std.com > > http://world.std.com/~alexx > > "This forces the self that exists /behind/ our "front identity" to take > over > > the wheel of the moving vehicle. After that, it gets rather difficult to > > describe, firstly because what is going on isn't remotely human, and > > secondly because one's self isn't actually present while all this is > > occurring. Whoever is in control of the vertical and horizontal, as it > > were, isn't you. Recollection of the experience is necessarily > non-linear, > > fragmentary. Time, mind, identity, cause and effect... all of these have > > been behaving in unusual ways. A certain confusion is forgiveable." > > -- Alan Moore in correspondence with Dave Sim about _From Hell_ > > Dare I ask what "This" is? Is there a particular trigger for the change of > driver? The short answer would be "a magical/religious Experience". The long answer would be... much longer. Alexx Alexx Kay Opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employers alexx at world.std.com http://world.std.com/~alexx "At some point during all this, the rational everyday self that is frantically trying to weave all this alien sensory input into something that at least nods to conventional reality, very sensibly takes the coward's way out. It gives up, shouts "Danger, Will Robinson" a couple of times, then shoots out blue sparks and falls on its side. It dies." -- Alan Moore in correspondence with Dave Sim about _From Hell_