World Building

Shine in the dark,

From my magic let the change be stark.

Rise o' light that may soon shine.

Let all know the power of mine!

Light spell

The Find familiar ritual was rather different from what popular media made it out to be in Alv's old world. In this world, as in DND in general, Familiars were creatures of fey origin. They merely assumed the shape that the spell caster viewed as most useful. They typically had a single form that they occupied for the most part. Some went the way of making their familiars look like mundane animals. Others went more flamboyant going for creatures like fairy dragons and the like. Yet through it, all one thing was common, the beast that was summoned was supposed to be fey in spirit and magic, but fluid in shape. That's why it was so odd to both old Jin when the results of the ritual occurred as they did.

Earlier before the ritual.

Alv had been helping his would-be master set up the ritual circle for the summoning. His offering of the magically useful parts of the lesser ground wyverns paying for both his and Pyrrha's stay at the local inn, as well as his magic lessons and her new armor. Still, as he looked about at what was typically an expensive ritual he couldn't help but truly admire the world he had helped shape. Although he couldn't perceive all the mysteries of magic, he found himself well and truly content and in awe of its beauty and its ephemeral nature. He looked back at the scales that glittered, a permanently renewing illusion infused with his very vitality. He looked towards a reflective piece of glass in the store as the horns on his head, constantly renewing and shattering in such a beautiful elusive way, cracked before shattering softly without a sound into the beautiful ebony horns that he had first envisioned. As they shattered it looked like a shattered stain glass mirror, constantly reforming and breaking, but not in such a violent way.

He looked back towards the ritual circle as multiple minor illusions appeared on his form before softly shattering in an oddly beautiful cycle of repetition. It was a long and complicated array of runic symbols that carried power inlaid with gold and the standard magic gathering runes. He decided to find a book on the runic language after this. Creativity and runes seemed to move hand in hand. Maybe there could be a way to achieve what he wanted for Pyrrha through runes rather than the constant invocation of such powers. 'Yeah, studying runes is definitely on the docket' he smiled.

Old Jin, having had his invisible servants (a dnd spell), beings of no mass or substance conjured to obey simple orders, assemble the circle finished the final bit of the enchantment. He looked up and saw his student looking at the runes in the circle. He watched as his student was likely coming up with hairbrained ideas on the different kinds of utilization of a runic array in different fields. Coughing to get his attention he looked at his student with a fair bit of mirth. Caught by surprise Alv rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment before moving the spot in the circle his teacher pointed to. Nodding he stepped forward and began to meditate. The use of pure magic outside of spells in the world could be broken down into different methods of use. Some used rituals and short spells binding them to incantations and enchanted devices. Others, however, followed a more eastern method. Like the eastern fantasy novels in his homeland. The magic here could be internalized and cycled through the system. There were physical benefits like prolonged age and increased magical power but there was nothing in the way of immortals. 'At least not yet.' Alv thought as he began to clear his mind. His magic reaching out into the leylines that connected this world to the next and the one after that. His magic searching for the spirit that felt truly kindred.

In the vastness of the fey wilds, something stirred. Feeling a connection across the plains it began to rumble. It's feathers ruffled slightly as it focused on the connection. It looked into the magic at the caster and found an interesting sight. Within the mind of the eye, it found a human. At least it looked like a human. Its soul was amorphous, but it's magic had a draconic quality to it. Like illusions manifested and made real. A phantasmal object. That was what the human's magic reminded it off. It hooted tilting its head in a contemplative manner. It then nodded as it connected itself with the caster's magic before it found itself shrinking. It's former form, the large and powerful form of the hunter that was the dragon owl shrunk. Not to the point of insignificance but it did was forced to the size of a house cat. It did not feel discomfort nor pain as it fluffed the feathers that decorated its form. Looking up at the now much taller human it let out a screeching hoot of indignation at the size change before huffing.

The connection was a two-way street. Just as the beast saw Alv, and saw the truth of who and what he was. So too did he see the great hunter that was the owl dragon. It forms sitting perched. It was young and had yet to find it's mate but it was a fierce fighter. Nearly dominating its snowy valley. It was about the size of a horse and a half in height and length, now no bigger than a house cat it prowled angrily up to him before hissing at him in a rather petulant manner.

"I will practice the enlargement spell as long as you remain my familiar," he spoke in a comforting tone to the beast that looked upon him.

"I hope to soon find a way to bind the spell to a size-shifting array that you can wear around your neck." he continued to babble as the owl dragon looked on in interest.

"That way you can decide how big you want to be when you want to be it. Does that sound fair?" he asked the little owl dragon. It stilled before nodding its head.

"Alright, I have two questions then." he began as he looked at the little one. It tilted its head in a 'go on' manner.

"First are you a Fey?" he asked. As it shook it's head 'no'.

"Does that mean you can't change shape?" he asked as he looked to both he owl dragon and Old Jin. At this, it raised a claw up in a 'maybe, kind of' gesture. Seeking clarification he focused his gaze on old Jin.

"Owl dragons are creatures of the Fey wilds. They may not be Fey themselves but they are gifted hunters. What they lack in shape-shifting they make up for in adaptability. Where a normal familiar would adapt to the role by changing forms this little one will evolve to suit its needs." he began as he studied his students familiar. Once again finding good humor in the fact that his student managed to bumble his way into finding a unique and powerful familiar.

"Where you would need a stealthy pair of eyes, it would begin to change the color of its plumage and scales. When you travel underwater, the feathers would resemble penguin feathers smoothing out as it evolved developing gills. So on and so forth. This creature is one of the few that adapted naturally to the ever-evolving nature of the fey wilds. What it sees in you however I cannot deign to understand." he explained not resisting the urge to take a shot at how his student had managed to somehow pull off miracles by the mere act of existing and trying with his unique point of view.

"Huh. Mean, but okay. Now, how about we name you?" he said looking down at the owl dragon. It walked much as a cat would placing itself in his hands it pawed at his wrists telling him to lift him. Smiling Alv complied.

"Hmm, Ignis? No, you're a creature that originated from the cold. Fross? No, too soft. Glail? Nah, too on the nose. Hmm. your plumage looks like moonlight. It's silvery and your scales tend to glisten just so. How about Buwan? It means the moon in halfling. I think it would be a fitting name." he said smiling at his little friend.

It thought long and hard before nodding. Yes, the name sounded powerful, unique, and elegant. A good name for a hunter such as it.

"It seems you got it to agree. Why you named it that in halfling I will never know. Now, here take the scroll on scrying. We are done for the day unless you were seeking anything else." Old Jin said as he stretched. The morning had passed and it was coming to the mid-afternoon, it would soon be time for his cultivation practices.

"Yes, master. Could i purchase a basic book on the runic language?" he asked as he looked to Jin.

"Which variation? Halfling, Apanji, or Parweian?" Old Jin said as three books were placed on the desk by invisible servants.

"Halfling. It was the first language I learned and its runic language is a bit unique. I would like to purchase that first." he said firmly.

Old Jin snorted before handing him the book.

"Pay me back with either your inventions or your loot from your adventures. More dragon pearls or monster cores would be the easiest." he smiled. Although he had been sarcastic he could see where his student was heading. With his creativity and the odd mindset, he might just be the one to turn this world upside down.

Alv ignorant of this smiled at his master before bowing deeply.

"This student is thankful and honors the master," he said with great respect before standing straight and leaving the shop.

'It's time to meet up with Pyrrha!' he thought, exited to show of Buwan and the other advancements he made of late. He left not noticing the melancholic smile of Old Jin.