Line 06 - IM/Action

[willyouwalk]

[After the questors return, Tybalt feels obliged to send out an IM on something very important]

It occurs to me that neither Sadie, Feuilly, nor myself have taught the camp how to break a magician's shapeshifting curse.

[Poor Nico]

It's really quite simple, though it can be difficult to actually do, as Sadie will tell you. If you find yourself cursed into a form not your own, simply focus on who and what makes you who you are. Family, names, memories, whatever works. Try to do it quickly, though, or you may wind up stuck until a stronger magician can free you. The longer you spend in an animal's shape, the more you think like them.

Comments

[willyouwalk]

That depends. Are you defined by one thing?

[making_good]

[Well, with how she feels some days...]

No, but it's probably easier to concentrate on your name, for example, than try to think of everything that defines you. But I suppose that's why you said it's not easy.

[willyouwalk]

It's not easy because everyone's good at different things, not because it's complicated. If you honestly think that your name alone is enough to make you human, then by all means don't let me stop you.

[There's a vague implication that he thinks anyone who claims that their name will do it is a bit simple, but it's hard to tell this specific sort of disapproval from his every day levels of general disapproval]

[making_good]

[Her eyes narrow suspiciously. She hears that tone and isn't sure if it's meant to be condescending to her specifically. She does tend to err on the side of being offended, though.]

I don't. Maybe you should have been more specific about everything that defines you, not just something.

[willyouwalk]

You won't need everything. The stronger your ties to it, the easier it should be to return to normal. Like all magic, though, it also depends on your own abilities and strength of mind.

[making_good]

[Hm.]

So having practice doing magic could help, even if it's not the same spells.

[willyouwalk]

Possibly. Your magic is completely different from ours.

[making_good]

[Is it wrong that she wants to have an Egyptian come curse her and find out?]

Are there any other spells you have that someone can fight with willpower, like that shapechanging one?

[willyouwalk]

[He resists the urge to correct her. It really isn't willpower, that's much too simple, but it works]

Not really. Stronger magicians can fight against a weaker magician's spells occasionally.

[making_good]

[Congratulations on not being a pedant today. It's probably good because Elphaba would just get shirty again.]

So for most of us, all we can really do is try to absorb the damage.

[willyouwalk]

That's how it works for most people, yes. Absorb, cast, pray to the gods your opponent is slower.

[making_good]

[...She still can't shake the feeling that he's an asshole being intentionally condescending.]

Right. Well. Good advice, thank you.