Spell 1 [Visual]

[hockety_pockety]

 [This holiday season, the scroll feed is proud to present... a bleary-eyed sky-blue pony with white bed hair that encompasses his entire head. Groggily, he pushes himself semi-upright and smacks his lips, blinking off his sleep.]

...hhh...where...where in the world am I, do you suppose?...Archimedes? Archimedes, are you about somewhe- oh.

[Enough cognisance has been regained that he suddenly notices his hoof, and he examines it for a moment.]

...mm. That's odd. I don't remember turning into a shetland pony. Let's see now...

[Finally getting up, the old equine trots around a bit, giving himself a once over.]

Beard's still here, unusual, that. The rest seems OH! Oh, that had better not be a tattoo down there. Ngh... won't rub off. No, that won't do, I'm not going through that nonsense again. Now, where I w...Hmm. Glasses still there, that's good. Pointy hat? Yes, yes, that seems to be in good nick. Bit crumpled, but nothing a goo- ...by george, is that a horn on my head?!

Comments

[visual]

[noxequus]

Ah... not precisely.

That would be what we refer to as a "Cutie Mark". It's a sign that you have found the talent that is most suited to you, and is generally an indication - albeit often a subtle, difficult to decipher one - of what said talent is. It is... a natural part of maturity in a pony from these lands.

Re: [visual]

[hockety_pockety]

Really? Well... another fascinating example of natural selection in a magically-charged world, I suppose.

[visual]

[noxequus]

Your world was not as magically inclined?

Re: [visual]

[hockety_pockety]

Not for the most part, no. Magic wielders like myself are few and far between, no matter how far down human history you go. Probably just as well. People get their knickers in a twist enough about technology and science. Put magic in their hands too soon and who knows what could happen.

Re: [visual]

[noxequus]

Little different, particularly knowing the humans I have met. Perhaps they are not the most stellar examples of the species, but I know that many innovators were driven by greed or sloth - thus, magic likewise would evolve as science did, a tool to increase profits and reduce labor.

Re: [visual]

[hockety_pockety]

Hrmm. Well, that's one way of looking at it, I suppose. Though I'd prefer not to associate innovation and discovery with base flaws, thank you,

[visual]

[noxequus]

Understandable, particularly since the discovery itself is rarely if ever done in the name of those flaws. Innovation is practical application of discovery, however, and thus the practicality often comes in the task of patching a weakness caused by such a flaw.

I suppose we are just mincing words, however, and have slightly differing views on the matter. Regardless, I do not believe they would treat a magical renaissance any differently than they would an industrial one.

Re: [visual]

[hockety_pockety]

Mm, perhaps not, but you never can tell with these things...

At any rate, if technology keeps progressing the way it currently is, then in a millennium or two, my world should have something nigh-indistinguishable from sorcery. Then, if some wizard, witch or warlock accidentally turns a friend into a frog in broad daylight, anyone passing by will think they're just playing with the latest MorphPod or Zaptooth or what have you.