#category: magic

[devout-of-dragons]

Zoom for Astral Fast Travel

Zoom is a recurrent spell as seen in Dragon Quest. It is used to travel to any location you've been to before, namely towns, dungeons, and town-adjacent places (ex. The Holy Isle of Neos in DQVIII) in game.

Astral travel can be a pain in the ass. It can be slow, and often you have to travel purposefully instead of teleporting. Yes, astral travel moves quicker than physical travel, but wouldn't it just be better if you could, well, Zoom?

One thing to note is that Zoom only works outside - You'll hit your head on the ceiling if you try it inside. Mechanically for the games, this is to keep you from Zooming out of dungeons or houses, which might be a game functioning or fun thing. But in pop culture magic, I am maintaining this function because it's funny that the heroes bonk their skulls.

Okay, Khajiit, how do we do this?

Glad you asked!

The only necessary item is a feather. As in game, chimaera wings can be used when you're low on MP or don't know Zoom yet for the same purpose - but we don't all have a wing, much less from a chimaera we can use.

You need to know where you're going, and need to have been there before for Zoom to work.

"But Khajiit, the place I want to go is so far, and I wanted to use Zoom to get there quickly!"

Either put in the time to commit that astral travel, use a spell to increase astral speed, or ask a deity or other spirit to help you get there somehow. Can't help ya otherwise. Zoom has its limitations!

Yeah yeah, how do we actually do the Zoom?

Hold the feather in your physical hand. Real feathers are preferred, but fake feathers work in a pinch, including digital or envisioned feathers, it just make take more tries and a bit more oomph behind yourself.*¹

Begin your astral travel, and meditate on where you want to end up. Make sure you head outside to the open sky. Whisper to the feather where you want to go.

It's that simple! If you did it correctly, you'll lift yourself high up into sky, and find yourself moving at a high speed towards your goal, before the Zoom gently sets you down on your feet on the ground.

Speaking of those limitations...

The Zoom uses up the feather. Chimaera Wings get consumed on every usage, so they're no good after that, and as such Zoom also has this limitation. Hence why I said non-physical feathers even work, but it may be much more taxing on yourself than if you used a physical feather. I'd keep the feather to use in other spells or offerings though, as to not waste it.

You also can't Zoom indoors. You need the open sky above you. So it's not great for things like a quick escape. You want Evac for that.

Can we go anywhere?

Theoretically, yes. If you've been there before, you can go anywhere. This can include otherworlds, and places not of our own. You just have to have been there before.

Conclusion...

And that's Zoom! I'll likely make a post on Evac eventually. Best of luck and happy casting!

*¹ You could also make use of the "tension" mechanic to put more oomph behind you in performing without a feather. See my tension post here.

[devout-khajiit]

I really need to get around to enchanting all of my jewelry. I bought a bunch of bracelets for it, so I need to do that.

I'm thinking enchanting my class ring into a devotional piece. Even if it has my deadname on it, lol. It's either that or the Majora's Mask necklace or the giant red/orange piece that looks like fire in a gemstone.

The only piece I won't enchant is my nazar amulet, which already has a job it's performing.

[tio-trile]

A young humpback whale came right up to our ship in Antarctica!! I heard its exhale from my room and SPRINTED out to the balcony.

It has a golden tail!!

[two-crows-in-a-trenchcoat]

the fact merlin openly said I'm a sorcerer in front of uther!??! like directly to him

and lived!??!!?!

a testament to Arthur being in love with him from the start ig

[cookiesandcantarella-art]

Do you ever think about the absolute euphoria Duck would feel at getting to be human again? I do. I do a lot.

[ID: a stylized digital painting of Fakir and Duck embracing each other as he lifts her in the air. Fakir stands ankle deep in a pond and water splashes around them. A few white feathers float through the air around Duck. She is nude and her hair is down. Fakir wears a simple white shirt with his pants rolled up above the water level. In the foreground, an open book rests upon the dock. Behind them, the clouds are lit with the pinks and blues of a sunrise. End ID]

[cellclothism]

did this trend thing but w/ exclusively my object show faves ^_^ ........... ignore how there are like 4 different smartphones shhh

i REALLY wanted 2 include arcade machine from bro here but he doesnt really fit into any of these categories </3

i definitely drew way too many characters in this but shhhhhh like dont even mention it ahaha.

[hows-itgoagain]

i just think it’s neat when magic users use actual weapons (whether that be from their magic, in conjunction with their magic, or separate from their magic entirely) bc like most of them just. have magic that’s intangible and it’s just used like that (graviole, explomb, levios, changeas, etc) but then some people just!! have things!!! and that’s cool!!!!

now, do i necessarily LIKE all of these characters? no, but i can still admit them using physical tangible objects is rad as hell!!!!!!

[eerna]

Just finished Blood Over Bright Haven and. HOPEFUL TRAGEDIES I LOVE YOU SO MUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(also MOIRA QUIRK ILY <3<3<3)

[antisocialxconstruct]

this evening I am once again mourning the fact that there's never been a really good high budget cyberpunk mmorpg

[devout-of-dragons]

The Tension Mechanic As Part of Magic

The Tension Mechanic within Dragon Quest is, well, a mechanic. Lore-wise, the characters tense their bodies and likely their minds as well to build up Tension, which then makes physical attacks and magic stronger. It also affects beneficial magic, specifically healing, but in my practice, it oomphs all magic.

Tension in-game comes with four levels, five if you count 0: 5, 20, 50, 100. It's a 1/3 chance that it actually goes to 100, otherwise staying at 50. It cannot be built any higher than 100, which is the state of Super High Tension, in which the person glows a purple color and does the max possible damage/healing.

(It's important to note that for game mechanic reasons, each character has to reach 50 tension 10 times before they're even capable of reaching 100 tension. Translated into magic, this could indicate that it's a learned skill... but I wouldn't worry too much about that.)

Tension also provides protection from attacks and reduces damage from monsters in-game.

Tension is used up and goes away after the attack is performed. As such, as a magical aid, you should feel your tension wash away once your spell is completed.

There's no right or wrong way to use Tension, but I'm going to get into my methods below.

How does one build tension?

Begin by relaxing a little bit. Take a big deep breath, meditate, or do whatever would help you.

Now, tense your entire body. Avoid doing so by stretching, as such is a relaxing activity, at least to me.

Tense your mind. Think about why you're doing the spell you're doing, in less than friendly terms. Are you doing a protection spell? Think about why. Is it against a weird coworker? Think about what this coworker does that makes you feel odd and wanting to do this spell.

There's also other methods using items and food. These can be used when you don't want to physically build tension and instead build tension more metaphysically.

In-game, the Timbrel of Tension is a literal tambourine that builds tension. In DQVIII, you can feed Munchie Highly-Strung Cheese which increases the whole parties tension.

So, translating that, you could enchant a bell or other instrument to increase tension when rung or played. You could buy fancy cheeses, such as a spicy one, and when you eat that cheese, it builds tension.

Whether you elect to physically and mentally build tension, or use a tool or food to build tension, you can use the tension in spellwork.

The end goal is to feel tense and kind of angry (or some other powerful emotion). You're supposed to feel that way. So if you feel tense physically and kind of angry, you're doing it right.

Can one use tension that they naturally have instead of building tension purposefully?

Absolutely. Tension is tension, but I'd suggest still purposefully building tension. For the sake of intention and all that.

The reason also includes that your tension should be focused - Just because you're tense doesn't mean it's focused properly onto your spellwork.

What's next?

Time to cast your spell! Try and maintain tension during the actual casting itself. You don't want to lose the tension too early.

Casting the spell doesn't require anything special to it to incorporate the tension - By having tension, you're naturally working it into the spell and providing it a further oomph.

After your spell is complete, your tension should hopefully be fully released, but...

I've still got tension even after casting my spell!

I've had that happen too! You didn't do something wrong, just sometimes I build excess tension myself too, and need to release the rest of my tension. It could also mean that while you used the tension in your spell properly, your body is holding onto it for some reason or another, as bodies are prone to do.

While how you choose to release the rest of your tension is up to you, here's some advice from me on releasing the rest of the tension:

Take some time to stretch your body. Take deep breaths while doing so.

Go do another activity that might release some more tension, such as going for a walk or doing some other form of exercise.

Perform another spell!

As well, we can look at the in-game things that break tension:

Take a nap.

Lay down for a while while tensing your body before physically releasing it.

Stop and take a laugh for a bit.

Sit down and breathe.

Conclusion...

And that's Tension! If you do try and use Tension as a "mechanic" for your spells, I hope it goes well for you!

I've used Tension in my spells for a while, and I've definitely noticed results in it making my spells stronger.

[devout-khajiit]

I actually need to go through the many, many spirits that I called upon for helping with my haunting and begin making offering to all of them, slowly but surely. Gotta make sure they know I appreciate them

I've called on their help so many times now for this, so I really do owe them for it.

[capesandshapes]

Some of the most disgusting and vile things I've ever heard said about women cis or trans has come from men in the gaming and nerd culture communities who feel an entitlement to female affection and sexuality due to grandiose fairytale bullshit that they're too stupid to realize was crafted by America's tech millionaires who were trying to foster a sense of a community and pacify underpaid workers with a promise of a greater tomorrow in which money and pussy would rain from the heavens as a reward for their suffering. Look to the great leader (whose parents are definitely only a little rich) as an example of what you the everyman whose overtime is paid in bottled waters can accomplish.

Like "I'm a nerd, not like other guys. Girls were really into the jocky ones growing up but little did they know I'm going to be rich and famous because I like computers and magic the gathering-- my computer science degree and superior intellect means I am entitled pussy from these feeble minded women. Watch me degrade the stupid sluts who don't want me."

Homie ur a weirdo. You can open Microsoft command prompt and build a rollercoaster in Minecraft. Maybe once or twice you've entered the BIOS menu via spamming the f key of your choosing. You're not breaking new pussy guaranteed 'how dare she not' ground here.

[beesgav]

was bemoaning the fact that I haven't drawn any medabots in a long time before it hit me how easy they are to just kinda... stick into other settings, and then had fun trying to figure out what models would best suit the Characters Currently Infesting My Mind

[mumpsetc]

Hey Cheerilee Hey Cheerilee!

[witchothewest]

If you even care

(Portraits by @ madschofield on instagram)

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Asunder

slow-paced high fantasy

a woman who has a contract with an eldritch entity allowing her to see the dead & survives by taking various jobs

when a job searching for stranded smugglers in a cave goes wrong, she ends up with the soul of a dying stranger bound to her shadow

along with a scholar and her old childhood friend, they travel to his home country to find a way to unbind him and save them both

dark fantasy world with gods, demonic entities, arcane magic, and semi-sentient beasts used as transport