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[Rakvald]

7th of Vhalar 722

The urge to take off that damned ring was nagging at the back of Rakvald's mind. He didn't know it, since before he'd put it on, just how much he'd relied upon and depended on his magical powers to see him through so much of the regular days. Sure, there were extraordinary instances where he had to regrow a limb, or graft some skin, heal a severely debilitating wound, or just grow an extra hand. And in those cases it was easy to see that he needed magic to accomplish those. But then there were small miniscule issues that cropped up, through which he took his dependence on magic for granted. The echoed senses and ability to breath underwater one of them. The resistance to extremes of weather, the healing of paper cuts almost instantly, and even the ability to write a rune on his flesh in order to get a burst of strength.

He didn't realize how much he missed magic until it was gone. For anyone that wasn't Rakvald, for whom the pressures and conflict presented by a magical spark that increasingly tried to hijack his soul, it might've seemed a simple solution to just forget about it and make the necessary adjustments. But then there was Renfreud, who had been promised the tutelage of arcane secrets such as Rakvald possessed, to guide him in a journey into arcana from whence there was no return.

It was all a little too much, and culminated in a few nights ago when Renfreud had tried to steal his paradigm ring. The ring that kept his sparks in check, locked up as it were.

So he heard through his visits to the Infirmary that the Order of the Adunih, in the Earth Quarter, was holding a support group for people who had demons that followed them. Addictions, compulsive behaviors, and the like. So he thought he'd give it one try, and see if he could manage to extend his willpower with the psychological aid of others.

He waited at the appointed place, where the support group was to be. He'd signed up days in advance, so it shouldn't have been too much issue to find a spot. In any event, wherever he was led into, there he would wait for the others to arrive.

It was uncharacteristic for Rakvald to be silent for too long, so he thought he'd break the ice once the healer in charge arrived. "Hello, my name is Rakvald, and I'm a addict."

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

7th of Vhalar 722

Gennadiya at this point was making sure she was there for each meeting of the addiction group. The young woman was working to train others who would be able to help run the meeting, or set up additional meetings at different times and places as while they try to make it open for everyone, not everyone had the same schedule. Until then though she made sure was there. There was a core group of people who came to these meetings but there were others who where there some of the times, and some who came and didn’t come back.

The healer and Favored of Ymiden understood that making these changes weren’t easy, and often were hard and intimidating. Some people were able to see the issue and just change. Others weren’t so strong, and it would take coming back to the start again a couple times. Genna looked at the list of people who had signed up to come. The list was nice to have as it gave them an idea, but it also open even if you didn’t sign up for one of the meetings. Genna walked into the room carrying the little booklets, pencils and treats. The treats were anything big, just something simple to snack on. The booklets covered each of the steps and had a little blurb about it, but also allowed someone to write notes, or even doodle if that was there way. The situation was often uncomfortable enough, so Genna tried to allow for some of the less distracting nervous ticks.

The young woman noticed right away arriving early to the event. The precious young woman arrived early as she like to make sure she was ready. The blue eyes took in the man noticing his simple appearance, though there seemed to be something about him that was familiar, but frankly she could really pin point it. She though maybe she had meet one of this man’s relatives and some of those attributes were carrying over and those are what she recognize. Regardless Genna smiled as the man stepped up and introduced himself and said he was an addict. Genna noticed that he didn’t say what he was addicted to. They got mostly addicts to alcohol, drugs, and sex at these events, and in that order, but occasionally others addiction showed up. Genna sensed that there was a possible struggle with admitting to even having an addiction. She smiled her kindest and most welcoming smile. “Then you have come to the right place. Hello I am Gennadiya” She said, but stopped to talk with him. “I am glad that you have come and I am sure the others will be to.” She plowed on even despite the awkwardness these conversations always caused. “Here in the meeting we will go over steps that will help you fight your addiction, and become the master of it. Once everyone has arrived we will start the meeting. We will take about the steps for a bit and then allow everyone some time to share about themselves.” She explained. “Though if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.”

[Rakvald]

There was very little in the way of subtlety or guile to the person that was Rakvald. In all his forms, one constant that persisted was his open and candid nature. So when he saw Gennadiya, it didn't even occur to him to hide that he was a different person to the one who'd gifted her a special surgery healer's kit, made of geminite. He hoped she was making good use of it! He was a tad bit jealous, because geminite was hard to come by and he hadn't found a set like that since.

"Genna! It's me! Rakvald!" He blurted out, when he noticed her. "Yeah, I'm the guy that gave you the surgery kit... I uhh..." When the recognition didn't dawn on her eyes, he frowned, and then realized he wasn't quite 'himself'. When he'd met her, he was more bat-faced, and hulking. Part mer and part lotharro, a gestalt of the two.

"Yeah, I've gone through some changes, you see... This ring helps!" He held up his hand, wiggling his fingers on which the paradigm ring rested.. "Keeps my magic under wraps and in control, sorta. But the temptation to return to my spark is always there. I've resisted this long... it's just so damned inconvenient to not be able to heal a paper cut in a twitch of the nose, you know? I mean, I'm a good enough doctor in my own right... but..."

But then, people began milling in. Rakvald fell more quiet, but put on a charming, friendly face for everyone. He winked at one of the women, who looked quite fetching. Then he took a seat with the rest, and listened to what Gennadiya had to say.

He was a bit of a lout, but he'd wait his turn to speak. He was curious about the others, anyway, and what had brought them here. Were there any mages out there?

"So... Who should start?" Rakvald asked, after Gennadiya had said her piece. "I'll let the others get a turn before I go, how's that?"

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

7th of Vhalar 722

Genna smiled at the man who approached her so friendly. His introduction kind of spilled out as he explained who he was and where they had meet. To say she was surprised would be an understatement, though she was far less surprised then she would have been when she first moved to this city. The looks might have been completely different but the personality was the same. She remembered when the mage had given her those surgical instruments, which she had used in her work. It had been a kingly gift. The surprise quickly passed as the explanation was given and she smiled even more sincerely.

“You are right I didn’t recognize the face, though I do recognize the personality.” She said and took his hand in greeting. “It is good to see you.” She listened as he explained about his purposed for being there. Her expression remained kind but turned serious as she listened to the Rakvald. Her gaze glanced at the ring that quelled his powers at least until he took it off. She nodded her head. “I will say that we haven’t had anyone come about being addicted to magic, yet, but I feel that the steps we talk about can still be helpful across different addictions.” She smiled as he commented about liking to heal a paper cut with a blink of an eye. Based on the gift he had gotten her she could tell he know his stuff, but that comment showed in its way the different ways they healed. Genna wouldn’t have ever even consider using her abilities to heal a paper cut. Though the healer accepted everyone had there own ways.

It was then that others began to arrive. Genna smiled at the crowd but didn’t move away in case Rakvald had any question for her. This particular evening was decent turn out with about fifteen people. Some might not view that as a good turn out, but this type of thing you wanted enough so that people felt there was a group, but you didn’t want so many that they would feel lost in the crowd. This particular group was familiar and Rakvald was the only first time visitor. She nodded as he said he would speak later after other people had had the chance to speak. She nodded her head. “That will be perfectly fine. We will start with talking about one of the steps to over coming an addiction, we talk about a different step each meeting, then everyone will have time to share if they so desire.”

Everyone began to take a seat, and Genna got the meeting going. She smiled at everyone and welcomed everyone to the gathering. She began the session reading the rules again. They weren’t anything special but they were specific. What was said in the meeting stayed at the meeting. Let each person have their turn if they wished to take it and to keep the specific circumstances vague, and to respect each other. They then took turns to reach through the steps.

Genna then began to speak. “Last meeting we finished talked about the steps, so this week we are starting over.” She said “Admitting to yourself that you have a problem.” She said and processed to reach what she had prepared, copies of which were available to everyone. After she was done she said it was time for people to share. Genna paused and said. “My name is Genna. When I was younger I found myself addicted to a drug. This step may seem simple and obvious but it isn’t. I refused to admit my problem for the longest time. I came up with excuses and ran away. I had people tell me I had a problem. When I finally was able to admit to my addiction I was able to actually address it, I was able to finally look full at what it was doing to me life.”

Others continued to speak, always with a simple introduction and simple comments about there struggles. Some focused their comments on the step they were talking about others talked about other steps and others just kind of opened themselves to the group about the general struggle and so it moved around.

[Rakvald]

Rakvald nodded emphatically at her. “Yeah, I got this face back in Quacia. Was a bit of a wild time…” He did enjoy Jim Vino’s look, at times. And though he’d come to consider his totems as more than just ‘outifts’ and almost as separate personae or children of his even, he still couldn’t get fully beyond the surface considerations.

“I would think so.” Rakvald said of her thoughts on magic addiciton. “It’s a rough time, dealin’ with the use of such power for such mundane purposes. It’s part of why I put on this ring. I just want a moment to assess what I want, I won’t be wearing it forever, of course, but for now it’s a comfort.”

That said, he found he had few other questions for Gennadiya, although it was obvious she bore some divine marks. He thought it best not to pry, for now. He was certain she was able to make us of those powers, in the work of her profession. It stood to reason, if a challenge required such a power tool to solve, why not use it? He supposed some might have professional pride, and attempt base conventional techniques to solve a problem, but Rakvald believed in taking no chances. Both views were probably valid, probably more so Gennadiya’s howver.

As the meeting unfolded, and all of them began speaking about their problems, how far they’ve come to admitting that they have a problem, and the steps they’ve taken to bring themselves out of their dark period. Yet there always loomed, Rakvald felt, the threat that they might relapse. It was a precarious position, being addicted to just about anything, or to have an obsession.

If they were allowed to speak on other’s speeches, Rakvald didn’t know but ventured to speak on Genna’s, “Quitting isn’t easy, even if you succeed in exercising the will to separate. It’s a struggle everyday.” Rakvald smiled friendly at her, and then prepared to tell his own story.

Rakvald couldn’t deny his obsession with arcana, not forever, but he could try to see if there might be some moderating techniques that could help him pull back the reigns on an errant spark.

He took a deep breath, and then began speaking, “My name is Rakvald. You wouldn’t know by looking at me, but I used to be a Lotharro lad, reborn and everything for generations going on for centuries. I first was introduced to the lure of arcana, by my beloved mentor, who I won’t name here. In Quacia, it’s a part of culture to be in awe of and borderline subservient to mages. So I saw it as a simple manner of social advancement.”

“However, over the years I’ve abused my powers in manners that have brought me astray, and caused friction between me and those who were closest to me. I began pursuing more and more power, without heed for those around me. I nearly became homicidal at one point.” Rakvald had killed many people, in fact, but most of them deserved it or asked for it by attacking first. However, there was a time when he had thought to inflict harm on those who hadn’t harmed anyone. “It was a shameful period that I will probably never live down. The only thing that keeps my arcane thirst at bay, is this paradigm ring.” He showed them all, “But it doesn’t assuage the instinct I have to cover a small bruise or paper cut with a mere caress of ether. Or to experience the ecstasy of transformation.”

“It’s mostly for my family’s sake I want to find some control,whether it be with magic or without. So that’s why I’m here.”

Rakvald concluded with that, and waited to see what the others had to say, about their situations or about the others in the group.

[Rakvald]

Rewards Requested

Notes/Warnings: Abandoned, I believe. Mention of addiction.

Thread: Expect Vampires: A Devil on Either Shoulder
City/Area: Rharne

Renown: Dunno
Do you want this to be considered for Mark Progression? No
If any PC in this thread is in a faction, please list them: Genna in Order of the Adunih
Faction Points: Yes for Genna
Wealth Points: n/a
Collaboration: Yes
Local Language Thread? Yes Gernevoir

!	Message from: Doran
	Done!

[Doran]

Rakvald:

Knowledge:
Loot: -
Language Gernevoir
Losses: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5, for attending a support group meeting.
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

Gennadiya:

Knowledge: -
Loot: -
Language Gernevoir
Losses: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5, for hosting a support group meeting.
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: This was such a great idea for a collab!

I’ve never considered the possibility of a mage attending a support group meeting to deal their addiction to magic.

Rakvald’s relationship with his spark and his reason was described very well in my opinion, and I commend him on admitting that he’s an addict. He seems to be quite cheerful and enthusiastic when he talks to Gennadiya, but he also seems to be serious about wanting to talk about himself and his problem. And his posts are very entertaining to read!

Gennadiya gives me the impression of being very kind. I like in how much detail you describe the support group and her attitude towards addiction. Her high Leadership skill is obvious here. She’s also quite brave for admitting that she used to be an addict as well in my opinion.

It’s a pity that this thread was never finished. I wanted to know how the support group meeting continues. Maybe, there’ll be another support group meeting sometime though?

Enjoy your rewards!

P.S.: Gennadiya, if you want knowledges for this thread, send me a PM!