Mel visits Erinalia (again)

[Johan]

Erin opens her eyes which she had closed momentarily while listening to Mel ramble.

"Yes, of course I am awake, Mel."  She pauses momentarily, looking down at the sand at her feet, before finally continuing, "Yes, there is a lot of willpower involved in spellcasting.  I don't know how Amaril generates the power for his healing.  The source must be divine, of course.  I, um, know little about priests and their spellcasting rituals, although I do have some skill in recognizing spells as they are being cast [[color=green:145463ac27]spellcraft[/color:145463ac27]]..."  Her voice trails off.  "Er... why do you ask me such questions?"  Erin glances at Mel and tilts her head quizzicaly, her long curls and braids dancing across her face and partially hiding her eyes...

[Johan]

Mel watched in bewilderment as Erin fled. He noted that she was heading in the direction of, among other things, the animals pens. Hmmm...he wondered idly...perhaps Garbvan might have a thought on this subject...

[Johan]

"Why do I ask such questions? Well, mostly becuase it's on my mind, and I didn't think that a conversation about the culinary differences in the tribes of the northern nomads would interest you."

Mel sat down, making himself comfortable before continuing. "I just figured that a conversation on the comparative spell casting of the various castes would be more entertaining and engaging to you. For instance, did you know that there are some kinds of animals who can cast spells? It true! The learned (finger quotes) will tell you that they are magical creatures and that they are generating "spell-like effects" (air quotes), but I'm thinking differently. Why is it that people want to believe that since it's an animal it can't have the aptitude to cast a spell? It's simply the prejudice of people to think that they have sole domain over spell casting. The truth, I think, is that anyone can cast spells - that is, to weave reality to their will, to some extent anyway - but there are different ways of arriving at the same end. It's like cooking. You might put more or less of any ingredient, or you might omit some ingredients all together; the result is still food. It might taste a little different, but it's nourishing anyway. Orcs, they say can eat foods that other races can't, but I tell you that any race can eat those things; they just have to want to. Unless, of course it's my mother's Vole Bread. If she ever makes you her vole bread, you?re going to want to stick a porcupine quill in your eye. It?s just that bad. In fact, it won the black ribbon seventy years in a row at the county fair. It?s famous; wakes the dead, they say. She blames the voles. ?Hasn?t been a decent vole in the area in eighty five years (mom?s very long-lived; she?s got elf blood in her).