The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[NPCs]

"And I gather you've never had that happen before?" Jaina asks, not paying any mind to her son.

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "Never, not in my whole life!"

[NPCs]

"How about we try this: I want you to hold out your hands like so," she instructs him, extending her hands outwards, palm up. "Then close your eyes and try to picture them as claws again. Take some slow breaths. Really pull the image into your mind. Don't try to force it, nature does as it wills and no mortal can control it. Ask for change... and let it happen if you are granted that change."

[Carver Amell]

Carver closes his eyes, breathing deeply, trying to remember how it felt to have them. That rush of power, the smell of blood -- and other smells, green living things and wet fur and--

He feels the change this time, the fur and claws bursting forth from his fragile human shape 

[NPCs]

"Very good," Jaina says softly, voice low and soft like a gentle breeze. "That's it, just like that. Don't try and hold it in place, just let it be as it is. Now open your eyes and see."

[Carver Amell]

He opens his eyes slowly, staring down at his claws. "Woah," he breathes. "I-- I'm magic? Like Beth?"

[NPCs]

"She's a bard, she works arcana with word and song, while you have primal magic, a divine bond with nature, but... yes. It's closer to your paladin friend, the Ray," Jaina explains with a smile. "Not druid, I don't think. Our shifting is all or nothing, I can't only turn my hands to wings for instance. But something similar." She cocks her head to the side, trying to think.

[Jassinth]

"Can you do a raptor's talons?" Jass asks eagerly into the silence.

[Carver Amell]

Carver closes his eyes, but his claws remain stubbornly still: soft brown/black fur, blunted claws, thick and broad like a dog's. 

[NPCs]

"Hmmm. Your aspect must be canine," Jaina mumbles, still thinking. "Don't you have a mabari?"

[Carver Amell]

His face lights up. "I do! Beth's bathing him right now, he rolled in something nasty yesterday and she refuses to let him in the house until he's clean."

[NPCs]

Jaina nods. "That might have done it- if your gift just quickened, then maybe it... followed the path your bond blazed. Shaped itself to match, so to speak. If you like, I can ask around if someone is willing to tutor you?"

[Carver Amell]

He nods. "That would be great. By the time Dau comes up with alternate payment, I'll be ready to be an adventurer for sure!"

[Jassinth]

"You... even after what happened to your friends?" Jass asks, somewhat surprised.

[Carver Amell]

Carver hesitates, looking down at his claws. "Well... I mean, that doesn't always... and, I'm sure Raplin won't give me something I can't handle, right?"