Norilsk

Norilsk tries. He tries really hard.

He wants nothing more than to make his clan proud, especially his grandmother, the clan founder and leader, Emberwrath.
Especially Emberwrath.

Early on he decided his calling was to be a battle-mage, versed in the ways of combat magic, versatile and able to defend from physical attacks while summoning devastating damage. Most of Clan Ember’s magic users tend towards healing and defensive disciplines, though that isn’t to say they aren’t without their offensive spells. A true battle-mage seemed to be lacking though, and Norilsk was determined to fill that niche.

Norilsk approaches his calling seriously, studiously, and with discipline. He wakes early every morning for a challenging workout to keep himself fit and in fighting form, ending his strength training and calisthenics with a long period of meditative stretching to prepare his mind for the day.

Norilsk then makes for himself a hearty breakfast of healthy foods, varied from day to day based on what’s fresh and available. He always makes more than he can possibly eat, sharing the leftovers with anyone that might be awake and hungry.

Bolina is a frequent visitor at his table, snatching up the choice bits and retreating to her hide-away, always keen to take advantage of other people’s work.
Myrsky enjoys conversation with Norilsk and will often join him as well.
Aurantiacus and Larkspur will herd any clutch of younglings they’re tending to Norilsk’s breakfast table, so he almost always has someone to share with.

Almost, but not always. And sometimes he has to try to figure out what to do with the leftovers after a lonely meal of solitude.

After breakfast he hits the books.

Everyone in the clan knows that if they happen to come across any grimoires, reference books, herbologies, glossaries of runes, spell scrolls and so on that they should let Norilsk know and he will try to procure them. Between him and Emberlance the clan now has quite a reference library. Kirill’s technical manuals should be included, but somehow aren’t.

Norilsk is a fine self-guided scholar and he studies with care, taking copious notes and cross-referencing anything he comes across. Very, very few of the erroneous or downright false magic books have fooled him, and he has managed to avoid quite a number of the common pitfalls that trip up novice and even intermediate magic users.

He’s working on a book of his own in what spare time he has, detailing common mistakes, listing which books to avoid and why, and compiling some of the better references for beginners. He doesn’t have much time to work on it, though, since his afternoons are consumed by his own experiments and practice of magic.

Norilsk is very conscientious and safety-minded, so he practices in a box canyon not too far from the lair but far enough that any disturbance goes unnoticed by even Demeter at the threshold.

He has had some success.
Some.

The only problem is that magic just doesn’t come naturally to Norilsk.
He has the ability, especially with his own element of course. But it’s not easy.

Zinder came to the clan with no ability but in next to no time his Arcane nature manifested and every day his power as a mage grows.
VioletFlame will occasionally study with Norilsk but more often spends her time tutoring her husband Conchiolin, who has already mastered Regeneration.
Mishka once levitated Chrysaetos all the way across the great cavern to the amusement of all without even breaking a sweat. The clan patriarch’s magical prowess is legendary amongst the clan.
(Bolina, of course, is a huge fraud. Despite her appearance, she couldn’t tell you the difference between a staff or a wand, and doesn’t know which end to hold and which to point.)

Norilsk…
Norilsk has managed a handful of fireballs. Inconsistent, frequently off target, and of varying power but he has cast some fire balls.
He once conjured a beetle. For about 0.2 seconds.

Norilsk has given himself a number of migraines and at least twice had to be carried back by Banner when Demeter noticed he hadn’t returned by nightfall as usual and it was discovered that he had fainted.

He has perfected a number of healing poultices for different needs, the soothing balm for insect bites in particular prized by the Skydancers of the clan, but that’s just medicine not magic.

Most recently Norilsk had a spell backfire and now he dribbles lava from his jaws. As a Fire clan most everyone thinks this was deliberate and highly in tune with the clan aesthetic. He hasn’t had the heart to tell anyone otherwise.

Norilsk tries. He tries really hard.
And maybe if he tries even harder, someday someone will invite him to the Coliseum.