Everybody Wants the Crown [Pactverse Quest]
- Thread starter Dr Heaven M.D.
- Start date
- Mature
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Am I gonna have to add a 'this is not an ork quest' tag?
Anyway, I'll be closing the votes later today, so if anyone's been keeping from suddenly turn the tally around, now's your time.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Not gonna close for a few hours, but the enthusiasm is appreciated.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Yeah, okay, voting's closed. I'll get cracking on the next update.
But first, those informational posts I said I'd make.
But first, those informational posts I said I'd make.
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Character Sheet
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Name: Jack Alexander
Gender: Male-ish (He/They)
Age: 17 (August 13)
Health: 10/10
Self: 22/30
Funds: $20
Physical Traits:
* Jewish American
* Fashion tends to the cyberpunk and steampunk aesthetics.
* 6'2" (1,87m) tall, kinda lanky.
* Medium-length black hair shaved at the sides and combed sideways.
* Heterochromatic eyes (blue/green)
* Mechanical kabbalah tattoo on right shoulder
* Usually Smiling
Regular Stats:
* Charm (+2)
* Cool: (+1)
* Sharp: (+0)
* Tough: (-1)
* Weird: (+1)
Practice Stats:
* Puissance: 1d6
* Longetivity: 1d4
* Access: 1d8
* Execution: 1d10
* Research: 1d8
Traits:
* Whistle While You Work: Minor Boost to Practice if music plays in the background as you work.
* Family History: Due to a family history of picking fights with bigger opponents and coming out the victors, you gain a bonus to Puissance rolls when using AoE techniques against a larger group of enemies.
Accomplishments:
Gender: Male-ish (He/They)
Age: 17 (August 13)
Health: 10/10
Self: 22/30
Funds: $20
Physical Traits:
* Jewish American
* Fashion tends to the cyberpunk and steampunk aesthetics.
* 6'2" (1,87m) tall, kinda lanky.
* Medium-length black hair shaved at the sides and combed sideways.
* Heterochromatic eyes (blue/green)
* Mechanical kabbalah tattoo on right shoulder
* Usually Smiling
Regular Stats:
* Charm (+2)
* Cool: (+1)
* Sharp: (+0)
* Tough: (-1)
* Weird: (+1)
Practice Stats:
* Puissance: 1d6
* Longetivity: 1d4
* Access: 1d8
* Execution: 1d10
* Research: 1d8
Traits:
* Whistle While You Work: Minor Boost to Practice if music plays in the background as you work.
* Family History: Due to a family history of picking fights with bigger opponents and coming out the victors, you gain a bonus to Puissance rolls when using AoE techniques against a larger group of enemies.
Accomplishments:
- Minor Accomplishments: Won First Fight.
- Harbinger's Token: The physical representation of your bond with Vox Mechanica. Pretty cool, except for the chainsaw teeth one the inside that bite into your flesh. (Grants Harbinger's Storm and Berserker Form. Can't be removed.)
- Control Chains: A pair of chains made by your parents to help you control Vox's 'blessings'. Not too bad a birthday present, but you still think a pony would have been better. (Consume -3 Self every turn to keep you from killing people left and right. Requires .5 Self to remove and reapply each one.)
- Strong Earth-Charged Iron Nails (x64): Nails with earth runes carved into the head. You did a pretty decent job making them.
- Minor Goblin Weapons (x4): You don't really know what these do. A rubber ball, a water balloon, windup chattering teeth and novelty glasses.
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- Location
- USA
Wouldn't that make more sense to be down the back? Give the kabbalah looks like.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I know what it is, but I figured no parent would let their kid get a huge-ass tattoo covering their whole back, and with the Practice at their disposal it wouldn't have been to hard to find out. So for now let's say the tattoo was the result of tense negotations, good grades and bad decisions when Jack was graduating.
It's kinda small, but it's there.
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How the Practice Works
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
In-Universe:
There are two things that could be said to be the foundation of the Practice: "Contracting Others" and "Putting on a Show"
Both have about equal merit. Others, the supernatural beings that inhabit the magical side of the world unseen by Innocents, are the origin of Practice. They were the ones that taught it to the first Practitioners, before humanity started cheating by doing things like "Developing Written Language So Their Knowledge Could Be Spread After Their Death" and "Sharing Knowledge Outside Of Their Families", which the Others at the time had been dismissive of at the time.
Through making contracts with Others, one can use their services, tap on them for power and knowledge, etc.
On the other hand, putting on a show is equally important. Spirits, the more abstract and almost mindless forces that inhabit every aspect of everything(*) act as the judges for the actions of everyone, though Others and Practitioners are judged much more harshly than Innocents. Karma is real, and can be harvested.
* Literally anything. In a stick on the ground you'll find a spirit of wood, a spirit of brown, a spirit of dirt, a spirit of sticks, a spirit of fallen things, etc. Seven Gods in a Grain of Rice.
The problem is that these spirits are, metaphorically speaking, dumb as dirt. Or literally dumb as dirt, in the case of dirt spirits.
More than a few Practitioners have compared the spirits that oversee the karmic balance of the world with the unattentive audience of a TV show. They generally condemn things like sudden assassination and going back on your work, but if one warns the other of their intent, then they'll say the victim had a fair warning and should have escaped.
Yes, that's right. The spirits that judge everyone's karma reward Bond Villain Behaviour. You may take a pause to despair.
Similarly, this is why the spirits like patterns. As they recognize a Practitioner doing something more and more, they come to see it as proof that they are good and reliable. Thus, a Practitioner that every morning for twelve years without fail made a minor ritual to Ward their home will be rewarded by it being easier and stronger as time moves on.
This also applies to tropes and themes. Our protagonist, Jack, has two hobbies related to music, has a habit of listening to music while Practicing, and one of his favoured aesthetics (cyberpunk) is related to certain genres of music by popular belief. Thus, if Jack tried to make some sort of... dubstep curse or whatever, the spirits would go 'fuck yeah, that totally suits our boy Jack' and make it that much easier and stronger.
This is why the cost of entry into the Practice is the ability to lie unpunished. The spirits loathe being misguided, so if you're caught on a lie they'll take some power away. This is bad if you're using your power for things like 'mantaining your humanity' and 'not getting eating from the inside out by the great powers you host within your mortal flesh'.
And if you go back on an outright oath, then you could be Forswon. Stripped of the ability to Practice, stripped of the natural defenses aforded to all plants, animals and humans, and essentially becoming one of the universes designated punching bags. Everyone will be allowed to take from you, harm you, curse you or worse without repercussion. You will naturally be distrusted by all that encounter you, the odds will always be against you and you will most likely never know joy again.
So yeah, you gotta be careful with your wording. At least this applies to every Other and Practitioner around you, no?
Many things can be accomplished through the Practice, up to gaining inmortality and enslaving gods. But at its most basic level, it's the art of gaining knowledge and resources through the binding of Others, and the art of gaining power through being entertaining.
Mechanically:
Like with normal traits, there are five stats:
* Puissance: This is the raw power of any Practice you attempt. The higher you roll, the better you bring out the effect.
* Longetivity: This is the duration of the Practice's effect. The higher you roll, the more it lasts.
* Access: This is how easy it is for you to use. The higher you roll, the faster it gets done and/or the less power it costs.
* Execution: This is how much you know of the Practice. High rolls means you know just the right tool, or something close enough.
* Research: This is the ability to invent rituals and techniques from general knowledge. The higher you roll, the better the solution.
(Research and Execution are different stats because new rituals wouldn't have the benefit of history behind them.)
What makes these different than normal stats is that instead of a static bonus to each stat, you have a different dice for each which might change if something big happens:
* 1d4 (Doesn't explode)
* 1d6 (Explodes once)
* 1d8 (Explodes twice)
* 1d10 (Explodes thrice)
* 1d12 (Explodes four times)
* 1d20 (Explodes five times)
(For those unaware, exploding die are where, if you roll the higest possible number on a die, you roll it again and add the new roll to the previous one. I decided to limit how many times each one could explode since it fit in with the verse anyways.)
Bonuses are completely circumstantial every time you use the Practice. What you've accomplished before, what you are aiming to do, how you do it, what you use, where you are, etc. If you want to have good results, it's not enough to be good. You gotta control the framing.
The die applied to each stat might change with enough successes or, alternatively, failures.
Practice uses 'Self' for power unless stated otherwise, by tapping into an external source such as different Practitioners, Others or enchanted items.
Aaaaand I think that's everything. If there are any questions, feel free to ask.
There are two things that could be said to be the foundation of the Practice: "Contracting Others" and "Putting on a Show"
Both have about equal merit. Others, the supernatural beings that inhabit the magical side of the world unseen by Innocents, are the origin of Practice. They were the ones that taught it to the first Practitioners, before humanity started cheating by doing things like "Developing Written Language So Their Knowledge Could Be Spread After Their Death" and "Sharing Knowledge Outside Of Their Families", which the Others at the time had been dismissive of at the time.
Through making contracts with Others, one can use their services, tap on them for power and knowledge, etc.
On the other hand, putting on a show is equally important. Spirits, the more abstract and almost mindless forces that inhabit every aspect of everything(*) act as the judges for the actions of everyone, though Others and Practitioners are judged much more harshly than Innocents. Karma is real, and can be harvested.
* Literally anything. In a stick on the ground you'll find a spirit of wood, a spirit of brown, a spirit of dirt, a spirit of sticks, a spirit of fallen things, etc. Seven Gods in a Grain of Rice.
The problem is that these spirits are, metaphorically speaking, dumb as dirt. Or literally dumb as dirt, in the case of dirt spirits.
More than a few Practitioners have compared the spirits that oversee the karmic balance of the world with the unattentive audience of a TV show. They generally condemn things like sudden assassination and going back on your work, but if one warns the other of their intent, then they'll say the victim had a fair warning and should have escaped.
Yes, that's right. The spirits that judge everyone's karma reward Bond Villain Behaviour. You may take a pause to despair.
Similarly, this is why the spirits like patterns. As they recognize a Practitioner doing something more and more, they come to see it as proof that they are good and reliable. Thus, a Practitioner that every morning for twelve years without fail made a minor ritual to Ward their home will be rewarded by it being easier and stronger as time moves on.
This also applies to tropes and themes. Our protagonist, Jack, has two hobbies related to music, has a habit of listening to music while Practicing, and one of his favoured aesthetics (cyberpunk) is related to certain genres of music by popular belief. Thus, if Jack tried to make some sort of... dubstep curse or whatever, the spirits would go 'fuck yeah, that totally suits our boy Jack' and make it that much easier and stronger.
This is why the cost of entry into the Practice is the ability to lie unpunished. The spirits loathe being misguided, so if you're caught on a lie they'll take some power away. This is bad if you're using your power for things like 'mantaining your humanity' and 'not getting eating from the inside out by the great powers you host within your mortal flesh'.
And if you go back on an outright oath, then you could be Forswon. Stripped of the ability to Practice, stripped of the natural defenses aforded to all plants, animals and humans, and essentially becoming one of the universes designated punching bags. Everyone will be allowed to take from you, harm you, curse you or worse without repercussion. You will naturally be distrusted by all that encounter you, the odds will always be against you and you will most likely never know joy again.
So yeah, you gotta be careful with your wording. At least this applies to every Other and Practitioner around you, no?
Many things can be accomplished through the Practice, up to gaining inmortality and enslaving gods. But at its most basic level, it's the art of gaining knowledge and resources through the binding of Others, and the art of gaining power through being entertaining.
Mechanically:
Like with normal traits, there are five stats:
* Puissance: This is the raw power of any Practice you attempt. The higher you roll, the better you bring out the effect.
* Longetivity: This is the duration of the Practice's effect. The higher you roll, the more it lasts.
* Access: This is how easy it is for you to use. The higher you roll, the faster it gets done and/or the less power it costs.
* Execution: This is how much you know of the Practice. High rolls means you know just the right tool, or something close enough.
* Research: This is the ability to invent rituals and techniques from general knowledge. The higher you roll, the better the solution.
(Research and Execution are different stats because new rituals wouldn't have the benefit of history behind them.)
What makes these different than normal stats is that instead of a static bonus to each stat, you have a different dice for each which might change if something big happens:
* 1d4 (Doesn't explode)
* 1d6 (Explodes once)
* 1d8 (Explodes twice)
* 1d10 (Explodes thrice)
* 1d12 (Explodes four times)
* 1d20 (Explodes five times)
(For those unaware, exploding die are where, if you roll the higest possible number on a die, you roll it again and add the new roll to the previous one. I decided to limit how many times each one could explode since it fit in with the verse anyways.)
Bonuses are completely circumstantial every time you use the Practice. What you've accomplished before, what you are aiming to do, how you do it, what you use, where you are, etc. If you want to have good results, it's not enough to be good. You gotta control the framing.
The die applied to each stat might change with enough successes or, alternatively, failures.
Practice uses 'Self' for power unless stated otherwise, by tapping into an external source such as different Practitioners, Others or enchanted items.
Aaaaand I think that's everything. If there are any questions, feel free to ask.
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Grimoire
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
* Shamanism: The courting of spirits in exchange for favours. Generally it's a good idea to start small, then work your way up the hierarchy. For example, one can start building favour with a 'Grey Mouse' spirit to get a meeting with a 'Rodent' spirit. Then one builds favour with that spirit to get a meeting with a 'Prey' spirit.
* Runes: Drawing symbols and putting power into them in order to produce certain effects. It works by communicating the desired effect to the smallest, ambient spirits which then inhabit the runes and move accordingly. A rune can be used on it's own, in combination with other runes, or as part of a complex magical diagram, as long as the symbolism communicates your wishes to the spirits in accordance with tradition.
* Binding: The art of contracting Others and Humans into your service. Considering the harsh punishments incurred by liars and oathbreakers in the world Others and Practitioners inhabit, Binding can be as simple as just getting someone to agree to do what you ask of them. In more combative enviroments, however, more mystic types of Binding are available:
- Negative Binding: The use of elements and symbols that oppose an Other's nature in their binding. For example, geometric lines against chaotic beings, using purifying materials (like salt, silver, bright lights) against malignant Others, iron against things from nature, fresh wood against dead things, etc. Strong for subjugating and paralyzing Others, but if they escape they will do so pissed off as all hell.
- Positive Binding: The use of elements and symbols that are in tune to the Other's essential nature. For example, filth for Goblins, energy for elementals, etc. Slightly less effective than Negative Bindings, but the Other will come out significantly less pissed.
- Neutral Binding: Based around symbolically severing Connections to outside the symbols. Not terribly effective, but a good way to buy time. Usually consists of as little as a salt or chalk circle.
- Voluntary Binding: Basically what you get when the Other agrees to do what you tell them to. Can be done after delivering a beating to the Other. Is usually done after delivering a beating to the Other.
- Mundane Binding: Shockingly, just holding someone in place through ropes, brute force or nailing their limbs in place counts as Binding. Turns out the real magic was the people we kicked the crap out of along the way.
-- Hallows: An object cleansed of other and Other influences and basically 'hollowed out' so that a Spirit or Other may fit inside. Easier to do to inmaterial Others like Ghosts or Elementals, but can be done to other Others as well. (Creation of a Hallow is -.5 Self)
* Summoning: The power to bring a contracted Other to your location. Easier if said Other was previously Bound. May sometimes require a sacrifice of Other and/or some material object. Summoning can be done in any number of ways, such as saying an Other's name thrice, or performing an intricate ritual.
* Warding: The creation of metaphorical 'walls' through totems, symbols and/or rituals that offer protection from outside forces or seal something inside themselves. At its most basic, which is the level you're at right now, one can protect their own abode and maybe seal an area, with time and effort. Innately defensive.
* Bounce: The natural inclination of harmful magic to rebound on the sender if successfully rebuffed. Others and Curses that return to sender usually do so stronger than before.
* Gainsaying: Calling someone out on their crap, basically. If you point out a contradictory statement, or if you catch someone on an outright lie, or just disprove a statement someone else made, you can have that person lose a fair bit of power and Self and in fact gain some of it for yourself. The loss and gain are proportional to the importance of the lie
- Forswearing: The advanced version. If someone breaks an oath and you're the first one to call them out on it, you can choose the shape of their punishment. Anything from enslaving their bloodline, to calling dibs on all the shit they are sure to lose now that every last spirit hates them, to denying them shelter and protection, making it so fate always conspires again them having a roof over their head.
* Rule of Three: Due to the ancient, world-wide presence of this trope, it has quite an effect on Practice. An Other Bound thrice will be easier to Bind again, an enemy foiled thrice will have a harder time fighting you, an insult delivered thrive with some Power will become a curse. This also applies to you, as if you lose against a person or group three times, then they will have advantage. It's all in how you frame it, since if you survive three times then you could make it seem like they failed and make it harder to attack you.
* Runes: Drawing symbols and putting power into them in order to produce certain effects. It works by communicating the desired effect to the smallest, ambient spirits which then inhabit the runes and move accordingly. A rune can be used on it's own, in combination with other runes, or as part of a complex magical diagram, as long as the symbolism communicates your wishes to the spirits in accordance with tradition.
* Binding: The art of contracting Others and Humans into your service. Considering the harsh punishments incurred by liars and oathbreakers in the world Others and Practitioners inhabit, Binding can be as simple as just getting someone to agree to do what you ask of them. In more combative enviroments, however, more mystic types of Binding are available:
- Negative Binding: The use of elements and symbols that oppose an Other's nature in their binding. For example, geometric lines against chaotic beings, using purifying materials (like salt, silver, bright lights) against malignant Others, iron against things from nature, fresh wood against dead things, etc. Strong for subjugating and paralyzing Others, but if they escape they will do so pissed off as all hell.
- Positive Binding: The use of elements and symbols that are in tune to the Other's essential nature. For example, filth for Goblins, energy for elementals, etc. Slightly less effective than Negative Bindings, but the Other will come out significantly less pissed.
- Neutral Binding: Based around symbolically severing Connections to outside the symbols. Not terribly effective, but a good way to buy time. Usually consists of as little as a salt or chalk circle.
- Voluntary Binding: Basically what you get when the Other agrees to do what you tell them to. Can be done after delivering a beating to the Other. Is usually done after delivering a beating to the Other.
- Mundane Binding: Shockingly, just holding someone in place through ropes, brute force or nailing their limbs in place counts as Binding. Turns out the real magic was the people we kicked the crap out of along the way.
-- Hallows: An object cleansed of other and Other influences and basically 'hollowed out' so that a Spirit or Other may fit inside. Easier to do to inmaterial Others like Ghosts or Elementals, but can be done to other Others as well. (Creation of a Hallow is -.5 Self)
* Summoning: The power to bring a contracted Other to your location. Easier if said Other was previously Bound. May sometimes require a sacrifice of Other and/or some material object. Summoning can be done in any number of ways, such as saying an Other's name thrice, or performing an intricate ritual.
* Warding: The creation of metaphorical 'walls' through totems, symbols and/or rituals that offer protection from outside forces or seal something inside themselves. At its most basic, which is the level you're at right now, one can protect their own abode and maybe seal an area, with time and effort. Innately defensive.
* Bounce: The natural inclination of harmful magic to rebound on the sender if successfully rebuffed. Others and Curses that return to sender usually do so stronger than before.
* Gainsaying: Calling someone out on their crap, basically. If you point out a contradictory statement, or if you catch someone on an outright lie, or just disprove a statement someone else made, you can have that person lose a fair bit of power and Self and in fact gain some of it for yourself. The loss and gain are proportional to the importance of the lie
- Forswearing: The advanced version. If someone breaks an oath and you're the first one to call them out on it, you can choose the shape of their punishment. Anything from enslaving their bloodline, to calling dibs on all the shit they are sure to lose now that every last spirit hates them, to denying them shelter and protection, making it so fate always conspires again them having a roof over their head.
* Rule of Three: Due to the ancient, world-wide presence of this trope, it has quite an effect on Practice. An Other Bound thrice will be easier to Bind again, an enemy foiled thrice will have a harder time fighting you, an insult delivered thrive with some Power will become a curse. This also applies to you, as if you lose against a person or group three times, then they will have advantage. It's all in how you frame it, since if you survive three times then you could make it seem like they failed and make it harder to attack you.
Basic Harbinger Practices: Techniques that can be used quickly, even mid-combat.
* Transformation: The transformation into the Berserker Form. Less of a 'Practice' and more of a 'I'm letting this happen, don't be on the wrong side of me when it does'. Might cause the Mark to grow. Can't use Practices while it's in effect, but certain Rites can still be activated if previously prepared. (-10 Self)
* Fulmination: The power of one's storm is focused through a material projectile (think a tennis ball or a bullet). Increases projectile's damage. On a hit, the storm's effect is increased on that target. On a miss, still creates a cloud of energy that harms those that end a turn there. (-1 Self. Less effective if storm is still sealed, but can be used regardless.)
* Extraction: Power is drawn from the Mark, causing it to grow but giving the following Practice or Rite a major boost while cutting its cost by half or more. Should the Mark grow enough you will cease being human and possibly die, so do avoid abusing this one. Does not work with 'Transformation'.
* Malediction: Dark words are uttered with an enemy in sight. Intensifies negative effects and practices against the target, including the influence of the Harbinger's storm. Defeating an enemy who is the target of this counts as a price paid - gives power or a 'boon' that can be called on to empower practices. Has a four hour cooldown, but the cooldown is reset if the last target is defeated. If a price is paid as the malediction is uttered, however, it takes on a different form as a curse on its own. Such curses are strong, quickly applied, and nasty, with a cost that is only partially refunded if that target is defeated… and the curse springing back on the practitioner if they aren't. (-5 Self if powered)
Advanced Harbinger Practices: Techniques that can be used in combat, though they can consume multiple turns.
* N/A
Lesser Harbinger Rites: Rituals made in preparation to be activated at any time, used to gain an advantage.
* Unearthly Howl: A bitter cry that unnerves foes, breaks morale and shatters concentration. The lingering effect of the cry drives mundanes away from the origin point. If unshackled or transformed, has an added effect. (-2 Self)
* Unshackled Weapon: Expands the size, reach, scale, and side benefits of a weapon, infusing it with energy. If no weapon is involved, might alter a limb for extra power. (-3 Self)
* Unharmed Flesh: Permits the removal of ten minor wounds, five moderate wounds or one severe wound. Will almost certainly cause growth of Mark. Can be used on others. (-4 Self)
Greater Harbinger Rites: Rituals made in preparation to be activated at any time, used to turn the tide of combat at great cost.
* N/A
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Dramatis Personae
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
How much an individual likes you. Higher three ranks are divided by platonic and romantic.
* 90 - 100: Family/True Love
* 75 - 89: Best Friend/Love
* 50 - 74: Good Friend/Crush
* 25 - 49: Friend
* 11 - 24: Friendly Acquaintance
* 01 - 10: Acquaintance
* 00: Stranger/Neutral
* -10 - -01: Acquaintance
* -24 - -11: Unfriendly Acquaintance
* -49 - -25: Enemy
* -74 - -50: Hated Enemy
* -89 - -75: Anathema
* -100 - -90: Nemesis
* 90 - 100: Family/True Love
* 75 - 89: Best Friend/Love
* 50 - 74: Good Friend/Crush
* 25 - 49: Friend
* 11 - 24: Friendly Acquaintance
* 01 - 10: Acquaintance
* 00: Stranger/Neutral
* -10 - -01: Acquaintance
* -24 - -11: Unfriendly Acquaintance
* -49 - -25: Enemy
* -74 - -50: Hated Enemy
* -89 - -75: Anathema
* -100 - -90: Nemesis
How a wider group of people generally feels about you.
* 90 - 100: Champion
* 75 - 89: Adored
* 50 - 74: Loved
* 25 - 49: Liked
* 11 - 24: Known
* 01 - 10: Mildly Known
* 00: Unkown/Indifferent
* -10 - -01: Mildly Known
* -24 - -11: Known
* -49 - -25: Disliked
* -74 - -50: Hated
* -89 - -75: Loathed
* -100 - -90: Menace to Us All
* 90 - 100: Champion
* 75 - 89: Adored
* 50 - 74: Loved
* 25 - 49: Liked
* 11 - 24: Known
* 01 - 10: Mildly Known
* 00: Unkown/Indifferent
* -10 - -01: Mildly Known
* -24 - -11: Known
* -49 - -25: Disliked
* -74 - -50: Hated
* -89 - -75: Loathed
* -100 - -90: Menace to Us All
General Community: 03 (Mildly Known)
The Practitioners of Poet's Hill. If anything can be said about you, is that you know how to stick to your convictions, seeing how you fight for a small town in the middle of basically nowhere. Then again, the potential is there.
Alexander Family: 80 (Adored)
Your family, pretty new since your parents were the first generation (as far as you know) to Awaken or live in Poet's Hill.
* Edgar 'Edd' Alexander: 100 (Family)
Your dad. A pretty laid-back and supportive guy, but you've seen hints that he's been through some serious stuff. Usually makes defenses when practicing.
- Practice: Harbinger (Heart Mark/Protection Deal)
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: N/A
- Demesne: N/A
* Laura Alexander: 100 (Family)
Your mom. You're not sure how she got into the Practice, but she taught you most of what you know regarding offense. A little high-strung, but you and dad try to help in your own ways.
- Practice: Harbinger (Tattoo Mark/Wish Deal)
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: N/A
- Demesne: N/A
Byrnes Clan: 00 (Indifferent)
An ancient clan, older than the town and maybe older than the United States. Very well established. They specialized in dealing with Death, whatever that means.
* Johan Byrne: -01 (Acquaintance)
The oldest Practitioner in Poet's Hill, the head of its oldest family and the guy your highschool was named after. Apparently he's 302 years old. Seems to think everyone else on the planet is annoying.
- Practice: Heartless
- Familiar: Probably that goat
- Implement: Unkown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Martin Byrne: -02 (Acquaintance)
Some asshole with a constant look of misery and an apparent need to talk shit.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
Calloway Line: 02 (Mildly Known)
A family of Practitioners almost as old and established as the Byrnes, they focused on Dollmaking, the making of enchanted ambulatory items.
* Patrick Calloway: 01 (Acquaintance)
The head of the Calloway Line, a grim figure that rarely seems to make an expression besides a stoic face.
- Practice: Dollmaker
- Familiar: Probably that raccoon
- Implement: Unkown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Eric Calloway: 12 (Friendly Acquaintance)
The youngest living Calloway and a bit of a mad scientist type, seeming to be carried by a constant impulse to experiment. Seemed to appreciate you taking an interest in his work.
- Practice: Dollmaker
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: Tool Backpack
- Demesne: N/A
* Brian Calloway: 10 (Acquaintance)
Eric's older brother, a much more sober and serious type than him. Still, a pretty nice guy that didn't doubt to give you a nice word.
- Practice: Dollmaker
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: N/A
- Demesne: N/A
The Untamed: 05 (Mildly Known)
A cult with an enviromentalist twist, comprised mainly of Druids (aka Draoidhe or Callers). You don't know a lot about them.
* Jeanne Wayne-Flowers: 06 (Acquaintance)
The resident cult leader. A nice, cheerful person that seems to spend a lot of time in the garden. Your parents seem to like her and she's pretty friendly. She is still very much a cult leader.
- Practice: Draoidhe (Unkown Patron)
- Familiar: Probably that dog
- Implement: Unkown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Persephone "Seph" Wayne-Flowers: 06 (Acquaintance)
A pretty cheerful girl carrying a hippie aesthetic and also a literal fucking whip. You hope she doesn't dislike you too much for not remembering her... friend? Adopted sister?
- Practice: Draoidhe (Briar Maiden)
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: Whip
- Demesne: N/A
* Grace Bell: 09 (Acquaintance)
You kinda made an ass out of yourself when you last saw her. But you know she likes tabletop gaming and punk fashion, so the potential for friendship is there.
- Practice: Draoidhe (Stormfather)
- Familiar: Unkown
- Implement: Staff
- Demesne: N/A
Stark Family: 00 (Indifferent)
The new kids on the block, a family of Scourges with history and power on their side. Left a big town where they were well-established in kind of a hurry, though no one is exactly sure of what happened as far as you know. No one but them.
* ??? Stark: 10 (Acquaintance)
You met her at your first meeting, and though guarded and kinda confrontational, you hit it off well enough. Also she blushes prettily when you tease her and she dresses in elegant goth fashion, so that's pretty awesome.
- Practice: Scourge
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: Fountain Pen
- Demesne: N/A
Freelance Practitioners: -06 (Mildly Known)
The Practitioners of Poet's Hill that don't owe their loyalty to anyone besides themselves, their affiliated Others, and whoever pays them at the moment. You recently took a job from them, so you made a lousy first impression.
* Donovan Lindt: -02 (Neutral)
Has dogs. That's about all you know about him.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Bernard Grimes: -02 (Neutral)
Kinda dirty. You don't know a lot about him.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Logan Watt: -23 (Unfriendly Acquaintance)
Fuck this guy. He cursed your mom, attacked both your parents multiple times, and threw you dirty looks. Also he has stupid facial hair. Your parents never let you know too much because you're too smart to fight uninformed but too dumb to leave alone someone you hate despite them having more experience.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
The Practitioners of Poet's Hill. If anything can be said about you, is that you know how to stick to your convictions, seeing how you fight for a small town in the middle of basically nowhere. Then again, the potential is there.
Alexander Family: 80 (Adored)
Your family, pretty new since your parents were the first generation (as far as you know) to Awaken or live in Poet's Hill.
* Edgar 'Edd' Alexander: 100 (Family)
Your dad. A pretty laid-back and supportive guy, but you've seen hints that he's been through some serious stuff. Usually makes defenses when practicing.
- Practice: Harbinger (Heart Mark/Protection Deal)
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: N/A
- Demesne: N/A
* Laura Alexander: 100 (Family)
Your mom. You're not sure how she got into the Practice, but she taught you most of what you know regarding offense. A little high-strung, but you and dad try to help in your own ways.
- Practice: Harbinger (Tattoo Mark/Wish Deal)
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: N/A
- Demesne: N/A
Byrnes Clan: 00 (Indifferent)
An ancient clan, older than the town and maybe older than the United States. Very well established. They specialized in dealing with Death, whatever that means.
* Johan Byrne: -01 (Acquaintance)
The oldest Practitioner in Poet's Hill, the head of its oldest family and the guy your highschool was named after. Apparently he's 302 years old. Seems to think everyone else on the planet is annoying.
- Practice: Heartless
- Familiar: Probably that goat
- Implement: Unkown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Martin Byrne: -02 (Acquaintance)
Some asshole with a constant look of misery and an apparent need to talk shit.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
Calloway Line: 02 (Mildly Known)
A family of Practitioners almost as old and established as the Byrnes, they focused on Dollmaking, the making of enchanted ambulatory items.
* Patrick Calloway: 01 (Acquaintance)
The head of the Calloway Line, a grim figure that rarely seems to make an expression besides a stoic face.
- Practice: Dollmaker
- Familiar: Probably that raccoon
- Implement: Unkown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Eric Calloway: 12 (Friendly Acquaintance)
The youngest living Calloway and a bit of a mad scientist type, seeming to be carried by a constant impulse to experiment. Seemed to appreciate you taking an interest in his work.
- Practice: Dollmaker
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: Tool Backpack
- Demesne: N/A
* Brian Calloway: 10 (Acquaintance)
Eric's older brother, a much more sober and serious type than him. Still, a pretty nice guy that didn't doubt to give you a nice word.
- Practice: Dollmaker
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: N/A
- Demesne: N/A
The Untamed: 05 (Mildly Known)
A cult with an enviromentalist twist, comprised mainly of Druids (aka Draoidhe or Callers). You don't know a lot about them.
* Jeanne Wayne-Flowers: 06 (Acquaintance)
The resident cult leader. A nice, cheerful person that seems to spend a lot of time in the garden. Your parents seem to like her and she's pretty friendly. She is still very much a cult leader.
- Practice: Draoidhe (Unkown Patron)
- Familiar: Probably that dog
- Implement: Unkown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Persephone "Seph" Wayne-Flowers: 06 (Acquaintance)
A pretty cheerful girl carrying a hippie aesthetic and also a literal fucking whip. You hope she doesn't dislike you too much for not remembering her... friend? Adopted sister?
- Practice: Draoidhe (Briar Maiden)
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: Whip
- Demesne: N/A
* Grace Bell: 09 (Acquaintance)
You kinda made an ass out of yourself when you last saw her. But you know she likes tabletop gaming and punk fashion, so the potential for friendship is there.
- Practice: Draoidhe (Stormfather)
- Familiar: Unkown
- Implement: Staff
- Demesne: N/A
Stark Family: 00 (Indifferent)
The new kids on the block, a family of Scourges with history and power on their side. Left a big town where they were well-established in kind of a hurry, though no one is exactly sure of what happened as far as you know. No one but them.
* ??? Stark: 10 (Acquaintance)
You met her at your first meeting, and though guarded and kinda confrontational, you hit it off well enough. Also she blushes prettily when you tease her and she dresses in elegant goth fashion, so that's pretty awesome.
- Practice: Scourge
- Familiar: N/A
- Implement: Fountain Pen
- Demesne: N/A
Freelance Practitioners: -06 (Mildly Known)
The Practitioners of Poet's Hill that don't owe their loyalty to anyone besides themselves, their affiliated Others, and whoever pays them at the moment. You recently took a job from them, so you made a lousy first impression.
* Donovan Lindt: -02 (Neutral)
Has dogs. That's about all you know about him.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Bernard Grimes: -02 (Neutral)
Kinda dirty. You don't know a lot about him.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
* Logan Watt: -23 (Unfriendly Acquaintance)
Fuck this guy. He cursed your mom, attacked both your parents multiple times, and threw you dirty looks. Also he has stupid facial hair. Your parents never let you know too much because you're too smart to fight uninformed but too dumb to leave alone someone you hate despite them having more experience.
- Practice: Unknown
- Familiar: Unknown
- Implement: Unknown
- Demesne: Unknown
General Community: 00 (Unknown)
The many Others that inhabit your town. They seem to like the woods. They seem to dislike your species.
Turdblood's Gang: 00 (Unkown)
A gang of Goblins that cause trouble every so often. You're about to fight some of them.
* Turdblood: 00 (Unknown)
The leader of the gang. A strange Goblin that not much is known about, other than he's stronger than he looks.
The Church of Ava-Raum: 00 (Unknown)
The other freaking cult in town, this one is dedicated to some horrible thing from beyond reality.
* Marshall Green: 00 (Unknown)
Someone that called up something he couldn't put down, now he's a Vestige full of something strange. Apparently used to be Dad's mentor.
Lone Others: 00 (Unknown)
The Others that swear their loyalty to no group. You get the feeling it's a hard life.
* "Patch": 13 (Friendly Acquaintance)
Revenant lady, she seems... Nice??? Pretty stable for a rage zombie. Not very open to flirting?
Jack's Bindings: 00 (Ambivalent)
Others trapped by word and power to your will. Sounds kinda bad when you put it like that, actually.
* The Unnamed Goblets: -02 (Acquaintances)
Four little Goblins sworn to your service. You don't know much about them.
The many Others that inhabit your town. They seem to like the woods. They seem to dislike your species.
Turdblood's Gang: 00 (Unkown)
A gang of Goblins that cause trouble every so often. You're about to fight some of them.
* Turdblood: 00 (Unknown)
The leader of the gang. A strange Goblin that not much is known about, other than he's stronger than he looks.
The Church of Ava-Raum: 00 (Unknown)
The other freaking cult in town, this one is dedicated to some horrible thing from beyond reality.
* Marshall Green: 00 (Unknown)
Someone that called up something he couldn't put down, now he's a Vestige full of something strange. Apparently used to be Dad's mentor.
Lone Others: 00 (Unknown)
The Others that swear their loyalty to no group. You get the feeling it's a hard life.
* "Patch": 13 (Friendly Acquaintance)
Revenant lady, she seems... Nice??? Pretty stable for a rage zombie. Not very open to flirting?
Jack's Bindings: 00 (Ambivalent)
Others trapped by word and power to your will. Sounds kinda bad when you put it like that, actually.
* The Unnamed Goblets: -02 (Acquaintances)
Four little Goblins sworn to your service. You don't know much about them.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well, a good start in my book would be to carry around an old-school boombox on our shoulder most of the time, possibly gutted, rebuilt and modded into a case for limited Practice-related trinkets and tool storage. But that's probably more of a story suggestion.
In terms of stuff we could do as players without distracting our QM, what about a 12-track mixtape or CD plan? What's Jack's Awesome Mix Vol 1?
In terms of stuff we could do as players without distracting our QM, what about a 12-track mixtape or CD plan? What's Jack's Awesome Mix Vol 1?
Bestiary
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Known Types of Other:
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- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
If you guys make me a mixtape just for this Quest I will love you forever.
But, quick note since y'all are so nice, because of how the Spirits like stuff they know well and because of the rapidly-advancing nature of technology, using iPods and stuff like that is bad for Practice. Things with a little more cultural presence, like cassette players or boomboxes, might have better effects.
- Location
- USA
Well wait. I don't remember when we are. Ah @Dr Heaven M.D. when does this take place?
- Pronouns
- He
I never got far enough into Pact or Pale to run into a Harbinger (or I might just have forgotten) can we still do the handy little stuff with Shamanism? Specific Runes and symbols to get the ambient spirits to do as we ask?
Or are we mostly limited to the Patron to start with?
Or are we mostly limited to the Patron to start with?
I think we might be a bit limited at first, but only short term, since our focus is going to need to be the Harbinger thing, and I suspect we already know enough for minor stuff at this point. There's a fair bit of shamanism (and law magic) kinda baked into practice as a whole. There is a certain degree of... pigeonholing, I guess, to practice once you go far enough down certain roads, and some of them are pretty much entirely incompatible, but being a Harbinger shouldn't close us off from most forms of magic, including shamanism, AFIAK, unless we're trying to work with say, nature or wildness spirits specifically, since our patron is a machine god. General stuff that draws on ambient spirits should be fine.
- Location
- USA
I was thinking of using the Machine God thing. Becaues of that and or Cyberpunk thing. I thought of the idea of well a hacker, call on more modern spirits and things, and explore the Internet. Becaues with our nature it makes sense to have links to any spirts in there. All the while picking up music and seeing if we got a talent for being a DJ.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
This is the last reply I'll make in a while since I'm working on the next update, but mucking about with modern stuff is its own school of magic (Technomancy) and even then, it's stuck about three decades back at all times, requiring constant updating of your outdated wardrove and tech.
In a crowd of Practitioners, Technomancers are the ones dressed like they escaped from the 90's and skinned the decade for their clothing.
Seriously, there's a character in Pale that has a magic Power Glove. He's great.
In any case, you can use other forms of the Practice, especially the more basic ones. But 'Harbinger' is always gonna be Jack's title and mark, an influence on what we do. It's not bad to try to work machinery into our style, but think less cyberpunk and more steam engines and vintage cars, at most.
- Location
- USA
Its not like I expect Cyberpunk cybernetics. I meant more on style there.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Yeah, I got that. But I'm giving you an example of the most advanced tech that the Practice gets along with. If you try to be too futuristic, you'll end up crippling yourself. It still has a place in Jack's personal style, but not in their mystic stuff.
General rule of thumb: if it feels occult and mystical and crap, it's got a place in the Practice. If not, then probably not.
Technomancers, for example, have a rule of thumb: "Weak, short-lived, fragile. Pick two." They have some things they're good at, but they're very different to what a Harbinger is for.
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- Location
- USA
That is fair and makes sense. But it has me ask. Give what our patron is. Does that impact it at all? Or rather effect how we see tech and the internet.