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[x] A relaxing winter, trying to remember how to enchant.
-[x] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
-[x] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
 
[x] A relaxing winter, trying to remember how to enchant.
-[x] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
-[x] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
 
[x] A relaxing winter, trying to remember how to enchant.
-[x] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
-[x] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
 
[x] A relaxing winter, trying to remember how to enchant.
-[x] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
-[x] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
 
[X] Plan Magic Time
-[X] Qhaysh Juice: Whatever it is, it's dripping out of the box at a steady rate. You've got two gallons of the stuff and it's still coming out. It's got to be good for something.
-[X] Qhaysh Skunkworks: It would take careful study to unlock the secrets of the liquid. It would take considerably less time to find out if it can be made to burn, or explode, or do something militarily useful.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
-[X] [Additional] Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order.
 
[x] Enchanting and Snooping
-[X] Snooping: Van Hal gave you a key to his Study. It's been a while since he's been in Wurtbad; he probably forgot he did so, and won't remember until he returns. And he didn't specifically say not to poke around and see what you could find.
-[X] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
-[X] [Additional] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
 
[X] Plan Publish and Learn
-[X] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper. (NEW)
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
-[X] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.

Features: No additional actions when they aren't important enough to risk hurting ourself, showing off our shiny new thing, and learning how to use our enchanting stuff.
 
@BoneyM is now the time to write to College and ask if they have a couple battle wizards with free time on their hands?

I was going to tell you to look at the map and then I realized that even though I uploaded the updated campaign map, I didn't attach it to the post. Fixed now.

So no, the Purge is maybe 20% complete. The time to start final preparations for the assault on Castle Drakenhof will be well-telegraphed, I assure you.
 
Between our improved abilities in magic and combat and out new invention we should propably try to make Magister shortly after this campaign.
 
I was going to tell you to look at the map and then I realized that even though I uploaded the updated campaign map, I didn't attach it to the post. Fixed now.

So no, the Purge is maybe 20% complete. The time to start final preparations for the assault on Castle Drakenhof will be well-telegraphed, I assure you.
Are we actually making progress? What's the plan for the land that's been cleared?
 
[X] Plan Magic Time
-[X] Qhaysh Juice: Whatever it is, it's dripping out of the box at a steady rate. You've got two gallons of the stuff and it's still coming out. It's got to be good for something.
-[X] Qhaysh Skunkworks: It would take careful study to unlock the secrets of the liquid. It would take considerably less time to find out if it can be made to burn, or explode, or do something militarily useful.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
-[X] [Additional] Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order.
 
[X]Plan Research
-[X] By all accounts the entire general vicinity it was in has been pulverized, but there could be a shadow of a ghost of a chance that something might remain of the Blasphemy of Blood that could be studied? Maybe?
-- Ranald's Blessing
-[X] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper.
 
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Are we actually making progress? What's the plan for the land that's been cleared?

Yes, much slower than Van Hal hoped but a lot of undead are being killed for very few casualties.

The land that already technically belongs to the Leicheberg is remaining theirs; shepherds are already moving flocks onto them and starting to hack away at the vegetation. Deeper into Sylvania is a whole other question. Chalk hills aren't suitable for agriculture, but if the undead are purged and the spectre of Drakenhof banished... well, it's about three million acres of prime grazelands, surely Van Hal has something in mind for it. Even if he hasn't said anything.
Adhoc vote count started by BoneyM on Feb 20, 2018 at 1:18 AM, finished with 34 posts and 16 votes.

  • [X] Plan Magic Time
    -[X] Qhaysh Juice: Whatever it is, it's dripping out of the box at a steady rate. You've got two gallons of the stuff and it's still coming out. It's got to be good for something.
    -[X] Qhaysh Skunkworks: It would take careful study to unlock the secrets of the liquid. It would take considerably less time to find out if it can be made to burn, or explode, or do something militarily useful.
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    -[X] [Additional] Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order.
    [x] A relaxing winter, trying to remember how to enchant.
    -[X] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
    -[X] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    -[X] By all accounts the entire general vicinity it was in has been pulverized, but there could be a shadow of a ghost of a chance that something might remain of the Blasphemy of Blood that could be studied? Maybe?
    -[X] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper.
    [X] [Plan] Teach me to write
    -[X] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper. (NEW)
    -[X] Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order.
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    -[X] [Additional] Undead Research: You know the basics, now. Perhaps a great deal of effort will allow you to advance further.
    [X] PLAN STUDY STUDY STUDY.
    -[X] By all accounts the entire general vicinity it was in has been pulverized, but there could be a shadow of a ghost of a chance that something might remain of the Blasphemy of Blood that could be studied? Maybe? (NEW)
    -[X] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper. (NEW)
    -[X] [ADDITIONAL] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    [X] Plan Enchant Guns
    -[X] Gun Shopping: You're currently using a pistol that was a spare for the pistoliers. Visit Nuln to upgrade. (dueling pistols, two)
    -[X] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
    -[X] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    [x] A relaxing winter, trying to remember how to enchant.

    -[x] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.

    -[x] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.

    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    [x] Enchanting and Snooping
    -[X] Snooping: Van Hal gave you a key to his Study. It's been a while since he's been in Wurtbad; he probably forgot he did so, and won't remember until he returns. And he didn't specifically say not to poke around and see what you could find.
    -[X] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
    -[X] [ADDITIONAL] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    [X] Plan Publish and Learn
    -[X] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper. (NEW)
    --[X] Ranald's Blessing
    -[X] Enchantment: You've finally got the equipment, now you've just got to unpack it all and set up your laboratory.
 
[ ] Publish Or Perish, Part 1: Though it's currently of limited utility to you personally, sharing your discovery might bring it to the attention of hundreds of wizards who could put it to great effect. Though before you do that, you'll need to learn the vocabulary to communicate exactly what it is you're doing, since you can't exactly submit the poor chicken as part of your paper. (NEW)
Okay, a few questions here:

First, is this the sort of thing that Mathilde believes would be a good project for achieving Magister status? How would it rate in terms of expected respect/prestige among wizards if widely disseminated with her name on it?

Second, while "of limited utility to you personally" is pretty vague, this sort of seems to imply to me that we have no intention of actually using bound spells in any meaningful way. Is that correct? Do we need to do testing with humans now that we're sure we can do it with chickens, or are we confident enough in our skills to do that if we need to already? We certainly haven't fully replicated the infiltrator's capabilities, as they could mentally trigger their bound spells to take advantage of them at their own discretion whereas we've only managed to trigger them ourselves while in proximity. Or is there further animal testing to be done, like seeing if those chickens die off anytime soon?

Third, the bound spells line has repeatedly talked about learning vocabulary. If Mathilde's education is somehow lacking in that respect, shouldn't she just have sent off for relevant educational texts to help her figure out what's going on, like she normally does? Or are there just no books on this at all and she'd be personally inventing the vocabulary?
 
Tha hitting with rocks thing is BEYOND genius. They were able to basically hit magic till it cooperated. How the heck that is even possible is a mystery. Maybe a chaos fragmen was in the pool and was drained away with the waterfall? Who knows?
 
First, is this the sort of thing that Mathilde believes would be a good project for achieving Magister status? How would it rate in terms of expected respect/prestige among wizards if widely disseminated with her name on it?

Yes, on it's own it would be a solid foundation for a Magister bid.

Second, while "of limited utility to you personally" is pretty vague, this sort of seems to imply to me that we have no intention of actually using bound spells in any meaningful way. Is that correct?

Less 'no intention of' and more 'no actual uses for it right now'.

The spells you currently know that can be used with this: Drop. Sleep. Mindhole. Silence. Possibly Magic Dart?
Those of the above that are of immediate practical use to you: ...?

Also you're keeping the chicken around to see if the binding unravels on it's own, or if there are any negative long-term effects. In theory it would be way easier with humans, since there'd be more 'room' to work with.

Third, the bound spells line has repeatedly talked about learning vocabulary. If Mathilde's education is somehow lacking in that respect, shouldn't she just have sent off for relevant educational texts to help her figure out what's going on, like she normally does? Or are there just no books on this at all and she'd be personally inventing the vocabulary?

That's what taking this decision would do - sending off for the relevant texts, then learning from them. She doesn't know them already because a) she's only been formally educated up to the start of journeyman level and b) this is an extremely esoteric branch of magic that is rarely needed by Grey Wizards.
 
Less 'no intention of' and more 'no actual uses for it right now'.

The spells you currently know that can be used with this: Drop. Sleep. Mindhole. Silence. Possibly Magic Dart?
Those of the above that are of immediate practical use to you: ...?
Wait, so this isn't compatible with our full spell list, such that we could put a shadowsteed or skywalk spell on someone and have them use it later? What determines whether a spell is bindable?
 
Wait, so this isn't compatible with our full spell list, such that we could put a shadowsteed or skywalk spell on someone and have them use it later? What determines whether a spell is bindable?

Instead of casting a spell on a person normally, the spell is suspended at the point of casting within the binding, until it is released by either the trigger decided by the person that made the binding or by the binding decaying - which you're not sure whether it would happen, perhaps the Ulgu would fade with time or perhaps it would continue on based on ambient magic. You'll be keeping an eye on your chicken, but it's already outlasting the Dhar bindings.

The nature of the binding means it must be suspended within a living creature, and that the spell will be released 'within' said creature - which means that it works entirely as expected with spells like Sleep and such, but it's incompatible with spells that would normally target you and would probably end messily if you tried it with Shadowsteed. It might be possible to do it differently, but it would be a lot harder to redesign the bindings from the ground up than adapting the bindings you studied previously for use with Ulgu.
 
So no, the Purge is maybe 20% complete. The time to start final preparations for the assault on Castle Drakenhof will be well-telegraphed, I assure you.
Good to know! Apart from not knowing the campaign state I don't really understand how much of an advance warning we need to book the battle wizard.
The spells you currently know that can be used with this: Drop. Sleep. Mindhole. Silence. Possibly Magic Dart?
Those of the above that are of immediate practical use to you: ...?
Mindhole sounds useful. A captured agent speaks a command word just before the torture begins and suddenly they don't know anything, no sir.
 
Instead of casting a spell on a person normally, the spell is suspended at the point of casting within the binding, until it is released by either the trigger decided by the person that made the binding or by the binding decaying - which you're not sure whether it would happen, perhaps the Ulgu would fade with time or perhaps it would continue on based on ambient magic. You'll be keeping an eye on your chicken, but it's already outlasting the Dhar bindings.

The nature of the binding means it must be suspended within a living creature, and that the spell will be released 'within' said creature - which means that it works entirely as expected with spells like Sleep and such, but it's incompatible with spells that would normally target you and would probably end messily if you tried it with Shadowsteed. It might be possible to do it differently, but it would be a lot harder to redesign the bindings from the ground up than adapting the bindings you studied previously for use with Ulgu.
So an agent with a Bound take no head or shroud of invisibility for temporary stealth is in theory possible for example. Would Skywalk be a possible Bound spell? do you affect yourself to walk on air so it works or do you affect the air outside of you to walk on so it wont?

I wonder of we could have a bound Mindhole functiona s an emergency switch to prevent loss of info from captured agents? or Mockery of death to fake their deaths? Gah! so many possibilities I need sleep!
 
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