Analysis of Arete options part 1:
[ ] [A Thousand Cuts] - 7 Arete. In the Forebear's grip could even a common knife blaze with fell power. All melee attacks made with the Forebear's Blade now apply cursed wounds. Septuples the power and speed of the Fell-Handed Stroke and allows it to be used with blade projections. Such horrific offensive power allows one to challenge foes vastly stronger.
Very strong offense, which is an area we lack in currently. I don't think it's a must have though.
[ ] [Iron Curtain] - 7 Arete. The Forebear could not be dissuaded, nor could he be stopped. To dissent was folly, to resist was death. The laws of the Forebear were as natural law, and just as inevitable. When active, ++Willpower, +++Protection, ++Constitution, Ignore Wounds, Deflect Exotic Attacks. Become Tired afterwards.
Good, but it's by no means essential and compared to the other options, I just don't think its worth spending the Arete to reserve it.
[ ] [Once And Future] I - 25 Arete. Channel a fraction of the Forebear's true might, and glimpse a small fraction of his true history. +1 Astral Rank, applied externally after all other factors. Does not raise the difficulty of improving Rank. +2 Astral Rank in matters military.
Note that this is part one of a series. It also gives information portaining to the eventual goal of this quest. And it's really strong in general. Might be worth reserving.
[ ] [Pitiless Maw] - 7 Arete. A Conjunctional Advancement that requires the Forebear's Blade. How can hunger perish from this world? So long as there is one hungering thing, it will emerge again and again to feast upon this realm of mere phenomena. Passively restore health equal to 100% of the damage you deal in melee combat, and triples the Power of Ruin associated with melee strikes.
Moderately expensive and gives 100% lifesteal. Also gives increased power. Combos well with A Thousand Cuts.
[ ] [Dead But Dreaming] - 25 Arete. That is not dead which can eternal lie. And with strange aeons... Death merely induces slumber in the wearer until the heavens align for his emergence once more. Gain access to the [Outer Sorcery] skill, by which means one's dreams may twist reality towards one's purposes. Apply the effects of To Shatter Heaven to [Outer Sorcery].
Immortality and an extra magic system, with To Shatter Heaven applied. Very good, very cool, very thematic. Is it worth spending Arete to reserve? Probably, but we only have so many choices.
[ ] [Ruling Ring] - 25 Arete. There can only be one Ruling Ring. Enormously increases the strength, range, and control of the [Ring of Power] effect. ++All Stats, ++Progression.
We've talked about this before, it's really good. It's also the most generalistic 25 Arete option, which is valuable since 25 Arete options are hard to get and it's nice to have one that boosts everything. Worth reserving, but so are a lot of things.
[ ] [Azure Moon] - 7 Arete. That which reigns resplendent once in a blue aeon. The wearer gains access to his true [Soul Evocation], [Imprisoner], and high-grade talent in its use. Power as this may be, recall that the use of Soul Evocations requires extensive technical study which will be difficult to perform under the constraints of Hunger. However the potential benefits are enormous enough that it may be worth pursuing even at a mortal's pace.
Oh hey now we can have that other magic system we missed out on. Super versatile, and we know it can lead to mitigation options, but it's a bit anti-synergistic with our playstyle. I really want this but it's maybe not as essential as other options.
[ ] Total Eclipse - 25 Arete. The numinous time of sacred transfixion. Night sweeps field and horizon in a thundering advance, soft halo of the blinkered sun the residue of day. Twilight's orphaned half-brother, cast aside on the eve of creation and trotted out only for spectacle and occasion. No longer, for the flare of your cloak is this twilight pretender, the liminal glow that precludes day and evening both. Unlocks the [True Quintessence], by which She Who Was The Maiden attained supremacy over the Manifest Realm, and for which the Maiden's successors might one day be anointed.
The boost Gisena option. If we're planning on taking her with us for the arbitrarily large amount of time that is the Geass on Indentiture, we'll want her to be able to keep up. This allows that and also gives us a new magic system? It seems that way.
[ ] [Pillars of Creation] - 25 Arete. At the end of each lunar month, wearer and companions may steal away to the realm of Evening, during which no time passes in the mortal world. Divine opulence and every conceivable luxury await the fortunate interlopers, restoring wholeness of mind, body, and spirit.
The realm of Evening responds to the desires of the wearer and can be shaped to induce a variety of effects at nigh-deific scale - worthy enemies, fields of unique reagents, anagathic peaches, arms and armor of myth - only one rule is absolute: that each stay lasts seven days, no more or less. Items typically cannot be carried out, though the effects of items consumed within the realm remain after departing it.
All Curses save the Geas of Indenture are only at one-third severity within the realm, though this does not stack with other forms of mitigation, nor impede their function externally.
Already been discussed, it's really good. Especially since we got huntress's moon, this will give us a certain amount of time free of the Decimator, and also grant a lot of boosts to ourselves, our teammates, and also can be used for level grinding.
...I'm going to have to make another analysis post, narrowing down the options until I've hit one to three that I think are the best. I don't think we want to spend five Arete on things we won't have for a long time, that's too greedy and will **** us in the short term.
