[ ] Fierce Quickening - The absurd violence of Blood unleashed. Let all that falls within its dominion be spilled, if it be in service to the Ringbearer. Adds [++Agility, +Wits] to the bonuses from Quickening, subject to the usual conditions. Can be taken up to 3 times.
[ ] Vigor Itself - The primordial might and glory of Blood resplendent. Let all who witness its form tremble, and be subject. Adds [++Might, +Charisma] to the bonuses from Quickening, subject to the usual conditions. Can be taken up to 3 times.
[ ] Augment Dominion: Blood - The world-wielding will of the Ring.
Treat the wielder's Rank as if it were (.5 Low/.25 Medium/.1 High) higher for purposes of the [Ring of Power] effect applied to the Blood domain, increasing its potency and versatility. Repeatable, but costs 1 more pick each time.
We know what these do, they're good and don't cost Arete. Perfect for the SAVE gang.
[ ] Exalted Spirit - 2 Arete. Conjunctional [Hunger, Evening Sky]. Mind made vigorous as the body. Gain +Int, +Wits, +Wis, +Cha, -Heartlessness, while in a form with physical blood. Allies under blood enhancement gain +Int, +Cha. Blood enhancement requires physical blood.
This is really a steal at 2 Arete and 1 pick, it just doesn't really help us to complete the rest of the Temple, which is what we have to focus on right now.
[ ] Sublime Transfusion - 2 Arete. The restorative vigor of blood willingly given. The wielder may donate his blood to another in order to heal them. This applies regeneration at a rate triple the wielder's own, and this healing effect is treated as if possessing conceptual potency a full Rank higher than the wielder's baseline, minimum 7. Even organisms of different species can be revitalized through such means.
Very good at healing Verschlengorge but not helpful with clearing the Temple. Unless, maybe, we can Kool-Aid Man our way in with Verschlengorge?
[ ] Ennobling - 2 Arete (2 picks)
Ambition's work is conducted atop the shoulders of giants. Raise up one's servants to appropriately towering stature.
The process of comprehensive elevation of all positive attributes of the blood. Applied continuously over a long period, boons may become permanent and expand in scope, enhancing all qualities of the target and their future offspring. Applies up to +++All Stats to the target, Lifespan improves by fourfold. Elevates the target by .5 Rank to a maximum of 3.5. Does not work on yourself or on species whose native Rank is higher than 4.5.
Effects become permanent after a few weeks focused on a single target, or a few years focused on a small population. Further Advancements may improve both the scale and speed of augmentation. With a thought, the original bestower may retract any boon so given, so long as they possess the Ring of Blood.
Permanent buff to our allies and apparently helpful in diplomacy efforts for the Inner Temple, if we want to go for that.
[ ] Evening Sky - Philosopher's Wreath - 7 Arete (2 picks)
The twilight hours are a time of contemplation, growth of mind and spirit. Perhaps there are more things in earth and heaven than are dreamt of in one's philosophy. But that may not always be so.
They for whom the heavens themselves are aegis and raiment, these are the hours to speak - perchance to dream. And in dreaming, grow strong beyond the imagining of mortal men.
[+Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma]
Select one magic system which you have personally encountered and which is no greater than the Noble Praxis. You may use that system to the limits of your Intelligence or applicable Attributes, developing any appropriate qualities within reason, but this may no more than double your overall advancement. Alternatively, you may improve an existing magic you possess under the same conditions, hastening your rate of advancement in that art by [Intelligence x 100%] and substantially increasing both the variety and the conceptual potency of effects available to it.
Allied mages with which the wearer dialogues extensively find they may develop novel applications of existing abilities and steadily grow in knowledge & power with effort, independent of their own paradigm. This can no more than triple their overall level of advancement, but any progression done on their own will raise this cap. Should said mage no longer be allied, the wearer may strip this power at will, like a dream dissolving at break of day.
Really powerful. The problem is that most of the value of this option is in the long term and we have a really tight schedule if we want to clear the Temple before the Apocryphal comes back online. I don't think even using this to unlock Sorcery, which Rihaku mentioned was the Wreath's option which provide the most power, is a particularly efficient use of Arete when it comes to giving us the power we need to defeat the Temple. And using it for Sorcery is redundant with Edeldross.
Of course, SAVE gang wants to use the Arete we save to get the Ring, which is mostly potential also and introduce the potential danger of the contest of primacy. So, eh...
[ ] Magnitude - Improves the magnitude of the +All Stats buff and the strength of blasts and barriers created. Simple, yet undeniably effective.
Simple yet effective, indeed. Stats are always good.
[ ] Control - Improves the tightness and consistency with which he can direct Edeldross in all forms, allowing for more precise buffs on both self and allies, as well as better placement of effects. May unlock more complex applications of Edeldross.
Could be really helpful but "may unlock more complex applications of Edeldross" is kind of a black box. Make it more reliable for us to buff Gisena, though.
[ ] Experimentation - Focus entirely on developing a specific pseudo-grace maximized to augment Hunger's physical capabilities. This will operate seamlessly in addition to the Edeldross +All Stats buff, but will override that buff where its benefit is greater. Estimated Chance of success: ~70-80%, can be improved with participation. +Gisena.
Presumably the bonus of that pseudo-grace would be better than the additional improvement to All Stats from Magnitude, otherwise it would make no sense to pick this. So it's a question of if it's worth the slight chance that we don't manage to unlock the pseudo-grace and losing the extra buffs to Gisena and stronger barriers and blasts. Also the option give a +Gisena, not that that's particularly relevant right now.
You know, I think I'm fine with any reasonable plan winning this vote. So, I'm selling my vote. Tag me and tell me what you want me to vote for, I'll vote for that and, in exchange, you'll owe me a marker for a future vote.
