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Vorstallen Magic Preparatory - The Third-Best School for Young Mages in the Nation! Enrol Today!

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TotallyNotEvil said:
You know, every few updates there's this "I will show them, I will show them all!" moment such that I can't help but see how mages kind of hate each other if this is normal behavior.

Also, I don't know if Sadulk showed that mind magic is way, way better than it seemed, or confirmed the initial description that it's something only useful to bully muggles and super noob mages with.
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This is something I've struggled with, where, yes, mages are generally sort of not good with people - especially the best ones. Magic is a highly rigorous discipline when more and more time obsessively spent pursuing one thing makes you better and better. If you lived in a world where the best physicists/computer scientists/mathematicians/engineers were also highly potent murder machines who could kill you with a wave of their hand I suspect university funding would look very different.

In a nonmagical world social skills and charisma are overpowered in terms of being top of the heap, in a world where you can translate obsessive single-mindedness towards a single pursuit into raw power (or immense wealth), you get a lot of powerful obsessive single-minded people.

Madavian probably has the best social skills out of everyone you've met thus far, and it's because he's not just naturally charismatic but he was taught from birth to be that way.

That being said, the thing I've tried to define about Inukar is preparation. The man prepares his lessons, prepares how to stream his students - when he invites you to visit him he doesn't do it on the fly (though that's far more likely to catch a cheater), he sits down, thinks about the problem and prepares a scenario to catch Ulos out if he is cheating. He's not great at intrigue - he 'caught' Henrietta cheating and didn't figure out the plot behind it, because he's bad at thinking on the fly.

He pretty much comes up with the idea for Ulos to spy on Pia on the fly, tells him more information than he rightly should, mutters to himself for a bit and asks Ulos to do it. He fails to properly prepare against what is fairly obvious (Ulos being targeted by mind magic after it happens the first time), teaching him a spell instead of potentially setting up protections or using artifacts himself. He doesn't have time to prepare and he more-or-less sets Ulos up for failure.

He then proceeds to say some useful things on theory, then basically insult Ulos, and doesn't speak again for a few hours when they're back at the Preparatory and he gives his little speech on risks - which he was preparing for during the ride back. He's an incredibly smart magical theorist who Edward refers to as possibly the best living theorist, but when he's put on the back foot he's not very good at all.

occipitallobe said:
Yeah, Inukar is a huge bald muscular powerful mage of a guy who's default mode seems to be 'intimidating'. That being said, a lot of it is image management. Magical theory is the most boring class your average first-year takes (you can't do a whole bunch with it, the utility is locked at the end of the tree, and other classes tend to offer magic right now), so playing up the image does help. He's far and away the least scary fully-fledged mage you've met (in terms of bodycount, and willingness to expand said bodycount) in the quest, though.
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Even his image is managed and prepared - Miranova can just kill you whenever (if Miranova chose to kill every single person in the Preparatory one day... well, let's just say she's the only person who could plausibly do it) and doesn't care how she looks really as a consequence, but Inukar shaves his head and gets swole in part because he wants to present a certain image and he's not good at maintaining his image without careful preparation.
 
TotallyNotEvil said:
You know, every few updates there's this "I will show them, I will show them all!" moment such that I can't help but see how mages kind of hate each other if this is normal behavior.

Also, I don't know if Sadulk showed that mind magic is way, way better than it seemed, or confirmed the initial description that it's something only useful to bully muggles and super noob mages with.
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Forgot to address the second part.

Mind magic is incredibly cheap to defend against in terms of spells/artifacts. Most magics take effect at a distance from you - you can put a 'block spell around me' barrier up but if someone shoots a rock with magical force the rock still hits you because it's just normal force after the magic ends.

Mind magic needs to touch you personally. Sigils can defend against it more effectively and flexibly (allowing mind magic from your allies to be used as communication, for instance), but a runic artifact that just no-sells all most mind magic is relatively cheap.
 
@occipitallobe Say we made a stone or metal map. How hard to add more features would it be, in the future? Does each material's property make it easier or harder?

[X] Plan METAL Marauder's Map
 
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On a d100, that's still pretty bad odds. It's a dc85 with +20 to the roll, not a dc65 +20.
 
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I guess. But the clay one is more likely to succeed in one try than the metal in two and I don't think the superior quality is worth the risk. Ymmv though.

@Raron any chances you'd want to add a bleed effect?
 
Waffle said:
I guess. But the clay one is more likely to succeed in one try than the metal in two and I don't think the superior quality is worth the risk. Ymmv though.

@Raron any chances you'd want to add a bleed effect?
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While I have nothing against bleed effect, I have moral qualms about modifying the plan after votes have been cast for it.

Am currently considering just adding Bleed and Illusions for variety and voting for both plans. It's not like we are limited to one vote. You can vote as much times as you want for different plans. I mostly didn't pick it due to the fact I didn't want to take malus to releationships.
 
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[X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
-[X] Clay - The least resilient, but also the easiest to make. Ulos is good at crafting clay to begin with. Lowers DC by 10, but the Map is far more breakable.
-[X] Life Detection - The Map detects life - only above a certain size, as to not be overwhelmed by grass, insects, animals, etc. It will pick up lifesigns in its designated area. +20 DC.
-[X] 3D Display. A display of lights that becomes a three-dimensional holographic display when detecting something above or below ground level. +10 DC
-[X] Name Features. A keyboard made of lights can store information on each detected entity. Resets when entities walk out of range. +5 DC.
-[X] Persistent name features. Once named, the Map will remember each detected entity forever (unless their life energy is disguised somehow). +15 DC Requires Life Detection, requires Name Features.
-[X] The Dorms, Surrounds, and Classrooms - Still limited, but can protect you in the classrooms you all current go to on a weekly basis. Henrietta's strong preference. + 15 DC.
-[X] No Additional Work. No DC change.

[X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good + Illusion and Bleed
-[X] Clay - The least resilient, but also the easiest to make. Ulos is good at crafting clay to begin with. Lowers DC by 10, but the Map is far more breakable.
-[X] Life Detection - The Map detects life - only above a certain size, as to not be overwhelmed by grass, insects, animals, etc. It will pick up lifesigns in its designated area. +20 DC.
-[X] Illusion Detection - The Map detects illusions of any kind, though only detects the location of the spell, not the effect. Henrietta would like to add this. +30 DC.
-[X] 3D Display. A display of lights that becomes a three-dimensional holographic display when detecting something above or below ground level. +10 DC
-[X] Name Features. A keyboard made of lights can store information on each detected entity. Resets when entities walk out of range. +5 DC.
-[X] Persistent name features. Once named, the Map will remember each detected entity forever (unless their life energy is disguised somehow). +15 DC Requires Life Detection, requires Name Features.
-[X] The Dorms, Surrounds, and Classrooms - Still limited, but can protect you in the classrooms you all current go to on a weekly basis. Henrietta's strong preference. + 15 DC.
-[X] Mana Bleed - Mana discharge rate is doubled, but runes that allow Bleed are far, far easier to carve. -10 DC. Henrietta finds the idea of magical bleed as part of the design repugnant, and does not want to take this option.

Basic idea is just to future proof the map, the DC is 55 (54). It makes it less expendable, but adds functions which would otherwise be unavailable. Bleed actually isn't necessary, but it's there to prevent a high DC.
 
[X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good

[X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good + Illusion and Bleed
 
[X] Plan METAL Marauder's Map

if ulos only ever sticks to clay that'll be a serious limit. might as well get some work in on metal
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by occipitallobe on Jul 8, 2020 at 1:44 AM, finished with 37 posts and 12 votes.
  • [X] Plan METAL Marauder's Map
    -[X] Metal - Requires etching metal. Henrietta has some experience in metal runecraft. Henrietta's preference. Increases DC by 20, but the Map is close to invincible.
    -[X] Life Detection - The Map detects life - only above a certain size, as to not be overwhelmed by grass, insects, animals, etc. It will pick up lifesigns in its designated area. +20 DC.
    -[X] 3D Display. A display of lights that becomes a three-dimensional holographic display when detecting something above or below ground level. +10 DC
    -[X] Name Features. A keyboard made of lights can store information on each detected entity. Resets when entities walk out of range. +5 DC.
    -[X] Persistent name features. Once named, the Map will remember each detected entity forever (unless their life energy is disguised somehow). +15 DC Requires Life Detection, requires Name Features.
    -[X] The Dorms, Surrounds, and Classrooms - Still limited, but can protect you in the classrooms you all current go to on a weekly basis. Henrietta's strong preference. + 15 DC.
    -[X] No Additional Work. No DC change.
    [X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
    [X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
    -[X] Clay - The least resilient, but also the easiest to make. Ulos is good at crafting clay to begin with. Lowers DC by 10, but the Map is far more breakable.
    -[X] Life Detection - The Map detects life - only above a certain size, as to not be overwhelmed by grass, insects, animals, etc. It will pick up lifesigns in its designated area. +20 DC.
    -[X] 3D Display. A display of lights that becomes a three-dimensional holographic display when detecting something above or below ground level. +10 DC
    -[X] Name Features. A keyboard made of lights can store information on each detected entity. Resets when entities walk out of range. +5 DC.
    -[X] Persistent name features. Once named, the Map will remember each detected entity forever (unless their life energy is disguised somehow). +15 DC Requires Life Detection, requires Name Features.
    -[X] The Dorms, Surrounds, and Classrooms - Still limited, but can protect you in the classrooms you all current go to on a weekly basis. Henrietta's strong preference. + 15 DC.
    -[X] No Additional Work. No DC change.
    [X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good + Illusion and Bleed
    -[X] Clay - The least resilient, but also the easiest to make. Ulos is good at crafting clay to begin with. Lowers DC by 10, but the Map is far more breakable.
    -[X] Life Detection - The Map detects life - only above a certain size, as to not be overwhelmed by grass, insects, animals, etc. It will pick up lifesigns in its designated area. +20 DC.
    -[X] Illusion Detection - The Map detects illusions of any kind, though only detects the location of the spell, not the effect. Henrietta would like to add this. +30 DC.
    -[X] 3D Display. A display of lights that becomes a three-dimensional holographic display when detecting something above or below ground level. +10 DC
    -[X] Name Features. A keyboard made of lights can store information on each detected entity. Resets when entities walk out of range. +5 DC.
    -[X] Persistent name features. Once named, the Map will remember each detected entity forever (unless their life energy is disguised somehow). +15 DC Requires Life Detection, requires Name Features.
    -[X] The Dorms, Surrounds, and Classrooms - Still limited, but can protect you in the classrooms you all current go to on a weekly basis. Henrietta's strong preference. + 15 DC.
    -[X] Mana Bleed - Mana discharge rate is doubled, but runes that allow Bleed are far, far easier to carve. -10 DC. Henrietta finds the idea of magical bleed as part of the design repugnant, and does not want to take this option.
    [X] I solemnly swear that I am up to no good + Illusion and Bleed
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8.1.2 - Everything is difficult today
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    • Dice Roll: 38 + 17 (Henrietta's Expertise and Tools) = 55 vs DC 85. Two-step failure. No DC reduction to future rolls.

    The design had been a grueling time, and when it came time to actually make the map... their skills had failed them. Oh, each rune was easy enough to carve, but keeping them in unison, letting power flow from one to the other, ensuring it was all sufficiently well-constructed that the power didn't bleed out to nowhere... it had been much harder than they had thought.

    A failure, there was no other way to describe it. Henrietta had described inscribing runes on metal as 'far more difficult', and Ulos saw why. Clay runes did not need to be etched so precisely with such powerful tools, and a mistake in clay was easy enough to rectify - just sketch another rune. It took little enough time.

    Relationship roll - 35 + 20 (True Friend or no Friend) + 20 (Design Choices) = 75. Henrietta relationship improved one step!

    That being said, it had been a very good day. One thing Ulos admitted to himself as Henrietta chatted to him about ether transfer and runic linking sequences was that while Madavian and Abraham were his friends, they were not his intellectual equals. Oh, Madavian could charm a caterpillar into becoming a butterfly and then charm the wings right off it, and Abraham was unusually focused and competent (from the little Ulos had seen) at combat and casting, but in terms of theory? He tutored them - he didn't discuss these things with them.

    Henrietta on the other hand was probably smarter than him, Ulos admitted in a small moment of frustration. Ulos worked harder and longer than Henrietta did, there was no doubting it, but in terms of picking up the same concepts in the same time, she outdid him every time. She lacked his drive, Ulos admitted - several times they'd taken a break and she'd made tea, and she'd chatted about small things that had happened in her week, or talked about the new novel she was reading. Ulos felt an anxiety in his stomach rise up, all that wasting time when they could have been working. Despite knowing deep down he could still exceed her if he worked ha it grated to be the second-smartest person in the room.

    He resolved to work harder.

    -------------

    On Tuesday, he decided to work again on his magical meditation - to see what had happened since he had drunk the Ghost Lotus Tea.

    Roll 1x5 = 5

    +6 Arcane Meditation (0/10 next level) becomes +6 Arcane Meditation (5/10 next level)

    Virtually no progress. He sat and meditated, and felt nothing. He wasn't sure why. But, it was what it was.

    ------------

    Lastly, he had resolved to try and make another friend. No help from Madavian, no leaning on his abilities to substitute learning for friendship. He would just go up to someone and talk to them.

    Terrifying.

    Roll 23 + 10 Cha + 11 Lore(Souls and Spirits) = 43 vs DC 80 (Narubite). Two-step failure! Minor relationship loss. Increased DC in future.

    It wasn't long, but he managed to catch Lucy after class the next day. He took a deep breath, walked up, and spoke.

    "Lucy."

    "Oh, pink-haired boy's friend. How are you?"

    She hadn't even remembered his name? Ulos decided to pretend he had forgot hers, and then realised he'd already said it.

    "So, uh, I have a question."

    She cocked her head at him.

    "Yes?"

    Her voice was a little cold, and she seemed to be peering down at him. After a moment, Ulos realised there were several people around - a few from Narubar. Laila was among them.

    He felt his courage desert him. Was she being cold because she genuinely disliked him, or because there were so many Narubites around?

    He wasn't sure, but decided not to push further.

    "Actually, it doesn't matter. Never mind."

    He hurried away.
     
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    • As an aside, this is why diplomacy with Narubite characters is so difficulty, especially at the beginning of any friendship. They all strongly dislike you (or have social pressure to disdain you), and Ulos's diplomacy skills aren't exactly top-notch to begin with.

    Next post will be the class posts for the week which will mainly be (excepting any crazy good rolls that necessitate anything interesting) exam info.
     
    8.1.3 - No, seriously, everything
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    • It had been, Ulos decided, a bad week all in all.

    History had been a wash - he'd kept a little knowledge in his head, but nothing special. It had been difficult all week, the pain buzzing around his head. Honestly, dealing with Narubite marriage customs of all things had been a nightmare - only women were allowed to propose marriage, with Narubite courting largely being men giving gifts to women to encourage them to propose marriage - a woman proposing marriage was then to return all proposal gifts she had received to the man she had decided on.

    It seemed more Vorstal than Narubar, if Ulos was to be honest. Like an auction, but if you chose the winner and they received all the wealth that had been bid. Pecuilar.

    Sixty years ago a Senator had given enough wealth to a second Senator's daughter to buy a small fleet, and she had turned around and married a farmer's son.

    Of course, customs weren't as malleable as all that, with the farmer's son being killed two months after their wedding. The Senator's daughter had proposed marriage to the Senator in question soon after. He wasn't quite sure what lesson the professor was trying to teach them here. The most obvious was that customs only had so much power, and that in front of real power law and custom tended to fall away. This made sense to Ulos, who's life had been dominated by the power of others. Flits had their own laws and customs for dealing with one another, but if a Lich-Paterfamilias wanted something, that was the law, not words on some paper.

    Lore: Six-Fox Pact was +9 (6/10) now +10 (6/20)

    Professor Junotrin spoke at the end of class.

    "Exams. You have two more weeks of classes after this, and then the two-week exam period. Exams in my class are either oral, or a prepared essay. The oral exam tests your knowledge and ability to speak well on the topics you've been taught. The essay is more difficult, but rewards those with better research skills."

    She smiled.

    "Unlike other classes, there are no new options, no special classes for doing well in my class. I do, however, offer a small reward. I am a reasonably talented Alchemist."

    She flicked her hand and a Concoction appeared in her hand, a tiny metal jug sealed with a cork.

    Ulos swore it had just been up her sleeve previously.

    "Heartsblood from a dying Narubite historian, crossed with... well, I shan't give away my recipe. But if you want a temporary knack for learning, drink this. Not learning, per se, I suppose. Memorization. For about two days you'll remember near everything you do, see, or read. I advise you don't waste your time when you drink it - if you lock yourself in your room studying for two days you can make a week or two worth of progress."

    She smiled.

    "Whichever of you impresses me the most will get this."

    ----------------

    Lore Souls and Spirits now +12 (0/20 next level) to +12 Souls and Spirits (5/20 next level)

    Miranova stared at him.

    All lesson.

    It had put him off so badly he couldn't concentrate. He barely managed to write down his notes.

    At the end, she spoke.

    "The exam. You all pass if you're not incredibly stupid, lore is meaningless for someone trying to properly go down this path. I have to set one, and if you fail it I'll be displeased."

    She muttered something in a language Ulos didn't understand, and the room suddenly roared and swirled, and moved them elsewhere.

    "Now this is something I've given some thought to."

    An... illusion? No, that didn't seem right.

    "I've hidden a Spirit somewhere on campus. Bound it tightly. Six clues in various challenges, each forming part of a question. If you ask the right question the Spirit will give you an answer. Bring that answer to me, and I'll reward you. Now, the challenges won't kill you or maim you, but don't expect to keep your eyebrows."

    Miranova smiled sweetly, looking for all the world like a cherubic old woman.

    "Lot of pain, though."

    She grinned.

    Action Unlocked - Six Parts to the Key

    ------------------------------

    Spellweaving +7 (1/10 next level) to +8 (0/10 next level)

    Spellweaving went fairly quickly.

    "That's enough spellcasting. Next two weeks we'll be learning the basics of retreating from combat."

    They were also taught, almost as an afterthought, thermal detection. Ulos wrote the details down, and managed to get the basics down.

    "For an exam, well. Spellcasting. Avoiding illusory spells, as well. We won't be failing anyone, and it's doubtful you'll move up a class. If you do exceptionally well you could potentially look at magical combat, but to be honest, I doubt that will happen."

    ---------------------------

    (4+1) * 4 = 20.

    +28 Magical Theory (15/35 next level) to +29 Magical Theory (0/35 next level)

    Edward just looked at him with frustration.

    "Ulos, why are you this stupid this week? This is the worst performance I've seen out of you. Are you drunk? The exams are a simple written test, but right now I'm not sure if you'd even get that right!"

    Ulos breathed in, and spoke. He hadn't told anyone else of the Ghost Lotus Tea, but... Edward had been chewed out by Inukar for being risky. He could understand... right.

    After explaining, Edward's eyes were filled with... not quite sympathy, but something close to it.

    Relationship bonus: Ghost Lotus Tea and Trait: Forging Onwards

    Relationship upgraded: Edward Aster (Waste of Time) to Edward Aster (Temporary Confidante)

    "Mm. Miranova had you drink that? You realise it could have killed you?"

    "Well, she said it wouldn't."

    Edward looked at him in open disbelief.

    "I forget you're a Flit, sometimes, Ulos. You think an old monster like Miranova would care if she killed you? Oh, she'd try and avoid it as it'd be inconvenient, but..."

    He shook his head.

    "Miranova wouldn't kill me. She wouldn't kill your pink-haired friend. Looks ridiculous, by the way. But a Flit from the Empire? Nobody is following you up if you die. It'd be a black mark on her record, but nothing else. I looked her up last week after you talked to me. Did you know they suspected her of murdering a minor family member from Kerek in an expedition? Kerek sent out a team of hit mages after her to kill her legally while she was on an expedition. They never came back, but ten years afterwards they found them encased in lava. It never solidified, Ulos, despite being hundreds of metres underwater."

    Edward was breathing a little hard now.

    "Be careful. I appreciate your need to take risks, and I agree with them."

    Ulos looked at him.

    "I know, Edward. But what else can I do?"

    Edward hummed under his breath.

    "I need a second set of hands, well, a second set of eyes and a second brain for some experiments I'm running. You're not particularly smart, but at least you're conscientious. Good for reviewing proper work. Take Alchemy and Runecraft as your electives next term. Inukar won't be happy that I'm involving you, but I'm sure you can deal with the fallout. What do you say?"

    [ ] Yes - Upgrade Edward's relationship from Edward Aster (Temporary Confidante) to Edward Aster (Laboratory Gofer). Will gain extra bonuses from Edward next term, however, you will damage your relationship with Inukar. You will lose 0-4 Actions per week (on average 2) to assist Edward. You will no longer be getting his Magical Theory tutoring, however, so you will have 7 Actions available per week.

    [ ] No - Leave things as they standard. Edward's relationship will go from Edward Aster (Temporary Confidante) to Edward Aster (Minor Waste of Time)
     
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