Hogwarts Sect of Witchcraft and Wizardry

zinay · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Rex
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Chit] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Chit] Rune of Rest

WhoTheHeckity · Mar 29, 2022

It lives!!!

[X][Name] Fuzzy Wuzzy
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Chit] The Chroma-caller Technique

Karnax626 said:
For the technique I'd actually argue we should max out Lumos(Chroma Caller). If we don't spend a jade Chit on it we have to wait to complete it until we actually train Transfiguration manually, which could be as late as December with current speculation as to plans. I'd rather have our signature technique complete going into Hogwarts.

So vote for it with me :Y

Edit: Just adding some new options I like.

[X][Tactics] Midrange dazzler (disorient, range can float but you're probing, fading, and trying to use light tricks to disguise and distract).
[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?

Karnax626 · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Rex
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Chit] The Chroma-caller Technique

@Karf does Natural Springy ball loop around? So, if the last action in a turn proc's the mechanic, does it add an earth aspect dice to the first action in a turn?

CedeTheBees · Mar 29, 2022

I was about to type out "It feels like cheating using our victory hack to complete the final phase of our signature art" but I don't think I've ever seen a more xianxia protag sentence.

Somehow managed to convert myself to y'all's side lmao

dbRevned · Mar 29, 2022

..I thought people were going to use the Chit, to Get access to a technique we've passed on in the past?

[X][Chit] The Wing Floating Technique

Most physical things hold within them an aspect of Weight, a kind of love for the Earthly realm that pulls them to the ground. The Wing Floating Technique alters that relationship, letting you move heavy objects with naught but your wand and concentration.

For every wood aspect result roll, all non-wood aspect rolls gain +5 bonus.

It has a good effect, and it I like the flavour of it.

[X][Chit]The Overwhelming Tickler technique

[X][Runes] Rune of Rest
[X][Runes] Rune of Perception
[X][Chit] Rune of Perception
[X][Chit] Rune of Rest

I know the other rune is the more optimal one, But I personally like the flavor of the other two more.

FriedIce · Mar 29, 2022

Before I get into the effortpost I want to say that I'm strongly opposed to mastering Lumos via the Chit. This is a very Xianxia take but masteries should be about your own personal insight and cribbing from someone else's screams of having an insecure foundation.

Let's just get a further level of Diffendo instead and master Lumos when we next study Transfig (instead of doing Diffendo)

Karf said:
The little guy is still painfully shy, and it took some convincing to get Dad to believe that the clump of moss under your bed is alive and sentient.

This is very adorable, and I'm super proud of our moss for figuring out how to use the tap with no hands!

Karf said:
That's not to say that it doesn't feel any physical sensation - you quickly learn that it's not fond of heat, or more accurately, dryness

I guess this is the nature of being Wood aligned. Wood Feeds Fire. I imagine it'd have a similar reaction to metal as well.

Karf said:
[][COMC] Woodwind tricks I
You've noticed that your familiar can call on tiny gusts of wind generated by wood Qi when it grooms itself. While the effect is no stronger than a simple exhale from a human, that should be sufficient for generating audible sounds. As for the proverbial voice box - you have some minute experience with a flute, and the stick-hands of your familiar are something it makes anew from scratch every time.
Every 3 wood aspect progress rolls adds 4 to the next wood aspect pool roll this turn.
[][COMC] Water retention I
You've seen your familiar soak up truly prodigal amounts of water - in fact, several times its own volume. Likely, water Qi must be involved, but then, could it call up the stores on command? Or use the effect on some other liquid, like paint, or potions? What about pressure? This calls for experimentation.For every pool which has water as the most frequent aspect (or tied with it), reroll the lowest result roll of the whole turn, keeping the higher number.
[][COMC] Natural springy ball I
With the help of Qi, your familiar can reach Olympic jump heights for its size. In an inversion of earth Qi, it turns its body into a ball that can bounce in complete defiance of physics. You'd like to improve on that some more, and not only because it makes the moss even softer to cuddle.For every earth aspect result roll 25 or less, add an earth aspect pool die to the next action this turn.

These are all very neat and I'll take a deeper look at them later, but I think it's very interesting that they're labelled 'I' - that indicates that there's a lot more levels that this can scale. (Which is probably why the description for these feel like baby's first technique - fitting given our Mossball is the equivalent of a three year old).

It's also noticeable that we have Wood, Earth and Water here. I wonder if the pattern of own element, element you're fed by and element you oppress will hold true for future levels and other familiars.

Karf said:
Except for the times it has, straightforwardness hasn't let you down yet.

Lmao.

Karf said:
"Did you come to waste time? Carefully, and with surety. You said you have crafted charms, no? Show one."

You pull out the towel from your sack, and hesitantly let it loose on a corner of the Elder's desk. The woman says nothing for a while as she watches your creation valiantly enter battle against decades of scuffs and splatterings of wax. Eventually, she appears to be satisfied, "Adequate. You do what you did for the charm, on yourself."

I wonder what the standard is that she's looking for is, because our Charms isn't actually that high - and the towel was our first Charm. Still, this approval seems significant; I wonder if we wouldn't have been allowed to study Runes without at least a basic level of Charms?

Karf said:
"First rule: striking a rune must be done carefully," the Elder continues. "Second rule: striking a rune must be done with surety."

1. Measure twice
2. Cut once
Overall, two very sensible foundational principles.

Karf said:
Elder Babbling lets you stew for a moment before continuing. "Third rule: it is forbidden to use runes on another cultivator. Not only would it not work, you'd cause great suffering. A runic enchantment on a person does not hold for forever.

'In accordance with this law, there is a taboo among alchemists: human transmutation is strictly forbidden - for what could equal the value of a human soul…'

Strong vibes of using Runes on other people being a forbidden art here. Like the safety warning is probably fair and exists for a reason but I'd be amazed if the Dark Lord hadn't managed to grasp and master it.

Actually, isn't there a particularly persistent bit of fanon that Harry's scar is a rune (Sowilo) so he might actually have been runically marked by Voldemort, per the prophecy (if it still exists). It would go some way to explaining his protagonist level performance.

Karf said:
A runic enchantment on a person does not hold for forever. A person changes, and their Qi will slowly but surely overcome any runeword. Through that tribulation, you'll gain more power, but only if the enchantment is carefully crafted, and well planned. It takes time for the effect to build up within you, and that time in turn affects the rune even more.

This is really really cool. Like @Karf, this is insanely cool. Runes being the practice of creating mini internal tribulations as a training tool is so incredibly metal.

It's also, I think, completely original. I've never encountered something like it in Harry Potter fanfic (where Runes is mostly Magic!Language classes) or Xianxia.

Honestly, this is so cool that I'd be down to spend our chit this month on Runes.

Karf said:
"This one should also say that placing too many dams on your Qi can be fatal. At your level... well, at your level I have no recommendations, but certainly no more than the rule of three states."

"The rule of three?"

"Three, girl."

First, lmao.

Second, this indicates that we might eventually be able to use more magic training regimes at once going forwards.

Karf said:
Elder Babbling however just continues, "You may go. Return when you erroneously think you're ready to strike your first rune. I'll make sure you won't commit suicide."

Babbling is now officially my favourite Elder. Can we spec into Runes just so we get more of her, please?

Karf said:
[][Home] Write-in
First encountered during the visit home for the winter holidays, Rei will be doing battle with her own (sub)consciousness. She will succeed, come hell or high water, but the cost is still undetermined. Either she'll need most of her energy to make progress, leading to her becoming quite the recluse, or she'll succeed and maintain her usual schedule. This is your chance to improve her odds by whispering points about metaphorically "putting herself out there". The appeals can be logical, emotional, surreal or anything in between

This gives me an idea - write in incoming.

FriedIce · Mar 29, 2022

Karf said:
[][Home] Write-in
First encountered during the visit home for the winter holidays, Rei will be doing battle with her own (sub)consciousness. She will succeed, come hell or high water, but the cost is still undetermined. Either she'll need most of her energy to make progress, leading to her becoming quite the recluse, or she'll succeed and maintain her usual schedule. This is your chance to improve her odds by whispering points about metaphorically "putting herself out there". The appeals can be logical, emotional, surreal or anything in between

[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?

Tl;dr use art therapy, just shaped through the perspective of a teenage girl who considers herself an artist

Also:
[X][Name] Rex

Edit: sorry for the double post y'all.

CedeTheBees · Mar 29, 2022

Niiiiiice.

[X][Name] Fuzzy Wuzzy
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Tactics] Midrange dazzler (disorient, range can float but you're probing, fading, and trying to use light tricks to disguise and distract).
[X][Vow] Refuse
[X][Chit] The Chroma-caller Technique
[X] [Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?

I'm always down to for an art option.

Yun · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Rex
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Chit]The Overwhelming Tickler technique

Look a chance to generate more fire results seems pretty good idea when Rei already has one technique improving them. Also it is a four meridian technique meaning there is further room to improve fire results if we so choose to do so.

Epic Bygones · Mar 29, 2022

I'd like to argue for two things:

1) Use a Jade Chit for CoMC, either getting 2 of the options we got this update, or if possible, getting the II version of whatever we pick with the other vote (i.e. Springy ball I & II - Is that possible, @Karf ).

Getting a technique is less optimal for two reasons: we'd get it as early as September and as late as December anyway (rather than most likely next summer or 3rd year for CoMC), and its mechanical benefit will just sit idle or make something else sit idly because of our limited number of Meridians (as opposed to our familiar tricks not requiring any). If I remember correctly, we already have 6 things that need a slot and only 2 available. We can safely leave Transfiguration alone for now, and we'll get to squeak in another Meridian action, eventually/soon.

2) Refuse on the Vow vote.

Beside the magic itself being an unknown variable whose alleged effects sound foolish to accept at face value (and from a virtual 12-years-old stranger to boot), I feel like it'll just paint Rei in a corner: odds are our QM will show us something in the Greengrass compound that we'd want/need to reveal/talk about and we'll be forced to keep mum about it, which will negatively affect us both mechanics and narrative-wise.

I love FriedIce's Write-in, and if I had more time, I'd likely try to add more things that could be helpful, even if on the side. But it's solid as it is, so I feel like we're good on that front and I should probably focus on the Tactics vote, instead. I'll try to cook up something later.

FriedIce · Mar 29, 2022

Important question before I get into it about the Chit choice @Karf, do Runes or Care options count towards our meridians?

Also, to our maths wizards working out the payoff - can I check that we're including the cool-down for the Runes? Whilst it won't be an issue long term, we're not going to know enough Runes in the short term to chain them successfully so we're going to have to wait for the full cool-down.

Karf said:
[][Runes] Rune of Perception
A rune meant to boost your ability to notice and recount details to the limit. It is supposed to build up a vault of memories over time, which, when released, let you work with yourself - your past self - to grant you a better perspective about which flows of Qi end up being important and which are just background noise.Gain a stack for each metal aspect pool success.Upon release, gain +15 progress in one chosen skill for every stack.3 turns to release from striking, 2 turns of cooldown upon release.

- Creating a memory vault to tribulate yourself into being better at handling qi is super cool
- Apparently the least mechanically powerful

- May let us move towards more mental related stuff like Occlumancy in the future
- Quick payoff with medium length cool-down

Karf said:
[][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
A rune to limit your physical speed, placing your perception of yourself at odds with the world. When you release the blockage on your Qi, the actual hard part of becoming faster with the use of your personal store of mystic energy is already done, meaning you'll just have to get used to your new-found abilities, rather than train them from the ground up.Gain a stack for each fire aspect pool success.Upon release, exactly duplicate one chosen action per 15 stacks. The action is chosen as part of the plan, i.e. before rolling.5 turns to release from striking, 1 turn of cooldown upon release.

- Will let us be like Rock Lee taking off his weights.
- Very cool, if slightly less so than the others
- Might make planning messy if we have to rely on the stacks from the turn we want to use it
- Gotta go fast
- Mechanically really good and scales well

Karf said:
[][Runes] Rune of Rest
As much as you push yourself, or more accurately enjoy pushing yourself, you also know that there's a time and place for relaxation. Still, there's definitely a part of you that itches to... optimize the resting part as well. The Rune of Rest should, when released, stretch out your perception of time while you dream, letting sweet dreams last just a bit longer, even if you're not actually sleeping any more. Since the body of an immortal can recover remarkably fast, the bottleneck to recuperation is usually the mind, and pleasant fantasies are a cure like no other.Gain stacks equal to your bonus for each result roll 10 or less.Upon release, gain progress equal to the stack amount in the skill that received the least (non-zero) progress since the rune was struck.2 turns to release from striking, 4 turns of cooldown upon release.

- A tribulation of being better rested is the most Xianxia thing I think I've ever read and I mean that as a compliment
- I want it
- Our tribulation is getting a full night's sleep.
- Have I mentioned I want it?
- Scales decently well, though it has a very long cool-down.

[X][Runes] Rune of Rest

For the familiar vote I'm only going to be going by vibes, not mechanics.

Karf said:
[][COMC] Woodwind tricks I
You've noticed that your familiar can call on tiny gusts of wind generated by wood Qi when it grooms itself. While the effect is no stronger than a simple exhale from a human, that should be sufficient for generating audible sounds. As for the proverbial voice box - you have some minute experience with a flute, and the stick-hands of your familiar are something it makes anew from scratch every time.
Every 3 wood aspect progress rolls adds 4 to the next wood aspect pool roll this turn.

- Might eventually let our familiar talk by manipulating the air
- We're an artist not a singer
- This is still adorable
- Using Wood Qi to manipulate air feels like a higher level use of it which could be interesting to see

Karf said:
[][COMC] Water retention I
You've seen your familiar soak up truly prodigal amounts of water - in fact, several times its own volume. Likely, water Qi must be involved, but then, could it call up the stores on command? Or use the effect on some other liquid, like paint, or potions? What about pressure? This calls for experimentation.For every pool which has water as the most frequent aspect (or tied with it), reroll the lowest result roll of the whole turn, keeping the higher number

- I see what you're doing there Karf - 'For every pool that has water in it'
- Using Water Qi to absorb water feels like an inversion of the Water stuff we've seen so far
- I'd say it was Yin Water, but that is normally Ice related
- Might be helpful for our painting

Karf said:
[][COMC] Natural springy ball I
With the help of Qi, your familiar can reach Olympic jump heights for its size. In an inversion of earth Qi, it turns its body into a ball that can bounce in complete defiance of physics. You'd like to improve on that some more, and not only because it makes the moss even softer to cuddle.For every earth aspect result roll 25 or less, add an earth aspect pool die to the next action this turn.

- Makes familiar easier to cuddle
- Inversion of Earth Qi screams Yin Earth to me
- Might give us insight into replicating the trick

[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][COMC] Woodwind tricks I

And editting in the rest of my votes so the bot can recognise them:
[X][Name] Rex
[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?

Epic Bygones · Mar 29, 2022

For our spar with Daphne (assuming we can't use, or at least plan around, the stuff we'll be voting alongside the Tactics):

-While not as much as its upgrade (which we voted for but still don't have), the base Diffindo still gives us range. Technically, we could try and keep our distance at all times, or at least until we discover whether Daphne has any ranged attacks herself, but it kinda defeats the purpose of sparring, even xianxia/magical sparring, as it being a learning experience should still be the primary objective. Also, being indoor would probably make that hard to do. Still, our cutting technique should be used whenever we have time and space, not necessarily to hit our cousin (though that would be good), but also to put her off balance and/or make her move where we want her to move.

-We are short/small/thin compared to our classmates, and likely our cousin too, but we did get a lot of physical training thanks to Quidditch, our potions affect our body along those lines, and we've been in this higher stage longer. Odds are we are physically stronger and more in shape than Daphne, which should play well with our lacking reach and our need to get close. Our reflexes and hand-eye coordination are likely better, as well, at least based on our keeper role and talent.

-We have some experience in using our techniques, Lumos and Nox especially, in a context that has some similarities to sparring, i.e. Quidditch. That might give us an edge as tools to blind her at key moments, but maybe also a disadvantage in so far as Daphne surely knows some of our tricks. Perhaps we could use that knowledge against her, if she expects us to rely on them, by not doing that. Only use them as our trump card after we lull her into a false sense of security, and/or as our get-out-of-jail cards in case things go wrong/poorly and we have no way out.

[][Tactics] Let's get physical

Tl;dr, in order of importance:
-Treat it as a learning experience first and foremost.
-Adapt our currently educated-guess-based tactics into something more fitting for whatever Daphne's abilities turn out to be.
-Fight up-close and personal, giving Daphne no room or respite by always being in her face and overpowering her physically.
-Use Diffindo from range, and/or when we have time and space to use it, in order to hit her or corner/force her into bad positions.
-Lumos and Nox as our trump card when she least expects it, and/or as our get-out-of-jail free card if we're in a bad spot.

What do you guys think?

TimEd · Mar 29, 2022

Rex is such a boring name. Doesn't even have much of anything to do with our moss familiar other than the noble theming, which could just be any other title.

Archduke Moses
Baron bon Boeing
Duke von Lichenstein
Maurice Mosscovich
etc etc

Karf · Mar 29, 2022

TimEd said:
Is this a hanging sentence, or more of a "Mossball learns" general thing?

Should probably have a dot at the end. Meant as an ominous ~the mossball... LEARNS!~~, so a bit tongue in cheek. Still, thank you for pointing it out, will fix when I have some more time.

Epic Bygones said:
Also, could you tell us what we should expect from winning/losing the friendly spar with Daphne, either mechanically, narratively or both? I'm unsure about the stakes, sorta.

Not much at stake really. Pride, flavor, what you might glean from a person during a fight, etc. I have it on good authority that a few less fade to black moments could be nice, and it lets me create a natural break point for the vote, so why not.

Karnax626 said:
@Karf does Natural Springy ball loop around? So, if the last action in a turn proc's the mechanic, does it add an earth aspect dice to the first action in a turn?

For the sake of consistency with other CoMC mods, it does not.

FriedIce said:
Important question before I get into it about the Chit choice @Karf, does Runes or Care options count towards our meridians?

Care definitely doesn't, that's why it always applies after your own skills. For runes, I tentatively want to say that it does not, and that it makes internal sense to apply it before your meridian modifiers, although I might revisit that. For now, the answer is no to both.

Epic Bygones · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Dapperling
[X][Name] Fuzzy Wuzzy
[X][COMC] Water retention I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Chit] Water retention II
[X][Chit] Natural springy ball II
[X][Chit] The Chroma-caller Technique
[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
[X][Tactics] Let's get physical
[X][Vow] Refuse

Hope the Chit vote counts in that format, but I can change it if needed.

Vanguard_D · Mar 29, 2022

[X][COMC] Water retention I
[X][Runes] Rune of Rest
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Chit] The Horizon Slicing Technique

FriedIce · Mar 29, 2022

Karf said:
It makes sense that immortal cultivator clans are wealthy, but the difference has never been quite so starkly cast. There must be acers of well maintained, perfectly clipped grass behind you. You can only just make out a wrought iron fence in the far distance. In front of you stands a three-story country manor, complete with a courtyard and two smaller wings on either side of you. A fountain fills most of the open area, crystalline water flowing up a green metal trellis in defiance of physics before falling back into the pool as tiny raindrops, scattering rainbows into the fresh summer air. Between the wings and the main building, you can just glimpse what must be the gardens in the back, yet more neatly trimmed trees quickly receding out of sight behind the connecting structures' roofs.

This is interesting because of how subtle the magic is here. At first glance it looks like a mundane manorly estate owned by Earl Whatever, and then you notice the subtle hints of magic - a fountain that defies physics, perfectly cut grass for acres.

Given that the Weasleys with their rambunctious, very obviously magical, House are looked down on I wonder if this speaks to what aesthetics are valued in cultivator society.

Something to think about in the future for our art perhaps.

Karf said:
Then you promptly give up, because since when has being a cultivator meant following arbitrary social rules.

Cultivator society really does embrace 'bigger number better person' as an ideology doesn't it? There's all these social rules to learn, but the more powerful you get the more you can ignore them.

Karf said:
The teen's Qi gives a slight jump at the sound of your voice, confirming your suspicion that she's either at or even below your level of cultivation

You know I didn't really get the difference between Hogwarts graduates and the rest of society until this. This is a scion of the Greengrass (presumably with family backing) and is presumably not completely untalented (given talent is likely at least somewhat genetic and Daphne will pass her first year) and she's only at or below our level of cultivation despite a 5-8 year age gape.

Karf said:
"Enough, Astoria! This does not concern you, and you'll just have to wait, oh, two months. The horror! Now leave."

As someone who has sisters this interaction rang very true for me.

Karf said:
"Ah, my apologies. Greetings, mistress Young. Or rather I should say, senior sister. I shall, after all," she takes a dramatic pause as she turns away from you, "see you," another pause as she flicks her hair, "at Hogwarts."

Lmao.

Karf said:
The older girl merely gives a knowing nod. "It's no trouble, young mistress. Is there anything I could get the two of you before you start?"

The level of deference on show is interesting here - its a lot more than you might normally expect from an older cousin to a younger one. Presumably this is the cultivation gap talking, though who knows.

Karf said:
Up close, you can see that you're standing in front of the Greengrass family tree. Most of it is written in what perhaps looks like Mandarin to you, although you can't really say for sure, but the last handful of generations use the Latin alphabet

Huh, the Greengrasses are Asian immigrants. That's an original take.

Karf said:
"Some are just unacknowledged fact. For example the Weasleys are known to produce almost nothing but sons. I believe sect brother Ronald is the sixth of the current generation, and only ever the seventh child born to the clan is a girl. With us Greengrasses, the inverse is true."

Wait. If only the seventh Greengrass child is a man, and Daphne has an uncle but no aunts, then what happened to the other five Greengrasses. And why aren't they on the tree?

And why do all the Greengrass siblings since the 1400s die without progeny?

Karf said:
"Only amidst trusted emerald fields shall my lips utter the secrets entrusted to me," Daphne mutters, responding to your raised eyebrow with one of her own, although the tips of her ears look a bit pink. "It's a centuries old traditional spell. That it works through the ages and several translations is a testament to the ingenuity of the Greengrass ancestors."

Ok, we're pretty explicitly being offered to be read into family secrets here. And without the presence of her mother, uncle or grandparents (if alive). Now, there's a world where she as the Heir has the authority to offer that, but it's still a massive offering of trust (and rebellion).

So presumably Daphne has gone away and verified that our mum both existed and graduated Hogwarts, and then disappeared years later. My guess is that she loves her family, and more importantly loves her sister and doesn't want whatever happened to our mother to happen to Astoria.

There's also the chance that she's decided that we have a right to know, as a Greengrass, as it looks like membership in the family is carried down the maternal line, so we should be part of the family in her eyes.

Karf said:
[][Tactics] Write-in
Nothing lethal in this circumstance, but Rei knows that herself - she can dial down her most dangerous weapon (diffindo) to reasonable levels. Beyond that, just about anything goes.
[][Tactics] A cautious approach against a mostly unknown opponent
The status quo option. You don't know how much Daphne herself has prepared either.

I don't really have any opinions here - I'll vote for anything that looks compelling.

Karf said:
[][Vow] Agree
You're not really agreeing to anything horrific, just to keep a secret. Hopefully it's not demonic-cult-human-sacrifice level dark, but even then it's not like you could be forced to participate.
[][Vow] Refuse
You don't want to be dragged into unknown magics by a girl you've barely met. She's given no indication that the offer won't stand later, and you'll just have to figure something else out... in spite of your lack of other leads.

Now, I hear you all screaming 'don't sign the magic contract that binds you to silence at risk of your magic'. But, I want you all to ask yourselves what a young girl who's been offered the first chance of finding out what happened to her mother would do?

Besides it just swears us to silence about what we're about to be told - it's not like we can't act based off the information and if we decide we don't like being bound by the vow we just need to get swole enough that we can ignore it.

[X][Vow] Agree

And the rest of my votes for the bot:
[X][Name] Rex
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][COMC] Woodwind tricks I
[X][Runes] Rune of Rest
[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?

sleepypanda · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Rex
[X][COMC] Water retention I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Refuse
[X][Chit] The Chroma-caller Technique

GlassMask · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Fuzzy Wuzzy
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Chit]The Overwhelming Tickler technique

BearWolfBoar · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
It has a longer wait time but feels very good. It is also done with fire dice and Lumos has a lot of bonuses to fire dice. I'm not sure how much that helps but I like it.
[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
Feels like this just better, but wood nature of Woodwind Tricks is temping
[X][Name] Rex
I like this one now having read the thread, and how it is supposed to be noble
[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?
[X][Chit]The Overwhelming Tickler technique
We don't have it, and its fire based so their could be more synergy with the Rune
Edit:
[X][Chit] Rune of Rest

Rah13 · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Rex
[X][Vow] Agree

beowolf · Mar 29, 2022

@Karf

This may have been asked this prior to the break, but I don't remember and the relevant vote is happening right now:

Can we use our chit to select an option that was originally mutually exclusive with what we actually developed and have both? In particular, the one in my head is that I really want to have the Tier 3 Lumos upgrade that gives many light sources we can maneuver precisely to combine with Chroma Caller when we get that naturally.

Karf · Mar 29, 2022

beowolf said:
This may have been asked this prior to the break, but I don't remember and the relevant vote is happening right now:

Can we use our chit to select an option that was originally mutually exclusive with what we actually developed and have both?

Sorry, afraid not.

Metalbard · Mar 29, 2022

Hey, welcome back! Hope you are doing fine. Really missed you and this quest!

[X][Name] Fuzzy Wuzzy
I can't believe you people aren't voting for Fuzzy. I've never been more disappointed in my life.

(I'm just joking by the way)

[X][COMC] Natural springy ball I
[X][Runes] Rune of Alacrity
[X][Vow] Agree
[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?
[X][Chit] The Chroma-caller Technique

KarmaA · Mar 29, 2022

[X][Name] Dapperling
[X][COMC] Woodwind tricks I
Bring me illusions with audio!

[X][Runes] Rune of Rest
[X][Chit] The Wing Floating Technique
Dropping rocks on peoples heads seems fun

[X][Home] FriedIce Write-in
-[X] The life of an artist is to suffer. This is axiomatically true. However, an artist's life is not suffering. You will emulate the greatest artists in history and channel your suffering into your canvas. Your frustration with the Muggle world will shape your brushstrokes, your isolation from your dad will imbue your pallet choice and your qi-deprivation will decide your subject matter. And if you feel better at the end of it, well that comes second to having made good art, right?

Angsty

[X][Tactics] Midrange dazzler (disorient, range can float but you're probing, fading, and trying to use light tricks to disguise and distract).

Aiming to challenge without it feeling like a brawl. Noble house might be more about maintaining range and technique vs pure aggro. Not sure.

[X][Vow] Agree
Even if we can't pass on the secret the knowledge can be taken into account when planning our actions.

Hogwarts Sect of Witchcraft and Wizardry

But no one ever asks HowTheHeckity

Probably high right now

The Authentic Fake

The Authentic Fake

Probably high right now

The Authentic Fake

Meteor maker

The Authentic Fake