What would readers prefer?

  • Pure narrative quest: no dice will be used, the author will have free reign to decide what happens.

    Votes: 25 59.5%
  • New dice system: the author will design a new, better dice system to add some randomness and risk.

    Votes: 17 40.5%

  • Total voters
    42
  • Poll closed .
Thanks for reminding me: there's actually four paths including Rituals.

Which means you'll have to go through Basic Red (Fire) into your first Support Spell (Defense), then you can choose to go into Rituals to get Stone Shaping.

That's not too bad then, I guess we've got another project to focus on!

Arcane + Yellow Manekete do work at making Ryza this absolutely stupidly good Mage, huh?

Tell me, does her magic skill carry over into Dragon-Form? Like, is Dragon-Form able to use any spells she learned in Heart-Form? Dragon-Form isn't stupid after all, just impulsive and emotional.
 
That's not too bad then, I guess we've got another project to focus on!

Arcane + Yellow Manekete do work at making Ryza this absolutely stupidly good Mage, huh?

Tell me, does her magic skill carry over into Dragon-Form? Like, is Dragon-Form able to use any spells she learned in Heart-Form? Dragon-Form isn't stupid after all, just impulsive and emotional.

Yes: you guys picked the route that pits her on the path to honestly becoming just about the best mage in the world. She would have been exceptional even if the manakete civilization hadn't fallen.

As for casting in dragon-form: she can only use Yellow magic, and it mostly takes the form of her breath weapon. She can throw up a Barrier (or other support spells; I'll get into those the next time you get into a fight) but she's deep in her blood-magic at that point, so other colors aren't something she can do.

Had she been duel-colored rather than wings, she would have been able to use both colors of magic.
 
Yes: you guys picked the route that pits her on the path to honestly becoming just about the best mage in the world. She would have been exceptional even if the manakete civilization hadn't fallen.

As for casting in dragon-form: she can only use Yellow magic, and it mostly takes the form of her breath weapon. She can throw up a Barrier (or other support spells; I'll get into those the next time you get into a fight) but she's deep in her blood-magic at that point, so other colors aren't something she can do.

Had she been duel-colored rather than wings, she would have been able to use both colors of magic.

Hey, I'm not complaining, I guess Sky-Blessed also makes Dragon-Ryza a better flyer in general as well? Or was having the utility of being able to fly around without going full Dragon the prize in itself?

So huh, does this mean her Breath Weapon now scales based on Arcthunder instead of Elthunder?
 
Hey, I'm not complaining, I guess Sky-Blessed also makes Dragon-Ryza a better flyer in general as well? Or was having the utility of being able to fly around without going full Dragon the prize in itself?

So huh, does this mean her Breath Weapon now scales based on Arcthunder instead of Elthunder?

Both. Dragon-Ryza is a better flier than she would normally be, but she already would have been really good by any comparison other than a Green manakete EDIT: and unmounted pegasi.

As for her breath weapon, it would actually just be going up to Elthunder now, since she's just fully mastered Elthunder. Once she can cast Arcthunder without the tablet, then it'll go up to that, and so on. She won't get the specialist spells for breath weapons; that comes from the emotions.
 
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Both. Dragon-Ryza is a better flier than she would normally be, but she already would have been really good by any comparison other than a Green manakete

As for her breath weapon, it would actually just be going up to Elthunder now, since she's just fully mastered Elthunder. Once she can cast Arcthunder without the tablet, then it'll go up to that, and so on. She won't get the specialist spells for breath weapons; that comes from the emotions.

...

Wait, so that whole "Turn a bunch of soldiers to ash shadows" was Thunder based Dragonbreath?

How much stronger is Elthunder based going to be...

Also, we've got Control of Emotions going on right now, right? That means we get to pick which Emotion Dragon-Ryza is set to if we have to Go Loud? But we can't effectively direct Dragon-Ryza until we have Awakening finished, right? Just that she shares the same core values and desires but takes the Most Direct Route to get her objectives, based on the context of the Emotion we transformed with, right?
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Make a start on figuring out what humans know about spirits: they are your best path to making humans able to use magic without dragonstones.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
 
...

Wait, so that whole "Turn a bunch of soldiers to ash shadows" was Thunder based Dragonbreath?

How much stronger is Elthunder based going to be...

Also, we've got Control of Emotions going on right now, right? That means we get to pick which Emotion Dragon-Ryza is set to if we have to Go Loud? But we can't effectively direct Dragon-Ryza until we have Awakening finished, right? Just that she shares the same core values and desires but takes the Most Direct Route to get her objectives, based on the context of the Emotion we transformed with, right?

It's almost like dragons are Really Powerful :p

And yes, that is a good summary of the current state of interaction between Heart and Dragon for Ryza. Essentially, if she transforms, I just decide what she's going to do based on her emotion rather than giving you all a chance to vote until she's burned through the transformation.

I find oddly funny that Damien Stormspeaker looks like Dr. Strange XD.

Yeah, I just couldn't get him out of my head whenever I was thinking of Stormspeaker. I only wish i could have found a yellow-cloak version.
 
Be like Gwen; even though you can't use that name since people might have heard of Gwyn from Glenhaven.
Is it "Gwen" or "Gwyn"?

more because you've a stranger
"you're"

Duchess Callista's frown deepens as she looks you up and down, staring to take a step forward.
"starting"

You free your power building
"feel"

this is still the woman who helped wipe you your people.
"out"

She's also staring at you like you're about to leap on her and bit her tail.
"bite"

Inky Black emanates from a circle of dark-cloaked boys and girls sit in a circle under a tree
"sitting"

but I had thought you exaggerating."
"you were exaggerating"?

far more than I've seen on a child so small…"
"in"

You're surprised but just how grateful you are to hear him still defending you.
"by"

The woman blinks and finally her gaze away from your wings
There's a word missing here.

[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
 
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[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
 
As you keep doing this, you watch the flow of magic. The more you look at it, the more you realize that… that you don't really need the tablet. Hadn't Runewrighting basically told you that runic magic was basically just normal magic, put into a more permeant form? Frowning, you watch the runes again, mapping them in your mind. Then, after a long moment, you put the tablet down, close your eyes, and try to use your own magic to reform the feedback loop.
This sounds like a foundational trick for humans being able to cast at all without an external source.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Make a start on figuring out what humans know about spirits: they are your best path to making humans able to use magic without dragonstones.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
 
[x] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[x] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[x] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[x] Make a start on figuring out what humans know about spirits: they are your best path to making humans able to use magic without dragonstones.
[x] See if you can find any books about human runewrighting.
[x] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
[x] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.

Yes, I'm greedy and I'm surprised no one else is.
 
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[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[X] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Make a start on figuring out what humans know about spirits: they are your best path to making humans able to use magic without dragonstones.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.

Well, I can't really think of anything more important than these; the options immediately necessary for tactical reasons, plus our big personal project. Under other circumstances, I'd opt for studying for the test, but I think we've got that handled well enough to spend the time on other things.
 
"It's better to have something simple that works than something complicated that doesn't," Lacroix says gently. "Especially when you're starting out."
The wisdom that comes with age and experience. (Never mind the fact that Ryza is probably 2-3 times his age, even if we don't count the time she was asleep in a vault.)

"The animals have been dead for a thousand years," Duchess Callista says bluntly, turning to him. "The Emperor saw to that. Surely whatever little baubles and fables you and your friends are cooking up can wait until the truly important events of the moment are settled."

You are forced to struggle with the wave of rage that crashes over you. How dare she?! How dare she!?
Yeah, um, good job finding the one place in the world where that kind of talk could get you mauled by an extinct creature.

As you study it, you glance at Lacroix. "So… is this something humans can do?" you ask. "This spell works by tying into someone's natural defenses, and humans don't have natural magic."

The mage smiles. "Correction, we have weaker natural magic,"
And sheep have weaker natural intelligence than humans.

"We're not that far from a town, and there might be patrols around. I think it would be best for everyone if we avoided having to answer awkward questions from Imperial soldiers until after you've been accredited."
"Sorry, Lieutenant, my friend's apprentice got a little enthusiastic with her last-minute training."

"Got into a fight with a stuck-up noble girl who was talking down to one of the newer boys like he was one of her servants," Fillia says, jerking her head towards her friend. "I won, of course, and Calta held off her whole prissy posse while I rubbed her face in the dirt."

[...]

Fillia blinks a few times before cocking her head. "Ryza… that's a weird name," she says. "Where do you come from?" She then winces as Calta kicks her in the shin.
Fillia's lucky to have a friend like Calta. Someone who'll support her when she's right, no matter who stands against them, and who'll kick her in the shin when she's wrong, no matter how seemingly petty her mistake.

Master Blitzbolt raises an eyebrow. "I had not heard of any real mages living there…" he says. "Is that why you brought her, Skyfire? To ensure she gets a proper education so that her potential does not go to waste under the inept tutelage of hedge-mages?"
Welp. Every Hogwarts needs a Snape, I guess...especially since Ryza is literally the Dragon Girl Who Lived.

"You can't be considering this!"

You flinch as Master Blitzbolt snarls, genuinely snarls. His eyes are no longer contemptuous as he looks at you… but the sheer, boiling hate in his gaze makes you cringe away and wish you'd put a Barrier on yourself before coming in. "You cannot be considering sullying the reputation of this Hall by letting this Fell-sworn animal wear one of our cloaks!? Archmage Thundercrier fought to exterminate these monsters, not make a haven for them!"
I see what Lacroix meant when he said it could have been worse.

The man who strides in nearly floors you. The last time you'd seen, you'd sensed, such a powerful and controlled collection of Yellow magic was when Father had been putting you to sleep.
Oh, geez. Is he even casting a spell? This guy's a bigger deal than I expected.




Also, we got Barrier and Arcthunder, and we can use Elthunder without our Tablet as long as Ryza isn't interrupted.
Of course, I would expect interruption risks in most scenarios when we'd need Elthunder.


[x] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[x] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[x] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[x] Make a start on figuring out what humans know about spirits: they are your best path to making humans able to use magic without dragonstones.
[x] See if you can find any books about human runewrighting.
[x] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
[x] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.

Yes, I'm greedy and I'm surprised no one else is.
You're basically just voting against taking a break. That's all your greed gets you.




[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[Q] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person. This is important enough that I'm voting for it twice.
-[Q] Okay, I should probably un-X this joke so it doesn't mess with the actual vote. But still. Important. Ryza needs to deliver a letter and make a friend.

[X] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
Basic things. Not as restful as taking a break, but more informative. Also, better odds of making new friends!
Part of me wants to get started on long-term tasks, especially once I saw how many people picked this exact trio of actions, but we need to be focused on the short term for now.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[X] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.

I think that findind Apollo and attempting to study for the exam take care of our most immediate needs, and sitting in on a class (or five) could technically count as relaxation considering Ryza is an academic after my own heart.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[X] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
 
I like Callista, I hope we see more of her.

Thank you for the update, it's always a pleasure!
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[X] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
 
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[X] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[X] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.

Wonder if Ryza will ever learn Mjolnir...
Edit: After all, it was the dragons that blessed the humans with the legendary tomes in the first place within FE Canon.
 
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