A Revolution of Mages and The Magicless

Should dice rolls be used in future updates?


  • Total voters
    6
-[X] Go out shopping for food.
--[X] Bring Joshua with you.


Staying in and studying would be nice skill wise, but the quest just got started lets be a bit rebellious make our lives a bit more interesting.
 
-[X] Go out shopping for food.
--[X] Go by yourself.
Let's live a little! We'll have more than enough time for skills and stats later.
 
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-[X] Go out shopping for food.
--[X] Go by yourself.

I'm getting the feeling visibly helping him is just making it worse for him.
 
Greetings ladies, gentlemen, and sexless robots! I'm going to close the polls at 12:00 noon tomorrow (again, Eastern Standard Time). Make sure to vote by then. I have finals to take care of next week (mostly papers), so I don't know when I will be able to update next. I'll keep everyone posted on progress, though.
 
Tally-ho, it's tally time!

Vote tally:
##### 3.21
-[X] Go out shopping for food.
--[X] Go by yourself.
No. of votes: 4
Hannz,
TurtleDucks,
Nevill,
veekie
-[X] Stay and study.
--[X] Study the remove illness spell. (Status: Near Completion)
No. of votes: 3

Night_stalker,
Shiranui,
Zaratustra
-[X] Go out shopping for food.
--[X] Bring Joshua with you.
No. of votes: 1

BetaM

And we're going on a one woman grocery trip! Excitement awaits during the next update!
 
The World of Medea #1: Mages and the Magicless
In order to tide everyone over until the next update, as well as to expand upon the world's lore, I have begun an side segment that delves into the history of the world called The World of Medea. Here is the first segment that goes into more detail about the two groups of Medea: mages, and the magicless. I hope you enjoy! (Also, just to be clear, any spelling or grammatical errors found here don't count for the triple vote challenge.)

The World of Medea

#1: Mages and the Magicless

The people of Medea can be separated into two groups: the mages, and the magicless. They are exactly as they sound. Mages can tap into their innate power, known as mana, to use magic, while the magicless do not have any mana at all. There is no known way for a magicless to become a mage, or vice versa. You're either born with the power to control mana or not. There's also no guarantee of how a child will turn out based on their blood. Two mage parents can give birth to a magicless kid, while a pair of magicless can produce a mage child.

Now, how do you tell if someone has magical powers or not? Simple, give them a staff. A magical staff is the most important tool of a mage. They use the staffs to channel their mana and cast magic. Mind you, a mage can casts spells without a staff, but that takes years of study to do. Even so, staffs remain popular even for those who can cast magic by hand for one reason: a staff can alter the way a spell is cast. The most basic staffs don't change a spell in any way, but some of the more valuable staff materials can reduce casting time, increase the spell's range and power, or even reduce the mana needed to cast the spell. Besides that, a wandering mage finds that their staffs make for good traveling sticks.

But I'm getting off track. What staffs have to do with anything is that they glow when a mage touches them. That's the power of a mage's mana interacting with the staff. Obviously, this is bad if you're trying to be stealthy, since a glowing stick gives your location away, but if you're trying to tell if someone is a mage or not, then this is the most ideal test. Every child is given a staff once they're old enough to hold it, and whether it glows or not determines if they're a mage or magicless. After that, well, it depends on the results and where the kid is living at the time. But all of that is a story for another time…
 
What's involved in creating a magical staff? I don't suppose any stick can serve as one.

It's all about the material. Most objects can conduct mana, but the best materials are wood and iron (and by extension, steel). The quality of the wood and metal increases the power of the staff.

And if they are artificially made, why keep these tools as staves? Why not make them in some other shape or form?

There's nothing saying you can't. In fact, the guards and soldiers of the Holy Land use their spears as conduits for their mana since their magic isn't offensively inclined. The staff is seen as more of an traditional thing, as it was used by ancient mages before the discovery that the shape of the conduit wasn't important (In fact, the only requirement for a shape is its mass. In the case of your average staff, three feet is the minimum. Any shorter, and the amount of mana that can be stored in it wont be enough to properly cast the spell.) In addition, most mages don't see a weapon or any other tool, since their school of magic provides them with enough offensive power. The mage is normally right about this, as long as they are disciplined enough to not wast their mana. The ones who are not can be found as corpses in the wild. In the case of Lillete, she is currently of the mindset that she will be a simple healing mage, and thus doesn't need anything more than a simple staff.
 
It's all about the material. Most objects can conduct mana, but the best materials are wood and iron (and by extension, steel). The quality of the wood and metal increases the power of the staff.



There's nothing saying you can't. In fact, the guards and soldiers of the Holy Land use their spears as conduits for their mana since their magic isn't offensively inclined. The staff is seen as more of an traditional thing, as it was used by ancient mages before the discovery that the shape of the conduit wasn't important (In fact, the only requirement for a shape is its mass. In the case of your average staff, three feet is the minimum. Any shorter, and the amount of mana that can be stored in it wont be enough to properly cast the spell.) In addition, most mages don't see a weapon or any other tool, since their school of magic provides them with enough offensive power. The mage is normally right about this, as long as they are disciplined enough to not wast their mana. The ones who are not can be found as corpses in the wild. In the case of Lillete, she is currently of the mindset that she will be a simple healing mage, and thus doesn't need anything more than a simple staff.
Could you make a carriage or something like that as a conduit for magic? Would adding more mass than the minimum to it actually help in anyway?
 
The staff is seen as more of an traditional thing, as it was used by ancient mages before the discovery that the shape of the conduit wasn't important (In fact, the only requirement for a shape is its mass. Any shorter, and the amount of mana that can be stored in it wont be enough to properly cast the spell.)
But since it's the mass that's important, then it's the volume that affects this, not the shape? A 2m staff with a 5cm diameter is about the same volume as a 15cm diameter orb. The latter would be easier to carry, too. You probably would get more mileage out of your spell if the mana conduits are more condensed.

I wonder if anyone could create a mage tower on the same principle.

There probably are some limitations to this...
 
We can use Steel as a conduit? Awesome. We can wield Magical Greatswords!

Heavy Shock Cavalry must be extremely deadly in this verse now that their lances have extra oomph and effects.
 
Guess who's back!? Guess who's back!? Guess who's back!?

...Sorry, I couldn't resist.:oops:

I'm making great progress on my finals, so I decided to drop by with news in order to avoid going insane. Well, going even more insane than I normally am. (Researching World War I has caused me to gain a hatred of John Green. You tell me how crazy I've become.)

First off, @Pyran and @Nevill!:

Could you make a carriage or something like that as a conduit for magic? Would adding more mass than the minimum to it actually help in anyway?

But since it's the mass that's important, then it's the volume that affects this, not the shape? A 2m staff with a 5cm diameter is about the same volume as a 15cm diameter orb. The latter would be easier to carry, too. You probably would get more mileage out of your spell if the mana conduits are more condensed.

I wonder if anyone could create a mage tower on the same principle.

There probably are some limitations to this...

To answer your question...*drumroll*

I have realized that my knowledge of grade 6-12 science and mathematics is not as good as it used to be.:mad: I'm reworking how magic casting works in this setting in light of this recent revelation. Since we're still in the early part of the quest, it shouldn't lead to any retconning of previous events. In other words, no mage towers or mage carriages! ...Maybe. I mean, it's a cool idea, but not what I had in mind for this world.

Second, at The pocky devouring witch- I mean @Hannz:

We can use Steel as a conduit? Awesome. We can wield Magical Greatswords!

Heavy Shock Cavalry must be extremely deadly in this verse now that their lances have extra oomph and effects.

Depending on the magic and weapon, you can be either very correct, or extremely wrong.

Third, I did a bit of work on the next update. I'll have it up when I get more time to finish it.

Finally, when I get another break, I will tweak the mana system a bit so that when the combat finally happens (spoilers: combat will happen), you can have a better idea of Lillete's mana reserves than a generic "High" or "Low."


That's all he wrote. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to pick a god and pray.
 
Guess who's - oh wait, I already did the Eminem joke. Anyway, update will be here soon. Prepare! For! Epic! Grocery shopping!
 
At the Market
Marketplace, Peninsula Town, Holy Land
12th day of the harvest season, 9th hour
"That will be five silver pieces, my lady."

Lillete gave the money to the woman at the stall. "Thank you," she said. Lillete placed the carrots in the basket and went on her way. She took another look at the basket and realized that she was almost done.

As much as she wanted to continue studying her magic at the mansion, Lillete knew she had to get away from there and calm down. It took a lot of persuasion on her part to let the butlers hand over the grocery list, but she was able to convince them to let her do the shopping. It was a good idea, as the hunt for the food took up most of her attention.

Lillete almost had all of the ingredients. All that was left was the potatoes and the chef would have everything he needed for tonight. While walking over to a stall, she saw a familiar sight – the main plaza was up ahead. Lillete decided to take a detour and visit the statue there. The copper statue depicted a man in a mage's robe holding a spear. Lillete approached the front of the statue and saw the familiar plaque:

Sir Francois Delacroix
Former captain of the Holy Shield Guard 627-639 A.D.W.

The statue of Lillete's father was made nearly 25 years ago, when he retired from the Holy Shield Guard in order to help with the expansion of territories in the Holy Land. "Father," Lillete said to herself. "You have been gone for far too long. If you were here, then maybe mother…" Lillete stopped her train of though. She was out here to get her focus off of life at the mansion. She stepped back and offered a prayer to her father before walking back to the market.

"Excuse me ma'am, but you look like you can use some magical goods!"

Lillete turned around and saw a horse-drawn carriage approaching her. The cart itself was loaded with a variety of staffs, weapons, tomes, and other goods. In the front seat of the carriage was a rugged man dressed in leather armor from head to toe. His dark brown eyes were barely visible from under his helmet, and his right arm was wrapped in a cloth that was marked with runes.

"I am sorry," Lillete said, "but who are you?"

"Just a traveling salesman," the man said, "looking to open up shop here. I'm guessing you're a noble, going by the way you talk and dress."

"Correct," Lillete said. "I am Lillete Delacroix, daughter of the Lady Penelope Delacroix."

"Ah," the man said, "the noble's daughter. Perfect! I need to talk to her to open shop. Think you can help me?"

"Why," Lillete asked, "may I ask, did you try to sell me your wares before getting my mother's permission?"

"Can't blame a merchant for trying?" The merchant said. "I'll even throw in a discount if you convince your mother to let me sell here."

The merchant's tone and audacity was starting to annoy Lillete. She felt like telling the merchant to leave herself when she noticed a stack of books that he pulled out. "I'm guessing that you're a Holy Mage, given that you're a noble of these lands." The merchant said. "If you're interested in studying the other schools of magic, then I got all the tomes you'll need. If you're also interested, I have staffs and other weapons that can help your casting, plus many more items!"

Lillete's irritation was replaced with curiosity. "You said that you had all the tomes, correct?"

"Yeah," the merchant said, "everything for each of the magic schools – the legal ones, at least."

"And these other items, do they include tools?"

"Basic and runic," the merchant said. He pulled out a regular hammer, and another one that had a rune engraved onto the head. "The later cost extra, naturally." The merchant looked ahead and started waving his hand. "Excuse me sir," he said, "but you look like the kind of man who can use some magical items in his life."

Lillete turned around and saw the person the merchant was talking to. It was certainly a man judging by the features of his torso, but that's all that was noticeable. He was partially covered in a brown cloak with the hood up, and had a brown bandanna covering the bottom part of his face. His presence alone made Lillete nervous. The man stared at the merchant for a while before averting his gaze and walking away into the marketplace.

"Aw well," the merchant said, "you can't get every person on Medea to buy your goods. What about you, miss?"

What shall you do?

-[] Report the brown robed man to your mother immediately. He seems suspicious.

-[] Ignore it. You are worrying about nothing.
--[] Stay with the merchant.
--[] Continue grocery shopping.

-[] Other (Write in)
 
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-[X] Report the brown-robed man to your mother immediately. He seems suspicious.

Edited to make this vote consistent.
 
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[X] Ignore it. You are worrying about nothing.
-[X] Stay with the merchant.
--[X] Maybe we can buy a Tome or two? Just make sure we have enough money left for the grocery list.

More spells! It's a learning opportunity!
 
It could be a risk, too. Isn't it suspicious that he just so happens to pop up out of the blue to sell us something and when he learns who we are, tries to go through us to set up in town?

After all, curiosity kills the cat.
 
It could be a risk, too. Isn't it suspicious that he just so happens to pop up out of the blue to sell us something and when he learns who we are, tries to go through us to set up in town?

After all, curiosity kills the cat.

Wait, the merchant? I meant-

*goes back to reread post*

$#@%#$%@#$^@^@%$#^%$%^&&^#%@%$#@^$!!!!

Be right back!

*one edit later*

Done! I changed the wording on the first voting option (Report this to your mother immediately. He seems suspicious.->Report the brown robed man to your mother immediately. He seems suspicious.) due to lack of clarity. If you picked that option, then make sure you edit your vote for the tally. Also, if you wanted to try for a vote multiplier, Shiranui, I will count that typo as one point.
 
[X] Ignore it. You are worrying about nothing.
-[X] Stay with the merchant.
--[X] Maybe we can buy a Tome or two? Just make sure we have enough money left for the grocery list.
 
[X] Ignore it. You are worrying about nothing.
-[X] Stay with the merchant.
--[X] Maybe we can buy a Tome or two? Just make sure we have enough money left for the grocery list.
 
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