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Betwixt and Between (Magical Curio Shop Quest)
- Thread starter Wistways
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
4. Turn 2 - Results
Wistways
You friendly neighborhood artist
- Location
- Australia
[X] Plan Recuperate then Explore
-[X] Spend time in the Kitchen
--[X] Action Dice – 6
-[X] Explore the Betwixt and Between
--[X] Action Dice – 2
--[X] Action Dice – 2
-[X] A Clean sweep.
--[X] Action Dice – 3
-[X] Spend time in the Kitchen
--[X] Action Dice – 6
-[X] Explore the Betwixt and Between
--[X] Action Dice – 2
--[X] Action Dice – 2
-[X] A Clean sweep.
--[X] Action Dice – 3
[ ] Spend time in the Kitchen - AD 6
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: Safe
The comfort of a hot meal and some time at rest.
100% Great Success
Mahogany woke up slowly, awareness coming to her piece by piece. She could feel one side of her body was warm, there was a fire in the close vicinity. The light was low, no sounds in the area except the pop of burning wood.
She opened her eyes, sat up from the lounge she was lying on, and looked around. "Ah, not a crazy dream then." she thought, looking around the place she had called 'the Kitchen' yesterday. The table was set for one, the window near the table looking out into the swirling grey mist outside. She was partly covered with a plush red blanket and she sat up rubbing the pillow marks from her cheek.
"Arcana's truth I feel tired." She said out loud. It was true, she turned her mind inwards assessing herself. Her joints felt loose and sore, skin a little tight around her eyes. She turned further inwards breathing in the familiar mediation pattern to attune awareness with her magical energies. This was one of Mahogany's favorite things she learned at the Crystal Towers. Simple proof that she did have magic and she did deserve to be there. Deep breaths in........ and out. She could feel it, her magic had always felt like a pool of ice water, cooling and numbing, she could simply sink into the ripples of it. It was much diminished currently, a shallow bowl instead of the deep lake. She 'poked' it internally and the ripple seem to resonate out of her skin and sink into the walls of the house.
"Huh?" She thought and gave it a bigger push. There was a feeling of resistance and then a snap as she was now outside herself pushing on the walls of the room. She stopped abruptly, breath broken from its steady rhythm. That was.... unusual she had never been able to get her magic to do anything. And that certainly felt like something. She looked down at her hands, they were shaking violently and she clutched them together to try to stop the trembling.
She needed to find something to restore herself a bit. She looked over to the kitchen drum, "Hello... Ummm... Kitchen?" She said bringing her voice up to a conversational level, "Thank you so much for the porridge yesterday. It was very delicious. Could you please make me some breakfast? Oh, and do you have tea? I would love a cup of tea right now."
There was a clatter behind the drum as if whatever entity or magic was considering her request. The drum rotated open to reveal a large breakfast sandwich on dark thick bread, a sliced pink fruit in a bowl, and two small earthenware containers: one of floral honey and the other spiced nuts.
Mahogany picked up the tray and turned back to the table, at the place setting there was now a large dark blue teapot and matching teacup. The tea-cozy looked like a crocheted bee.
Mahogany smiled and sat down. Almost anything can be tackled with the assistance of a Good Breakfast.
Energy is completely restored.
--------------
Explore the Betwixt and Between - AD 2, 2
Completion Counter: 2/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: Safe
Let's have a look around.
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 2 + Skill (Reason +1 ) = 3
Probability: 25% Great Success/50% Neutral/25% Failure
FAILURE
Breakfast finished and dishes magically vanished, Mahogany felt much much more like herself. With a slow breath she looked inside herself again, her pool was restored completely. Sinking into it she wanted to see if she could repeat that feeling of being in the walls that she had before.
She dived in deep, the numbing feeling falling over her and she tried to direct some of it into the house. She was pushing hard, used to the futility of years of effort to activate artifacts and empower even one tiny spell. Maybe it was this overcompensation that lead to her magic rushing out of her in a massive stream. She felt it crash against walls in the house she hadn't seen yet, turn lights on and off and trigger all manner of effects she had no understanding of. She shut off the torrent as soon as she was able but not before there was a room shuddering thunk from somewhere in the house. She stood up slightly unsteady and on exiting the kitchen she noticed the change immediately. The stairs had flattened out completely, making a ramp or a very steep slide.
She walked over to the 'staircase' and ran a hand over it. It was a slick and seamless single piece of wood. "Well..." Mahogany thought. "That's going to make it tricky to get up there."
Completion Counter: +1
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 2 + Skill (Reason +1 ) = 3
Probability: 25% Great Success/50% Neutral/25% Failure
GREAT SUCCESS
Mahogany always prided herself in being somewhat stubborn. Other people would have uncharitably called it bullheaded and stupid. But she wasn't going to let the fact that she had accidentally changed the stairs into a very steep ramp stop her from seeing what was up on the second floor. She was wary of flexing her influence over the house again. Worried about how much power it would take and inadvertently triggering something she didn't understand. No, first she would climb the ramp and see what was up there.
With a quick rummage through her suitcase, she changed into more practical pants and a large comfortable cardigan. With a notebook and a few other useful items in a small over-the-shoulder bag and her shoes removed for maximum grip, she was ready to climb this problem of her own making.
Pulling herself up by the handrail was tricky and slippery, but not impossible. It did feel like a much longer climb than the 2 stories the house had seemed from the outside. Occasionally she came across round, nautical-like windows which she looked out of to see the landscape. Mostly it was fog and grey, but she did think that she saw a blue rippling glow out of one, and from the other the dark shapes of the canopy of trees.
Reaching the top she came to what looked like a landing, which had two doors. On a quick look, it seemed like one was a Bedroom and the other a Personal Study area. This was the first area she had seen in the Betwixt and Between that looked like it had someone living there. Whoever lived in the Bedroom was a bit of a clotheshorse, with fine robes draped over the backs of the wrought iron bed frame and a small reading chair. The cupboard door was open and stuffed full of fabrics and fripperies. Several slippers in gem-like hues with silver embroidery were lined up by the door. The walls were a deep green with a brocade floral pattern. Across the ceiling, walls, and hanging from the four poster bed frame were many trinkets and mobiles, spinning and shining. Some looked arcane in nature, others merely decorative.
Overall the room had an incredibly lush feeling, like the person who lived here adored fine things.
Mahogany stepped into the room, feeling again that sense of intrusion. She may be the new owner but this room seemed to still have remnants of the last one. "A man." she speculated, looking at the clothing and size of the slippers. There was a mug sitting on a side table, the contents were stone cold. And a large mirror in the corner of the room. When she looked into it she saw herself reflected staring back, and she started when her face in the mirror shyly seemed to grin and her reflected hand give her a small, friendly wave.
She jumped back, ankle hitting the bedframe, and stumbled away from the animated image. The mirror-Mahogany silently winced and reached down to grab her ankle. "What kind of Demon or spirit are you?!" Mahogany yelled. Mirror her shrugged and spun, the kind of spin you might do if you wanted to show off an outfit. Mahogany, slightly limping now, eyes on the mirror for threats, headed over to the door in the back of the bedroom. On opening, it leads to a white and green bathroom with a deep clawfoot bath and separate facilities. Again evidence of someone living here with half-used jars of fragrant bath salts and lotions. There was a stack of books next to the bath and a tray with a pipe and tobacco pouch.
Moving out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom, Mahogany set out to explore the Personal Study that was on this floor. Not meeting eyes with the animated her in the mirror she moved quickly back through the room ignoring the happy smiles and waves.
The study did have a lock on the door, but it opened at her touch. She opened the door inward but it became stuck halfway, pushing herself through the gap she saw that this room was filled with papers and books of all kinds, preventing the door from opening fully. There was a wall covered with notes and illustrations, a record or timeline of something she thought with a casual inspection. The other wall had built-in bookshelves filled with literature, the majority of it adventure stories and wonder tales of one kind or another. Many seemed to be in languages she did not know or could not read. There was a large secretaries desk opposite the door with a plush chair pulled up to it.
This desk was the kind that had a rolltop cover and many small drawers around it. The rolltop cover was locked. Mahogany thought back to a memory of a class she had taken on Artificer Arts, the teacher of that class had a desk very similar to this and he protected his blueprints with several cunningly hidden drawers and secret panels built into the desk itself. Each with a different method to open. Maybe this was the same?
On the floor next to the desk were several copies of what looked like the same book but different reprints. She picked up the one on the top of the stack, 'The Once and Future King' by T.H. White.' "Huh," Mahogany said, "Never heard of it."
Unlocked Personal Study Tasks
Unlocked Bedroom Tasks
Completion Counter +3
---------
Part 2 of update will be in the next day or two. I hope you enjoyed this, lots of interesting clues and things to follow up in these rooms.
I would love to hear what any of you think. Also if you ever have an idea of something you might like Mahogany to do, let me know before I get to the next update and I may consider adding it to the possible tasks.
Wistways.
5. Fool's Gold
Wistways
You friendly neighborhood artist
- Location
- Australia
[ ] A Clean sweep -AD 3
Completion Counter: 3/4
Skill: Perseverance (0)
Difficulty: SAFE
There is still that front window with the aggressive statues to clean.
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 3 + Skill (Perseverance 0) = 3
Probability: 25% Great Success/50% Neutral/25% Failure
NEUTRAL
It was much easier going down than it was going up. A hair-raising slide that Mahogany took with a shriek as she plummeted down. "I DID NOT THINK THIS THROUGH!!!" she screamed as she sped up, remembering that at the end of this ride was nothing but hard, wooden floors and walls.
The lower floor came quickly with her hitting the bottom of the staircase slide with a hard thunk and rolling down the hall a portion of the way. Mahogany lay there bruised and a little dizzy in the hall and groaned, but as she sat up there was a smile on her face. "What was this about this place?" She thought, "It's making me make stupid deals, take odd risks, and just generally act differently." She stood up smacking the dust off her pants with slaps. She thought back to the years she spent in the Crystal Towers, the knowledge that she was always watched, always judged, for the slightest excuse to fail her.
Maybe this is what she was like when no one was watching. Did she even know that Mahogany? She was jolted out of her musings by a familiar metallic clank. She looked through the curtain to see a familiar bucket, brushes, and duster waiting for her on the counter of the shopfront.
"Ok, Ok Shop. I get the message more cleaning." She said out loud teasingly. Gathering up the items she walked over to the last area in the shopfront that had not been cleaned, the windows and window display. Last time she had ventured over here the statues and jewelry had seemed... aggressive. Like they did not approve of her. I guess signing the book had done something because the sensation was now gone. She stepped into the window display and started dusting and wiping the items. Careful to place them back where they came from.
This new instinct of her's informed her that all of these things were placed just so for a very particular purpose. There were two statues here in white marble, one of a woman in drapery with a missing arm, the other of a peacock tail extended and detailed. In the center of them was an arrangement of short columns covered with a waterfall of jewels that seemed to fountain from a cornucopia. In the center of this was a large green emerald set into a gold necklace.
After cleaning the window until it gleamed Mahogany stepped back to see her work, and a sense of satisfaction went through her. This seemed from the store itself as the statues began to move. They shook their feather and rolled their shoulders before sitting back into guardian poses over the gem cascade.
Mahogany got the sense-memory that this was a part of the stores' defense system, if active and given power this display will hide the store, ideally through camouflage but possibly with invisibility.
From the display, several small familiar crystals fell out and bounced on the floor coming to rest at her feet. She scooped them up, "Payment for a job well done?" There was a sense of satisfaction and wholeness in the air.
Mahogany breathed out. Well, it felt good to finish something and this place was as clean as she could make it. She looked around "If only, " she said wistfully, "It wasn't so empty."
At these words, there was a great rushing feeling and the room changed. The shelves slid across the floor tables and other display furniture appeared from nowhere. Carpets manifested on the floor and elaborate and beautiful light fixtures appeared from the ceiling and candelabra lit with dripping wax candles sprouted from the ground.
The room seemed to fill with items stacked on shelves and piled on the floor. A whole corner of the room seemed to be manifesting bottles with floating items, other had dried herbs and many drawered cabinets. It became what now Mahogany realized it always should have been, a cluttered cave of wonders.
But as she walked through the trove, picking up this item and peering into the empty sockets of this carved skull, the items were... well they were ordinary. Like poor illusions of something. "Everything here is fool's gold." Mahogany said. It had the right look, but to anyone who didn't know, who couldn't feel it would be hard to find the items of true worth.
"Just another disguise then." She said making her way to the counter and stepping behind it. Looking out onto the store she had an urge in her to fix something, a restlessness. "There are no Wonderitems here are there? It's just a regular store. Even less than that. I bet if I took one of these things out here the next day it would dissolve into dust or fallen leaves." There was a feeling of assent from the countertop.
Mahogany pondered what to do next.
+5 'Magic' Crystals
+2 to Completion Counter
Task Complete! +2 Condition
-------------
(Reminder: at the start of every new turn you lose 1 condition from the Betwixt and Between, and 2 energy. If energy reaches zero condition effects are doubled as the store has to expend effort to keep you alive.)
Action Dice from Conditon = 4
Action Dice Results : 6, 1, 6, 5
[ ] Investigate what has happened here.
Completion Counter: 2/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
Something has happened here. Have a look around and see if you can figure it out.
[ ] Where in the World am I?
Completion Counter: 0/5
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
You look outside the window and you recognize nothing, maybe it might be good to familiarize yourself.
[ ] Explore the Betwixt and Between
Completion Counter: 6/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
Let's have a look around.
[ ] Investigate the Warded Door
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is a door here that is locked, nothing more sharpens the curiosity.
[ ] Spend time in the Kitchen
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
The comfort of a hot meal and some time at rest.
[ ] Empty Pages
Completion Counter: 3/4
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
Communicate with the book? Spirit? in the Ledger.
BEDROOM ------ NEW
[ ] Mirror, Mirror
Completion Counter : 0/3
Failure Counter : 0/3
Skill : Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: DANGEROUS
What could possibly be going on with that reflection in the mirror?
[ ] To Sleep, perchance to Dream?
Failure Counter : 0/5
Skill : Destiny (+1)
Difficulty : DANGEROUS
The objects around the bed seemed to be tuned to have a purpose while sleeping.
[ ] Messy Room
Completion Counter : 0/4
Skill : Quick (0)
Difficulty: SAFE
Rummage through the belongings of the previous shopkeeper and maybe your supposed to be Master.
PERSONAL STUDY ------ NEW
[ ] Red strings and Pages
Completion Counter : 0/5
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty : SAFE
What could of the former shopkeeper been tracking?
[ ] A Puzzle Locked Desk
Completion Counter : 0/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is nothing more tempting than a locked box in plain sight.
[ ] Books, Books and More Books
Completion Counter: 0/8
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
See if you can figure out the purpose of this collection.
[ ] A Keen Mind and a Clear Spirit. ( Unlocked by the Crystal Towers Origin)
Completion Counter: 0/10
Failure Counter: 0/10
Skill: Any Magic Skill
Difficulty: DANGEROUS
You were never able to do magic before. But maybe now you are here in a new place it can be different!
Completion Counter: 3/4
Skill: Perseverance (0)
Difficulty: SAFE
There is still that front window with the aggressive statues to clean.
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 3 + Skill (Perseverance 0) = 3
Probability: 25% Great Success/50% Neutral/25% Failure
NEUTRAL
It was much easier going down than it was going up. A hair-raising slide that Mahogany took with a shriek as she plummeted down. "I DID NOT THINK THIS THROUGH!!!" she screamed as she sped up, remembering that at the end of this ride was nothing but hard, wooden floors and walls.
The lower floor came quickly with her hitting the bottom of the staircase slide with a hard thunk and rolling down the hall a portion of the way. Mahogany lay there bruised and a little dizzy in the hall and groaned, but as she sat up there was a smile on her face. "What was this about this place?" She thought, "It's making me make stupid deals, take odd risks, and just generally act differently." She stood up smacking the dust off her pants with slaps. She thought back to the years she spent in the Crystal Towers, the knowledge that she was always watched, always judged, for the slightest excuse to fail her.
Maybe this is what she was like when no one was watching. Did she even know that Mahogany? She was jolted out of her musings by a familiar metallic clank. She looked through the curtain to see a familiar bucket, brushes, and duster waiting for her on the counter of the shopfront.
"Ok, Ok Shop. I get the message more cleaning." She said out loud teasingly. Gathering up the items she walked over to the last area in the shopfront that had not been cleaned, the windows and window display. Last time she had ventured over here the statues and jewelry had seemed... aggressive. Like they did not approve of her. I guess signing the book had done something because the sensation was now gone. She stepped into the window display and started dusting and wiping the items. Careful to place them back where they came from.
This new instinct of her's informed her that all of these things were placed just so for a very particular purpose. There were two statues here in white marble, one of a woman in drapery with a missing arm, the other of a peacock tail extended and detailed. In the center of them was an arrangement of short columns covered with a waterfall of jewels that seemed to fountain from a cornucopia. In the center of this was a large green emerald set into a gold necklace.
After cleaning the window until it gleamed Mahogany stepped back to see her work, and a sense of satisfaction went through her. This seemed from the store itself as the statues began to move. They shook their feather and rolled their shoulders before sitting back into guardian poses over the gem cascade.
Mahogany got the sense-memory that this was a part of the stores' defense system, if active and given power this display will hide the store, ideally through camouflage but possibly with invisibility.
From the display, several small familiar crystals fell out and bounced on the floor coming to rest at her feet. She scooped them up, "Payment for a job well done?" There was a sense of satisfaction and wholeness in the air.
Mahogany breathed out. Well, it felt good to finish something and this place was as clean as she could make it. She looked around "If only, " she said wistfully, "It wasn't so empty."
At these words, there was a great rushing feeling and the room changed. The shelves slid across the floor tables and other display furniture appeared from nowhere. Carpets manifested on the floor and elaborate and beautiful light fixtures appeared from the ceiling and candelabra lit with dripping wax candles sprouted from the ground.
The room seemed to fill with items stacked on shelves and piled on the floor. A whole corner of the room seemed to be manifesting bottles with floating items, other had dried herbs and many drawered cabinets. It became what now Mahogany realized it always should have been, a cluttered cave of wonders.
But as she walked through the trove, picking up this item and peering into the empty sockets of this carved skull, the items were... well they were ordinary. Like poor illusions of something. "Everything here is fool's gold." Mahogany said. It had the right look, but to anyone who didn't know, who couldn't feel it would be hard to find the items of true worth.
"Just another disguise then." She said making her way to the counter and stepping behind it. Looking out onto the store she had an urge in her to fix something, a restlessness. "There are no Wonderitems here are there? It's just a regular store. Even less than that. I bet if I took one of these things out here the next day it would dissolve into dust or fallen leaves." There was a feeling of assent from the countertop.
Mahogany pondered what to do next.
+5 'Magic' Crystals
+2 to Completion Counter
Task Complete! +2 Condition
-------------
(Reminder: at the start of every new turn you lose 1 condition from the Betwixt and Between, and 2 energy. If energy reaches zero condition effects are doubled as the store has to expend effort to keep you alive.)
|
Condition: 15/20 |
Energy: 3/5 |
Turn 3 |
Action Dice from Conditon = 4
Action Dice Results : 6, 1, 6, 5
Every turn you will have several Action Dice that will be rolled. The number of action dice comes from the condition of the Betwixt and Between. Those dice are then rolled by me (they are 6 sided dice btw) to give you several numbers. This number when added to the skill level you have in the skill listed in the task gives you the probablity for success. Higher the total number, the more favorable the probability.
1 and 2 - 50% Neutral / 50% Failure
3 and 4 - 25% Great Success /50% Neutral / 25% Failure
5 - 50% Great Success / 50% Neutral
6+ - 100% Great Success
I have made a comprehensive Mechanics post which details more about all the numbers and extra details on tasks.
But basically you have 4 action dice right now (see above) Where would you like to assign them?
I would like plans to be done in the following format
[X] Very cool Plan Name
-[X] Task Name One
--[X] Action Dice - 4
-[X] Task Name Two
--[X] Action Dice - 3
-[X] Task Name Three
--[X] Action Dice - 4
-[X] Task Name Four
--[X] Action Dice - 5
Tasks may be taken multiple times in the same turn. Tasks will be completed in order from the first in the list to the last. If an action in an earlier task invalidates a later task the dice spent on that task is lost.
1 and 2 - 50% Neutral / 50% Failure
3 and 4 - 25% Great Success /50% Neutral / 25% Failure
5 - 50% Great Success / 50% Neutral
6+ - 100% Great Success
I have made a comprehensive Mechanics post which details more about all the numbers and extra details on tasks.
But basically you have 4 action dice right now (see above) Where would you like to assign them?
I would like plans to be done in the following format
[X] Very cool Plan Name
-[X] Task Name One
--[X] Action Dice - 4
-[X] Task Name Two
--[X] Action Dice - 3
-[X] Task Name Three
--[X] Action Dice - 4
-[X] Task Name Four
--[X] Action Dice - 5
Tasks may be taken multiple times in the same turn. Tasks will be completed in order from the first in the list to the last. If an action in an earlier task invalidates a later task the dice spent on that task is lost.
[ ] Investigate what has happened here.
Completion Counter: 2/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
Something has happened here. Have a look around and see if you can figure it out.
[ ] Where in the World am I?
Completion Counter: 0/5
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
You look outside the window and you recognize nothing, maybe it might be good to familiarize yourself.
[ ] Explore the Betwixt and Between
Completion Counter: 6/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
Let's have a look around.
[ ] Investigate the Warded Door
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is a door here that is locked, nothing more sharpens the curiosity.
[ ] Spend time in the Kitchen
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
The comfort of a hot meal and some time at rest.
[ ] Empty Pages
Completion Counter: 3/4
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
Communicate with the book? Spirit? in the Ledger.
BEDROOM ------ NEW
[ ] Mirror, Mirror
Completion Counter : 0/3
Failure Counter : 0/3
Skill : Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: DANGEROUS
What could possibly be going on with that reflection in the mirror?
[ ] To Sleep, perchance to Dream?
Failure Counter : 0/5
Skill : Destiny (+1)
Difficulty : DANGEROUS
The objects around the bed seemed to be tuned to have a purpose while sleeping.
[ ] Messy Room
Completion Counter : 0/4
Skill : Quick (0)
Difficulty: SAFE
Rummage through the belongings of the previous shopkeeper and maybe your supposed to be Master.
PERSONAL STUDY ------ NEW
[ ] Red strings and Pages
Completion Counter : 0/5
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty : SAFE
What could of the former shopkeeper been tracking?
[ ] A Puzzle Locked Desk
Completion Counter : 0/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is nothing more tempting than a locked box in plain sight.
[ ] Books, Books and More Books
Completion Counter: 0/8
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
See if you can figure out the purpose of this collection.
[ ] A Keen Mind and a Clear Spirit. ( Unlocked by the Crystal Towers Origin)
Completion Counter: 0/10
Failure Counter: 0/10
Skill: Any Magic Skill
Difficulty: DANGEROUS
You were never able to do magic before. But maybe now you are here in a new place it can be different!
Last edited:
Vote closed
6. Magic Mirror
Wistways
You friendly neighborhood artist
- Location
- Australia
[x] Plan: Magic Mirror
-[x] Messy Room - AD 1
-[x] Investigate the Warded Door - AD 6
-[x] Mirror, Mirror - AD 5
-[x] A Keen Mind and a Clear Spirit. ( Unlocked by the Crystal Towers Origin) - AD 6
-[x] Messy Room - AD 1
-[x] Investigate the Warded Door - AD 6
-[x] Mirror, Mirror - AD 5
-[x] A Keen Mind and a Clear Spirit. ( Unlocked by the Crystal Towers Origin) - AD 6
Mahogany pondered the now-filled store, the more time she spent here, the more she learned and explored the ways of the Betwixt and Between the more she understood. She lay a hand on the wood countertop and felt a pulse of warmth come from it. It was alive this place and it was forming a connection with her. This symbiosis of artifact and user was out of her academic expertise. Artifacts, even very old and magical ones, were not alive. They did not want or have emotions, and if there was confusion on the function it was because the artifact was damaged or using a rune array that only makes sense in the mind of a crazed magus that made it.
She thought of the kitchen and how it anticipated and responded, the doorknob with its little dragon charm. Everything in this place was emotion and happenstance. Mahogany looked up thinking, (was that a stuffed alligator hanging from the ceiling?) she had agreed to be the new shopkeeper. She signed the book on a feeling and a whim. How deep would this connection go? Would she feel pain if someone broke a window? How would this change her and her magic?
She looked over to the ledger that had asked her questions the last time. She lay a hand on the blue fabric cover and traced the monogram with a soft fingertip, knowledge flowed up from the connection. Asking the book questions cost energy from her and strained the condition of the store. She would only get one more chance to do so. She had better be sure she knew what questions she wanted to be answered.
But there was one answer that the book did give her, she opened it to the inside cover. "It's still here." She said to herself quietly looking down at the name before hers in the record of ownership. 'Bloyse' in a strong male hand.
If she was making assumptions she would guess that this is the name of the previous shopkeeper, her potential master, and the owner of the upstairs bedroom and study. At this thought, a strong feeling came from the store, like an embrace of a kind, and there was a clatter behind her as the stairs unfolded from their previous slide configuration. "Oh!" Mahogany said out loud, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean... He was the owner. I'm here now." The embrace feeling settled but remained in the air. Like the store was cautious that if Mahogany didn't feel welcomed she would leave also.
"How long have you been alone?" She said as she walked past the curtain and started to head up the stairs. No response, but she could feel the building listening to her. "Just what happened here? What happened to your owner?" She queried as she walked up the stairs, hand on the banister as she spiraled upwards. Maybe answers could be found in the bedroom, some insight or records of some kind. At the very least she could clean up a bit and make room for herself, she didn't want to spend another night on the kitchen's couch.
[ ] Messy Room - AD 1
Completion Counter: 0/4
Skill: Quick (0)
Difficulty: SAFE
Rummage through the belongings of the previous shopkeeper and maybe your supposed to be Master.
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 1 + Skill (Quick 0 ) = 1
Probability: 50% Neutral/50% Failure
NEUTRAL
"Moon and Star this 'Bloyse' person is a mess of person!" Mahogany exclaimed a little later. The more she opened drawers and looked under beds here, it became more and more apparent this Bloyse fellow had no level of organization whatsoever. She scowled at the drawer she had just opened. What on earth drove a fellow to store 2 half-empty pens, a bottle of perfumed oil, a large hairball tied up with a red ribbon, a glass ball with what looks like the preserved remains of a butterfly, and 3 gloves (none of them men's gloves or matching). She had started off her investigation hesitatingly, with her lifting the items gingerly and placing them back where they came from. but after a time Mahogany gave up and she started placing the objects into large piles. The first was Useful: these were things that she thought maybe might come in helpful to her, a large waterproof coat with a magnificent fur collar was in this pile. The second was for Mystery: Strange objects that could be magical or had the scent of being 'something', Third pile was for Stupid and Beautiful, which was the majority of what she found.
She was getting an image of Bloyse. Distractible but intelligent, there were recorded scraps of notation, half-solved equations, records of suns and stars unfamiliar. And these were just the lost and discarded notes shoved into pockets or mixed in with hairbrushes. He liked expensive things, but she got the feeling it wasn't because they were expensive, but more because he sought the feeling of them. This robe was pricy but it felt like water when she touched it, this pillow had rich embroidery but when she lay down it was so soft under at her her head.
Lying here on the bed it suddenly struck her how deeply intimate this whole process was. She realized lying on what was his bed, a distractable comfortable pillow under her head, she knew what he smelled like. Radiant amber and orange blossom, golden Oudh, and saffron-threaded honey, it was a very nice smell for a man.
She leapt from the bed her whole face going red. She can't be thinking like this!! Not for some strange, probably dead man. She turned away and saw her flushed face reflected in the silently laughing reflection in the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
Completion Counter +1
Warm and Waterproof Coat
Decided to make this task come in the narrative before the warded door, simply because it fit the narrative flow better. Tasks will always be processed in the order laid out in the plan. But in this case, we had many guaranteed great Successes, so no major changes plot-wise - Wistways
[ ] Mirror, Mirror - AD 5
Failure Counter: 0/3
Skill: Empathy (+1) or Magic of Illusion (N/A)
Difficulty: RISKY
What could possibly be going on with that reflection in the mirror?
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 5 + Skill (Empathy ) = 6
Probability: 100% Great Success
She had been avoiding the Mirror in the corner. It unsettled her to see expressions she was not making reflected back. She stood there looking at it as the Mirror Mahogany wiped imaginary tears from her eyes and stood looking back at her. When it noticed that she was finally paying her attention she smiled and beckoned Mahogany to move closer with her hand.
Mahogany did not move. She started thinking to herself about the mirror lore she knew. "Mirrors are a symbol of perception and seeming. They align strongly with illusion and glamor and can be used to enthrall a person. As an artifact, they are an excellent base for something that would create a new vision or allow vision to escape normal limits." She walked closer to the mirror looking around the metal frame for any symbols she recognized. There were a few, but many of them, like the warded door downstairs, was unfamiliar to her.
"Hmmmmm," she said looking closely at one symbol in particular "This one is a little worrying." She stepped back as she glanced at her reflection was craning her head up. Trying to see what she was looking at on its frame.
The symbol she had found she would on used on an array of capture or binding. Of course, she could always be mistaken, this was a very different sort of magical notation than what she was taught at the Crystal Towers. She looked closely at the reflection, who under her gaze did a mocking curtesy and then began to pose artfully with a long sweep of her arms. The reflection was always looking at her never breaking its gaze.
Mahogany scoffed to see her making such stupid motions. At this dismissive noise, the reflection moved quickly and unnaturally slamming her hands against the surface of the mirror. There was no sound or rocking of the mirror, but the fast unnatural movement and the sudden sharp glow in her eye shocked Mahogany and she flinched and stepped back. The mirror her laughed at her fright and breathed out on the surface of the mirror, the inside of which became covered in condensation. Just like breathing on cool glass. She started to trace something in the condensation.
ʅʅɐʍ ǝɥʇ uo ɹoɹɹᴉɯ ɹoɹɹɹᴉW
The image of the words faded quickly, Mahogany looked at her reflection who did another gesture, this time it was a "And now you?" Sort of hand motion. Mahogany hesitated, she didn't know what kind of thing this mirror was or its function. It seemed to be wildly flighty in its mood and she wasn't sure if it was an artifact or another part of the Betwixt and Between itself.
This interaction with it had given her insight, however, into how to get the mirror to activate and the nature of the mirror itself.
Insight Gained - Mirror glass -
"Could this be my own face, I wondered. My heart pounded at the idea, and the face in the mirror grew more and more unfamiliar."
Lose 1 Energy
What would you like to do to the mirror?
[ ] Say the following phrase "Mirror, Mirror on the wall"
[ ] Ignore the mirror for now.
[ ] Write in :
Vote closed
7. Dive Deep
Wistways
You friendly neighborhood artist
- Location
- Australia
Thankyou everyone for chiming in. I really appricate the generous responses to my mistake. People have said they are happy to continue with the Magic Mirror Plan. Here is the rest of the update.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Mahogany said before then intoning slowly, "Mirror Mirror on the wall," as she finished this she felt a prickling run up her throat as more words were pulled from her. "Grant me the vision, the sight to see all." As she spoke the rest of the phrase the mirror started to smile wide, distorting her features. The distortion spread over everything becoming sharp and feral until a face completely unknown to her stared back. It had pale blue skin with ash-colored hair that flowed over its stretched, androgynous, naked body. The eyes of the creature were reflective, sclera and pupil both a seamless mirror reflection.
"Finally!" The creature said with hands pressing up against the surface of the mirror. "Now smash it!" And it stepped back swinging its arms as if it was holding a pipe. "Smash it! Smash it!" It shrieked, voice high and joyful.
"W..Wait just a second! Mirror being I'm not going to smash this artifact." Mahogany said voice cutting into its increasingly frantic cries. "Mirror Mirror... I demand you tell me your function." The creature halted, mid-swing, and snapped back to paying her attention.
It looked up at her coquettishly through its curtain of hair, twirling a long strand around its finger as if in idle thought. "Oh Demand do you?" it purred, sidling closer to the mirror surface, the background behind them becoming black instead of reflecting the bedroom. "Demand is a very strong word for a little magus who can't cast magic." It looked down at its long white nails, inspecting them as if for flaws, and "I don't think you even know the first word of the spells and commands that move me." It stood there waiting, a smug grin on its face.
Mahogany stood in front of the mirror creature and quickly thought about what to do. It was right that she didn't understand what this ... thing... was. It didn't behave like an artifact back at the Crystal Towers, nor did she get the feeling that this was a part of the Betwixt and Between itself. It was something else. It was sentient of a kind, it had desires and thoughts. It also seemed like it knew more than just what was in the room. It knew she was a magus and couldn't cast magic.
Mahogany gripped her braid and unconsciously ran her fingers through it, as she always did when she was anxious or contemplating a problem. A change of tactics maybe? Negotiation rather than command.
"Mirror being." She said, aiming to make her voice both clear and calm, "We are both trapped here in this place. I don't know how to run the Betwixt and Between and you are in the mirror. It is possible that we can help each other if we can come to an understanding." The being looked at her, saying nothing.
"If you could answer me some questions mirror being, I could maybe help you."
"The only help I wish from you human is freedom from this boredom!" It shook its head, hair cascading everywhere. "You know how long I have been here showing true seeing to each and every owner that comes through. And that Bloyse only ever wanted to use me to see the back of his outfits." It spat in clear distaste and transformed into the image of a taller man. The man the mirror looked like was older than Mahogany but she wasn't sure by how much, he had that ageless look that Master Magus gets. He was wearing one of the elaborate outfits she had found, blue and silver with a scalloped sleeve and a great froth of white linen in the collar and front. He had darker skin like coffee with cream and his shoulder-length hair and neatly trimmed beard had silver streaks in the light brown.
"Turn to the left." The mirror being said re-enacting out a scene from the past, "Now to the right." He did this with a scowl on the face of the man, "Bloyse" Mahogany assumed. The mirror being did a twirl and returned to its own shape, "He didn't trust me at all. Preferred his own method of seeing." And it gestured to the bed covered in those hanging ornaments.
"Can you take the image of anything you have seen?" Mahogany asked. The mirror being slumped down, sadness or dissatisfaction in its every action. "Only those who have stood before me." It replied.
Mahogany pondered. "Mirror Being you have mentioned several times a true seeing. Can you tell me what that is?" She asked.
"I could. If I chose to." The mirror being once again had that sly look on its face. "But you don't have the words to command me. Nor the magic." It looked Mahogany up and down contemptuously. "You did however release me from my last command so now I get to speak and mock you until you smash the mirror and free me." Its eyes became large and pleading, hands held up in supplication. "Oh please Mistress Magus free me from this terrible prison, I've been so alone and so unhappy." Its voice was trembling as if it was on the verge of crying. "I will do whatever you ask Mistress. I'm a genie I can grant wishes."
Mahogany turned away from the mirror and started to leave the room. Hearing it calling to her as she left. "No, wait! I'm a leprechaun don't you want gold and luck? No! Wait I'm an Asterium, clear skies and good fortune. Come back here and smash the mirror!"
Mahogany stomped down the stairs, hurt clear in her stiff posture. It had only been two days since she was in the Crystal Towers, but having the fact that she couldn't cast magic thrown into her face sent her right back into that place. Of never being called on, of never being good enough. "You should be used to it Mahogany." She said to herself. "It shouldn't hurt so much by now."
She glanced out the window on the staircase on the way down, seeing the cool grey fog outside, and took a deep breath. "No, it's fine. You have worked hard and studied. You will find the spell that controls the Mirror and then we will see who will be mocking who."
She restarted her walk downstairs, reaching the end she saw the warded door that she had found yesterday. "Hello, Betwixt and Between?" She called out to the building. "Now that I am your new owner can you open the door?"
There felt like a flex in the air and the door rattled slightly in its frame, but the ward on the doorknob glowed slightly and the door went still. "I guess that's a no then." She got down on her knees to investigate the ward closely.
[ ] Investigate the Warded Door - AD 6
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is a door here that is locked, nothing more sharpens the curiosity.
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 6 + Skill (Hidden Knowledge +1 ) = 7
Probability: 100% Great Success
GREAT SUCCESS
"This symbol looks like it would be a cascade marker, and its proximity to the mannaz is indicative of... " She trailed off pen tapping on her teeth as she compared her notes and the markings in front of her. She was fairly sure she knew what this is. "It's an essence lock," she concluded. Essence locks were interesting bits of magic, keyed to a particular person. They were generally unbeatable with illusion or glamor. Mahogany smiled as she rummaged around in her bag as she started speaking to the air. "Magus always forgets that not every problem needs to be solved with magic. Essence locks usually require the touch of the person to whom the lock is keyed. But that is not essential. It is looking for a particularly strong trace of the mage and its magic. Aha!" She pulled out from her bag a pair of men's gloves she had taken from the bedroom. She began to turn the gloves inside out and place them on her hands, they were too big for her but hopefully, this was enough to fool the ward.
She reached out a gloved hand and placed it on the doorknob, she braced herself for a shock, but none came. Mahogany smiled and turned the knob, ward disengaging with a spark and door opening. The room beyond was revealed to be a library. Tall shelves filled with books and scrolls, there was a ladder that slid along railings for the attendant to reach the highest volumes and small research tables, and a sturdy empty book wheel in the back. There was a skylight in this room, impossible architecture aside and a clear light filled the space. In the center of the room was a large device. Filed in the concentric circle were hundreds of silvery cards. "Check out cards?" Mahogany thought stepping closer to them. As she laid a hand on the device a great rushing movement of energy went through her. Draining her slightly but restoring something else.
Mahogany knew then that this was the record of every Wonderitem that the Betwixt and Between had made and sold, and the books on the walls were records of the destiny they had. With a touch, the inventory began to spin, a shuffle as the cards moved on their own and flicked through as if by an invisible hand. Three of these cards ejected themselves from the system and started floating in the air. Mahogany plucked them out of the air and started to read.
------------------
The Raven Feathered Band - Created by Shopkeeper Bloyse
Current Status: Lost
Current Location: The Borderlands
This band allows the wearer to turn into a black raven at will. The user will remember they were a human.
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Needle of Capture - Created by Shopkeeper Bloyse
Current Status: Stolen
Current Location: The Borderlands
This needle can sew anything. Whatever it has sewn is bound forever until the needle is broken.
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Lyre of the Maiden - Created by Adremia the Grey Walker
Current Status: Stolen
Current Location: The Borderlands
Strung with the hair of a long dead maiden, it sings in her voice. The song will be the sweetest and saddest the listener has ever heard and will send the listener into despair.
------------------
Self-Updating Inventory found and Active
+2 Condition Restored
------------------
[ ] A Keen Mind and a Clear Spirit. ( Unlocked by the Crystal Towers Origin)
Completion Counter: 0/10
Failure Counter: 0/10
Skill: Any Magic Skill
Difficulty: Dangerous
You were never able to actually do magic before. But maybe now you are here in a new place it can be different!
FINAL TOTAL (Action Dice 6 + Skill (No Magic 0) = 6
Probability: 100% Great Success
Mahogany sat in the library looking at the cards in front of her. They were so lacking in detail! She wanted to know what markings and materials were used to create these effects. Where did Bloyse make them? She hadn't yet found a workshop. She touched the card again. She could find them she thought. She knew a script of divination. Or if she had magic she could force the mirror to show her 'true seeing.
She clenched her fist, nails digging into the palm. It always seemed to come back to that. Her inability. It was so incredibly unfair! She wiped at her face sighing. Maybe she could try again with her meditation exercise. She knows that the book told her it could restore that part of herself if she in turn restored the Betwixt and Between. But surely that wasn't the only way. She could feel herself changing, new knowledge and new sense building each day she was here. Surely it was that she isn't trying hard enough.
Mahogany took a deep breath in and sank into the cool pool which was her magic. She felt like she hovered there above her core, watching the ripples as they flowed in her. Before she had tried to pull the magic out, maybe this time she could seek to go further in.
Without a second thought of manaburn, she pulled in the edges of her thoughts and dived in. It felt like the wind was knocked out of her the cold was all-consuming. In the physical world frost began to form under her fingertips and her breath was a cold cloud. She kicked and dived and scraped as she fell and tumbled through. She realized at some point what was down was now up and she was pushing towards a surface, the ripples showing she was underwater, and with panicked strokes, she swam chest burning from the cold and the lack of air.
She breached the surface with a gasp, reaching out for something, anything! And grabbed onto what felt like a wooden bucket. Desperately using it for buoyancy she choked and spluttered. Where in the hell was she?
She thought about what this place could be, she could feel herself there in the real world, but also she was here wet and cold. "A manascape? This is what the landscape of my magic looks like." Mahogany was not impressed when she heard of manascapes before they were of impossible mazes full of lights. Island of thought floating above endless starlit skies. Her's from the look of it was a very dark and cold well.
Her teeth chattered and she pulled on the rope the bucket was attached to, at this tug, there was a clank of something mechanical and she could feel the slack on the rope subside as something activated to pull up the bucket. Awkwardly sitting upon it Mahogany has pulled up also, noting as she rose that the water in the well seemed to flow out of the bucket. When she reached the top and clambered awkwardly over the stone lip of the well there seemed to only be a very small amount inside. Less than a cupful.
Mahogany stood up, shivering, she was in a dark cave with soft bioluminescence of moss on the walls providing the only light. It smelled like earth and cold water and was freezing, freezing cold. She saw there were several alcoves around this central point. Like spokes on a wheel, they each were equidistant from the well. She clutched herself in a hug to try to prevent the shivering and walked over to the closest one.
This one had a small statue in the alcove above a large basin, both were dirty and chipped as if they had long been neglected. The statue was in the image of a paintbrush and a hammer poised as if to strike above an anvil. She reached a hand out to it and had a flash of her memories of Artificing class.
She drew her hand back. These were the aspects of magic she was capable of. She walked to the next alcove, with a book and a knife. The following, are a candle and a script pen, two mirrors reflecting each other, and an elemental orb.
Craft, Words, Intent, Illusion, and Elements.
All empty except for her knowledge. She looked back to the well, the broken bucket. She could see clearly what she could do. She could spend time here pulling her magic from the well, cupful by the cupful, and then pour it into the altar of her choosing. It would take days, but again Mahogany had never been afraid of hard work.
Which magic are you going to put your efforts into?
[ ] Magic of Words
Deals and contracts, true naming.
[ ] Magic of Intent
Sympathetic magic, Scrying, Ritual
[ ] Magic of Illusion
Glamor, Emotion, and Mind
[ ] Magic of Craft
Runecraft, Wonderitem maker, realm walker
[ ] Magic of Elements
Wind and fire, earth and water
Choose which aspect of magic you want to do carefully. The aspect you put your efforts in now will be the same the book will restore should you complete it's quest.
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Mirror Being
Vote closed
7. Rise up to meet the road.
Wistways
You friendly neighborhood artist
- Location
- Australia
Winning Vote: Magic of Craft
Can I just say how frustrated and anxious that I have had two voting snafu's one after the other?? I'm sorry if your vote wasn't counted correctly or incorrectly. I for sure will never be doing a morartium again. Thankyou to everyone who voted and brought it to my attention. I truly appreciate all of you voters and hope you will stick with me as I learn this voting system.
Can I just say how frustrated and anxious that I have had two voting snafu's one after the other?? I'm sorry if your vote wasn't counted correctly or incorrectly. I for sure will never be doing a morartium again. Thankyou to everyone who voted and brought it to my attention. I truly appreciate all of you voters and hope you will stick with me as I learn this voting system.
"Why was this awful freezing place my manascape." Mahogany thought as she dragged what felt like the 100th bucket to the altar to Craft. She couldn't feel her toes and her teeth were chattering uncontrollably. She reached the edge of the altar and with both hands lifted with a groan. It was so heavy! She was sure there was a manascape reason why it had such weight. "Maybe spiritual weight is translated into a sensation of mass?" Whatever it was it always seemed just too heavy for her to lift. Every bucket took effort. Every small splash that filled the basin was evidence of conscious effort of will on her part.
She fumbled lifting this one, the bucket slipping from tired arms and numb fingers, to clatter on the stone ground of the cave floor. Water spills and seeps into cracks and crevices. Mahogany leaned on the basin edge, exhausted beyond what she had ever experienced. There was a tiny amount in the basin, she looked and dispaired, doing internal math. "This is going to take days, no weeks to fill." She reached down into the basin, fingertips touching the top of the reservoir of mana. It wasn't cold, it was warm. She lifted her hand, dripping off the fingertips. It was warm, and as she rubbed her fingertips together she saw bright golden sparks be created from the residue and fall softly slowly fading from her hand.
Mahogany smiled tiredly, the effect looked very similar to the Magicians Portent, the name of one of the strongest indicators of magical potential. Her indicator had been the weaker and lesser known Empress's Peace when a blitzenbeast had attacked everyone in her group but had laid down sleeping at her terrified feet.
"Time to go back I think." Mahogany said, standing up with effort. With one last look at the Altar of Craft, she closed her eyes and willed herself up and out back in the far-off echoes of her physical body. Returning slumped over the table in the Inventory of the Betwixt and Between, she twitched her hand and groaned slightly. She was so, so cold. Leaving the cards on the table she got up and went over to the kitchen.
Completion Counter +3
Energy - 1
Dedication to the Magic of Craft.
-----------
-------------
(Reminder: at the start of every new turn you lose 1 condition from the Betwixt and Between, and 2 energy. If energy reaches zero condition effects are doubled as the store has to expend effort to keep you alive.)
|
Condition: 16/20 |
Energy: 0/5 |
Turn 4 |
Action Dice from Conditon = 5
Action Dice Results : 3, 4, 6, 4, 4
Every turn you will have several Action Dice that will be rolled. The number of action dice comes from the condition of the Betwixt and Between. Those dice are then rolled by me (they are 6 sided dice btw) to give you several numbers. This number when added to the skill level you have in the skill listed in the task gives you the probablity for success. Higher the total number, the more favorable the probability.
1 and 2 - 50% Neutral / 50% Failure
3 and 4 - 25% Great Success /50% Neutral / 25% Failure
5 - 50% Great Success / 50% Neutral
6+ - 100% Great Success
I have made a comprehensive Mechanics post which details more about all the numbers and extra details on tasks.
But basically you have 4 action dice right now (see above) Where would you like to assign them?
I would like plans to be done in the following format
[X] Very cool Plan Name
-[X] Task Name One - AD 4
-[X] Task Name Two - AD 3
-[X] Task Name Three - AD 4
-[X] Task Name Four - AD 5
Tasks may be taken multiple times in the same turn. Tasks will be completed in order from the first in the list to the last. If an action in an earlier task invalidates a later task the dice spent on that task is lost.
1 and 2 - 50% Neutral / 50% Failure
3 and 4 - 25% Great Success /50% Neutral / 25% Failure
5 - 50% Great Success / 50% Neutral
6+ - 100% Great Success
I have made a comprehensive Mechanics post which details more about all the numbers and extra details on tasks.
But basically you have 4 action dice right now (see above) Where would you like to assign them?
I would like plans to be done in the following format
[X] Very cool Plan Name
-[X] Task Name One - AD 4
-[X] Task Name Two - AD 3
-[X] Task Name Three - AD 4
-[X] Task Name Four - AD 5
Tasks may be taken multiple times in the same turn. Tasks will be completed in order from the first in the list to the last. If an action in an earlier task invalidates a later task the dice spent on that task is lost.
The fire in the kitchen was burning merrily, the couch arranged before it with a scarlet plush blanket. On a small table was a stone dish which when Mahogany lifted the cover revealed a rich beef and potato dumpling stew. Hot and hearty.
"Kitchen, you are my favorite place I have ever found." Mahogany said to the room as she sat and started devouring a serving. "How did you know this is just what I wanted?"
There was the noise of a high tinkling bell and she looked up from her bowl. On the wall near the drum for the kitchen was a small drawing that had been pinned up. It was drawn in childlike simple lines but it was still clear what it was. The picture showed a woman in a grey dress with a long dark braid hugging a house with a green door. Around the house were hearts and bees, every bee had a smile.
Mahogany laughed. "Thank you, Kitchen. It's wonderful. I'll hang it above my bed...." she trailed off at this sentence. She wasn't sure if she could use the bedroom if the Mirror Being was there. It didn't seem very.... trustworthy.
She pondered, pushing a dumpling around the bowl.
"Maybe I could muffle it? Or just bargain for it to give me a reprieve. Or I could just smash the mirror as it asked." She shook her head, " No I can't just smash it. There must be a reason it is here, and it knew about Bloyse and the shop. The knowledge it must have. Surely there is a way to make it co-operate."
She looked into the fire, thinking about what she must do.
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[ ] Investigate what has happened here.
Completion Counter: 2/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
Something has happened here. Have a look around see if you can figure it out.
[ ] Where in the World am I?
Completion Counter: 0/5
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
You look outside the window and you recognize nothing, maybe it might be good to familiarize yourself.
[ ] Explore the Betwixt and Between
Completion Counter: 6/10
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
Let's have a look around.
[ ] Movement in the Fog
Skill: Quick (0)
Difficulty: DANGEROUS
Was that something moving outside? No, surely not. You must be imagining things.
[ ] Empty Pages
Completion Counter: 3/4
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty : RISKY
Communicate with the book? Spirit? in the Ledger.
[ ] A Request for the Betwixt and Between
Skill: Destiny (+1)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is something you require the Betwixt and Between to provide you. Flex your connection and see if you can make it happen.
(Please specify the item and its use of it in the plan. This cannot provide magic items or new rooms. Some things cannot be created or are out of setting for this quest and are up to GM discretion)
INVENTORY -- NEW
[ ] Research in the Inventory
Skill : Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
So there is something you want to know about wonderitems. In here it has the information both past and present.
(Please list what sort of information you want to look for.)
[ ] A Keen Mind and a Clear Spirit.
Completion Counter : 3/10
Failure Counter : 0/10
Skill : Magic of Craft (0)
Difficulty : DANGEROUS
You have managed to find your manascape, in a dark cave in your soul. Spend time filling the basin on the Alter of Craft.
KITCHEN ---- NEW
[ ] Spend time in the Kitchen
Skill: Empathy (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
The comfort of a hot meal and some time at rest.
[ ] A Busy Bee
Skill : Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty : RISKY
Cost : 2 'Magic' Crystals
The Kitchen has communicated to you that it can create special meals for you. But all wonderous things have a cost.
BEDROOM
[ ] Mirror, Mirror
Failure Counter : 0/3
Skill : Empathy (+1) or Magic of Illusion (N/A)
Difficulty: RISKY
The Mirror being is both rude and uncontrollable. Maybe it's time to have a discussion.
[ ] To Sleep, perchance to Dream?
Failure Counter : 0/5
Skill : Destiny (+1)
Difficulty : DANGEROUS
The objects around the bed seemed to be tuned to have a purpose while sleeping.
[ ] Messy Room
Completion Counter : 1/4
Skill : Quick (0)
Difficulty: SAFE
Rummage through the belongings of the previous shopkeeper and maybe your supposed to be Master.
PERSONAL STUDY
[ ] Red strings and Pages
Completion Counter : 0/5
Skill: Reason (+1)
Difficulty : SAFE
What could of the former shopkeeper been tracking?
[ ] A Puzzle Locked Desk
Completion Counter : 0/10
Skill: Quick (0)
Difficulty: RISKY
There is nothing more tempting than a locked box in plain sight.
[ ] Books, Books and More Books
Completion Counter: 0/8
Skill: Hidden Knowledge (+1)
Difficulty: SAFE
See if you can figure out the purpose of this collection.
I'm not going to do a moratorium this time because I am not doing it correctly and I don't want a third vote problem in a row. But it would be awesome if you could list why you like certain plans. Discussion about the options helps me craft the story and future options for you. (Also you may notice that options will change in skill required or description. This is usually because something about the situation has changed when you were not there. )
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