- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Oh, they will. Someone needs to be a counterweight to all the insanely toxic dynamics I plan to introduce.
Seriously, have I got some shit to show.
Everybody Wants the Crown [Pactverse Quest]
- Thread starter Dr Heaven M.D.
- Start date
- Mature
Seriously, have I got some shit to show.
- Location
- USA
Sooooooo how bad was taking. Mainly becaues I want to make jokes using a certain SMP. Without looking like a ass.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I don't wanna spoil anything, and I don't know what an SMP is.
- Location
- USA
Pfttt. Minecraft thing. Survival Multiplayer. Anyway.
Can I get a answer to this?
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Oh, right.
Well, I'm kinda delayed on Pale, so I'm not sure exactly how the tech spirits work, truth be told.
Technomancy is a "Realms" school of Practice and we see Zed, the Power Glove Sorcerer, use his Practice to travel. His teacher, Rad Ray Sunshine, hosts classes in an actual physical classroom in the internet.
So I'm laying it down that the internet is more like the Realm of TechnoSpirits, like how the Abyss is for Bogeymen, the Ruins for Ghosts, the Warrens for Goblins, etc. Wildbow may differ or explain it better on Pale or Reddit, but until then that's what we have.
(The subject will be expanded on in-story if you pursue it.)
As for what games Jack played... I'mma go ahead and say that he tried any optimization or roleplay-heavy ones he found, since he always knew that someday he would be a Practitioner. And also Warhammer 40k, but that's because he saw a mini of a Techpriest and went "yo that's fucking sick" and then refused to give any other faction except the Necrons the time of day.
If certain conversation options are picked, this'll come up and the narration will explain how he roleplayed after he couldn't lie anymore, and also how he sings.
Last edited:
- Location
- USA
Noted and makes sense. I really don't trust Wildbow. Mihaly becaues other things.
Please. That will be fun as fuck.
So World of Darkness and Exalted for sure then. Give they are big on that. MMM I feel like he would been mainly a Mage player. I am not sure what Mage he would mainly play Technocrats or Sons of Either. Maybe Virtual Adepts. Not sure on what type of Exalted game tho. Mortal or Fey could make sense. But with the tech focus Alchemicals also fit.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Well, y'know, worshipping and being asked to run incredibly destructive errands in the name of not letting her die are basically the same thing, no?
- Pronouns
- Reader
[X] Internet Lottery Jackpot
-[X] The Deal
--[X] You found her
---[X] Weird
-[X] Do you look at them with the Sight?
--[X] No
-[X] Who do you talk to?
--[X] The Other New Girl
--[X] Butch Rocker and the Sundress Kid
--[X] The Twins
Didn't like the saved or parent options so I made something else. A bit more weird can hardly hurt.
-[X] The Deal
--[X] You found her
---[X] Weird
-[X] Do you look at them with the Sight?
--[X] No
-[X] Who do you talk to?
--[X] The Other New Girl
--[X] Butch Rocker and the Sundress Kid
--[X] The Twins
Didn't like the saved or parent options so I made something else. A bit more weird can hardly hurt.
- Pronouns
- He
Rereading Pale, and I came across a nice informational post that details a bunch of technomancer gizmo's the protagonists manage to swipe.
I thought it would make a swell example of the types of things *our* budding technomancer might be looking to pick up or create, particulary for those reading who aren't big fans of the source material.
After all, the Hulk Mode isn't actually that useful in 95% of situations, and most Practice seems to revolve around building your own collection of these useful gimicks.
I thought it would make a swell example of the types of things *our* budding technomancer might be looking to pick up or create, particulary for those reading who aren't big fans of the source material.
After all, the Hulk Mode isn't actually that useful in 95% of situations, and most Practice seems to revolve around building your own collection of these useful gimicks.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Okay, look, I'm sorry but I have to put my foot down.
Generally speaking, in this Quest you will be allowed to do whatever you want to do within the confines of possibility. If the majority votes for taking off all our clothes and running through the streets naked, then that's what Jack'll do.
It'll cause a massive loss of reputation with the town unless you crit a Charm roll, but he'll do it.
But Jack is not a budding Technomancer. He is a Harbinger, as that is what got voted. He is in contact with something involved with Technomancy, but that doesn't make him one.
Spirits don't like contradiction. Jack has been marked as a Harbinger and, if the vote currently in the lead wins, so were his parents. If he makes a swerve to a different speciality, not only does he lose a lot of power, he might straight up get Forsworn by some opportunistic adversary.
In canon, we've only met one character that changed specialties after choosing one, it was two very closely related ones, and he's not even human anymore.
Jack is not a Technomancer. I appreciate the initiative and these do work as inspiration, but he will have his own techniques, gear and rituals befiting the specialty that was already chosen.
I don't wanna be mean about this, but it's how the setting works.
- Location
- Moscow, Russia
Don't give us great ideas
!On a more serious note, can you please veto the write-ins like the one you've described? I enjoy voting for silly options, but one joke in the wrong place and time may ruin everything.
- Pronouns
- He
My apologies, its just my ignorance showing through I think. I thought with the technological patron that implied certain things.
My bad!
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I'll veto if it's too extreme, but mistakes are the prize of experience, as my mom said whenever I fell down the stairs.Don't give us great ideas
On a more serious note, can you please veto the write-ins like the one you've described? I enjoy voting for silly options, but one joke in the wrong place and time may ruin everything.
No problem, just please keep it in mind.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Welp, I'm closing the tally. While I write, is anyone interested in what I had planned for the other Practice options?
- Pronouns
- Reader
Yes please. I'd like to know how mine would have worked, especially with higher starting weird.
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Alright, that's all the invitation I need.
First, the family history:
* First Gen's highest starting Practice stat would have been a d8, and probably gone to Puissance if you picked Harbinger or Winter Fae Magician.
* Old Name's lowest starting Practice stat would have been a d8, and probably wouldn't have appear on more than one stat.
As for Practices:
* Dabbler would have been the neutral starting point, from there you could apprentice under another group to learn their Practice, if you managed to convince them you were worth teaching.
* The subvote would have been for the group of Practices you studied, stuff like Conjuration (easy to summon/easy to dismiss powers), Lore (acquiring knowledge for advantage), Realms (interacting with different layers of reality), etc.
* If instead of specializing you gained power while staying varied, then you would eventually gain the title of Sorcerer, which is basically a Dabbler that gets respect and fear from others. This was basically the Magikarp option.
* Host would vary a lot depending on the subtype you chose.
* Pantheon and Hoarde would have been just me giving you a selection of minor Others and telling you to pick three or five to start with.
* Duality I would have given you a selection of mid-tier Others with potential of growth.
* Eater would have been kinda complicated. I would have told you to choose either an overall theme (Wolf, Summer, Rabbit, Forest, etc) and some characteristic associated with them (could be the Moon for the Wolf, Luck for the Rabbit, anything like that) or to just choose what you started cramming in your mouth and see where it evolved from there, depending on what generation you started with. This would have been slow to reach its peak but potentially a Big Deal.
* Abomination would have been me giving you a Primeval (like a magic dinosaur from beyond the limits of reality that is absolutely pissed at humanity for existing), a Dragon, an Incarnation (I'd have been ncie and let you chose what awful thing it was an Incarnation of) and maybe some other Big Deal other and then told you to choose where in your body it's imprisioned.
* Faerie would have been simple, I'd have let you chose if you wanted to fight directly, by misguiding or by creating monsters and then try to screw you from there.
Harbinger has its own Big Deal techniques, but I'm not gonna spoil it.
- Location
- Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan: It runs in the family
Sorry fam, voting is over
The Meeting - Part Two
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
QM's Note: Sorry for the delay, I moved to another country on the 23rd.
Added some stuff to the Dramatis Personae and Grimoir Info-threadmarks, feel free to check them out to know just what tricks Jack knows and what his parents do.
Also, linking the dice roll is a pain when your Ctrl key doesn't work, so I'll only do it for big rolls.
Well, you might as well be efficient about this and meet with the one that's just as lost as you before you both go talk to the ones gossiping about you.
You approach the new girl. She's wearing a white shirt under a black sweater, black jeans and belt, black doc martens, black choker, black nail polish, black lipstick, heavy black eyeliner, and--in what you suspect to be a shocking addition of colour--you think you can see purple socks. On the more physical level, she's pretty short, maybe even stuck at five feet. She's white, her black hair is cut in a messy bob, and her face seems to be permanently stuck on an expression of suspicion and wariness, her eyes shifting from one person to another.
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 4,5=9+2=11]
You walk forward, head held high. She sees you approach out of the corner of her eye, a bit wary, but you just gave a smile and stretched a hand forward.
"Hi there!" You say, Minnesota Niceness at full power. "I'm Jack, what's your name?"
She flinches a bit, eyes wide. She looks down at your hand and her eyes catch the light oddly for a second when she looks at the rest of you--probably her using the Sight on you, which was rude, but you'd heard she was from the coast so it was expected and forgiven--but she slowly takes your hand and gives it a robotic up-and-down shake.
"Stark," she eventually says, letting go of your hand.
"Nice to meet you, Stark," you smile at her, "It's nice to get a new face 'round here. Specially one as cute as yours."
Her ears tint red, and she clears her throat, "I- Thank you, for that comment. Can I help you?"
Harsh, but not uncommon. When a wrong word can mean a Fate Worse than Death, it isn't uncommon for Practitioners to treat every interaction as hostile by default.
"Well, I figured I'd just go around introducing myself. It's my first time at one of these meetings and I don't actually know any of the other guys' names. Have you been to something like this before?"
"A few times," Stark nods. "Didn't talk much to the other families, but I like to stay aware of the current events."
"Well, how about a collaboration?" you smile at her, and she raises an eyebrow. "You've got experience, and I've got an in 'cause I lived here all my life. We go around, introduce ourselves, and if it looks like I'm about to get caught in some trap, you warn me?"
"That deal is... acceptable." She nods.
"Cool," you wink at her. "Off we go, cutie."
Hah, her ears went red again. She'll be fun.
As you and Stark go forth, you notice that the two girls are pretty different in... basically every aspect.
The one in the sundress is white and only a bit shorter than you, putting her half a head over her friend and about a foot over Stark. She's wearing sandals, her skin is very sunburnt at the shoulders and her fingers are practically covered in band-aids. Her brown hair is tied in a long braid, tossed over her shoulder.
And she's got a whip. Just... a black leather whip. In the hand she's waving around as she talks to her friend. In the middle of polite company.
The other girl was in full punk fashion. Leather jacket with the front covered in pins, ragged t-shirt with the british flag on it, blue jeans torn at the knees, piercings, and boots with spikes up the back that you see Stark give an approving look to. She's black, with extremely thick and curly hair that's dyed electric blue and shaved into a mohawk.
And she's got a staff. A big one, carved top-to-bottom in runes of...
[Weird Roll (2d6+1): 4,1=5+1=6]
... stuff? You recognize the basic air and water stuff, and there's some heaven symbols there...
Bah, better not get distracted again and try to be friendly.
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 3,3=6+2=8]
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 1,4=5+2=7]
"Hey there!" you smiled. "Nice to finally join one of these and meet you guys. I'm-"
"Jack," the punk girl says. She seems somewhere between amused and like she wants to smack you upside the head.
"... darn, we know each other from somewhere, don't we?" you ask, cringing.
"We went to high school together," she says.
"That's not fair, I went to highschool with most of the people my age here."
"I was also in the tabletop games club with you. I recall lending you a pencil once. You chewed on it."
You stay silent for a moment and carefully ignore a mutter that sounds a lot like 'so much for small town charm' coming from Stark.
Eventually you sigh, "Okay, that's my bad. Sorry, I'm a jerk."
Punk Girl (you really hope someone says her name soon) chuckles, "It's fine. Not like we played together a lot, I wasn't too into the roleplaying ones. Well, except for one, and even then I don't waste time on the toaster fucker faction."
You pause for a second, then give a closer look and spot an Ork pin among the tin ocean on her jacket.
You sniff imperiously, "A filthy xeno, I see."
"Bite me, humie." She replies in an exagerated accent.
"Do you know what they're talking about?" Sundress Girl asks Stark.
"Not really. I thought she was going to punch him when he called her a 'xeno'."
Oop, yeah, that's bad out of context. You quickly switch tracks. "Anyways, while I metaphorically dislodge my foot from my mouth, I'd like to introduce y'all to Stark."
"Nice to meet'cha!" Sundress Girl says, "I'm Persephone Wayne-Flowers--you can just call me Seph--and this is Grace Bell. We're both with The Untamed."
Damn. What a name.
"How do you do?" Grace says.
"Fine," Stark replies. "Isn't Wayne-Flowers-"
"Yeah," Seph smiles a little bashfully, "My mom's the head of the group."
"So you're... Callers, I think is the modern term?" Stark looks between Seph and Grace with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not related," Grace explains. "The Untamed takes anyone that wants to join, and I got in through my parents."
"Aw, but you're a valued member," Seph says, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Partly because you and dad are the only ones that know how to fix the water heater."
Grace scoffs. "Anyways, yeah, we're both Callers. Seph here answers to the Briar Maiden, and I'm with the Stormfather."
You decide it's mostly safe to get back in the conversation. "What do Callers do, exactly?"
"It's like Shamanism, but more entrenched in a certain zone, right?" Seph seems happy to have an excuse to talk about it, "You court the spirit of a certain tree, or a local type of animal, and go up from there. Lately some people are doing this modern, urban version of Shamanism, but the Untamed likes to connect with the older forces."
"The untamed ones, if we're being on-the-nose," Grace says. "Fair's fair, what about you guys? You're a Harbinger, right Jack?"
"Harbinger of Vox Mechanica," you nod. "I get an area where my patron's will manifests, and I can shapeshift into a berserker form. Not the friendliest Practice, but I try to keep it under control."
There's a small moment before Stark speaks up. "Scourge. I deal with the Abyss and its denizens."
... right.
Seph recovers from the breach of midwestern politeness first, "Well, if we're talking Practice, I know someone that would be very cross if we didn't include him. Eric! Eric, come on over!"
The young man in the wheelchair looks over, half a cookie hanging from his mouth. He finishes it quickly, in the time it takes him to come over, his brother following after.
The younger sibling looks to be about your age. Light brown skin, dressed in a t-shirt and joggings, hair shaved closed to the head. The most noticeable thing about him is that he's rail thin, the kind that grandmothers across the world would desperately approach with food. The second is that he's the only present with a bigger smile than you.
"Hey," he greeted, then his attention turned to you specifically. "Jack, right? It's nice to finally meet you, I'm Eric."
[Charm Roll (2d6): 3,5=8+2=10]
"Pleased to meet you," you gesture at Stark. "This is Stark, while we're introducing ourselves."
"Hello," the Scourge nods.
Eric nods at her, pauses for a moment, then focuses back on you. "Your family is in service of a Nex Machina, right?"
"Er, yeah. Her name is Vox Mechanica."
Eric smiles from ear to ear. "Just how far does her connection to technology go? I have a few ideas I wanna try and if you could guarantee some coolaboration from her part then-"
"Eric!" the boy's sibling jumps in, "Maybe don't go around promising things before he answers? Besides, Harbingers don't really ask things of their patrons."
Well, your folks did from time to time, but their relationship to Vox was far from the norm, as you understood it.
"Yeah, yeah," Eric waves him off, still laser-focused in on you, "See, I had this idea for a Doll with chainsaw arms but I can't get the right spirits to enter the limbs-"
"Wait what the fuck?" Grace says, but you barely listen to her.
You're too busy smiling at Eric. "That is incredibly awesome and I want to hear more."
"Oh god, there's two of them," Eric's brother groans.
Before you can start talking about the incredible possibilities, Stark clears her throat and gives you a look.
Right, probably shouldn't start making deals on first meeting.
"We can talk about it later," you decide, through an extreme push of willpower. Then you turn to Eric's sibling. "I'm sure you heard, but-"
"Jack Alexander and Stark, yes, I heard." He says, remarkably unfriendly. "I'm Brian. Brian Calloway."
"Don't mind him, he's a big sourpuss," Eric waves his brother off. His focus is on Stark now. "Anyway, does your family have any Abyss-tainted materials they'd be willing to trade away?"
"I'd have to ask my parents-?"
"Cool, because I heard it's really sturdy material," Eric reaches back and, in what looks like a practiced movement, unslings the black and yellow backpack from his wheelchair, setting it down on his lap. Upon opening, you see it's bigger than it had any right to be on the inside, with full wooden walls lined side-to-side with tools and carefully labled boxes of varying sizes and no floor in sight.
While your brain was trying to process that Dr Who nonsense, Eric reaches in, takes out a box labeled as 'Bogeyknife' and square wood slab, and closes the backpack again. He opens the box and you see switchblade with little wire arms and legs and two googly eyes stuck on it.
"What," Stark says. Seph sighs and smiles consolingly at her, Grace looks amused, Brian looks embarrassed by the whole thing and you're fascinated.
"This was a little experiment I did," Eric explains, pulling what looks like a tablecloth with a diagram painted on it. He puts it on the slab and then the knife in the center of the diagram. "Objects influenced by the Abyss tend to be tougher, and weapons can leave wounds that never heal, or ar at least very hard to heal."
Eric puts a finger in his mouth and, with what looks like far too little effort, breaks skin to get some blood. "So, I wanted to see if what I added to it would gain those traits."
He puts the finger to the edge of the diagram, in a spot that already has a faded brown stain on it, and the Bogeyknife shudders a little before it jumps up on its little wire legs.
"Did it work?" Stark asks, looking at the Bogeyknife with a raised eyebrow.
"I haven't been able to take this little fucker apart and use those parts again, so I guess so," Eric lifts the Bogeyknife before it can react and it quickly goes prone. "It's just a prototype so I didn't bother making it combat-capable, but I'm hoping for a full squad of super-tough Dolls some day."
Despite her waryness at Eric's personality, Stark seems impressed. "It seems the rumors of the Calloway family's skills weren't exaggerated."
"Please don't involve the rest of the family in this," Brian sighs. "Dad and I tend to more traditional materials and... body types than what Eric does. He's just obsessed with experimenting."
"Actually, as cool as Abyssal Dolls sound, I wanted to ask about that backpack?" You mention, "How did you manage to make it so much bigger on the inside?"
"My backpack?" Eric seems surprised someone asked. Must be used to people knowing. "Oh, it's my Implement. I took a tool backpack, did a modified Alcazar ritual on it so it'd have a whole room inside, then turned it into my Implement. I always have all my materials and tools with me."
"That's badass," you breathed. "You already have your Implement?"
Eric preens a little.
"Well, spare some admiration for us too," Seph cuts in, lifting her whip a little. "Grace and I have ours too."
Grace raises the staff a little, and with a touch of smugness, adds, "I've got a Familiar, too."
You look at Stark. She gives a smug look and pulls a fountain pen out of her pocket. Then she turns to look at Grace, "I'm negotiating with an Other that's interested in being my Familiar."
"That's cool, mine was a lot less formal, but if you have questions I'd be willing to help," Grace replies, choosing to ignore the competitive tilt to Stark's words.
"Ah, yes, thank you, I'll consider it." Stark says, having expected a harsher reply.
"Man, am I the only one here without one of the big three?" You pouted.
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 5,6=11+2=13]
"... I don't have one either," Brian offered, "I think it's better to wait for a big victory to take one, or to be careful choosing. I think you'll know the right time."
"Aw, thanks!" You smile at him. "That makes me feel better. You're a nice guy."
Brian looks a little awkward, but he nods at you.
"I did have a big win before taking my Implement," Stark cuts in.
You stick your tongue out at her, to which she makes a shocked face. You hear a snort from Brian's direction, but he has a neutral expression on when you look at him.
While there are only three big Practitioner groups in Poet's Hill, and two small ones now that the Starks have joined your family here, there are four 'freelance' Practitioners that are usually contracted by the big groups to do their chores in exchange for knowledge, pay or Others.
[Sharp Roll (2d6): 3,6=9]
The first one in today is a burly, hairy old man, dressed warm despite the early summer weather. He has a dog whistle strung around his neck and a chihuahua in his arms. Donovan Lindt. Your parents had worked with him once or twice, said he was competent and totally amoral.
After him came Bernard Grimes, who matched his name by wearing flithy clothes. He was like a redneck that stranded too far north; missing teeth, trucker hat and red flannel shirt included. He has a patchy beard and thick eyebrow, between them a nose that looked like it'd been broken a couple times. Your parents just told you to stay away from him if possible.
The third freelancer shows up in a tracksuit, smiling casually at everyone and winking at your mom, making both your parents and you scowl. Logan Watt has a goatee, a knife strapped to his waist, and a permanent spot in your family's shit list after he cursed your mom when you were seven, leaving her bedridden for half a month and making you worry if she was going to die.
(And seriously, what sort of douchebag has a goatee?)
The other one failed to show up for the next ten minutes, so Johan Byrne started the meeting by slamming down his walking cane on the stone floor, drawing everyone's attention.
"If we might get this meeting started..." the Elder Byrne's voice is like gravel, grating on the ears and painful to picture on your own throat. "I'll give the obligatory welcome to the new additions of Poet's Hill's Practitioner community, who I've no doubt will annoy me soon enough: The notorious Stark family, from the East Coast, and the youngest of the Alexander family."
... Well, if you'd been expecting clapping, hugs and a complimentary fruit basket for this major moment in your life, you'd have been sorely disappointed.
"Now moving on to things and beings that have slight importance," Byrne continued, "We have trouble. An Oni was spotted in the woods."
Gasps rang out around the room, one from Stark next to you.
[Weird Roll (2d6+1): 1,4=5+1=6]
You don't know what the hell Oni are, but it seems serious. Still, weren't the woods occupied by-
"I doubt even an Oni could have convinced Turdblood and his gang to share terrain," the Calloway patriarch notes. "What happened to the Goblins?"
Johan clicked his tongue. "Pushed, converted or slaughtered, from what I'm told. It looks like it's a gang of idealistic Others and only one Oni, though there may be more my spies haven't spotted."
"This is troubling," Jeanne says, biting one of her already short nails, "We'll have to keep an eye on the area. Where were the Goblins pushed, anyways?"
"Some into their filthy Warrens. Others started pushing their luck in town, probably on their leader's orders." Byrne sounded disgusted, which was fair when it came to Goblins. "Speaking of, some have shown up around the cinema, so someone will have to deal with those."
He pauses, and it quickly becomes clear he's not going to volunteer and is more than happy to wait for someone else to do so.
The three freelancers that showed up look between each other. They're used to getting shit jobs like this, but Byrne has a lot of money to his name and he's not dumb enough to waste power and reputation in screwing someone over the bill.
There's a silent contest between them, and for a second you think Logan Watt will win it.
Which is all the motivation you need to raise your hand and declare, "I'll do it!"
Attention turns to you, and you thank your lucky stars (and maybe Vox too) that you don't blush too heavily.
"Sure, whatever," Johan says. "Any details for how you'll take this job?"
"Uh..."
[] Tick Tock, on the Clock: How will you carry this job? Since you can't involve
-[] Three Days Preparation: You'll take your sweet time preparing, though that might show your inexperience and give the Goblins time to entrench themselves in the zone. Not to mention get it dirty.
-[] Two Days Preparation: A bit of a break from mystically important numbers, but a fine compromise between not giving them an important amount of time to set up shop and giving yourself time to arm up. Still shows inexperience.
-[] One Day Preparation: Why do today what you can do tomorrow? You'll have the rest of the day, tonight, and tomorrow to prepare.
-[] Tonight: Caution's for pussies. No plan, no problem, go kick ass with whatever you can grab from your house before the day is over.
[] Bills, Bills, Bills: Will you ask for money? On one hand, generosity is good reputation and karma. On the other, you have exactly twenty bucks to your name.
-[] Yes: Gotta get that moolah.
-[] No: Money is the root of all evil and also you can always mug someone.
QM's Note: This chapter, and the description of Logan Watt specifically, are both lovingly dedicated to my older brother and to @TheFat1 , who have goatees.
Next update I'll be adding a Mature tag to this thread, on account of how there will be Body Horror eventually and--more immediately--on account of Goblins in general. Those of you that didn't read Pact or Pale, don't worry. You'll know what I mean soon enough.
Anyways, this chapter showed that choosing to have +2 in Charm was a smart move, since you didn't fail a single Charm Roll. Not much to choose this chapter, but I'll leave it here for convenience's sake:
[] Plan Name
-[] Tick Tock, on the Clock
--[] Your Choice
-[] Bills, Bills, Bills
--[] Your Choice
Added some stuff to the Dramatis Personae and Grimoir Info-threadmarks, feel free to check them out to know just what tricks Jack knows and what his parents do.
Also, linking the dice roll is a pain when your Ctrl key doesn't work, so I'll only do it for big rolls.
-=]_[=-
[X] Plan: It runs in the family
-[X] The deal:Your parents introduced her to you: It was the same day you Awakened, actually. Once the ritual was through, your parents summoned her and made the introductions. It was kinda awkward, but they'd seemed happy with her for giving you a Token, for some reason. (Gain Family History trait, granting a better Execution stat and one combat trait. Your parents are Harbingers like you with this.)
-[X] Do you look at them with the Sight? The Sight is basically a filter that gives you a better look at the Spirits surrounding everything, represented in a way that makes sense to you based on your Awakening, personality, Practice, etc. Every Practitioner has it.
--[X] No: Might be seen as rude to do it the first time you meet them if any of them are particularly prickly, and you can do it any time you see them.
-[X] Who do you talk to? All your friends left for college instead of pursuing careers in magic like losers, so you gotta make new friends (Pick up to Three)
--[X] The Kid in the Wheelchair and the Ignored Guy: You think you can see some runes on the kid's wheels and you gotta know what that's about.
--[X] Butch Rocker and the Sundress Kid: If they're so curious about you then you might as well just go and talk to them.
--[X] The Other New Girl: Hell, at least you know what you can talk about. Probably shouldn't offer to introduce her to others, though.
-[X] The deal:Your parents introduced her to you: It was the same day you Awakened, actually. Once the ritual was through, your parents summoned her and made the introductions. It was kinda awkward, but they'd seemed happy with her for giving you a Token, for some reason. (Gain Family History trait, granting a better Execution stat and one combat trait. Your parents are Harbingers like you with this.)
-[X] Do you look at them with the Sight? The Sight is basically a filter that gives you a better look at the Spirits surrounding everything, represented in a way that makes sense to you based on your Awakening, personality, Practice, etc. Every Practitioner has it.
--[X] No: Might be seen as rude to do it the first time you meet them if any of them are particularly prickly, and you can do it any time you see them.
-[X] Who do you talk to? All your friends left for college instead of pursuing careers in magic like losers, so you gotta make new friends (Pick up to Three)
--[X] The Kid in the Wheelchair and the Ignored Guy: You think you can see some runes on the kid's wheels and you gotta know what that's about.
--[X] Butch Rocker and the Sundress Kid: If they're so curious about you then you might as well just go and talk to them.
--[X] The Other New Girl: Hell, at least you know what you can talk about. Probably shouldn't offer to introduce her to others, though.
Well, you might as well be efficient about this and meet with the one that's just as lost as you before you both go talk to the ones gossiping about you.
You approach the new girl. She's wearing a white shirt under a black sweater, black jeans and belt, black doc martens, black choker, black nail polish, black lipstick, heavy black eyeliner, and--in what you suspect to be a shocking addition of colour--you think you can see purple socks. On the more physical level, she's pretty short, maybe even stuck at five feet. She's white, her black hair is cut in a messy bob, and her face seems to be permanently stuck on an expression of suspicion and wariness, her eyes shifting from one person to another.
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 4,5=9+2=11]
You walk forward, head held high. She sees you approach out of the corner of her eye, a bit wary, but you just gave a smile and stretched a hand forward.
"Hi there!" You say, Minnesota Niceness at full power. "I'm Jack, what's your name?"
She flinches a bit, eyes wide. She looks down at your hand and her eyes catch the light oddly for a second when she looks at the rest of you--probably her using the Sight on you, which was rude, but you'd heard she was from the coast so it was expected and forgiven--but she slowly takes your hand and gives it a robotic up-and-down shake.
"Stark," she eventually says, letting go of your hand.
"Nice to meet you, Stark," you smile at her, "It's nice to get a new face 'round here. Specially one as cute as yours."
Her ears tint red, and she clears her throat, "I- Thank you, for that comment. Can I help you?"
Harsh, but not uncommon. When a wrong word can mean a Fate Worse than Death, it isn't uncommon for Practitioners to treat every interaction as hostile by default.
"Well, I figured I'd just go around introducing myself. It's my first time at one of these meetings and I don't actually know any of the other guys' names. Have you been to something like this before?"
"A few times," Stark nods. "Didn't talk much to the other families, but I like to stay aware of the current events."
"Well, how about a collaboration?" you smile at her, and she raises an eyebrow. "You've got experience, and I've got an in 'cause I lived here all my life. We go around, introduce ourselves, and if it looks like I'm about to get caught in some trap, you warn me?"
"That deal is... acceptable." She nods.
"Cool," you wink at her. "Off we go, cutie."
Hah, her ears went red again. She'll be fun.
[Dramatis Personae entries added: Stark Family, ??? Stark.]
[+10 to Relationship with ??? Stark. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
-=]_[=-
[+10 to Relationship with ??? Stark. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
-=]_[=-
As you and Stark go forth, you notice that the two girls are pretty different in... basically every aspect.
The one in the sundress is white and only a bit shorter than you, putting her half a head over her friend and about a foot over Stark. She's wearing sandals, her skin is very sunburnt at the shoulders and her fingers are practically covered in band-aids. Her brown hair is tied in a long braid, tossed over her shoulder.
And she's got a whip. Just... a black leather whip. In the hand she's waving around as she talks to her friend. In the middle of polite company.
The other girl was in full punk fashion. Leather jacket with the front covered in pins, ragged t-shirt with the british flag on it, blue jeans torn at the knees, piercings, and boots with spikes up the back that you see Stark give an approving look to. She's black, with extremely thick and curly hair that's dyed electric blue and shaved into a mohawk.
And she's got a staff. A big one, carved top-to-bottom in runes of...
[Weird Roll (2d6+1): 4,1=5+1=6]
... stuff? You recognize the basic air and water stuff, and there's some heaven symbols there...
Bah, better not get distracted again and try to be friendly.
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 3,3=6+2=8]
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 1,4=5+2=7]
"Hey there!" you smiled. "Nice to finally join one of these and meet you guys. I'm-"
"Jack," the punk girl says. She seems somewhere between amused and like she wants to smack you upside the head.
"... darn, we know each other from somewhere, don't we?" you ask, cringing.
"We went to high school together," she says.
"That's not fair, I went to highschool with most of the people my age here."
"I was also in the tabletop games club with you. I recall lending you a pencil once. You chewed on it."
You stay silent for a moment and carefully ignore a mutter that sounds a lot like 'so much for small town charm' coming from Stark.
Eventually you sigh, "Okay, that's my bad. Sorry, I'm a jerk."
Punk Girl (you really hope someone says her name soon) chuckles, "It's fine. Not like we played together a lot, I wasn't too into the roleplaying ones. Well, except for one, and even then I don't waste time on the toaster fucker faction."
You pause for a second, then give a closer look and spot an Ork pin among the tin ocean on her jacket.
You sniff imperiously, "A filthy xeno, I see."
"Bite me, humie." She replies in an exagerated accent.
"Do you know what they're talking about?" Sundress Girl asks Stark.
"Not really. I thought she was going to punch him when he called her a 'xeno'."
Oop, yeah, that's bad out of context. You quickly switch tracks. "Anyways, while I metaphorically dislodge my foot from my mouth, I'd like to introduce y'all to Stark."
"Nice to meet'cha!" Sundress Girl says, "I'm Persephone Wayne-Flowers--you can just call me Seph--and this is Grace Bell. We're both with The Untamed."
Damn. What a name.
"How do you do?" Grace says.
"Fine," Stark replies. "Isn't Wayne-Flowers-"
"Yeah," Seph smiles a little bashfully, "My mom's the head of the group."
"So you're... Callers, I think is the modern term?" Stark looks between Seph and Grace with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not related," Grace explains. "The Untamed takes anyone that wants to join, and I got in through my parents."
"Aw, but you're a valued member," Seph says, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Partly because you and dad are the only ones that know how to fix the water heater."
Grace scoffs. "Anyways, yeah, we're both Callers. Seph here answers to the Briar Maiden, and I'm with the Stormfather."
You decide it's mostly safe to get back in the conversation. "What do Callers do, exactly?"
"It's like Shamanism, but more entrenched in a certain zone, right?" Seph seems happy to have an excuse to talk about it, "You court the spirit of a certain tree, or a local type of animal, and go up from there. Lately some people are doing this modern, urban version of Shamanism, but the Untamed likes to connect with the older forces."
"The untamed ones, if we're being on-the-nose," Grace says. "Fair's fair, what about you guys? You're a Harbinger, right Jack?"
"Harbinger of Vox Mechanica," you nod. "I get an area where my patron's will manifests, and I can shapeshift into a berserker form. Not the friendliest Practice, but I try to keep it under control."
There's a small moment before Stark speaks up. "Scourge. I deal with the Abyss and its denizens."
... right.
Seph recovers from the breach of midwestern politeness first, "Well, if we're talking Practice, I know someone that would be very cross if we didn't include him. Eric! Eric, come on over!"
The young man in the wheelchair looks over, half a cookie hanging from his mouth. He finishes it quickly, in the time it takes him to come over, his brother following after.
The younger sibling looks to be about your age. Light brown skin, dressed in a t-shirt and joggings, hair shaved closed to the head. The most noticeable thing about him is that he's rail thin, the kind that grandmothers across the world would desperately approach with food. The second is that he's the only present with a bigger smile than you.
"Hey," he greeted, then his attention turned to you specifically. "Jack, right? It's nice to finally meet you, I'm Eric."
[Charm Roll (2d6): 3,5=8+2=10]
"Pleased to meet you," you gesture at Stark. "This is Stark, while we're introducing ourselves."
"Hello," the Scourge nods.
Eric nods at her, pauses for a moment, then focuses back on you. "Your family is in service of a Nex Machina, right?"
"Er, yeah. Her name is Vox Mechanica."
Eric smiles from ear to ear. "Just how far does her connection to technology go? I have a few ideas I wanna try and if you could guarantee some coolaboration from her part then-"
"Eric!" the boy's sibling jumps in, "Maybe don't go around promising things before he answers? Besides, Harbingers don't really ask things of their patrons."
Well, your folks did from time to time, but their relationship to Vox was far from the norm, as you understood it.
"Yeah, yeah," Eric waves him off, still laser-focused in on you, "See, I had this idea for a Doll with chainsaw arms but I can't get the right spirits to enter the limbs-"
"Wait what the fuck?" Grace says, but you barely listen to her.
You're too busy smiling at Eric. "That is incredibly awesome and I want to hear more."
"Oh god, there's two of them," Eric's brother groans.
Before you can start talking about the incredible possibilities, Stark clears her throat and gives you a look.
Right, probably shouldn't start making deals on first meeting.
"We can talk about it later," you decide, through an extreme push of willpower. Then you turn to Eric's sibling. "I'm sure you heard, but-"
"Jack Alexander and Stark, yes, I heard." He says, remarkably unfriendly. "I'm Brian. Brian Calloway."
"Don't mind him, he's a big sourpuss," Eric waves his brother off. His focus is on Stark now. "Anyway, does your family have any Abyss-tainted materials they'd be willing to trade away?"
"I'd have to ask my parents-?"
"Cool, because I heard it's really sturdy material," Eric reaches back and, in what looks like a practiced movement, unslings the black and yellow backpack from his wheelchair, setting it down on his lap. Upon opening, you see it's bigger than it had any right to be on the inside, with full wooden walls lined side-to-side with tools and carefully labled boxes of varying sizes and no floor in sight.
While your brain was trying to process that Dr Who nonsense, Eric reaches in, takes out a box labeled as 'Bogeyknife' and square wood slab, and closes the backpack again. He opens the box and you see switchblade with little wire arms and legs and two googly eyes stuck on it.
"What," Stark says. Seph sighs and smiles consolingly at her, Grace looks amused, Brian looks embarrassed by the whole thing and you're fascinated.
"This was a little experiment I did," Eric explains, pulling what looks like a tablecloth with a diagram painted on it. He puts it on the slab and then the knife in the center of the diagram. "Objects influenced by the Abyss tend to be tougher, and weapons can leave wounds that never heal, or ar at least very hard to heal."
Eric puts a finger in his mouth and, with what looks like far too little effort, breaks skin to get some blood. "So, I wanted to see if what I added to it would gain those traits."
He puts the finger to the edge of the diagram, in a spot that already has a faded brown stain on it, and the Bogeyknife shudders a little before it jumps up on its little wire legs.
"Did it work?" Stark asks, looking at the Bogeyknife with a raised eyebrow.
"I haven't been able to take this little fucker apart and use those parts again, so I guess so," Eric lifts the Bogeyknife before it can react and it quickly goes prone. "It's just a prototype so I didn't bother making it combat-capable, but I'm hoping for a full squad of super-tough Dolls some day."
Despite her waryness at Eric's personality, Stark seems impressed. "It seems the rumors of the Calloway family's skills weren't exaggerated."
"Please don't involve the rest of the family in this," Brian sighs. "Dad and I tend to more traditional materials and... body types than what Eric does. He's just obsessed with experimenting."
"Actually, as cool as Abyssal Dolls sound, I wanted to ask about that backpack?" You mention, "How did you manage to make it so much bigger on the inside?"
"My backpack?" Eric seems surprised someone asked. Must be used to people knowing. "Oh, it's my Implement. I took a tool backpack, did a modified Alcazar ritual on it so it'd have a whole room inside, then turned it into my Implement. I always have all my materials and tools with me."
"That's badass," you breathed. "You already have your Implement?"
Eric preens a little.
"Well, spare some admiration for us too," Seph cuts in, lifting her whip a little. "Grace and I have ours too."
Grace raises the staff a little, and with a touch of smugness, adds, "I've got a Familiar, too."
You look at Stark. She gives a smug look and pulls a fountain pen out of her pocket. Then she turns to look at Grace, "I'm negotiating with an Other that's interested in being my Familiar."
"That's cool, mine was a lot less formal, but if you have questions I'd be willing to help," Grace replies, choosing to ignore the competitive tilt to Stark's words.
"Ah, yes, thank you, I'll consider it." Stark says, having expected a harsher reply.
"Man, am I the only one here without one of the big three?" You pouted.
[Charm Roll (2d6+2): 5,6=11+2=13]
"... I don't have one either," Brian offered, "I think it's better to wait for a big victory to take one, or to be careful choosing. I think you'll know the right time."
"Aw, thanks!" You smile at him. "That makes me feel better. You're a nice guy."
Brian looks a little awkward, but he nods at you.
"I did have a big win before taking my Implement," Stark cuts in.
You stick your tongue out at her, to which she makes a shocked face. You hear a snort from Brian's direction, but he has a neutral expression on when you look at him.
[Dramatis Personae entries added: Persephone "Seph" Wayne-Flowers, Grace Bell, Eric Calloway, Brian Calloway.]
[+5 to Relationship with Persephone "Seph" Wayne-Flowers. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
[+7 to Relationship with Grace Bell. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
[+12 to Relationship with Eric Calloway. Relationship Rank is now 'Friendly Acquaintance'!]
[+9 to Relationship with Brian Calloway. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
-=]_[=-
Conversation continues as more people trickle in, and you turn to the grown-ups table to see who the latest arrivals are.[+5 to Relationship with Persephone "Seph" Wayne-Flowers. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
[+7 to Relationship with Grace Bell. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
[+12 to Relationship with Eric Calloway. Relationship Rank is now 'Friendly Acquaintance'!]
[+9 to Relationship with Brian Calloway. Relationship Rank is now 'Acquaintance'!]
-=]_[=-
While there are only three big Practitioner groups in Poet's Hill, and two small ones now that the Starks have joined your family here, there are four 'freelance' Practitioners that are usually contracted by the big groups to do their chores in exchange for knowledge, pay or Others.
[Sharp Roll (2d6): 3,6=9]
The first one in today is a burly, hairy old man, dressed warm despite the early summer weather. He has a dog whistle strung around his neck and a chihuahua in his arms. Donovan Lindt. Your parents had worked with him once or twice, said he was competent and totally amoral.
After him came Bernard Grimes, who matched his name by wearing flithy clothes. He was like a redneck that stranded too far north; missing teeth, trucker hat and red flannel shirt included. He has a patchy beard and thick eyebrow, between them a nose that looked like it'd been broken a couple times. Your parents just told you to stay away from him if possible.
The third freelancer shows up in a tracksuit, smiling casually at everyone and winking at your mom, making both your parents and you scowl. Logan Watt has a goatee, a knife strapped to his waist, and a permanent spot in your family's shit list after he cursed your mom when you were seven, leaving her bedridden for half a month and making you worry if she was going to die.
(And seriously, what sort of douchebag has a goatee?)
[Dramatis Personae entries added: Donovan Lindt, Bernard Grimes, Logan Watt.]
[-20 to Relationship with Logan Watt. Relationship Rank is now 'Unfriendly Acquaintance'!]
[-20 to Relationship with Logan Watt. Relationship Rank is now 'Unfriendly Acquaintance'!]
The other one failed to show up for the next ten minutes, so Johan Byrne started the meeting by slamming down his walking cane on the stone floor, drawing everyone's attention.
"If we might get this meeting started..." the Elder Byrne's voice is like gravel, grating on the ears and painful to picture on your own throat. "I'll give the obligatory welcome to the new additions of Poet's Hill's Practitioner community, who I've no doubt will annoy me soon enough: The notorious Stark family, from the East Coast, and the youngest of the Alexander family."
... Well, if you'd been expecting clapping, hugs and a complimentary fruit basket for this major moment in your life, you'd have been sorely disappointed.
"Now moving on to things and beings that have slight importance," Byrne continued, "We have trouble. An Oni was spotted in the woods."
Gasps rang out around the room, one from Stark next to you.
[Weird Roll (2d6+1): 1,4=5+1=6]
You don't know what the hell Oni are, but it seems serious. Still, weren't the woods occupied by-
"I doubt even an Oni could have convinced Turdblood and his gang to share terrain," the Calloway patriarch notes. "What happened to the Goblins?"
Johan clicked his tongue. "Pushed, converted or slaughtered, from what I'm told. It looks like it's a gang of idealistic Others and only one Oni, though there may be more my spies haven't spotted."
"This is troubling," Jeanne says, biting one of her already short nails, "We'll have to keep an eye on the area. Where were the Goblins pushed, anyways?"
"Some into their filthy Warrens. Others started pushing their luck in town, probably on their leader's orders." Byrne sounded disgusted, which was fair when it came to Goblins. "Speaking of, some have shown up around the cinema, so someone will have to deal with those."
He pauses, and it quickly becomes clear he's not going to volunteer and is more than happy to wait for someone else to do so.
The three freelancers that showed up look between each other. They're used to getting shit jobs like this, but Byrne has a lot of money to his name and he's not dumb enough to waste power and reputation in screwing someone over the bill.
There's a silent contest between them, and for a second you think Logan Watt will win it.
Which is all the motivation you need to raise your hand and declare, "I'll do it!"
Attention turns to you, and you thank your lucky stars (and maybe Vox too) that you don't blush too heavily.
"Sure, whatever," Johan says. "Any details for how you'll take this job?"
"Uh..."
[] Tick Tock, on the Clock: How will you carry this job? Since you can't involve
-[] Three Days Preparation: You'll take your sweet time preparing, though that might show your inexperience and give the Goblins time to entrench themselves in the zone. Not to mention get it dirty.
-[] Two Days Preparation: A bit of a break from mystically important numbers, but a fine compromise between not giving them an important amount of time to set up shop and giving yourself time to arm up. Still shows inexperience.
-[] One Day Preparation: Why do today what you can do tomorrow? You'll have the rest of the day, tonight, and tomorrow to prepare.
-[] Tonight: Caution's for pussies. No plan, no problem, go kick ass with whatever you can grab from your house before the day is over.
[] Bills, Bills, Bills: Will you ask for money? On one hand, generosity is good reputation and karma. On the other, you have exactly twenty bucks to your name.
-[] Yes: Gotta get that moolah.
-[] No: Money is the root of all evil and also you can always mug someone.
-=]_[=-
QM's Note: This chapter, and the description of Logan Watt specifically, are both lovingly dedicated to my older brother and to @TheFat1 , who have goatees.
Next update I'll be adding a Mature tag to this thread, on account of how there will be Body Horror eventually and--more immediately--on account of Goblins in general. Those of you that didn't read Pact or Pale, don't worry. You'll know what I mean soon enough.
Anyways, this chapter showed that choosing to have +2 in Charm was a smart move, since you didn't fail a single Charm Roll. Not much to choose this chapter, but I'll leave it here for convenience's sake:
[] Plan Name
-[] Tick Tock, on the Clock
--[] Your Choice
-[] Bills, Bills, Bills
--[] Your Choice
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Famulum, Implementum and Demesnes
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
For the sake of those unfamiliar with the source material, I'll be adding a quick explanation of the three big tools in a Practitioner's arsenal:
Familiars: Who you walk with. A Familiar is an Other bonded for life to a Practitioner. Specifically, bonded for the Practitioner's life, since most Others will likely outlive their partners.
This relationship can take many forms. It can be done to empower or complete an Other that is weak or a shell of what it could/should be. It can be done to enslave an Other, making it a battery for the Practitioner to draw power from. It can also be just a straight-up marriage between human and Other.
Like any type of relationship, it can take many forms. But it's important to know that you only get one, and that you are letting a bit of the Other's influence enter your soul.
Link to a larger explanation.
Implements: What and how you do. An Implement is a tool embeded with a piece of the Practitioner's soul, used to shape and empower their Practice forevermore. They influence how Others and Practitioners deal with the Practitioner, too. Symbology and intent are both extremely important in choosing your Implement, and you only get one.
For example, let's say you take a Bastard Sword. Swords are symbols of war and aggression, thus, it would make the user's Practice more aggressive and better at piercing defenses, while making the Practitioner's defensive practices more about parrying and deflecting, or just pushing through.
More specifically, it's the type of sword most people picture when they think of Excalibur, and if chosen with intent of conquering, it would aid in laying Claim on opponents and enemy terrains.
Link to a larger explanation.
Demesne: Where you dwell. A Demesne is an area that the Practitioner has total control over. While it would be an exaggeration to say a Practitioner is a god in their Demesne, it wouldn't be a big one. However, it must be constantly defended against challengers, otherwise the claim is lost forever and, as I'm sure you can guess, you only get one.
A Demesne is better declared on a place that the Practitioner indisputably owns, as otherwise the true owner could easily destroy the Practitioner's claim. Still, the benefits are great. Within their Demesne, the Practitioner can alter dimensions, slow time (though the price is paid outside their domain), trap enemies, absorb enchanted items, recieve tribute from Others that dwell inside, etc.
Just by keeping a Demesne one gains an income of good karma and power. The larger the Demesne the greater the income, but also the more enemies approach in order to beat the challenge of the Demesne.
Link to a larger explanation.
Familiars: Who you walk with. A Familiar is an Other bonded for life to a Practitioner. Specifically, bonded for the Practitioner's life, since most Others will likely outlive their partners.
This relationship can take many forms. It can be done to empower or complete an Other that is weak or a shell of what it could/should be. It can be done to enslave an Other, making it a battery for the Practitioner to draw power from. It can also be just a straight-up marriage between human and Other.
Like any type of relationship, it can take many forms. But it's important to know that you only get one, and that you are letting a bit of the Other's influence enter your soul.
Link to a larger explanation.
Implements: What and how you do. An Implement is a tool embeded with a piece of the Practitioner's soul, used to shape and empower their Practice forevermore. They influence how Others and Practitioners deal with the Practitioner, too. Symbology and intent are both extremely important in choosing your Implement, and you only get one.
For example, let's say you take a Bastard Sword. Swords are symbols of war and aggression, thus, it would make the user's Practice more aggressive and better at piercing defenses, while making the Practitioner's defensive practices more about parrying and deflecting, or just pushing through.
More specifically, it's the type of sword most people picture when they think of Excalibur, and if chosen with intent of conquering, it would aid in laying Claim on opponents and enemy terrains.
Link to a larger explanation.
Demesne: Where you dwell. A Demesne is an area that the Practitioner has total control over. While it would be an exaggeration to say a Practitioner is a god in their Demesne, it wouldn't be a big one. However, it must be constantly defended against challengers, otherwise the claim is lost forever and, as I'm sure you can guess, you only get one.
A Demesne is better declared on a place that the Practitioner indisputably owns, as otherwise the true owner could easily destroy the Practitioner's claim. Still, the benefits are great. Within their Demesne, the Practitioner can alter dimensions, slow time (though the price is paid outside their domain), trap enemies, absorb enchanted items, recieve tribute from Others that dwell inside, etc.
Just by keeping a Demesne one gains an income of good karma and power. The larger the Demesne the greater the income, but also the more enemies approach in order to beat the challenge of the Demesne.
Link to a larger explanation.
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[X] Plan time to earn a name
-[X] Tick Tock, on the Clock: How will you carry this job? Since you can't involve
--[X] One Day Preparation: Why do today what you can do tomorrow? You'll have the rest of the day, tonight, and tomorrow to prepare.
-[X] Bills, Bills, Bills: Will you ask for money? On one hand, generosity is good reputation and karma. On the other, you have exactly twenty bucks to your name
--[X]No: Money is the root of all evil and also you can always mug someone.
So glad that this is back!
About my vote: we are a Harbinger, so i think we are naturally suited to kill things, so one day to maybe make some prep or rope one of our new friends into this should be enough. And i started reading Pact since i found this quest, and Karma beats money in terms of importance 9 times out of ten from what i saw there
-[X] Tick Tock, on the Clock: How will you carry this job? Since you can't involve
--[X] One Day Preparation: Why do today what you can do tomorrow? You'll have the rest of the day, tonight, and tomorrow to prepare.
-[X] Bills, Bills, Bills: Will you ask for money? On one hand, generosity is good reputation and karma. On the other, you have exactly twenty bucks to your name
--[X]No: Money is the root of all evil and also you can always mug someone.
So glad that this is back!
About my vote: we are a Harbinger, so i think we are naturally suited to kill things, so one day to maybe make some prep or rope one of our new friends into this should be enough. And i started reading Pact since i found this quest, and Karma beats money in terms of importance 9 times out of ten from what i saw there
- Location
- Somewhere with a Thousand Watchful Eyes
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Pact is kind of an extreme case, but you're not wrong. Pale... is still pretty out of the norm for the protagonists, but you get to see what average karma and normal Practitioner families look like.
Glad you started reading it, tho. It's a good web serial and deserves more attention.
Yhe i get that the Thorburn are a extreme case, but i still want to get as far away from that as we can.
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