TimEd
Meteor maker
That's likely less effective, since qi probably makes a mouth a deadly weapon. Rex is likely not as resistant to cutting conpared to blunt forces.
Hogwarts Sect of Witchcraft and Wizardry
- Thread starter Karf
- Start date
- Fantasy
FriedIce
The Authentic Fake
- Location
- Hyperreality
Ok, so looking at this we lost basically due to Qi deprivation. Daphne is not combat specced at all and we (mostly by accident) kinda are. To put it into context Daphne has no Charms, no Potions, worse Transfig and equivalent Spiritual and Physical Cultivation. And we had a threshold advantage.
I think this is a valuable lesson that people can punch up, especially if we get caught unprepared during the holidays.
Also, this confirms that Daphne specialised in Herbology and Astronomy. She really needs to pick up Potions next year, Herbology's dead weight otherwise. Although mechanically Transfig might still be better. Not sure.
What on Earth is that?! It sort of seems like some sort of elemental self transfiguration? But self transfiguration is wildly advanced stuff in canon-Harry Potter.
Ohhh. Clan secrets. I see.
Wait. Every single Scion is going to come back to Hogwarts with advanced clan techniques aren't they? Whilst I'm looking forward to seeing what they are I can just see our lead against Susan and Neville (both Heirs to Ancient and Noble Houses) going up in smoke. Malfoy will simply go from 'way ahead of us' to 'even more way ahead of us'.
This does reinforce to me that we should absolutely take the Gringotts social action next turn - mum might have left us something we can use alongside the money. There probably isn't Greengrass clan secrets (though I'd laugh so hard if there was), but there might be her journals or something.
This is an interesting look at where we might be able to take Diffendo eventually - being able to liberally cut other peoples techniques would be cool
Ehhh. It's a bit up in the air about whether we count as a Greengrass. Like, we're not on the tapestry (and neither is mum which is still weird). We're not an acknowledged member of the House and we don't have the surname. OTOH, we did just make a vow that considers us 'trusted emerald fields' and membership of the main house is apparently passed down the female line so we might still count.
I see three options:
1. The curse is broken and something else killed mum which just happened to look like the curse (there was a Wizarding War on at the time)
2. The curse is not broken and we count as a member of the main house - this means we're on a timer to ascend or break the curse
3. The curse is not broken, but we're not considered to be a Greengrass by it
On a related note, the curse sounds a lot less like a curse to me and a lot more like a long term sacrificial ritual to do something (maybe empower the oldest sibling). How the curse somehow differentiates between main line and branch line, and between oldest and younger Greengrasses. How there's no records of what the curse actually is. How there's no records of how the curse was broken. That screams that this is deliberate, rather than accidental to me.
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- Location
- India
- Pronouns
- He/His
Man, if not for our abysmal damage rolls we could have mopped the floor with her. And why the hell are our pool size and health lower than her? We have the same cultivation level, dont we?
FriedIce
The Authentic Fake
- Location
- Hyperreality
It's the same Qi deprivation that we've been suffering from all summer. If you look our Transfig modifier, pool size, health, and dice choice are all as if we were two levels lower on each.
We were fighting as if we were a combat specced mid-Chi Gathering disciple vs a very non-combat specced early Qi Condensation disciple. When you look at it that way it's not hugely surprising we lost, but could have won.
Notably though the Qi deprivation will matter less and less on a comparative basis as we progress. The comparative difference between +100 and +80 is a lot smaller than the between +50 and +30 for example. Over time it'll progress from crippling, to merely annoying.
- Location
- France
- Pronouns
- She/They
And consume we will! Nom nom nom nom nom.
This is great. really enjoyed how you dealt with the mundane world Qi issue. Just because things are less intense doesn't mean they're not there, they're just harder to see. The divination and art combo was really well written.
Alright! My big week is officially over and I'm back to being as free as a bird. This means I have the time to go back to the past two updates and make one of my customary appreciation posts!
Secret Vows I
I liked the scene in which we first got to know our familiar and what it is and could be capable of, and I was particularly intrigued by the section, small as it was, about names, definitions and concepts of self. Given the philosophical/metaphysical nature of the genre and this quest, I'd love to get more of it in the future.
I loved Elder Babbing, her prickly demeanor and her impressive domain, and this version of Ancient Runes is so much more interesting than what I'm told the fandom's is generally. The parallels to charms and how cool they are conceptually (a rewrite of reality) are full of potential, and the concept itself of playing limiters of sorts on yourself to gain something once they're overcome (tribulations) is super flavorful and fitting for the genre.
Even the scene of Rei just going to use the Jade Chit was fantastic, as you didn't waste the chance to expand on how magical and wondrous everything is, means of navigating Hogwarts included. For the elevator in that section of the story, as well as for thousands other things big and small in the rest of the quest, a lesser author would have just skipped to the "main" plot point or phoned-in, so to speak, the steps leading up to it. You, instead, managed to squeak in another piece of atmospheric world-building. This ability, and the frequency at which it presents itself, is incredibly impressive.
I liked how one of the Greengrass family's quirk is the opposite of the Weasley's, and in general, I think that giving these established clans little traits of this sort works wonderfully, even if it's just to hint at a rich and expansive history for them.
Secret Vows I
I liked the scene in which we first got to know our familiar and what it is and could be capable of, and I was particularly intrigued by the section, small as it was, about names, definitions and concepts of self. Given the philosophical/metaphysical nature of the genre and this quest, I'd love to get more of it in the future.
I loved Elder Babbing, her prickly demeanor and her impressive domain, and this version of Ancient Runes is so much more interesting than what I'm told the fandom's is generally. The parallels to charms and how cool they are conceptually (a rewrite of reality) are full of potential, and the concept itself of playing limiters of sorts on yourself to gain something once they're overcome (tribulations) is super flavorful and fitting for the genre.
Even the scene of Rei just going to use the Jade Chit was fantastic, as you didn't waste the chance to expand on how magical and wondrous everything is, means of navigating Hogwarts included. For the elevator in that section of the story, as well as for thousands other things big and small in the rest of the quest, a lesser author would have just skipped to the "main" plot point or phoned-in, so to speak, the steps leading up to it. You, instead, managed to squeak in another piece of atmospheric world-building. This ability, and the frequency at which it presents itself, is incredibly impressive.
I liked how one of the Greengrass family's quirk is the opposite of the Weasley's, and in general, I think that giving these established clans little traits of this sort works wonderfully, even if it's just to hint at a rich and expansive history for them.
Next step is to realize that there's nothing wrong with being bothered, either, and you can just patiently work on yourself to make it happen less and less, if that's what you want.
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Secret Vows II
I liked the explanation for Rex' springiness, the hidden workings of it (another instance of you doing the opposite of phoning it in, as an author). Its personality is not particularly to my liking, however, as I'm not a fan of the cuddly infant creature trope. We'll have to see whether the Mossball grows past it naturally, whether you unveil more sides of its personality in future updates, or whether it stays sort of the same and just wins me over, hopefully.
I absolutely loved the rune creation scenes. The blend of tattoo art, writing and architecture, all working together thanks to self-analysis and introspection based on past experiences, is really inspired. I know it's based on how charms on objects work (runes seem to just be charms on people, after all), but it feels even more earned, if you know what I mean, this way.
I second the opinion of another quester above about the Chroma-caller learning scene being trippy as hell. I loved that we got to read it from the point of view of a light wave, and I don't know if you meant it that way, but the whole thing could be interpreted some other way, too. Then again, it might just be me, my philosophical bent, and my very limited knowledge of physics/optics. One of my favorite scenes of the whole story.
On the other hand, the fight against Nega-Rei might be my absolute favorite, now, and that's saying something (don't know if you noticed, but I'm kinda obsessed with this quest XD). Our first personal Divination experience seamlessly tied with our art, the suffering angle of our Write-in being turned on its head (at least in some way), the philanthropic and spiritual goal that resulted from it... it was the perfect blend of creative, exciting and uplifting for me. I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed all the aspects of it.
The spar with Daphne was fun, and I especially liked how we took advantage of the environment (by the way, we should keep an eye out for it in the future, guys. I'm sure the QM deliberately described the room for us to make use of before the vote, and he might have given us an additional threshold boost if we had noticed and integrated it into our Write-In Tactics). The only thing I frowned at was receiving 179.1 damage in the first round, which, with our total health of 180, seemed kinda fishy, not gonna lie. But even if there was an initial fudging in our favor, since we ended up losing anyway, it just meant that the scene didn't boil down to us getting totally stomped, which might have made for a better reading experience? Not sure about that.
I assumed a curse was to blame for our mother's death, but making it a family one was a nice choice, and it gives our character an additional goal to pursue, potentially. I'm not super interested in it, myself, as it doesn't seem to tie in with the character traits/interests we've already established and nurtured so far, but uncovering more about the mystery itself could be cool. Going for a cure might end up stretching us too thin (arguably, we are already), but the preliminary investigation itself probably won't, so I'd be glad to see it through.
Either way, thank you so much for coming back with two wonderful updates, @Karf ! Can't wait for more!
I liked the explanation for Rex' springiness, the hidden workings of it (another instance of you doing the opposite of phoning it in, as an author). Its personality is not particularly to my liking, however, as I'm not a fan of the cuddly infant creature trope. We'll have to see whether the Mossball grows past it naturally, whether you unveil more sides of its personality in future updates, or whether it stays sort of the same and just wins me over, hopefully.
I absolutely loved the rune creation scenes. The blend of tattoo art, writing and architecture, all working together thanks to self-analysis and introspection based on past experiences, is really inspired. I know it's based on how charms on objects work (runes seem to just be charms on people, after all), but it feels even more earned, if you know what I mean, this way.
I second the opinion of another quester above about the Chroma-caller learning scene being trippy as hell. I loved that we got to read it from the point of view of a light wave, and I don't know if you meant it that way, but the whole thing could be interpreted some other way, too. Then again, it might just be me, my philosophical bent, and my very limited knowledge of physics/optics. One of my favorite scenes of the whole story.
On the other hand, the fight against Nega-Rei might be my absolute favorite, now, and that's saying something (don't know if you noticed, but I'm kinda obsessed with this quest XD). Our first personal Divination experience seamlessly tied with our art, the suffering angle of our Write-in being turned on its head (at least in some way), the philanthropic and spiritual goal that resulted from it... it was the perfect blend of creative, exciting and uplifting for me. I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed all the aspects of it.
The spar with Daphne was fun, and I especially liked how we took advantage of the environment (by the way, we should keep an eye out for it in the future, guys. I'm sure the QM deliberately described the room for us to make use of before the vote, and he might have given us an additional threshold boost if we had noticed and integrated it into our Write-In Tactics). The only thing I frowned at was receiving 179.1 damage in the first round, which, with our total health of 180, seemed kinda fishy, not gonna lie. But even if there was an initial fudging in our favor, since we ended up losing anyway, it just meant that the scene didn't boil down to us getting totally stomped, which might have made for a better reading experience? Not sure about that.
I assumed a curse was to blame for our mother's death, but making it a family one was a nice choice, and it gives our character an additional goal to pursue, potentially. I'm not super interested in it, myself, as it doesn't seem to tie in with the character traits/interests we've already established and nurtured so far, but uncovering more about the mystery itself could be cool. Going for a cure might end up stretching us too thin (arguably, we are already), but the preliminary investigation itself probably won't, so I'd be glad to see it through.
Either way, thank you so much for coming back with two wonderful updates, @Karf ! Can't wait for more!
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CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I'm curious about what a Weasley/Greengrass pairing would result in.
That comment is both funny and insightful, but since I can't give you both reactions, have a Like! ^^
Secret vows III
- [X][Social] You've decided to set apart a day to be the model daughter. Starting with breakfast a-la-Qi, followed by a trip to the art exhibition at the local gallery, a picnic lunch, then a free afternoon to do whatever he'd like. In short, spend time with dad.
- Roll: 31
One raid to the depths of the pantry later sees you find a pack of Ceylon. You pour out the dried crumbs, and with the help of Rex separate the more potent leaves, each still brimming with energy. With great care you pack them into the pot, going so far as to make use of your wand when your fingers prove to be too clumsy to reach the far corners. The kettle finishes boiling right on time, and pouring the water in such a way as to not mess up the delicate balance of Qi takes most of your potion-making experience.
The cup is inspected for any errant speck of dust under the brightest lights you can manage, and your towel is unleashed on every imperfection. Even the water was not just straight from the tap, your familiar acting as a greedy sieve to imbue it with freshness and to cull out any unnecessary minerals.
The drink you pour out could scarcely be called anything but Tea. Capital letter and emphasis included. No milk or honey, and certainly no sugar. Strong enough to wake the dead, you hope. You grab the slightly cooled bowl of porridge in your other hand and push open the door to Dad's room. With careful guidance from your breath, the aroma starts to drift towards the mound of blankets in the queen-sized bed. You organize a pile of report into a tidy stack and leave the bait on his desk, then retreat. You've done all you can to wake him. Well, not nearly, but you're not going to be mean.
Five minutes later Dad emerges, wrapped in a robe and wearing the slippers you got him for Christmas.
"Good morning, little witch," his voice is still a bit scratchy.
"'m not a witch," you fake glumness.
"Something this amazing must have come from a witch's cauldron," he lifts up the cup for emphasis.
"The pot actually. Good morning," you're about to let him continue, but something catches your attention. A faint scent of somewhere between sour and acidic, pungent once, but fading by now.
'Dry mouth, overslept,' check the eyes, 'yep, just a bit bloodshot...' He did come home late yesterday, but you were busy with your runic work.
"Oh my god, do you have a hangover?" You can see the gears grind to a halt in real time, his Qi curling in bashfully. "You do!"
"Rei, a glass of wine is hardly a sin."
"Oh-oh-oh, fancy. Who was it? Do I know them?" Your grin is threatening to break loose from your control. It's trivially easy to notice the signs of slight embarrassment, and the Qi does the rest. "Do I know her?"
You're about to continue your needling, but then what you're doing catches up with you. It's probably a bit rude to cold-read your own Dad, so you reign in your senses and lift your intent from the apartment.
"It's not like that, Rei."
"Of course," you graciously allow the topic to drop. "Does that mean you don't have any plans for today?"
"At least let me brush my teeth first."
'Drat, that wasn't a no,' you smother the impulse to check exactly what he meant. If he did, that'd throw a bit of a wrench in your plans. "Because it's totally cool if you do," you call out to the bathroom.
A minute later he returns to the living room slash kitchen, cup of tea still clutched protectively in his hand.
"Nothing urgent, why?"
"There's a new exhibit in the Bethlem gallery. I was wondering if perhaps we could go together?"
"Of course we could," his smile immediately gets reflected on your own face.
The morning after that passes calmly, as is tradition in your household. You take your praise for breakfast and clean up while Dad goes through the morning paper. Then you get dressed in something a bit more fancy, seeing as it's an event, after all. Even if the dress is starting to become a bit short - you'll need to update your mortal wardrobe at some point. The walk takes about an hour, and the weather is pleasant throughout, you running your mouth about nothing in particular. Much the same could be said for the art on display.
Still, by the time you leave the museum, its the afternoon, and the café only has one table left for you. Dad's in charge of the main course and gets you an omlette while you add on a slice of strawberry cake for dessert. It takes you going through half of the sweet before Dad finally cracks. He's been quiet all day - even more so than usual, and you just know that he has something on his mind.
"Rei, I've been thinking... especially since this morning," he starts, "And I'd really like your honest opinion on a question."
You give him time, you're well aware from whom you got your preferred method of straightforwardness.
"How would you feel if I started seeing someone again?"
To be fair, you don't need mystical senses to have seen that one coming. "Ooh, do you need a wingman, dad? I can definitely beat a puppy for cuteness, show them you're a reliable, caring father figure and-"
"Rei," Dad cuts you off, "that's not an answer."
There goes that plan. You sigh, dropping the hyper-activeness. "I don't know, Dad. I want you to be happy, more than anything. But I couldn't call them mom. Of course you can start dating again, I'm not even around for most of the year now. Home isn't a place to feel lonely in. It's just that I can't replace her, not ever. And-"
"You're rambling, dear," he stops you, taking your hand in his and squeezing it. "I want you to be happy, more than anything as well. No one could ever replace Mum, you don't need to worry about that. Me spending a few nights alone is nothing compared to you having a home you can feel comfortable in. If it makes you feel bad, then I definitely can't do it."
"There's no such thing as an ouroboros of happiness," you swallow.
"What?"
"Sorry, just something I read. I think it applies here. We could go in circles forever, you worried for me and I worried for you, until we're both just worried about being worried and not happy at all."
"Wow, since when did you become so wise?"
You chuckle, "Late April, technically." Pausing for a moment, you try to put sincerity behind your next words, "Just make sure she deserves you."
"I will, thank you, Rei."
Another moment passes, both of you sitting in silence with gentle smiles.
"Now feed me cake. You can't just spring something like this on a girl, you know."
- [X][Social] The address you got from Harry really isn't that far from you. If you wanted, you could incorporate a dozen or so miles into your morning run with little issue and swing by.
- Roll: 87
As you take a closer look at number four, you have to concede that perhaps you were a bit too harsh in your internal critique. One of the first floor windows has bars and a wire mesh covering it, suggesting something like an... aviary, perhaps?
You more or less knew where you were coming, and dressed appropriately. Rather than your ratty tracksuit, you're rocking your disciple's training uniform pants, which, when properly folded, look quite professional. A neon sleeveless t-shirt that's starting to feel far too tight for you and a sweatband you've transformed to be pink completes the yuppie look. You'd written ahead to Harry, letting him know of your plan to swing by, but if he didn't want you to come, radio silence isn't the deterrent he thinks it is.
You plaster on your most fake smile and jog up the walkway, ringing the bell.
A moment later, the door cracks open, and you're greeted by a dark haired, tall and bony woman in her late thirties. She takes one look at you and, before you get a chance to introduce yourself, fully opens the door and pulls her face into a smile far more fake than yours.
"Oh, you must be Dudley's training partner. Do come in dear, Dudley'll be down in a moment. Vernon! We have guests."
"I'm actually..."
"Duddiekins! Your student is here! Come get dressed!"
'Duddiekins?' You know you shouldn't, that it's rude and you should clear up the mix-up and properly introduce yourself... But a few more minutes of confusion won't hurt anyone.
You get ushered into the living room, where the polar opposite of the woman sits by the fireplace, folding the paper in half as he turns to you. Heavy-set would be the most polite way you could describe him, with beady dark eyes and curly blond hair not quite hiding the bald spot that's starting to appear on top of his head.
"So, you're my son's training partner, eh? Good to see he's taking things seriously. Dudley's got quite the right hook, but a well-rounded boxer needs cardio too. A stiff upper lip and endurance! Bet you know all about that."
You wrack your brain, rapidly going over your brief conversation with Harry about his relatives. "Only a little, Mr. Dursley. I'm learning far more from him."
"Too right. My boy's a natural at boxing."
"I'm sure he gets it from you."
"Well," the man wheezes, puffing up a bit in the armchair, "I could take care of myself in my youth. I always said that a man must be able to put the fear in his opponents." A lightbulb seems to go off in his head, "But where are my manners, running in this summer heat must be exhausting. Would you like a drink, dearie?"
"Just a glass of water, sir."
He nods with a smile and turns his head towards what you assume is the kitchen. "Boy! Get a glass of water!"
Someone opens and closes what sounds like a sliding door to the garden and you hear the sound of a faucet.
"Say, girl, what was your name, anyways?"
"Rei Young, sir."
The sound of flowing water is interrupted by that of glass slamming into a sink.
"Damnit boy! Do I have to come over and fix your butterfingers myself?" the man bellows, before turning to you with another greasy smile, "So sorry about him. My wife's nephew; had to take him in you see, but what with his parents... the boy has never been quite right. Such a tragic thing."
It's then that Lord Potter steps out of the kitchen, his Qi frosty enough to make ice-flowers appear on the glass he offers you.
"Finally. Boy, this is Dudley's pupil. Even someone like her sees that good old English boxing is the way forwards. None of that Indian hogwash they teach you at that school of yours."
You're ready for the façade to crumble, but to your surprise, Harry merely nods, and a whisper of Qi pulls your full attention to his mouth. "Play along," he whispers, while mumbling something to the tune of a greeting for his uncle's ears.
"What the fuck, mum! I'm sleeping!"
The man coughs to clear his throat, ignoring the shout that came from upstairs. "Actually, are you done with your chores, boy?"
"What fucking training buddy!?"
"Yes, uncle Vernon," Harry replies without batting an eye.
"Say, Ren, was it? Think you could take him for a single session? Show him just what proper training actually does," the man ask-tells you before turning back to Harry, "I bet even this slip of a girl is in better shape than you, lazy."
"Probably, uncle Vernon."
You haven't exactly pitted up against Harry, so technically he might even be correct, but definitely not for the reasons he seems to think. If you yourself had to give an estimate, you'd guess Harry's physical cultivation was ahead of yours, with you playing catchup for most of your time at Hogwarts.
"I'd welcome the additional motivation, sir. The more the merrier," you inject.
"That settles it. Good to see some confidence and competitive spirit in today's youth. Get dressed boy, I won't have you leaving the house like that for the neighbors to see."
Harry shoots you another intense, inscrutable look and powerwalks to the lobby and upstairs.
A minute later, something heavy thumps down the same stairs, and you meet the final member of the Dursley family as Harry returns with another boy.
"What the hell is this?"
"Your training partner, Dudley," Harry says, definitely suppressing a grin, "Remember, the one you said you were teaching all about boxing, and that you were hanging out with just last week? That you were just coordinating timetables with for your running schedule?"
"But..." the youth is looking between you, Vernon and Harry confusedly.
"Dudley, glad to see you're taking this thing seriously. I'm proud of you, son. And she agreed to take the boy for a session, too. Maybe he'll toughen up one of these days," the adult in the room reaches for his newspaper.
"But I don't want to bring Harry!"
"Don't talk back to me! Now go on, I want some peace and quiet for once."
That's how you find yourself jogging down the street with two boys following after you. As soon as you round the corner and leave the field of view from Privet Drive number four, Dudley grabs your shoulder and yanks you to a stop.
"Alright, what the fuck is going on?"
Well, yank is a bit of a misnomer, your balance is far better than that, but you come to a stop anyways, interested in some explanations yourself. "Harry?"
"Rei, meet my cousin. His parents think he's a hotshot boxer and that he's not sneaking off every other practice with his buddies."
"And this is you what... covering for him?"
"Hey, don't ignore me!"
"Oh no, I'm looking forwards to when he gets clocked at some exhibition match he failed to wriggle out of. It's just bloody hilarious to make him run, and I needed an excuse to get you out of the house."
"Fuck off Potter, just cuz you don't have any friends doesn't mean you get to badmouth mine. So what if we skip a few, the coach is an idiot anyways," Dudley shoves Harry, who lets him, taking a few steps back as the boy rounds on you, "Are you one of his freak friends or what? Did he pay you to mess with me?"
"I'm Rei Young, soon to be second year disciple at the Hogwarts Sect of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I was just visiting a friend of mine over the summer. Apparently I arrived at a bad time, but to be honest, you seem like you could do with some discipline training," you level your best glare at the boy who takes a hesitant step back. Satisfied, you shift the same glare towards Harry, "What do you mean you needed to get me out of the house? Why not just tell the truth."
Harry sighs, "Vernon is to cultivation as the worst of Malfoy's hanger-ons are to muggles. Maybe write ahead if you intend to drop by."
"I did. Did you not get my letter?" you sent it with one of Hogwarts' own owls on your last visit to the castle.
"Haven't gotten any letters."
"Yeah, cuz you haven't got any friends, freak."
Harry continues to ignore his cousin, "But hey, I'm still glad to see you. Thanks for the warning, about the Qi I mean. I think it helps to know that I'm not alone in this. Were you serious about the training offer?"
You shrug and restart your light jog down the street, soon joined by Harry. And then trailed by a cussing and panting Dudley a dozen feet behind you. With color commentary provided by the peanut gallery, you gradually learn about the home life - or perhaps a more apt description would be living situation - of the boy-who-lived.
The heat of July subsides for a decidedly more stormy August, but the thunder and pitter-patter of raindrops on your window only serve to aid you in your continued cultivation. Your mind is abuzz with ideas about how best to progress, and as you prepare to open the next chapter of training, you make sure to write down any lingering ideas in your diary under the section labeled 'potential'.
- Rune of Success
It is said that there's just as much to learn from defeat as there is from victory. Well, you've always been more likely to learn from your mistakes, but that saying implies there's plenty to glean from your successes as well. The Rune of Success is meant to highlight you at your best, letting you redraw power from the elation you no doubt feel when things go your way. In some sense, it is passing on your efforts to future-you, which makes you feel very adult and responsible.
Gain a stack for each result roll total greater than 120.
Upon release, increase the result die maximum by the stack amount.
4 turns to release from striking, 2 turn of cooldown upon release.
- Rune of Wind
There's a special joy in the act of rapid movement. You started on your path to physical cultivation by running, and it's not by accident. You enjoy a quiet evening in the library as much as the next Ravenclaw, but there's also visceral satisfaction to be had in pushing yourself to new speeds during quidditch practice. Moving through the living world buffets you with Qi, and this rune will siphon a bit of it for your own use later down the line.
Gain a stack for every physical cultivation training action
Upon release, if there are at least 6 stacks, every wood aspect pool success and the stack amount are added as bonus to the respective result roll.
2 turns to release from striking, 2 turns of cooldown upon release.
- Natural springy ball II
You've already seen Rex' ability to stop a minor fall by applying his bouncing technique in reverse, and you'd like to hone that further. Both his speed and absorption can still improve, until he can make punching a brick wall feel like swinging into a soft pillow. Or, once you can summon him from your dantian on command, stop your fall even at terminal velocity. Not that you intend to put that to the literal test, but best be prepared.
Replace natural springy ball I.
Gain 2 earth aspect pool die for every earth aspect result roll 40 or less instead. The final action (before this modifier is applied) now affects the first action.
- Calcification
As much as he loves being puffy and floofy, you can definitely envision times when your familiar would need to be tough and solid as stone. Careful inspection of his bouncing has revealed that minute amounts of fire Qi appear when he lets go of his transformation before all his gathered energy is expended. Perhaps you can coax out the replication of that phenomena to harden him from his normal state instead.
If all fire aspect result rolls are greater than any earth aspect result rolls for an action, reroll the next action's fire aspect result rolls between the old result and the maximum plus 30.
- Pick 3 to 5 training actions, you may pick the same one multiple times:
-[][Training] Spiritual cultivation
-[][Training] Physical cultivation
-[][Training] Herbology
-[][Training] Potions
--[] Which potion (see library)
-[][Training] Charms
--[] Which charm (see library)
-[][Training] Transfiguration
--[] Which technique (see library)
-[][Training] Astronomy
-[][Training] Ancient Runes
--[] Which rune (see library)
You will not benefit from having more than 550 total progress in an elective.
-[][Training] Arithmancy
You will not benefit from having more than 550 total progress in an elective.
-[][Training] Care of Magical Creatures
You will not benefit from having more than 550 total progress in an elective.
You have done all you can at your current level of cultivation.
-[][Training] Divination
You will not benefit from having more than 550 total progress in an elective.
-[][Training] Meridians - During summer, Rei's stats are lowered by two levels, but thanks to Ravenclaw winning the house cup, she has 4 tokens that can counteract that. Please indicate the actions you'd like to use those on:
-[][Tokens] Write-in - Optional technique application:
-[][Meridians] Adjust
--[] Write-in order
- The Rainbow Brush
- Whip Shear Technique
- Optional runic application:
-[][Runes] Strike
--[] Write-in rune
- None
- None
- None
- Not all of your time is spent on the path to enlightenment, your peers also demand some of your attention, and when you one day look back, some events would stand out:
[][Social] You could, purely by coincidence, be at Hogwarts for the day of the make-up exams. And if you happen to cheer on your friends and get an early scoop on who won't be sharing the halls with you come September, you'd consider it a token well spent.
[][Social] You'd like to visit Kew Gardens with Dad, to refresh your hazy memories of the whole family doing something together. Additionally you suspect that there may be herbology research taking place there under the noses of muggles.
[][Social] The central hub of immortal activity in London is Diagon Alley. Now that you're much more knowledgeable about the world of Qi, you'd like a second look at the place. Perhaps put a number to your actual wealth and do some window shopping.
[][Social] Hermione has invited you and Dad to meet her own parents, to tell the adults comforting stories about your time at Hogwarts and set their minds at ease.
[][Social] You've got Dad to agree to a weekend trip to the countryside for you, visiting Mandy's clan and reservation.
[][Social] Although the streets of London aren't exactly Hogwarts, there's still adventure to be had. Bring your new familiar on a tour of the suburbia, who knows what you might find - perhaps there's a fragment of the magical right in your backyard.
[][Social] You'll be passing by the village of Hogsmeade on your way to the castle. You know that disciples in the third year and above can visit the place whenever, but you could take the opportunity to explore now and lord your knowledge over your peers in a couple of years.
[][Social] Although the time you can spend at Hogwarts is precious, so is the opportunity to actually get to know some of the elders. At worst, they'll just tell you to leave them alone. See what happens when you try to take your lunch at the head table.
-[] Optional write-in who?
[][Social] You've managed to bring a doodle or two off the page - literally, in some cases - but you'd like to strive for more. Find a model and really put your skills to the test, both artistically and in the realm of Qi animation.
-[] Optional write-in who or what?
[][Social] Write-in
There is a roughly 2 hour moratorium
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- Location
- United States
That scene with Harry was the best.
FriedIce
The Authentic Fake
- Location
- Hyperreality
The plan was 2x Divination (2x Chit), 2x Arithmancy (2x Chit) and 1x tbc wasn't it? Does the maths work out for putting that last action into Runes? Or we unlikely to hit Runes Beginner 2 and are better off doing Charms or Meridians?
Also, putting an actual number on our wealth will unlock the ability to use the best superpower: money
A Diagonal Alley scene is a classic, core part of the Harry Potter books.
Also, putting an actual number on our wealth will unlock the ability to use the best superpower: money
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The social action of watching the make-up exams seems to require a token, taking it away from training, which definitely wouldn't be worth it, in my opinion. Am I reading that right, @Karf ?
Zinay, or anyone else with the ability for that matter, could you run the odds of:
-getting 350/550 points in Divination on 2 token actions
-getting 350/550 points in Divination on 2 token and 1 tokenless actions
-getting 350/550 points in Arithmancy on 2 token actions
-getting 350550 points in Arithmancy on 2 token actions and 1 tokenless action
-getting 115 points in Charms on 1 token or tokenless action (Charms to Apprentice)
-getting 20/50/110 points in 1 token or tokenless action to open 1/2/3 Meridians
The DC for Divination is 15, for Arithmancy and Charms is 13 with the token and 15 without, and for Meridians is 13 with the token and 14 without. 7d23 for token actions and 5d21 for tokenless ones.
Also, our 2 Meridian slots are currently occupied by The Rainbow Brush (1) and the Whip Shear Technique (2). Is the Chroma-caller technique we just got good enough to replace either? Does Natural springy ball I make The Towel good enough to compete? Basically, did anything change on that front, with the past updates? I really don't think so, but if anyone wants to run the numbers including everything, feel free to do so and let us know.
Without precise odds, I assume it's unwise to aim for the Beginner 2 cap for Divination, after the system tweaks made it so that Runes doesn't boost its threshold anymore, so I think it might be best to cut our losses on that front and just aim for Beginner 1. But if I'm wrong, and for example 1 tokenless and 2 token actions still give good enough odds to reach the cap, without jeopardizing Beginner 2 Arithmancy, then I'm all for it. Perhaps action-ordering could make a difference? Another thing to calculate for those who wish to do so.
Tentative plans:
[][Plan] Aim for Beginner 2 Divination
-[][Training] Divination
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
Or
[][Plan] Settle for Beginner 1 Divination
-[][Training] Meridians
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
Or:
[][Plan] The Odds Are Worse Than I Think
-[][Training] Arithmancy
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
Zinay, or anyone else with the ability for that matter, could you run the odds of:
-getting 350/550 points in Divination on 2 token actions
-getting 350/550 points in Divination on 2 token and 1 tokenless actions
-getting 350/550 points in Arithmancy on 2 token actions
-getting 350550 points in Arithmancy on 2 token actions and 1 tokenless action
-getting 115 points in Charms on 1 token or tokenless action (Charms to Apprentice)
-getting 20/50/110 points in 1 token or tokenless action to open 1/2/3 Meridians
The DC for Divination is 15, for Arithmancy and Charms is 13 with the token and 15 without, and for Meridians is 13 with the token and 14 without. 7d23 for token actions and 5d21 for tokenless ones.
Also, our 2 Meridian slots are currently occupied by The Rainbow Brush (1) and the Whip Shear Technique (2). Is the Chroma-caller technique we just got good enough to replace either? Does Natural springy ball I make The Towel good enough to compete? Basically, did anything change on that front, with the past updates? I really don't think so, but if anyone wants to run the numbers including everything, feel free to do so and let us know.
Without precise odds, I assume it's unwise to aim for the Beginner 2 cap for Divination, after the system tweaks made it so that Runes doesn't boost its threshold anymore, so I think it might be best to cut our losses on that front and just aim for Beginner 1. But if I'm wrong, and for example 1 tokenless and 2 token actions still give good enough odds to reach the cap, without jeopardizing Beginner 2 Arithmancy, then I'm all for it. Perhaps action-ordering could make a difference? Another thing to calculate for those who wish to do so.
Tentative plans:
[][Plan] Aim for Beginner 2 Divination
-[][Training] Divination
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
Or
[][Plan] Settle for Beginner 1 Divination
-[][Training] Meridians
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
Or:
[][Plan] The Odds Are Worse Than I Think
-[][Training] Arithmancy
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Divination
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
-[][Training] Arithmancy
--Token
- Location
- United Kingdom
Looking at the socials on offer, I'm on board with spending two tokens each on Divination and Arithmancy, then spending the second free action on socials.
Just getting Beginner 1 for both still isn't bad, we'll still be ahead of the majority of our peers, and there's still a chance of getting Beginner 2 for both anyway.
Just getting Beginner 1 for both still isn't bad, we'll still be ahead of the majority of our peers, and there's still a chance of getting Beginner 2 for both anyway.
Yeah I think we'd want more Meridians so we can get benefits from all of the Humble Light Bringer techs.
I'd drop Divination this summer to focus on putting Ancient Runes to the cap for that 2nd rune and Arithmancy that helps for transifiguration next term and Divination next summer.
I'd drop Divination this summer to focus on putting Ancient Runes to the cap for that 2nd rune and Arithmancy that helps for transifiguration next term and Divination next summer.
She can multitask between getting her research in and catching up with people. It's more that she'll just make sure she's at Hogwarts on the right day. That social option does not cost a token.
I suppose it'll make no sense if you choose to spend no tokens, but since they're worthless after this turn, I don't really see why that would happen.
Just to make sure, @Karf , the total includes the Transfiguration bonus, right? If that's the case, this is decent now, great with scaling, as Transfiguration will soon-ish give us a +100 bonus already. If the bonus is not included, this is terrible and will remain terrible? The flavor is super cool, though, imo.
The bonus feels okay, but the activation is more limited/limiting than every other rune. It might be worth picking up later on when we're juggling which ones we want to strike, and we can strategically select this when we plan to go for physical cultivation. But my gut says it's not worth the hassle, mechanically. The flavor is okay.
This is a great improvement over the I version. Seems like a no-brainer for this month's Jade Chit use, to me.
What are the odds of this activating and what are the average progress points gained when it does? The math for this currently escapes me.
FriedIce
The Authentic Fake
- Location
- Hyperreality
In terms of general use cases, I'd agree that Arithmancy is probably more helpful than Divination and Runes. The bonus to Transfiguration is invaluable. Runes's bonus to Charms is also useful though (albeit we don't know if we want our third subject to be Charms or Astronomy)
I would actually advocate for taking a further Chitless Runes action this turn though if there's decent chances of racking up the 92 required progress for the -1 Charms DC (and the Rune, which is good too)
Btw, I think we need to include striking our only Rune this turn in the plan.
Yeah, I forgot to integrate the striking of the rune in the plans, thanks!
I disagree with the rest. Even without knowing exactly what it is, the social bonus from Divination trumps a 1DC bonus to Charms in every possible way imaginable, in my opinion, and depending on the specifics, it might be comparable or even better than an extra 1DC bonus to Transfiguration, too. We're looking at something like 40+ social actions from here to third year (where we can officially train Divination), after all.
[X][Social] You could, purely by coincidence, be at Hogwarts for the day of the make-up exams. And if you happen to cheer on your friends and get an early scoop on who won't be sharing the halls with you come September, you'd consider it a token well spent.
[X][Social] The central hub of immortal activity in London is Diagon Alley. Now that you're much more knowledgeable about the world of Qi, you'd like a second look at the place. Perhaps put a number to your actual wealth and do some window shopping.
[X][Social] Although the time you can spend at Hogwarts is precious, so is the opportunity to actually get to know some of the elders. At worst, they'll just tell you to leave them alone. See what happens when you try to take your lunch at the head table.
-[X] Dumbledore
[X][Social] You've managed to bring a doodle or two off the page - literally, in some cases - but you'd like to strive for more. Find a model and really put your skills to the test, both artistically and in the realm of Qi animation.
-[X] Dad
These are my favorite social actions. I think speaking to Dumbledore would be cool, useful and informative, an opportunity we shouldn't miss. Making more progress on the artistic front furthers our goals and could work especially well paired up with Dad. A Diagon Alley visit is a staple and makes too much sense not to go for. And since it doesn't use up a token, I like the idea of cheering on our friends during the make-up exams, standing in solidarity with our struggling peers, as well as getting a lay of the land for what Hogwarts will look like as far as our next year is concerned.
And until precise odds come up, I guess I'll go with:
[X][Plan] Beginner 2 Divination
-[X][Training] Divination
-[X][Training] Divination x2
--2 Tokens
-[X][Training] Arithmancy x2
--2 Tokens
-[X][Runes] Strike
--[X] Rune of Alacrity
I disagree with the rest. Even without knowing exactly what it is, the social bonus from Divination trumps a 1DC bonus to Charms in every possible way imaginable, in my opinion, and depending on the specifics, it might be comparable or even better than an extra 1DC bonus to Transfiguration, too. We're looking at something like 40+ social actions from here to third year (where we can officially train Divination), after all.
[X][Social] You could, purely by coincidence, be at Hogwarts for the day of the make-up exams. And if you happen to cheer on your friends and get an early scoop on who won't be sharing the halls with you come September, you'd consider it a token well spent.
[X][Social] The central hub of immortal activity in London is Diagon Alley. Now that you're much more knowledgeable about the world of Qi, you'd like a second look at the place. Perhaps put a number to your actual wealth and do some window shopping.
[X][Social] Although the time you can spend at Hogwarts is precious, so is the opportunity to actually get to know some of the elders. At worst, they'll just tell you to leave them alone. See what happens when you try to take your lunch at the head table.
-[X] Dumbledore
[X][Social] You've managed to bring a doodle or two off the page - literally, in some cases - but you'd like to strive for more. Find a model and really put your skills to the test, both artistically and in the realm of Qi animation.
-[X] Dad
These are my favorite social actions. I think speaking to Dumbledore would be cool, useful and informative, an opportunity we shouldn't miss. Making more progress on the artistic front furthers our goals and could work especially well paired up with Dad. A Diagon Alley visit is a staple and makes too much sense not to go for. And since it doesn't use up a token, I like the idea of cheering on our friends during the make-up exams, standing in solidarity with our struggling peers, as well as getting a lay of the land for what Hogwarts will look like as far as our next year is concerned.
And until precise odds come up, I guess I'll go with:
[X][Plan] Beginner 2 Divination
-[X][Training] Divination
-[X][Training] Divination x2
--2 Tokens
-[X][Training] Arithmancy x2
--2 Tokens
-[X][Runes] Strike
--[X] Rune of Alacrity
FriedIce
The Authentic Fake
- Location
- Hyperreality
I think it really depends on how big the bonus is, and what the techniques look like.
We want Divination's bonus because effectively it's a source of Sect Points from social rolls. But if it's just a +1, that's only ~0.5 of a Sect Point this year. Which I would rate below -1 Charms DC from Runes. Of course, if it's something like +10 then it's amazing and we should probably spend some Sect Points on Divination this year to cap it - as it'll be worth it long term.
I'm going to wait until we get some odds to make a plan, but I'm tentatively leaning 2x Divination with tokens, 2x Arithmancy with tokens, 1x Runes without token
For now though, my social vote:
[X][Social] The central hub of immortal activity in London is Diagon Alley. Now that you're much more knowledgeable about the world of Qi, you'd like a second look at the place. Perhaps put a number to your actual wealth and do some window shopping
[X][Social] You've managed to bring a doodle or two off the page - literally, in some cases - but you'd like to strive for more. Find a model and really put your skills to the test, both artistically and in the realm of Qi animation.
-[X] Draw Rex