Lev Tahor

[Rickshaw]

A Few Good Rules (because I'm simple and like order):

1. Be polite and courteous (Everyone says this but it's important).
2. Be intelligent and please argue/debate with more than just the fiery passion of a ranting nerd. You can still be a ranting nerd, just be a ranting nerd with grounded points.
3. Write-ins are encouraged and can be put in any vote.
4. Votes work like so: at least 3 people need to vote on an action before I start updating. That means 3 people agreeing, not just 3 total votes. I'll update daily if I can, but oftentimes I'm forced to wait longer because nobody is voting or agreeing on what to do.
5. If you have an issue with anything in the thread I say (e.g. if I say something stupid or outright wrong in regards to a discussion topic) please PM me. Nobody likes to read a debate between a reader and the author in-thread.
6. This space for another serious rule as needed. Some posts are hiding something. Some aren't. Paranoia of the invisitext is rewarded.
7. Seven is a lucky number and any time it appears in the quest should be celebrated with COLOR.
8. As exemplified in Rule 7 and the lack of Rule 6, absurdity is appreciated and encouraged.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Stats
Lev Tahor takes a lot of inspiration from the Persona series in some ways but does have its differences. Like Persona, you'll meet a lot of characters you'll want to interact with. Most will require you to complete a certain questline in order to max your Social Link with, and as a reward they'll bolster your stats. Unlike Persona, these stats aren't Social, but rather Magical.



At the start, you aren't all that proficient in any of these areas. With a little Research, however, you can easily progress in any one of these. Watch out though, as choosing to specialize in one area may prevent you from progressing further in another. Choose carefully what you Research, which branches you take down the line, and how that Magic might affect your relationships with other characters. Research now provides abilities rather than points. Both characters must roll a die to determine the results of the Researching: Den's selects what story or fable he reads, which determines if he gets an ability and what it is, and Anna's measures her focus on the spellwork and whether she learns anything new from it.

Advancing in any of the stats is now exclusively tied to your progression with key supporting characters. As an example, Den cannot use Spiritual Magic at the start. He'll have to find a character who is both proficient in the stat and willing to teach it first.

Day Segments

Each day is split into four major segments: Morning, Midday, Afternoon, and Evening. Each lasts four hours and can be spent in a variety of ways. Some actions may only take half an hour, while others will take up the full four-hour time slot. Daily routines, like practicing music for Den or doing chores for Anna, will allow players to skip ahead in the day and have a small chance of earning them new abilities. There is little downside to this, so feel free to take advantage of this ability.

Every very night you have the option of changing protagonists. On update X - when your character goes to sleep - there will be a vote on whether you'd like to change protagonists. The next morning - in update Y - perspective will be from whoever won the vote.

DIE ROLLS

Dice are being simplified because I hate numbers but they can also be helpful sometimes. Players will roll a d20 for combat actions and those related to one of the magic systems. Rolls can have a modifier based on how proficient they are in the appropriate stat:
LV 0 gives a -2d6 to the roll
LV 1 is -1d6
LV 2 +0
LV 3 +1d6
LV 4 +2d6
LV 5 +3d6 and, as it shows mastery of a stat, comes with access to exclusive spells.

Additionally, dice results are grouped into success and failure ranges as such:
(1) or less [OH GOD NO]
(2) -- (6) [FAILURE]
(7) -- (8) [KINDA SUCCESS]
(9) -- (12) [LEGITIMATE SUCCESS]
(13) -- (19) [DANG GOOD SUCCESS]
(20) -- (37) [THIS IS THE ROLL THAT WILL PIERCE THE HEAVENS]
(38) ['Make a wish, Madoka. Anything you want, you could even become a god.']

More mechanics will be posted as they become relevant.

Mechanics Post Master List:
Research and Research Points
Combat

FAQ:

1. What is the purpose of this quest?
Like a lot of other quests, Lev Tahor is written in order for me to improve my writing ability. Until this point in my writing career, I've mostly stuck to short stories and the occasional 30-page screenplay usually written over the course of several months. However, this quest is designed to condition me to write on a regular basis and work on longer story arcs and character development. I'm very open to criticism and critique on story elements and narrative in addition to the usual spelling and grammar issues.

2. What are the major themes of Lev Tahor?
I don't know about a lot of other quests, but rather than having a lot of fun with mechanics and world design, I decided to focus this one on themes. Mechanics and world design are still important here, but both were developed after I had come up with the questions this story would ask. The biggest and most important one is this: what does it mean to be "pure"? In case you didn't know, "Lev Tahor" means "pure-hearted" in Hebrew, and as such you'll see the theme referenced a lot. Is purity another word for innocence? Goodness? Is it something you can regain, or once lost is it gone forever? Those are the main questions of this quest, and your decisions will help Den and Anna arrive at their own conclusions about them. Every other theme, like "how far does corruption go" and "what does our past mean for our future" stems from how you players decide to answer that first question.

3. What is the author's deal and why is his writing incoherent?
I am bad at explaining things. I'll be very honest, I have always had an issue making myself clear and if you find that to be the case anywhere, be it in the story itself or in one of my other posts, do not hesitate to point it out and ask for clarification. Sometimes I flub my words or missay something, so bringing it to my attention gives me the opportunity to make it clearer for everyone.

 

[Rickshaw]

Character Sheets: Read at your own risk of spoilers.

Player Characters

Den - The Spoony Bard Anna - The Battlepriest

• The Traveler
  
  Bio Stats Inventory

  • 
    If Den could be anyone, he'd probably pick Shinji. Forget giant robots that are also your mom, Den would kill to have that skill with a cello.
    Age: 21
    
    Occupation: Bard, Traveler
    
    Physical Description: Thin, average height, short brown hair and grey eyes. A scarlet "T" over his heart, and a series of chalky blue runes on his left shoulder.
    
    Money: Okay-ish
    
    Goal: Escape Zak, Return to Hafenport
    
    History:
    Den wasn't always your name. For nineteen years it was Jakob Weiseborn. For nineteen years you laughed, sang, and danced to that name. You were mischievous, naive, and whimsical, never taking the word "seriously" very seriously. The world seemed to be bending over backward to give you what you wanted, and you gladly took advantage of it.
    
    If Fate whispered to you, "a storm is coming," your response was "I am the storm."
    
    Not everyone appreciated your attitude. A few saw you as just a kid who'd grow up eventually, but the majority of people simply referred to you as a menace. Those you fooled swore you'd get yours one day, but you laughed them off like you did everyone else. If karma hadn't caught up to you yet, it never would.
    
    And then you met Ophelia Jacobs, a kindred soul, and you realized the strength of Fate's storm.
    
    Four months you spent in the eye of that storm. Four more you were tossed about its edge. Four final where you lay in the wake of its passing with nothing more than an empty feeling of failure.
    
    At its end, you had lost everything and everyone you knew. You were alone, far from home, and without a penny to your name. You scrounged up enough to buy yourself a beat up fifth-hand mandolin and spent a month starving as you learned to play it. You don't remember much from that time despite the cold, the pain, and the smell of piss.
    
    That changed the day you played your first song on the instrument. The winds had rushed around you, the clouds peeled back and the world seemed to bend over backward to give you this moment of hope.
    
    Fate whispered to you "your storm has passed" and you whispered back a quiet thanks.
  • Harmonic Lvl 2 (neutral) - Fulfill the Innkeeper's contract
    
    The ability of a Musician to affect the mind of those who hear their song. Can amplify the emotions of the caster via an appropriate song. Also affects persuasion rolls. Spells are essentially sections of music intended to inspire specific emotions.​
    ​
    Divine Lvl 2 (neutral) - Meet an Angel, Run an errand for the Artificer
    
    The attunement of a Mage to Angelic power. Primarily used to protect, heal, and buff allies from harm. Counter-spells exist at high levels. Functions by requesting Angels to assist you or an ally in a certain way. Complex incantations (with advanced results) only available at higher levels.​
    ​
    Demonic Lvl 2 (neutral) - Meet a Demon, Find evidence of the Demon King
    
    The connection between a Mage and a Demon. Manifests a Demon's destructive potential as attacks, debuffs, and damage-returning shields. Functions by shaping malicious Demonic energy as it passes from a catalyst through you. Complex incantations (with advanced results) only available at higher levels.​
    ​
    Spirit Lvl 1 (-1d6) - Activate your Taint, Find a Teacher
    
    The inherent power of the Soul, your very being. It's something to do with "will taking form" but how you'd go about that is well beyond you.​
  • On your person:
    
    • 1 Mandolin
    • 1 Ancient Tome
    • 1 Demon Claw Necklace
    • 2 Magical Seals
    • 1 Angelic Shoggoth (in your spine?)
    • 1 Durable Jacket
    • 1 Scarf
    In your Lodging:
    
    • A cartload of magical research material
    Missing:
    
    • A way home
• The Tainted Maiden
  
  Bio Stats Inventory

  • 
    Unlike Index, Anna is a true connoisseur of the human body. Why bite the head when the leg will do? Plus, it doubles as a comfy pillow.
    Age: 20
    
    Occupation: Holy Maiden of the Zakran Synagogue
    
    Physical Description: Small, marginally taller than the average woman. Long blue hair and grey eyes. Has a scarlet "T" over her heart, as well as an ancient runic script which wraps her left shoulder.
    
    Money: Poorer than dirt
    
    Goal: Learn the secrets of Spiritual Magic, Find people who accept her as she is
    
    History: You were just a young girl when you were crawled out of the wreckage of your home, hacking and bleeding. Only the grace of a kind stranger allowed you to survive. It's been ten years since then. You've given your life to pay back that kindness by working under him at the Temple Synagogue. You're pretty sure you're the only Tainted there, but that only makes his kindness that much more meaningful. You really do owe him everything.
    
    Especially now. You don't know how it happened, but you've been Soulbound to a complete stranger. A stranger who killed two Maidens just to protect you. It would have been three, had you not stopped him. And yet, you can't bring yourself to blame him. Why? Why don't you feel sorry for their deaths? Why are you happy with him? Happy to see your former bully lose everything? What is wrong with you? How do you even sleep at night?
    
    Is this cruelty, this viciousness, is this what it means to be Tainted? It feels wrong. It feels strange. It feels...
    
    It feels good.
  • Harmonic Lvl 0 (-2d6) - Learn an instrument
    
    It's the soul behind music. If you push a little magic into it, it becomes more than just noise but true Magic. You have no experience with using it yet.​
    ​
    Divine Lvl 0 (-2d6) - Acquire a Tome or Grimoire
    
    The Will of God made reality. It is not practiced in Zak, as its power rightfully belongs to the Angels. Humans don't even cast it, technically, they just ask an Angel to do it for them.​
    ​
    Demonic Lvl 0 (-2d6) - Acquire a Catalyst
    
    This Magic occurs when a portion of reality is offered to a Demon. This is not practiced in Zak, as a misstep could potentially result in the Second Coming of the Demon King.​
    ​
    Spiritual Lvl 3 (+1d6) - Reach the bottom of the Labyrinth with a fellow Maiden
    
    The purity of the Soul made manifest. The deeper your study into your type of Soul, the stronger it becomes. This magic consists entirely of incantations which help to shape the Soul as it externalizes, though with enough of the proper practice and control over the Soul such incantations become unnecessary. This Magic is generally considered "backwards" because of this feature.​
    ​
    Spoiler: Known Incantations

    Calm - Relax your mind and those of your allies​

    Energize - Remove fatigue and grant a minor increase to speed and strength​

    Curse - General debuff. Can slow or stun an enemy depending on intensity.​

    Cure - Forcibly removes curses or toxins from the body. If not affected by the Curse spell or a toxin, attempts to calm other spiritual maladies like anger or hate. Does not work on the Taint.​
  • On your person:
    
    • 2 Magical Seals
    • 1(?) Angelic Shoggoth (residing inside your Seals)
    In your Lodging:
    
    • 1 Complete Study of the Spirit Spellbook
    • 1 Gallon of Fire Retardant.
    Missing:
    
    • An ounce of dignity

Spoiler: Supporting Cast and Minor Characters

Absalom Aurelia David Icarus Loammi Lo-Ruhammah Mary Miriam Naomi Ophelia Yad-Caph

• Age: 50s
  
  Occupation: High Priest of Zak's Temple Synagogue
  
  Physical Description: Partially hunched with gray, balding hair. He is just under average height. He has very emotive eyes, colored like the sea.
  
  Goal: To Understand and Cure the Taint
  
  History: Ten years ago, when he was just an average priest, he found a girl crawling out of a burning building and saved her from a burning door that fell on her. He brought her into the Synagogue and discovered she had somehow become Tainted. Since then, he has studied the condition much more intimately, searching through ancient Zakran texts to see what exactly are its causes, effects, and how it's connected to the human soul.
  
  Now facing the possibility of his own encroaching death, Absalom has taken to training the newly instated Father Loammi as the next High Priest. Despite their frequent disagreements, he views the young man as his own son and believes he has the will to handle the tough decisions required as the Synagogue's leader.
• Age: 23
  
  Occupation: Princess of Zoroaster, Heir to the Emerald Throne, Songstress
  
  Physical Description: Long blonde hair and emerald eyes. Slightly taller than the average male, and with a thin frame very close to "traditional beauty."
  
  Goal: Retake Zoroaster from the Warlord of the Nomads
  
  History: Aurelia never knew what it was like to be royalty. She grew up in a dirty and simple home, helping her mother wait tables in a tavern with her adopted brother David. She knew the stories of the old Royalty and the beauty of the Emerald City, but both were just stories to her until her 18th birthday when her mother revealed her true identity: she was the old Princess, who'd been chased out of Zoroaster when she was young. Aurelia set out to retake her heritage with David in tow.
  
  It didn't go so well. The two were exiled to Zak, where she refused to give up and instead began to make connections with the wealthy and powerful throughout the nation. Moonlighting as a singer, she raised funds for multiple charities which supported her revolution and was able to secure herself enough resources to outfit an army. Armed with such, she and David set out to retake her throne and free her people.
• Age: 23
  
  Occupation: Knight to Princess Aurelia
  
  Physical Description: Tall, and average build. Black hair and blue eyes.
  
  Goal: Keep his sister from getting herself killed
  
  History: Originally an orphan, David was adopted into the Zoroaster family by the exiled Princess. When he learned of his adopted family's true heritage, he refused to consider himself part of the royal line. Instead, he relegated himself to the role of Knight to his sister, the true Heir to the Emerald Throne. He tends to act as the cool head to Aurelia's hot-blooded nature and often works to prevent her from taking reckless action, or if he's too late he does his best to limit the potential fallout.
  
  Rumors of unrest across the world have put David on edge. Despite his unwavering loyalty to his sister, he wonders what effect their civil war will have on the surrounding nations.
• Age: late 30s
  
  Occupation: Tailor
  
  Physical Description: Middle-aged, short greying hair and a muscular build. Sky blue eyes and a perpetual stony expression. He's a bit short but only by half a head.
  
  Goal: Craft magical attire worthy of legend.
  
  History: A skilled craftsman claiming to be the second-best designer in the world, with the first being his father. Nobody knows where he came from or who his father was, but none can deny the unique nature of his work. He's an incredibly talented mage, and frequently uses Magic and exotic materials in his products to give them unnatural properties. The Synagogue and Mage's Association have repeatedly offered to make him a dedicated outfitter, only to be turned down. He refuses to state why.
• Age: 27
  
  Occupation: Father-rank Priest of the Zakran Order, Choir Member
  
  Physical Description: Half a head taller than the average male, with curly black hair and cyan eyes. He's got a thinner, toned frame that downplays his musculature.
  
  Goal: End the Taint
  
  History: The older brother of Lo-Ruhammah, he became a priest at 16, and as a consequence became a victim to the violence of the Riots which nearly destroyed Temple City. Since then, he's dedicated himself to the martial and mystic practices of the Choir. His discipline and adherence to the goals of the Order caught the attention of High Priest Absalom. Like the leader of the Synagogue, Loammi seeks to end the spread of the Taint, though the two constantly bicker over the viability of a peaceful solution. He is currently being groomed to assume the role of his mentor at the end of his tenure.
  
  Like all Choir members, he had to prove himself capable of utilizing all four types of Magic, and is a natural baritone vocalist. Though he struggles to cast Divine, he finds himself especially talented with Demonic Magic. Some take this as a bad omen, but Absalom has defended his pupil's leanings as appropriate for a strong-willed leader.
• Age: 22
  
  Occupation: Holy Maiden
  
  Physical Description: Average female height, with a slight hourglass figure. Her raven hair and emerald eyes are her most noticeable features. She has a wide scar that wraps around one elbow, hidden by bandages which cover her entire arm.
  
  Goal: ???
  
  History: Lo-Ru is well known as the "problem child" Maiden, even more so than Anna. Lo-Ru is malicious and violent, often looking down on those around her. The daughter of a noble house, as well as a part of the holiest sect of the Synagogue, she considers herself superior to just about everyone. The only people she considers equals are her lackeys, Deborah and Priscilla. Though they follow her without question, she considers them friends and has on more than one occasion acted completely out of normal character to protect them.
  
  Following Incident Three Hundred and Thirteen (known to most as the Temple Killings) and its aftermath, Lo-Ru's personality underwent drastic shifts, as well as her own preconceptions of the world around her. Of note, she began to question her own worth.
• Age: 20s
  
  Occupation: Innkeep
  
  Physical Description: Short, with mid-length blonde hair and blue eyes. She's got the build of someone who with their hands all day, despite how often she reads instead of working.
  
  Goal: Make the Marching Mare into the most popular tavern in Zak, and earn enough not to worry about tomorrow.
  
  History: She runs the Marching Mare. She approves of Den's appreciation for books and convinced him to play in the tavern in exchange for a discounted rate. She feels she got the better part of the deal.
  
  She started her tavern at the age of 18, using the majority of her family's inheritance in order to acquire a building on the main thoroughfare. The remainder of her funds went into filling her stores, and through sheer grit and elbow grease, she's kept it afloat all these years. She considers it to be a symbol of her independence and spite, claiming her family was convinced she would never be a successful entrepreneur. If they were only alive to see her now.
• Age: 22
  
  Occupation: Holy Maiden
  
  Physical Description: Average height and build, with chestnut hair and hazel eyes.
  
  Goal: ???
  
  History: Miriam is one of the only Maidens willing to talk to Anna for any period of time. She believes Purification can act as a temporary cure for the Taint, and as such is not bothered with being around Anna as long as she's keeping up with her schedule. To call her Anna's only real friend in the Synagogue would be a massive understatement.
• Age: ???
  
  Occupation: Holy Sister of the Zakran Order
  
  Physical Description: Short and small. She has straight brown hair cut at her shoulders, a tiny button nose, and eyes that seem perpetually shut. Nobody knows what color they are.
  
  Goal: Keep the Maidens in line and ensure their safety.
  
  History: Sister Naomi is the taskmaster who oversees the duties of the Holy Maidens living on the third floor of Temple Synagogue. She has a reputation as Sister No-fun due to her strict rules, violent punishments, and penchant for cursing (of both verbal and magical nature). Her two most troublesome wards are Anna and Lo-Ruhammah.
  
  She is exceptionally hard on Anna, the only Maiden with a Taint. Father Absalom claims it's to bring out her potential, but she could also just be a bitch. It's hard to tell with her. At least she limits Anna's punishments to increased workloads instead of "magical lab rat." Lo-Ruhammah has often earned that role in her stead.
  
  After Incident Three Hundred and Thirteen (also called the Temple Killings) Naomi stepped down from many of her duties in order to better focus on Maiden safety and the prevention of more deaths.
• Age: 20
  
  Occupation: Singer
  
  Physical Description: Slightly taller than the average female, with long and voluminous red hair, shaved to the skin on her left side. Her green eyes are reflective like a cat's, and her thin and fragile frame belies a powerful voice.
  
  Goal: Touch the hearts of everyone who hears her sing
  
  History: She was an... interesting character. She could never get her music career off the ground until she met Jakob Weiseborn and Johann Belarus. She teamed up with them to form an incredibly popular acoustic group. She and Jakob became romantically involved early in their professional relationship, months before they actually played their first gig. Once she hit it big at a concert she planned to be her last, she had a change of heart and put all her attention into her career. This drove her and Jakob apart, ultimately resulting in Jakob's disappearance.
• Age: 18
  
  Occupation: Holy Maiden
  
  Physical Description: Short, small frame that's almost child-like. Grey eyes that never seem to focus right and shoulder-length white hair. She's so pale she could be mistaken for a corpse.
  
  Goal: ???
  
  History: The child of an affair, Yad-Caph's biological parents were near the Tainted district when her mother, still pregnant with her, was publically raped and killed. Enraged, her father just barely saved her life by cutting her out of her mother's corpse. He returned to the Synagogue with the body and baby, demanding vengeance. Yad-Caph only survived due to the Synagogue's magic, but they could not save her eyes or heal her fragility. Her father raised her in his house as if she were a legitimate child, much to the chagrin of his wife and sons.
  
  Yad-Caph, or Caph for short, is a more recent addition to the Maidens. She was forced to join at her father's command only four years ago, and as such is still considered "in-training" until her fifth year is completed. She's been Anna's bunkmate since she came and, surprisingly, has never once complained about being paired with a Tainted. Unlike most Maidens, she tends to surround herself with the older and more knowledgeable Sisters, preferring their company to those her own age.

 

[Rickshaw]

That's not very helpful. How many hours do we spend, how many points do we need, and what do those points get us? Or is this one of those 'pick it first to see what it does' options?

Click to shrink...

Assumption error on my part. I mentioned the time here:

The sun is still an hour or two away from setting behind the pale walls of the city, at which point you'd probably call it evening

Click to shrink...

So you've got about 2 hours left until it turns from afternoon to evening. Choosing to Research uses all of the remaining time left in the portion of the day (afternoon here) to study your manuscripts and scrolls. If you choose to Research, it'll net you 1d4 Research Points in the subject(s) of your choice for every hour used so. Because you have two hours left in the afternoon, it'd be 1d4 each in two subjects, or 2d4 in one subject.

Lots of unimportant mechanic rambling that did not actually do anything for the quest.

EDIT: Researching is different from studying the Tome in that Research levels up the appropriate Magic Stat while the tome gives you access to new spells or hints as to unique ways spells can be used. For instance, if you had a spell called Magic Wall, leveling up through Research might give you a stronger wall, but studying the Tome reveals a previous hero used the same spell as a platform to air walk. Sadly, Magic Wall is not a real spell, so Mages had to invent the Shield and Levitate spells separately, but I think you get the idea.

Okay yeah this one kinda is still relevant so it stays but that may change.

EDIT 2: All of this is retroactive garbage. Research is now purely a method of getting new skills, abilities, perks, passives, and other words that mean "Usable magic" or it can further your investigation into a subject (like, say, Spiritual Magic). Leveling up your stats is now exclusively quest-related.

 

[Rickshaw]

*Awakens* Ah yes, I am well rested now and can properly answer any questi-

*Legitimately concerning questions regarding Tainted*

Click to shrink...

Oh, son of a motherless goat. Let me grab my notes.

Okay, while it was nowhere near as obvious as I wanted it to be, the only thing Mary did is put you in the humbler room. Den preemptively offered to open the tavern (i.e. wipe tables in the morning) out of his own concern that he might be kicked out. If I had been more awake, the conversation would have gone something like.

Den: So it turns out I have this Seal thing and I'm supposed to let you know.
Mary: Oh, alright. Well, I'm required to put you in separate housing by law, so you can have one of the side rooms across from mine. As a precaution, you should probably sit away from other customers so they don't notice my bard has a Seal. Actually, it might just be better off if-
Den: No, wait! Please don't kick me out!
Mary: Wha-
Den: I'll do anything! Anything at all! Just don't take away my music!
Mary: I didn't say a-
Den: I'll help you open in the mornings! I'll wipe down all of your tables while I'm here, for free! Just please, don't send me away...!
Mary: ...I was gonna say you should probably not tell anyone you're Tainted, but I'm not turning down free labor.
Mary: Okay kid you got yourself a deal.

But I was dead tired from 8 continuous hours of travel to sell a chair on Craigslist, plus filming for a project, and it was midnight when I began writing. My mind was, shall we say, absent.

Going to your actual questions, Mary would want to keep Den because booking another bard/entertainer in a city where most people musically inclined are indoctrinated into the church is a difficult task. So far in the story, both of the entertainers who have played in the Marching Mare have been foreigners. Might be a trend, might not be, you'd have to wait until the week is over and you're no longer the designated bard. And as a thing which I forgot to put down in the update, you do get tips from playing so you are earning money. There weren't a lot of customers there (Mondays are never very lively) but you got a few coins that made up for at least a day or two of your total rent. You are playing, mostly, to keep a roof over your head and earn a little extra, as your coffers are big enough for you to afford food and lodging for a time but not much more.

Going back to the post you made from a previous update, I am surprised that you connected a tourist trap with high class. It makes sense in hindsight, but I didn't make that connection since in my town, our "tourist trap" hotels are a block away from an adult store, a liquor shop, and a nightclub. Not obvious ones, but if you were to peek into the windows of the commercial center next to them you'd figure it out real fast. Just because something seems fancy and nice doesn't mean it isn't infected to the core with corruption. And hey, that's one of the themes of this story.

Your point about pricing was accurate though. I'd love to give you all exact numbers so that you could see relative values, but as I'm still fixing the kinks and editing coinage values to reflect a mix between "true value" money (the "bronze, silver, gold" trope) and a "representative value" system (using common metals to manufacture coins that symbolize certain monetary values despite not actually being worth that much). Suffice to say that I made edits to the monetary system in response.

If anyone has further story concerns, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be near a computer most of the day and should be able to answer questions that don't require me spoilerizing anything that should be addressed in-story.

 

[Rickshaw]

Also, are there no lasting debuffs in Harmonic school? With three targets I felt it would be a natural choice for an Area-of-Effect attack.

Click to shrink...

There are, and you most definitely could do that (in fact, that's probably Den's specialty), but you would be immobile while you got out your mandolin to play a Harmonic tune and probably shot in the face with a curse.

I take it that normal and magical actions are mutually exclusive?

Click to shrink...

Exactamundo. You'll attempt to dodge automatically and you can move around while casting, but you can't punch someone and use a spell in the same action.

Is a vote for Den to do one thing and for Anna do another (like the one above?) a valid one? How does any of this work? Are we picking a single action per character? A strategy for the entire combat scene?

Click to shrink...

Den and Anna are both physically(?) present, for whatever physical means after shadow-eldritch-angel-demon physics. And they are sharing some sort of link (no matter the narrative reason, I claim Neuromancer), so yes, you can vote for both of their actions.

A strategy will give you more control, but individual actions (as above) work just as well. If a strategy calls for specific actions and other people vote for the same actions, they all lump together. E.G. if you were to come up with a strategy that involved using Divine Magic to protect Anna while she tackled the leader, your strategy already has three votes no matter what specifics you put down. That could mean a plan to form a shield behind her while she jumps on Lo-Ru's back, or one to give her a general buff to her defense while she suplexes the woman. Both involve the same actions, but the specific strategy dictates how they are implemented.

TL;DR: Strategize or just write actions, doesn't matter to me. The former gives specifics for the latter, but I can work with both and they will broadly do the same thing. Strategizing is really important if you're trying to get specific outcomes, such as no visible damage or attacking a specific part of someone.

If you have any further questions, don't be afraid to ask. I am aware my explanations may create more questions than they answer.