I don't think Taylor will made for a good apprentice for our style of magic.
Contessa on the other hand? Already a good oracle, and with amount of blood on her hands, not afraid of death.
I'm pretty sure Taylor's shard makes her objectively one of the best suited individuals for Astral magic on the planet. A huge part of Astral magic is not just the mind, but the idea of communicating and drawing connections (that this is usually used to kill the person who picked up the phone is neither here nor there).
It's why Astral magic has their own kind of Communion mages can form, and why so many spells are a variation of 'I do mind fuckery' or 'I reach across the common thread all intelligent and ensouled life shares, and use it to slurp your soul with a bendy straw'.
[X] Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
[X] Attempt to arrange a meeting on your terms to have some semblance of a position of power. Have their representatives come to meet you here. If need be, use the argument of being able to treat the injured in the area. I doubt they'll be willing to attempt to force the issue with someone who so effortlessly eliminated something that was obviously their superior, especially if they're offering medical aide.
[X] Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
Adhoc vote count started by Dapperlad1 on May 11, 2023 at 5:09 AM, finished with 36 posts and 15 votes.
[X] Attempt to arrange a meeting on your terms to have some semblance of a position of power. Have their representatives come to meet you here. If need be, use the argument of being able to treat the injured in the area. I doubt they'll be willing to attempt to force the issue with someone who so effortlessly eliminated something that was obviously their superior, especially if they're offering medical aide.
[X] Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
[X] Something Else: You are weaker now, and reliant on far more tenuous power than you'd prefer, but this world is merely drained, and even a dead world can still know magic. Cast a site searching spell, and teleport to any locus of Death or Astral magic you find. Astral Diamonds or Death Gems would both be of immense use to you against whatever native Pretender rules.
With current vote strengths, the plans are listed below.
5.6 Vote Strength
Attempt to arrange a meeting on your terms to have some semblance of a position of power. Have their representatives come to meet you here. If need be, use the argument of being able to treat the injured in the area. I doubt they'll be willing to attempt to force the issue with someone who so effortlessly eliminated something that was obviously their superior, especially if they're offering medical aide.
7 Vote Strength Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
2.4 Vote Strength Something Else: You are weaker now, and reliant on far more tenuous power than you'd prefer, but this world is merely drained, and even a dead world can still know magic. Cast a site searching spell, and teleport to any locus of Death or Astral magic you find. Astral Diamonds or Death Gems would both be of immense use to you against whatever native Pretender rules.
1 Vote Strength Refuse their command, demand you be treated as your divinity deserves.
0.5 Vote Strength Obey the command and follow along, bear with them to gather information.
[X] Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
[X] Attempt to arrange a meeting on your terms to have some semblance of a position of power. Have their representatives come to meet you here. If need be, use the argument of being able to treat the injured in the area. I doubt they'll be willing to attempt to force the issue with someone who so effortlessly eliminated something that was obviously their superior, especially if they're offering medical aide.
Knowledge of this world will be useful, it'd be wise not to alienate a source fully out of pride. Twist their desires to suit your needs. In addition, in the time it takes for their representatives to come meet you, you can query the injured you heal on things about this world
[X] Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
[X] Simply say, "No." And walk off to find power and observe this world, perhaps taking the girl with you. Pergaps Fate in this world placed her here. Nevermind them, they are but ants and will fall if they try to physically stop or threaten you.
A mortal's commands have as much weight to them as a handful of feathers and come backed with hubris as well. Staring up at them, you consider the most effective way to communicate desires. Tilting your jaw open, a "No." releases itself.
The flying warrior just stays still, presumably not used to being refused while you float down to the young girl you saved and bemoan the fact you will expend many of your limited Astral Diamonds in the effort to drag both you and her off to a distant locale.
"Mortal, you've been delivered a great prize." You declare to her, lowering to her level as she presses her back into the rock, unable to move well. The infernal dogs surround and are carefully pacing around her whilst a second girl, far more impressively built with a dog mask, looms over her.
They both turn to look towards you, but that doesn't make the next action any better. Between bony fingers you extract seven of the solidified astral energy, taking the form of diamonds of clearest sky blue. The dog girl speaks, "Get away from her." is practically growled out, sparking some annoyance in you.
In between their heartbeats, you send your senses ,while three gems crush, into light and infinity, sensing the points in the world which attract the stars above. Somewhere on another continent lies a point of tremendous astral connectivity. A mountain far across the waters, linked to many other universes in some strange way you cannot exactly describe from this distance. It roars with Astral and Earth power, suiting your needs just fine.
The mortals seem to have forgotten courtesy. First things first, to get out of here. Four gems crack, their power released as they cease to exist. Space warps, the world disappears into nothing as infinite blackness dotted with points of light becomes your reality. The target is the point of Astral might sensed a considerable way, across an ocean and much land besides.
You appear in mid-air whilst the teenager stumbles on the ground, a noise of fright and fear from her. A green-coated mountain surrounds you, the source of Astral strength suffusing this air, its existence inherently curious owing to the lack of obvious astral connection around you. She stands up as insects all around the area come to life. What an interesting innate mystic capacity.
"Welcome to one of the embryones of might in this world." Broadly gesturing with one arm towards the mountain. She glares through the insectile lenses of her armour, demanding with the swarming hiss of the black tide forming around you, "Where did you take me?"
The aggression is good, a sign of willful energy. "I do not know. This creation's maps have not been studied by mine eyes." As you begin to walk towards the source of Astral energy, hoping that many gems have gathered conveniently for you over the years.
"Why am I here?." More of that confidence, but there is a level of it that seems overdone, rather than confidence it feels more like a reaction of fear. Focusing on her fully, an example must be set forth. "You have been chosen, youngling." Your voice drops into the very bottom of your soul, shaking the earth and turning the very air grey and still with a taste of myrrh. "I will teach you power, I will empower your spirit until you can engage with the highest magicks of this realm and any other."
She freezes, the swarm begins to die off in your aura as Death reaches out and claims Dominion in the nearby area. Grass shifts to ashen and the Drain, the near-dead corpse of magic that fills this world, in the air recedes, dying off and pulling away with your might. "All this resistance, after I resuscitated your dying frame? Shameful, I must admit. Has this world lost all decorum?"
A thought hits you like a lightning bolt, making your proverbial eyes widen, is the magic starved state of this world making everyone impolite? The shock of this eases the pressure being exerted, making her speak freely. "You're a Trump?" As if being a card of some kind matters to the thought at hand. A lack of magic makes people aggressive? That would explain much about some societies.
"What powers can you give?" The desperate hope of someone desiring more strength, a fertile breeding ground for a powerful magician. Leaving be the thought of what you will dub the Psychomystic effect, "I can give absolutely nothing. However, I can teach much, perhaps even the way I defeated the Giant that was rampaging in that city- if you display talent for such magery."
Grass cracks under your tread as you near her, noting the relative height. She must be of good breeding and of good health at her size. "All you must do, is listen and learn." Raising a bony finger in front of her face, something that dominates Scuttle's-That is her name, right?-attention.
"So, Scuttle, what say you?" An offer, devilish in character but true at heart. You offer the strength to change her lot in life, the endless exchange of mere heroism forgotten in exchange for something grander and more important by far.
The twin lenses stare back at you with what feels like significant energy, perhaps the draw of power is setting something alight in her heart, a burning fire of ambition, the cascading need to become greate-
"My name's Skitter."
Damnit all, you forgot a mortal's name again!
"Yes anyways-" Moving past that momentary error, "What is your answer?"
Skitter lets a pregnant moment pass as you await her answer. Her mind is hopefully racing, weighing benefits and detriments in equal measure with a clear head, unaffected by childish bias and silly issues like that.
Finally, an answer arrives. "I'll learn, but I'm not promising service or anything like that." A finality to her sentence, declaring some control of the situation.
Then, in a rush she continues, "And I have to go back to where you took me from! I have to make sure-uhm, my interests are secure." A simple nod is all you respond with, no longer quite caring about her words after the agreement.
Balls, now you have to figure out how to acquire a laboratory in this place, can't do much without one. How to go about that.
[X] Find a local center of civilization, enlighten them to your infinite power and re-establish Dominion. Easily done! (1x vote strength)
[X] You must be on the lookout for other Pretenders. It's time to use your skills of subterfuge and skulduggery. Wealth is needed to build a laboratory, you will have to become a bandit again. (1x vote strength)
[X] Something Else?
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Spells Used
Astral Probe (Evocation 3, Astral 1)
Cost-3 Astral Gems
Probing local friendly Dominion for sites of Astral Magic.
[X] Find a local center of civilization, enlighten them to your infinite power and re-establish Dominion. Easily done! (1x vote strength)
Why should a god engage in petty banditry when we can get the mortals to do it for us? or even better, just get the mortals to give us stuff willingly?
[X] Mercenaries are a fine staple in any Creation worth the term in your experience. It would be a bit gauche, and mayhaps demeaning- but you could ask Scuttle if there are any nations interested in hiring on a skilled mage for a season. If the locals struggle with such a meager beast as the one you slew, then surely they will clamor for your aid.
This is almost certainly a dumb idea, but it plays to just enough of Dominion's constants that I can see Nameless thinking of it. And most importantly, it'd be hilarious.
[X] Mercenaries are a fine staple in any Creation worth the term in your experience. It would be a bit gauche, and mayhaps demeaning- but you could ask Scuttle if there are any nations interested in hiring on a skilled mage for a season. If the locals struggle with such a meager beast as the one you slew, then surely they will clamor for your aid.
Securing some Dominion is in all rights, probably going to be problematic. Removing Drain from our Dominion is probably something that's going to be noticed if not recognized, but our hefty Death scales? Even if I'm pretty sure given our backstory our Death scales aren't quite as inimical to human civilization as others (I'm looking at you fucking Ermor), it's going to cause a panic and set off alarm bells. It's not something to be done lightly, and I'm pretty sure we're going to have a hard time keeping Dominion without actively being involved- not unless there's something in our Scales that makes worshipping us an inherent good thing from the everyman on the street.
