- Location
- Tarn-Vedra
[X] [Hey] Call attention to it.
[X][Teleportation] Desiderius.
[X][Teleportation] Desiderius.
Stolen Destiny: Of Storms and Magi (HP/Ars Magica)
- Thread starter Nauro
- Start date
Update XXIV - The Magi of Voluntas
- Location
- Lithuania
Calling Vote.
Winning choices:
[X] [Hey] Call attention to it. No. of Votes: 8
[X][Teleportation] Desiderius No. of Votes: 10
No rolls this time.
...
Well, I could have had yet another roll about Gifts, but Harry seems to know his way around them. Also, there's a very small chance of falling down after teleportation, but I'm gonna use the result of the last roll of magical travel difficulties, because I feel like it wasn't represented enough in the update I had you roll for it.
Instead of having you roll things, I wrote up the next update ;D.
Nearly two thousand words. Here they are:
Small Ale
"Why did you take my hair?" you ask quietly, before giving a proper answer to Corvus' question. "That's my arcane connection, what are you going to do with it?" You manage both questions in Latin, if with a slight accent.
Corvus betrays surprise only for a split second. His eyes focus, and he gives you another look over, and then glances at Desiderius, if only for a moment. "I see how he could be difficult," he mutters in Latin, and then smiles. "Can we move on to a more comfortable place before I answer?"
"I suppose," you admit reluctantly, and then turn to Desiderius. "Sir, I am sorry for making it difficult for you before, but I agree to be... " you struggle for the proper Latin word, and finally remember it. "...transported, by your magic."
The necromancer gives you a quick nod, and places a hand on your shoulder. His gift is surely making you uncomfortable, yet, without the added difficulty of the horrible stench, you can bear it easily. After all, Agnes' Gift has been a lot worse, especially at the start, but you could bear it.
There's a quick incantation, and the colors surrounding you change. For a brief moment, you experience the sensation of falling, but your feet land firmly on the soft carpet, and you find your balance.
Where before, you were in an enclosed, cramped basement, with erie guardians making you feel uncomfortable, now you find yourself in the middle of the exquisite dining hall. You haven't seen many displays of wealth in you life, and this probably is less than what some nobles flaunt, but it's still quite a bit of luxury. The floor is covered with a smooth, soft carpet, and the walls are painted over with simple, if masterfully painted scenery.
Where Cad Gadu had met you with cold marble, and barely any decorations, this room is quite a bit warmer. The colors are bright, and some accents of golden patterns glimmer at the sides.
There is a small wooden table to the side, upon which a couple of metal pitchers stand, guarded by a well dressed servant. The main table, also made of wood, yet decorated with engravings and precious metals is large enough to hold a good ten people, and the hall itself could perhaps field a hundred - if more seats could be provided.
Desiderius moves first to the guardian who stands idle next to the largest table, and gives it a new command before sending it away with yet another spell. You do not the full wording, but is was something about standing guard and stopping anyone who manages to cross the circle.
It must have been returned to its post in the strange cellar.
Now, only six people remain in the room - a male servant close to you, a female who is currently pouring a drink for a young man in red robes - must be Kirist of Flambeau. An older, white robed woman is sitting peacefully at the table, a couple of seats further away, seemingly lost in her thoughts, her hands scarred with a myriad of old cuts - must be Phessallia. Then, there's Desiderius and, well - you.
Only Julia and Corvus seems to be missing from the full gathering of the magi of the covenant. The Raven appears above your head as soon as you think of his name.
Once again Corvus repeats his usual routine with his quick change - conjuring the black clothes as soon as he changes forms. You still cannot understand why this particular way of travel leaves Corus without his robes, yet Desiderius moved you together with your things, seemingly without trouble.
Perhaps that is some limit of Bjornaer shape changing?
You don't get to gawk much longer, for the magi present start speaking and with their fast near-native use of Latin, you have to struggle to keep up. Still, barring some technical terms you seem to have a decent enough grasp of it to follow the conversation.
"Is he it?" Kirist is the first to address Desiderius, in a boisterous young voice. He takes a drink from his tankard, leaving a mark of ale froth on the the thin line of his mustache. "What's strange about him?"
"He's a new apprentice," Corvus is the first to reply. "We practically stole him from Gerfallon."
"Weren't we trying to get him on our side?" Kirist asks, placing the tankard down on the table. "Julia changed her mind?"
Corvus sighs. "Gerfallon wasn't playing fair and it got complicated - Julia's still on it. We might be able to salvage Cad Gadu, though."
"Good," Desiderius joins in, sitting at the table, and gesturing for a servant. "But be careful, the boy understands Latin, and he's not yet honor bound to any of us."
"That's only a matter of time," Corvus replies. He also sniffs the air at Desiderius, as if checking the smell of the room.
Without much thinking, you also take a deeper breath. There's no mark of Desiderius foul stench. Rather, the room smells unnaturally fresh, as if you were in the flower field, at summertime. This time, however, there's a faint burning sensation with every other breath.
Strange. It is as if you were standing next to a fireplace, with warmth licking your face as you breathed in. Not unpleasant - yet unexpected.
Talking about fire - the room seems to have candles and a silver chandelier, but none of the candles are burning. To make things curiouser, there are no windows in the room, not any other light source...
However, it is bright enough to see everything - perhaps not enough for a proper scribe's work, but clear enough for there to be no shadows. It's also warmer than outside, that's for sure.
"That is Harry for you," Corvus is speaking once again and you have to focus on the language. "Curious and smart - a good combination. Harry, feel free to sit down," he urges. It seems he has given up on English altogether - especially since you seem to be doing well with your Latin.
Phessallia, having not said a single word since your arrival, raises her head up with the mention of your name, as if having woken up from her nap. She still remains silent. Were she closer, you're sure you could see her cold eyes measuring you.
You move to sit down, and a female servant instantly is there with a tankard, and pouring you a drink, even before you are seated. Judging from the smell and the color - that's some very light ale. It does smell rather pleasant.
"Do you want anything to eat, Harry?" Corvus asks as he takes the seat next to you, and takes his own drink.
The seat is soft and comforting, and you momentarily relax, opening your mouth to reply, and then you stop. Food can wait.
"You still haven't answered my question," you push back at Corvus' soothing demeanor. "What are you planning to do with my hair?"
Corvus breaks into croaking laughter, which earns him quite a few surprised looks. Even from his colleagues.
"You're incredible," he finally calms down to form a proper response. He leans closer, and pretends to whisper, but his words are loud enough for everyone to hear. "Did you take the magpie feathers, too?"
It takes you a second to realize he might be asking about the three feathers that never turned back into your belongings. "I did."
Kirist looks like he is about to ask something, but he lets Corvus do the talking, instead. His smile is rather infectious, though.
"Who even taught you about arcane connections?" Corvus presses on.
"You're not answering my question," you point out, again, before replying. "Rubeus mentioned them in passing, but it seemed important. I don't like the idea of anyone being able to cast spells on me from the other side of the sea."
"I told you he is strange," Desiderius mutters under his breath, tapping his fingers on the table. "Not an apprentice yet, but he knows much."
"I didn't plan to take yours," Corvus finally responds. "If we had a need of your connection, we'd ask for a small vial of blood. As an apprentice of our covenant, you'd be obliged to provide it for your parens."
"Yet you took it," you point out. "And you're not my parens."
"If I did, there's no rule against it." Corvus takes a large gulp of his ale. "Look, we're not Blackthorn, we treat our apprentices like people, you have nothing to worry about."
"Unless you got some more tricks in you sack, kid," Kirist speaks up, amused by the conversation, "we don't need a connection to keep an eye on you. Start caring about each and every piece of hair, and you're gonna go insane in a few decades."
You take your own drink of small ale to hide your embarrassment. Perhaps you did push too far. "I'm sorry," you mutter to your cup, appreciating the tasty beverage - it's been awhile since you had a drink.
"Don't be," Corvus once again ruffles your hair - and this time he places a loose hair he finds on the table, just before you. "Try to remember that you're not yet an equal, however talented you might be. But that will change."
"If you want," Kirist pipes up. "I can burn that for you." As he points towards the tiny hair on the wooden table, you note a small flame dancing on the magus fingertips. "Won't be a connection anymore." His suggestion might be genuine, but with the way he's smiling, you feel like you're being made fun off.
Do you take it, to further guard your arcane connections against misuse, or do you take up Kirist's offer?
[X] [Hair] Take the hair.
[] [Hair] Leave it where it is.
[] [Hair] Burn it.
The matter taken care of, Corvus leans back in his seat and relaxes. "So," he finally says, and it's not directed at you at all. "Phessallia - what's eating you? Something must be for you to stay silent this long."
"The boy," she replies slowly and stands up.
You look up, as the old woman moves around the table, quicker than her appearance would suggest. As she reaches you, you get a good look at her face. What you took for wrinkles of old age seem to be scars, instead.
Phessallia is clad in a white robe, and while her form is old, she moves with a certain sliding grace that seems a drop inhuman. She stops right before you, and leans closer, her white robes and grey hair framing her scarred face. Her blue eyes dig into your green. "He interests me," she says.
Then, without much warning, her hand is right in your face, moving the unruly hair away from your scar. Her finger traces it slowly, and you suddenly feel cold. Is that yet another display of a Gift, or is it truly some supernatural cool emanating from her fingers?
At the edge of your hearing, Corvus is whispering to Desiderius and Kris - "None of us is lending him Parma Magica, and he behaves like he lived with the Gifted his whole life, see?"
"Born in a storm," Phessallia says and you nearly hear the voice of the water fae that nearly killed you and your sister. "I've heard about you from the fae." She keeps her finger on your forehead, and it's making you shiver. You're not sure how much of this is the cold and how much the words themselves have moved you.
Choose One:
[ ] [Scar] Lean back.
[ ] [Scar] Push her hand away.
[ ] [Scar] Ask her to stop.
[X] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar.
[ ] [Scar] Write In.
Go ahead and have the small vote. Next one will be a lot more important, so be prepared.
Added a point of warping xp to the character sheet, because of the spells cast on Harry. Also, updated Magic Theory as per Bastrur2's choice.
Winning choices:
[X] [Hey] Call attention to it. No. of Votes: 8
[X][Teleportation] Desiderius No. of Votes: 10
Vote Tally : Stolen Destiny: Of Storms and Magi (HP/Ars Magica) | Page 31 | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.7.8
Task: Hey
[X] [Hey] Call attention to it.
No. of Votes: 8
[X] [Hey] Leave it be.
No. of Votes: 2
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Task: Teleportation
[X][Teleportation] Desiderius
No. of Votes: 10
Total No. of Voters: 10
##### NetTally 1.7.8
Task: Hey
[X] [Hey] Call attention to it.
No. of Votes: 8
[X] [Hey] Leave it be.
No. of Votes: 2
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Task: Teleportation
[X][Teleportation] Desiderius
No. of Votes: 10
Total No. of Voters: 10
No rolls this time.
...
Well, I could have had yet another roll about Gifts, but Harry seems to know his way around them. Also, there's a very small chance of falling down after teleportation, but I'm gonna use the result of the last roll of magical travel difficulties, because I feel like it wasn't represented enough in the update I had you roll for it.
Instead of having you roll things, I wrote up the next update ;D.
Nearly two thousand words. Here they are:
Update XXIV
The Magi of Voluntas
The Magi of Voluntas
Small Ale
"Why did you take my hair?" you ask quietly, before giving a proper answer to Corvus' question. "That's my arcane connection, what are you going to do with it?" You manage both questions in Latin, if with a slight accent.
Corvus betrays surprise only for a split second. His eyes focus, and he gives you another look over, and then glances at Desiderius, if only for a moment. "I see how he could be difficult," he mutters in Latin, and then smiles. "Can we move on to a more comfortable place before I answer?"
"I suppose," you admit reluctantly, and then turn to Desiderius. "Sir, I am sorry for making it difficult for you before, but I agree to be... " you struggle for the proper Latin word, and finally remember it. "...transported, by your magic."
The necromancer gives you a quick nod, and places a hand on your shoulder. His gift is surely making you uncomfortable, yet, without the added difficulty of the horrible stench, you can bear it easily. After all, Agnes' Gift has been a lot worse, especially at the start, but you could bear it.
There's a quick incantation, and the colors surrounding you change. For a brief moment, you experience the sensation of falling, but your feet land firmly on the soft carpet, and you find your balance.
Where before, you were in an enclosed, cramped basement, with erie guardians making you feel uncomfortable, now you find yourself in the middle of the exquisite dining hall. You haven't seen many displays of wealth in you life, and this probably is less than what some nobles flaunt, but it's still quite a bit of luxury. The floor is covered with a smooth, soft carpet, and the walls are painted over with simple, if masterfully painted scenery.
Where Cad Gadu had met you with cold marble, and barely any decorations, this room is quite a bit warmer. The colors are bright, and some accents of golden patterns glimmer at the sides.
There is a small wooden table to the side, upon which a couple of metal pitchers stand, guarded by a well dressed servant. The main table, also made of wood, yet decorated with engravings and precious metals is large enough to hold a good ten people, and the hall itself could perhaps field a hundred - if more seats could be provided.
Desiderius moves first to the guardian who stands idle next to the largest table, and gives it a new command before sending it away with yet another spell. You do not the full wording, but is was something about standing guard and stopping anyone who manages to cross the circle.
It must have been returned to its post in the strange cellar.
Now, only six people remain in the room - a male servant close to you, a female who is currently pouring a drink for a young man in red robes - must be Kirist of Flambeau. An older, white robed woman is sitting peacefully at the table, a couple of seats further away, seemingly lost in her thoughts, her hands scarred with a myriad of old cuts - must be Phessallia. Then, there's Desiderius and, well - you.
Only Julia and Corvus seems to be missing from the full gathering of the magi of the covenant. The Raven appears above your head as soon as you think of his name.
Once again Corvus repeats his usual routine with his quick change - conjuring the black clothes as soon as he changes forms. You still cannot understand why this particular way of travel leaves Corus without his robes, yet Desiderius moved you together with your things, seemingly without trouble.
Perhaps that is some limit of Bjornaer shape changing?
You don't get to gawk much longer, for the magi present start speaking and with their fast near-native use of Latin, you have to struggle to keep up. Still, barring some technical terms you seem to have a decent enough grasp of it to follow the conversation.
"Is he it?" Kirist is the first to address Desiderius, in a boisterous young voice. He takes a drink from his tankard, leaving a mark of ale froth on the the thin line of his mustache. "What's strange about him?"
"He's a new apprentice," Corvus is the first to reply. "We practically stole him from Gerfallon."
"Weren't we trying to get him on our side?" Kirist asks, placing the tankard down on the table. "Julia changed her mind?"
Corvus sighs. "Gerfallon wasn't playing fair and it got complicated - Julia's still on it. We might be able to salvage Cad Gadu, though."
"Good," Desiderius joins in, sitting at the table, and gesturing for a servant. "But be careful, the boy understands Latin, and he's not yet honor bound to any of us."
"That's only a matter of time," Corvus replies. He also sniffs the air at Desiderius, as if checking the smell of the room.
Without much thinking, you also take a deeper breath. There's no mark of Desiderius foul stench. Rather, the room smells unnaturally fresh, as if you were in the flower field, at summertime. This time, however, there's a faint burning sensation with every other breath.
Strange. It is as if you were standing next to a fireplace, with warmth licking your face as you breathed in. Not unpleasant - yet unexpected.
Talking about fire - the room seems to have candles and a silver chandelier, but none of the candles are burning. To make things curiouser, there are no windows in the room, not any other light source...
However, it is bright enough to see everything - perhaps not enough for a proper scribe's work, but clear enough for there to be no shadows. It's also warmer than outside, that's for sure.
"That is Harry for you," Corvus is speaking once again and you have to focus on the language. "Curious and smart - a good combination. Harry, feel free to sit down," he urges. It seems he has given up on English altogether - especially since you seem to be doing well with your Latin.
Phessallia, having not said a single word since your arrival, raises her head up with the mention of your name, as if having woken up from her nap. She still remains silent. Were she closer, you're sure you could see her cold eyes measuring you.
You move to sit down, and a female servant instantly is there with a tankard, and pouring you a drink, even before you are seated. Judging from the smell and the color - that's some very light ale. It does smell rather pleasant.
"Do you want anything to eat, Harry?" Corvus asks as he takes the seat next to you, and takes his own drink.
The seat is soft and comforting, and you momentarily relax, opening your mouth to reply, and then you stop. Food can wait.
"You still haven't answered my question," you push back at Corvus' soothing demeanor. "What are you planning to do with my hair?"
Corvus breaks into croaking laughter, which earns him quite a few surprised looks. Even from his colleagues.
"You're incredible," he finally calms down to form a proper response. He leans closer, and pretends to whisper, but his words are loud enough for everyone to hear. "Did you take the magpie feathers, too?"
It takes you a second to realize he might be asking about the three feathers that never turned back into your belongings. "I did."
Kirist looks like he is about to ask something, but he lets Corvus do the talking, instead. His smile is rather infectious, though.
"Who even taught you about arcane connections?" Corvus presses on.
"You're not answering my question," you point out, again, before replying. "Rubeus mentioned them in passing, but it seemed important. I don't like the idea of anyone being able to cast spells on me from the other side of the sea."
"I told you he is strange," Desiderius mutters under his breath, tapping his fingers on the table. "Not an apprentice yet, but he knows much."
"I didn't plan to take yours," Corvus finally responds. "If we had a need of your connection, we'd ask for a small vial of blood. As an apprentice of our covenant, you'd be obliged to provide it for your parens."
"Yet you took it," you point out. "And you're not my parens."
"If I did, there's no rule against it." Corvus takes a large gulp of his ale. "Look, we're not Blackthorn, we treat our apprentices like people, you have nothing to worry about."
"Unless you got some more tricks in you sack, kid," Kirist speaks up, amused by the conversation, "we don't need a connection to keep an eye on you. Start caring about each and every piece of hair, and you're gonna go insane in a few decades."
You take your own drink of small ale to hide your embarrassment. Perhaps you did push too far. "I'm sorry," you mutter to your cup, appreciating the tasty beverage - it's been awhile since you had a drink.
"Don't be," Corvus once again ruffles your hair - and this time he places a loose hair he finds on the table, just before you. "Try to remember that you're not yet an equal, however talented you might be. But that will change."
"If you want," Kirist pipes up. "I can burn that for you." As he points towards the tiny hair on the wooden table, you note a small flame dancing on the magus fingertips. "Won't be a connection anymore." His suggestion might be genuine, but with the way he's smiling, you feel like you're being made fun off.
Do you take it, to further guard your arcane connections against misuse, or do you take up Kirist's offer?
[X] [Hair] Take the hair.
[] [Hair] Leave it where it is.
[] [Hair] Burn it.
The matter taken care of, Corvus leans back in his seat and relaxes. "So," he finally says, and it's not directed at you at all. "Phessallia - what's eating you? Something must be for you to stay silent this long."
"The boy," she replies slowly and stands up.
You look up, as the old woman moves around the table, quicker than her appearance would suggest. As she reaches you, you get a good look at her face. What you took for wrinkles of old age seem to be scars, instead.
Phessallia is clad in a white robe, and while her form is old, she moves with a certain sliding grace that seems a drop inhuman. She stops right before you, and leans closer, her white robes and grey hair framing her scarred face. Her blue eyes dig into your green. "He interests me," she says.
Then, without much warning, her hand is right in your face, moving the unruly hair away from your scar. Her finger traces it slowly, and you suddenly feel cold. Is that yet another display of a Gift, or is it truly some supernatural cool emanating from her fingers?
At the edge of your hearing, Corvus is whispering to Desiderius and Kris - "None of us is lending him Parma Magica, and he behaves like he lived with the Gifted his whole life, see?"
"Born in a storm," Phessallia says and you nearly hear the voice of the water fae that nearly killed you and your sister. "I've heard about you from the fae." She keeps her finger on your forehead, and it's making you shiver. You're not sure how much of this is the cold and how much the words themselves have moved you.
Choose One:
[ ] [Scar] Lean back.
[ ] [Scar] Push her hand away.
[ ] [Scar] Ask her to stop.
[X] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar.
[ ] [Scar] Write In.
Go ahead and have the small vote. Next one will be a lot more important, so be prepared.
Added a point of warping xp to the character sheet, because of the spells cast on Harry. Also, updated Magic Theory as per Bastrur2's choice.
Last edited:
[X] [Hair] Take the hair.
[X] [Scar] Ask her whats wrong with it.
[X] [Scar] Ask her whats wrong with it.
Want to know something... I will change my position on the second vote, as it is more in character for us to ask what she is doing.
[x] [Hair] Leave it where it is.
[X] [Scar] Ask her whats wrong with it.
Last edited:
- Location
- Scotland
[x] [Hair] Leave it where it is.
[x] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar.
[x] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar.
From project Red Cap:
Warping
From Project: Redcap
Warping refers to the effect of change a character undergoes due to being exposed to a mystical effect that is not accord with the character's nature. Mystical effects can be momentary, such as a spell being cast, or medium-term, such as a strong aura through which a character travels. Effects like these are always specific to one of the Realms of Power. An entity that originates from, or is in complete accordance with a specific Realm, is usually considered immune to Warping from that Realm: a faerie creature would not be considered to be subject to Warping due to living in a strong Faerie aura. A Hermeticmagus, though Gifted, is not immune to Warping from the Realm of Magic, but a spirit, a magical creature, is.
Quantification
A character that is subject to Warping gains Warping Points. Warping Points act like experience points for a Warping Score of a character, that is, it takes 5 Warping Points to increase a Warping Score from 0 to 1, and another 10 to increase it to 2. Human beings that are not born in an area with a strong aura, start with a Warping Score of 0.
As the Warping Score of a character increases, he accumulates more and more typical traits of the primary source of the mystical effects he has been exposed to. Effects of Warping are expressed via Virtues and Flaws.
From Project: Redcap
Warping refers to the effect of change a character undergoes due to being exposed to a mystical effect that is not accord with the character's nature. Mystical effects can be momentary, such as a spell being cast, or medium-term, such as a strong aura through which a character travels. Effects like these are always specific to one of the Realms of Power. An entity that originates from, or is in complete accordance with a specific Realm, is usually considered immune to Warping from that Realm: a faerie creature would not be considered to be subject to Warping due to living in a strong Faerie aura. A Hermeticmagus, though Gifted, is not immune to Warping from the Realm of Magic, but a spirit, a magical creature, is.
Quantification
A character that is subject to Warping gains Warping Points. Warping Points act like experience points for a Warping Score of a character, that is, it takes 5 Warping Points to increase a Warping Score from 0 to 1, and another 10 to increase it to 2. Human beings that are not born in an area with a strong aura, start with a Warping Score of 0.
As the Warping Score of a character increases, he accumulates more and more typical traits of the primary source of the mystical effects he has been exposed to. Effects of Warping are expressed via Virtues and Flaws.
- Location
- Lithuania
@Bastur2's source is correct, if a bit too long winded and formal.
For Mages, warping increases the risk of disappearing forever (you need hundreds of warping xp for that) after a very badly botched spell, but when regular people are exposed to magic they handle it worse, developing certain flaws or sometimes benefits that are usually weird or supernatural in nature.
Speaking about that section, after intense debate with my inner self, I also added a clause to Confidence points, disallowing their use to re-roll in case of botched magic. Regural botches will be avoidable by a re-roll as before. This is because allowing rerolls in the first place is a house rule for this quest and because the botches don't seem to happen too often anyway.
Anyway - Calling Vote:
[X] [Hair] Take the hair. No. of Votes: 7
[x] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar. No. of Votes: 7
Vote Tally : Stolen Destiny: Of Storms and Magi (HP/Ars Magica) | Page 32 | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.7.6
Task: Hair
[X] [Hair] Take the hair.
No. of Votes: 7
[x] [Hair] Leave it where it is.
No. of Votes: 5
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Task: Scar
[x] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar.
No. of Votes: 7
[X] [Scar] Ask her whats wrong with it.
No. of Votes: 5
Total No. of Voters: 12
##### NetTally 1.7.6
Task: Hair
[X] [Hair] Take the hair.
No. of Votes: 7
[x] [Hair] Leave it where it is.
No. of Votes: 5
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Task: Scar
[x] [Scar] Allow Phessallia to keep touching your scar.
No. of Votes: 7
[X] [Scar] Ask her whats wrong with it.
No. of Votes: 5
Total No. of Voters: 12
Hop on to StolenDestiny and make a roll for me.
Harry rolls Intelligence+ArtesLiberales, to understand just what is wrong with the way Phessallia speaks:
#A1+3 #PhessalliasLanguage, DC6, success
The next update should be short, so expect it soon unless it bloats when I'm writing it, but the choices will be important.
Under the hood, I've been assigning difficulties for different Magi for the next couple of choices. For example, you taking the connection is approved by Desiderius and Corvus, but Kirist isn't impressed, quite the opposite.
Last edited:
Update XXV - The Boy and his Parens
- Location
- Lithuania
Update XXV
The Boy and his Parens
The ScarThe Boy and his Parens
Phessallia slowly, carefully traces your scar. Her eyes are all but devouring you with their cold, white, imposing presence, and her Gift makes your heart beat faster from encroaching cold fear, much as you try to ignore it. Soon, your feel frost forming on your forehead, and shiver once more, longing for the warmth that has been stolen from you. Only with each hard breath do you feel the heat of the room, and only then it seems but an illusion, a distant presence.
Still, you lie to yourself, at times Agnes was worse, if not as directly felt.
You manage it, drowning your fears and worries inside yourself.
"Marked by a powerful spell." She slowly takes her finger away, and you feel the layer of frost on your forehead melting in the heat of the room. Her voice is cold, with a drop of bitterness in it, yet - you finally understand what is different about it. She isn't speaking Latin. Neither is she speaking English, not truly. It seems to be some even more forgotten language, but you understand her perfectly.
That's mind boggling, but that's magic for you. When you try to focus, it seems the language is closer to English than it is to Latin, but that's not doing it justice.
Her hand lingers mid-air, as if debating whether to reach out for you again. Slowly, ever so slowly, the warmth returns to your body, and you begin to breathe calmer, in control.
A cold drop of water slides down onto your eyelid, and you reach to rub it out, without thinking about it. You're watching Phessallia, afraid to ask anything, and she still has eyes only for you.
"A newborn child, found in the woods, dressed in silks and purple?" she recites, as if repeating the words of someone else. "Right out of a story, is he?" she asks looking over your head, looking at the other magi.
"You would know," Kirist remarks in a bored tone, as if Phessallia isn't behaving weirdly. "Always about the stories, your fae friends?"
"Yet," Phessallia says ant taps your scar again, sending a whole new shiver down your spine. "He's not of the fae, but his story interests me."
She finally stops with the examination and leans back. "Do you have a sworn enemy? A childhood row that made them swear vengeance? Mayhaps your family got in the way of someone powerful? An evil twin? A spiteful sister?"
Her questions bite at you and you feel like there's a glimmer of truth in them. For all you know, you have no enemies, but how did you come to get to the Pilgrim's Way if all you had were friends?
You hesitate.
Choose one:
[X] [Enemy] Admit not knowing any enemies of your family.
[ ] [Enemy] Argue that your family is good and they care for you.
[ ] [Enemy] Admit that both Thomas and your sister Avice had been cold, but they're certainly not enemies.
[ ] [Enemy] Write In.
Don't get too wordy for the write in option, if you choose it.
Wants and Needs
"I need him," Phessallia says to other Magi, after listening to your response. "He would be a good apprentice, a good story for me. He's touched by destruction and I'd teach him best, out of all of you."
"Julia wants him," Corvus croaks out in Latin.
"Julia's not here," Kirist offers, raising his tankard for another drink. "And she's not the only one whose vote counts, remember? We're sworn to never allow the covenant to fall onto tyrannical rule."
"Still, if she wishes for the boy," Desiderius adds nervously. "She's done enough for Voluntas to deserve him."
"Apprentices are a lot of work," Kirist points out. "Julia might want him, but I don't think Voluntas would not prosper from that choice. We need all she can give us, not spending half of her time teaching a boy how to cast magic."
"I suppose," Desiderius says. "From what I saw, he'd be an asset to any of us."
Corvus coughs, startled by the opinion. "Why so?" he says in his hoarse voice.
"He might know a vis source, or even a couple," Desiderius points out. "I saw at least a Rook of vis in his possession, and that would be a huge boon for his parens."
"Ah!" Kirist slams the cup on the table and stands up. "In that case, I want him as my apprentice, too."
"Sodales," Corvus raises his hand. "We're civilized Magi, and before all else, Voluntas is built on mutual understanding. Had I not found another candidate, I'd be considering him for an apprenticeship under me. But that does not mean that I should try and jump before others to get him."
"Let's put it for a vote," Desiderius suggests. "We know that Julia would be for herself, so we do not have to wait for her return."
"Before that," Phessallia announces, and everyone in the room stills, from the nearly threatening tone in which she demands for the attention. "I want to hear him speak of it. What do you want, Harry? Where does your story go?"
Choose one:
[ ] [Parens] Julia of Jerbiton
[X] [Parens] Phessallia of Merinita
[ ] [Parens] Desiderius of Verditius
[ ] [Parens] Kirist of Flambeau
[ ] [Parens] Corvus of Bjornaer
This is your final choice for a parens.
These are ordered by the chance to succeed at getting them. Julia is automatic, others will need a roll, upon failure defaulting to Julia. This would be Communication + Bargain, selling specialization wouldn't apply here, so A1+3. Confidence applies. Phessallia is DC6, Desiderius is DC8, Kirist is DC8, Corvus is DC10.
I will wait for an obvious majority or a whole week. Might be less.
If you have questions, ask them here, or hop on StolenDestiny room.
Good luck.
Last edited:
Could we mention that fae from the lake? It should be suitably interesting enough.
For those who missed it.
I'm honestly not to sure what to pick, as I've forgotten the specialties of the houses. Of the characters the most interesting is Phessallia and Desiderius (largely due to necromancy), but I'm aware of myself enough that the reason is most likely they're the most recent to appear and having forgotten the characterization of Julia.
Well let's see if I can be of some help.
Jerbiton - city mages, more interaction with the mundane and politics of the Order.
Merinita - faery mages. self explanatory
Verditius- artifice mages.
Flambeau- combat mages (but this mage here is young, so he could cause some problems to our magic)
Bjornaer- shapechange mages (only one) but he is to be Agnes Parens.
I am in doubt about the first three choices, every one could give us something different, but probably will vote for Merinita.
You don't need to apologize, it's perfectly understabdable.
Yeah I got that reference from her, but the other mages probably don't know about it so it would be interesting from that perspective.