Ah Looks like I just barely missed it, I haven't had a lot of time lately unfortunately. Have my plan anyways, to show I'm engaged.
[X] Plan: Listen guys, coming up with plan names is really hard.
-[X] enchanting more via engraved runics. (Takes over a training slot until discontinued. Will provide reduced thresholds for other actions. Will also have effects in Act 2. It will also mean that other crafting or creation skills can never exceed this in skill ranks. (Such as Alchemy.)) [note: gun creating is an exception.]
-[X] .. a flying boat, more like a mobile base (Balanced. Will take longer, but it will also double as a good means of transportation and potentially a base to attack from.)
-[X] Use the scroll to improve two powers (lock random choices) until they're Adept 4. This will mean that she's fairly locked in on choices for learning her abilities, unless you improve her training regime.
-[X]Attend a Class - Divination: To see at a distance is very useful.
-[X] Attend a Class - The Path of the Sage: You did pick a specialty. All of them have some classes, although some are tricker than others.
-[X] Self Directed Research: Runics
-[X]Mock Combat with Khaliah - Shes' as interested as you as improving her combat skills, especially after that trip.
-[X] Luck of the Goddess - You cannot teach her the grand secrets, but you can ensure that she finds the right books, of course. (Increase April's luck for a turn. More likely to learn a power from observation, increase a skill, of course.)
-[X] Mana Boost - Boost her mana power in general by 25%.
-[X] Mana I - You've just ascended, and feel sluggish. You cannot remanifest or even communicate. Your spells fizzle from lack of mana and you feel you will need to unlock them all over again. You will need to increase your mana to do so. (420/450)
-[X]Talk to your Master - Your assigned master has a standing office timeslot for you, you could go take advantage of it. (Random benefit.)
-[X]Learn Divine Magic - It might be helpful to learn to channel this when you aren't in risk of immediate death, but it will take time. [116/210]
-[X] Improve Mana (I) - Increase mana availablity one step [57/160]
-[X] .. a flying boat, more like a mobile base (Balanced. Will take longer, but it will also double as a good means of transportation and potentially a base to attack from.)
I meant the write in to add a customization. Here's the power's current write up (I'll be updating the sheet soon):
Magic's Hidden Hut said:
Evolvable: No
Mana Used: Any
Unique To: April Smithdottir
Mana Cost: Special, see Description.
Based on the basic power Extra Space, and extensive notes by the adventurer Yuehua Xianling in 344 AE, this spell is unique to April.
From the outside, it looks like a generic Tokiyan hut with red and yellow lanterns on the side. It occupies a miniature space that at present cannot be expanded.. On the inside, it is a two room hut, with a "fireplace", a bed, and some cabinets. There are an overlay of inlaid slate, colored brick, and glass panes to give it some color, and to place various magical runic effects.
The hut is lit by a mixture of basic lights in a variety of soft hues, and looks like someone's interpretation of 'magical'.
The temperature controls are crude, and require fueling at the time. While running, they are a slight drain on mana.
As long as the user is in an ambient mana space, this spell requires no energy and will recharge it's anchors. Elsewise, it is a Medium Tier 2 Mana Use
This space has been anchored to April's Spiritual Sea, and can be entered in spaces that normally would prevent extradimensional spaces. However, it is still counted as being located as where April was from in terms of protections.
Contents: Bed (OK), Writing Desk with pen and brush. Diary.
Adventuring Gear, Stasis Chamber with rations and water. Buckets.
The desk has a clock (basic 26 hour clock), hydrometer, thermometer (-20 to 60C), barometer, foe-sense.
One chest is empty and the other has 7 unknown devices in it.
Size of the spell is dependent on ranks and will naturally grow.
Strong Walls - These walls have been magically reinforced, providing effective support against weak typhoons (rating: Typhoon 1) and most weather. They also will not fall to unenchanted weaponry. They are not made of a magical material, however, and enchanted weaponry or effects that would negate runic protections remove this. (Tier 1)
Weak Temperature Control - By pumping mana into a runic, the temperature of the hut can be roughly moved to within 2C of the desired temperature. It cannot display temperature inside/outside, nor can it regulate itself. (Tier 1)
Primitive Divination Windows - The hut has "windows" that are one-way only. (With some mana, even the windows can seemingly disappear.). They provide sight-level only information around them for 30'. They do not have any other capabilities at present. (Tier 0)
Stasis Cupboard - The hut has a stasis cupboard of 9044 in3 (148,352 cm3) [small kitchen cupboard] that can store cold or warm storage. (Tier 0)
Reality Overlay Illusion - This can appear as a hut in reality, and people can walk through the door (No Tier)
[X] Plan: Listen guys, coming up with plan names is really hard.
-[X] enchanting more via engraved runics. (Takes over a training slot until discontinued. Will provide reduced thresholds for other actions. Will also have effects in Act 2. It will also mean that other crafting or creation skills can never exceed this in skill ranks. (Such as Alchemy.)) [note: gun creating is an exception.]
-[X] .. a flying boat, more like a mobile base (Balanced. Will take longer, but it will also double as a good means of transportation and potentially a base to attack from.)
-[X] Use the scroll to improve two powers (lock random choices) until they're Adept 4. This will mean that she's fairly locked in on choices for learning her abilities, unless you improve her training regime.
-[X]Attend a Class - Divination: To see at a distance is very useful.
-[X] Attend a Class - The Path of the Sage: You did pick a specialty. All of them have some classes, although some are tricker than others.
-[X] Self Directed Research: Runics
-[X]Mock Combat with Khaliah - She's' as interested as you as improving her combat skills, especially after that trip.
-[X] Luck of the Goddess - You cannot teach her the grand secrets, but you can ensure that she finds the right books, of course. (Increase April's luck for a turn. More likely to learn a power from observation, increase a skill, of course.)
-[X] Mana Boost - Boost her mana power in general by 25%.
-[X] Mana I - You've just ascended, and feel sluggish. You cannot remanifest or even communicate. Your spells fizzle from lack of mana and you feel you will need to unlock them all over again. You will need to increase your mana to do so. (420/450)
-[X]Talk to your Master - Your assigned master has a standing office timeslot for you, you could go take advantage of it. (Random benefit.)
-[X]Learn Divine Magic - It might be helpful to learn to channel this when you aren't in risk of immediate death, but it will take time. [116/210]
-[X] Improve Mana (I) - Increase mana availability one step [57/160]
QM Notes: Note: I redid the mana powers thresholds, so if the progress on Mana II seems high, that's because I refunded progress on Mana I to it. It shouldn't really take five turns to learn the basics. I also simplified and recalculated how skills are. You may notice more AP - this was due to me working on actions.
Training and Skill Changes
Intelligence now explicitly specifies when it influences evolution
Skill and power evolution thresholds specified.
Prescence is now trained instead of Intelligence. Actions added to train stats.
Automatic training now stops at Adept 7.
Training can no longer be turned to Light or Heavy, instead, you may take an action to train additional things. This should be a little less clunky and more interact with the actions you can take.
Note that a lot of this training will expire at the end of Arc 2. The current pace of training is exclusively because you're at a school. You may have a turn in the school to learn, but that is up to your choices.
Customization now specifies how you get the slots. They also increase slower from the power itself.
Arc 2: Tension Meter
In certain situations, you may be in tension with a faction/enemy. This will have a meter from 0 to 10, and actions will be tagged that may increase or decrease this tension. Higher indicates more risk to the character.
Mana Notes
Talonis can cast spells to aid April, which uses Mana. This Mana can also be used to boost the spell, or aid on dice.
Spells - Talonis can cast a spell for it's mana cost as long as the cost is under mana available. Remaining mana can be spent on the spell to lower the difficulty check by 10 per Mana. Or you can cast another spell. As long as your total mana cost is under your mana, it's OK.
Free Dice - For every 2 Mana free, you can convert it to a spare dice to be used on actions.
Progress
Mana I - Complete (487/372) → 115 overflow → Mana II (115/300)
Divine Magic - Complete (185/185) (+15 due to high Luck)
Improve Mana (I) → 116/160
Mage Armor → Arcane Armor [Until Arcane Armor reaches Common 7] (auto-evolve due to scroll) [power slot locked]
Repair [Until Adept 4] [power slot locked]
Mana Sense,Mana Control,Magic Missile
Training Results
Power Slots available: 1 skill, 1 power.
Mana Sense is now True Sight; True Sight → Common 2, Mana Control → Adept 3, Runic Inscription → Common 6
Intelligence [+21 XP], Agility [+33XP]
Random roll: Create Mana Handgun → Adept 0, Magic's Hidden Hut → Common 8 (+2 customizations, total possible now 8.)
Talonis's Magic Swarm → Common 9, Repair → Common 8
Mage Armor auto evolves to Arcane Armor and resets to Common 1.
"Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains… an unuprooted small corner of evil."
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956
Talonis
It took you longer than you would have liked to regain your mana, but now you could cast spells, or use your power to focus on assisting. As your sight stabilized, you knew now that you can observe in more real time. And you could even cast a spell or two if you needed to. And given that the inherent stressors of the Alley of Star Seekers were again rearing their head, you were worried you might have to.
After all, you knew that April didn't know that the Alley of the Star Seekers was in effect, the home cathedral of the Daughters of the Night. Not many were inducted into this secret, with the grand majority functioning as secular agents of the Alley which admittedly had primarily served as a philanthropic organization focused on safety and security.
The Great Work could not be impeded, after all. It would need many magi, a lot of mana, and faith. It was the overriding purpose of the Abbey of the Stars, and it's disguise, the Alley of the Star Seeker. And she was being caught in a struggle between two ideas for the Great Work..
April Training Results
Power Slots available: 1 skill, 1 power.
Mana Sense is now True Sight; True Sight → Common 2, Mana Control → Adept 3, Runic Inscription → Common 6
Intelligence [+21 XP], Agility [+33XP]
Random roll: Create Mana Handgun → Adept 0, Magic's Hidden Hut → Common 8 (+2 customizations, total possible now 8.)
Talonis's Magic Swarm → Common 9, Repair → Common 8
Mage Armor auto evolves to Arcane Armor and resets to Common 1.
It had been an interesting few days. April really did not know what to think of what was going on. Surely at the Alley which nominally was a school for sorceresses and, she realized artificers, would be a school. The events of the last week have proven that.
So she had spent the time with Khaliah going over the runic structures of their shared room. Improving it, adding in divination and protection runics for more than just magical attacks. This dove tailed well with her recent self-study in runics. Today, she was focusing on identifying by the two most commonly used runic systems, although if she wanted to add more obscure runes, she'd need to go out of her way to get those books, but the real issue is that while the librarians are monitoring usage of and time of each book, she couldn't afford to do that. She was fairly limited to what her master had on hand, and what Khaliah had in her library.
But between them, they anchored the wards a bit more thoroughly, and April had notes for possible magical constants and parts of beasts, resources, and others, to improve her hut. But nothing she could implement right now.
Moving about the Alley was more fraught, and now that she saw it, there was definitely factional infighting. But she wasn't sure what over. Sure, sometimes, it was clear that many of the lecturers and staff had religious opinions, and taught in catechisms more often than not, but very few chose to explain them.
She had, however, noticed that she had not met many of the masters, and there always seemed to be a steady stream of religiously dressed people in the applicants for their services. While every building was open, she didn't often enter four of them, and almost never the two Guest buildings.
Maybe it was something to do with the ties the Alley maintained, she mused. But she had to wonder what would cause a mini faction split, and her Master wouldn't tell her. It was something she was forbidden to talk about apparently.
The classes that she felt safe in taking in person were also entertaining, if tense. The divination Master, April noted with some worry, had several Adepts in the room acting as assistants, and likely doubling as security.
Today's lesson was on using their power and a focusing crystal - which each got to use for any divination rituals until they found something that spoke to them more directly, which would require some one-on-one time the Divination Master could not grant them - to predict the weather. The difficulties was that the ritual returned less straight forward 'it will snow tomorrow', but more meteorological information that required understanding and decoding. You might get dew points, you might get a hummed line of the Myth of the Snow Maiden, you might get 'Auntie Em!', and that was part of the challenge of divination.
By contrast, the other class, on the Path of Sage, was interesting. Mostly because the lecturer started by demonstrating the power on them, and while April was able to entirely throw it off, she admitted when asked it was due to long experience and exposure. Still, knowing how to do it herself was something she was eager to learn. She, unsurprisingly, was not great at it, with a weaker Prescence than the others.
When that was over, her Master gave her Khaliah some training on a basic Shield spell. This was of impromptu use of the mock combat you and Khaliah did, as you both focused on making spells more instinctive.
[44 XP to Arcane Armor, 40 XP to Shield, 25 XP to Missile Swarm]
Maybe it was having a partner to bounce ideas off of, maybe it was stress, maybe it was just progress, but you felt like you had finally cracked the way to access your divine magic. Now you just had to meditate with it to unlock a spell to use it with..
You had been keeping your head mostly down, but you heard of more conflicts, and could sense several spells designed to dampen magical combat being cast by a powerful pair of sorceresses every morning. The Alley was increasingly on edge, and Khaliah was not immune. She had been.. well, you didn't mind having a good friend. And she was offering to help tutor in Divination if you helped her in Combat..
[] Take her offer.
[] Do Not.
But you got the feeling this was the calm before the storm..
Wealth - Poor Mana Status: Efficiency: Normal, Availability: Normal Talonis's Mana: 3 Threat: 4 (Seek Expulsion)
Talonis Actions
Conduit Actions (pick two.)
[] Mana Boost - Boost her mana power in general by 30%.
[] Spark of Inspiration – Give her an insight into an ongoing issue that will lead to a spell. (Random choice)
[] Death Magic Purification - April, unknowingly, is cursed with Death Mana (and is the only reason she can use it). You could work on purifying it from her before she gains Infernal traits. However, it must be a slow and spread out process. (Ongoing: Has 24% Curse Progress. Each turn stops progress and decreases it by 5%.)(Possible side effects and complications if you take this every turn. Current Progress per turn: 2%)
[] Luck of the Goddess - You cannot teach her the grand secrets, but you can ensure that she finds the right books, of course. (Increase April's luck for a turn. More likely to learn a power from observation, increase a skill, of course.)
Spells [3 Mana Available]
[]Spell: Anticipate Peril [DC 10] - April will sense malice or peril. Lasts: Until used or 2 turns. [1 Mana Cost]
[]Spell: Planar Orientation [DC 20] - Detects sources of power - mana April can commune with. [3 Mana Cost]
[]Spell: Blessing [DC 30] - Channel the protection of the Goddess of Magic. Lasts 1 turn [2 Mana Cost]
[]Spend Mana to get Free Dice - Spend in multiplies of 2 to get 1 free dice per. (e.g 4 Mana gets you 2 free dice.)
Self Actions (pick one)
[] Mana II - You have some mana available, but having more would enable you to do more, aid more, and make it easier to manifest. [115/300]
[] Work on Manifesting - You can send an short image of either yourself or the Goddess to send an important message to April, or simply to teach her a lesson of your past. (100) (Write-In: what to send.) [First use unlocks more ways to manifest, or communicate]
[] Send Dreams of the Compact - April should have been taught this, but wasn't. (200 pts)
April Actions
Study Actions (7 AP)
[] Specify Skills and Powers - Specify the training for next turn. [Free Action]
[] Train a Skill - Train an additional skill beyond the slots available for 5d6 XP. [½ AP]
[]Train a Power - Train an additional power beyond the slots available for 5d6 XP. [½ AP]
[]Learn a New Skill - Learn a new skill that may be useful. [½ AP]
[]Train Stats - Gain 5d5 XP to a stat of your choice. Prescence requires social activity. [½ AP]
[]Spell Improvement: Magic's Hidden Hut: Study the hydrometer and thermometer to replicate their runic function in the hut. (points will get cheaper the more divination and runic studies you take) [75] (-10 divination -15 runic). Benefits: You can create a "information" panel that will show this information.. and more, as you learn it. Also improves temperature control to take less mana to use. [½ AP cost]
[]Spell Improvement: Magic's Hidden Hut: Write In Customization, subject to QM approval. [½ AP cost] [This accelerates it, rather than having April do it herself every 3rd turn, next turn will have her add an improvement, if she's able to.)
[]Spell Improvement: Magic's Hidden Hut: Improve Walls/etc. - Purchase minerals or crystals to use in improving existing customizations. [40] [Wealth Req: Good] [Repeatable] - Need more ranks in Runic Crafting/Magic's Hidden Hut. [½ AP cost]
[] Spell Improvement: Magic's Hidden Hut: Expand Stasis Chamber - Add additional stasis chamber space. (Non stasis space can be added by purchasing cabinets.) [80] (decreases with runic ranks over requirement) [½ AP cost] (Repeatable) (Req: Runic Carving Adept 1)
[]Spell Improvement: Specify Spell, improvement. [½ AP cost] [Subject to QM Approval]
[] Attend a Class - Defense - You would be attending personalized training with your Master's apprentice, but they're still a Journeyman Battle Mage. [1 AP]
[] Attend a Class - Combat - You would be attending personalized training with your Master's apprentice, but they're still a Journeyman Battle Mage. [1 AP]
[] Attend a Class - Utility: For now, your Master has no problem with you attending these classes. [1 AP] (Req: Threat ≤5.)
[] Attend a Class - Knowledge: Take a class on some bit of knowledge. Write in the type of knowledge. [1 AP] (Req: Threat ≤4)
[] Attend a Class - Survival: This class is hostile to you, and you are barred from it. [1 AP] (Req: Threat ≤1)
[] Self Directed Research: Survival (Mundane) and Survival (Magical): You need to learn more, clearly. You can't survive on the run as you are now, and this needs to be changed. (Penalty Chance: 15%; penalty imposes 1 subrank per skill.) [1 AP]
[] Self Directed Research: Runics: Your Master has let you know that you need to learn to a certain point to get tested to get into the class for this. Also, it's dangerous enough you probably shouldn't until this threat is over. (Penalty Chance: 1%) [1 AP]
[] Attend a Class - Society and Religion: You may have to move in society. Being able to do so without gaining (more) enemies might go well. This also covers dealing with other religions. (Taken once.) The master here has no patience for any nonsense, so you are safe to attend unless it gets very dangerous. (Req: Threat ≤ 6) [1 AP]
[] Attend a Class - Demons: Demons are an omnipresent enemy. Most only come from the Ocean Ruins, but the wasteland of a battlefield can spawn them. While there are demons who just want to live peacefully, you know you won't be called on them. The alignment of this teacher is unknown.. (???) [1 AP]
[] Attend a Class - The Path of the Sage: You did pick a specialty. All of them have some classes, although some are tricker than others. The Abbess teaches this class personally. There is no threat here. [1 AP]
[] Attend a Seminar - Star Seeker Unique Power: The Alley has a Master Inquisitor who leads seminars to teach the inquiring unique and specialist powers and spells to the Order of the Star Seekers. He has found you worthy. (Req: 2 critical successes in classes, ???) (1/2 crit successes) [Req: Threat Level ≤9] [1 AP]
[]Attend a Class - Divination: To see at a distance is very useful. The Master here is directly in your favor. [1 AP]
[] Regular Mock Combat Trials: The best way to prepare one for potential combat against threats is mock combat. It's not entirely a good substitute. (Gain insight into possible changes to existing powers.) (You probably should not do this at this time.) [Threat +1] [1 AP]
[]Mock Combat with Khaliah - She's' as interested as you as improving her combat skills, especially after that trip. [1 AP]
[] Attend Visiting Dignitary's Seminar - Occasionally, a visiting dignitary has a speech about an ongoing issue, or tips. (Gain knowledge to an ongoing issue) -Upcoming seminar on the demon threat. (Diplomacy, Knowledge(Demons), random Combat power.) [Threat -1] [1 AP]
Evening Actions [4 AP]
[] Tinker with the Handgun - You could improve your gun. You know you could. It'd just take a night or.. two. [½ AP base, can opt to spend another ½ AP to make the results better.]
[]Extra Training - Spend some of your nightly free time in studying or practice. Gain 1 AP in Study Actions. [1 AP]
[]Device Research - You could research those devices to understand them better. It might be a very long term thing, but you can't help but feel it's peculiar a magic hating country such as the Kingdom of Tokiya has them. [0/500] [1 AP]
[]Investigate Ongoing Rumours In The Alley: [Threat +1] Why are they trying to kick you out, anyway? [50% chance of additional Threat -1, 25% of additional Threat +1, 10% chance of additional Threat -2, 15% chance of no additional modifier,] [1 AP]
[]Talk to your Master - Your assigned master has a standing office timeslot for you, you could go take advantage of it. (Random benefit or information.) [½ AP] (Currently discounted.)
[]Fulfill Orders for Some Equipment - Limited by your mana knowledge, you can still attempt to do this. [Threat +0] [Wealth: +1] [1 AP]
[]Perform A Quest - The Alley of Star Seekers has quests and tasks for both the alley and nearby villages. This is good practice, maybe some money, and in any case, is required to do to do the promotion trial to Acolyte. [1 AP] (Risk Level: Medium) [Wealth increase variable, has other rewards as well.]
[]Learn the Duplication Power - Not something you think the Alley would want you knowing without observation, but by the same token you might want to use things without people spying on you. [0/80] (Threat -1 on completion.) [½ AP]
[]Learn the Hail of Divine Darts - Practice might make that instinctive usage something April could do. [0/65] [½ AP]
[] Improve Mana (I) - Increase mana availability one step [116/160] [½ AP]
[] Improve Mana Efficiency (I) - Increase mana efficiency (powers cost less to use) one step [10/120] [½ AP]