12/18/16

(To dys): Let's use whispers so it doesn't show up on the chatlog for other players

(From Zita of Mercere): Sure

(To dys): She's sneaking in?

(From Zita of Mercere): Yep

(To Zita of Mercere): Okay, as you can see it's a 3 story building in the middle of the day. Windows on all levels, a door on the bottom level

(From Zita of Mercere): I'll look around for something that can be scaled to enter the windows

(To Zita of Mercere): There's a trellis

(From Zita of Mercere): Uh, it's been a week, I was looking for evidence of why this guy's been spying on us right

(To Zita of Mercere): Yeah

(From Zita of Mercere): I'll take the trellis up to the first floor, and try to open the window quietly

(To Zita of Mercere): It opens up into an opulent bedroom, unoccupied at the moment, with one exit into a hallway

(From Zita of Mercere): I'll take a quick look around the bedroom, for things hidden under the bed and such, before heading out to look for a study or something out of place

(To dys): There's stairs going up and down and 3 doors to other closed rooms on the floor

(From Zita of Mercere): I'll peek in each of the rooms as I go along. If there's nothing to note in any, I head up the stairs.

(To dys): Two more empty bedrooms, less opulent; and one child's room occupied by a child and her mother watching her play with her toys.

(From Zita of Mercere): I'll leave the probably normal child alone and head on up, then.

(From Zita of Mercere): It does seem like a normal child right, not some weird creature masquerading as one

(To Zita of Mercere): Stealth check!

Zita of Mercere:

(To GM) rolling 1d10!+22

(

1

)

+22

=

23

Zita of Mercere:

(To GM) rolling 1d10

(

5

)

=

5

(To Zita of Mercere): Oh no!

(From Zita of Mercere): No botch, it's fine

(To Zita of Mercere): You sneak upstairs unheard. The top floor is a workshop with benches, chairs, and a dazzling array of tools unfamiliar to you

(From Zita of Mercere): Not definitely, I do have Magic Lore, though no Magic Theory

(To Zita of Mercere): The benches are littered with bits of silver and gold leaf, tiny springs and cogs

(To Zita of Mercere): Alright, roll some lore then

Zita of Mercere:

(To GM) rolling 1d10!-1+7

(

8

)

-1+7

=

14

(To Zita of Mercere): They are not a magician's tools

(From Zita of Mercere): That's almost ef 15, I'll conf it if that gives any more info

(From Zita of Mercere): Guessing it doesnt then?

(To Zita of Mercere): Nah

(From Zita of Mercere): So the tools aren't arcane at all, then?

(To Zita of Mercere): Who knows!

(To Zita of Mercere): They look pretty normla

(From Zita of Mercere): Gah. I'll creep about the place some more, look for things that aren't human in nature or piles of notes.

(To Zita of Mercere): You find some diagrams, written on paper instead of parchment, depicting machinery of some sort. I don't suppose you have any Philosophae?

(From Zita of Mercere): None at all.

(To Zita of Mercere): You can't figure out what the diagrams are of.

(From Zita of Mercere): This doesnt seem like evidence of wrongdoing at all. However, better safe than sorry, so I'll take them with me.

(From Zita of Mercere): Time for the last resort: spying on the man myself to see if he slips up. I head down to the ground floor.

(To Zita of Mercere): Per+Awareness check

(From Zita of Mercere): Before I roll, does Ways of the Town really add +5 to all rolls taking place in a town? It's a major virtue, so I think it might, but it applies here in this guy's home too doesnt it?

(To dys): Not here

(From Zita of Mercere): Definitely not? Says any roll involving the town or its inhabitants, even if they're magical or faerie.

(To Zita of Mercere): hm, alright

Zita of Mercere:

(To GM) rolling 1d10!+1+6+5

(

5

)

+1+6+5

=

17

(To Zita of Mercere): You take a few steps down then hear quiet conversation in the room the stairs lead to, allowing you to stop.

(To Zita of Mercere): Flavio is talking to something whose voice has a whispy, trill effect to it, sort of like a panpipe

(From Zita of Mercere): I sit and listen in on their conversation at the door. If I can open the door a crack to hear them better with stealth, I do that.

(To dys): This is what the setup looks like

(From Zita of Mercere): I lay low at the stairs and listen closely, then

(To Zita of Mercere): Flavio is asking the unnamed party what to do about the note he's received and the people "we've" recruited.

(From Zita of Mercere): I note the knife stabbed into a very small map

(To Zita of Mercere): The other voice tells him that "we" thought this might happen and are prepared for a parlay. "We'll want to set it up away from here."

(To Zita of Mercere): hehe

(To Zita of Mercere): The voice tells Flavio, "Set up a warehouse in a friendly area and then get in touch with that agent once more."

(From Zita of Mercere): Can I try to catch a glance at Walton Simons without them noticing me?

(To Zita of Mercere): Sure... if you make a STEALTH CHECK

(From Zita of Mercere): Sure. By the way I forgot to add my dex last time so it was lower than it should have been. Get redy.

Zita of Mercere:

(To GM) rolling 1d10!+26

(

9

)

+26

=

35

(To Zita of Mercere): Epic

johns (GM) rolls some dice

johns (GM):

(To GM) rolling 1d10!+8+4

(

1

)

+8+4

=

13

(To dys): You peek around the corner. Flavio is seated at the end of the table, talking to two things sitting on top of the table. They look like cats, but obviously mechanical. One is predominantly silver, the other predominantly gold.

(From Zita of Mercere): Meow this is getting interesting.

(From Zita of Mercere): I slink away up the stairs, and off to the window I climbed in, then make my escape back to the covenant.

(To Zita of Mercere): Gotcha

Zita of Mercere: Exciting news for the covenant when I get back to them.

johns (GM): to be continued in ~30 min

Zita of Mercere updates her Loot tab

Aleseta of Bonisagus:

rolling d10!+4-7 turning 40

(

4

)

+4-7

=

1

rolling d10!+5-7 turning 41

(

7

)

+5-7

=

5

rolling d10!+5-7 turning 42

(

10

+

5

)

+5-7

=

13

johns (GM): blammo

Aleseta of Bonisagus: uguuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

well that longevity ritual got a grand total of 4 years of use.

johns (GM): 13 = crisis?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yep

johns (GM): lol

Aleseta of Bonisagus: 5 aging points at once, ftw

Zita of Mercere: Nice work aging

Aleseta of Bonisagus: wait.

what is the modifier for our living situation.

??

johns (GM): looking it up

standard urban covenant

typical spring covenant (magus) +1

for mundanes its -2

Aleseta of Bonisagus: cool

anything other than 0 is fine by me!!

johns (GM): you only take enough aging points to decrease one of your characteristics on a 13

Aleseta of Bonisagus: that means instead of a crisis i get... 1 aging point in any characteristic

Endrite (GM): Should have got a heated lab.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: instead of 5 aging points + decrep + crisis yikes

johns (GM): you could also start a  medical regimen  like all smart magi are doing

Proclus of Rome: Comfy magi inside.

johns (GM): welcome back, devil's favorite

Zita of Mercere: The trick is to just not age. Try it sometime.

johns (GM): hail Darvin

not sure status of beardbeard/cthinker but I'll quickly recap for those not here last week

based off a tip from another Magus you looked for spies in your covenant. you found that 100 MP of money has been stolen from your magic vault, and you found two of your employees (poorly) spying on you

Endrite: Oh you mean 100 Libra?

Darvin: Greetings

johns (GM): You gave them a note to pass back to their spymaster asking for a parlay. Zita watched it get delivered to Flavio Bonaccorso, wealthy goldsmith and leading candidate for next Podesta (magistrate) of the city

Then Zita on her own stalked Flavio back to his house and made a  shocking  discovery

Proclus of Rome: Wait you can bold things?

This the real shocking discovery.

johns (GM): you can  bold, you can  italicize

Aleseta of Bonisagus: you can also italicize things.

this shocks you, as the evidence already shows, your honor.

johns (GM): You can do this

Ferris of Bonisagus:  bold  _italicize_

johns (GM): oh I guess that didn't work

`test``

`test

Zita of Mercere: I wonder if you can bold and italicise at the same time

(To johns):

johns (GM): `test``

Zita of Mercere:  test

Wow

johns (GM): strange, it works in whisper but not realtext

you can make weird teletype text

Proclus of Rome: Amaaaazing.

(From Zita of Mercere): `test`

Darvin: test

johns (GM): [Google]

anyway

Zita leaves Flavio's house and reports back to the covenant

Zita of Mercere:

Ferris of Bonisagus: test

johns (GM): lmao

Aleseta of Bonisagus: lol

Zita of Mercere: I walk cheerfully back into Vardian's Tomb to pass along the information to my sodales

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i don't remember the shocking discovery tbqh

johns (GM): it just happened 30 minutes ago

Zita of Mercere: We did it through whispers, I suppose in case I found it but got caught

johns (GM):

how do you embed an image?

devil's fav demon (GM): whoops i was somehere else

hi

Zita of Mercere: You do two square brackets with a word inside then brackets with the image link inside

"Good news, Sodales. I've unravelled the mystery of why our grogs are spying on us."

(To johns): (test)

(To johns):

devil's fav demon (GM): its good to be back.

johns (GM):

excellent

Endrite (GM): mill

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Our grogs were spying on us? Those clever little mice!"

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Oh?"

johns (GM): An apt turn of phrase, Prudenzio

Proclus of Rome: Are mice that clever?

(To dys): Are you waiting for me to exposit

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 11 Artes Liberales

(

3

)

+2+11

=

16

Perhaps...

johns (GM): moire of a Philosophae query imo

Zita of Mercere: "Flavio was behind it all, and behind him were some strange creatures."

Proclus of Rome: Hmm, perhaps.

Ferris of Bonisagus: "Why?"

Zita of Mercere: "They looked like cats, but they were made of clockwork. They spoke quite clearly."

I shrug "No idea, I just found out who's behind it."

Proclus of Rome: "Cats?"

Zita of Mercere: "Definitely. Little metal paws and all."

"One silver, one gold."

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 5 Magic Lore

(

5

)

+2+5

=

12

Zita of Mercere: "Flavio was talking to them pretty intently."

Proclus of Rome: "Did they talk back?"

Celeste: "Oh, and I missed them... I bet they were so cute, too."

johns (GM): Proclus can't think of anything in particular that matches this description

Proclus of Rome: "We should catnap them."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Hmm."

time to consult THE LORES

rolling d10!+3+7 Faerie Lore??? Cats??

(

10

+

2

)

+3+7

=

22

Zita of Mercere: "I didn't want to tangle with them, I don't have the pleasure of parma. They messed with the grog's heads pretty bad."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: probably not stressed

Proclus of Rome: Uh I don't think this is a stressed situation!

johns (GM): I'm stressin'

Proclus of Rome: Unless you're a master of the Ars Notoria, of course.

Ferris of Bonisagus: Talking cats is very stressful to hear

Zita of Mercere: They're magical not faerie, we already know that I believe

Aleseta of Bonisagus: oic

Prudenzio of Flambeau thinks about all the Lore he doesn't know or understand

Proclus of Rome: I'm just guessing on that.

Zita of Mercere: I rolled magic lore on some tools I found but never on the cats themselves, here I go

johns (GM): Aleseta has not heard any faerie tales about Mechanical beasts, doesn't seem very "fae"

Proclus of Rome: What kind of tools?

Zita of Mercere:

rolling 1d10-1+7

(

4

)

-1+7

=

10

They weren't magicians tools, that's all I could tell with a big 20 roll

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "One silver, one gold cat. Capable of 10th magnitude Mentem effects of a non-Hermetic origin."

johns (GM): You are vaguely familiar with a Vertidius mystery that makes mechanical creatures, yet as far as you know Automata are incapable of intelligence. Curious.

Zita of Mercere: I left the tools but I did bring something back, Johns your magus was an expert in automata right

Proclus of Rome: Wait a minute.

We know someone who can make animate figures capable of intelligence.

johns (GM): While Augustan Animo can exhibit intelligence, they are incapable of speech. Also strange.

Zita of Mercere: Who has the highest philosophae then?

Proclus of Rome: You can just use a different spell to talk through them.

Just +7 here.

Zita of Mercere: Any higher bidders?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: big +2 here.

Ferris of Bonisagus: I'm rockin a +0

johns (GM): Sheesh! It's like no one even reads Metaphysics

Zita of Mercere: Shaking my head at these lazy wizards

Aleseta of Bonisagus: aleseta and orsu both have +6 total.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "For absolutely no reason, I've been looking into ways to place the mind into an inanimate object, a means of cheating death without the Longevity Ritual. These cats might have once been human."

Proclus of Rome: We didn't get any Philosophae books until just recently.

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 7 Philosophae

(

9

)

+2+7

=

18

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Oh? What is the basis of this research and your hypothesis, Prudenzio?"

johns (GM): Zita, you're showing them the diagrams?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "I had a lot of time to pass in our library. It's just a wild idea."

johns (GM): he's a wizard, why does he need to justify outrageous notions that fly in the face of god and natural laws

Zita of Mercere: Yeah

Proclus of Rome: "If you're really interested in cheating death, then I have some Good News."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Nothing I would ever, ever do personally, I'm sure you know."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "This magic, whatever it is, seems to be out of our realm of expertise. If there are traditions that could accomplish such a thing, even in theory, it's worth knowing about it."

Zita of Mercere: I whip out the big bundle of diagrams, and show them to Proclus to examine

johns (GM): Proclus' Natural Philosophy training helps him comprehend the diagrams a bit. They are mechanical plans, very detailed and unlike anything he's seen before, and part of some larger whole he can't deduce.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: afk making a phone call

Proclus of Rome: "Was this all that you found?"

Quick everyone, time to throw Aleseta down the well.

Zita of Mercere: "These, tools, and the cats themselves. If there was anything else downstairs I couldn't check, the cats were practically stairing at the stairwell."

* staring

Aleseta of Bonisagus: back

Zita of Mercere: "It'd be a cat-astrophe for me if I'd pushed my luck."

Proclus of Rome: "It sounds like we should examine those cats."

Zita of Mercere: "Good news, they said they want to parlay."

Proclus of Rome: "Who would parlay with objects?"

Zita of Mercere: "They said about arranging in some 'favourable location' though, might be a little dangerous? They did some pretty powerful magic, after all."

"They can talk and plan just fine, they were basically bossing Flavio around."

Aleseta of Bonisagus refuses to acknowledge Zita's pun as it would not work in Italian or Latin, deo gratia.

johns (GM): lol

I sentence that pun to Purrgatorio

Zita of Mercere: Meow that's excessive

Ferris of Bonisagus: "I feel like they must be controlled from another source. Do we have any easy way of detecting such a thing?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: ok im sorry to let everyone know ill also be quitting this game sorry



Ferris of Bonisagus: Cat puns got to you?

johns (GM): let's just paws for a minute before making any rash decisions

Proclus of Rome: How do cats even sound in Latin?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Intellego Vim might be able to reveal some connections. If they are attempting to choose a 'favorable' location, their choice may indicate the realm alignment of their tradition. If it's magic, it would be favorable to us as well."

Proclus of Rome: "Would these plans serve as an Arcane Connection?"

Ferris of Bonisagus: Well, cats obviously don't have the vocal cord structure to produce human words, so it must be a mechanical system.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Hmm. They might if we don't handle them much any more."

johns (GM): They're an A/C to the guy who drew them

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: do the plans suggest an author?

Proclus of Rome: Sounds like the kind of person we should find.

Well they didn't spring out of the earth.

devil's fav demon (GM): the puns made me want to make a character who is just all the shitty piers anthony magicians at the same time. another time maybe

johns (GM): No, but Zita found them in Flavio's workshop and they're clearly the work of a master craftsman

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Intellego Corpus magic may give us an image of the creator."

johns (GM): dfd if you check out the Graugachan, they're really big on ironic magic/weird turns of phrase

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Do we have anyone here who knows The Inexorable Search?"

Proclus of Rome: "Would that help Lavinia locate him with her divination?"

johns (GM): They're also on Paper instead of Parchment, meaning they're not old

Proclus of Rome: Wow@

Paper!

They're written in Latin, I assume.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Even at my best, it would be very difficult for me to ceremonially cast The Inexorable Search."

johns (GM): No words beyond a couple notes of "fig. a" "fig. b" and measurements

Aleseta of Bonisagus: who has good InCo?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Same. I'm a bit too low for that, I think.

Proclus of Rome: I have 10.

Ferris of Bonisagus: I have a 15

Proclus of Rome: Hmm still too low, even with ceremonial

Aleseta of Bonisagus: Aleseta's is 17. Hmm.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I have InCo 23 but i dont know t he spell. with ceremonial.

i thought there was a penalty for sponting

InMe i mean

Aleseta of Bonisagus: you halve the total

Zita of Mercere: Yep

Prudenzio of Flambeau: yeah. so halved no go

Zita of Mercere: You roll it and have to hit a target of double the spell, basically

Ferris of Bonisagus: Even with Aura/STA/HootinNHollarin/maybe a bit of vis?

johns (GM): Ceremonial lets you add half your Philosophae and Artes Liberales scores at the cost of taking longer to cast

Aleseta of Bonisagus: vis could help

hootin and hollerin also

Proclus of Rome: What kind of a hurry are we in?

Ceremonial casting is already loud.

Zita of Mercere: Archibald has +23 InCo, in our covenants aura

Aleseta of Bonisagus: but aleseta would have 8 + 9 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 1 so 27 before the die roll

she'd need a 10 + 3

or a bunch of vis

"Perhaps there are other ways we could use this arcane connection."

"The Inexorable Search is the most direct way, but perhaps there are indirect means."

Zita of Mercere: "Oh, to mess with him."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Or other magic."

Proclus of Rome: I think we should focus on the cats, that's clearly the prize here.

Zita of Mercere: Yeah. We need to steal their secrets and do the ritual ourselves.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Yeah.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "The cats are also potentially the most dangerous opponents, in part because we know so little about their capabilities."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "I definitely can't do anything magical against a cat, much less a toy cat."

Zita of Mercere: "They mess with your head, that's all I know."

Mentem still works if they were human before, maybe? If it's a human mind

Proclus of Rome: "It's a cat, you could just stuff it in a sack."

Zita of Mercere: "Then it casts something with Ignem, and you've got a flaming sack."

Proclus of Rome: "In any case, I don't think we should attempt a parley."

Zita of Mercere: "They're not little furry things, they're hard and metal."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: We need Old Glory Robot Insurance.

johns (GM): lol

Prudenzio of Flambeau: If they are indeed human minds I have a few tricks. I'm just a peach at a parley, as well.

Proclus of Rome: "It seems unlikely that they would have human minds."

"As mechanical cats."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "I agree the chances are slim."

Zita of Mercere: "Well they don't have cats, and mechanical cats don't have minds, I think."

* cat's minds

"They spoke perfectly eloquently."

What language was it they spoke anyway

johns (GM): Latin

Zita of Mercere: Latin? Or Italian

Thank god for Gift of Tongues

Proclus of Rome: "If they're really a problem we could simply smash them."

"Would they be able to pass unnoticed in the streets?"

Zita of Mercere: "If they're harmless, couldn't yuu learn some stuff?"

Proclus of Rome: "They might still be where you found them."

Zita of Mercere: "Well, you could just stuff them in a sack to disguise them."

Ferris of Bonisagus: "What if someone just... approached them and talked to them?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Stuffing themselves in sacks to escape notice... These cats are geniuses.

I'd be happy to chat up some pussy.

johns (GM): Seems pretty outlandish, Ferris

Prudenzio of Flambeau laughs to himself for a full minute and a half

Proclus of Rome: "What I'm SAYING is that they might still be where you found them."

"We would have the upper hand here if they don't know that we know."

Zita of Mercere: "They should still be there, yeah."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Let's mosey."

johns (GM): Who all is going? Any grogs?

Proclus of Rome: "Zita, tell everyone that we're going to move against these mind controlling cats.:

Ferris of Bonisagus: I'm going to send Old Man Potom. He's into cats.

Zita of Mercere: "Poor things, oh well."

"I'll go let everyone know, I'm staying out though. I hate mentem."

Aleseta of Bonisagus preps by casting Doubs

johns (GM): Proclus, Prudenzio, Potom, and Aleseta

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll go

"Let's go chop some cats up."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Potom Flos, good. We need a physical specimen who isn't afraid to mix things up with his fists.

Potom Flos: I'll givem' the ole' 1-2!

(From Proclus of Rome): Just a sec.

Archibald of Guernicus: I wish we had our terramancer here with his rust spell

johns (GM): Zita's directions lead you to this house in a wealthy neighborhood

Aura is Divine 3

Proclus of Rome: First I'd like to cast a spell on Zita.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: same

Proclus of Rome: Any problems with that Zita?

Zita of Mercere: What spell, sodales

Prudenzio of Flambeau: How illegal are we talking, here?

Potom Flos: Death!

Proclus of Rome: I'd like to make sure you aren't enchanted.

Zita of Mercere: I trust my fellow covenanters but, you know, good to know whats happening before it occurs

Oh, sure

johns (GM): You're going to scry on a fellow member of the order?

Proclus of Rome: We just got her permission.

johns (GM): If you say so

Zita of Mercere: Yeah, you have permission to check I'm not enchanted. I'll agree.

Proclus of Rome: Alright here it goes!

Zita of Mercere: I know I'm not, but then again if I was I wouldn't know

Potom Flos: All this talk of magic cats just has us worried, dearest Zita.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: you've been incepted, zita. it's over.

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 2 + 3 + 9 + 6 + 9

(

8

)

+2+3+9+6+9

=

37

Zita of Mercere: What if Proclus is enchanting me right now

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Honestly, I trust my sodales, even if they're talking about magic talking cats."

Zita of Mercere: "They're real! I saw them!"

Proclus of Rome: It's InVi.

Zita of Mercere: "You have the diagrams right there!"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "It's very important to me, personally, that we all trust each other."

Proclus of Rome: So that's +1 Touch.

johns (GM): enough to detect all traces of magic I believe

Proclus of Rome: So I can manage a level 15 here.

Yes.

johns (GM): She's not enchanted

Proclus of Rome: Alright good.

Let's go!

Aleseta of Bonisagus: hooray

johns (GM): Right

Here you are. It's a house.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye, it's a house alright."

Proclus of Rome: Wow, with a clock!

Aleseta of Bonisagus: oh, actually

johns (GM): Note the awe-inspiring mechanical clock, a wonder of the ages

Aleseta of Bonisagus: instead of aleseta, it will be orsu

Archibald of Guernicus: Note the trellis

Aleseta of Bonisagus: but aleseta will doub him

Archibald of Guernicus: Doub me up, friend

johns (GM): I was curious if Aleseta's compassion for animals would cover the mechanical variety

Orsu Paganacci: orsu uses his charms of charm, presence, guile, and stealth before heading out

johns (GM): bless of the magic caster/rapist

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lol

Orsu Paganacci: bless of consenting adults!!!

Prudenzio of Flambeau: orsu's anti-jew charms

Archibald of Guernicus: "Proclus, if the things don't actually intend to fight, I think we should try hearing them out. If they cast anything at all we smash the bastards, but I'm curious why they did this nonsense."

Orsu Paganacci: those are for when we go back to the ghetto.

Proclus of Rome: Hopefully you steer clear.

Archibald of Guernicus: Anti jew charms make a killing on the badgame market

Hang them on your fence for total protection

Potom Flos: Ha

Proclus of Rome: "The idea that mechanical cats are masterminding a plot against us is laughable. They're obviously mere pawns."

"Or catspaws, if you will."

Ho ho ho.

johns (GM): hehehe

Potom Flos sensibly chuckles.

Archibald of Guernicus: "You should be ashamed of yourself for even saying that out loud."

Proclus of Rome: "Has there been an amendment to the code that lays a penalty on levity?"

Orsu Paganacci: "How are we getting into this place? What's our approach?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "You make a compelling argument for it."

johns (GM): haven't you heard of the ruinous wizard wars of Alakazam the Pedant

Proclus of Rome: 'You could attempt to climb the trellis."

Prudenzio of Flambeau:

rolling 1d10+3+7 guile

(

10

)

+3+7

=

20

Potom Flos: "The fuzzy ones are in the basement, right?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Yes, actually. Just last week."

Archibald of Guernicus: "How about the front door?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Shame on you, Proclus."

Proclus of Rome: "It's probably locked."

Archibald of Guernicus: What's a lock

Potom Flos tried to open the front door.

Proclus of Rome: "It's a big bar you put over the door."

Potom Flos: (tries)

johns (GM): It seems latched from the other side

Potom Flos: "It appears to be barred. Good call Proclus."

Proclus of Rome: "There are thieves everywhere, you know."

Archibald of Guernicus: "We could always just arrange the parlay."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Honey, could you get this door for me?" I say to my dead wife.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Look, we aren't sneaking in here, let's just knock and announce ourselves."

Oh yeah your dead wife

Proclus of Rome: Does she have a token?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Well, fiancee. I keep saying wife, she left me at the altar, busy dying.

johns (GM): there ya go

Proclus of Rome: Your wife is ugly.

Archibald of Guernicus: I keep meaning to ask Prudenzio about the dead woman who follows him around everywhere, but I dont know how to broach the subject

johns (GM): It's only a latch locking the door and not a barricade so she can simply pull it open

Prudenzio of Flambeau: What a sweetheart.

Potom Flos: She looks like she has a lot of inner beauty.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Did ye just call that ghost 'honey'?" I ask my fellow magus in private

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I've caught Archibald looking at her, but I won't be the first to talk about it.

Potom Flos: What's the plan?

devil's fav demon: Just remembered to rejoin as player so I could see us move.

johns (GM): The door is unlocked and may be opened..

devil's fav demon: She's beautiful.

(From Proclus of Rome): She should bang the door really loudly while unlatching it.

Orsu Paganacci: hooray

Orsu Paganacci opens door.

Archibald of Guernicus: I told you

Proclus of Rome: Uh oh.

Archibald of Guernicus: Cyberpunk cats

I told you!

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Sadly we never completed our vows. A fiancee of mine. Tragic, a true beauty in life. Fire or something, I think. I don't really remember."

johns (GM): You walk into a sitting room. On the table are two mechanical cats

Proclus of Rome: *Clockpunk

Archibald of Guernicus: Sorry.

Maahes Tyreos: A golden cat with ruby eyes, who looks like a Persian

Ailuros: And a silver cat with emerald eyes, who looks like an Egyptian Mau.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Hello. We've come to parlay."

Orsu Paganacci: "It's true."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: in an even lower whisper "Worked out well for me, I was trying to get out of that promise for years and she did it for me. Of course now I'm stuck with her but I've developed a spell to assist with that."

Ailuros: They look at you in surprise (as best as they can express it) but then ease back into their prior lounging positions

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Nice to meet you!"

Proclus of Rome: These cats have very dumb names, said the man named after a Greek mathematician.

Ailuros: The silver one speaks, its voice sounding tinny and metallic, like panpipes

Archibald of Guernicus: The bob page and walton simons of 14th century clockpunk cats

Ailuros: "This is sooner than we planned but not wholly unexpected. What is your intention, Magi of Hermes?"

Proclus of Rome: "Stop spying on us, cat."

Maahes Tyreos: "We have only taken steps necessary for our own safety, Magi." purrs the gilded one.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "What could ever make you think we were a danger to anyone?"

Orsu Paganacci: brb

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye, we're perfectly harmless, so long as we're not being attacked."

Proclus of Rome: "Why doesn't anyone ever think to just send us a letter?"

Maahes Tyreos: "We have dealt with your kind and your order before. Will you hear our story?"

Archibald of Guernicus: Yes <

No

[Attack]

Potom Flos: "Yes"

Maahes Tyreos: > For a price

Proclus of Rome: :csgogun:

Orsu Paganacci: back

Archibald of Guernicus: That's weird, the lazy devs didn't add that option to this dialogue.

Proclus of Rome: Blades of the Sgogun

Ailuros: "Perhaps you have heard of Celmis Rodhios?"

Proclus of Rome: Have I?

Maahes Tyreos: "Epimedes Daktyloi, his student, perhaps?"

Magic lore

Proclus of Rome: Seems like I haven't.

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 5

(

5

)

+2+5

=

12

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "The Bepie Plembis, ah. I may recall....."

Ailuros sighs

Orsu Paganacci: lol

Archibald of Guernicus: I left my magic lore in my other pants

Ailuros: "Of course not. Suffice to say, they were great mechanicians producing wonders far before you or your Order ever existed."

Proclus of Rome: "Pagan nonsense, of course."

Potom Flos: "Are you such a wonder?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau:

rolling 1d10+3+4

(

10

)

+3+4

=

17

int + lore right?

Archibald of Guernicus: Bepie Plembis indeed

Ailuros: Yeah

Prudenzio has heard of the Mechanicians

Orsu Paganacci: "Well, I don't think any of us have existed for that long, all things considered."

Ailuros: They were an order of natural philosophers centered around the ancient thinker Heron

Proclus of Rome: "Now now, these cats might be that old."

Ailuros: They were mostly wiped out by the Christians. oops!

Archibald of Guernicus: "The order's old, anything from before it is hard to fit intae current theory too."

Orsu Paganacci: "Natural philosophers? I'm listening."

Archibald of Guernicus: "And calm down with this pagan this, pagan that. The order's got naught to do with the church."

Ailuros: Hypatia of Alexandria was one of the great thinkers famously slain by a mob of Christian zealots about 1,000 years ago

Proclus of Rome: You know it's so tough to recover manuscripts from this period of history because they usually have large knife holes in them.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: No one worry about why I might know about the techniques of people wiped out by the Christians, ok.

Archibald of Guernicus: It looks like the part of the document they stabbed was an incredibly small map

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lol

Proclus of Rome: Nice.

Archibald of Guernicus: I made that joke here as Zita but only Johns was around for it so I'm recycling it.

Ailuros: hehe

"Rodhios built me, the finest of all mechanician's craft. His pupil Daktyloi build Maahes trying to prove himself greater."

Proclus of Rome: "So this was about a thousand years ago?"

Ailuros: "Needless to say their struggles like all of those belong to you of mortal flesh is long dead and dust. Yet we lived on."

"You would know it as the year 293 of your Lord."

Potom Flos: "So what does all this nonsense have to do with you snoopin' on us?"

Orsu Paganacci: "Well not that long ago, all things considered."

Maahes Tyreos: "You have heard of the city of Tyre, at least?"

devil's fav demon: the tricknology of yakub penetrates all of history...

Maahes Tyreos: "Ailuros and I were advisors of the emirs-- men who can appreciate talent, you see- when the city fell to the Crusaders."

Proclus of Rome: "Yes, I know that it isn't built in Rome."

Orsu Paganacci nods.

Maahes Tyreos: "From there we relocated to Constantinople..."

"Home to that damned bird" interjects Ailuros quietly

Proclus of Rome: Are these cats painted black by any chance?

Maahes Tyreos: "Where we were contentedly enjoying the fruits of civilization when the crusaders saw fit to destroy it, too."

Archibald of Guernicus: One is silver, one is gold

Ailuros: "One of those idiots took us as mere loot and carted us off like common ornaments."

Orsu Paganacci: "It's an easy mistake. How many times would a crusader come across animate mechanical cats?"

Proclus of Rome: Sure but you can paint metal.

Ailuros: "Damned fortune and he brought us to your Tribunal where we wound up in vaults of Verdi for the past century."

Archibald of Guernicus: "So ye were built and given a mind by yer creator? Or were someone, and got put into that body."

Proclus of Rome: "Did you escape? We've had a few incidents of that lately, right Ferris?"

Ailuros: "At least we could have enjoyed some peace until that fool of a wizard thought he could  study  us."

Proclus of Rome: Oh wait Ferris isn't here.

Ailuros: Ailuros sighs again at Archibald's question.

Potom Flos: Ferris is taking a lab nap

Orsu Paganacci: "Which wizard?"

Potom Flos: "Well, you are quite interesting..."

Ailuros: "The Anima, the vital spark, was the apex of the art of the Mechanicians."

"I assure you, we are minds of our own."

Maahes Tyreos: "A dullard by the name of Harpalos of Verditius."

Proclus of Rome: Order of Hermes Lore?

Orsu Paganacci: "I believe I've met the man... or at least one of us has."

Maahes Tyreos: An easy check, he's an old Verdi resident

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 3

(

6

)

+2+3

=

11

Maahes Tyreos: He's known as a maker of Automata (the shitty Verditius kind)

Prudenzio of Flambeau: the parenthetical also spoken by the cat

Proclus of Rome: If anyone could do it, it would be a cat.

"That still doesn't explain what you are doing here."

"Why didn't you just take yourselves back to the Holy Lands?"

Maahes Tyreos: "Alexandria is already fallen. There is nothing there worth rebuilding, I assure you."

Proclus of Rome: These are cats alright.

Maahes Tyreos: "Rome however.. A University, a wealthy cosmopolitan population, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean.. It will do nicely."

Proclus of Rome: So lazy!

"Rome isn't as wealthy as you might be used to."

"Have you considered Venice?"

Ailuros: "I told you, Maahes. These wizards are very territorial."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "You're not even real cats. You'd love the canals."

Ailuros: "They would claim ad caelum et terra if they could."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Well, what do ye want exactly? Ye don't need food or anything. Knowledge?"

Potom Flos: "Grogs?"

Maahes Tyreos: "At the moment, and the only reason we are discussing this so politely, is to be left alone.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Ah right. Undo what ye did to the two of them, it'll make it easier tae get along."

Maahes Tyreos: You are of the same Order as Harpalos and his apprentices. He may come looking for us."

Maahes waves a paw dismissively. "It will wear off by the next moon."

Proclus of Rome: "Why would you want to be left alone in musty basement?"

Maahes Tyreos: "Basement?"

Proclus of Rome: Oh right we're on the first floor.

"Surely you're more suited to high society."

Archibald of Guernicus: "The order's no as concise as that, yer right that some individuals might be interested, but ye aren't a threat to the order itself. We're fine with giving ye peace."

"Avoid Verdi, they're the ones who love tinkering."

Maahes Tyreos: "What protections are you offering?"

Archibald of Guernicus: Let me consult code of hermes to see if I'm right in thinking that if we were to 'claim' them, then any other wizard would be breaking the law to interfere with them

rolling 1d10+2+6

(

6

)

+2+6

=

14

Maahes Tyreos: Seems like a case to be resolved in court

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Lovely.

Orsu Paganacci wanders around the room looking at things.

Archibald of Guernicus: Well they're not living creatures, we can claim them as property

OR someone could take one as a familiar...

Orsu Paganacci: good news: it's the 14th century. even living humans can be claimed as property.

Proclus of Rome: But then surely they were Harpalos' property first.

Maahes Tyreos: lol

Potom Flos: Does someone want a robo-cat familar?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Celeste would just have a fit. In a good way.

Proclus of Rome: I think someone did, but do they want to be familiars?

Archibald of Guernicus: "If ye were to stay within the aegis of the hearth, ye'd be protected to a degree from any hostile magi."

Maahes Tyreos: Does the pope shit in the jeweled privy of Avignon??

Proclus of Rome: Since they're immortal.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I want to boost my lab totals, but I don't know if I trust these cats knowing my business.

Orsu Paganacci: aleseta wants a goat familiar, so this isn't close enough!!

Proclus of Rome: You could weld some horns onto it.

Archibald of Guernicus: "If we had some claim to ye, given yer status and existence, itd protect ye fully from all outside interference. Legally, anyway."

Proclus of Rome: I still think that would be theft.

Maahes Tyreos: "You understand that your protection does not grant you the right to poke and prod us like some laboratory experiment?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye, completely. Though would ye be open to discussions on what ye've learned? Lot of old information that could be useful."

Maahes Tyreos: They arch themselves proudly.

Proclus of Rome: "We would need to put this kind of agreement to a vote."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Our archon went off to his lab, it'll take a while to gather everyone again."

"I vote aye."

Potom Flos: Is Ferris the current Archon?

Archibald of Guernicus: It was Aristocritus I'm sure

The alpha magus

Ailuros: I can roll a new one right now

Potom Flos: Gotcha

Archibald of Guernicus: We rolled earlier today, it'd be strange for the planets to move that fst

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "I as well. They're just so cute."

Ailuros: Is either Potom or Orsu on the decision making council of the covenant? (mechanically it actually helps loyalty but then you risk giving them decision making power)

Orsu Paganacci: Orsu is not.

Proclus of Rome: I think we should reserve judgement.

Ailuros: "My companion and myself have more knowledge of the Eastern Empire than any source living or dead."

Potom Flos: I'd say Potom probably shouldn't be. He's more of a librarian than an important decision maker.

Ailuros: "In particular, we know a great deal regarding the craft of the Mechanica of Heron..."

Proclus of Rome: "Did Harpalos ask you to teach him?"

(From Potom Flos): You can write Summa's/Tracts about Supernatural abilities, right?

(To Potom Flos): Yeah, though someone who doesn't already ahve that ability can't learn from it

Ailuros: "He thought himself superior and would not deign to hear us out."

(From Prudenzio of Flambeau): prudenzio will take a familiar if he can learn some of Heron's stuff. maybe i dont have to tell them why i want to learn it.

Ailuros: "In the end, he got nothing from us and continues to tinker with his.. pale imitations of the form."

(To Prudenzio of Flambeau): It may be a bit early to talk about familiars with these guys, they're pretty suspicious of Magi, but worth revisiting down the road

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Old dogs..."

Proclus of Rome: "Seems plausible."

Are there any tools still here?

Ailuros: The tools Zita saw were on the top floor, in the workshop

(From Prudenzio of Flambeau): even better if I don't need to let them into my lab. anything I can learn about making a robot body...

Archibald of Guernicus: Dang, Zita forgot to say where they

Proclus of Rome: Darn.

Archibald of Guernicus: Well that just ruined it

Ailuros: Hahaha

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lol

Proclus of Rome: Owned.

Archibald of Guernicus: I was hoping for him to wander all over the house and barge into the other people here

"We'll take a vote, then, back at the covenant. We'll come by and let ye know afterwards."

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Archibald of Guernicus: "I don't see why it'd be anything other than a yes, frankly."

Proclus of Rome: "Have you made any practical study of Mechanica yourselves?"

Ailuros consults her character sheet

Ailuros: "Don't judge us by appearance, Magus. My companion and I are dedicated scholars."

Orsu Paganacci: "We are scholarese if you please.

We are scholarese if you don't please."

Ailuros: "Flavio could not affect our repairs without our guidance in the craft."

Proclus of Rome: Do cats have a reputation for being rude artisans?

"Of course not."

Maahes Tyreos: The two cats whisper something to each other

Or purr, whichever

Potom Flos: "Dedicated scholars? We do have a growing library you may be interested in..."

Proclus of Rome: Don't be silly, cats can't read.

Orsu Paganacci: i am HIGHLY skeptical that their creators replicated a cat's purring mechanism!!

Maahes Tyreos: fuck

busted

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Huron was REALLY good.

Potom Flos: It sounds like a person badly imitating a purring sound.

Proclus of Rome: Heron of Huron

Maahes Tyreos: "In our studies we have come into the knowledge of the temples of Serapis that store many marvels of the Mechanician's craft."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Oh right, the bloody gold. All ye did was enchant 2 grogs to spy on us, correct?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: it's like when you put a card between spokes of a bicycle

Archibald of Guernicus: "Nothing beyond that?"

Maahes Tyreos: "What gold?"

Ailuros: The cats look indignant.

Archibald of Guernicus: "An internal matter, it's why we started investigating in the first place."

Ailuros: "We may have taken steps to grant Flavio good fortune but we are not thieves, Magus."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye, I didn't think so. Don't take it the wrong way, had to ask to make sure."

Proclus of Rome: "How have you helped Flavio?"

Ailuros: Ailuros feigns a purr. "We have convinced potential clients of the real value of his wares."

Archibald of Guernicus: Thank you friendly merchant cat

Proclus of Rome: "That seems perfectly above board."

Ailuros: The cat tilts its head inquisitively but says nothing.

Proclus of Rome: "Are these accommodations to your liking?"

Ailuros: "They suit our needs."

Proclus of Rome: Well I don't have anymore questions for these cats.

Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah, let's skip to the vote I think

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Can't wait to have two robot cats.

Archibald of Guernicus: About half our magi grumble and shuffle out of their labs to bother voting

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "What is the issue of the vote?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: im going to call them speedy cerviche and guido anchovy.

Ailuros: sadly we're missing the magus who is probably most interested in ancient treasure and greek history

Archibald of Guernicus: Do we invite the catpunk duo to come join us at Vardian's Tomb

johns (GM): Oh

To be clear

Archibald of Guernicus: Is the issue of the vote

johns (GM): They don't want to join you, they just want your protection

Proclus of Rome: They're going to stay where they are.

Archibald of Guernicus: Well the aegis provides protection

Proclus of Rome: "I don't think they can be trusted. After all, they're cats."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I guess it's probably best they're not poking around the Tomb.

Proclus of Rome: "Furthermore, they have the power to seriously disrupt Roman society, should they so choose to."

Archibald of Guernicus: Well how do they expect any protection staying somewhere completely different. Do they want us to scry on them to check up on them every day

Proclus of Rome: "I don't believe we can afford to have greedy, selfish, and cruel creatures of their powers to live in Rome."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye, the nobles would get upset at them muscling in on their territory."

"They're a source of knowledge, and they have no interest in our politics. Any interference was just to pay back Flavio for his help to them."

"Which bodes well, honestly. They did help him as they promised."

Potom Flos: I still don't understand what benefit we get out of protecting these cats.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Why would ye create a clockwork cat and teach it to be unscrupulous? Would be a useless creation."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: We can learn obscure knowledge, and write it down. That's pretty good, right?

Proclus of Rome: "That's simply the nature of cats."

Archibald of Guernicus: Well knowledge is its own reward

Proclus of Rome: "We already know they have no scruples about cheating people out of their hard-earned money."

"Furthermore, how do you plan to respond when Harpalos comes looking for his property?"

Archibald of Guernicus: Isn't he dead

johns (GM): Nope!

Just old

Archibald of Guernicus: And staying at Verdi, what a shit

"Does he need to know?"

Proclus of Rome: "Are you suggesting that we rob and lie to a fellow member of the Order of Hermes?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: We're not really taking the cats, we're just watching over them. Robbing is a strong word.

Archibald of Guernicus: "They have an independent will, we have no obligation to deliver them to him."

johns (GM): filler art til i finder a council chamber

Archibald of Guernicus: "And there is legal precedent for them to cease being his property."

Proclus of Rome: "Apprentices and other property also have wills of their own but you're still obligated to return them."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Fine, I'll come out with it. I want to offer one of the things a familiar pact."

"That takes precedence, legally."

Proclus of Rome: "Why would they want to be your familiar?"

"They appear to enjoy their immortality, so what would either have to gain?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "They want peace and protection, that's the only legal way we can offer it."

Proclus of Rome: "They could also just run somewhere else."

Archibald of Guernicus: "They're scholars, where else are they finding a store of knowledge like ours? And ever-growing too."

Proclus of Rome: "They could simply wait another thousand years."

Ferris of Bonisagus: If you want to try to convince one to become your familar, I won't stand in the way. But seems like a tough sell to them.

Proclus of Rome: Wait a sec.

Archibald of Guernicus: "This discussion's laid the facts bare, anyway. The vote's pointless, either one of them agrees to my proposal or we can't do a thing."

Proclus of Rome: Can Magical creatures learn?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: they can but it's hard

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10 + 2 + 5

(

7

)

+2+5

=

14

johns (GM): These ones claimed to have learned a lot

Aleseta of Bonisagus: they have to eat vis

Proclus of Rome: They're probably lying.

johns (GM): They're a sort of magical creature none of you are familiar with...

Archibald of Guernicus: "I have nae intention to hand them over to Verdi, not with their current attitude towards us."

Proclus of Rome: "It seems like a pretty clear Code violation, to me."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Keeping them here may be, leaving them is not. We're not his redcaps."

johns (GM): Aleseta you haven't really weighed in, what are you thinking

Proclus of Rome: "Wow, a little harsh on your fellow Magi there."

Archibald of Guernicus: "The familiar pact is far more important than who found them first, anyway, so it remains the same. If they aren't willing, we leave them."

"Er, sorry. No offense."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: she isn't sure what's actually being debated at this point since the creatures aren't willing to come here.

Archibald of Guernicus: I can't have one PC talk to another, it breaks the laws of thermodynamics

Proclus of Rome: Extending our formal protection, so if Harpalos shows up we skitter him off.

johns (GM): Not really brought up but implicit is you leave their mundane schemes alone

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "I have no interest in becoming entangled with the schemes of these creatures, whatever they may be. I also think it is unwise to do so at the cost of potential hostility with Harpalos."

Proclus of Rome: Right.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Why don't we just talk to Harpalos about it? He's old, presumably busy, and the cats told us he thought the Huronic technology was beneath him. I think it would be easy enough to convince him to voluntarily leave them alone."

Proclus of Rome: "They claim that he wasn't interested in learning from them."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "That may also work."

Proclus of Rome: "Which may well have been a good idea if they're as dishonest as I think they are."

"How can we contact him without any of our grogs finding out?"

johns (GM): hehehe

too clever proclus

Zita of Mercere: "If only you had some sort of messenger."

"What a shame."

Proclus of Rome: "Without protection they could easily enchant you on your way out of the city."

Zita of Mercere: "So I just have to avoid them, then. I was sneaking around their room earlier, they didn't even notice."

"I can't believe this place doesn't even have a secret exit, you really should build one."

Proclus of Rome: "You did say they were looking right at you, and they didn't seem overly surprised to see us."

johns (GM):

Zita of Mercere: "Looking almost right at me, they didn't spot me. I'm good at that."

Proclus of Rome: "How do you know they didn't just let you think that?"

johns (GM): How do you know they didn't enchant Proclus to make him they they just made Zita think that

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Shit.

Ferris of Bonisagus: Time to burn everyone

Proclus of Rome: Uh, obviously I have the Parma Magica.

Zita of Mercere: "Because Flavio and the woman upstairs didn't notice a thing, either. Anyway, I've got these." I tap my shoes "Courtesy of House Mercere, 500 paces in an instant."

johns (GM): Maybe they just made you think you have the Parma

Zita of Mercere: "Doubt they're following that."

Proclus of Rome: "Hmm, that could work."

johns (GM): how many uses per day are those shoes, Zita?

Zita of Mercere: 1

johns (GM): Okay

So it would take you a while to get to Verdi and back

Zita of Mercere: Yeah.

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Zita of Mercere: This is for avoiding being followed, though.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "I can also have a bird follow Zita. If something happens to her, I will see it."

Zita of Mercere: "Ooh, thanks."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "For a day, at lease."

least

Proclus of Rome: "I'd imagine that a bird won't be much protection against cats, but it does sound like a good idea."

Ferris of Bonisagus: How long is the journey?

johns (GM): Back and forth at least a few weeks

Proclus of Rome: "I recommend you don't leave from a Roman port."

johns (GM): Assuming she isn't murdered by the infamous pirates on the way

Zita of Mercere: That'd never happen

johns (GM): What do you want to tell the cats (if anything) in the meantime?

Zita of Mercere: Unless the GM was desperate to get us involved with the pirates again at all costs

johns (GM) hunches behind GM screen and cackles evilly

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Who's a cute little robot cat? It's you! You are!"

Archibald of Guernicus: "Before ye send any message, what're ye telling the man?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: is what I want to say to them.

Ferris of Bonisagus: I would just tell them we aren't interfering with them for now.

Proclus of Rome: That would be a lie.

We should tell them that we're still discussing the matter, which would be true.

devil's fav demon: i need to leave for a few minutes, if that's ok. sorry, i know its decision time. prudenzio will go along with the group unless it involves anything that would prevent him from trying to learn stuff from the cats.

Archibald of Guernicus: Is the plan amongst my sodales to hand the cats over to buy favour with Horpo the verditius.

devil's fav demon: be back in 10ish. whoops

Proclus of Rome: UHHHH, one of the options is that we just hand the cats back over to Verdi!

It seems, in fact, like that is the prevailing sentiment!

Archibald of Guernicus: Well yes, we could. He'll say thanks and that's the end of it.

Proclus of Rome: If we keep it from him he may well declare a Wizard's War to get them back.

Or even worse, he could sue us.

(From Archibald of Guernicus): Legally speaking, if I made a familiar bond with one of the cats, he loses all claim to it doesnt he

Proclus of Rome: He's certainly be within his rights to do so.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Exactly."

(To Archibald of Guernicus): There's no precedent for a case like that, but severing a familiar is one of the most heinous punishments short of death so he wouldn't get the cat back ever

johns (GM): oops

I just double checked

Awakened Devices can be

the magus to awaken the device

made into familiars but this requires

himself.

(From Archibald of Guernicus): I'm gazing at two buttons marked OBEY THE CODE and GET COOL CLOCKWORK CAT FAMILIAR

Proclus of Rome: Whoops!

(From Archibald of Guernicus): FUCK YOU

Aleseta of Bonisagus: rip that plan

johns (GM): uh

Archibald of Guernicus: This SUCKS

johns (GM): but I mean these guys are opening the doors to you learning how to awaken devices yourselves

Proclus of Rome: Potentially.

If they aren't a couple of feline liars.

Archibald of Guernicus: They're opening the intangible tunnel from an old wizard into our tiny aegis to kill us for stealing his stuff

The familiar bond was the only real legal way around that

johns (GM): you could make other arguments legally

Proclus of Rome: Sure.

You could say you just found them.

Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah

We should make sure that Orsu or Prudenzio just happens to be the one explaining exactly what we kew about them

At all times

Orsu Paganacci: mm haha

devil's fav demon: Ok, I'm back.

Proclus of Rome: I recommend that we put them in a sack and throw them in the river if Harpalos isn't interested, of course.

Ferris of Bonisagus: They are a bit dangerous

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I think they'll find a way out of the sack.

I'm willing to do that, sure.

Archibald of Guernicus: I guess we say hey, remember those clockwork cats you found a while ago? They're offering us to teach us stuff that you thought was beneath you, can we learn that instead of you taking them apart for spares.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: He shouldn't have anything to worry about, as anything we'd learn would be so inferior to true Verditius magic.

Proclus of Rome: I think that friendship with Verdi is more valuable than the cats.

Archibald of Guernicus: I want a clockwork cat familiar, I hate you Johns. You'll house rule everything but you won't let me bond with these cats.

Orsu Paganacci: "I agree with Proclus."

Proclus of Rome: Heh heh heh.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: You might be able to make your own cat. Or dog.

johns (GM): dude you can, you just gotta get a major hermetic breakthrough to replicate the Mechanica

and then you can have clockwork anything you want as a familiar

Archibald of Guernicus: Ah. Only that huh.

Proclus of Rome: Clockwork clock.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I want a clockwork human as an apprentice.

Archibald of Guernicus: Mmm

Aleseta of Bonisagus wants a magic goat.

johns (GM): fully feasible

Archibald of Guernicus: I want a clockwork GM

Ferris of Bonisagus: ^

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Teaching all my secrets to a man of my creation, immune to diseases of the flesh....

what could go wrong

Archibald of Guernicus: What book is the awakened device stuff, I need to see how difficult these breakthroughs are

Proclus of Rome: Ancient Magic.

But also, Major Breakthroughs take years.

Orsu Paganacci: watar we doin

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Oh, never mind. I don't have that kind of time.

Let's just ask the guy if we can use his cats.

Archibald of Guernicus: I have to spend years to get a clockwork cat if I want one.

Are breakthroughs in ancient magic or are their rules in the main book

johns (GM): they're there afiak

I'm glad bonisagus didn't have your attitude towards pushing the envelope

You sending Zita as a diplomat to Verdi to negotiate rights to the cats?

Proclus of Rome: I think there were ALSO some houserules from the last SaGa about it.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: breakthroughs in general are in HoH:TL but the ancient magic stuff is in ancient magic (durr)

i wrote some special rules for breakthroughs for new certamen schools.

Ferris of Bonisagus: I'm fine with plan Zita, the Cat Napper Negotiator.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: let us move forward, sodales

Proclus of Rome: Alright, sounds like a plan.

If he says no he can just come here and pick them up himself.

Archibald of Guernicus: Reading into it, apparently house verditius hates these devices because it messes with their won monopoly.

* own

johns (GM): Hmm!!!

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Oh. They probably won't want to let us use them, then.

Archibald of Guernicus: In fact, they are deathly afraid of anyone learning this stuff

BUT

Knowledge of this

Prudenzio of Flambeau: That really throws a clog into things.

Archibald of Guernicus: Benefits the order as a whole

A lot

Because it removes their stupid monopoly

Prudenzio of Flambeau: It's only morally just for us to keep this information to ourselves. I hope Zita hasn't left yet.

johns (GM): the Mechanica offer a few interesting items, not just awakened devices

Archibald of Guernicus: I think it's only morally correct, and hilariously ironic, that we destroy the house that prinnydoods character was from.

Aleseta of Bonisagus:  sensible chuckle

Proclus of Rome: You're the worst Quaesitor ever.

Archibald of Guernicus: It's not Archibald's fault his player loves chaos.

johns (GM): if archibald is serious it seems like we're split 50-50, aleseta/proclus want to sell these guys out, and prudenzio/archibald want to work with them

Prudenzio of Flambeau: He has just revealed this as being the most objectively morally correct thing to do.

johns (GM): which leaves the deciding voice to Ferris

Archibald of Guernicus: "How about this then, we keep them here and learn from them, if he finds out then we hand them over."

Ferris of Bonisagus: hmmm

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "I thought they don't want to come here."

Ferris of Bonisagus: I'd go with Sell Them Out. They seem to dangerous to keep around.

too*

johns (GM): oof

Prudenzio of Flambeau: but not too dangerous to give to house verditius. ok.

Archibald of Guernicus: "The main point of contention is whether he wants them back or not. If he offer them, he might just take them simply to deny us the knowledge, not because he wants them back."

Proclus of Rome: Naturally your vote is void since you made a spelling error.

"That is his right."

johns (GM): there is, of course, one other way to resolve these hermetic disputes if anyone is feeling really invested..

Archibald of Guernicus: "It is, but we have no obligation to send letters all the way to Verdi informing him that his lost property is sitting in a house."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: how old is harpalos?

hermetically

johns (GM): Do you remember that he showed up last Saga

Archibald of Guernicus: If he's really old we could always just, you know

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i did remember him from somewhere

Archibald of Guernicus: Wait for him to kick the bucket

johns (GM): that was around 1240 AD iirc

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yikes face

johns (GM): he was just a young dumb pushover then so let's say he gauntleted 1320

1230

and he's 100 hermetic years old

Aleseta of Bonisagus: not to be certamened

johns (GM): oh!

I meant certamen between you all

Aleseta of Bonisagus: oic

but i thought ferris cast the deciding vote

johns (GM): Yeah

Prudenzio of Flambeau: He did, I'm just very bummed about it.

johns (GM): So it looks like the issue is settled then unless someone wants to fight him for it

Archibald of Guernicus: Half our magi arent even here, this vote is a farce!

johns (GM): lol

Proclus of Rome: Sounds like democracy fails yet again.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: So true. The voice of justice is, as always, right.

Ferris of Bonisagus: 50% voter turnout ain't bad

Archibald of Guernicus: Let me brb a minute

Actually, first

Aleseta of Bonisagus: What did Zita vote?

Archibald of Guernicus: "Proclus, this vote is getting us nowhere, and it's meaningless with half our magi, including our archon, absent."

"We'll settle this like wizards. Certamen."

Proclus of Rome: Redcaps don't vote.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: ???

johns (GM) woots softly

Archibald of Guernicus: They can vote, they just dont to be polite

Prudenzio of Flambeau reflexively glances at his nails

johns (GM): redcaps don't vote at tribunal but they can vote here

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yes

Archibald of Guernicus: I thought voting yes on two characters would be HIGHLY unethical as a gamer.

Proclus of Rome: "A Guernicus settling a dispute with certamen, now I've seen everything."

johns (GM): i appreciate you gaming with honor

Archibald of Guernicus: Anyway, brb

Then I need to go read the rules on this

johns (GM): I throw down the gauntlet!!!!! brb

devil's fav demon: Have fun.

Archibald of Guernicus: ;)

johns (GM): ropekid do you feel like mediating this?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Proclus, would you rather stand for this cause? I am more than willing to do so."

oh, okay

i can.

johns (GM): I mean if you want to fight I'll run it

You're just more immediately familiar with everything.

Proclus of Rome: "If you want to, by all means go ahead."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: http://badgame.net/index.php?topic=26550.msg7556328#msg7556328

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I saw the new rules and shut down. i'll probably pick it up a lot faster by seeing it happen.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "I will duel you, Archibald."

johns (GM): its pretty fun once you get the hang of it

Ferris of Bonisagus: Have we had a duel yet?

Proclus of Rome: The playmat really explains it al.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: core certamen rules are on page 90

Proclus of Rome: Yes, I lost to Bonfilia about chopping someone's hands off.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: so terram beats vis or is it the other way around

Archibald of Guernicus: The certamen expert stepping up is unvair

Aleseta of Bonisagus: terram beats vis

look, just because i designed the system and made a character who is well-balanced to excel at it is no cause for worry

johns (GM): :|

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus can certainly duel instead if you'd rather

i believe endrite has dueled once before.

Proclus of Rome: I'm also PRETTY decent at Certamen.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

then let's have proclus do it

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Good luck, sodales.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: plz put proclus down on the mat

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I've got next, I guess.

unless this settles it

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus is red, archibald is blue

Proclus of Rome: This would obviously settle it.

johns (GM): Unless Beardbeard shows up and chaotically unbalances the vote again

Prudenzio of Flambeau: maybe it was best 2 out of three.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald is the challenger

Archibald of Guernicus: He gets off work soon, and as a Tytalus we all know what he'll vote

Aleseta of Bonisagus: you propose the first form or technique that proclus MUST use in the first round

though proclus can veto once

Archibald of Guernicus: Alright. Aurum

Prudenzio of Flambeau: good music

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus, you can either accept this or veto it.

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Auram is fine with me.

johns (GM): I trust you all to be honorable and not peek at each others' sheet

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay. proclus, you must propose a form or technique that archibald MUST use in the first round.

Proclus of Rome: Animal.

Archibald of Guernicus: I have no idea what Proclus actually uses, besides that he uses Vim since he's our aegis caster

I veto Animal

Proclus of Rome: Ok, Terram.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: so archibald must use terram and proclus must use auram.

Proclus of Rome: Sounds good to me.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: neither of you know any special certamen schools yeah?

Archibald of Guernicus: Nope

Proclus of Rome: I don't.

johns (GM): lol

anyone here secretly a tremere??

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

Archibald of Guernicus: Okay so we roll init now I think

Archibald of Guernicus Initiative: 37

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yes. hold up!

init is qik + finesse + stress.

Archibald of Guernicus: Oh, sure

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 1 + 6

(

10

+

5

)

+1+6

=

22

Aleseta of Bonisagus: holy sh

Proclus of Rome: Oh whoops that should be 21.

I have 0 QWK.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: ok

archibald?

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+1+4

(

8

)

+1+4

=

13

Proclus of Rome: Snake eyes.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

Archibald of Guernicus: Weird, I lost

Aleseta of Bonisagus: so proclus will be attacking first

but

archibald, do you want to declare an early defense?

it gives +3 to your defense roll, but proclus can pick whatever art he wants to oppose it

Archibald of Guernicus: Hm, no, I won't

Proclus of Rome: Also you have to pick Terram as either your Attack OR Defense, I believe.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

yes

obviously if you don't pick it here, it WILL be what you use at the end of the round

proclus, what are you attacking with?

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll take Terram as my defence, then.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

so you'll have +3 to that

Proclus of Rome: Alright.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: early defense

Proclus of Rome: I'll use Auram.

I hate the automatic resizing!

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay. roll attack and defense (page 90) with archibald at +3 for early defense. there is no advantage to using auram vs. terram, so no modifier.

Archibald of Guernicus: Stress die + art score?

johns (GM): idk why its resizing the cards

Aleseta of Bonisagus: attack is presence + art + stress

defense is perception + art + stress

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 1 + 3

(

10

+

5

)

+1+3

=

19

johns (GM): Proclus is fueled by his epic hatred of cats

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+13

(

7

)

+3+13

=

23

Aleseta of Bonisagus: dang

defense exceeds attack, so the attack does not land!

proclus, do you wish to declare early defense?

Archibald of Guernicus: My love of clockwork, which is metal, and therefore terram, wins out

Proclus of Rome: No thanks, sodale.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

Archibald of Guernicus: What's the rules on arts, by the way

How often can they be used

Proclus of Rome: Once.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: once per duel

Archibald of Guernicus: Dang

Proclus of Rome: D-d-d-duel.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: if everyone uses everyuthing, it's a draw.

that's never happened in our experience, though

Archibald of Guernicus: Corpus then

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus, your defense?

Proclus of Rome: Hmm.

Mentem.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: mentem is the natural counter to corpus, having +5

okay.

roll attack and defense, with proclus at +5

Proclus of Rome: I was squinting at the tiny cards in the deck.

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+8

(

4

)

-2+8

=

10

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 0 + 4 + 5

(

8

)

+0+4+5

=

17

Archibald of Guernicus: Why did no-one tell me presence was used in certamen instead of something sensible like stamina

johns (GM): lol

Aleseta of Bonisagus: stamina is also used

johns (GM): the perils of being an ugly wizard

Proclus of Rome: It's used for Damage.

Archibald of Guernicus: New round then. Do we declare inits anew?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus defends

no, same init

one second pls

Archibald of Guernicus: Alright, cool

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, do you wish to declare an early defense?

Proclus of Rome: Yeah we switch off.

Archibald of Guernicus: I won't, no

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

proclus, what art to attack?

Proclus of Rome: Animal.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

archibald, what defense?

that resizing is weird. never used to do that, IIRC.

Proclus of Rome: Everything gets resized and it CHEESES me off!

Archibald of Guernicus: Aquam for defence

Proclus of Rome: AFK a sec.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: animal is +1 vs. elemental, so proclus is at +1 to attack

okay. waitin for endrite to return.

Ferris of Bonisagus: Do you also use Forms in duels? or just Techniques?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: all arts

Archibald of Guernicus: Forms too, friend

We're both saving them, it seems

Though the dice are clearly fudging things in Proclus' favour, things are looking dangerous

Proclus of Rome: Ok I;m back.

Archibald of Guernicus: Roll that attack

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! +1 +4 + 1

(

7

)

+1+4+1

=

13

johns (GM): did someone slip him a Fortunam char

m

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+6

(

10

+

8

)

+3+6

=

27

What a uselessly high roll

Aleseta of Bonisagus: well, it's defense!

so it succeeds

proclus, do you want to declare an early defense?

Proclus of Rome: No.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

archibald, what's your attack art?

Archibald of Guernicus: Hm

Muto

Wait, no

Rego

Every time I change my mind it makes Johns do more work, good

johns (GM) cries

Proclus of Rome: Alright, Creo.

Don't forget to do the hand gestures.

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+4

(

10

+

7

)

-2+4

=

19

Aleseta of Bonisagus: creo has +5 vs. rego.

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 0 + 5 + 5

(

7

)

+0+5+5

=

17

Archibald of Guernicus: I'm doing the hand gestures every day along with the mages in the game

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald manages a hit!!

archibald, what is your weakening total (int + pen + attack advantage)

Archibald of Guernicus: Not many men can say they've Rego Corpus'd out of the toughest prison in mythic europe.

Uh

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus, what is your resistance total (stamina + parma magica)

Archibald of Guernicus: 10

Proclus of Rome: +7

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

the margin is 3, and on the adjusted scale (everthing shifts up by 2), that's one fatigue on proclus.

Proclus of Rome: Ow!

Aleseta of Bonisagus: no penalties, but there you go.

Archibald of Guernicus: A hit at last

Proclus of Rome: Alright I'll do Muto.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: round 3. archibald, early defense?

hold on

Proclus of Rome: Whoops.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald can ED

Proclus of Rome: My bad.

johns (GM): archibald has ED? what a shame

Proclus of Rome: Heh.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: lmao

Archibald of Guernicus: I won't, it's fine.

Proclus of Rome: HEH.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

so muto

Proclus of Rome: Alright I'll pick Muto.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: what's your defense, archibald?

Archibald of Guernicus: Creo

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay. no bonus either way. roll em!!!

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 1 + 8

(

7

)

+1+8

=

16

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+6

(

5

)

+3+6

=

14

johns (GM): Proclus is at -1 iirc?

Proclus of Rome: Not at 1 fatigue.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: no penalty for 0 fatigue

Archibald of Guernicus: 1 fatigue is no penalty apparently

johns (GM): I thought we adjusted it

to be 0/-1/-2/-3/-4

Aleseta of Bonisagus: hmm

Archibald of Guernicus: Well, if we did, you'd best decide that now

Since it affects this margin

Aleseta of Bonisagus: true

your call, johns.

Archibald of Guernicus: I do remember fatigue before causing penalties when we went to uh

The place in normandy

johns (GM): I would like to stick with the new scale as I find it more intuitive then sayign "1 level of fatigue (no effect), 2 levels -1" etc.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

Archibald of Guernicus: Ferris got hurt by them badly I think

Aleseta of Bonisagus: so 15 vs. 14

proclus what is your weakening total?

Ferris of Bonisagus: brb

Aleseta of Bonisagus: int + pen + attack advantage (1)

Proclus of Rome: 8.

Archibald of Guernicus: Alright. I have 9 defence.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus lands a hit, but no effect.

Archibald of Guernicus: Stamina+Parma right

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yes

proclus, would you like an early defense?

Proclus of Rome: No.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, your attack art?

Archibald of Guernicus: In that case, Perdo

Aleseta of Bonisagus: cool

Archibald of Guernicus: Wait, no...

Intellego

Proclus of Rome: Ok.

Archibald of Guernicus: I'm definitely not doing this just to annoy Johns

johns (GM) is thoroughly buttmad

Proclus of Rome: I'll pick Perdo.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: perdo is +5 vs. intellego

roll em!!

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 7 + 5

(

9

)

+7+5

=

21

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+9

(

8

)

-2+9

=

15

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald's attack is deflected

round 4!!

archibald, early defense?

Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah. Early defence, herbam.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

herbin it up

proclus, your attack?

Proclus of Rome: Aquam.

Archibald of Guernicus: That's +1 to me from the cycles then

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, you are at +3 for early defense +1 vs. elemental

yes

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! +1 +5

(

7

)

+1+5

=

13

Aleseta of Bonisagus: roll em

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+1+1+3

(

3

)

+3+1+1+3

=

11

Aleseta of Bonisagus: oof

Proclus of Rome: Oh -1.

Archibald of Guernicus: Same defence as before, 9.

Proclus of Rome: Right.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus' margin is 1, which means no effect given the weakening/resist totals

okay

proclus, early defense?

Proclus of Rome: No thanks.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: ok

archibald, your attack art?

Archibald of Guernicus: I'll go with Vim

Aleseta of Bonisagus: very well

Proclus of Rome: I'll defend with Terram.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: +5 vs. vim

roll em

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+9

(

2

)

-2+9

=

9

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 0 + 9 + 5

(

6

)

+0+9+5

=

20

Aleseta of Bonisagus: no hit

round 5. archibald, early defense?

Archibald of Guernicus: Nah

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

proclus, your attack art?

Proclus of Rome: Rego.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: very well. archibald?

Archibald of Guernicus: Perdo

Hm

No

Ignem

johns (GM): lol

Archibald of Guernicus: Owned, again, Johns

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald at +1 vs. technique

roll em

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+1+1

(

8

)

+3+1+1

=

13

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 7 + 1

(

3

)

+7+1

=

11

Aleseta of Bonisagus: no hit

proclus, early defense?

Proclus of Rome: No thanks.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, your attack art?

Archibald of Guernicus: Muto

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

proclus' defense?

Proclus of Rome: Intelligo.

Ferris of Bonisagus: back

Aleseta of Bonisagus: no bonus to either party. roll em

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+9

(

3

)

-2+9

=

10

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 6 -1

(

10

+

9

)

+6-1

=

24

Aleseta of Bonisagus: powerful defense!!1

johns (GM): proclus is indomitable

Prudenzio of Flambeau: strong.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: round 6. early defense, archibald?

Proclus of Rome: Except I AM losing.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: you look strong though.

Archibald of Guernicus: Nope

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus, your attack?

Proclus of Rome: Herbam.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald defense?

Archibald of Guernicus: Animal

Aleseta of Bonisagus: +5 to defense

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! +1 + 5 -1

(

8

)

+1+5-1

=

13

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+0+5

(

10

+

7

)

+3+0+5

=

25

Proclus of Rome: Oh crap I'm red.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: lol

archibald defends

Archibald of Guernicus: 0_0

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proculs, early defense?

Proclus of Rome: No thanks.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, your attack art?

Archibald of Guernicus: Imaginem

Aleseta of Bonisagus: very well. proclus, your defense?

Proclus of Rome: Vim.

Archibald of Guernicus: +1 to me, then

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald at +1

roll 'em

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+2+1

(

10

+

2

)

-2+2+1

=

13

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 9 -1

(

5

)

+9-1

=

13

Aleseta of Bonisagus: that's a hit

Archibald of Guernicus: A tie hits at 0 thresh then?

Alright

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, what's your weakening?

Archibald of Guernicus: 2 int, 6 pen

So 8

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus, your resist?

Proclus of Rome: 7

Aleseta of Bonisagus: 1 more fatigue to proclus.

now at -2 to rolls

Archibald of Guernicus: Certamen is really piling on the stress

Aleseta of Bonisagus: round 7!!!!!!!!!!!!

johns (GM): im dying

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald, early defense?

johns (GM): too much for my fragile heart

Ferris of Bonisagus: What is Victory at?

Archibald of Guernicus: No thank you

Aleseta of Bonisagus: KO or surrender

Archibald of Guernicus: Making your opponent pass out

Aleseta of Bonisagus: KO = 5 fatigue

proclus, your attack art?

Proclus of Rome: Ignem.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald defense?

Archibald of Guernicus: Perdo

Aleseta of Bonisagus: proclus at +1 vs. technique

roll 'em

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 1 + 5 + 1 -2

(

8

)

+1+5+1-2

=

13

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!+3+5

(

9

)

+3+5

=

17

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald defends

proclus, early defnese?

Proclus of Rome: Corpus.

Archibald of Guernicus: Mentem

Aleseta of Bonisagus: Mentem Is +5 vs. Corpus

roll em

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10!-2+5+5

(

10

+

1

)

-2+5+5

=

19

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! + 4 + 3 -2

(

4

)

+4+3-2

=

9

Ferris of Bonisagus: oof

Archibald of Guernicus: It's over

Aleseta of Bonisagus: well

let's see

the margin is now 11

which is 2 fatigue

so proclus is at 4 fatigue

Archibald of Guernicus: 4 total yes

"Surrender, Proclus. Victory is mine."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: round 8!!!!!

Proclus of Rome: "Why would I surrender? There's only one round left and I'm on the attack."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Now here's where Proclus shows all that babyface fire and mounts the big comeback and hits his finisher

Aleseta of Bonisagus: You  could  theoretically choose to not defend.

johns (GM): Now is where Proclus uses every pawn of vis in the treasury

Aleseta of Bonisagus: but he is right, there's only one art left for each of you

Archibald of Guernicus: I assume early defence is not possible since we have one art left

Aleseta of Bonisagus: it's always possible if you want to defend

johns (GM): lol

Archibald of Guernicus: Oh

I early defence then

With Aurum

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay

Proclus of Rome:

rolling 1d10! +1 +4 +1 -4

(

2

)

+1+4+1-4

=

4

Archibald of Guernicus:

rolling 1d10+3+1+3

(

6

)

+3+1+3

=

13

Aleseta of Bonisagus: archibald defends!

the duel is a draw.

johns (GM): wow

Ferris of Bonisagus: So it didn't get decided in one round...

Prudenzio of Flambeau: That definitely looks like a draw.

Archibald of Guernicus: Not necessarily. It can be reset and you continue.

johns (GM): Would it continue with Proclus at -4 fatigue?

Proclus of Rome: I could always get a Second.

Ferris of Bonisagus: Would we throw two new people into the duel?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: The rules as written state this is a draw.

Archibald of Guernicus: It's very clearly my victory, if we continue. He won't last another round.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: It doesn't matter what the relative states of the duelists are. Proclus isn't KOed and he didn't surrender.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: That's kind of hilarious.

johns (GM): Someone needs to teach these guys Bonebiting so they can win certamen in 2 rounds

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Magi are so wise.

Proclus of Rome: Vivec where are you?

johns (GM): remember There Is an Entire House Built On This

Ferris of Bonisagus: So this particular duel is a draw, which I guess leaves no decision made, so Archibald can challenge another person to a duel, couldn't he?

Archibald of Guernicus: Well, an independent judge can decide who the winner is, then. It's only a draw if there is no winner.

Proclus of Rome: I don't think you can do that.

Archibald of Guernicus: Lavinia, get in here.

It says it's a draw if neither person is KOed and you have no judge to decide who won

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Oh shit.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Esteemed sodales, the finer workings of Certamen being beyond my paltry understanding, I could not hope to cast judgement fairly."

Lavinia of Jerbiton courtsies

Prudenzio of Flambeau: ahaha

Proclus of Rome: Ruthless.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "If you wanted to beat him, you should have knocked him out. That is the point, after all."

Archibald of Guernicus: Well, you should have the option to continue certamen-ing in the case of a draw. Otherwise how do wizards ever settle anything?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Lavinia looks at Archibald standing and Proclus wheezing on the ground. "Seems like a draw to me."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: by being good at certamen

Ferris of Bonisagus: hahaslkjdfhalksdhflhas

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "By reasoned debate?"

Archibald of Guernicus: "This is plenty reasoned."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Is it any wonder that an order that resolves itself into duelling would collapse into civil war and strife so often?"

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Normally the duelists are talented at dueling."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "But that's none of my business"

Lavinia of Jerbiton sips tea

Archibald of Guernicus: "If it's a draw, then surely Proclus will want to continue."

"Another 8 rounds."

Proclus of Rome: Where'd you get that tea, sodale?

"I'm not going to challenge you, after all I don't want to change the votes."

Archibald of Guernicus: "If I lose, I'll concede this point entirely."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "I'll duel you, Archibald."

johns (GM): The earliest European reference to tea, written as Chiai, came from Delle navigationi e viaggi written by a Venetian, Giambattista Ramusio, in 1545.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: huge crowd starts chanting pro-clus pro-clus pro-clus

johns (GM): guess I'm just on the cutting edge

Ferris of Bonisagus: I feel like this just needs to be settled with another Duel

Proclus of Rome: You can't just keep doing certamen duels over the same thing until you win.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "Might I--- ever so humbly-- suggest the stakes are declared exactly, including what happens in the result of a draw, before you begin?"

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Someone get Venator.

Ferris of Bonisagus: You can until it's settled

Archibald of Guernicus: "I didn't expect a draw, haven't done this since my apprenticeship."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: You can't certamen bully the same target repeatedly, there's a cool down iirc

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yes

Lavinia of Jerbiton: But in this case it'd be Archibald against a new person

Proclus of Rome: In fact, there is not a cooldown.

You can't issue a certamen challenge twice over the same issue.

Ferris of Bonisagus: I feel like this challenge isn't settled and Prudenzio should step in to duel.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Where's it say that

Where does it say in the rules a dog can't certamen

Proclus of Rome: Page 89 in the core rules.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I can duel, but I'm sure I'll be extremely bad at it.

Archibald of Guernicus: "In the event of a draw, we return to the votes. But we should have the entire covenant vote before we decide."

Proclus of Rome: Dogs can't do certamen unless they have their Hermetic Arts opened.

Archibald of Guernicus: Prudenzio would SUCK at certamen

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "In the event of my victory, Proclus and my chosen course of action, regarding the mechanical cats, will be followed. In the event of my loss, the course chosen by Archibald et al. will be followed. In the event of a draw, we will take no further actions, including duels, but wait for a quorum vote by the members of this body."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I mean, if it's me vs Aleseta it's virtually guaranteed that I'll lose.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: 89 says you can't challenge the same person repeatedly

it doesn't say you can't challenge other people about a same/similar issue

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I'm heavily specialized.

Proclus of Rome: Right.

Archibald of Guernicus: To be honest I'm too lopsided for it myself

Proclus of Rome: I'm not but I'm also pretty terrible at dueling.

I'm 1-2-1 so far.

Lavinia of Jerbiton patiently waits for the day she may step into the Disputatio chamber

Archibald of Guernicus: "Ach, two duels right in a row, but I can't challenge him again? I cannae agree to this, if ye want strength in numbers, we'll put it back to vote."

Proclus of Rome: I think we need to fix up the Disputatio rules.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Yeah? What don't you like about them?

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I think a quorum vote in the event of the draw that already happened would suit me just fine. At least then we'll have a satisfactory final answer.

Archibald of Guernicus: We DID have a draw

Lavinia of Jerbiton: well

I think I can predict both Cthinker and Beardbeard's votes

Proclus of Rome: I don't like that the more advanced Tytalan debate rule can't use an Ability.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "You could also agree to wait for a quorum vote and we wouldn't need to fight any more duels."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: And it would be a tie again unless I weighed in which I feel is breaching the GMPC honor code

Proclus of Rome: Really I think that if you're having any kind of debate about something related to an Ability that should be factored in.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: never stopped the sophists

Archibald of Guernicus: "A vote then, with everyone."

"My objection was ye sending a letter off based on the votes of bloody 5 of us."

Proclus of Rome: "Your objection was that you lost," I say while nodding off.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "He's out of his mind."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Oh, lost eh? That why yer frightened of a rematch?"

Ferris of Bonisagus: "I do doubt we would be having this debate if your side had the votes."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: "Leave him alone unless you want me to teach you a lesson about bullying."

Proclus of Rome: "Sorry, but it's the rules."

"Can't challenge someone twice over the same thing."

I yawn.

Archibald of Guernicus: "Yer swaying side to side! Ach, I know, I know. We're going with the draw, I already agreed."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "We're arguing from a position of moral right. It would be wrong to remain silent."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Would it be best for the order to lose out on that knowledge? Surprised to see bonisagi arguing for that."

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "Ah, it's in the past. We wait for a vote."

Ferris of Bonisagus: "The cats plainly indicated they weren't keen on sharing."

Aleseta of Bonisagus: btw i'm surprised that archibald chose to defend. weak as he was, i doubt proclus could have inflicted that much damage

Archibald of Guernicus: What else could I do there

He was attacking

Proclus of Rome: Yeah you could have saved Auram to attack.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i told you: choose not to defend

then attack with auram

Archibald of Guernicus: Oh

I missed that

Oh dear

Aleseta of Bonisagus: lmbo

Ferris of Bonisagus: Ah, I didn't understand that either

Archibald of Guernicus: I didn't know you could do that

Aleseta of Bonisagus: that's why i kept saying "if you choose to defend"

Lavinia of Jerbiton: same...

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i said it!!

Archibald of Guernicus: I thought it was sarcastic

Lavinia of Jerbiton: venzi's incomprehensible trait rears its ugly head

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lol

Ferris of Bonisagus: You did say it, yes.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: no, it's a legitimate thing if you don't think the attacker has enough juice to do damage.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: ahaha

Aleseta of Bonisagus: or, in this case, to cause a KO

Archibald of Guernicus: I really should have left it then KOed him and won

God fucking damnit

Prudenzio of Flambeau: hahahaha

Aleseta of Bonisagus: rip

Prudenzio of Flambeau: i guess i really did need to see certamen played out before i understood it.

Archibald of Guernicus: I liked certamen but it using presence is annoying, since I can never be very good at it

Ferris of Bonisagus: So, at the very least, you'll have learned something today.

Archibald of Guernicus: -2 on all attack rolls, woo

Lavinia of Jerbiton: use vis and conf liberally imo

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yeah, there was no conf in that duel

Proclus of Rome: You could always bump up your Presence score

Lavinia of Jerbiton: worst that happens: you botch and twilight and everyone has a good laugh

Archibald of Guernicus: Well, any confing could be matched by the other side. Also how do you bump up an ability

Er, attribute

Aleseta of Bonisagus: also, knowing your opponents' arts makes a HUGE difference in your strat/tactics

with creo spells

and a lot of vis

Archibald of Guernicus: Are you encouraging me to start snorting vis to get slightly better rolls on wizard duels against my allies

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Yes

Archibald of Guernicus: If nothing else, it's Ars

Ferris of Bonisagus: And precast a bunch of buffs

Proclus of Rome: Actually it's one of the things you try and convince me to do because I use half vis.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Can't Orsu's charms give an edge in Certamen?

Plus Theriacs to restore Fatigue

Archibald of Guernicus: We'll keep that in mind for duelling NPCs then

Lavinia of Jerbiton: So

Archibald of Guernicus: Since these benefits are open to all PCs and we'd launch into insane one-upping over petty disputes

Wait, that sounds great

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Back to the task at hand.. Unless you accept Aleseta's terms, I think the vote has to go forward as it has been, 3 to 2

Aleseta of Bonisagus: aww yiss motherfuckin mechwarrior 2

Archibald of Guernicus: Of all the days for cumthinker to not show up!

Lavinia of Jerbiton: he's gonna be so mad lol

Aleseta of Bonisagus: the use of buffs pre-duel is considered cheating IIRC

Archibald of Guernicus: His greek bonisagus is sitting in his fucking lab

Lavinia of Jerbiton: It's only cheating if you get caught.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: the exception being rituals that permanently buff your stats

Archibald of Guernicus: Hm. Ultimately all is fair in love, war and gaming.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Certamen should be approached like a manga about gambling: winning isn't base on skill or luck but coming up with outrageous cheats

Prudenzio of Flambeau: i think you'd find very many tremere who pre-buff. wild guess.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: venzi never pre-buffed, ftw.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

He only used the forbidden techniques of a bunch of bloodthirsty cannibals

no biggie

Zita of Mercere: "I vote to keep the cats, the route to Verdi has pirates raiding it."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: oh HOH

Aleseta of Bonisagus: they aren't forbidden, just "frowned upon"

Archibald of Guernicus: My final technique

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lmao

Aleseta of Bonisagus: bone biting ftw

Lavinia of Jerbiton: dys taking what I just said to heart

Archibald of Guernicus: David Sirlin's Play To Win

Lavinia of Jerbiton: does anyone OOC object to such a tactic

Proclus of Rome: Nope.

After all they're two different people.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: We're setting precedent here

Aleseta of Bonisagus: object to what?

Proclus of Rome: ON THE OTHER HAND, it does prove that Zita is a shameful coward who is afraid to deliver mail.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Dys casting votes as his two OoH characters

Prudenzio of Flambeau: of course not.

that seems to be fully within the rules.

Archibald of Guernicus: We have such a large cast of characters that even 2 votes wont be enough to swing most important decisions

Aleseta of Bonisagus: as long as DyS roleplays each according to character, not at all.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: exactly.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: "It seems you are at an impasse, sodales. 3 votes in favor of either course of action."

Archibald of Guernicus: "Yer neutrality is commendable, Lavinia."

Proclus of Rome: Neither Rain Nor Snow Nor Gloom of Night But Pirates Stays These Couriers From The Swift Completion of Their Appointed Rounds.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: lol

Archibald of Guernicus: "I can only hope to one day be as neutral as ou."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: LOL

Prudenzio of Flambeau: "I should get the other magi."

Archibald of Guernicus: Well we do know how 2 players will be voting, where is cumthinker anyway

He was our archon and would have told us 'wait, what are you talking about, we're not giving away the cats are you mad'

Lavinia of Jerbiton: when we started today I was worried we'd wrap this up & endrite's thing too quickly

whew!

Aleseta of Bonisagus: ars_magica.txt

Endrite: What a load off!

Archibald of Guernicus: Then we'd have duelled over the continuation of the archon system instead

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'm actually surprised where each character has landed on the issue

Endrite: Really?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Yeah

Ferris of Bonisagus: Cats eat spiders = simple stuff.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I figured Proclus would be a big fan of Heron's works

I figured the Bonisagi would love ancient magic shit, and the others wouldn't care

it's almost entirely the other way around

Archibald of Guernicus: I dislike Verdi, they're acting very openly in favour of themselves over the Order as a whole.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: aleseta kind of dislikes the ideas of fake animals and doesn't think the knowledge they have would be worth tangling with verdi.

Endrite: Well, Proclus doesn't like magical meddlers.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I like doing things that seem like they'll stir up trouble in the future. Also I could stand to personally benefit from the knowledge they have and have the hubris to think that I could extract it from them.

Archibald of Guernicus: It's not hubris if you pull it off

devil's fav demon: prudenzio's an asshole who is eventually going to have something backfire huge in his face and deserve it, and it should be pretty fun.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: woot

Then, the issue is postponed til Cthinker & Beardbeard weigh in?

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yes

Endrite: Is the Turning Castle canon in Ars?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: idk what that is

Endrite: Corbenic.

The Grail Keep.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Grail stuff is all real but also all faerie

Endrite: It was built by Joseph of Aramathia and it has mechanical archers.

Amongst other things.

Lavinia of Jerbiton:  story seed

Endrite: All the Norman Flambeux getting excited about the Holy Grail is really funny because Arthurian legends were just being written during the canon start date.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: For now.. I know that Endrite wanted to run matters involving Jeanne de Ys.

Endrite: Yeah but that can be pushed to next year if needs be.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Idk about you all but I will almost surely not be around next week

Archibald of Guernicus: What if beardbeard, in the true tytalan spirit, votes the opposite of cumthinker

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i will be. hail satan.

Archibald of Guernicus: And we have another fucking draw

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Then

My vote is up for sale :)

Archibald of Guernicus: You piece of shit. That's beautiful.

Lavinia of Jerbiton steeples fingers Augustanishly

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lmao

Endrite: Uh obviously we could take care of the vote in the thread.

Ferris of Bonisagus: As a swing voter, my vote is always up for sale.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: yes

Archibald of Guernicus: Ars really is just an asshole simulator

Aleseta of Bonisagus: arse magica after all

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Yeah I'm writing up a little summary of what's at stake and will post it in the thread along with customary recap

Archibald of Guernicus: Leave the vote open in a poll at the top of the thread if we get another draw

Prudenzio of Flambeau: This is cool. This is a really good game.

Archibald of Guernicus: I wish I knew how certamen worked so I could have punked Proclus and won

Alas

Aleseta of Bonisagus: the RAW system is simpler, but also boring, and dumb. the system i designed is more complex but IMO more fun in the long run (not to say it couldn't be improved, but yeah)

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I like it a lot

I think we should make schools of Certamen more open and available to all

Archibald of Guernicus: I really like the certamen system, yes

Lavinia of Jerbiton: As I recall in the RAW you can only know 1 school max unless you have a special virtue?

Archibald of Guernicus: It made me want to fix my arts and invest in certamen

So there's that

Ferris of Bonisagus: Same

I thought the duel was a bunch-o-fun to watch

Prudenzio of Flambeau: i want to continue to specialize to my own detriment.

Ferris of Bonisagus: I immediately wanted to just make a duelest

Prudenzio of Flambeau: it does look like a lot of fun though.

Archibald of Guernicus: I want a certamen school that swaps out presence for strength or something so I can beat people up

Aleseta of Bonisagus: you can know multiple schools, but you can only master one unless you are a sand baby or whatever the virtue is

lol

Lavinia of Jerbiton: tar baby

Prudenzio of Flambeau: i want a certamen school that lets me use perdo twice

Endrite: Agree to certamen but then when you're doing it have your animo beat up your opponent.

The most illegal move in the history of certamen.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lol

Lavinia of Jerbiton: that's my strategy actually, if you stage a distraction the opponent can lose concentration

and if they do

they lose

Prudenzio of Flambeau: cheating is cool.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: harenarius is the tremere virtue

Endrite: You can't even start a duel because you don't have any Arts.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: HARENARIUS

Minor, Hermetic

able to master two Certamen Schools on an instinctual

A “Person of the Sand” is one of the very few magi

level. Tremere magi respect this talent, but its past possessors have been less mentally stable than the House

prefers.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: A Harenarius may choose to fight as a member of one

of his schools at the commencement of certamen, or may

choose to fight as a generalist, as other magi do. Harenarii

begin with a Reputation 2, as a master duelist, with

Tremere magi. They are more likely to be sought out by

Magi seeking Certamen instructors than other Tremere

Aleseta of Bonisagus: magi. Harenarii pioneer the majority of new Certamen

schools and tricks

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Surely if I were challenged I could ask any of my brave sodales to be my champion.

and subtly pass them a theriac against fatigue at the same time

Aleseta of Bonisagus: i'm not going to lie: playing venzi was v. fun, especially after he pulled off multiple late-duel upset KOs in repeat grand tournaments.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Aleseta of Bonisagus: where some clown would botch a defense roll and then he would make a weak baby attack that horribly crushed them

Lavinia of Jerbiton: no matter how rigged br and I tried we couldn't beat him

Ferris of Bonisagus: Alright, time to settle more things with duels.

Archibald of Guernicus: Venzi, of school Optimatus

Lavinia of Jerbiton: if you recall venzi had that sort of long running feud with guyal, so I brought him back and made up this whole background nonsense about how he joined a Montverte mystery cult with a bunch of horrible initiations to boost his certamen abilities, PLUS cheating with theriacs

and then venzi smoked him in 3 rounds anyway

Prudenzio of Flambeau: lol

Aleseta of Bonisagus: mm haha

Archibald of Guernicus: Lol

Endrite: Essedarius looks pretty powerful BUT there's no good way to mechanically assign a target's Brave stat!

Aleseta of Bonisagus: guyal ftl

yeah the RAW for the schools are very dumb

i rewrote all of them somewhere

like

there is no way anyone actually tested them

Endrite: If only this game had Pendragon's trait system.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: if only this game had game designers

Prudenzio of Flambeau: i miss the four or so sessions of pendragon i played.

i think it has even more paperwork than this though.

Endrite: Only if you foolishly have a Manor instead of an Estate or nothing.

Archibald of Guernicus: I love ars paperwork.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: revised school rules: http://twofoldsilence.diogenes-lamp.info/2014/10/house-rules-for-certamen-style-bonuses.html

Prudenzio of Flambeau: When I played I think we were still using two different books for manor rules I think.

Maybe not. I was very confused at the time.

Ars is a good amount for me.

Endrite: Many Tremere magi consider playing chess a form of

intimacy. Some refuse to play with members of the opposite

sex, because they consider it an erotic familiarity.

HMMMMMMMM.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: ttrpg bloat is shameful

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Huh.

Archibald of Guernicus: Tremeres seem like normal people

Lavinia of Jerbiton: iirc they were basically 2d badguys in every prior edition

Endrite: There's only one book that covers Manors.

The Book of the Manor.

Archibald of Guernicus: Hey, I just want to drink blood and enforce a system of duelling that heavily favours my own, powerhungry and insane house.

Aleseta of Bonisagus sucks on a bishop. "This is normal."

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Archibald of Guernicus: If you've got a problem I suggest you grow up.

Endrite: If you don't have that book then the Manor rules are "You get 6 libra a year."

Oh man I should have rolled Certamen Reputation at the start.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: it helps a LOT

i should have continued updating this: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/58877228/venzi_three_peat.gif

Ferris of Bonisagus: I've g2g. Thanks for the session Johns.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I think I was somehow trying to use Manor and Estate rules at the same time.

Endrite: Oh you can't do that.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I don't remember what was going on.

Endrite: Estates represent holdings of minimum 5 manors.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: It was right when the game started.

Ahhh.

Endrite: There's no crossover at all.

Aleseta of Bonisagus: okay heading out. thx, everyone.

Endrite: See ya.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: See ya.

I'm pretty sure I remember Liesmith telling me there was some crossover.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Cheers!!

Archibald of Guernicus: Bye gamer

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Who knows if it's a real memory or if I'm making it up.

Endrite: There isn't any at all, really.

Except if your londes grow beyond 20 Libra you get converted to an Estate.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: I should take a look at the game again.

Endrite: Agreed.

Prudenzio of Flambeau: Have a good night, everyone. I'm out too to watch pro wrestling.

Archibald of Guernicus: How do you learn a certamen school

Is it an ability?

Endrite: It's a Minor Virtue.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Nah

I think you just spend a season going to Coeris and you get taught it?

Or maybe you get inducted like it's a mystery? It doesn't have an associated ability, you either: Don't Know It, Know It, Know It&Master It

Archibald of Guernicus: Is that a tremere place

Lavinia of Jerbiton: it's Tremere HQ, located in Transylvania

actually

no need to go that far, there's a tremere covenant right next door

Archibald of Guernicus: This sounds like the comedy evil choice

Endrite: The Tremere are NOT evil.

Archibald of Guernicus: Oh good. The ones that we ruined their plans.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: the Tremere Archon of Rome is the #3 guy in the whole tremere hierarchy fwiw

Endrite: Transylvania is a brave Christian stronghold.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I'll double check with Ropekid how he handled it

But I think you can just spend a season and you get it

Similarly if you spend a year you can pick up Enigmatic Wisdom from the Criamons

Archibald of Guernicus: The tremere are comically evil. The local tremere covenant already tried to make a supervillain volcano base as a bid for power.

Endrite: The volcano covenant is a great place to harvest Ignem vis.

Archibald of Guernicus: Which I ruined, so I don't think they'll teach me how to beat them at certamen if they start shit next tribunal.

Endrite: You're probably talking about an Ignem vis income of a rook a year.

Maybe more!

Archibald of Guernicus: They stopped backing it as soon as it got declared neutral rather than their vassal

Lavinia of Jerbiton: No grudge lasts forever, especially if you have something valuable to exchange

Just as it works between the city states so too in the Tribunal...

Endrite: A good idea is a good idea.

Archibald of Guernicus: Let's trade them the cats to cause as many problems as possible

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

i love a good 2 birds/1 stone solution

Endrite: I think the main problem with the new certamen rules is that it's just about chasing your opponent around the board.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: yes and no

Archibald of Guernicus: You did that all match and it drove me insane

Until the end where you couldnt anymore and I managed to one-up

All your arts were about 5 at minimum, though, I'm far more lopsided

Endrite: Getting Good at certamen means having all your arts be equally strong.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: venzi did very well as a perfectly spread generalist

yeah

Archibald of Guernicus: There's room to do fun stuff in the new certamen system, I think in the 6th? Round I early defence-d an art I had at 1 since you couldnt attack it, confident in my overall defence.

Endrite: Well you've got to be if you want to win otherwise you have to play around your weaknesses and then you can't keep board control.

Archibald of Guernicus: Er, since you couldnt get advantage on it

Lavinia of Jerbiton: yeah exactly endrite!

Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah I'd rather be a good wizard than a good certamen-er

Lavinia of Jerbiton: if you're a specialist it's too easy to get trapped in a bad spot where your opponent counters you with a favorable art

Endrite: Yeah I made a mistake and picked an art adjacent to one I'd already used.

Archibald of Guernicus: Figures that the only people actually willing to duel are the people with well-rounded arts

Endrite: Hey man, dueling was your idea.

Not my fault you were then dueling against the faction that was good at certamen.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lavinia is down for disputatio

Endrite: ALLEGEDLY Proclus is good at it but he's lost twice.

Oh wait he's 1-3-1.

Archibald of Guernicus: There's two kinds of duels and I have zero investment in debating

Well, no, there's a third kind that I'd win, but wizards dont do them

Endrite: Sure they do.

Proclus won a duel one time.

By being immune to swords.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: You mean Hastidium?

Endrite: Well, duelling swords.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: or whatever that one about trying to counter each other's spells

dimicatio it's called

The competitors

try to cast real spells at one another

using the forceless casting option, which

is deliberately casting spells with penetration

Lavinia of Jerbiton: at zero. Each magus uses a fast-cast

defense (ArM5, page 83) to try to block

the opposing spell. The first magus whose

winner.

spell reaches his opponent’s Parma is the

Endrite: Magical jousting is apparently popular in Normandy because Liesmith never fails to tell me the story of how he made a metal lance and then enchanted it to appear made out of ivory to blow past Animal resistance.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: he never actually did that afiak

just read about the guy in the Normandy sourcebook who did

lol

Endrite: He tells me this story about once a month.

Archibald of Guernicus: He should tell the story of having his PC murdered for hubris.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: it's the gimmick of Rotgiers of Tremere, who is written up in Lion & Lion section on Montverte

Archibald of Guernicus: By the way Johns, I read the entire intangible tunnel section after you recommended it.

A fun read

Lavinia of Jerbiton: hope you had some inspired ideas hehehe

Endrite: Proclus needs to make more Arcane Circle spells.

They're pretty good.

Archibald of Guernicus: It inspired me that we need a better aegis to stop it happening to us, but I'll be sure to pick up some of these effects at some point

In case we need to wizards war someone

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i think a new form of wizard resolution should be like where people went across state lines to duel

but now they just go to normandy and blow each other up with magic

Archibald of Guernicus: It's all legal in normandy

Endrite: I don't think that would work because you're still legally bound by your home Tribunal's rules.

Archibald of Guernicus: If they both agree, who's to say no

Lavinia of Jerbiton: I mean Normandy theoretically still has to abide by the central oath you all take

But there's no one enforcing things so

Archibald of Guernicus: What 2 consenting wizards do in their own time is their own business

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Endrite: That's what Wizard War is for.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: practically wizard war falls flat on its face though

because everyone is already in a covenant

and you can't risk damaging another magi or their stuff

Archibald of Guernicus: Okay guys, let's fight. I'll hide inside my insane MR shield and you hide inside yours. If you come into mine and touch anything but me you broke the rules.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: lol

Archibald of Guernicus: That's why intangible tunnel is good, it lets you actually get in

Lavinia of Jerbiton: yeah cause casting spells normally at A/C range makes it hard to penetrate

plus wouldn't it be easier to just bribe a covenfolk with a mountain of magic gold to knife the magi int he back in the library?

Endrite: How big can magic circles be?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: practical limit is the conc check when tracing it

Endrite: Ok.

Wait isn't that just in combat?

Lavinia of Jerbiton: No, you always need a conc check when walking around and tracing a circle

Endrite: Hmm.

Archibald of Guernicus: Well if the magi, correctly, walks around with good terram soak and doublet of impenetrable silk up every day

Then that plan falls through

Lavinia of Jerbiton: give them a knife made of animal bone and make them attack right at sunset when the spell fades

Endrite: The ultimate weapon of Wizard's War: a drunk with a knife.

It worked for the shinobi.

Archibald of Guernicus: Not sitting in your lab at sunset?

Frankly this theoretical magus could be assassinated by anyone

A young child perhaps

Lavinia of Jerbiton: The magus may not

move more quickly than ten paces per round

(five feet per second) while doing this. The

casting of a non-Ritual spell may be extended

out to allow the drawing of a large ring.

However, the caster must make Int +

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Concentration rolls of 6+ every round to maintain

concentration on the spell, and if someone

breaks the ring at any point before it is completed,

the spell automatically botches.

Endrite: Hmm.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: i didn't realize it automatically botched instead of failed, that's rough

it's an easy Conc roll though for simple spells

Endrite: Sounds pretty easy if the Concentration roll isn't stressed.

ESPECIALLY with the Arcane Circle target, which you draw in one place and have magically and invisibly duplicated in another.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: conc rolls are stressed all the time in RAW

wait

ignore that

Endrite: Done.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Seems like the only practical obstacle is if something physically gets in your way while you're making the circle

Endrite: That's why you make it in your lab.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: Good Shit.

Endrite: This is going to be good.

Lavinia of Jerbiton schemes ways for the Enemies: Enemies of Geometer Cult to come into play

Endrite: I really have no idea.

Lavinia of Jerbiton: you're going to love what I got in store

Endrite: Good.

I was worried that you weren't going to use it.

See ya.