3/24/19

c'thinker (GM): salve johns (GM): hail. just checking a particular name also going to roll aging. rolling 1d10!-7 Lavinia 1360 ( 5 ) -7 = -2 rolling 1d10!+2 Bolad 1360 ( 4 ) +2 = 6 devil's fav demon (GM): salve. dys: ave is the Guy Gets Assassinted adventure 8xp in each season? devil's fav demon (GM): no 8xp for the adventure as a whole, you can just do whatever for one of the seasons and pick one for your "adventure" season. i think the second season involved more travel. wait no. the other way around. dys: im putting my exposure xp in autumn then devil's fav demon (GM): guy is the only one who is restricted to spending summer on lab activity for fixing an AC ffuuuu i dont want to do bakirs seasons. i hate bakir!!! gahaha. dys: I was gonna say he could train Octavia in brawl but as a follower of Allah I imagine he would refuse outright devil's fav demon (GM): i have no idea and have to look it up but maybe...? okay its kind of complicated because octavia is just enthusiastically doing things that no sane woman in an islamic society would want to do, as women are considered noncombatants and can't be killed legally even during wartime. maybe we can rp something out where octavia attacks him while he dodges and if you land a hit he'll just treat you like a man. he can probably train her in grappling without violating any rules or actually harming her. dys: on second thoughts i will just train great weapon. we have 3 supergrogs with great weapon, do any of them have teaching? Endrite (GM): Probably not. devil's fav demon (GM): Training is different from teaching and can be done by anyone, without even knowing the same language it just has to be one on one instruction. Endrite (GM): AFK a minute. devil's fav demon (GM): I'm not sure if you can use a grog as a source of this since our grogs dont have seasonal advancement. ha ha ha. but i personally dont have a problem. if anyone wants to claim a specialist grog as a one on one teacher for a few seasons c'thinker (GM): greetings. dys: hi johns: salvete moe: salve a tutti johns: can you take 5 adv xp in an art? Dusan of Criamon: if you used it imo c'thinker (GM): yes johns: kewl changing lavinia's off season to adventure, +5 summoning, +3 charm Dusan of Criamon: before fun begins i would like a GM decision on what my living conditions are for 2 years in the caves of twisting shadows from what i understand it's actually a regio of some sort johns: is CoTS sumer, autumn, or winter Dusan of Criamon: it's uhhhhh prima domus johns: lets say autumn Dusan of Criamon: do supercovenants have seasons c'thinker (GM): it's really active isn't it Octavia: yes johns: modifier for a Magus in an Autumn covenant is -2 to the roll no bonus from health regimen or the regular roman stuff Dusan of Criamon: so just -2 Octavia: I'm not sure what the current canon for the covenant is though as its 140 years after the assumed canon of the HoH book johns: -2 + your age/5 err age/10 Dusan of Criamon: yeah yeah, but -2 on the covenant johns: itd be hard for it to slip into winter cause it's full of ghosts all the time who never leave c'thinker (GM): double autumn Dusan of Criamon: okay one roll for 1359 which was at the covenant, two more in the cave and one back at the covenant let's roll rolling 1d10-3 ( 1 ) -3 = -2 safe johns: nice. Dusan of Criamon: two caves rolling 1d10 ( 10 ) = 10 ugly devil's fav demon (GM): johns the statue has gained a total of 26 xp in brawl Dusan of Criamon: 1 in any, ok i'll assign them after all rolls rolling 1d10 ( 5 ) = 5 rolling 1d10-3 ( 4 ) -3 = 1 okay, one aging in any Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait, did anyone invent any spells? c'thinker (GM): i'm drinking some tea to try and wake up. devil's fav demon (GM): (To GM) rolling 1d10!-4 bakir aging 1358 ( 1 ) -4 = -3 Octavia: congrats on your aging, dusan devil's fav demon (GM): (To GM) rolling 1d10!-4 bakir aging 1359 ( 7 ) -4 = 3 johns (GM): there is no way to know, because no seasons have been posted for any magus other than Dusan. Dusan of Criamon: mostly safe Alphubel ex Merinita: Uh, I posted mine. Beardbeard: i have to wait on archibald to figure out when the ritual is being made Dusan of Criamon: I usually don't post and just have them on my charsheet but i felt it was a special occasion Brutulus updates journal Octavia: Well, I'm playing Octavia this season, I assumed I had another week to think about spells for the city of ass. I can learn the INT increasing ritual in spring 1361 if Guy and Rosario help. Dusan of Criamon: might I also point out that with EW 8 my labyrinth meditation now takes 7.5 minutes and takes place entirely within my mind? Octavia: Then in summer I'll invent a ward against fire Then after that, who knows devil's fav demon (GM): (To GM) rolling 1d10!-4 bakir aging 1360 ( 7 ) -4 = 3 Lavinia: I would like to spend some vis on Brutulus' training. Since it would seem no one minds when large chunks of vis go missing. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Convene the Council! c'thinker (GM): very well. devil's fav demon (GM): oh, spring 1361? sure, i'll reassign Rosario's spring Octavia: Good point Lavinia: 2 pawns will bring his Brawl (stealth assassination) to a nice Level 3, and 12 will bring it to Level 4. Octavia: Johns, lets see if Guy can bluff about his vis usage lemme check archibald's folk ken c'thinker (GM): everyone is actually present at vardian's tomb in the winter of this year, right Archibald of Guernicus: "Guy, where did all this vis go? 18 pawns!" devil's fav demon (GM): lol Alphubel ex Merinita: There's literally no way to know. Lavinia: We have 52 pawns of Perdo Vis. I would like to spend 12 of them on the statue. Dusan of Criamon: Unfortunately. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Lavinia: Actually, I will say that In Character, at the Council Meeting. Is Archibald grilling Guy publicly? Archibald of Guernicus: Sure. Making a murder implement more powerful can only be a good thing Guy of Bonisagus: "I am working on a project." Archibald of Guernicus: Well I believe in-character Archibald is the one who tracks the vis ledger devil's fav demon: (To GM) rolling 1d10!-3 bakir aging 1361 ( 9 ) -3 = 6 Archibald of Guernicus: "But 18 pawns is far too much for study, and beyond any sort of enchantment." rolling 1d10!+3+2 folk ken ( 5 ) +3+2 = 10 Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10!+7 ( 10 + 3 ) +7 = 20 lmfao thats guile Dusan of Criamon: Guy of Tytalus indeed Lavinia: "I used 22 vis alone on a single Animo just recently." Rosario of Flambeau walks into the council chamber, eating a crispy pear Guy of Bonisagus: "Have some trust in your sodales, Archibald." c'thinker (GM): do not ask what the project is Alphubel ex Merinita: I feel like you shouldn't be able to use persuasion skills against players. Dusan of Criamon: "I feel humbled to be able to share a covenant with enchanters this powerful." Archibald of Guernicus: "Mmm, you're right. Sorry for sounding so accusing, Guy, just getting the ledgers sorted out." Rosario of Flambeau: rofl. Dusan of Criamon: it's not just the murder - it's the getting away with iot Rosario of Flambeau: "Just don't use all the vis before I get to it! Ho-ho!" Guy of Bonisagus: "That's quite alright, Archibald. Recent events have been stressful on everyone." Rosario of Flambeau claps Guy on the back. Belzer of Mercere sips kosher brandy Archibald of Guernicus: "We'll be using a pile when we get that Brigid ritual sorted out. And I used a number myself on a project, I believe it'll be quite useful." Guy of Bonisagus: more creo or ignem vis will be missing once i make octavias spear which ill also do during the time we have Lavinia: "Anyway, I'd like to use 12 pawns of Perdo Vis, which constitutes less than 3 years collection." Archibald of Guernicus: "Oh, aye, certainly. More animo?" Lavinia: "Training Brutulus to be an efficient quiet tool for our covenant's troubleshooting needs." Archibald of Guernicus: "The animo do seem a very useful tool, regular enchantments are less... animated." "However, behold." I produce a stone orb the size and shape of an eye, with a ruby set in the place of the pupil Alphubel ex Merinita: I behold it. c'thinker (GM): Impressive! Rosario of Flambeau: "Nothing like getting your hands dirty yourself, though. An animo might be impressive, but it's so detached." Dusan of Criamon: Beautiful. Archibald of Guernicus: "I'll let a demonstration show its power. One moment." I set it down on the floor and depart to my lab Then go through the various spells and enchantments to activate it Lavinia: "I had no idea Archibald was capable of making such an aesthetic item." Archibald of Guernicus: First a statue of Archibald is summoned around it, then it's made to look like him, then it starts moving Rosario of Flambeau: "It looks just like him!" Archibald of Guernicus: this all takes about a minute of various spells Lavinia: "Oh, it's for letting him sit in his lab all day instead of interacting with society? I take it back." Archibald of Guernicus: "Hello, sodales. From inside my lab, and yet, with you here!" Alphubel ex Merinita: "Astounding." Rosario of Flambeau covers his ears to muffle the barking dogs Lavinia claps politely devil's fav demon: BRB Archibald of Guernicus: "It sidesteps the nefarious influence of the Gift, meaning I can join ye all on dealings with the nobility again." Alphubel ex Merinita: "It does present something of a burden to spellcasting." Archibald of Guernicus: "Plus it's practically immune tae harm, and can be easily retrieved if in danger." "Oh, aye, it inhibits that unfortunately." Lavinia: "Something like this should be standard issue for every mage in the order suffering the curse of the Blatant Gift." Archibald of Guernicus: "It's certainly helpful." Alphubel ex Merinita: "You could have always enslaved a goblin to do the job." Lavinia: "You have no idea how much you've missed in the last... " (quick mental math) "50 odd years?") Guy of Bonisagus drinks deeply of a fresh wine bottle while staring at the item. Gulielmus of Pure Reason: "The latest in Hermetic technology." Guy of Bonisagus: the actual item shouldve been something like a small buddha statue but a smiling archibald resting his hands on his stomach instead Dusan of Criamon: "Truly a fantastic simulacrum. This almost opens up whole new questions for philosophy!" Archibald of Guernicus: "It's a powerful tool for exploration, as well. With aquam and aurum both blighted, breathing underwater is a difficulty task indeed." Guy of Bonisagus: oh my god. the statue can even teleport we just need someone with a sling and a good throwing arm Archibald of Guernicus: It's got a constant enchantment up to make it practically indestructable so it wont be casually chipped or harmed Lavinia: "You could, for instance, hear Petrarch's latest work, as read from the Master himself. Or gaze at the masterwork of Notre Dame. And so on..." Archibald of Guernicus: And if the statue itself is harmed, who cares? It was creo-d only Dusan of Criamon: "I can't believe I will have a chance to throw Archibald over a wall or into a hard to reach place now!" Archibald of Guernicus: I spent 3 years of seasons on this so I feel no shame in showing it off Dusan of Criamon: "For the good of the adventuring party, of course" Archibald of Guernicus: "Aye. I can teleport it back tae my hands if ever need be, there's no risk of it becoming lost." Dusan of Criamon: taking notes for eventual talisman creation Lavinia: "You could explore shipwrecks like our beloved Aristocritus always wanted to..." Alphubel ex Merinita: "Can you teleport it through a regio boundary?" Lavinia: "Pax vobiscum, old friend." Belzer of Mercere: "Incredible." Archibald of Guernicus: can you teleport across regiob oundaries? I believe not but worth confirming Belzer of Mercere: Arcadian Travel can employ arcane connections Lavinia: it varies by regio Archibald of Guernicus: "Depends on the regio, Alphubel." Lavinia: i.e. it's up to the GM's need for Story purposes >:D Belzer of Mercere: But then again Arcadian Travel requires access to the mother road Alphubel ex Merinita: Bwahaha. Belzer of Mercere: I mean, employs the mother road Guy of Bonisagus: employed mother devil's fav demon: back Covenfolk: same A yawning grog wanders into the council chamber and interrupts Archibald's demonstration. Belzer of Mercere: "Some trods are, as I hear it, closed off to magic shortcuts." Alphubel ex Merinita: Good thing apples aren't in season. Rosario of Flambeau stops hitting the statue of Archibald with his spare sword. Rosario of Flambeau: "It really is quite solid!" Lavinia: "Salve, Covenfolk. Serious magic at work here." Covenfolk: "Oh, pardon the interruption, your assorted esteemed lordships." "Lorenzo up in the tower figures it's nearly dawn." Alphubel ex Merinita: AFK for a sec. Rosario of Flambeau: "Always nice to hear from the staff." c'thinker (GM): It's that most important of dates on the Hermetic calendar, the winter solstice. Archibald of Guernicus: ah, the aegis Belzer of Mercere: Gotta recast the Aegis Dusan of Criamon: That wonderful joining together of all mages in a covenant Guy of Bonisagus: aegis boy: i want some fresh aegis Archibald of Guernicus: "Ah, the aegis, of course. I'll be right back up again." Fiorella of Jerbiton arrives to help commune the aegis c'thinker (GM): speaking of which, how powerful is our aegis Fiorella of Jerbiton: Every wizard participates so they don't need casting tokens Archibald of Guernicus: The statue stops moving as I head back up, and falls apart as the enchantments end and I pocket the eye again. Brief moment of 2 archibalds in the room its a level 30 aegis i believe its just me and fiorella who do the actual casting, as she has communion Lavinia: I'm seeing double. 4 scotchmen. c'thinker (GM): excellent. Lavinia: do non-hermetics / redcaps participate in aegises Archibald of Guernicus: I believe only Gifted magi do by default, but redcaps might participate ceremonially it doesnt do anything for them but its what magi do so they join in Belzer can decide if he does or not, Zita used to join in with them since they were the biggest social gathering in the covenant typically c'thinker (GM): oh, yeah Dusan of Criamon: It's probably really nice to be invited to that sort of thing c'thinker (GM): i didn't drag the companions in but they should be there Archibald of Guernicus: Lavinia would still be inhibited by the aegis so she has to participate c'thinker (GM): at least if they have any powers Archibald of Guernicus: and she wouldnt be able to give tokens to her animo to enter Bakir the Grappler: Bakir is there because he likes walking in circles around things Guy of Bonisagus: proclus would have loved this c'thinker (GM): the whole gang is here Octavia: Octavia is here and standing guard over the proceedings. Belzer of Mercere: I will participate to keep the aegis from fucking with my items And my faerie properties Dusan of Criamon: Oh, and Dusan wasn't here for two years Octavia: Oh yeah. Enchanted items. Dusan of Criamon: so this is a lot of catching up GM: Everyone files out of the Eastern Ear. Rosario of Flambeau does some pushups GM: A few grogs and locals have gathered to watch the ceremony. Lavinia: This whole thing is a little embarassing. GM: The sweet chorus of pre-dawn birdsong echoes from above. Alphubel ex Merinita: Ok, I'm back. Have we considered holding a carnival and inviting a bunch of weirdos and fairies to compete in games of skill and chance? Guy of Bonisagus: why would we hold a carnival for just the covenant? Dusan of Criamon: We are pretty important, and jovial Lavinia: the best way to disguise it would be as a Saint's Procession Archibald of Guernicus: "Odd. A moment, sodales." I teleport up to the Aviary Lavinia: but I know Archibald can't stand that Dusan of Criamon: We could have like, a day where the drinks are half off and we invite unusual entertainment, some jesters or similar (From Fiorella of Jerbiton): I use my mental communication link to ask what the matter is. Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll teleport up too Dusan of Criamon: Become even more beloved a part of the Roman community Lavinia: "You may have noticed most of the Guilds in this city sponsor public events like Feast Days. It'd make sense for the Magic Guild to do the same." "The feast of Saint Nereus or somesuch." GM: roll Bird Ken. Archibald of Guernicus: the floor is yours, fiorella Alphubel ex Merinita: I refuse to. Dusan of Criamon: "Let's not call it Feast of the Magic Guild. We should allow people to have fun but not reveal our cards too much. Fiorella of Jerbiton: I have ANimal Handling. I don't use Animal Ken as I can do the same thing with spells Are we testing my knowledge of birds or ability to talk to birds? Alphubel ex Merinita: Much like many Supernatural abilities. Guy of Bonisagus: much like your posting Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean, you could use magic to recreate my excellent posting. Lavinia: "Let's think what Saint would be good for us... would have to be celebrated on this day, December 21.." Alphubel ex Merinita: Possibly, were you puissant enough. "Oh, Saint Jesus!" Fiorella of Jerbiton: Saint Lucifer Alphubel ex Merinita: "That's his feast day, right?" Lavinia: "That's Christmas, Alphubel, that's on the 25th." Fiorella of Jerbiton: rolling d10+3+1+1 Int + Animal Handling (birds) ( 2 ) +3+1+1 = 7 Alphubel ex Merinita: "Ah, well, nevertheless, you could give him another feast, right?" Lavinia: im looking up saints for this day and there's no cool patron saints or anything, just a bunch of no-name martyrs :( Rosario of Flambeau: gah Dusan of Criamon: no-game martyrds lmao Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. "What if we just made up a saint?" Dusan of Criamon: "Unheard of!" Lavinia: most of these guys don't even merit a wiki article, that's how sad they are Alphubel ex Merinita: "It can't be that hard if mundanes can do it." Fiorella of Jerbiton: Saint Bonisagus Lavinia: "Saint Aristocritus." Alphubel ex Merinita: Isn't there a wiki just for martyrs? Rosario of Flambeau: "Let's pretend one of those sexy goat women is a saint." "Is that wrong?" Archibald of Guernicus: I shed a single tear without knowing why Dusan of Criamon: "Saint Mortis, he died for... his sins." (From Fiorella of Jerbiton): "I'll see if form will lend me insight." Fiorella the Raven shapeshifts Lavinia: ok apparently there's two calendars, a modern one and a "TRaditional" one im assuming the traditional calendar is the one in use now. by that Dec 21 can be Saint Thomas the Apostle's day. an apostle is a good get Guy of Bonisagus: trad Fiorella the Raven: Oh, lammargeiers are said to be able to predict battles, in order to find food. Rabble: nice. Lavinia: Saint Thomas is the patron saint of... India. Fiorella the Raven: If I don't get any pricklings by virtue of being a bird alone, I'll go with that Saint Elliot, Patron Saint of the Celibate Gentleman Rabble: let's go with that. Dusan of Criamon: Gah! Archibald of Guernicus: patron saint of chastity Rabble: your lammargeier familiar has delivered a vague yet ominous report. Alphubel ex Merinita: Classic. Dusan of Criamon: Those of us here who are celibate are so by choice! Lavinia: good news the only source material we have on Saint Thomas is insanely heretical Archibald of Guernicus: what about mortis, who was desperate to get a gf and died before he could Dusan of Criamon: He's dead. RIP Lavinia: I resent any suggestion that Mortis earned his way to Heaven Rabble: anyway, the aegis has lapsed. Dusan of Criamon: I'm saying he's probably at peace, in hell. Guy of Bonisagus: huh, only the catholic church references saint thomas?? Archibald of Guernicus: "Come, let's cast the aegis, the birds must be stirring over nothing." Alphubel ex Merinita: We'd better do the ritual then. Dusan of Criamon: "Let's get it done! Boy do I hope I remember all the movements." Fiorella the Raven: Fiorella is an incel, she avoided a longevity ritual in the hopes she'd be married off by now Alphubel ex Merinita: I actually have Aegis of the Hearth so we could do a Wizard's Communion at some point. Rabble: after killing archibald Archibald of Guernicus: You dont need to know the spell, just a high enough level communion Alphubel ex Merinita: Oh right. Fiorella the Raven: Anyway I'll return to the council chambers Dusan of Criamon: Dusan is oblivious to the fact he's not actually really casting anything as he knows neither aegis nor communion Archibald of Guernicus: ill return to the aegis casting area as well Rosario of Flambeau: I should learn Communion soon. Rabble: do you cast the aegis in the council chamber. Alphubel ex Merinita: You need to cast it around the boundary. Lavinia: I think the Aegis requires you to trace the boundary Rabble: yeah Fiorella of Jerbiton: "My familiar seems to sense a bad omen. As she's a lammargeier, I suspect violent conflict is coming." Dusan of Criamon: Archibald grumbling back outdoors Lavinia: "No offense, but if she is disturbed by violence she must hate living in this city." "Or this peninsula." Alphubel ex Merinita: I laugh at Lavinia's clever joke. Rabble: A couple people cheer as the magi line up to walk the boundary of the covenant. Archibald of Guernicus: Man this ritual really makes us look like crazy wizards Dusan of Criamon: Which we are! So good. Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Well, it's fortiutous for most bearded vultures, who eat the bones of the dead after a battle. Sentience may make the sensation different for Camilla though." Lavinia: id like to wear a mask Rabble: archibald. as consul of vardian's tomb and resident mercurian it is your job to draw a dotted line tracing your path Guy of Bonisagus: archibalds gonna get fucking ganked Archibald of Guernicus: This is the boundary I believe? Not sure Dusan of Criamon: we don't cover the clinic and apothecary? Lavinia: the brown road is the boundary i think including part of the proper street Dusan of Criamon: or the nice statue? Lavinia: a boundary is better when it uses stuff that already exists to denote it Rosario of Flambeau: "I wish we had a grog who knew how to sing songs." Rabble: also, everyone roll awareness. Alphubel ex Merinita: Doesn't Derfel have that? Rabble: that's true Lavinia: rolling 1d10!+2+0 per+aware ( 2 ) +2+0 = 4 Alphubel ex Merinita: rolling 1d10 + 2 Awareness ( 8 ) +2 = 10 Rabble: also traditionally all of the labs are to the west of the well Dusan of Criamon: rolling 1d10+4 ( 6 ) +4 = 10 Alphubel ex Merinita: +1 if it's a faerie. Lavinia: I can barely see out of this stupid mask. Belzer of Mercere: rolling d10+1 ( 10 ) +1 = 11 Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10+2 ( 4 ) +2 = 6 Archibald of Guernicus: rolling 1d10!+3+3 ( 9 ) +3+3 = 15 +2 rather Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10+1+3 ( 9 ) +1+3 = 13 Archibald of Guernicus: so 14 Rosario of Flambeau: Nice. Rabble: nice. Archibald of Guernicus: belzer, roll another die, awareness is always stressed iirc Octavia: Oh hey, I'm here too. Here's my roll. rolling 1d10!-3 ( 7 ) -3 = 4 1 if hearing-based Belzer of Mercere: rolling 1+d10!+11 forgot Perception 1+( 1 ) +11 = 13 13 total Rabble: There's a slight tremor as Archibald leads the squad around the corner by the warehouse... Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Rabble: it's probably nothing Belzer of Mercere: Etna's getting feisty Archibald of Guernicus: Yahoo Guy of Bonisagus: using rego corpus to backwards long jump into jail Rabble: The procession makes its way around the beehives. So far this aegis casting is going swimmingly. Alphubel ex Merinita: Nice. Rabble: Stellar work so far. Dusan of Criamon: Excellent Octavia: Oh I missed Rosario's comment earlier "I can sing, boss." Rabble: The enchantment on the aviary really sounds great today. Octavia: I'll start singing a marching song. Like many of Roman times, and all times really, it's crude and explicit Rosario of Flambeau: "Excellent! Can you give us something rousing to keep pace with?" Octavia: rolling 1d10!+1+4 comm+music ( 9 ) +1+4 = 14 Dusan of Criamon: We're practically a more magical michirineko Rabble: There's a lot of noise coming from the stables and kennel though. No time to worry about it. Lavinia: They can smell the gift Rosario of Flambeau: Octavia's probably drowning the noise out for now. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Lavinia: That's another thing Archibald can look forward to, walking through the city without every dog trying to bite him Rabble: The apothecary is quiet. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. We should send the grogs to check that out. Archibald of Guernicus: A way to walk around and interact with the world while not giving off the Gift has been his dream for a long time Rabble: ever since the vegetable lamb of tartary died in the blight there's not a lot of plants that make noise Guy of Bonisagus: bubble boy Lavinia: He can -- haha, hehe, hoho -- go to church Rabble: gahaha Belzer of Mercere: Mandrigora Lavinia: His enchantment would keep him from feeling the Aura of the Divine, tragically Rabble: The rabble cheers! Belzer of Mercere: Another excellent aegising Dusan of Criamon: I'm reading now that communion is also not required Lavinia: did he roll to make sure no botch Belzer of Mercere: "Mazeltov." Dusan of Criamon: or at least i can't find mention of it being required Belzer of Mercere: Communion increases the penetration Dusan of Criamon: okay Rabble: yeah there are only two people participating in the actual communion i think Archibald of Guernicus: "Wonderful. Now someone shoo away that bloody rabble." Yeah it's me and Fiorella actually casting it now with 3 pawns of vis Metrofane: Belzer will go inside, change into Metrofane, and then offer the Rabble some free bread if they stop gawking around the inn Lavinia: rabble please enjoy this bread NOT leavened with the blood of goyim Guy of Bonisagus: great work everyone. we did it. Metrofane: I don't eat this non-kosher bread so I can feel safe giving it away Guy of Bonisagus: this was a great adventure cumthinke r Rabble: thank you. thank you Metrofane: I'll have a bagel later Alphubel ex Merinita: So can we send the grogs to check out the stables or what? Dusan of Criamon: This ruled I enjoyed not being threatened with murder or committing murder Metrofane: Oh, bagels are anachronistic, maybe I can still have a matzo Dusan of Criamon: matzo is historically correct as an ascetic, Dusan will also partake Guy of Bonisagus: eat bread Dusan of Criamon: well, temperate. He'll dip it in wine Metrofane: That night, they are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire; they are to eat it with matzo and maror. — Exodus 12:8 do not do any kind of work. — Deuteronomy 16:8 Archibald of Guernicus: do not murder Lavinia: be a NEET Rabble: Unfortunately as you are coming down the street you hear a loud noise from below. Rosario of Flambeau: Archibald of Guernicus: do not murder "What was that?" Rabble: Like a siege cannon, or maybe a lab accident. The earth shakes. Dusan of Criamon: "Have some more wine, dear Rosario." Lavinia: a .... "cannon" ? Alphubel ex Merinita: Siege cannon? Rabble: as we speak cannons are being used to demolish moorish fortresses Metrofane: Siege Kannon. Eastern religion is here! Alphubel ex Merinita: Well, I mean it is Rome, there's a bunch of canons doing sieges. Lavinia: why would someone bring the Gospel to a Siege? strange Metrofane: *far eastern Rabble: pretty sure at least. Guy of Bonisagus: "Huh? What was that noise?" Lavinia: resuming patrol Archibald of Guernicus: "It came fae below. The catacombs?" Rabble: anyway, roll concentration if you are participating in the wizard's communion Alphubel ex Merinita: rolling 1d10 + 2 ( 10 ) +2 = 12 Guy of Bonisagus: whats the stat for concentration Archibald of Guernicus: int+concentration? Alphubel ex Merinita: Nice. Guy of Bonisagus: int? rolling 1d10+4 ( 2 ) +4 = 6 Archibald of Guernicus: rolling 1d10!+2 ( 7 ) +2 = 9 Lavinia: sta iirc for casting Alphubel ex Merinita: Oh. Archibald of Guernicus: oh, 1 higher then Rabble: nice. let's see fiorella's roll Dusan of Criamon: rolling 1d10+2 ( 10 ) +2 = 12 Archibald of Guernicus: all these people not casting roll conc anyway Dusan of Criamon: oh communion, sorry Fiorella of Jerbiton: rolling d10!+2 ( 8 ) +2 = 10 Archibald of Guernicus: 10 each, we did it Dusan of Criamon: oh ok Lavinia: rolling 1d10!-1+2 ( 2 ) -1+2 = 3 Rabble: incredible Lavinia daydreams Fiorella of Jerbiton: I will conf if it's EF12 Rabble: it's just 9 Archibald of Guernicus: being lightly jostled cant be a high EF Fiorella of Jerbiton: I did it Archibald of Guernicus: phew congrats, fiorella Lavinia: sudden noises/ jostling is EF 9. can you imagine an Ease FActor table for any other skill in the entire ars canon haha Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10!+1-1 ( 1 ) +1-1 = 1 Dusan of Criamon: almost getting it done Rosario of Flambeau: nice. Rabble: Disturbing, but the party goes on. Alphubel ex Merinita: I can imagine that. It's the Bravery trait table. Fiorella of Jerbiton: There's EF for Lore at least Rabble: delivered entirely in terms of "someone who is not very brave might do this" "someone who is exceptionally brave would do this most of the time" Lavinia: the agency stuff has good EF Alphubel ex Merinita: It's great. It's exactly what you need. Lavinia: and Crafting does too but these are buried in otherwise really obtuse subsystems. argh! Fiorella of Jerbiton: Finesse has some crazy EFs in splats that make you not want to be a Rego telekineticist Rabble: Flowers start to pop up out of the ground as the procession enters its last leg. Lavinia: oh yeah there's Finesse EF for memory stuff, which are all sensible -- then there are Finesse EF for crafting which are the stupidest shit possible because god forbid anyone violates the vis economy Fiorella of Jerbiton: There just aren't really enough bonuses to Finesse you can powergame around Alphubel ex Merinita: I like that they don't want you to use magic to ruin the economy but also there's a spell that creates thousands of mythic pounds worth of pearls at level 20. Rabble: enough for one bolt of byzantine cloth Guy of Bonisagus: "Flowers! Magically appearing flowers! Is the blight over?" Dusan of Criamon: "Haha! Perhaps. Let us continue unhindered." Fiorella of Jerbiton: It's really easy to powergame items or rituals Alphubel ex Merinita: "That seems foolish to do." Fiorella of Jerbiton: And be very efficient with vis Alphubel ex Merinita: "I would guess this is a mischievous fairy." Lavinia: the purpose I imagine is a covenant should be impossible to make "self-sufficient" without needing external vis sources or else there's few story hooks Belzer of Mercere: rolling d10!+1+1+1 Faerie Lore + Paranoia trait ( 7 ) +1+1+1 = 10 Lavinia: forcing the troupe into stories they want is the Faggot GM's perogative and the players must not be allowed to resist it Rabble: this. Belzer of Mercere: "Maybe some Knockers snuck in while the aegis was down." Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Guy of Bonisagus: haha. thinks of the concept for guy as a kind herbam and corpus user Lavinia: lmao Alphubel ex Merinita: We definitely need to send grogs to check this out. Rabble: Anyway the earth begins to rumble in earnest. Belzer of Mercere: Go check it out, Nappa Dusan of Criamon: "Hm. Hm. True, true. But I should help finish this first." Lavinia: "An earthquake??" Guy of Bonisagus: "Resuming path." Belzer of Mercere: Earthquake? takes bite of matza sounds gay Rabble: Make... a second concentration roll. Dusan of Criamon: rolling 1d10+2 ( 2 ) +2 = 4 ah Alphubel ex Merinita: rolling 1d10 + 2 ( 1 ) +2 = 3 Archibald of Guernicus: rolling 1d10!+2 ( 1 ) +2 = 3 Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! Archibald of Guernicus: Yeah rip the aegis Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10+2 ( 1 ) +2 = 3 uh oh Alphubel ex Merinita: Well we can just do it again. Rabble: booya. Fiorella of Jerbiton: rolling d10!+2 ( 8 ) +2 = 10 Dusan of Criamon: We'll have to now that you INTERRUPTED US Fiorella of Jerbiton: 12 this time? I gues sits not worth it if Archibald botched Rabble: does this make the spell botch Archibald of Guernicus: I failed anyway and i'm the one casting the actual ritual. Lavinia: look at all those 1s. Archibald of Guernicus: I think so. Multiple concentration rolls are just "you lose" Rabble: good strat on my part. Archibald of Guernicus: d10 is too swingy to not fuck up at least once anyway Dusan of Criamon: we should have grinded conc Rabble: rolling 4d10 ( 3 + 4 + 9 + 6 ) = 22 Dusan of Criamon: it's our fault Fiorella of Jerbiton: Linear rolls are bad for any sort of extended check Dice pools do them best Archibald of Guernicus: grinding conc wouldnt have helped as i was 9 off, so i would need over 200xp in concentration Dusan of Criamon: sad Lavinia: We have neglected conc too long because of merciful GMs ignoring the most hated Concentration Rules Archibald of Guernicus: I wonder why we ignored those [uses them for even a few seconds and begins throwing up] Alphubel ex Merinita: Abilities are junk! Dusan of Criamon: We built our houses on the sand and now we they come crashing down on us Rabble: this is all part of my elaborate revenge for johns demanding a conc roll to dispel rosario's sword Dusan of Criamon: lmao Lavinia: No, it's cool. Magi who already need to split all their XP between Arts and academic skills should have one more skill they need to invest in, just in case they were thinking of picking anything Martial or Social to "Waste" their time on. Archibald of Guernicus: lol Guy of Bonisagus: elaborate revenge for johns destroying your and also my character Alphubel ex Merinita: They're so grogs are worse than Magi but the rules are more punishing than wizards in Pendragon where you fall asleep for months after casting one spell and Greg Stafford begs you not to play them. Fiorella of Jerbiton: The ability system sucks, AbAsArts wasn't a good solution but it correctly identified a problem Rabble: you destroyed your own character's soul Lavinia: Does the botch kill Lavinia Rosario of Flambeau: lol/ Lavinia: I mean for a revenge plot the people who are going to suffer are Archibald and Fiorella Rabble: it didnt confirm so archibald has just fallen on his damn face Alphubel ex Merinita: He explicitly says to never play a wizard and that it was just because one of his friends asked him to make rules for them. Lavinia: lol. Gulielmus of Pure Reason: "Sacrebleu!" Archibald of Guernicus: "Damnit, the ritual! What is that shaking?" Lavinia: there should be 0 wizard PCs in Pendragon unless you are directly apprenticed by Merlin Fiorella of Jerbiton: Keep in mind as you read the rules for the Rape Monster that players should never be one, they are given stats here to help flesh out the game's antagonists. Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean, there's no excuse to have a wizard PC in the setting, but you know we let Hafl be a magical girl so I can see how it could happen with other players. Gulielmus of Pure Reason: Suddenly a tree bursts out of the earth in front of Archibald's face, showering him with dirt. Lavinia: shaun i have noticed that in some of the later adventure books I read they specifically note some beasts are not made balanced by the ROP rules and say s"this is fine because its an npc" "Herbam magic!" Gulielmus of Pure Reason: that's directly in the rop books isn't it Fiorella of Jerbiton: They do that in Faerie too Gulielmus of Pure Reason: theres rules for making pcs and you can ignore them and wing it if it isn't meant to be playable Rosario of Flambeau: "A tree?!" Archibald of Guernicus: "What? What?" Fiorella of Jerbiton: It's not because they're rapists, it's because they don't have enough flaws to balance them out, or too many virtues Lavinia: that makes sense, yet I ALSO see stuff where they explicitly do try to balance it out and make note of "these flaws/abilities aren't really important but are necessary to match virtues and flaws" Guy of Bonisagus: "It's a miracle! The blight really is over!" Lavinia: "Phew... no need to go traipsing through Araby." Alphubel ex Merinita: I talked to Liesmith for literally an hour about how much I hate that you use PC rules to make NPCs and mosnters. Gulielmus of Pure Reason: A second tree pops up, and a third, and a fourth. Guy of Bonisagus: Tears in my eyes, I approach the tree and attempt to cast Conjure the Sturdy Vine. Gulielmus of Pure Reason: They're all over the covenant grounds (not depicted). Dusan of Criamon: "There goes the casting. Ugh. It's like the whole world wants a piece of us in this important time!" Alphubel ex Merinita: Ok we should go to the council chambers and retry this at a later time. Lavinia: they could have just published a splatbook entirely of Monsters and Beings of Might and every GM would have bought it Belzer of Mercere: Ars statlbocks are too complicated Lavinia: just like Magi of Hermes exists to give you quick Ages Magi sheets to pull Gulielmus of Pure Reason: Your casting of Conjure the Sturdy Vine fails! Guy of Bonisagus: "Wha...?" Lavinia: What kind of trees are these, GM Gulielmus of Pure Reason: pomegranate Belzer of Mercere: Magi of Hermes is like the only good book for comping up with an adventure a half hour before the game starts Lavinia: oooooh Rosario of Flambeau: "I wonder if the Praeco is involved with this." Alphubel ex Merinita: The stat blocks for Faerie and Magic creatures make me fucking puke with how much nonsense is in it. Lavinia: lol yeah Belzer of Mercere: I guess the RoP bestiaries SORT of work fo rthat but like johns said it needs to be the entire book Alphubel ex Merinita: Ok, I'll head into the Eastern Ear Inn. Belzer of Mercere: And like Endrite says it's a lot of nonsense Lavinia: "Gulielmus, can you ask these trees where they came from?" Archibald of Guernicus: I'll cast my spell to detect all active magic Dusan of Criamon: "Folks, we should redo this. Let's go grab some vis. I don't like the covenant to be unhearthed." Archibald of Guernicus: rolling 1d10+41 ( 4 ) +41 = 45 Belzer of Mercere: Hmmm, wonder who is spying on us at this moment Archibald of Guernicus: Casts with fatigue Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm well it's a giant so you'll need Improved Pretense Strength +9 so it can be strong and also 3 different traits so it can be giant Archibald of Guernicus: I can now see all active magic brb while you tell me what is going on Lavinia: 5 years of playing this and I still have no clue how faeries work mechanically Guy of Bonisagus: you do not see an aegis of the hearth haha hoo hoo Belzer of Mercere: Faeries have 1 virtue point per 5 might I mean, spend 1 virtue point per 5 Archibald of Guernicus: oh, to clarify - i see the magic and what form it is and what it does and the caster's sigil Covenfolk: hehe. Alphubel ex Merinita: I can't imagine making a dragon, at all. Belzer of Mercere: Don't make faeries who can gain XP if you want to maintain your sanity, you can generate them fine without doing os Imagine Dragons Lavinia: whoaOAO Dusan of Criamon: brb Covenfolk: ok, there are several things going on Belzer of Mercere: Best virtue for asshole faeries is External Vis so they can keep coming back after PCs FEO them 15 seconds into the conversation Covenfolk: the first is, everything is kind of a mess. buildings are damaged, carts are overturned, covenfolk and rabble are dangling from trees also the earth is still shaking. Endrite: "Faeries basically just have whatever stats they think will conform to their role in the story. Also you need to follow 80 pages of rules to figure out how many skills it has." Alphubel ex Merinita: Am I inside the inn? Covenfolk: not yet! Lavinia: external vis is the Faggot jollybottoms power Belzer of Mercere: Faeries use the same rule sfor characteristics and have a set amount of XP, the arbitrary part is that you can just give them a bazillion virtues if you want them to be powerful It really is the Faggot Jollybottoms power, you force the players to engage the Story if they want to permanently kill the annoying guy Covenfolk: archibald is detecting magic, and discovers some powerful herbam effects (crhe and rehe equivalents) herbam-like effects i should say. it's not hermetic but it is Magic Lavinia: "What rotten fortune for an earthquake to hit now of all time! Let's take cover!" Fiorella of Jerbiton: "Perhaps you could use the unwelcome entrance to trace where this tree is rooted?" Covenfolk: the trees have been created as a ritual (-equivalent) effect and are permanent Archibald of Guernicus: "This isn't natural, it's magic! Non-hermetic herbam effects, they might be fairy or worse." Lavinia: someone used vis to hurt us i cant believe it Alphubel ex Merinita: My feelings hurt. Guy of Bonisagus: who would do that none of us desrve that Dusan of Criamon: back Lavinia: since the effect is Divine we at least know it's not God's Retribution for you misusing His vis not divine Fiorella of Jerbiton: Wait, does Archibald's detection spell target a realm? Covenfolk: and, alphubel, a thick hedge of roses has grown in front of the inn. Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! I'll cast Doublet of Impenetrable Silk on my robe. Covenfolk: Nice. Lavinia: roses??? Et tu, Rosario? Dusan of Criamon: W're under attack! No! Not on this day when we are most vulnerable! Archibald of Guernicus: I think we houseruled InVi to just tell you the realm instead of needing 4 separate spells for every realm Alphubel ex Merinita: rolling 1d10 + 11 ( 4 ) +11 = 15 That's still and silent. Covenfolk: i think so yeah. Alphubel ex Merinita: Heh. So cool. Rosario of Flambeau: I will chop at the hedge. "Everyone safe in there?" Fiorella the Raven: I fly inside Covenfolk: it is Magic, ominously. Dusan of Criamon: i'm going to run sidestep Covenfolk: You hear an awful splintering noise as a fully-grown Lebanon cedar bursts through the roof of the Eastern Ear. Archibald of Guernicus: Huh. Well, RIP our covenant. Fiorella the Raven: I'll descend into the tomb and see if there's more plants. Dusan of Criamon: "Show yourself! Coward!" Archibald of Guernicus: I'll head in too, seeing if I can see any other effects up Guy of Bonisagus: I'll follow Rosario's path of destruction. "What the hell is all of this?" Lavinia: (To GM) rolling 1d10!+2+3 Lore (any realm) to sense any significance to the type of trees plaguing us ( 7 ) +2+3 = 12 Fiorella the Raven: I Sidestep What is this crap Archibald of Guernicus: Same, sidestep up Dusan of Criamon: "Perhaps someone from the east, pomegranate and cedar? Perhaps from Judea?" Covenfolk: the trees are coming who is above the trees? Dusan of Criamon: "Belzer, have we somehow accosted your people?" Lavinia: I put up Circling Winds of Protection. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Belzer of Mercere: "Yes, but that's centuries ago." Guy of Bonisagus: "The Jews did this?" Alphubel ex Merinita: I order the grogs to get axes and chop down the trees. Guy of Bonisagus: nice. lets get these trees to fall on the inn and completely destroy it Archibald of Guernicus: "Why is there always someone asking that at every disturbance?" Belzer of Mercere: "It's complicated." Lavinia:. o O ( if the inn falls down we can replace it with a badass tower ) Covenfolk: oh hell yes. (From Covenfolk): they are associated with the dead, pomegranate is obviously linked to the myth of proserpina and cedar is linked to embalming Dusan of Criamon: Where would we drink then? Rosario of Flambeau: I will try to pull Particella et al out of the Eastern Ear if I make it inside. Lavinia: "Dusan, they're trees associated with the dead." Belzer of Mercere: "The blight affects the Karaites as much as you, so I don't think they called these trees." GM: The trees start to whip around and batter the lumbergrogs. Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! Lavinia: "If there's a pattern here we might see a Yew tree next." GM: Morale is low! Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Belzer of Mercere: "Qabalists and Bal Shem don't really create wood from nothing as far as I hear." Alphubel ex Merinita: Where's the other closest entrance to the Catacombs? Octavia: If the trees are starting trouble I'll stab at them from afar with my spear Archibald of Guernicus: GM, I have darkvision, please reveal the map but only to me GM: It's uhh somewhere in Rome. Dusan of Criamon: I feel like I should help the grogs with some nonspecific PeHe Guy of Bonisagus: gm, i hurl pila at the darkness GM: is everyone descending to check out the covenant Belzer of Mercere: I'll stab a tree, using Leadership to flank with Octavia Dusan of Criamon: sure Lavinia: is going indoors a sane thing to do during an earthquake GM: ok probably not Lavinia: I stay outside. GM: behold. Belzer of Mercere: We said we're going into the tomb and the map changed so we're doing something correct, probably Rosario of Flambeau: ^^^ Lavinia: sick GM: is everyone beholding Alphubel ex Merinita: Wow! Wait where is this? GM: It's the cellar! Belzer of Mercere: I see naught Alphubel ex Merinita: Never seen THIS before! GM: zoom out it's to the east of the words AIDS LOL Belzer of Mercere: I see something now Lavinia: fine belzer ill go with GM: you could use your flexible and powerful hermetic magic to assist the grogs above The cellar is all fucked up. Guy of Bonisagus: "My wine!" Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm, I don't think my fire spells will help against these trees. Since they're still alive and therefore difficult to burn. ON THE OTHER HAND, it's way safer to sling fire around outside than in here. GM: Worse, a gigantic barrel of old Ildebrando's finest has escaped its rightful place and is lodged in the doorway to the catacombs. Rosario of Flambeau: That old fucker. Dusan of Criamon: I can't blame him, for I love his beverage. In moderation. Ildebrando: Gotcha! Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10+2+2 str athletics ( 8 ) +2+2 = 12 Rosario tries to push the barrel out of the way Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean, i can help out here. Rosario of Flambeau: "Heave-ho!" Archibald of Guernicus: I'll work up above on keeping the chaos under control and send some grogs down to deal with this disturbance. I'll hand over my Orb in case you need me. Ildebrando: Nice. Guy of Bonisagus: yeah, lets leave the outside world with the gawking mundanes to archibald Ildebrando: Rosario gives the barrel the old heave-ho. Morgana: I'll lead team grog Lavinia: Archibald outside: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpKmJCLSIQk Morgana: Octavia, Tunde, and whatever else I need to fill out my leadership cap Ildebrando: the team enters the lovingly rendered catacombs Dusan of Criamon: I'm gonna stick with Archibald, PeHe was my oroginal course of action Morgana: Octavia can vanguard Ildebrando: skulls everywhere. it's a real mess Lavinia: did you do this in Illwinter? Morgana: That way she gets to do the rolling Lavinia: its great Dusan of Criamon: if you guys down there need us, yell. Or blood-curdling scream, whichever Ildebrando: i did Rosario of Flambeau: yeah this map is sick Guy of Bonisagus: good work cumthinker Ildebrando:, then i chopped it up in mspaint Octavia: illwinter ftw Ildebrando: because it was 28 mb Octavia: lol tjat feel Ildebrando: hell of a feel. Alphubel ex Merinita: So what's to the North? Ildebrando: Catacombs. the entrance hall is to the west of course. through the niche Octavia: "We're hunting an enemy magus, bosses?" Morgana: "Whatever's making those trees." Alphubel ex Merinita: I feel like we shouldn't be so lost in our own covenant. Guy of Bonisagus: "Doesn't seem like a magus, but hunting is right." Alphubel ex Merinita: Which way to Archibald's lab? That's probably the most vulnerable place. Ildebrando: south and down imagine if something got into venator's lab and unleashed the horrible secret of vardian's tomb. how fucked up would that be? Lavinia: it would be awful Octavia: "Just point at it when we see it and I'll kill." Morgana: Ok, max group size so I need to pick two more grogs, uh Lavinia: we'd all get sucked into the Magic Realm and get to cure Magic. Morgana: Nap and Zach Ildebrando: napolino ftw. Alphubel ex Merinita: "We should secure Archibald's lab, since he's the most powerful magus in the covenant." Ildebrando: are these guys assisting up top, or raiding the covenant Guy of Bonisagus: what if this is the horrible secret of vardians tomb Morgana: They're flanking Octavia And giving her a group bonus Ildebrando: ah hang on i'm going to get rid of the shield Morgana: The shield is good Guy of Bonisagus: i cant believe that a group of zombies flying on zephyr winds got into lavinias lab and started drenching every copy of the aeneid with water Ildebrando: it is but i don't know who's actually here Dusan of Criamon: dusan is up archibald is up Morgana: Octavia, Morgania, Tunde, Nap, Zach Guy of Bonisagus: im down in the catacombs looking for the soruce of this so i can kill him or her or it Morgana: Guy is with us I think Yeah Alphubel ex Merinita: I'm down in the covenant. Octavia: Oh right. Archibald is in the covenant itself making sure the labs are fine. I'm here, on the actual adventure Morgana: Fiorella will go check on her birds Ildebrando: he's in the magic realm relaxing. Morgana: Belzer will check on his law library Vardian's Tomb admires the tasteful Roman columns. Morgana: Let's go to the underground bath Rosario of Flambeau: I was down here but ended up having to leave for a minute Octavia: "Magi, where should we investigate first?" Vardian's Tomb: lemme get uhh awareness Lavinia: rolling 1d10!+2 ( 1 ) +2 = 3 Octavia: rolling 1d10!-3 and 3 less if hearing-based ( 10 + 10 + 3 ) -3 = 20 Morgana: "Probably where you see roots n' branches Octavia: oh my god Lavinia: I forgot to take the stupid mask off. Alphubel ex Merinita: rolling 1d10 + 2 ( 8 ) +2 = 10 Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10!+1+3 ( 2 ) +1+3 = 6 holy shit octavia Vardian's Tomb: powerful Octavia notices some roots rapidly descending from the ceiling! Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! Vardian's Tomb: The roots grab at the party. Guy of Bonisagus: "Gah!" Octavia: Are they descending everywhere or in one part Well Since I noticed, I push Guy and Lavinia to the ground before they get grabbed Vardian's Tomb: heroic Octavia: "Get down!" Guy of Bonisagus: "Gah!" Lavinia: "Argh" Alphubel ex Merinita: I get grabbed, I guess. Rosario of Flambeau: "Gah!" Vardian's Tomb: Those without Parma are grabbed. Lavinia: were you Sidestepped Vardian's Tomb looks something up Alphubel ex Merinita: I wasn't sidestepped. I think I will do that now, however. rolling 1d10! + 12 Level 10 ( 5 ) +12 = 17 Vardian's Tomb: very well. the gm eats a sandwich. Alphubel ex Merinita: Delicious. Vardian's Tomb: it's pretty good. Alphubel ex Merinita: This spell only lasts a diameter though, so I should probably recast it soon. Lavinia: What's in it? Vardian's Tomb: it's got some chicken Lavinia: cool Vardian's Tomb: tomato. lettuce mayonnaise Guy of Bonisagus: disgusting Morgana: Myself and the other grogs will chop ourselves free Alphubel ex Merinita: Yum. Octavia: I'm grappled by roots, it seems I'll start hacking myself free with my shortsword if I dont have both arms for the spear Guy of Bonisagus: alright. which grogs are comfortable having pila hurled their way Morgana: Pila doesn't friendly fire Guy of Bonisagus: nice Lavinia: "Rosario, put that sword to use!" Guy of Bonisagus: i will free our grogs Vardian's Tomb: which grogs trust guy not to deliberately murder them Morgana: Thank you Rosario of Flambeau: I will put my sword to use. Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10!+25 ( 8 ) +25 = 33 Alphubel ex Merinita: What spell is this? Guy of Bonisagus: penetration is 16 its pilum of fire Morgana: I mean if the roots are burning it might singe us a little but that doesn't translate into actual damage Vardian's Tomb: it penetrates Alphubel ex Merinita: That seems like a really bad idea. Vardian's Tomb: happily we aren't actually tracking morale Morgana: It seems ike it but it's just raw damage Done to a single target, none of which are us Setting things on fire is a different effect than Pillum Vardian's Tomb: Guy of Bonisagus, the magic comes to you more readily than it normally does. (which is pretty readily, since you are a Hermetic magus.) Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean, fire burns, it should light things on fire without a Rego or Perdo requisite. Guy of Bonisagus: why would a perdo req light things on fire Octavia: theres a thing in magi of hermes about creo ignem damage spells causing fires but not if theyre instant duration i believe, no time for the fire to spread Vardian's Tomb: You bring forth fire and destruction effortlessly (with the previous caveat). Octavia: the roots still take +15 damage tho Alphubel ex Merinita: It would prevent the fire from spreading. Octavia: or +20 ro w/e Morgana: "Ignite something flammable" and "deal damage" are listed seperately under Creo Ignem Vardian's Tomb: oh yeah between all of the attacks these roots are completely fucked up. Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10!+15 ( 8 ) +15 = 23 Dusan of Criamon: I explicitly use PeHe upstairs instead of ignem to avoid this issue Vardian's Tomb: herbam is blighted! Alphubel ex Merinita: It is. Octavia: owned Lavinia: Its fine. Just use Perdo Vis. Morgana: You have to pay extra spell levels if you want your fire spell to be a DoT Dusan of Criamon: Well, I'm screwed Vardian's Tomb: freeing the grogs is only a matter of time Morgana: Use Perdo Vim Dusan of Criamon: I shall try perdo vim Morgana: Coils of the Entangling Vines says you can use Strength to free yourself too Octavia: rolling 1d10!+3 ( 7 ) +3 = 10 There's a strength roll Vardian's Tomb: In the middle of the cutting and burning and ripping, the room glows blue for a second. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Vardian's Tomb: how's your Vim mr Lavinia: 40 Guy of Bonisagus: 27 Alphubel ex Merinita: Mine is 23. Octavia: Oh, good news Lavinia As Archibald can only hear through his item using a magical sense, it has to penetrate Lavinia: lol so he can't hear Lavinia's snide comments all the time Alphubel ex Merinita: Molto bene. Lavinia: This will definitely never come up. Octavia: I gave it 36 penetration which I assumed would be enough but Lavinia has a higher MR than everyone else by far Guy of Bonisagus: lavinia blackmailing guy right in front of the archibald statue Lavinia: Lavinia is Old. Morgana: rolling d10!+1 Strength ( 10 + 2 ) +1 = 13 Guy of Bonisagus: hag Octavia: He can't hear Lavinia Morgana: I free I free the rest of the grogs Octavia: Archibald is old too, he doesnt have 8 parma. well he has 10 magic theory. Lavinia: He made an enchanted item so he'd never have to hear the Hedge Wizard. He's a genius Alphubel ex Merinita: Smart. Just smart. Octavia: He can hear Lavinia when she lowers her parma, so she can still say stuff to the statue if she needs to Vardian's Tomb: i think i fucked this power up. Lavinia: you don't need 8 Parma ability as a magus cause your arts are more efficient anyway Vardian's Tomb: whoops. Lavinia: im curious about that though dys, species dont have MR why wouldn't it pick up those fine Morgana: That's why wards to keep stuff with Might out are different spells than stuff to protect you from that form Lavinia: oh yeah GM: all our parmas are increased by the aura if it matters Guy of Bonisagus: so is penetration so Lavinia: maybe the spell is being cast remotely archibald didn't sense any invisible people nearby Guy of Bonisagus: archibald also cant sense you speaking, so his powers are in doubt Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Lavinia: lol Octavia: Lavinia: im curious about that though dys, species dont have MR why wouldn't it pick up those fine Alphubel ex Merinita: Were there any trees sprouting outside the covenant? Octavia: This is based on something in Hermetic Projects which states magical senses have to penetrate though it's fishy to me too honestly since species are NOT covered by MR so its bizarre that species are covered by MR in this specific instance Lavinia: i thought "magic senses" meant senses that weren't normal to a human like giving someone the ability to sense auras or see ghosts etc Vardian's Tomb: or like the spell to sniff out gold Octavia: giving an inanimate object normal senses is a magical sense Morgana: Magical senses to InMe a ghost would have to penetrate, making your hearing better to hear an invisible creature moving would not Octavia: the item works by archibald basically hijacking that sense Lavinia: lets ask the Ars Magica discord about this :smirk: Vardian's Tomb screams Morgana: At least, that's my reading Vardian's Tomb: ok, i THINK this is by the book as a major power Everyone takes one warping point. Lavinia: including me? Vardian's Tomb: yes. Lavinia: what teh fark Morgana: Does their Vim parma protect them from the warping Vardian's Tomb: it's got a lot of penetration Lavinia: did you specifically rewreite the poewr just so it could effect me Rosario of Flambeau: incredible Dusan of Criamon: Would the GM ever act maliciously? Alphubel ex Merinita: Time to rise in revolt. Morgana: Time to write down warping points on 4 grogs Alphubel ex Merinita: Gamers rise up. Vardian's Tomb: this is the real ars magica. Guy of Bonisagus: you should rewrite it so it only affects lavinia Vardian's Tomb: i did not single lavinia out though. Guy of Bonisagus: you should have you would be right to Vardian's Tomb: i singled Archibald out Lavinia: lol. Alphubel ex Merinita: Smart. Since Archibald will always stay as far away from any adventure as possible. Vardian's Tomb: it would be unfair to only warp some PCs after all Octavia: Archibald isnt in the room, unless this is structure-wide Vardian's Tomb: it is. lol. Alphubel ex Merinita: Got 'em. Guy of Bonisagus: imagine if dusan were here he would be in twilight Alphubel ex Merinita: Oh shit. Octavia: he has 45 vim MR Guy of Bonisagus: oh Alphubel ex Merinita: What about all the supernatural creatures in the covenant? Guy of Bonisagus: dusans in the structure isnt he Octavia: yes bye dusan Vardian's Tomb: oh right Alphubel ex Merinita: Oh yeah, I have a Vim specialization. Vardian's Tomb: dusan twilights on 1 point Alphubel ex Merinita: So I actually have 28 MR here. Dusan of Criamon: Oh no Vardian's Tomb: farewell Dusan. Dusan of Criamon: So I get to comprehend right Vardian's Tomb: you get to resist, if you want? Guy of Bonisagus shuffles through notes. Guy of Bonisagus: you dont Vardian's Tomb: unless your flaw blocks that Dusan of Criamon: correct Morgana: Fiorella has 3 points, 2 more to go Dusan of Criamon: but i get to comprehend Vardian's Tomb: very well. Dusan of Criamon: the goal being I blip in and out quickly okay, my twilight comprehend is... +10 Morgana: You should learn a spell to give yourself 2 warping points with CrVi, so you can turn invincible on demand Dusan of Criamon: also does the aura help or harm Alphubel ex Merinita: Hafl tried that and it didn't really work. Dusan of Criamon: Morgana: I know that spell I think Morgana: Hafl also did it during PvP Rather than during PvE when the rest of the party could have mopped up the hostile mobs Vardian's Tomb: TWILIGHT COMPREHENSION: Intelligence + Enigmatic Wisdom + stress die vs. Warping Score + stress die Dusan of Criamon: OK no aura Octavia: yeah his character could have been effortlessly saved if even a single person had attempted to, lets not pretend twilight on demand isnt a great get out of jail free card Dusan of Criamon: rolling 1d10+2+8 ( 9 ) +2+8 = 19 Alphubel ex Merinita: Noice. Dusan of Criamon: that's vs warping score + die Morgana: Hypatia did try to save Beatrice and she was restrained Vardian's Tomb: i can't view dusan's sheet Dusan of Criamon: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1intoq5AsObEwsOMt0KCJsZehAj2PjBS0gG-z4fxwE8U/edit#gid=1988898129 Vardian's Tomb: it's locked Dusan of Criamon: oh whoops Octavia: you have to click share on the top right then get a sharable link Dusan of Criamon: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1intoq5AsObEwsOMt0KCJsZehAj2PjBS0gG-z4fxwE8U/edit?usp=sharing fixed? Octavia: anyway if this effect has 45 penetration then its a might 50+ creature, gl all Vardian's Tomb: the power has 25 pen baked in and then you add the rest rolling 1d10!+2 ( 5 ) +2 = 7 you have Comprehended. Dusan of Criamon: Molto bene. Alphubel ex Merinita: Nice. Dusan of Criamon: now the time roll T WILIGHT T IME : Intelligence + stress die vs. Warping Score + stress die oh wait no rolling it's the numbers used Dusan of Criamon: 2+9 v 1+7 Vardian's Tomb: what a stupid system Dusan of Criamon: so base time is 1-8 so -7 i think i win Octavia: you roll 2 stress dice. Dusan of Criamon: I will, but for which part of thsi Octavia: idk Vardian's Tomb: ok uhh i think the twilight is reduced to a Moment? Dusan of Criamon: correct I think we rolled correctly to comprehend, now for twilight time we use the rolls we already had on comprehend already i rolled a -7 on a scale of 1-10 Alphubel ex Merinita: What prize did you win? Dusan of Criamon: oh shit yeah i get some treats from this but we can decide that after game Lavinia: you should put a reminder post in the thread lest we forget Vardian's Tomb: yes. Lavinia: because the sepcific numbers are important Rosario of Flambeau: well done dusan Dusan of Criamon: I don't see myself forgetting treats, but I shall Guy of Bonisagus: alright. so everyone warps a little and dusan gets some bonuses Rosario of Flambeau: the criamon are truly powerful Guy of Bonisagus: this is gm favoritism Dusan of Criamon: criamon pride Vardian's Tomb: Everyone is free to jump into the Magic Realm when Dusan twilights, if they want. i was going to have this power periodically repeat but i completely forgot that 1 point of warping does this to dusan so uh. Rosario of Flambeau: Hmm. Vardian's Tomb: moving on. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Rosario of Flambeau: Let's do it. Octavia: you should do it because he gets like free virtues every time Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait, we maybe should. Lavinia: they need to be near dusan its only open for 2-3 combat rounds Vardian's Tomb: plenty of time. Guy of Bonisagus: thats 2-3 minutes Octavia: give Dusan like 200 virtues and XP, easy Vardian's Tomb: very well Alphubel ex Merinita: A combat round is like 2 seconds. Vardian's Tomb: it's 6! rolling 1d10 ( 3 ) = 3 ok, dusan takes 3 additional warping points from this twilight Morgana: 6 or 12 seconds is classic Vardian's Tomb: you know, just in case it happens so many times in this adventure that his warping score increases Dusan of Criamon: Oh my god Rosario of Flambeau: Alright, I'll jump in. Dusan of Criamon: I will also say this: I do really blink in and out in a moment Lavinia: wait is dusan even in the same room as us I thought he was in the inn Dusan of Criamon: I'm not sure people can use that for a gate Alphubel ex Merinita: Good question. Rosario of Flambeau: Oh, he isn't. Guy of Bonisagus: hes not Rosario of Flambeau: Hah. Lavinia: phew. Guy of Bonisagus: oops Dusan of Criamon: I am upstairs. Vardian's Tomb: idk. Lavinia: haha. Dusan of Criamon: But presumably in the sctructure? Vardian's Tomb: he was saying he was upstairs, then that he was downstairs. Dusan of Criamon: Oh no, I am fighting trees, but not downstairs Vardian's Tomb: ok, dusan does not twilight Dusan of Criamon: I resent that Guy of Bonisagus: gah! Lavinia: zuhhhhhhhh ????? Dusan of Criamon: I am inside the structure! Just above ground. I will accept the GM's fair judgement however. Vardian's Tomb: ok, i hope everyone else likes warping Alphubel ex Merinita: I don't care for it. Vardian's Tomb: i have used the principles of hermetic science to determine that the Structure of Vardian's Tomb begins at this line Alphubel ex Merinita: What line? Ok Vardian's Tomb: this may be an illegal use of the structure guideline strictly speaking. but it's non hermetic Dusan of Criamon: I'll allow the GM time to decide whether or not I twilighted and shall receive treats. Lavinia: Everything about this poewr is Ilegal and I look forward to destroying it. Dusan of Criamon: On that note, how am I doing up there am I hurting the trees at all are they progressing like some sort of post-apo movie Vardian's Tomb: were you casting PeVi Dusan of Criamon: yes Vardian's Tomb: formulaic? Dusan of Criamon: No! Vardian's Tomb: spontaneous Dusan of Criamon: I mean, DEO I suppose Morgana: TEO Dusan of Criamon: If I notice it's not demonic trees I do spont yeah Morgana: Archibald told us they were magic trees Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait is Archibald in his lab already? Morgana: Archibald can teleport Dusan of Criamon: You know, I could do PeIg on them: freeze them to death I have a formulaic spell for that Guy of Bonisagus: trees can survive winter just fine Vardian's Tomb: well the main problem is that they're moving Fiorella of Jerbiton moves out of the warping area and sends magpies to clean up the twigs and build cool stuff with them Vardian's Tomb: as the result of a rego herbam effect (mysterious) Archibald of Guernicus: I'm inside the covenant ensuring that no harm comes to the labs Vardian's Tomb: The labs are all fucked up. it's a real mess. Lavinia: No! My Pots and pans! Dusan of Criamon: (blissfully, knowing i procrastinated on customizing my lab) oh no Octavia: "Magi, let's move quickly." "This place is dangerous." Fiorella of Jerbiton: I'll have the magpies clean up after the adventure I also have two extra limbs for picking stuff up Vardian's Tomb: what's your spontaneous casting roll dusan Lavinia: Epic adventure where a Might 80 creature decides to blow up your labs and send you all to twilight and none of you can do anything about it, Endr-- bwuuUHHHH? Vardian's Tomb: Thank you Octavia: [with increased urgency] we should move forwards and kill the thing doing this Alphubel ex Merinita: It's true, I can't do anything about it. I'm a pretty young magus. Lavinia: "Octavia, take the lead." Vardian's Tomb: and yet, the most powerful of us all Dusan of Criamon: +27 casting bonus so /5 nonfatiguing i should still be able to beat a little out of that Octavia: "As you wish, boss." Dusan of Criamon: oh formulaic Octavia: I take the lead Dusan of Criamon: +27 Vardian's Tomb: are you using peig on a tree Octavia: Please remove the fog of war over the area you moved me to Dusan of Criamon: sure, don't trees at least slow down their whipping of grogs when I do it? Morgana: I move the grogs in formation with Octavia Vardian's Tomb: it's dead but still being controlled by an effect Simon of Guernicus: "Let's keep moving." Lavinia: Who is it trying to grab? Vardian's Tomb: The gang proceeds into the second, more ostentatious entrance chamber. Lavinia: (Using invisibility ring, I want to see if it is targeting visible objects or not) Morgana: Oh no Simon is back fro mHell Guy of Bonisagus: alright, we just got through the nice rock floor storage area, now we are in our stars storage area Vardian's Tomb: endrite tasked some grogs with cutting all the trees down and they're responding violently Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait, I don't remember this outer space room in the covenant. Guy of Bonisagus: stars and cobweb storage Vardian's Tomb: It's the skull and lightning room. everyone loves it. Lavinia: the Star Chamber from age of decadence is our council room Guy of Bonisagus: the stars office Vardian's Tomb: The illusion is spoiled a little by the dirt and debris but it still looks great, by Hermetic standards. Alphubel ex Merinita: I guess. Rosario of Flambeau: What a cool room. Vardian's Tomb: hermetic standards are notoriously low Lavinia: Anyone in our party have Second Sight? Rosario of Flambeau: It should have a higher Aura. I don't. Lavinia: Vardian's Tomb: hermetic standards are notoriously low Octavia: I do. Lavinia: Somewhere Jerbiton is crying Vardian's Tomb: crying in greek Octavia: rolling 1d10!-3+1 ( 4 ) -3+1 = 2 Rosario of Flambeau: rip Octavia: There's my second sight Vardian's Tomb: it does have a higher aura! Octavia: Fairy-aligned so +1 from aura Morgana: He's crying because Constantinople is going to be filled with kebab forever in a century Vardian's Tomb: the aura has increased to Six. Octavia: Goodness. 3 more then. An amazing total of 5 what do my elf eyes see Lavinia: o_O Alphubel ex Merinita: Nice. Hmm. Vardian's Tomb: they see me looking up the description of Second Sight Rosario of Flambeau: Wow, we have a level 6 aura right here in our own covenant? Why the heck hasn't anyone built a lab in here? Octavia: I'll save you the time and reveal this probably doesnt see shit Vardian's Tomb: you see through the illusion Octavia: good lord Vardian's Tomb: this room is actually extremely shabby. Lavinia: i recently reread the jerbiton chapter looking something up and I did not realize til now how much Jerbitons are supposed to hate Tremere's guts-- anothe rreason Jerb is a great house Rosario of Flambeau: gah Alphubel ex Merinita: I feel like Tremere get a bad rap. Morgana: Not really Lavinia: he sent his goons to murder all of Jerbiton's friends in Thrace Morgana: They really are a bunch of parasites Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean, how many rights SHOULD magi have? Probably not a lot. Octavia: There's no reputation that they have that's any worse than things they've actually done Guy of Bonisagus: the copies of the aeneid are still there Lavinia: Ah, the old death room Rosario of Flambeau: tremere seem cool Guy of Bonisagus: Rosario of Flambeau: tremere seem cool Rosario of Flambeau: lol the death room Guy of Bonisagus holds finger over Wizard's War button. Rosario of Flambeau: this is epic Lavinia: gm i really appreciate your integration of our many halfass maps into one good legible one here Dusan of Criamon: I have to agree, this is cool to look at Vardian's Tomb: its a labor of love. Rosario of Flambeau digs through the pile of books and is disgusted to find they're all Aeneids. Rosario of Flambeau: "Where's the copy of Yve et Olive? Where's all the good romance?" "Not even a Morte d'Arthur!" Lavinia: "It's been hard getting good books in French since they all are busy dying in horrible plagues and wars and such." Morgana: Even ignoring all the Tremere lore, they're also parasites by nature of having a terrible house virtue and no noteworthy contributions to magic theory Rosario of Flambeau: Or whatevre they were called before mallory put the book together a hundred years after this Lavinia: Not true. They invented stifling laughter certamen Rosario of Flambeau: gahaha. Vardian's Tomb: lol. Alphubel ex Merinita: It's good stuff. Morgana: Certamen does literally nothing Guy of Bonisagus: rosario is doing a great job roleplaying the -1 int now Morgana: It's not even a fun game Lavinia: the founder Tremere spent years getting good at a game and then made everyone else play it Rosario of Flambeau: It was fun, the one time I did it as Prudenzio Guy of Bonisagus: tremere the founder created dota 2 Lavinia: Jesus. Alphubel ex Merinita: Jesus, I love Tremere now. Octavia: We must genocide the Tremere and this isnt a joke Vardian's Tomb: my friend, tremere Rosario of Flambeau: where I used a proxy to challenge one of Proclus' proxies, because I thought it would be advantageous as Prudenzio was a specialist and Proclus was a generalist and then I lost that game. Vardian's Tomb: can someone move zach Lavinia: WHTA THE Vardian's Tomb: wow! Morgana: If it actually let you have a magical duel without killing each other but you could just use your good spells it would be cool Lavinia gasps Rosario of Flambeau: And then personally challenged Proclus to a redo Certamen, using the same terms, and beat him in like 4 rounds Ferris of Bonisagus: "Aeneid?" Rosario of Flambeau: and spend all of my confidence. Lavinia: It's Damhad-Duidas back from the dead! Quick, chop his head off! Rosario of Flambeau: it was great. Dusan of Criamon: springtime for Tremere, the founder Lavinia: It's Aristocritus, back from the dead! Quick, glue his head back on Aristocritus Bonisagi: "I'm more of an Iliad man myself." Octavia: stop it STOP IT Rosario of Flambeau: "Who are these guys?" Guy of Bonisagus: the gm has gone too far i hate cumthinker now Aristocritus Bonisagi: lol afraid? Rosario of Flambeau tosses a book over his shoulder and starts walking down the steps Guy of Bonisagus: i cant believe he would mock the deaths of beloved characters like this Lavinia frets at a next logical choice to return from the dead Guy of Bonisagus: knfai Rosario of Flambeau: lol Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Aristocritus Bonisagi: i must select my next token from the gm layer carefully. Guy of Bonisagus: best start believing in endrite adventures Rosario of Flambeau: "I'll look further downstairs, sodales." "You seem to recognize these strange undead better than I." Lavinia: "Ferris, Aristocritus -- are you really there? Can you hear me?" Alphubel ex Merinita: Ok, we should link up with Archibald. Aristocritus Bonisagi: sighing Archibald would hav ehated this Octavia: Oh what the fuck they're actually here instead of it just being a joke Rosario of Flambeau: archibald would have immediately tried to re-kill them Octavia: I thought cumthinker was screwing with me Archibald of Guernicus emerges from his Stone Orb into existence Rosario of Flambeau: also sorry i was extremely distracted for the first hour and a half or so. Lavinia: Large Wizard spotted. Proclus of Rome: same but the first 3 and a half hours Rosario of Flambeau: Archibald appears as soon as Rosario leaves. Archibald of Guernicus: "F-Ferris? Aristocritus? What damned illusion is this?" Rosario of Flambeau: Hah. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. "Who are all of these people?" Archibald of Guernicus: "That's Ferris and Aristocritus of Trianoma, boy!" Proclus of Rome: "Yes, yes, we hear you, Lavinia, you don't have to be so loud about it." Archibald of Guernicus: "And... him, as well." Guy of Bonisagus: "No doubt these are the hedge wizards responsible for-" Lavinia: "They're all sodales who passed before you joined." Guy of Bonisagus: "A demon!" Rosario of Flambeau: Gahaha. Guy of Bonisagus: "I can feel an intense infernal aura coming from that one." Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10!+1+3 awareness to hear guy talking about demons ( 4 ) +1+3 = 8 GM, do I hear Guy say "demon" from downstairs? Archibald of Guernicus: "Ohhh, what a cruel illusion this is, showing us our former and fallen sodales..." Lavinia: "I've heard of Augustans who see visions of the dead after warping, akin to Aeneas passing into Hades... " Guy of Bonisagus: I instinctively hurl a pilum at the Proclus illusion. Archibald of Guernicus: lmaof Rosario of Flambeau: rofl. Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10!+27 screaming and shouting ( 8 ) +27 = 35 18 penetration devil's fav demon: prays for bialas illusion Lavinia: hes there I see him Rosario of Flambeau: i see him Lavinia: he's smiling... Alphubel ex Merinita: What if these are all angels? Rosario of Flambeau: hes at peace... Guy of Bonisagus: dont be silly proclus and aristide are there Proclus of Rome: You burn a hole through Proclus of Rome's chest. Rosario of Flambeau runs upstairs as fast as he can Rosario of Flambeau: "Did somebody say demons?!" Lavinia: "Beatrice and Bialas and... Aristide.. ahem, Zita, Mortis... " Rosario of Flambeau: "Oh, what a nice bear." Archibald of Guernicus: "Oh what taunting madness." Guy of Bonisagus: "Rosario, hel pme out! Look at this philosopher-looking demon!" I continue casting. Proclus of Rome: "What do Odysseys and Aeneids have to do with anything anyway?" Guy of Bonisagus: rolling 1d10!+27 ( 8 ) +27 = 35 18 penetration again Rosario of Flambeau: lol Guy of Bonisagus: fall proclus Morgana: What are the ghosts doing? (From Archibald of Guernicus): non-existent thorugh the orb i believe Guy of Bonisagus: oh id idnt roll damage for either of them rolling 1d10!+15 ( 1 ) +15 = 16 rolling 1d10!+15 ( 8 ) +15 = 23 Rosario of Flambeau: I cast Demon's Eternal Oblivion (Lesser) on Proclus. rolling 1d10!+28 ( 4 ) +28 = 32 Archibald of Guernicus: rolling 1d10!+2 depressed character trait ( 3 ) +2 = 5 Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Archibald of Guernicus: I manage to not run away upset Proclus of Rome: "We were discussing more important matters." Alphubel ex Merinita: "What if there's an illusion of us walking around somewhere?" Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 32-15+4+3 32-15+4+3 = 24 pen Proclus of Rome: that would be disturbing! Guy of Bonisagus: "This demon is resilient!" Lavinia: "Oh, Proclus, as long as you're here, you can tell us how to work these magical items you created that were left behind." Rosario of Flambeau: I throw a rose made of pink energy at Proclus. Archibald of Guernicus: "Malachiasz... Aristocritus... Bialas... Beatrice... ohhhh why is this happening..." Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. I'll go check out my own lab. Lavinia: "Don't fret Archibald." Proclus of Rome: hang on Lavinia: "You outlived all of them because you were stronger. That's what Tytalus would say." Alphubel ex Merinita: "Does this not happen all the time?" Proclus of Rome: It's downstairs. Rosario of Flambeau: "Guy, he seems to be unharmed. This is either a very powerful demon, or not a demon at all." That was a level 15 DEO w 24 pen Proclus of Rome: he is unharmed Archibald of Guernicus: "I failed them. I failed them all." Lavinia: I have an idea Rosario of Flambeau: "Perhaps you should just calm down and have a discussion." Proclus of Rome: well, except for all the charred flesh Lavinia: Endrite, how much penetration is on the Turquoise Shackels you made Proclus of Rome: but he doesn't seem to care about that Alphubel ex Merinita: 30 penetration. You'd need to throw them at these guys. Lavinia: "Octavia, I need to recover something from my lab. Will you assist me?" Alphubel ex Merinita: Octavia explodes epically. Belzer of Mercere: "Alright, clear out you lot. The dead have no posthumous claim to residency inside their Hermetic covenant." Proclus of Rome: Ftw. Lavinia: "Not so fast Belzer... The dead can tell us much." "They'll be gone once Archibald recasts the Aegis anyway." Guy of Bonisagus: "He's very powerful, Rosario." "Can't you feel the evil radiating from him?" Octavia: "Sure thing, boss." Beatrice ex Merinita laughs. Rosario of Flambeau: "I'm sorry, my friend. If he were a demon, my spell would have done something. " Belzer of Mercere: "Hey, aren't these guys suppoesd to be in Heaven and Hell according ot your rules? Looks like Team Moses wins this one." Beatrice ex Merinita: "Anything is possible right now, Belzer." Rosario of Flambeau: "The magic realm has something to do with this, I think." Beatrice ex Merinita: "Don't you feel it?" Octavia: "These all dead men and women talking?" Rosario of Flambeau: I will roll MAGIC THEORY, including my negative int. rolling 1d10+10-1 ( 3 ) +10-1 = 12 Beatrice ex Merinita: The crowd around the table suddenly looks lively. Aristide of Tremere: "Anything is possible!" Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: "Anything is possible." Alphubel ex Merinita: I totally ignore these people and head over to my lab. Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: Wise. Rosario of Flambeau: "Mortis!" Lavinia: "Half these people didn't die here, so I'm suspicious they'd come back to haunt the place. But I have something that might help confirm." With Octavia's help I will try to get to my lab. Rosario of Flambeau: "Good luck, Lavinia. This is very mysterious. I thought Mortis was hanged by the Annibaldis." "I'm going back downstairs, hopefully I find something. " Dusan of Criamon: I feel like rejoining the group, regardless of progress fighting the trees. I'm just going to claim the grogs are handling it just fine. Is the group loud enough that I find them? I feel like they like to be loud. Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: preparing the sub-basement Belzer of Mercere: "Well, as long as you're here, anyone have grievances they'd like against their murderers brought up at Tribunal?" Lavinia: HEY Rosario of Flambeau: lmao Lavinia: you son of a bitch Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: lol Rosario of Flambeau: "Good question, Belzer!" "We're obligated to help these poor lost souls find their final closure." Lavinia hopes her efforts to cover her tracks left Mortis clueless even as he died Octavia: Where's lavinia's lab? I'll help her get in Belzer of Mercere: I didn't see Mortis Lavinia: he's bottom right Octavia: Thankfully I learned the most important lesson of making a new character - ensure they cannot die to the same thing that killed your last one Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: ok, the lower level is visible to the right Octavia: Octavia has lesser immunity (lightning) Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: it's completely overgrown with roots and vines. Alphubel ex Merinita: Sheesh. Lavinia: "Careful, these might grab us too." Rosario of Flambeau: I start chopping the vines. Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: There's a small patch that Archibald cleared to reach his lab (right by the stairs). Belzer of Mercere: Mortis's IC knowledge of the conspiracy behind his death is questionable Rosario of Flambeau: "More vines down here!" I yell up. Belzer of Mercere: Anyway, a question like this is good for checking whether these are the actual spirits of the dead Mortis ex Verditus, the Terrible, GS, RB, WB, NR, BR, AD: rolling 1d2 ( 1 ) = 1 where was Rosario going to cut GM: to his lab? or lavinia's Octavia: i thought lavinias lab was on the upper levels Rosario of Flambeau: me2 Lavinia: i dont remember lol. GM: it's downstairs Rosario of Flambeau: if lavinia and octavia are also going to the lower levels i will try to lead the way for them. GM: oh right, i forgot to mention that all of lavinia's bell wards have been tripped. Rosario of Flambeau: hold on. rolling 1d10!+31 ( 3 ) +31 = 34 Octavia: I'll help Rosario cut through Guy of Bonisagus: lol GM: that was supposed to be in the outermost chamber! whoops! Guy of Bonisagus: wheres my lab Rosario of Flambeau: wait i forgot to add my mmf GM: guy inherited malach's lab, just off the council chamber Lavinia: The Killer may still be Inside the Covenant. Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 34+11-15+4 pen 34+11-15+4 = 34 GM: hmm Rosario of Flambeau: My greatsword explodes into +34 penetration flame. GM: malach's lab was specialized wasn't it oh well. Guy of Bonisagus: it had some specialties but guy customized it further i believe i will check my lab GM: anyway it's very easy to reach. (From Guy of Bonisagus): no Rosario of Flambeau: I start chopping towards where Lavinia directs, because I don't know how to get to her lab on my own. Rosario usually follows the left wall until he reaches the door with the rose on it. GM: ok. Rosario of Flambeau: To get to his own lab. (He's very stupid.) GM: Guy's lab is pretty messed up. Pots and pans out of place, etc. Alphubel ex Merinita: Oh noo. GM: Nothing too dramatic though. Guy of Bonisagus: my lab quality goes down because it was refined i am going to kill gulielmus GM: cranked. (From GM): did lavinia just keep the lightning ward Lavinia: its ok, now it has a lab specialty in snicker herbam Rosario of Flambeau: rfol. (To GM): Yes she recast it some time before the Auram blight (From GM): or were there more security measures Alphubel ex Merinita: This is pretty nice though. Guy of Bonisagus: oh wait it wasnt refined Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Octavia: Cumthinker taking revenge for the blight by destroying lavinia's lab with herbam effects is the most righteous act ever witnesses Guy of Bonisagus: the only virtue it had was Opulent Octavia: witnessed Alphubel ex Merinita: Is it possible to tell where these vines are coming from? (To GM): lightning ward and alarm bells, let me see what else she could have cast GM: The wall, opposite wall, floor, and ceiling. Octavia: "Boss, which direction is your lab?" Rosario of Flambeau: I was hoping to check if it was anyone's lab in the basement causing it. But it probably isn't. (To GM): Just those two. Did we decide the Blight no longer effects Herbam creatures? If that, Sir Oak would be in there Rosario of Flambeau: "Who's been studying Tethys?" (To GM): Also Brutulus, the murderous little statue Guy of Bonisagus: gulielmus... Lavinia: "Maybe this is her confused romantic gesture to her old suitor Gulielmus." Guy of Bonisagus: she was a tytalus wasnt she Lavinia: Tytalans are werid about this stuff. GM: we already established that this is Magic in nature, not Divine. (To GM): Brutulus would be in there regardless of blight effects cause he is Terram based. his MO is sneak attacks GM: Rosario cuts a path. Alphubel ex Merinita: Noice. Dusan of Criamon: I'm not gonna scroll up but has the group tried you know, talking to these people GM: Lavinia's lab is, of course, right around the corner. Rosario of Flambeau: Aha. Lavinia: :( I see the burn marks GM: The dead magi mostly just keep saying that anything is possible, right now. Rosario of Flambeau: "Looks bad." Dusan of Criamon: Ah. GM: They may be right since the aura is now Seven. Rosario of Flambeau: Huh. Lavinia: idea: now that this covenant is ruined lets make a new one Inside the City of Brass. GM: uhh hang on i put these green squiggles on the wrong layer Rosario of Flambeau: I got no information from my epic Magic Theory roll, huh? GM: ok i cleared some more. Octavia: Magic Lore is what you roll to find out about rival traditions non-hermetic magic Lavinia: rolling 1d10+2+3 Magic Lore ( 1 ) +2+3 = 6 Rosario of Flambeau: I'm rolling to hypothesize about a cause of this infestation. Octavia: yeah. thats magic lore, since we know its non-hermetic. Rosario of Flambeau: ah. Lavinia: as always this is the fault of (picks at random) the Order of Odin Dusan of Criamon: Hmm. Actually, I could go ahead and use my newly gained mind meditation. I'll need 7.5 minutes. Octavia: Ganbarre Anyway GM: well, first Octavia: which way is Lavinia directing me, to her lab, which is where we are going Rosario of Flambeau: i have been assuming this is directly related to the Magic Realm and Magic Blight, because it's herbam related and pervasive and shooting out of our aura, which is still affected by the herbam blight GM: lavinia's door has been completely destroyed, blown open from the inside. Rosario of Flambeau: and not related to any hedge traditions but i could be wrong i guess GM: the stone is cracked and scorched, as if it had been hit by something really hot? Rosario of Flambeau: Nice. "What have you been doing in there, Lavinia?" GM: Little bells lie scattered on the floor. Guy of Bonisagus: ill get bored of the demonic apparitions and go down Octavia: I peer around the corner into the lab itself Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Mirrors... I mean bells... Guy of Bonisagus: "Ah, that's a destroyed lab." Octavia: "You want me to go in there? No traps or anything left, is there?" Lavinia: I tell Octavia the code phrases. passowrds Covenfolk: "Careful with the bells, you might slip." A grog is hanging upside down in some vines just down the hall. Octavia: "I'll be fine." I step in carefully, seeing if there's anything moving inside and say all the code phrases Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmmm. We should rescue these grogs. "What happened?" Octavia: Please reveal the lab, GM. Morgana: I move in the other grogs behind Octavia Lavinia: The GM is building tension. Rosario of Flambeau: I respectfully do not peek into Lavinia's lab. And stand guard outside, chopping at vines. Morgana: We also chop stuff Guy of Bonisagus: reveal the lab coward lets see johns cry Covenfolk: very well out of respect for the privacy of my sodales and the custom of the sanctum marker i did not decorate the inside Lavinia: lol Covenfolk: but here it is Lavinia: oh no its been defaced Guy of Bonisagus: wow Covenfolk: it appears Beardbeard has decorated lavinia's lab for me. Guy of Bonisagus: thats cruel, gm Morgana: Lavinia's trap has been sprung Guy of Bonisagus: huh? huh? Octavia: So this is the power of virgilian rites Alphubel ex Merinita: Gwahaha. Octavia: I step inside cautiously Lavinia: Joke is on the vandal -- I can't read English Octavia: I can't read at all Covenfolk: You step on a deadly pentagram trap!!! Octavia: I said the codewords Covenfolk: The pentagram is already broken. Octavia: phew I have immunity to lightning just so I can't suffer the same fate twice. Morgana: Let's loot the blood samples Guy of Bonisagus: are both of lavinias statues destroyed did you do it to him Covenfolk: Lavinia's statue pals are hanging out next to the piss racks. Guy of Bonisagus: oh Rosario of Flambeau: Nice. Lavinia: Hearing no lightning crash, I will look through the door Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario receives a flash of insight and tries his best to explain. Also he cuts down the grog hanging from the ceiling. Covenfolk: "Hey, thanks." Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmmm. Covenfolk: "I was just trying to cut through to my buddy with this sword from upstairs." Rosario of Flambeau: "Okay, uh... You know how Vis manifests as a solid?" "Sword, huh?" Instantly distracted. Covenfolk: "Yeah the one on the wall in the council room." Octavia: noooo Rosario of Flambeau: "You're a valiant man." "Anyway, where was I?" Covenfolk: he's got a short sword, which appears identical to every other short sword in the covenant. Guy of Bonisagus: hey cumthinker Lavinia: I inspect the lab damage and try to catalogue what is missing. Rosario of Flambeau: "Sodales, come here for a moment!" I yell, turning away from the grog and his short sword. Covenfolk: what's up Guy of Bonisagus: uhh hold on Rosario of Flambeau: I try explaining the thing again. "So, Vis. It's normally solid, right? Like, it concentrates into a form and we collect it." "Well before that it's formless, like a liquid, and just sort of sloshing around everywhere." "And when it pools up, it forms auras." Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Rosario of Flambeau: "So, our covenant is filled with this stuff." Octavia: That's bullshit, but I believe it Guy of Bonisagus: I listen with a polite smile on my face, but sadness in my eyes, as I think back to Rosario's recent crisis and try to keep the tears from falling. Rosario of Flambeau: "I wish I could tell you what it means." Covenfolk: the aura's really big now! Octavia: brb Rosario of Flambeau: "It's pouring out of somewhere, and collecting in our covenant." "Probably." Alphubel ex Merinita: "Where would it come from?" Dusan of Criamon: "Hmm. So what we're experiencing here is less a catacomb and more a sewer. I don't know if I am ready to subscribe to that." Covenfolk: The walls glow again, as if to punctuate Rosario's lecture. Rosario of Flambeau: "Unfortunately, I have no idea, Alphubel." Covenfolk: (everyone is warped again.) Dusan of Criamon: "But perhaps thinking of flows is a good start, since Aquam is being blighted. Do we have any idea of underground streams around the covenant?" rolling 1d10+10 ( 6 ) +10 = 16 Alphubel ex Merinita: Sheesh. Hmm. Lavinia: did penetration increase along with aura Rosario of Flambeau: "Holy shit. Dusan, you're a genius." Alphubel ex Merinita: Oh hey, what about the other magic aura in the catacombs? Rosario of Flambeau: "That sounded like it made sense." Alphubel ex Merinita: The one where we found Faustus. Dusan of Criamon: "What?" Covenfolk: lavinia, it doesn't look like anything was stolen, although a lot of your bodily humour jars are broken Dusan of Criamon: (a moment of genuine conversational comedy passes between Rosario and Dusan) Lavinia: Oh no, piss and blood everywhere. Rosario of Flambeau: lol Covenfolk: also Dusan's previous warping rolls happen somewhere in here Rosario of Flambeau: "I think there's a well." "Or a spring?" Lavinia: I look for the Turquoise Shackles and my secret Preserved Arcane Connection to the Praeco. (From Dusan of Criamon): oh, so we're using the old rolls for this warping? Covenfolk swaps some tokens around Alphubel ex Merinita: Gasp! (From Dusan of Criamon): cool cool Alphubel ex Merinita: Who actually knows where we found Faustus? Guy of Bonisagus: archibald would Lavinia: archibald should Check the vault Guy of Bonisagus: uhhh lavinia maybe Covenfolk: i placed the vault here Rosario of Flambeau: I will check the vault. Alphubel ex Merinita: Deus vault. Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10!+27 ( 3 ) +27 = 30 22 pen archibalds unwelcome entrance i forget if its harder than just doing this to get in the vault well someone has to tell me its here first. Covenfolk: lol. Rosario of Flambeau: since rosario has no idea Dusan of Criamon: I've an idea Covenfolk: it might be harder since the walls are now permeated with all these fucked up roots. Dusan of Criamon: Let's get someone with dowsing to find a stream Lavinia: just jump in the well. Covenfolk: have Archibald do it the man can't drown Dusan of Criamon: alternatively, GM permitting, I could try touching walls and using Invasion of Privacy, light permitting Covenfolk: if you know where it is you can probably spontaneously light it up moonlight's very easy to produce Dusan of Criamon: not using invasion of privacy, that only gives me sensory inputs Covenfolk: right but you can illuminate the room, then look inside Dusan of Criamon: while named similarly to archibald's unwelcome entrance, it's significantly less useful or cool Octavia: There's a lake under the covenant, but it's fairy-aligned Dusan of Criamon: I feel like we have a winner Covenfolk: following the events of this adventure the faerie lake produces 160 pawns of vis per year instead of 80 Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. lol Octavia: lol Rosario of Flambeau: lol. Dusan of Criamon: good god Rosario of Flambeau: Huh. Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait, what if you use Archibald's Unwelcome Entrance to cut all these vines? Dusan of Criamon: isn't it PeTe Rosario of Flambeau: I could use AUE to crack a door open and then wedge a sword in to cut the vines. Alphubel ex Merinita: Yeah but if you cast it on the wall that they're in they'd fall to the ground and we could just pick them up. Rosario of Flambeau: its conc duration and lasts as long as you hold it Archibald's Unwelcome Entrance causes a stone wall to swing open like a door and then seal back up after you close it. It doesn't destroy the wall. Covenfolk: what's the base level Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Rosario of Flambeau: 5 iirc wait even lower its part target so uh 3? is part +2? Octavia: (Base 3, +1 touch, +1 conc, +1 stone, +1 part) Rosario of Flambeau: i never use part target so i dont remember Dusan of Criamon: brb Rosario of Flambeau: aha Covenfolk: part is +1, in between individual and group Rosario of Flambeau: ty dys Covenfolk: ah Rosario of Flambeau: i mforgot the stone req Octavia: yeah Covenfolk: i'll just borrow the Strength value from the unseen porter Octavia: muto req is free as its an essential part of the spell Covenfolk: since rosario has already rolled to cast rolling 1d10!+5 ( 9 ) +5 = 14 Rosario of Flambeau: rip Octavia: that should succeed as +5 str is really high Covenfolk: ye Rosario of Flambeau: rip the sound effect Dusan of Criamon: back Covenfolk: The section of wall slowly pivots inward! Rosario of Flambeau: Nice! "Step back, honorable grog." Covenfolk: "She's all yours." Rosario of Flambeau: If everything looks alright in there, I'll close it back up. Covenfolk: what do we even keep in there Rosario of Flambeau: if it's dark, I could maybe try to make a concentration roll to spont Palm of Flame the level 5 light spell while holding the door open Covenfolk: oh right like an 80 might demon Rosario of Flambeau: rofl. Lavinia: essential vis, a book bound in human flesh, Faustus, our sensitive parma texts the reliquary I guess? Octavia: I cant believe the lengths cumthinker has gone to just to make us admit theres a secret river in venators lab that grants the magi who drink from it 20 bonus xp per year Rosario of Flambeau: "Any demons in here?" Alphubel ex Merinita: Ok, now what about this: someone has already brought magic back into the world and now it's overflowing through all magic auras. Covenfolk: i will not relent until the secret of vardians tomb is revealed. Lavinia: the reliquary has a demon in it who has been rotting in boredom for 80 years Rosario of Flambeau: That's a good theory. Covenfolk: The Knights Templar arrive. Rosario of Flambeau: Let's all take naps. Covenfolk: no! we're so cloes! close! Rosario of Flambeau: lol Lavinia: the secret treasure of Masini : An Apple of Eden Dusan of Criamon: Let's get someone to dowse this hellhole I want to get myself some sweet sweet magical water Fiorella of Jerbiton flies back to her home planet while the heavily armed guys with the force of history behind them show up Covenfolk: The vault is in the same state as the hallway, but you don't see any 80 might demons manifesting themselves or anything like that. Faustus Galerius: "Gulielmus, is that you?" "Remember the good times we had, buddy!" Lavinia: If I have recovered Those Items, then I will return to the council chamber and interrogate the Ghosts. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Rosario of Flambeau: "Ah, jeez, the vault's all messed up." Alphubel ex Merinita: We should keep going down. The aura magnitude keeps going up. Rosario of Flambeau: "I'll let Archibald take care of it." Rosario of Flambeau closes the wall Octavia: lol Faustus Galerius: "Wait, Rosari-" Lavinia: lol back in the gay baby jail with you Rosario of Flambeau: "Hmm..." Lavinia: You can see Rosario in another year when its time to milk you for vis. Rosario of Flambeau: "Maybe he can help?" rolling 1d10 botch check to open the wall again. ( 6 ) = 6 "Faustus." "What the hell is going on?" Faustus Galerius: "Hell if I know!" "I live in a jar!" Rosario of Flambeau: "You're a magic thing." "Uhh." Faustus Galerius: "You guys really fucked this one up!" Rosario of Flambeau: "Liquid vis." Alphubel ex Merinita: Hell he's right. Fiorella of Jerbiton: Magic Lore can help Rosario of Flambeau: "We've got too much liquid vis. Where's it coming from." "If you have any ideas, I'll see if we can take you out of the jar once in a while." Fiorella of Jerbiton: I think everyone who was on Beardbeard's catacomb adventure where we found the platonic water is dead or left VT Dusan of Criamon: "Freedom is apt, I will sponsor your bid in this." Fiorella of Jerbiton: Beatrice, Bialas, Hypatia, oh! Bolad is alive Guy of Bonisagus: and also the aquam blight happened Faustus Galerius: does faustus know the secret of vardian's tomb Lavinia: was the platonic water the King Arthur regio? Guy of Bonisagus: and the source of the water was right next to the king arthur regio so miasma poured out of it Fiorella of Jerbiton: He was old enough to remember Venator Guy of Bonisagus: it was on the little cavern trail to the regio Faustus Galerius: i don't know the secret of vardian's tomb myself so it is kind of a moot question Lavinia: Venator used PeMe to destroy the ghosts of those who knew it. Rosario of Flambeau: gah. Guy of Bonisagus: beatrice knew it beatrice's ghost is there go get her lavinia Alphubel ex Merinita: I also do not know the secret. Lavinia: guess he imssed one! Fiorella of Jerbiton: Let's ask Beatrice Faustus Galerius: gwee, hee, hee. Dusan of Criamon: I almost want to ask "which secret" then i think better Rosario of Flambeau: "If you don't know anything, I'm just closing the door again." Fiorella of Jerbiton: Oh wait, FIorella knows the secret Rosario of Flambeau: "Uh, wall." Faustus Galerius: "Well I'm not a gambling man." "I mean, I was, but then I died! Ahaha!" Lavinia: Honest question. Hasn't Faustus served enough time? All he did was betray us to a 600 year old enemy of the order who is now dead (again) Fiorella of Jerbiton: He's not really capable of "learning his lesson" Faustus Galerius: hes responsible for a breach of the limit of time Fiorella of Jerbiton: He's an immaculate skull Alphubel ex Merinita: He's really good at teaching though. Lavinia: fair enough Fiorella of Jerbiton: Magic things don't learn unless you feed them vis Rosario of Flambeau: I lean as far as I can into the vault while keeping my hand on the wall-door and kick Faustus. Then leave. Faustus Galerius: "Wait, no, come ba-" Rosario of Flambeau: "What a rude guy!" Dusan of Criamon: We should feed him vis, to teach him a lesson Fiorella of Jerbiton: Time for him to escape into the magic realm forever Faustus Galerius: he's a real jerk Covenfolk continues cutting his way down the hall. Rosario of Flambeau: I will help him cut his way to his friend. now. My curiosity is sated. Lavinia: How do these shackles work, Endrite? Just touch a ghost with them? Alphubel ex Merinita: Yes. Covenfolk: what's the plan with the shackles Lavinia: I touch Aristide. "Call the founder Tremere a snivelling rat bastard," I command him. firs tjust testing if they are actual Mentem ghosts Fiorella of Jerbiton: What can be liquid but not affected by the squam blight? Keeping in mind that lava, blood, and orange juice are all aquam. Answer: faerie aquam vis Dusan of Criamon: blood seems risky Lavinia: blood isnt aquam nor is piss Aristide of Tremere: "Well, in the spirit of today.." Fiorella of Jerbiton: Hold on It's corpus while it's in you Aristide of Tremere looks around nervously. Aristide of Tremere: "Are you certain it's safe?" Fiorella of Jerbiton: Once its an independent thing, its aquam Lavinia: "Do you have a choice not to?" Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. This is the lowest level of the covenant, right? Octavia: It's a shitty test too since Aristide would say that unprompted anyway, as he was the world's worst Tremere Rosario of Flambeau: lol Aristide of Tremere: "Does any man?" "But to hell with it! What did that rat bastard ever do for me?" Fiorella of Jerbiton: Well the rules are kinda inconsistent about this, like sometimes you don't need a requisite to teleport your clothing and sometimes you do Lavinia: "Tell me what brought you here and what is coming." Guy of Bonisagus: aristide was a really bad character. man what a stinker Lavinia: Fiorella of Jerbiton: Once its an independent thing, its aquam where has it said that Fiorella of Jerbiton: But most of the time, your possessions are Corpus while they're on you, they're part of your material nature. Aristide of Tremere: "Lovely day for a gathering with friends, isn't it?" Alphubel ex Merinita: AFK a sec. Aristide of Tremere: Lavinia: Fiorella of Jerbiton: Once its an independent thing, its aquam where has it said that the core book Lavinia: ehhh The blood affecting spells in Hermetic Projects are all corpus Aristide of Tremere: its right there in the aquam description Lavinia: and they affect blood outside the body Aristide of Tremere: yeah i really don't like that change Fiorella of Jerbiton: It said apple juice is aquam And blood is the apple juice of humans Lavinia: "Friends? You're sitting next to a kinslayer who murdered you." Fiorella of Jerbiton: Ice is terram Belzer of Mercere: "Does he know that?" Aristide of Tremere: "No, no." "Everyone loves Aristide." Alphubel ex Merinita: Fuck, he's right. Archibald of Guernicus: "Obstinant, vain, oblivious to reality... these illusions are too real, too real!" I hold my head in my hands and moan in distress Rosario of Flambeau: lol Proclus of Rome: "Yes, that's right." "We all love Aristide." Guy of Bonisagus: Aristocritus: I want to explore shipwrecks. Ferris of Bonisagus leans over. Ferris of Bonisagus: "Wait, I thought they were talking about you." "Who's this guy?" Covenfolk: Back downstairs, Rosario and the grog have reached the other grog. is everyone else just hanging out in the piss room Rosario of Flambeau: lol everyone just huffing it Octavia: I'm guarding Lavinia, but if the other magi are moving up I'll move up with them Lavinia: i can be guarded by sir oak you are relieved from duty Octavia: If she goes back upstairs I'll delve further in with Rosario and Dusan Belzer of Mercere: "Oh yeah, you're that guy that inspired Vardian's Tomb to build that whale." Octavia: "As you wish, boss. I'll be downstairs if you need me." Belzer of Mercere: "Maybe you should go for a ride in it some time." Lavinia: I order Brutulus to murder anyone who messes with my stuff. Dusan of Criamon: I'm getting Archibald I want Archibald to do some dowsing Belzer of Mercere: We're gonna build a whale, and we're gonna make Tremere pay for it Alphubel ex Merinita: So what's over here? You know what I think you maybe should have done is put all the vines and stuff on the GM level and then exposed the whole covenant since, you know, we live here and know where everything is. Covenfolk: it's the library! Dusan of Criamon: "Archibald, dear sodalis. Do you dowse? Please get someone who can dowse." Covenfolk: mayhap. Archibald of Guernicus: Between sobs of regret I say "Giraldo... can. Go find him." Covenfolk: it sort of works since rosario has no since of direction but not really Alphubel ex Merinita: I have a sense of direction. Octavia: I don't Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean I can manage to not get lost in a building with 10 rooms. Lavinia: "Archibald, since the alarms were tripped, and neither Sir Oak nor Brutulus reacted to a stranger entering my lab, I suspect an invisible human intruder in the covenant." Covenfolk: *sense Belzer of Mercere: Is Giraldo's dowsing infernal? Giraldo of Milan: no Giraldo of Milan walks in eating an apple with a sheet 10 years out of date. Belzer of Mercere: I don't think you can dowse water with magic Lavinia: i forget why we're looking for watar Giraldo of Milan: "What is this crap?" Giraldo says, gesturing to the vines and roots all over. Alphubel ex Merinita: You can use water as an Arcane Connection to the body of water its from. Archibald of Guernicus: "Giraldo has the second sight, he'll come across them. They can't leave without passing this room, I'll keep watch here." Fiorella of Jerbiton summons a magpie. "Go find water flowing within the catacombs." Giraldo of Milan looks around the lower levels for second sight things. Giraldo of Milan: rolling 1d10+7 ( 3 ) +7 = 10 Dusan of Criamon: Yet again we will be saved by the valiant efforts of our best tracker Rosario of Flambeau: Place of power... Gotta be. Covenfolk: Giraldo sees the usual assortment of weak spirits that populate un-Aegised magic auras. No invisible people downstairs. Lavinia: just had a thought we have the Aegis horsehoe we could use it for this emergency situation. Giraldo of Milan does the same but in the upstairs halls. Giraldo of Milan: rolling 1d10+7 ( 1 ) +7 = 8 Covenfolk: might could. rolling 1d10 ( 6 ) = 6 Lavinia: nice work botching in a hostile aura Covenfolk: oh Alphubel ex Merinita: I mean, we could just do another Aegis. Covenfolk: thats right Giraldo of Milan: thats true my second sight is infernal Covenfolk: this is an insanely hostile aura rolling 7d10 ( 6 + 10 + 7 + 9 + 10 + 4 + 4 ) = 50 Giraldo of Milan: lol Rosario of Flambeau: wtf Covenfolk: whew. Giraldo of Milan: hes safe Lavinia: Thanks, Demons Covenfolk looks something up Lavinia: dfd, do you recall the penetration on that Aegis item Covenfolk: are you just sweeping for ghosts or taking a close look Giraldo of Milan: "No invisible stalkers up here." Giraldo of Milan looks around. Rosario of Flambeau: iirc it was 20 str, 20 pen? Giraldo of Milan: "Aristocritus! Ferris!" Rosario of Flambeau: but i can not say i remember completely Giraldo of Milan: "...Proclus!" Lavinia: hmm Rosario of Flambeau: maybe it was 0 pen. lol. Lavinia: GM, was the lightning ward tripped by damage to the pentagram Giraldo of Milan takes a swing at the Proclus ghost. Covenfolk: Yes. Lavinia: then maybe it wasn't an invisible person. Giraldo of Milan: rolling 1d10!+14 ( 1 ) +14 = 15 gah Lavinia: just a Might 100 kosmokrator who would be immune to the horseshoe anyway Alphubel ex Merinita: lol Rosario of Flambeau: rof l Covenfolk: Giraldo cleaves Proclus in two. Alphubel ex Merinita: Uh, botch check??? Covenfolk: well rolling 1d10 ( 7 ) = 7 Giraldo cleaves Proclus in two. Alphubel ex Merinita: It's at least 2 botch dice for a melee attack. Covenfolk: rolling 1d10 ( 8 ) = 8 Alphubel ex Merinita: Thank you. Giraldo of Milan: "That feels better." Covenfolk: Proclus keeps talking from the floor. Alphubel ex Merinita: Classic Proclus. Covenfolk: Everyone at the table seems unfazed, but Beatrice cracks a smile. this is unimportant though. Rosario of Flambeau: "So what are you doing at the end of this hall?" I ask the guy when the grog and I cut him free. "Who's lab is this, anyway?" whose Covenfolk: "Huh, what?" Covenfolk stirs. Covenfolk: "Holy shit, I wasn't sure you guys were gonna make it." "This is the library, boss." Giraldo of Milan: no you didnt our library better not be ruined Covenfolk: "You better go in there and make sure those guys are still alive." Lavinia: oh no, all those books on hermetic magic. lol. Archibald of Guernicus: "We heading in, boss?" I ask Rosario Rosario of Flambeau: "Yep. Get ready for anything." I chop my way into the library. Fiorella of Jerbiton: Don't worry, we can use Herbam to restore the damaged books. Giraldo of Milan: archibald is referring to rosario as boss whats going on Rosario of Flambeau: He meant to be Octavia. Giraldo of Milan: this is a truly cursed reality Alphubel ex Merinita: Gasp! Rosario of Flambeau: "What the hell?" https://coub.com/view/14z1be "Good thing my sword is already on fire." Covenfolk: Coub. Giraldo of Milan: thats a mysterious person Alphubel ex Merinita: Yes all very mysterious. Covenfolk: The lower portion of the library is blessedly vine-free! Some grogs are taking cover behind the shelves. Alphubel ex Merinita: Nice. Rosario of Flambeau: "What's going on in here, covenfolk?" Archibald of Guernicus: https://i.imgur.com/aO9H0Pu.png Covenfolk: "Hey hey, the magi are here!" Octavia: meant that earlier statement as octavia Rosario of Flambeau: lmao dys Lavinia: lol dys Rosario of Flambeau: I raise my flaming sword in a heroic manner. "Have no fear!" Dusan of Criamon: This is a troubling development this guy is not at all a stream of evil water Covenfolk: all men are a stream of evil water if you think about it. Alphubel ex Merinita: I disagree. Giraldo of Milan looks at Proclus and Mortis. Giraldo of Milan: the theory holds up Alphubel ex Merinita: They don't have any water in them because they were both disintegrated. Octavia: "You want me to try and kill whatever that thing is?" Covenfolk: "Hey, careful with that." Fiorella of Jerbiton: Are these all people Venator disintegrated to keep them from being raised? Alphubel ex Merinita: "What if we simply captured it?" Covenfolk: "We tried chopping at it ourselves and all we got for our trouble was Leonardo over here." Alphubel ex Merinita: No, Mortis died after Venator left. Fiorella of Jerbiton: I keep forgetting Mortis is here Octavia: Where is Leonardo, GM? Covenfolk: He's the grog in the upper left. Rosario of Flambeau: ok whats the current aura Dusan of Criamon: who's the vine guy in the library Covenfolk: how do i dot him Fiorella of Jerbiton: I thought that was Sir Oak I guess Rosario of Flambeau: because im about to do some dumb shit Giraldo of Milan: magic 7 isnt it Covenfolk: you can't see who's in the middle of the vines on the upper section, since it's elevated. Lavinia: just this once GM I have to go all out Covenfolk: but there are definitely some vines converging. Lavinia: scroll to the Right, shaun Giraldo of Milan: oh my god. whats this around the center of the vines... pieces of bread??? Covenfolk: two things about Leonardo: Rosario of Flambeau: ok i will walk further into the Library, and then rummage around in a sack I have brought. Covenfolk: he's got some wounds on his face, like something clawed him, Alphubel ex Merinita: Ouch! Covenfolk: and also instead of ordinary human hands he's got some fucked up talons. Dusan of Criamon: there's a buried lede Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Or is it... Covenfolk: burying the lede is my signature gm move Rosario of Flambeau: I pull out 6 Muto vis, in whatever form we keep our weird Muto vis that we have no recurring source of. Covenfolk: meng hao slaps his bag of holding, and summons forth four spirit stones of the first grade!!!! six spirit stones i mean!!!! Rosario of Flambeau: "Octavia, get the other magi and tell them something's going on in the library!" Octavia: "You got it, boss." Lavinia: Reader this takes some time to describe but in reality it happened within a single one minute combat round Rosario of Flambeau: lol Giraldo of Milan: hears first grade and starts having some REALLY fuckedu p thoughts lol Octavia: I run over this way and get lost Rosario of Flambeau: I will use the vis to cast a spell. lmao. Giraldo of Milan: (bwahaha( Fiorella of Jerbiton: One minute combat round? loads pistol Rosario of Flambeau: Octavia is the best partner. Covenfolk: the vines haven't been cut that way so you're probably good to find the stairs. Octavia: Oh wait, Alphubel is there I'll call out to him first Covenfolk: just chillin' on the spiral staircase Dusan of Criamon: "Rosario! I heard you call." Rosario of Flambeau: That spell is... Octavia: "Magus, Rosario requests your help." Then I run off into the winding halls and get lost Alphubel ex Merinita: "Ok, I suppose." Dusan of Criamon: "Where's Giraldo! He should be dowsing in here." Rosario of Flambeau: Parmenides' A Sixth Magnitude Spell to Protect The Caster From Harm Morgana: I help Octavia find her way back Alphubel ex Merinita: It is 100% impossible to get lost in the covenant. Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10!+23+7+12 casting total + aura + vis use ( 10 + 9 ) +23+7+12 = 61 Morgana: As we don't want to lose our vanguard Covenfolk: now you can kill Leonardo without danger. Rosario of Flambeau: okay, i spend 6 muto vis and cast the spell. Covenfolk: a wise investment what is that, +3 soak Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario's skin wrinkles up in a gross way and it looks like he's got tiny roses and thorns under his skin +4. Covenfolk: nice. horrifying. Dusan of Criamon: Ew. "This is what you called me for? Gross." Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario now has +17 soak since he's also in full plate armor and has a bunch of stamina. "I don't know what's harmed this grog." "He looks pretty messed up." "I'm going upstairs." I go upstairs to confront the vines. Dusan of Criamon: "I'm your trusty rear guard!" I start looking to the sides hoping to see more magi Covenfolk: You come face to face with your nemesis. Morgana: I'll have the guards flank Rosario Octavia: "Brought all the magi on this floor, sir." Morgana: With him as vanguard Octavia: I recoil a little in disgust at Rosario's spell Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! Octavia: "Did it get you, sir?" Alphubel ex Merinita: Wood! Wood Block: Are you prepared for the wood block? Rosario of Flambeau: Oh fuck. It's Wood Block. Morgana: Sudowoodo Lavinia: Wood Man theme begins playing. Morgana: Wood Man. Nice >:] Wood Block: "..." Rosario of Flambeau: oh my god lmao the nail ahahaha Octavia: lma] Lavinia: There's only one way to stop this madnes You must take the nail and jam it into your forehead. Octavia: Steal the power of the nail for yourself Rosario of Flambeau: "Away with you, fiend!" Rosario chops at the wood block. rolling 1d10!+20 ( 10 + 1 ) +20 = 31 score. Giraldo of Milan: 1 detected please confirm a botch Lavinia: die monster you dont belong in this world Rosario of Flambeau: rofl. Fiorella of Jerbiton: "No nail can stay seated when a woodpecker strikes!" Wood Block looks something up again. Fiorella of Jerbiton: Sadly I don' t think a sponted woodpecker would penetrate Wood Block: hmm. Rosario of Flambeau: the real fucked up thing is that the greatsword does +22 damage when its on fire, because its a +2 Excellent Greatsword that does base 11, and Blade of Virulent Flame doubles weapon damage. Lavinia: Can't believe a lab accident unleashed an all devouring overpowered magic Herbam to destroy everything we've worked on Wood Block: well, Rosario of Flambeau: I can miss the nail. Wood Block: turns out magic powers have really bad initiative Rosario of Flambeau: rofl. I ALSO have bad initiative. Alphubel ex Merinita: It does be like that. Rosario of Flambeau: It's -2 rolling 1d10!-2 init ( 2 ) -2 = 0 See? Fiorella of Jerbiton: Nice. Wood Block: excellent. Alphubel ex Merinita: I feel like the Ars Magica devs should be beaten with hammers for having initiative scores that change constantly during combat. Rosario of Flambeau: lol. Wood Block: they don't even address it Fiorella of Jerbiton: There are games where you reorll initiative every round This isn't as bad as it can be Wood Block: it's just something that clearly should happen when you take certain actions rolling 1d10!-1 ( 6 ) -1 = 5 Fiorella of Jerbiton: There's also Savage Worlds where you deal cards to resolve initiative, every round Rosario of Flambeau: well done wood block Fiorella of Jerbiton: Good luck Rosario Wood Block: lemme see here A large root emerges from underneath the tile and whips at your ankles! Alphubel ex Merinita: AFK a sec. Wood Block: roll Dexterity this similarly has quite high penetration unless i'm totally misunderstanding the power creation rules? Rosario of Flambeau: rolling 1d10!+3 ( 4 ) +3 = 7 Fiorella of Jerbiton: Oh yeah Rosario Rosario of Flambeau: uhhh. conf. Fiorella of Jerbiton: Add +12 to attack and defense for the grogs Lavinia: i thought standard for a power was 1 level of might per hermetic magnitude Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yeah Minus temporary might cost Wood Block: i'll look at it again later anyway, rosario easily jumps over the root Rosario of Flambeau: whew! Wood Block: (in extremely cool fashion, having spent a confidence point to do so) Rosario of Flambeau: "Hup!" doing the marth air dodge pose Fiorella of Jerbiton: johns is right, multiply their Might by 5 to get the penetration on a power that costs 0 might to cast It's why 40 might beings tend to be bullshit Lavinia: uhh wait why multiple might Fiorella of Jerbiton: I mean 8 might Lavinia: Pen in our house rules is just Might - Power Cost Fiorella of Jerbiton: Sorry whoops Octavia: yeah Fiorella of Jerbiton: I was thinking of how much vis they containt That's what's divided by 5 Octavia: We houseruled Persons of Might to be 50x as powerful at beating MR. What they do to your MR next will not make you smile. Alphubel ex Merinita: So is there going to be an initiative order here or what? Fiorella of Jerbiton: Just tell us how much Might this thing has and whether you bought any virtues or abilities that let it penetrate more Alphubel ex Merinita: List the 20 different virtues you had to buy to give it the form of a block of wood. Rosario of Flambeau: lol Fiorella of Jerbiton: It's being maintained by the nail Wood Block: i was looking at the rules for designing powers on characters without might, where you can sink points from your pool into boosting penetration. but you can't do that if you have might. Fiorella of Jerbiton: It'll probably get blighted when the nail comes out Rosario of Flambeau: yeah you have to take Qualities to reduce your power cost or whatever Wood Block: Whoops! Rosario of Flambeau: rip Wood Block: no wonder it seemed so easy. anyway rosario hits the wood block. Fiorella of Jerbiton: You can spend quality levels to make a particular powe rmore penetrative than your might Rosario of Flambeau: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QOKWLZp5zHNcmjV4ErOD8kFvn9ku4Js0-m7fgFADdfY/edit?usp=sharing heres a magical character with a shitload of qualities etc you can look at. just dont click his powers tab since it has spoilers for uninvestigated items Lavinia: you can also spend them to boost the initiative of a power iirc Wood Block: it's really shitty though if you have might and take that option you just get xp into Penetration Lavinia: Regardless -- when this adventure is over we expect to see Wood Blocks statsheet, for a thorough audit. Fiorella of Jerbiton: 43 total attack roll adding in the grogs Rosario of Flambeau: thunk Giraldo of Milan: im clicking the spoilers Wood Block: no! Giraldo of Milan: wood block stat sheet is saved in his google docs, right above derfels sheet Dusan of Criamon: I will never read spoilers I game with honor Octavia: oh shit, the mirror has a level 60 effect to instantly kill a person with an AC to them. badass. Rosario of Flambeau: its not his powers tab its his magic items tab. but whatever. lol. Giraldo of Milan: anyway i am going to kill cumthinker Wood Block: very well Lavinia: how can it have a ritual power Fiorella of Jerbiton: Does the wood block soak being chopped up with melee weapons? Octavia: prudenzio achieved a hermetic breakthrough, then never told nayone or realised he'd done it Rosario of Flambeau: ritual powers are an option in RoP:M Fiorella of Jerbiton: The grogs probably do get hit by the vines but w/e That's still a pretty good roll Wood Block: It does not! Rosario of Flambeau: magical creatures can spent might score, not might points, or something to use powers that break hermetic restrictions Wood Block: the option is named Ritual Power Fiorella of Jerbiton: Yeah they can expend permanent might to make auras and such Wood Block: conveniently Rosario of Flambeau: prudenzio's is, naturally, a power that lets him escape from anywhere. unfortunately archibald owned him epicly Octavia: So What is happening, GM? Wood Block: all of my carefully laid plans have been annihilated Dusan of Criamon: nice Fiorella of Jerbiton: nice >:] Alphubel ex Merinita: lol I love Ars Magica. Wood Block: my beloved wooden block reduced to a shaggy dog story Endrite: Traveller: "We used calculus to save the day!" Fiorella of Jerbiton: Okay I should go put medicated eye drops on my cornea transplant GG Endrite: Ars Magica: "Whoops I forgot the right splat power, guess this boss is actually dead instantly." Dusan of Criamon: yeah i popped pills a bit ago Wood Block: Rosario chops the wooden block in half, along with the table below it. Rosario of Flambeau: Endrite: Ars Magica: "Whoops I forgot the right splat power, guess this boss is actually dead instantly." Octavia: The important part is that you tried. Well, succeeding would have been far better. Trying doesn't really mean much now that I think about it. 10xp to all involved. Rosario of Flambeau: this is every boss the covenant has faced in any of my sessions :feelsguy: Wood Block: lol. Giraldo of Milan: every moss Dusan of Criamon: It does feel like good Ars bosses are less grind down damage and more "find key, solve puzzle" coincidentally, here the key was also fire damage Rosario of Flambeau goes to pry out the Gold Nail Endrite: Here is my professional GM advice as someone who has been a GM for over 5 years: just let NPCs have cheat abilities that work the way you want them to. Dusan of Criamon: GM advice: lie Rosario of Flambeau: I want to do that, but it's unfair. Wood Block: the wee bey face. Rosario of Flambeau: and less fun for me. Octavia: The issue is that the rules are bad here, not that you should break them to cheat when the players outsmart you. Wood Block: to run an ars magica adventure simply ignore the Parma Magica. Rosario of Flambeau: lol Lavinia: Endrite: Here is my professional GM advice as someone who has been a GM for over 5 years: just let NPCs have cheat abilities that work the way you want them to. Dusan of Criamon: :pepe2:\ Lavinia: if you do this I will kill you When you cheated on Severin's familiar that was bullshit Rosario of Flambeau: anyway what was the might of that creature so i can divide it by 5 and add it to my Flambeau House Acclaim Octavia: He did it with that familiar and it made my blood boil at the time. Yeah Lavinia: real GMs let the PCs commit outrageous hermetic crimes then face the consequences. Rosario of Flambeau: THIS Octavia: That familiar had it coming Lavinia: spoeaking of: next week an Angel removes Guy's Gift Endrite: It was cheating, he has a magic power given to him by the King of the Birds. I mean it wasn't cheating. Lavinia: Wood Block: to run an ars magica adventure simply ignore the Parma Magica. Endrite: You just need to be a bird and then give aid to the King of the Birds and you too can fly through the ground. Lavinia: get this cumthinker: in RAW it is even more impossible for a creature of Might to ever affect a magus Octavia: he took 3 actions at once before anyone else could take any, which absolutely was cheating When confronted on this you let us roll quickness vs his +5 quickness, to see if we could act before his 3 actions Rosario of Flambeau: hell i just did that to beat the wood block Octavia: that bird deserved death Endrite: He's a woodpecker, he has +5 quickness. Lavinia: By RaW, without special virtues or skills, a Might 50 creature -- the most powerful you can experience outside its native Realm of Power -- cannot hurt anyone with more than 10 MR. An Apprentice, straight of Gauntleting, can easily have that much MR in the relevant form. Wood Block: The two halves of the wooden block, still dangling from their attached tendrils, glow a gentle blue, rapidly increasing in intensity until they shine like the sun. Giraldo of Milan: when the only key youve got is a sword thats on fire, every lock looks like a block of wood Octavia: Well they can, just not with their most powerful spells. They get effects to boost penetration easily, too. The issue is that magic creature generation is a joke because there is absolutely no checks and balances in place to stop you making utter bullshit very easily in it. Wood Block: Rosario feels some effects wash over him, safe beneath his Parma Magica. Rosario of Flambeau fumbles through the blinding light to try to yank at the nail. Dusan of Criamon: Good that he's got that parma. Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario's parma is insanely high. Endrite: It's ridiculous that there would be anything like "checks and balances" in NPC creation. What's the point of that? Octavia: To have the slightest sense for what an NPC should or should not be capable of Rosario of Flambeau: lol yeah. Wood Block: The grogs are not so lucky and should roll Stamina. Rosario of Flambeau: this game is designed for pcs and npcs to use the same rules Wood Block: everyone on the lower level is safe Endrite: Wait I thought everyone on the lower level was in the area of effect. Octavia: I mean, I could make a creature in it that could just walk up to the covenant and kill any magus it wanted to. This wouldnt be hard to make. So we can assume there is a level of stupidity that you shouldn't do, but no way to know where to draw the line. Wood Block: i mean, if you want to be Octavia: I'll be safe. Sounds nice. Endrite: Oh you mean the lower level of the library. Wood Block: yeah. Endrite: Ok, I get it. Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario sheaths his sword and deactivates the flames Wood Block: When the light recedes Rosario finds himself holding a fistful of tree roots. The wood block and nail are nowhere to be seen. Dusan of Criamon: Gah! Rosario of Flambeau: "Gah! How will I prove I defeated the block?!" Endrite: Mayhap this story is not yet at an end... Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait I meant to say that. Rosario of Flambeau: "I think we're safe... For now." Is the earth still quaking etc Derfel ap Cadwaladr: No, everything stopped with the demise of the foul wood block. Rosario of Flambeau: Hell yeah. Saved the day. Classic Flambeau. Rosario of Flambeau strikes a pose Dusan of Criamon: "We need to finish the Aegis ritual now that this is settled." Rosario of Flambeau: "Good thinking." "Let us tell the other magi the good news." Octavia: "Boss, I think it landed some sort of curse on you." Dusan of Criamon: "In addition, I feel that once the casualties are counted, perhaps this would be a good founding myth for a little feast of ours." "Something to lift the grog's spirits, et al. " Derfel ap Cadwaladr: let's see Alphubel ex Merinita: We need Lavinia to treat all these injured grogs. Lavinia: "Rosario versus the tree" Derfel ap Cadwaladr: "Some say there are still wood blocks out there, lurking in the darkness." Dusan of Criamon: We need to chop up all the fresh firewood. Oh by the way, the ghosts of the past still there? Alphubel ex Merinita: Wait, let's see if the trees disappear at sunset. Derfel ap Cadwaladr: The nine dead magi in the council chamber are gone. Alphubel ex Merinita: If they don't we could have a magical breakthrough on our hands. Lavinia: RIP. Derfel ap Cadwaladr: Eight apples sit on the floor in their place. Lavinia: Let's eat the apples Alphubel ex Merinita: Creo Herbam without a vis cost. Could be good. Octavia: Mysterious. I wonder what this signifies. Dusan of Criamon: "I didn't even get to catch up with my old friend, Mortis. Rest easy, old buddy." Derfel ap Cadwaladr: the ritual devouring of the apples. Dusan of Criamon: "probably an illusion, anyway." Lavinia: if the apples are not vis and are not poison, what the hell, let's eat one and see what happens Derfel ap Cadwaladr: They're from the apple crate in the corner, across from the pile of Aeneids. Archibald of Guernicus: Archibald sits in a dark mood in the council room, staring at the apples Derfel ap Cadwaladr: it would make sense for them to contain some vis to spice up the haul though. Lavinia: How bout them apples haha. Giraldo of Milan: wait a damn minute Derfel ap Cadwaladr: things got weird with the wood block around. Giraldo of Milan: only 8??/ Belzer of Mercere: Are those apples kosher? Rosario of Flambeau: "Archibald, I've saved the day." I say, from behind Dusan as he leads us back. Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Derfel ap Cadwaladr: Eight apples, four on each side of the table. Archibald of Guernicus: "Ohhhh.... they're finally gone..." Giraldo of Milan: rip beatrice Archibald of Guernicus: "Just an illusion. Old friends never return." I hang my head and say nothing else Rosario of Flambeau: "Oh, hey! Apples!" Alphubel ex Merinita: What level Creo Herbam would you need to preserve these vines? Rosario of Flambeau: I pick one up and take a bite. Lavinia: "I thought you hated more than half the people at that table." Alphubel ex Merinita: I want to see if they disappear or not. Derfel ap Cadwaladr: pretty low Belzer of Mercere: rolling d10!+1+1 Rabbinical law (are apples kosher) ( 6 ) +1+1 = 8 Dusan of Criamon: "Such is the passage of time, Archibald. What you must cherish is what you have! Not mourn what has been." Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! Archibald of Guernicus: "So many magi, lost..." Alphubel ex Merinita: I've vanished! Oh wait, there I am. Lavinia: "Do you ever stop to think there is something about this covenant that predilects people towards violence?" Rosario of Flambeau: "Who put that gold nail in the block of wood?" Belzer of Mercere: Okay, from my googling, i think these are kosher provided they are platonic apples Derfel ap Cadwaladr: they're regular apples Belzer of Mercere: Mr Freilich declined to say what made his apples kosher claiming it was commercially sensitive infomation. Rosario of Flambeau: crunch crunch Dusan of Criamon: "Old blood out, new blood in. And you're neither of those! Come, let us finish the Aegis and celebrate." Derfel ap Cadwaladr crosses out "8 pawns imaginem vis" and writes in "7 pawns imaginem vis" Lavinia: We totally ruined cumthinker's plan to expose the Terrible Secret of Vardian's Tomb Octavia: "Good warmup for the rest of the day, anything else you need of me at the moment, magi?" Giraldo of Milan: meekret Rosario of Flambeau: "Make sure nobody puts this nail into anything, ever again." Derfel ap Cadwaladr: the nail has been destroyed Rosario of Flambeau: Oh. Belzer of Mercere: "I could take it to Harco's vault." Derfel ap Cadwaladr: although if you left it loose it would warp the air in the room it was in Rosario of Flambeau: That's sick. "Forget about the nail. Uhh, take the day off." Archibald of Guernicus: "The curse of Vardian's Tomb..." I mutter quietly, then pull myself upright "Let's sort the aegis before things get worse." Lavinia: "Clean the piss off my lab's floor, please." "Also get a new door." Rosario of Flambeau: "Get someone else to do that." "Well, Octavia can get the door." Octavia: "With respect, boss, my duty's guarding your life, that sort of work's for servants." Lavinia: "Of course. I meant find a servant to do it." Octavia: "I'll carry a new door in, that's fine." Alphubel ex Merinita: Hmm. Octavia: "Right. Of course, boss." I salute Alphubel ex Merinita: How many covenfolk do we actually have? Rosario of Flambeau: "It'll probably be a heavy door." "Good work." Giraldo of Milan: leonardo can get it Dusan of Criamon: Folks, there's good news and bad news the good news is: lots of firewood Octavia: I'll go find a covenfolk, cut them loose from some vines, then bark at them to find a mop and get to de-pissing the lab. Dusan of Criamon: the bad news: it's winter solstice, and our roofs are probably all ruined Belzer of Mercere: There's a number of unnamed teamsters and laborers and such you have based on your needs johns would know since he maintains the ledger Octavia: Then set out to bring in a better door Lavinia: lmao the ledger hasn't existed in 60 years Belzer of Mercere: I'll go clean up the Code of Hermes library Alphubel ex Merinita: What do you mean? Lavinia: cumthinker took the ledger to write derfel's character sheet on the other side Rosario of Flambeau: the vis ledger is current and works fine Alphubel ex Merinita: I updated the vis ledger like last month. Octavia: lol Lavinia: the finances ledger Rosario of Flambeau: oh no one cares about that Alphubel ex Merinita: Ah. Rosario of Flambeau: lol Belzer of Mercere: The finances ledger doesn't change much anywya Giraldo of Milan: the hell? i always just tell johns to update it Alphubel ex Merinita: Gah! The ultimate strategy failed? Rosario of Flambeau takes a lap around the covenant grounds bragging to everyone he sees about how he saved the day Gulielmus of Pure Reason: The aegis procession emerges onto the surface again. Dusan of Criamon: Honestly, Rosario should be on the shoulders of some grogs Archibald of Guernicus: "Right. From the beginning, then." Gulielmus of Pure Reason: he really should Dusan of Criamon: it is decided, then Rosario is on some grogs shoulders Rosario of Flambeau: lol Archibald of Guernicus: Who are the strongest grogs Rosario of Flambeau: "Should I take off my armor first? I'm probably very heavy." Dusan of Criamon: "Yes. Show mercy." Octavia: I'll put the door down and start getting grogs together to carry Rosario Rosario of Flambeau: Rosario shows off his buff and toned physique and lets a bunch of people grab at him. Lavinia: are we romans or are we greeks Alphubel ex Merinita: We're Italian baby! Dusan of Criamon: We're pretty multiregional here. Alphubel ex Merinita: Greatest city in the world! Octavia: Rome was just Greece in the closet Giraldo of Milan: Lavinia: are we romans or are we greeks Giraldo of Milan gazes off into the sunset, thinking of Aristocritus. Who can say? Rosario of Flambeau: rosario has the body fully covered in scars like vash or w/e "It was nice seeing those old ghosts." "I never knew them, but they seemed like good people." Derfel ap Cadwaladr: "The day is saved!" "Three cheers for Rosario of Flambeau!" Covenfolk cheer. Alphubel ex Merinita: I applaud. Octavia: This time around the border I'll bring my lyre out and sing about Rosario slaying the monster in the library rolling 1d10!+1+5 ( 3 ) +1+5 = 9 Rosario of Flambeau: lol Dusan of Criamon: Do we finish our procession without more interruptions? Octavia: Well. It's listenable. I never promised a good song. Rosario of Flambeau: its pretty decent. Giraldo of Milan: did we ever check for botch for archibald on the failed aegis ritual just remembered that Covenfolk: we did Giraldo of Milan: ok Covenfolk: or he rolled a 1 on concentration so i just checked off that Octavia: Failing a concentration check means you have to check for a botch on the spell, which fails either way rolling 1d10 ( 9 ) = 9 no botch Rosario of Flambeau: "I like that big woman. She'd be a good Flambeau, if she had the Gift." Rosario mumbles to himself on the grogs' shoulders. Octavia: I found this out from the Criamon Blows Up The Moon pdf which has a funny explanation about what happens if you interrupt a level 130 ritual as its being cast Covenfolk: lol Dusan of Criamon: "funny" that's def a criamon pdf Alphubel ex Merinita: It's like the Caine statblock from Vampire but it just says "It's Epic." Rosario of Flambeau: lol Octavia: It's really funny. An aethar botch that powerful causes all the casting magi to be sucked up ont othe moon Covenfolk: it also has the best + most sensible legal precedent in the entire series Octavia: aether Alphubel ex Merinita: Criamon Blow Up The Moon is an end of the world SaGa from the same book the Blight is from. Octavia: yeah Covenfolk: which is, the criamons start painting sanctum markers everywhere to cover their retreat Giraldo of Milan: dont you roll a botch die for each pawn of vis in the rituakl Octavia: johns posted the criamon pdf on its own, i dont have dies irae to read the blight or the other one only if you botch you roll 1d10 to check for botch Alphubel ex Merinita: In it, all Criamon have, for hundreds of years, been conspiring to stop time by freezing all the celestial bodies using a new Form of magic, the form of Aether. Covenfolk: except all of the most powerful wizards in the world are there, and they go through thirty seconds of formalities to say "well this is obviously bullshit" and then they kick down all of the doors. Octavia: whats the third end of the world scenario in dies irae johns? Alphubel ex Merinita: It also has a hero, pacifist last stand where all the lower level Criamon just stand in the way of a bunch of PCs without defending themselves. Titanomachy. Octavia: badass Giraldo of Milan: the book outright states that this is the goal of house criamon all criamon believe in what is happening Alphubel ex Merinita: Yes. Belzer of Mercere: Ars NPC wizards aren't as bullshit as powerful Vampire NPCs since like, Magi of Hermes characters are clearly built using the same means you have available to you as a player Alphubel ex Merinita: IN ACTUALITY, if they're allowed to finish the ritual the moon explodes and then the whole world turns into a really lame post-apocalyptic setting. Rosario of Flambeau: lol Covenfolk: including: Octavia: WoD is gay because they despise player agency or actually having any fun with your new powers so they make a bunch of NPCs that are much stronger than you can ever be, and if yo uever use the mechanics to kill them and steal their powers you become an npc. Covenfolk: every spell with more than Momentary duration stops working, including the parma magica Octavia: lol Rosario of Flambeau: lol Octavia: actually Concentration works still Belzer of Mercere: lol Alphubel ex Merinita: Yeah. Covenfolk: thats true Alphubel ex Merinita: It's any spell with a duration based on heavenly movement. So Diameter, Sun, Month, Moon, and Year stop working. Octavia: it mentions magi should invent new durations and gives some good ones like a taper burning or /we instead of diameter Alphubel ex Merinita: Or they could just use cool Merinita durations. Covenfolk: and then it forces you to work with the breakthrough system Octavia: so you turn into a xianxia character oh god! oh no! Covenfolk: in direct contradiction to the core book!! Rosario of Flambeau: ahahaha ars devs are so smart, and cool and handsome as well. Alphubel ex Merinita: I HATE them. Covenfolk: anyway the covenant is all aegised up Endrite: We had maybe the first rules dispute ever in Traveller the other day and it was because they forgot to put the actual speed that thrusters move at in the second edition of the core rules. Rosario of Flambeau: lol Covenfolk: powerful. Endrite: But we just used the rules from the first edition where 1 point of thrust equals 1 G. Rosario of Flambeau: i would love to play traveller. sigh. Endrite: It's really wild compared to this game where I think we spend 75% of the game fighting the rules and then the rest of the time instantly solving the adventure with magic. Giraldo of Milan: braveller Rosario of Flambeau: lol i had a lot of fun in shaun's rogue trader game playing as a dumb farmer who has no knowledge of the setting and it made me want to play another sci fi rpgs rgp. gah. forget it. i wonder how shitty Eclipse Phase is Endrite: I mean I like Ars, don't get me wrong, but the rules are so bad and they represent so many different visions of what Ars should be that it's almost impossible to use all the splats. Rosario of Flambeau: yeah Endrite: Like Rival Magic might not have even been play tested because the evil vikings are actually incapable of hurting a magus in person. Lavinia: lol and they're supposed to be the most dangerous ones Giraldo of Milan: now now, they arent all bad Endrite: Yeah it's nonsense. Giraldo of Milan: here, lets choose one, open it up, and see what were working with Covenfolk: i should have known something was up when i went "wow, take 30 might or so, bake 20 points into the ability, it's actually very easy for spirits to beat strong mr" Giraldo of Milan: grabs rop:d off the shelf Endrite: Amazons are also pretty terrible. Soqotrans are like, "Well none of these guys can do any kind of dangerous magic but the whole island is ruled by giant snakes with 70 Might." Realms of Power: The Divine has the only supernatural ability that seems any good at all for magi but, rules as written, no magus can ever successfully use the Ars Notoria. Lavinia: lol Rosario of Flambeau: lol Octavia: the issue with rival magic is that the designers stated intent is that Bonisagus is the greatest magus who has ever lived or ever will live and no-one will ever, ever come even the tiniest bit close to his power Giraldo of Milan: and theyre right Endrite: They take a -24 penalty to every roll or something like that. -2 for every Art and another -2 for the Parma Magica. Lavinia: Also, in the Egypt splatbook, even though they use the magic of Thoth they take pains to stress his magic sucks ass compared to bonisagus Endrite: But then it's like, what is the point of these Rival Magics??? Covenfolk: Thoth, the once-great. Endrite: Why did you write a 200 page book with a ton of crazy new spelcasting rules if the rival magicians die instantly upon coming into contact with a 30 year old magus? Rosario of Flambeau: rofl Octavia: Bonisagus invented an entire magic tradition out of everything he came across and then stitched it together into the most powerful AND most versatile magic. But then he also, on top of this, invented the Parma Magica which on its own is more powerful than anything any other tradition has on multiple levels. Covenfolk: hermetic muco specialist: The Greater Limit of Essential Nature means my magic is limited to granting soak bonuses and trivial abilities like low-light vision (with requisite.) Endrite: I mean obviously you want Hermetic magi to have an edge but supernatural enemies are all such pushovers. Octavia: It gives magic resistance which is hte hugest of huge deals, but it also makes you immune to the negative effects of the Gift, enabling wizard communities. Each of these effects would be a defining power in the hands of a rival tradition and he baked both of them into one effect, nad its not even his greatest creation! Covenfolk: learned magicians, sahirs, and studious monks: too busy writing virtues and xp directly onto their own character sheets to respond to the hermestard moe: brethren, restful sleep calls out to me thanks to GM, I had fun Giraldo of Milan: the only rival order that could come close to challenging the order of hermes is the order of suleiman and thats just because theres so many of them and theyre government wizards moe: smell you all later Lavinia: goodnight moe Covenfolk: gn Endrite: Sleep well gamer, I'm going to spend the next 4 hours complaining about the rules. Covenfolk: same. Lavinia: also the suleimans can summon djinn who often have something equivalent to spont magic within a certain range everyone else is limited to very strict formulaic crap Endrite: Yeah, Djinn aren't any better at hurting magi than other Magic Might creatures. Octavia: I think rival traditions need a way ot get magic resistance. I mean it doesnt have to be the parma, they can still hate each other over Gift paranoia, but fucking come on. Bonisagus invented MR+++, you cant tlel me no other magus in history has found a way to get some. Covenfolk: binding a jinn to yourself and burning its might points to fuel your own spellcasting is really cool. Lavinia: the muspelli and soqotrans have it figured out actually dys but the authors just pretended its not an issue for the other two Rosario of Flambeau: i think we're expected to just eventually say they have MR and someone leaked the Parma Lavinia: which is super egregious for the order whose big gimick is influencing mundanes Endrite: The Amazons get around it by being shunned by Amazonian society and living miserable lives in caves. Lavinia: The Soqotran one is funny. They have a specially built council chamber where there are rooms facing in. Octavia: i dont even mean the Gift stuff, i mean MR is essential to magi not murdering each other Lavinia: A mystical being in the middle can see all the magi, but noen of the magi can see or hear each other Octavia: they still do it but its harder to Lavinia: so they just use the snake as an intermediary to pass messages without gifstink Covenfolk: lol Lavinia: Right that too dys Octavia: lol Endrite: The whole Soqotran thing feels like an adventure that they just stripped the plot out of. Lavinia: yeah Endrite: It definitely feels like a solid 40 page D&D adventure or something. Octavia: thats fine by me, so long as its usable as that. Covenfolk: the big reward of, uhh, using 1/10 of a pawn of vis Endrite: lol The real reward are those tasty spices, yum. Rosario of Flambeau: mm, cinnamon. Endrite: I mean, Europeans of this time are eating, like, honeyed barleycakes once a year. So cinnamon is a good get. Here's a question: what is the Hedge Magic book for? Lavinia: companions characters worth a damn Endrite: I really, really, really do not understand Companion Characters. From a game design perspective, I mean. Is it just so you don't have to always risk your magus? Giraldo of Milan: the way the game should be played as far as i can tell, magi shouldnt be going on adventures most of the time Lavinia: a magus who is always going on adventures doesnt gel with the notion fo a magus who likes staying in a lab and getting powerful from books Giraldo of Milan: they should just be there for high stakes stuff maybe one or two go on an adventure to corral the grogs Endrite: But if you can't cast magic then you're stuck relying on Abilities and those uniformly are unfun to manage or use. Giraldo of Milan: also, unless you take gentle gift your magus can be a liability in social situations ALSO its fun to play a group of mundane fuckups on low-stakes adventures Endrite: It is fun, just not with the Ars rules. Rosario of Flambeau: alrighty gg ty for running samog. Giraldo of Milan: g Rosario of Flambeau: i had a lot of fun being the big hero Endrite: Which are insanely punishing for mundane combat. Congrats! There's a 1/100 chance per time you get hit to Just Straight Up Die. Wait it's more than that. But you know what I mean. Defense botches shouldn't exist and I'm of the opinion that botches should only be for supernatural stuff. Endrite: I mean, sure you should be able to fail, but it's telling that no ability has any kind of botch description outside of combat. Lavinia: Goodnight, folks Endrite: Goodnight, all. Covenfolk: gg.
 * trainer
 * difficult
 * dont
 * dont want