You mimic Jemma's action, bowing deeply to the imposing Mr. Muscle, keeping your mouth shut. Elizabeth does the same, as the three of you attempt to show honor and respect to him and his pack.

He bellows out in laughter, each chuckle rattling your rib cage, as the rest of the patrons in the bar you are currently standing in mimic him in his laughter. "You? Need my help?"

"Actually, if possible, I'm requesting the aid of your entire pack," Jemma says, head still bowed.

You didn't think the laughter could get any louder, but it does, as dust rattles down from the lights in the ceiling. "And why would I do that?"

> Stay silent
> Ask if he's felt any changes to the Shadow World
> Request to 'show' him just why you need their aid
> Other

> Previous Quest Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/36509379/
> Quest Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=MtA%20Quest
> QM Twitter: htt[://www.twitter.com/MageQM
> Archived Q&A/Meta Discussion: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/36531585/

Still updating the resource document, as the Q&A thread had us lock in on the remaining 2 Skill Specialties available to us from character creation. I'll post when I get it set up.

> Stay silent

File: mage quest resource document.pdf (4.31 MB, PDF)

4.31 MB PDF

Here's the resource document.

For meta information, I strongly recommend looking at the Q&A thread I mentioned in >>36549054

>>36548980
>Ask if he's felt any changes to the Shadow World

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Rolling 1d2 to see if we stay silent or comment. Wring afterwards.

>>36549543
1 was silent, 2 was speaking up, sorry.

"Uhh... Forgive me for asking, as I honestly don't know how it works for your pack," you say, eyes looking up at Mr. Muscle, as you stand up ever so slightly. "But have you felt any changes to the Shadow World?"

"It's always changing, you twat," one of the bar patrons yells at you from the side. "It shifts and breathes, like any living creature."

"But, like any living creature, what if something has infected it?"

Almost instantly Mr. Muscle grabs you by the collar of your neck, lifting you up and tossing you into the wall. "Choose your next words carefully, Mage." You can see the veins in his hands bulge, nails growing sharp and pointed next to your neck. Both Elizabeth and Jemma look ready to jump him, but you wave them off.

> Some creature's corrupting the Shadow World
> We need your help saving a possessed Mage
> Other

>>36549681>>36549681
>> Some creature's corrupting the Shadow World

>>36549681
>Some creature's corrupting the Shadow World

>>36549681

> Some creature's corrupting the Shadow World

>>36549681
> Some creature's corrupting the Shadow World
and has been knocking off (eating) the local Spirit mages

>>36550094
Do NOT mention that this thing is getting away with killing Mages. We don't want the pack to sense enou weakness to go on a god damn hunting spree.

"Some creature's corrupting the Shadow World," you grunt out, trying very hard to not piss your pants in fear. He stands there, eyes squinting at you, eyes trying to discern if you're lying, telling the truth, or if it's worth the trouble to kill you three and bury your bodies.

You really hope he picks the second option.

After a moment that goes on far longer than it should have, he lets go, dropping you back onto your feet. "You have 1 minute, explain."

You quickly explain how the three of you have noticed that some creature (purposefully leaving out that it's Jemma's sister) is killing other Spirit-focused Mages, and is corrupting the Shadow World's landscape of (general) life and warmth into what can only be described as a post-apocalyptic wasteland. You barely got away from one of the creature's minions, as you fear you are the last Spirit-focused Mage in the city, and doubt that you could succeed in cleansing the Shadow World of the creature's menace.

He growls in disgust. "Filthy Mages, you toy with these things, not knowing the primal perfection in them to begin with. I can smell your fear, and how you are holding something back." At that, you sniff your armpit.

"Sorry, forgot to put on deodorant this morning," you joke to him.

Mr. Muscle blinks, probably the first time you've caught him off-guard. He bellows out in laughter, patting you on the back (and nearly breaking it in the process). "Not bad, Mage. Most wouldn't dare to think of cracking a joke." He leans in close, making sure only you can hear him. "Don't try it again."

You nod slightly. "G... Got it."

He pulls back, letting go of your shoulder and walking back to the bar. He pulls out three bottles of beer, cracking the caps off with his bare hands. "Come, sit down. Explain to us exactly what is happening, and what you want to do."

> Propose an idea to them (write-in)
> Describe the spirit you met
> Other

>>36550131
>Describe the spirit you met
why do all supernaturals have to be such assholes

>>36550131
>Describe the spirit you met

>>36550168
no more assholish than most mages

>>36550131
> Describe the spirit you met

>>36550131
> Describe the spirit you met

>>36550168
Hubris is directly proportional to power. The only reason that the most powerful creatures (Demons) don't flaunt it is because their boss uses those displays to track them down.

>>36550211
most mages don't threaten to kill you every time you come to talk to them

>>36550373
They do if they're territorial and have expressly forbidden 2 of your company from ever setting foot in their territory

>>36550465
most mages don't expressly forbid your from ever setting foot in their territory, either

You glance at the other two, who shrug slightly, before joining you as you walk up to the bar. A couple of the people sitting at it get up, taking their mugs of beer with them. He hands each of you a bottle, before pulling out a mug and pouring a draft of a different brew for himself.

"Thanks," you say, raising the neck of the bottle to him. He gives the briefest of nods before he starts downing the draft. The three of you begin to describe the creature to him, the attacks he used, and the broken language he spoke in. As you talk, he motions for another person to join him behind the bar, a young woman that barely looks over 21. She listens in as you talk, making notes on a blank strip of recepit paper. After you finish, he raises a finger to you. The duo walk out, motioning for some other patrons of the bar to come over. They huddle and whisper, but you don't hear what they're saying.

> Use Forces magic to amplify the sound they're making so you can hear them (4d10, Gnosis + Forces)
> Talk with Elizabeth and Jemma, see if they have anything to talk to you about while you are alone
> Use your Spirit magic to 'see' into your surroundings
> Other

The only reason Mr. Muscle didn't kill Jemma and Michael on sight was because Elizabeth is with them.

>>36550501
They do if you fuck with their friends and later go Palpatine on their ass before emptying a clip into them.

>>36550577
Conserve mana and talk with the ladies about their past encounters with the pack.

>>36550577
>Use your Spirit magic to 'see' into your surroundings
QM complained we don't use magic enough


did we buy spirit sight as root?

>>36550611
>They do if you fuck with their friends and later go Palpatine on their ass before emptying a clip into them.
he attacked us and tried to murder an uninvolved mortal. It was very nice of us to let him go

>>36550577
> Talk with Elizabeth and Jemma, see if they have anything to talk to you about while you are alone

>>36550577
> Talk with Elizabeth and Jemma, see if they have anything to talk to you about while you are alone
> Use your Spirit magic to 'see' into your surroundings

>>36550577
>Talk with Elizabeth and Jemma, see if they have anything to talk to you about while you are alone
we should flirt
just kidding


almost makes we wish there were some more vamps in town so they and the wolfies could keep each other occupied

>>36550632
He came after Jemma for her professed 'unprofessional behaviour towards his pack'. In kindergarden terms, she started it.

>did we buy spirit sight as root?
>>36549275 is current and lacks any new rotes.

>>36550632
No, but I greatly recommended it in the Q&A thread, and people were split between wanting to get Spirit Sight, Prime Sight, Life Sight, and trying to "chargen" to save exp., the 2 free Rote dots left, and turn Spirit Blast (the attack Michael used to defeat the spirit in quest 7) into a Rote (that I outlined in the Q&A thread). For simplicities sake, I'm copy + pasting what I said there about making the attack a Rote here:

> Spirit Gun: Spirit + Intelligence + Occult vs. Resistance, Covert. You create and discharge a small, focused bolt of Spirit energy, breaching the barrier into the Shadow World (if you are not already in it) and striking the spirit where they are most vulnerable. At Spirit 4, it does Lethal damage to spirits, Bashing damage to any being in the Fallen World. At Spirit 5, it turns into Aggrivated damage to spirits, but remains at Bashing damage to any being in the Fallen World.

Oh, speaking of exp., you have 13 points currently banked up.

>>36550755
Do we have enough xp to buy both Spirit sight and Spirit Gun? Because I think we'll need both of them a lot

>>36550825
>>36550755

Spirit gun rote wouldn't be very effective atm and we don't have the exp required to fix that. >>36540117

>>36550868
so we would get worse at the spell by practicing it?
yeah, let's not do that

let's get spirit sight

>>36550916
If you spend 22 exp total (10 for the 1 dot in Occult, 12 for 4 dots worth of Rotes) you turn the spell into a non-mana attack where you roll 7d10.

>>36550916
We don't spend mana on each shot, but it would take another 10 exp to buy up Occult.

Oh, and I'm going to eat dinner, back in 20-30 minutes. When I get back, I should have the next update for you in terms of story progression.

>>36550948
>spending 22 xp for a non-mana attack that rolls 7d10 instead of 6d10
yeah that's not really worth it. What else would Occult 1 do for us? What other spells use Occult?

>>36551168
None without buying the rotes. If it's not a rote it's an improvised spell. But all improvised spells cost an extra mana.

>>36551214
Yes, but what would the skill itself let us do?

>>36551240
Understand Occult shit at a beginner level. It's mostly rolled with Int or Wits, so 1 dot is pretty bad for us (a mere 3d10 total)

>>36551214
I think he meant what other spells would use Occult when brought as a rote.

>>36551265
>Understand Occult shit at a beginner level.
Which means what?
Know that Vampires drink blood?
Know vague rumors about their weaknesse?
Know about Rötschreck specifically?
Know about Diablerie and how it is regarded in vampire culture?

How much knowledge is beginner level?

>>36551273
Buying more rotes requires a lot of exp. Rotes can be designed/tweaked to use any skill to fit into the flavour of the practitioner. The defaults listed in the book are too numerous to list off but here's an index of all the Spirit rotes in the canon:
>http://wodindex.wikispaces.com/Spells-Spirit
Oh what do you know: Second Sight - Intelligence or Wits + Occult + Spirit

>>36551362
>designed/tweaked to use any skill to fit into the flavour of the practitioner.
except Spirit Gun, apparently
>>http://wodindex.wikispaces.com/Spells-Spirit
looks like they just used Occult when no other skill fits, since it by definition applies to pretty much everything connected with magic

>>36551356
>How much knowledge is beginner level?
You have read "An Idiot's Guide to the Occult" and can apply basic general knowledge of the main branches of the discipline to relevant problems and situations you come across. Tink of it as cramming a 101 college course.

>>36551356
Roughly equivalent to having read some folklore online or taken a beginner's class on the subject. You don't unlock knowledge, but roll to see if you've encountered a particular piece of knowledge in the past (like all other knowledge skill checks). However, having no dots in Occult means that you default, taking a -3 penalty on the roll, which reduces us to a chance die, which has the potential to provide false information that we perceive as true. Getting a dot of Occult would mitigate that penalty, meaning that we don't know much but we also don't fall for the super obvious errors.

>>36551413
>spirit gun
The storyteller is the one that designs the rote and this one is a custom one by MageQM.

>occult by default
Pretty much yeah. I haven't really looked into rotes that much because the optimal way to stock up on magical power is by enchanting the shit out of all your gear. But Prime is our Inferiour Arcanum, so we're stuck with using the teenage powersmith.

>>36551473
Also she's gonna want repayment. Though Spirit 4 should be enough to refine some metal into its mystical perfected form. We'll just have to find a way to explain buying 30 pounds raw iron and if they ask questions explaining where the other 27 pounds of it went.

Maybe an online dealer. They don't tend to ask many questions.

>>36551522
maybe our wife can handle that? She should have some resources that mages need.

>>36551522
Sending objects to the Twilight is the domain of Death. Unless you want to cross the threshold yourself all those times (in which case the metal will be protected by whatever sympathy protects the rest of your shit during the trip), Spirit's not going to cut it.

>>36551621
>(in which case the metal will be protected by whatever sympathy protects the rest of your shit during the trip)
can't we intentionally lower that protection?

Writing, sorry.

> [1/2]

"So," you lean in close to Elizabeth and Jemma, who do the same. "On a scale of 1 to fucked, how screwed are we?"

"That was actually very civil from Tobi," Elizabeth says, sipping the beer she was given. "I half-expected I was going to need to rewind time a couple seconds after he gutted one of you." She looks at the deadpan stare both of you give her. "It was a joke."

"You need to work on your humor," Jemma says, fiddling with the bottle. "But it sounds like they might help. I noticed you glossed over some of the information," staring at you. "You think we can still save Sarah once they find out it's her causing this corruption?"

"One step at a time," you say, taking a swig of the beer. It's actually not bad, some kind of micro-brew. Maybe the werewolves themselves made it. It's a rather dark beer, but very filling. "I'm hoping we can just exorcise the spirit inside her and then she'll be ok."

Mr. Muscle (Tobi, you'd imagine) and the young woman return to the two of you, a scribbled page of notes and a list on it. "Ok, we'll agree to help you guys out, if you agree to some conditions." He hands the list to Elizabeth, who reads it over. She pulls out a phone and begins doing some number-crunching on the calculator app on it, weighing the costs of what they want.

> [2/2]

"Tobi, you know some of these requests are just not feasible," Elizabeth says, a scowl on her face. His nostrils flare as he snorts in disapproval. "You know I can't let you have all the territory the old Cabal had control over, especially when there's several Normals gangs in those neighborhoods now." She whips a pencil out of her inner coat pocket, scribbling new words on it, scratching out older ones. "How does this sound to you?" She hands it back, where the two read it over.

"A third!? Mystic, I feel that I am being very generous here. I mean, you 3 get to walk out of here unharmed for starters. And this presence is of no concern of ours."

A wave of uneasiness washes over you, hairs on the back of your neck standing up on end.

> What do you think will happen if I die and it finishes corrupting the city?
> Stay silent
> Try to see what's causing you to feel uneasy (turn on Spirit Sight)
> Other

Also, no matter what option you pick, I need you all to roll a 6d10 (Wits + Composure + 2 die)

Rolled 7, 6, 6, 2, 7, 5 = 33 (6d10)

>>36551900
>Try to see what's causing you to feel uneasy (turn on Spirit Sight)

It's already here, isn't it?

what do Werewolves even do with territory?

Rolled 10, 7, 8, 6, 1, 2 = 34 (6d10)

>>36551900
>Try to see what's causing you to feel uneasy

It's here already! Damn, this abyssal ain't fucking around.

Rolled 7, 1, 4, 8, 1, 1 = 22 (6d10)

>>36551900
>> Try to see what's causing you to feel uneasy (turn on Spirit Sight)
>Other
"This isn't a favor you're doing us, Tobi."
"This thing isn't out for Mages, it's out for anything that can oppose it. Why do you think it chose the most divided of the factions first? "

Rolled 9, 6, 4, 4, 8, 6 = 37 (6d10)

>>36551900
>Try to see what's causing you to feel uneasy (turn on Spirit Sight)

> I mean, you 3 get to walk out of here unharmed for starters.
threatening triple-master mage

Rolled 5, 10, 10, 8, 7, 4 = 44 (6d10)

>>36551900
> Try to see what's causing you to feel uneasy (turn on Spirit Sight)

Rolled 10, 7, 8, 1, 6, 9 = 41 (6d10)

>>36551900
>Spirit sight on (fingers crossed)
>Let El do her job. She's good at it.

Writing.

File: _spellcraft_by_bluefley-d(...).jpg (226 KB, 758x1000)

226 KB JPG

Concerned for your safety and the others in the room, you decide to risk it and click your Spirit Sight back on. You half-expect the wave of reality backlashing onto you, but no such thing occurs. Everything here shifts to a grayed out color palette, replaced instead by a very primal feeling of being in a small clearing in the middle of the woods, surrounded by creatures that are itching to rip you apart.

But that's not the worst of it.

The worst of it is that just outside of where the door to the bar is, the tainted figure of Sarah, Jemma's sister, has sauntered up to the door from the Shadow World side. She brings her hand up to the door, as black ooze drips from her fingertips, coalescing into a solid ball of Death.

> Duck! (throw up Ephemeral Shield around you 3, Tobi, and the young woman)
> Exorcise her! (6d10, Gnosis + Spirit), this will be vs. Sarah's Power + Presence score
> Spirit Blast! (6d10, Gnosis + Spirit, uses 1 Mana; you have 5 left currently)
> Other

Rolled 2, 2, 3, 1, 6, 9 = 23 (6d10)

>>36552423
> Duck! (throw up Ephemeral Shield around you 3, Tobi, and the young woman)
"I TOOOOOOOOOLD YOOOOOU"

Rolled 8, 3, 7, 1, 6, 5 = 30 (6d10)

>>36552423
DOOOOOODGE!

Rolled 6, 5, 4, 2, 8, 1 = 26 (6d10)

>>36552423
>Duck!

Fuckin' near worst case scenario...

Rolled 9, 6, 8, 8, 10, 9 = 50 (6d10)

>>36552423
>Duck! (throw up Ephemeral Shield around you 3, Tobi, and the young woman)
scream "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!" or something like that

>>36552512
DAMN! Exceptional success period, the dice must love you today.

>>36552512
Only roll worth anything. OP pls use this

> [1/2]

"FUCK!" You immediately grab onto Elizabeth and Jemma's arms with each hand, pulling them down to the ground with you. As you do so you throw all of your magical energy into the largest and strongest Ephemeral Shield you can craft. A bubble nearly 3 inches thick balloons out from you, encircling you three, Tobi, and the young woman.

It shatters as her ball of Death breaks through the barrier between the Shadow World and the Fallen World, door blowing inward from the force of the explosion her attack generated. The ball of black slows considerably, whizzing past where your head was half a second ago, launching itself into the back of the bar. Both Jemma and Elizabeth look at the orb, eyes glowing green, their skin going pale.

"RUN!" Jemma scrambles up off the ground, hands glowing purple as she throws up a Prime Shield of her own creation, not nearly as thick as yours was, but you doubt anything could've stopped that attack. Her free hand crackles with lightning, as the soulless gaze of Sarah looks at her as she steps through the gaping void her attack left in its wake, entering into the Fallen World. Every single person left in the bar immediately snarls at her, as almost two dozen different werewolves shift into combat form and lunge at her.

A sudden pull of gravity lurches you backwards, your gaze shifting from Sarah to the orb. It's grown in size, as anything and everything near it begin to get sucked towards it.

'So this is how it ends, huh? Killed by a black hole made by a possessed Mage?'

> [2/2]

Elizabeth throws a time bubble around the black orb, and slowly the pull of gravity on you weakens, where instead of being caught in a riptide, it only feels like you are in a tug of war. And you're losing.

Tobi's eyes are wide as he realizes what is going on. "FLEE!" He yells aloud, his skin bursting into thick tuffs of fur, the young woman with him doing the same thing. Instantly everyone else in the bar shifts from attacking Sarah towards running past her, giving her as wide of a berth as they can.

"<LEAVE THE MAGE TO ME, AND YOU ALL MAY LIVE,>" Sarah bellows out, your soul screaming in pain as she points at you.

> Spirit Blast! (6d10, Gnosis + Spirit, costs 1 Mana, you have 5 Mana left)
> Run
> Exorcise her (6d10, Gnosis + Spirit)
> Other

Rolled 1, 3, 10, 10, 5, 9 = 38 (6d10)

>>36552935
>Run

Rolled 4, 7, 7, 9, 7, 10 = 44 (6d10)

>>36552935
>> Exorcise her (6d10, Gnosis + Spirit)

I feel like I should mention this in case people forget. You can blow a point of Willpower to get another 3 dice to add to your roll.

Rolled 9, 3, 2, 8, 3, 4 = 29 (6d10)

>>36552935
>Run
if the unstoppable killermachines suddenly start fleeing, then we should too

Rolled 4, 7, 2, 1, 3, 5, 6, 6, 7 = 41 (9d10)

>>36552935

> Exorcise her

Use willpower

Rolled 5, 5, 6, 5, 3, 4, 10, 7, 3 = 48 (9d10)

>>36552935
Spirit blast w/1 willpower

Rolled 9, 2, 2, 10, 3, 6, 7, 5, 2 = 46 (9d10)

>>36552935
> Exorcise her (6d10, Gnosis + Spirit)
Rolling

Rolled 10, 8, 1, 2, 3, 7 = 31 (6d10)

>>36553140
you should probably mention that you want to spend wp

>>36552935
>Run
Survive

Writing, but I'm being distracted, so it'll take some time.

> [1/2]

You begin making your way to the door as fast as you can, each step feeling as though you're trudging through waist-deep tar. As you walk, you focus your magical might onto her, hands glowing white. Beams of white magic buffer over her, like a dam holding back a torrent of water. Sarah smirks, as she returns the favor, attempting to corrupt you with her black ooze. The two beams clash in a contest of wills, as you each begin to step closer to the other.

"Not now," Elizabeth yells, grabbing onto you the collar of your shirt and dragging you away from Sarah. Your spell breaks and you dodge the ooze, it splattering on the ground behind you. Jemma throws a bolt of lightning at her sister, striking the ground beneath her, a cloud of dust, dirt, and destroyed bar tile blowing up into her face. She doesn't recoil an inch, but the distraction is all you needed to dash past her and outside of the bar. You glance back to see Jemma literally FLYING at you, grabbing onto your arm with one hand, Elizabeth's with the other.

"Lets get out of here," she yells, lifting you both off the ground and into the sky, travelling much faster than you thought possible. As you do so, you glance back and see the bar collapsing in on itself, still being devoured by the singularity. Sarah looks back at you as you fly away, soulless eyes clawing at your soul. You stare into the abyss that is her soul, looking for any shred of the girl that used to be.

"<kill me...>" escapes from her soul, and you swear you see the faintest hint of a purple light inside, before being swallowed up by the storm of the Abomination possessing her, as it looks up at you.

"<YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER, MAGE,>" it bellows out, before slipping back into the Shadow World, walking past the bar and into the forest down the road.

--------------------

Several hours pass, as you wait in the hidden section of the library in the city, Jemma walking up to you with a cup of coffee. "Here, drink it."

Your hands shake as you attempt to bring the cup to your lips, stopping before you even get close. Sighing, you set it down onto the ground. "Sorry..." You look back at Jemma, a rather stoic expression on her face. "Are you ok?"

It takes a moment for your question to register in her mind, before she shakes her head in approval. "Yeah, I'm ok..." She looks at you, a sense of acceptance washing over her face. "She isn't there anymore, is she? My sister, she's..."

> No, she's still in there
> She is, but she wants to die
> No, she is gone (lie)
> Other

Rolled 6, 5, 1, 9, 9, 7 = 37 (6d10)

>>36553725
>No, she's still in there
>hugs

>>36553725
>She is, but she's very disturbed. We have to help her.

>>36553725
>She is, but she'd rather be dead than let that thing continue...doing what it is to her.

>>36553725
> She is, but she wants to die

The one Mage that doesn't lie. We got burned bad the last time we did lie. (Not to say we don't use the truth to our own benefit, but as I rule I don't think we should lie)

>>36553725
>>36553747
This

>>36553725
After this is said and done we need to dedicate some magic tools and hit up the nearest lorehouse to find out what the hell we're dealing with and how one goes about stopping it. Mages have been fighting the abyss ever since the fall, they have to have a record about this kind of thing somewhere.

"No, she's still in there," you say, hugging her. "She is in pain and wants to die, to stop the thing controlling her... But she's still there."

Jemma smiles, a tear falling down her cheek. She breaks the hug and steps back, hands digging for something in her pockets. "... There is another way to save her. Elizabeth didn't tell you, did she?"

> What way?
> What's the cost?
> Other

Rolled 1, 9, 2, 10, 9, 2 = 33 (6d10)

>>36553943
>What way?

>>36553875
That's part of the reason why you're at the Hidden Library; it's the closest, largest source of magical knowledge. The next nearest is in St. Louis.

The other two reasons are that Elizabeth is working out reparitions with the werewolves, and it's magically shielded to stop people from scrying your location.

>>36553943
>Jem, don't do something reckless. We need to do this right, and that means we can't rush a solution just because it "should" work.

>>36553943
>What's the cost?
We all know that, even with magic, nothing is ever free. If Liz didn't tell us, it's because she'd rather not have someone pay the toll for this one.

>>36553967
Well it did attack and destroy their bar. Because we were in it yeah but there's no way in hell we intended for that to happen. After this you'd think the pack would realize just how serious this is and make with the help.

>>36553943
>>36553985
This.

"What's the price? I don't want you doing anything wreckless."

She grins, pulling a switchblade out of her pocket. "Because I'm the one that helped cast the spell to bring forth the Manifestation, it's linked to my soul, anchoring it here." She brings it to her wrist, popping the blade out and hovering it over her skin. "If I die, the link is broken. She goes free."

> No
> Fuck no
> Are you sure?
> Other

>>36554094
>Fuck no
We ain't letting a friend die if we can help it.

>>36554094
> Fuck no

Rolled 7, 2, 10, 5, 6, 2 = 32 (6d10)

>>36554094
>Fuck no

>>36554094
>Other
Might be a bad time, but flirt. It's what we'll do.

>>36554094
> No
Doesn't that mean it's linked to her sister's soul too?

>>36554094
>You realize that at this point that won't work and will only leave your sister with one fewer ally trying to save her, right. Jem, you're just trying to run again, and I hate to break it to you but win or lose this is one of those situations that you cannot walk away from. If you want Sarah to have any chance at all you need to face this head on. But don't worry, you aren't alone. And she might not know it yet, but for the first time in a long time, Sarah's not alone anymore. Because her sister is coming to save her.

Take the fucking knife away from her as gently as possible.

>>36554094
you just come up with the worst ideas

File: winry-rockbell-1546461.jpg (62 KB, 495x640)

62 KB JPG

You grab the blade in your left hand, the razor sharp edges slicing your palm (1 point of Bashing damage). You yank it out of her hand, throwing it to the ground. "Not an option," you say, grabbing her face with your right hand. "I'm only going to say this once. No matter what, I WILL save your sister."

A giggle erupts from behind you, as you look back at the source of it. "What did I tell you about writing checks your body can't cash," Diana says, picking up the switchblade. "So I heard you guys ran into a bit of a gravity problem?"

Note: Breaking for an hour, real life stuff's getting in the way.

>>36554739
>I WILL save your sister

Well this mission just got doomed.

>>36554739
Horray for powersmith! She might be able to make something that'll be the perfect counter to her bullshit. For a fee.

Man, we are gonna be this girl's bitch in the future. Hope we live long enough to regret owing her so many favors.

>>36554788
Part of the fun of raising a death flag is defying it and living anyway. Besides, wifey can into fate, enough luck will break any death flag.

"Diana, nice of you to come on such short notice," Elizabeth says, walking out of the meeting room she was in. Tobi follows, with the young woman in tow. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything big?"

"Nah, I was catching up on some sleep," she says, handing the blade (hilt first) back to you. She whips a rag out and wipes the blood off her hands and hands it to Elizabeth. "So, you guys ran into a Death Mage?"

"Not just any Mage," Tobi snarls out. "The bitch is possessed by a creature from the Beyond, and it has full domain over all her powers."

She whistles, trying to sound impressed. "A Manifestation Paradox?" She looks at Jemma, then at Michael. "Ahh... So that's why you did that," she grins, eyes glinting with information.

"Huh?" Elizabeth looks between the two of you, trying to figure out what she walked into. "... In any case, do you think you know how to stop what she is doing?"

Diana shrugs, still grinning. "I mean, making a black hole takes a lot of juice, because you need to control the gravity well long enough so it doesn't suck you in along with it. The ones we Death Mages make tend to collapse upon themselves after a certain amount of time, or absorbing enough mass. I can certainly counter the spell, so long as I know it's coming." She rubs her fingers together. "It'll cost you, though."

"You know I'm good for it," Elizabeth says, before turning to Tobi. "And you're sure you can get at least some of your pack to help us?"

Tobi nods. "I don't know how many will join after that demonstration, but I can at least promise her aid," he says, nodding his head over to the young woman to his right. He walks over, sticking his hand out at you. "Good hunting," he says, as you grip his hand with your right and shake it. He squeezes the hand slightly, almost crushing the bones in your hand. "May the Father Wolf aid in your pursuit of this prey."

> Thanks
> Attempt to return the squeeze
> Other

>>36555565

> Attempt to return the squeeze

>>36555565
>> Attempt to return the squeeze

You attempt to return the squeeze, which he grins at. "You have spunk, kid. I hope you survive long enough for me to hunt." At that, he breaks the handshake and leaves, the young woman staying behind.

"Your boss creeps me out," you say the moment he is out of earshot range, as Elizabeth hands you the hankerchief that Diana gave her. You wrap it around your hand to stop the bleeding. The young woman shrugs.

"He's a rather old fogie, doesn't know how to stop being an Alpha Wolf," she grins, sticking her hand out. "The name's Tali, I'm one of the shamans of our pack." You return the shake, this one being much friendlier and not nearly as painful as the one you just had received.

"This is Gemini," Elizabeth says, pointing to Jemma. "The young girl to my right is Diana."

"Yo."

"And this is..." She pauses, her shoulders sagging. "We never did come up with a Shadow Name for you, did we?"

"Nope," you say, shaking your head. "Do I really need one?"

Everyone tilts their head to the side a bit, trying hard to not facepalm. "Yes, you big dummy."

> So what's our Shadow Name?

>>36555832
I've been suggesting Raguel and I'm sticking to it. He can also be called Reuel or Rufael if those are more to everyone's liking.

>>36555832
i support this>>36555913
the angle of justice Raguel

>>36555913
>Reuel

Sounds less like a pasta. Voting for this.

>>36555832
>>36555913
Reuel

I was hoping we'd do something Arabian themed, since that's related to our own Tower's theme.

>>36556164
Suggest one an arabian name then.

>>36555941
>Ragu, Angel of Spaghetti
Thank you no.

>>36555565
Wait, I thought black holes were made using Forces?

>>36555965
I'm fine with Raul.

>>36556192
Raguel, Angel of Spaghetti...yes that will do just fine.

>>36555832
Actually, how about El Cid?

>>36555913
Well, since you're the one who suggested it how do you pronounce Reuel?

>>36555913
Me again, just saying I'm fine with any of those names. It really fits the character.

>>36556324
Like it's spelled presumably. RE-OO-EL or RE-YOU-EL. Take your pick!

>>36556217
Forces can do it too. They keep calling it a black hole, a more apt description would be a literal orb of anti-life that sucks all things into it.

Oh, and I'm letting people talk this out a bit more, because it's a kind of a big deal.

>>36556253
Angel of Justice, Harmony, Fairness, and (because I like to get old testament on people and that's how the story goes) VENGEANCE! He's pretty cool. Plus his name means "Friend of God", can't get much more good guy than that.

>>36556349
Right, Hebrew. Got it.

>>36556407
+1 for pasta guy!

>>36556389
Honestly, on a scale of 1-to-Don'tFuckThisUp!, how big a deal is this name? Can we just do tryouts for this mission or are we fucked with whatever we pick?

>>36556407
How closely do we actually want to be associated with The Church in this game?

>>36556481
Judging by everyone's reaction to when Michael asked if it was important?

I'd rate it at between 8 or a 9 on the Don'tFuckThisUp! scale.

>>36556502
Ankou - the faerie version of the grim reaper. Sometimes he's portrayed as a benevolent, comforting figure.

how about this

>>36556525
Oh well, hopefully El will rewind time to give us a do over if we come up with something that'll screw us over.

>>36555832
>>36556553
I'll back this one.

>>36556502
The name is actually apocryphal, linked to "The Book of Enoch" where he was one of the Archangels that enacted vengeance upon those who transgressed against God's laws.

In Roman Catholic terms, actually buying into that book is a type of heresy. We Mexican/Spanish so that would be something out of character. Which, ironically, is good given the setting.

No matter how hard it fits, what good Catholic would pick a name his own stereotypical faith would reject if taken seriously? The further you can distance your shadow name from your true name, the better. Can't have them walking up to the "obvious" suspects and getting a true name in just one go.

>>36556553
It doesn't really fit the character I guess? Michael isn't reallly designed around a death aspected theme. I mean he's spirit, force and life right? Sure that's combat capable, but not really ferried of souls-y.

>>36556181
>Adl (Arabic: عدل, ʻAdl) is an Arabic word meaning 'justice'. In Islamic theology, Adl refers to God's divine justice.
>Adel, and Adeel are male names derived from Adl and are common throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds.

This was sugggested last thread

>>36556553
That would fit more with a Mage who has points in Death/Fate/Time. Good name, though.

>>36556610
I don't want to sound like a crappy pop music band.

>>36556635
It fits us perfectly though, both our inner nature as well as our tower.

That said I don't know why the QM thinks our shadow name is a big deal. Unless there's some metaphysical effect involved with our shadow name

>what good Catholic would pick a name his own stereotypical faith would reject if taken seriously?

You realize that working miracles (magic) is an affront to God and thus heretical to his Church, right (unless the church condones it or has granted you pardon for intruding on the domain of God), right? And now we're taking the nameof an Angel (faithful servant of God and a miracle worker) from a heretical book of scripture...

I'm just not seeing a whole lot of distance between who we are and what we're calling ourself.

>>36556667
That or we're underestimating how much shadowruns should be happening.

If that's the cases let's just base our name on being a spirit mage since all the other nearby ones are dead and that tells people nothing about us other than some of what we're capable of.

For what it's worth, Michael was never much of a religious person (that's Elizabeth). he spent 12 years combined in a private Catholic school for his elementary and high school years, and took lessons on religions, but never truly believed in the Holy Trinity.

He's basically Agnostic (he believes there is a higher power, but isn't sure if it's the God that the other religions believe in).

>>36556762
How religious is Liz?

>>36556591
Also, same guy again, but if the Exarchs are a thing the "Gods" of this setting are those fuckers.

Oh the irony, to pick a name that implies you are their friend and agent when you are anything but? Might even throw the Seers of the Throne through the loop. Muahahahah, I love to send my enemies into a land of confusion!

>>36556667
What you think fits and what your enemies and allies think fits are very different things. And it's a big deal because that's the name everyone will call us from now on. The pack, other mages we've yet to meet, other supernaturals and our reputation amongst them. All will know us by THAT name.

So if you hear someone call out "Hey Reuel!" or something like that, you know they ain't normal and know you as a mage. Big deal that.

>>36556710
A Saint enacts miracles too ya dolt. You *must* do something a collection of Cardinals considers "impossible" to even qualify for the honor, *consider* is the key term. Perhaps all recognized "saints" were mages or some other form of supernatural. That's an interesting consideration in and of itself.

The institutions of the church are "human" above all else. That means they are open to error and sin like all humans are. They know and recognize this. There are no perfect people in this fallen world, save for the Lord of course. And even he lost it once, those moneychangers got fucked up by his son if you hold to the Bible.

Sivyis, the Shaman God

>>36556610
I'm this guy, since it doesn't look like Adel is going to win, I'd support any option that isn't overtly Angelic. Sivyis sounds fine

>>36556776
Well, her Virtue is Faith, so...

In all seriousness, she does believe in God. She believes that God created the universe and put in various Rules (laws of physics, evolution, etc.) and that Magic is meant to be a way for Man to prove his Responsibility in gaining Free Will.

>>36556848
He's asking how annoyed she'll be if we took our name from an apocryphal work? If we're more or less branding ourself as a heretic. From the sound of it she doesn't put too much stock in the church so we're probably fine right?

>>36556890
No I'm not. I was just curious.

>>36556848
That's actually a thing. Some believe that God made us in his own "image" in the hopes that all would ultimately ascend to his own level of understanding of all things. It's too easy to make a clone if you're omniscient and all.

Instead, see what happens if you give everyone but a fragment of yourself. Can they complete the puzzle? Can they even possibly reconcile the finite with the infinite? It's a game yes, but a game you define yourself by.

Also why mages even bargain with the abyss, they see utter contradiction and refuse to see it as anything but. In the end, the world as it is makes perfect sense. If you think it don't, then you're looking at it in the wrong way. The abyss assures you that you are right, when you are in fact wrong. Another insidious path it carves out to lure in those who ought know better...

>>36556890
I think she'd be somewhat pleased, it shows we know some hardcore occult shit if nothing else.

>>36556848
Shall we just vote? Get things moving

I'm writing assuming we picked Raguel. It'll take some time though, real life's getting in the way again.

>>36557081
As long as a name was chosen and it wasn't Penislord Shitbiter or something we're in good shape

>>36557081
Alrighty then

>>36557081
I look forward to everyone calling us Pastiel.

>>36557107
Fuck angels, I'm voting for this.

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>>36557081
Where you live QM? I am quite curious. But even so, I think Reuel or some other alternative name won out. The Angel of Justice has many names. I know I'd shit myself if I was in an anime like setting that even had it in there. How the hell do you take down a "Friend of God" anyway?

>>36557452
Midwest USA. And still writing, but the interruptions should stop.

>>36557540
Where in there? I live on the outskirts of Indianapolis, it's a suburb. Sound familiar to ya?

"Penislord!" You say, raising your fist in the air. Everyone stares at you, shoulders sagging. "Kidding... I was thinking Raguel, actually. I'd been doing some research on this, and he's one of God's Archangels, who focused mainly on Justice, harmony, fairness, and vengeance when it's called for."

"Sounds good to me," Elizabeth says. You internally sigh, thinking she might put up a bit of a fit over it, considering that the name itself comes from one of the Apocrophycal books, ones that the Catholic Church considers satanic texts. Diana, Jemma, and Tali nod in agreement.

"So, now that that's out of the way... How are we gonna go about stopping this possessed Mage?"

----------------------------------------

Several more hours pass, each person suggesting various ways of attacking, luring, detaining, and countering everything that Sarah can do. About the only thing they can agree upon is that Diana will craft a device that will counteract the black hole spell she seems to favor. Everything else though just leads to a lot of fighting and arguing. You finally stop, saying you need to use the washroom. Elizabeth directs you to where you can find the nearest one, and you begin the walk to it.

> Look for a book to read on the toilet (5d10, Investigation + Presence)
> Talk to the local spirits for ideas
> Other

>>36557565
You're about 7 hours driving distance from me, as I know where Indianapolis is.

>>36557631
Penislord will speak to the spirits

>>36557631
>> Talk to the local spirits for ideas
Let's talk at least to one spirit who don't want to kill us. We're the spirit mage after all.

>>36557631
Not criticising, just wondering. How does presence relate to reading a book on the toilet? Or is it convincing the librarian to give us a book to read on the toilet without blacklisting us?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NygOFsExGMU

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Rolled 10, 4, 7, 7, 5 = 33 (5d10)

>>36557654
Hahaha, vague yet oddly specific. You seem to a mage yourself. Give em' just enough rope to hang themselves with.

No matter what this roll results in we should consult with the local spirits. We nailed down a werewolf shaman. Hope she can help us out on any faux paus in that realm. She seems nice, hope Mr. Muscles knows how to convey a hard threat to his pack.

Tis the most challenging prey. Any wannabe Alpha would like to say they contributed to its downfall. "It rent the realms we cannot see, yet my claws drank deeply of its blood. I killed it, could you honestly claim you could have done the same?" and shit like that.

To conquer the most dangerous game. Is that not grounds for declaring yourself an Alpha?

>>36557750
Presence is for finding a book title that catches your interest.

Real life popped up again, but I'm wriitng.

Rolled 9, 8, 3, 1, 6 = 27 (5d10)

My concern with consulting the local spirits is that it may be a breach in our security, giving Sarah a lead on where to find us

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>>36557754
Also, I'd like to convey an "optimal" scenario to you all. We have "high speech" as a merit. We know the words of power that govern this fallen world somehow.

So, IF we try to exorcize this abyssal demon from its vessel, we can elect to allow our "party" to soak a spell from it as we chant said words of power and blow a Willpower point. Next turn, the exorcism spell goes off at at least +4 dice. We may get even more, as we have a girl who knows the targets "true name" and all. Might even land a +6 or higher given our virtue and detest of our vice (almost cost us our lovely wife that did).

I know I'm power-gaming here and all, but really this bitch is way beyond our pay grade right now. We need every single advantage we can even hope to get to come out of this with any form of happy ending. She's possessed by an Acamoth worst case. That is VERY bad news.

>>36558100
>but really this bitch is way beyond our pay grade right now

so was trying to rescue our wife yet we did that

>>36558132
Only did that because the dice gods favored us pretty hard there. You really don't want to rely on the dice gods if you can help it. They like the true fae man, they leave you to die when you least want them to.

>>36558165
true.

So by my count there's 2 votes for looking for the book. Will do more writing now.

>>36558279
Really? I counted 2 for spirits as well. And honestly we'd probably get more from them.

> [1/2]

You peruse the bookshelves as you walk along, looking for anything that might tickle your fancy. The only one that jumps out at you is a book about the Watchtowers. Curious, you yank it from the shelf and begin to flip through its pages. It's a rather hefty tome, detailing the 5 Towers that all Mages enter through. It goes into great lengths to describe what each Mage sees gazing upon the Tower for the first time. The things they see inside it, the smells, feel, and surroundings, and various theories as to how the Towers somehow are a reflection of that Mage's personality. Yet throughout all the readings, there is nothing sounding even remotely familiar to the Tower you Awoke to.

You recall that first feeling you had, as the Tower's rays shone upon you as you were drowning in the Abyss. It felt oddly familiar, like an old blanket you had thought been long lost or thrown away. It also felt harsh, like the heavy beating Sun during a steamy summer day, but that if you climbed that hill, the obstacle to your goal, that it would all be worth it.

'Life certainly hasn't been easy since I Awoke, that's for sure.' You flush the toilet and put the book back as you return. You see Tali leaving, looking like she it taking the same route to the bathroom as you did. When you enter you see frustrated looks on the other's faces.

"Still nothing?"

"Nope," Jemma says, crumpling up another piece of paper and tossing it into a waste basket across the way. As it does, you're reminded of the ooze that Sarah threw at you when you broke the contest of wills.

"So, I know you guys kept harping me about the Shadow Name thing," you say, sitting down. "Why is that?"

"Because if someone knows your True Name, you have a direct link to their soul and any spell cast upon them is much more likely to succeed," Diana blerts out, cleaning grime out from under her fingernails with a screwdriver.

You blink, realizing she just solved your problem.

>>36558279
Well shit, you're right. Fuck, sorry guys. It's late here (almost 1 am) and I've been focusing on this and real life stuff for the past 6+ hours. Too tired to rescind my previous post though, so I'm carrying on with it.

>>36558437

> [2/2]

At about the same time, both Jemma and Elizabeth realize it, as you scramble back to your seat. "How likely are we talking here," you blert out, as you begin to contemplate just how much juice you have left.

"It blows past almost every defense you can set up, and they aren't aware of you casting the spell until it's already flying at them," Jemma says, the fires of hope rekindling in her eyes.

"The risk though is that once you fire that proverbial bullet, she can create a link to your soul and do the same thing to you, even if they don't know your True Name," Elizabeth says. "You'd have one shot at it before she could reply in kind. Are you willing to take that risk?"

> I keep my promises
> What've we got to lose?
> I won't miss
> That's kinda risky, I don't know if I feel ok with that
> Other

Don't we need space 2 to do sympathetic magic?

>>36558520
>I keep my promise.

>>36558520

> I keep my promises

>>36558520
>I keep my promises

>>36558520
> I keep my promises

>>36558520
>I Keep My Promises

We will invoke the high speech, we will BURN willpower if that is what it takes. We will save her no matter the cost. Logically speaking that is. We ain't gonna feed into its hands by becoming a quiphloth or something like that.

>>36558595
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buobW1zVQuQ

Forgot to add theme music. We're going all in here, the pain matters not. What matters is that there's an innocent within that abyss. We WILL save it or see ourselves burned to ashes.

There's even a legacy that fits us. The Uncrowned Kings. Master the self, master the world around you. Become indomitable, become a bulwark of the self. Overcome the final temptation, achieve "Rubedo" as alchemists would term it. Complete the "great work" and truly master all...

Writing.

Welp... Time for a new tripcode.

"I keep my promises," you say, looking directly at Jemma.

Diana sighs, shaking her head. "Men." She gets up from the table, looking at Elizabeth. "It's gonna take me a couple weeks to build the anti-black hole device. Think you can Obfuscate Raguel here long enough?"

Elizabeth just stares at Diana.

"Right, forgot who I was talking to. Well, I'll see ya when I see ya!" She bounces out of the room, nearly bowling Tali over.

"Did I miss something," she asks, thumb pointing to Diana.

"We forgot we have a very important piece of intel on the Abomination," Jemma says, scribbling something down on a piece of paper. "We have a way to separate the spirit from the host body, with a very high chance of success."

"Well that's fantastic news!" She looks at Elizabeth, her face a scowl. "... What's the catch?"

"The catch is, if I fail the spell, I'm probably gonna die," you say, looking back at the shaman. "But hey, high risk, high reward, right?"

"I wouldn't know... I don't go after my prey unless I'm sure I can put it in the ground," she says, shifting her weight onto one leg. "What do you need from me?"

> Try to scout out where her lair is
> See if you can figure out why she's corrupting the Shadow World
> Get more members of your pack to join us
> Other

>>36558840

> See if you can figure out why she's corrupting the Shadow World

>>36558840
>See if you can figure out why she's corrupting the Shadow World
>Get more members of your pack to join us
These two, more bodies to soak the counter or help, and we get an idea what's happening so that we can maybe us it against her.

Though I'm thinking if the other mages are alive too..

>>36558840
>Get more members of the pack to join us

The Spirit World is kinda a werewolves' thing ya get me? I'm clocking out now, but the more people we got going into this the better. I just know they ain't about to take the primal shadow being turned into this... abomination... lying down. This dark spirit needs to go yesterday.

I just hope that, if we ultimately succeed in purging this filth that it'll lead to more positive relations going forward. Teams of different supernaturals can work miracles. Given how the world is close to Armageddon, we could really use that.

We like the world, I hope, hope we want it to keep on trucking along.

>>36558890
Supporting this. See if we can get other forms of aid from the wolves as well - ask them to intorduce us to some of their spirit allies, gives tips on interactting with the shadow, etc.

"If you can figure out why this thing is corrupting the Shadow World, maybe we can try to counteract it or help heal the damage." You look at Tali, trying to get a read on her current emotional state. She's so much unlike the other werewolves you've met, and definitely not like Tobi's aggressive, bloodthirsty way of carrying himself. Then again, maybe that's how she gets people to relax her guard before she rips their throats out.

"I'll see what we can dig up." She goes to leave, before stopping. "Anything else?"

"Some more backup wouldn't hurt." Elizabeth says. "I know Tobi wouldn't want any more of his pack to join us, but we're gonna need all the help we can get."

"I'll see what I can do. Good luck with your prep work," she says, waving farewell.

>Quest End

6 exp. gained.

>>36559062
Thanks for running.

>>36559062
Welp, that was a good run. Much later than expected.

Voting to spend xp on bumping up Spirit. Or Gnosis, if not high enough for more spirit

>>36559062
Spirit 5, if we can

>>36559062
>>36559107
Seconding for either Spirit 5 or Gnosis 3

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We have 19 exp. points, so you're a bit short on that. And for those curious, here's the page on Gnosis and what Gnosis rank means to your max Mana pool.

>>36559107
Spirit 5 feels most useful in context of our current problem. Though we'd want to go gnosis 3 right after that.

>>36559576
The biggest issue with that is you need 25 exp. to get to Gnosis 3 (which lets you get the 5th dot to begin with) and then 15 exp.to get Spirit 5.

>>36559682
Whoa, that's some major brain fart from my side. I vote gnosis 3 then.

I kind of want to get occult so we can get spirit sight and spirit blast as rotes.

Went and archived the thread, so anything else from here-on out is meta discussion.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/36548920/

Previous quests can be found here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=MtA%20Quest

And my Twitter for when I post quest is about to start: https://twitter.com/MageQM

I'm looking to run it again Thursday or Friday, depending upon how real life works out for me. Don't know if I'll run it for as long as I did today, but we;ll see how things shake out.

>>36559576
>Spirit 5 feels most useful in context of our current problem.
spirit 5 is the most useful in the context of:
1. we are the only spirit mage left alive in the entire city, all the rest having been hunted down by the abomination (we are going to BUSY! after this is over)... although I am surprised we didn't check on garen, he has some spirit does he not? that also makes him a target
2. because spirit is our highest ranked ability at the moment and it pays to specialize.
3. because we are surrounded by very powerful people and being a master of something they can't do at least lets us meaningfully contribute to the party.

>>36559704
I support this vote. gnosis is really useful anyways for so many different reasons.

>>36560039
How big is the city? I remember jemma saying that mages are very rare and there are like 15 of them in the country.
but this thing killed a whole bunch of spirit mages in this city alone.

>>36559682
Just Spirit 5 then

>>36560220
Shit sorry, Gnosis 3 then pick up Spirit 5 since we can't get to dot five without it

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>>36560220
>>36560241
Well, it seems you caught your own error. Aside from what the QM said, please consult the attached chart for the gnosis requirement of arcana

Note that the first two are determined by the tower. For us its force and spirit.

I gotta admit that I am a bit uncomfortable with new XP system, it made more sense to me for the cost to be something * dots.
so that 5th dot costs 5x more than first dot.

>>36560216
Q&A thread revealed where the city's locatedit's Chicago and that when you add together the city's main population and the suburbs, it's about 5 million people. And at Jemma's last count, there were 78 Mages in the city's area. That number has dropped since then, but no one knows the exact number currently. At least, no one that the MC and his allies can trust

>>36560206
We really need to call Garen. He's a good guy, would be a shame if something would happen to him. Besides, he has at least 2 dots in spirit, enough for shielding.

>>36560305
2nd ed (everything post God Machine Chronicle) is getting rid of it because it was clashing with the linear nature of chargen and you were effectively gimping yourself in the long term by not optimizing a starting character.

The costs are flat because it's easier to work with and it makes specializing possible without having to wait until you have massive stockpiles of exp.

The diminishing returns concept is okay on the math level, but most games are so short that it means that you can't meaningfully advance without playing for years and years.

>>36559407
Voting for saving up for Gnosis 3. If we get 6+ exp next session, it will be exactly enough.

>>36560399
Fair points, but this seems to be going to the extreme in the opposite direction. maybe something more in the middle? a mix of the two systems, where cost is
1x, 1x, 1.5x, 2x, 2x?

Also, is there anything post GMC that prevents people from rushing archmagistry?

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>>36560305
Byt we yse a mix of old and new mechanics, are we not? At least that's what I remember from QM's explanation.

>>36560445
Archmagistry is strictly Storyteller approved, but even then you need to get Gnosis 6 just to raise a single Arcanum to 6. If you don't invest in supporting skills and arcana along the way, you're likely to get bumrushed by other archmages who don't want anyone fucking up the status quo.

Other systems are possible, sure, but would require testing and fiddling and no one wants to do the work. There are 2 tested systems available: the 1e curve and the 2e line. The former has been railed against for years because the math gets fucked very quickly. The latter is the new standard because it's basically extending character creation, with exp just being used to set the relative values of skills:attributes:merits:etc.

Mage 2e is in the works and a LOT is changing. Archmagistry will likely be removed or reworked. Rotes now add the rote quality on the roll (reroll failures once). Everyone gets a 'signature' spell per dot of gnosis (to the effect of what 1e rotes are)

The 2e costs are a bit weird with the 1e rules, but it boils down to dice having static prices. Personally I'm for that because it's a simpler cost/benefit analysis and the bookkeeping gets tedious fast.

What's your take on the costs? It's not just "I liked the old way better" is it?

>>36560463
Ish. We're using the flat exp costs from GMC, but the exp income is much slower now because GMC hands out Beats, 5 of which become an exp. MageQM just converted everything back to exp by multiplying the costs by 5 and calling the beats exp.

>>36560463
If memory serves, what QM did was take the beats to exp point table that was outlined on the 2e Mage forums and converted it to straight exp., the values should be the same as if he was handing out beats the entire time. The only real issue that popped up was no one could tell if "per dot" meant a flat amount or was multiplicative like 1e nWoD mage book. QM ruled it was a flat amount, as otherwise we'd need to save up 75 exp for Spirit 5, and when we are gaining exp in bundles of 4-7 range...

>>36560614
>What's your take on the costs? It's not just "I liked the old way better" is it?
it isn't that at all, I am just feeling that its going a bit too fast from complete newb to master. Hence my suggestion of a genlter curve. than again, I might be completely wrong on it.

>>36560704
Well, Mage has been smart and been spacing the MC's adventures months between, so the growth isn't nearly so out of place. I imagine we'll probably be going through another timeskip if we survive this

>>36560704
We're rushing spirit 5 because it's our specialty, but we're not getting very much out of it, other than versatility. We'll need support skills and rotes and merits to solidify our position as the city's shaman. With a different curve, we'd be doing the same thing, it would just take longer. That part is more pnp mentality than anything because it's much easier to have a specialty and then branch out rather than be a jack of all trades and try to be good at something.

There's a lot more to mastery than just having an arcanum at 5. Higher abilities cause worse paradoxes and we lack mitigation factors. Basically, we're still paying the opportunity cost of rushing Spirit 5 by not having the supporting skills that would make actually using rotes worthwhile.

>>36560699
>The only real issue that popped up was no one could tell if "per dot"
It's a flat amount. Each dot costs the same, whether it's the 1st or the 5th.

>>36560784
Basically we're purchasing raw potential, with the caveat that we'll add stuff to make it more practical

>>36560856
Pretty much. Remember, we only get a reserve of 11 Mana (12 if we pick up Gnosis 3) and we only have 2 Forces rotes. Everything else costs mana to use.
Spirit sight? That's a Mana.
Spirit Bolt? That's a Mana.
Ephemereal Shield so we don't all die? That's a Mana.

It's a good thing we're in a safe place now, because we had very little mana left by the end of the bar scene.

>Rotes aren't necessarily more powerful, rather they cost no mana and can be cast all day
We established that there is way too much damage to the surrounding by this paradox manifestation.
To repair this is beyond us, but all the others were killed.
Well, I put forward that this "heal the land" spell should be a rote.

but we shouldn't even bother with this healing the land stuff until after (and if) we cure the root cause.
Also, I am thinking maybe we should first aim at taking out her familiar. it hunts on its own and would significantly weaken her in preparation for our attack. it will also be better for her since it might be involved in whatever anti excorcism protections it took over those 20 years.

Also, it occurs to me that if we do successfully exorcise her, she might commit suicide before anyone can find her. So whatever plan we make should probably take this into account.

>>36560933
>Spirit sight? That's a Mana.
we haven't made spirit sight a rote yet?
>Spirit Bolt? That's a Mana.
I thought we DID make that one a rote.

>>36560933
>It's a good thing we're in a safe place now, because we had very little mana left by the end of the bar scene.
we are basically relying on our allies here.
we are going for 'can cast one big spell a day, but it is a REALLY big spell'

>>36561021
Both of those use Occult, which we don't have and therefore take -3 on.

We could make Spirit Sight a rote, we have 2 dots left over from chargen, but Spirit bolt would cost 4 dots and we don't even benefit from it until picking up Occult.

>>36561033
We just need to refuel frequently. Unfortunately, Hallows generate a point of mana per dot of rating per day so filling back up to full takes quite a while. Basically, we can cast 11 spells per adventure (2 threads worth of scenes between downtimes thus far)

>>36551646
Probably, but then everything you bring with you (likely including yourself) would be subject to the evaporation effects. That and without a rote for the travel, each trip would cost a mana.

A question, if it is so important to keep your name a secret, then shouldn't we use a fake (but normal sounding) name in our normal life interactions too? that way if someone researches us via muggle channels they will find a fake name instead of the real one?

>>36561121
>and we don't even benefit from it until picking up Occult.
the benefit is that we can cast it all day without spending mana. and we can always learn occult. now or later.

>>36565646
Spirit Sight yes, because it's a consequenceles 3 dice roll to activate. Spirit Bolt no, because we need dem successes and not having an at will blaster power means we're less likely to go full 'Murika

>>36565805
So you're saying that we shouldn't have a magic "gun" even though other people have it? You wanna bring a knife to a gun fight? I get the sentiment and all, but any good mage has something up his sleeve that can take em' down from a distance. Why intentionally handicap ourselves against our foes?

>>36565805
>Spirit Bolt no, because we need dem successes
Having a rote does not prevent us from improvising a mana consuming stronger attack. While a little weaker (for now, we can easily and cheaply raise it by raising occult) it gives us an infinite ammo covert magic attack.
>and not having an at will blaster power means we're less likely to go full 'Murika
Your clever (sarcasm) dig at guns aside. We have been constantly engaging in combat from day 1 of this quest.
Being unarmed would not make combat somehow go away

>>36566677 cont.
forgot to mentioned, but we already have 2 rotes:
1. Influence electricity (remember how we electrocuted that werewolf?)
2. Kinetic blow (our magic fists, I think it can be used at range too)

So, we already have at 2 at will guns, they are just big and showy and use force magic to attack the physical.

>>36566542
Because spamming magic is canonically unWise and only the blandest of mysteries are solved through the direct application of force. Jemma can shoot lighting at people but prefers a gun. Elizabeth doesn't even do anything offensive, focusing on heals and time shenanigans.

>>36566713
Neither of those are guns and we haven't used them since the first quest.

Influence Electricity was how we lit up the oil soaked vampire (by moving electricity from the truck battery to the oil). Jemma was the one who went palatine on the werewolf when we burst in the room as a distraction (with Thunderbolt, which is Forces 4).
Kinetic Blow is just a buff that makes a melee weapon deal Lethal instead of Bashing. Successes make it last for more attacks.

>>36566677
Combat doesn't go away, but we've never actually solved anything through combat thus far.
>The vampire ran away upon realizing that we mage now
>Werewolf healed to full and backed down after agreeing to armistice
>Chrom was beaten by reaching through to Elizabeth
>Manifestation's familiar was dissuaded from following with Spirit Gun, bringing the actual manifestation to nuke the wolf bar.

Rather than wasting time plinking away with 3d10 soulbolts, we could be thinking up of creative solutions to spiritual problems. Which would be made easier with more Spirit dots (which require more Gnosis, since we are currently at cap).

>>36567001
>Neither of those are guns
Spirit bolt isn't a gun either. Those are all attack spells, aka "gun" (in this particular metaphor as you and that other anon have been using).

>>36567001
>Scaring away a vampire who was trying to kill you without being killed is not solving a problem
>Saving the life of gemma and her partner by defeating the werewolf sufficiently for her to be able to have him at her mercy is not solving a problem
>Scaring away a monster hunting you down is not solving a problem
wot?

The only one you were right one is that chrom was defeated via healing elizabeth rather than blasting him with combat magic. (not that we didn't try that).

>>36567001
>Jemma was the one who went palatine on the werewolf when we burst in the room as a distraction (with Thunderbolt, which is Forces 4).
We joined in with her on that and adding our own lightening to hers. Only we show lightening from the generator to him rather than our own body to him

>>36567071
Pedantry aside, the two forces rotes are not attack spells, aka "gun". Spirit Bolt IS an attack spell because it's a roll (penalized by any defenses they may have) whose successes translate into direct damage.
Kinetic Blow is a buff for future attacks that costs an action to engage.
Influence Electricity is a utility spell of the Ruling practice. You control it's shape, flow and intensity but cannot create it out of nothing. That's Thunderbolt.

>>36567118
Vampire was not phased by the damage. They're a vampire. Vampire was scared by the fact that they just angered a mage.

MC didn't even scratch the werewolf. He distracted him long enough for Jemma not to get a shotgun to the face. She then went Palpatine on his ass and we bought her enough time to melt the shotgun by diverting electricity from the generator into his nuts. The fight ended with Mr. Muscles eating a dozen (non-silver) bullets.

Scaring away the monster didn't solve the problem, it made it bring its boss, scaring away the werewolf pack, leaving us with a lonely shaman. Better option would have been to bind it to a location while we got away so it wouldn't know where we went. But vote was for Spirit Bolt, so w/e.

In no instance has our attempt at direct damage actually brought anyone down. We're better served playing to our strengths with utility magic. Heck, bring a taser and use it in conjunction with Influence Electricity.

>>36567487
All of your arguments are basically
>If we blast someone, and it was not a fatal blow, but still directly lead to our success, than it was useless
which makes no sense at all. an attack does not need to be instantly fatal. and all of those attacks directly lead to our success.
plus you are mincing words to undervalue the actual effects of those attacks, even when they were really effective you casually dismiss what they did.

>>36568074
My argument is that we never actually killed anything. Because we don't see the numbers, we don't know what the actual effects of those attacks were. By way of penalties, wounds only matter once you get them in the last 3 health boxes. Using magic offensively to provide allies with an edge doesn't actually generate damage.

It's not as if we can't use damaging magic in a pinch, we just can't spam it (what I was referring to as going full 'Murika). In terms of immediate exp expenditure, I believe we're better served with aiming for Spirit 5 as it gives us both Making and Unmaking. It will make our Spirit Bolts (improvised or rote) Aggravated damage to spirits instead of Lethal, which is downright terrifying and might end fights faster.

>>36568302
>My argument is that we never actually killed anything.
And my counter argument is that this doesn't matter, because we still WON many encounters through attack spells which directly led to our victory even if we didn't actually kill anything.

>It's not as if we can't use damaging magic in a pinch, we just can't spam it
False, we already have rotes that let us spam direct damage. Furthermore, your initial argument was not just about direct damage but damage in general (giving as an example how we won against chrom by healing liz, or how we should have cast a binding spell on the familiar instead of a blasting spell)
Finally, its not just a matter of spamming, even if you only use it once per battle, every battle, saving that mana is very useful as it leaves us more mana for improv magic and paradox reduction.

>In terms of immediate exp expenditure, I believe we're better served with aiming for Spirit 5
I agree, but that is a completely different argument and does not change the fact that having such a rote is good.
That being said, rotes are cheap enough that it won't really slow us down much in getting to spirit 5.

>>36568444
>WON many encounters through attack spells
We won through spells. Only one we actually used an attack spell in was the spirit chase and counting that one a 'win' is arguable.

>we already have rotes that let us spam direct damage
Provably wrong.

>initial argument was not just about direct damage but damage in general
That was in support of arguing that getting a Spirit Bolt rote is a subpar investment.

>completely different argument and does not change the fact that having such a rote is good.
Rote is good, but purchasing it now means slowing down progression to Spirit 5. Argument was that we are not "intentionally handicapping ourselves against our foes" by not purchasing the rote immediately.

>That being said, rotes are cheap enough that it won't really slow us down much in getting to spirit 5.
Spirit Bolt would cost us 12 exp, which is 2 threads' worth of exp.

By the end of the next thread (presuming 6 exp) we will have enough to either buy the Spirit Bolt/Gun/'Murika rote and a dot of Occult (leaving 3 exp in the pool) or Gnosis 3. The former gives us an at will attack with 7 dice before mods (Int 2 + 1 Occult + 4 Spirit) while the latter gives us a pool of 7 with all Spirit spells, but no reduction in mana costs.
__________
Right, this is starting to get counterproductive.
Bottom line: I vote for rushing Spirit 5. Gnosis helps with all improvised spells. If we want to spend chargen rote dots, I vote for Spirit Sight so we don't spend mana to see spirits (successes don't matter, so 3 dice should be enough).

>>36569871
>We won through spells. Only one we actually used an attack spell in was the spirit chase and counting that one a 'win' is arguable.
flat out lie and platitude that completely ignores every single concrete example actually give thus far

>Provably wrong.
provably right actually.

>That was in support of arguing that getting a Spirit Bolt rote is a subpar investment.
Which doesn't change the fact that it is a false argument. Putting the argument of "direct combat spells suck and we never used any of them effectively" in the context of "I was arguing that spirit bolt rote is subpar" does not modify the argument to make it nonfalse. You did not misrepresent your argument

>>completely different argument and does not change the fact that having such a rote is good.
>Rote is good, but purchasing it now means slowing down progression to Spirit 5
You seem to be suffering from binary thinking. I am not arguing with you because I am promoting the other side (those who want to spend the XP on this rote), I am on your side (save XP for spirit 5), I am arguing with you because the justification you use is FALSE. You are making nonsensical statement, outright lies, and blatant falsehood to support our "side". It doesn't matter how just your cause is (namely, save XP to spirit 5), that doesn't excuse making such arguments.

>Spirit Bolt would cost us 12 exp, which is 2 threads' worth of exp
I thought it was 4 xp.