Jeremiah harrumphs a little and frowns at the piano and the music sheet.
"My own divination into the subject leads towards music and the sensation of longing for something that wasn't. The music's resonance is odd, as if it was disjointed somehow, not of this world. And the sheet itself... it is fated somehow, and powerfully so. I don't believe in coincidences, especially if destiny has something to do with it."
"Time to see where the threads lead." Mumbling softly in a nonsense language of High Speech, the Guardian cups his hand over his mouth, as if transmitting some secret, and willed the invisible connections of the world to reveal themselves.
OOC
Jeremiah will cast Correspondence (Gnosis 1 + Space 2 + High Speech 2 = 5), and examine the sympathetic connections of both the piano and the sheet of music separately, with both Sybil's Sight and Third Eye. Assume he drops Gain Skill.
He will also utilize Third Eye's ability to see what went into the creation of the resonance of 'not belonging' of the music sheet.
Also, might was well, can you roll to see what Jeremiah knows about Spirits in Twilight?
__________________ I hate to interrupt, but I believe we're being followed. The Mimes on the street corner. No, don't look. ~ Mycroft, Broken Diamond
Proud supporter of Dreamscarred Press and Untapped Potential, New Horizons in Psionics. Get it now! It's the best 5 dollars you'll ever spend.
(Gnosis 1 + Space 2 + High Speech 2 = 5), and examine the sympathetic connections of both the piano and the sheet of music separately, with both Sybil's Sight and Third Eye. Assume he drops Gain Skill.
2 successes on each.
Jeremiah called to the piano to whisper its connections, and felt it speak an image into his mind of a worn stage in a very small theater. Jeremiah felt as though a woman's long, thin, calloused fingers had played across his keys for thirty-three years. Then, arthritic and liver-spotted, the hands could no longer play more than the slowest adaggio, and finally stopped short in the middle of Faure's Requiem.
The sheet music spoke of three longed-for homes on the coast of Massachussets that had never existed. It also dreamt of a large, multi-volume encyclopedia, which enveloped it all around. Imagining himself as part of the encyclopedia, Jeremiah remembered being swaddled in infancy, and felt the most profound sense of belonging.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solarious
He will also utilize Third Eye's ability to see what went into the creation of the resonance of 'not belonging' of the music sheet.
Scrutinize Resonance: Intelligence (3) + Occult (2) + Density (0) = 5 dice, 5 rolls, 2 successes.[/quote]
Tearing his attention away from the sensations projected from the piano and the sheet music, Jeremiah examined the sheet music's emotional emanations at length. He felt that the resonance in this sheet music was the result of an overwhelming longing for something that is not and cannot be. It was such an absolute, single-minded obsession that so utterly consumed the creator that, feeling momentary sympathy with the creator, Jeremiah felt that he was nothing more than that feeling--no skin, no bone, no muscle or sinew, but pure obsession to the core.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solarious
Also, might was well, can you roll to see what Jeremiah knows about Spirits in Twilight?
Intelligence (3) + Occult (2) + Difficulty (untrained in Spirit, -2) = 3 dice, 0 successes. Unfortunately, Jeremiah knows no more about spirits in Twilight than the average Sleeper. Although he is less likely to believe the outright fabrications present in Sleeper myth, he has little, if any, actual knowledge of the workings of Twilight beings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OOC
Try as I might, I can't make this post look pretty. I am straight up ready to strangle something over this dang thing.
Last edited by Hella_Tellah; 17th December 2008 at 05:11 AM..
With her voice low to not disturb Jeremiah as he worked his magic, Levanna voiced her opinion as well. "I'm hesitant to break the ward as well," she said. Her cheeks colored a little. "I've.... had some uh.. bad experiences in my Spirit studies. I'd rather be sure of what we're going to do before we do it."
"Still, it does sound like this is pretty unique," she admits. "It's probably the one. It fits all the..." She flips a hand vaguely, "...you know. Demands."
"So okay...it tried to get me to write down what it was saying...and it's locked in the piano."
For a moment she watches Jeremiah, then says, "You know, it's probably in there because it keeps trying to force people to write stuff on this music sheet or something. And the big guy doesn't approve."
For the second time that night, Jeremiah removes his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes as he does so. "The resonances I detected on the sheet are fairly indicative of what spirit the Heirarch wants us to remove. The source of the dissonance is an obsession, overwhelming, single-minded, and fleshless, almost as if it never had a body in the first place, or ever had to deal with one. Spirits are... disembodied, aren't they?"
He sighs and replaces the glasses, grumbling softly about his ignorance. "I also followed the sympathetic connections, and I wager that whatever architecture the sheet describes, it doesn't exist. Three houses on the coast of Massachussets, I believe. However, the oddest sensation was that of a series of volumes of encyclopedias, enveloping, and belonging, all at the same time..."
"The spirit is bound here deliberately, by a fairly powerful mage. That means, it is here deliberately. But the spell itself is weak, and easy to dispel. I believe it has been placed here by the Heirarch, as a test. The only thing left to do is to dispel the fettering and force it to move on. I don't have Prime or Spirit, so I can't help in that regard. Unless one of you could give me a quick rundown in Spirits 101... I don't know much besides they are something Sleepers aren't fully capable of comprehending."
OOC
Dispelling this is going to take someone with both Spirit and Prime; you can't combine Arcana in a spell unless both casters have a 5 dot merit that lets them do so. We're going to need Gabriel for this... maybe we should try encouraging Annalist to rejoin us? We're together, interacting, and not subjecting him to NPC-interaction doom now, not to mention I'm finally finished my finals and BlueLotus is also back. Jeremiah can finally psudo-antagonize Gabriel now.
Also, a PM to Tellah about radically changing my Arcanum choices for Jeremiah
__________________ I hate to interrupt, but I believe we're being followed. The Mimes on the street corner. No, don't look. ~ Mycroft, Broken Diamond
Proud supporter of Dreamscarred Press and Untapped Potential, New Horizons in Psionics. Get it now! It's the best 5 dollars you'll ever spend.
"The spirit is bound here deliberately, by a fairly powerful mage. That means, it is here deliberately. But the spell itself is weak, and easy to dispel. I believe it has been placed here by the Heirarch, as a test. The only thing left to do is to dispel the fettering and force it to move on. I don't have Prime or Spirit, so I can't help in that regard. Unless one of you could give me a quick rundown in Spirits 101... I don't know much besides they are something Sleepers aren't fully capable of comprehending."
Gabriel took a few seconds to examine the piano.
"I think I could dispel that without too much trouble," he said. "If Thorn or Levanna could stand by ready to command the spirit to leave, I'll take care of the dispelling."
2 dots in Spirit isn't enough to make spirits do anything - 3 dots are required to command it, exorcise it, or to harm it with spells.
2 dots, however, lets you summon weaker spirits, analyze them for strengths/powers/weaknesses, discover their Ban (which is useful in compelling it anyways, as Spirits can't violate their Ban for any reason), and even lets you give them a good punch while they exist in Twilight. The last one is Vulgar, however.
You can only use Teamwork rules if everyone involved can cast the spell in question. A 3 dot merit lets you contribute what Arcana ratings you have to a spell, or just Gnosis even if you don't have any. 5 dots then grants you the ability to cross-pollinate your Arcana to cast spells no one in the group can cast alone. Everyone needs the merit for this to work, though.
I also encourage you to use this post as an easy reference to basic spells a person can cast with dots in a certain Arcana. It is by no means comprehensive, and doesn't list the more complicated spells, but it does form a great starting point to understand what you're capable of.
__________________ I hate to interrupt, but I believe we're being followed. The Mimes on the street corner. No, don't look. ~ Mycroft, Broken Diamond
Proud supporter of Dreamscarred Press and Untapped Potential, New Horizons in Psionics. Get it now! It's the best 5 dollars you'll ever spend.
Deciding that this task will be accomplished equally well without his help, Prometheus will begin to scrutinize the auras of those close to him. Beginning with his earlier companion, he will attempt to locate how these new allies feel when put under the stress of capturing the ghost, when their guard will be the weakest. Endevoring to do so as quickly and subtly as possible, so as not to alert their suspicions.
rolls
What is the density of a mage, I know it was a bonus, but I forget how much.
3 Gnosis + 3 Prime + Density
Delegate 1 success to each of the other mages, to recognize their aura later, and put the rest of the successes into analyzing an emotion from each of them. If all aren't affected evenly, the order would be: Thorn, Jeremiah, Levanna, Gabriel.
What is the density of a mage, I know it was a bonus, but I forget how much.
3 Gnosis + 3 Prime + Density
Delegate 1 success to each of the other mages, to recognize their aura later, and put the rest of the successes into analyzing an emotion from each of them. If all aren't affected evenly, the order would be: Thorn, Jeremiah, Levanna, Gabriel.
It's actually Intelligence + Occult + Density, as it's a special instance of scrutinizing resonance using your existing Mage Sight. Good news for you, because that works out to Int (3) + Occ (5) + Density (1) = 9 dice! I rolled it four times for you, since it's an extended action, with 2 successes, then 2, then 1, then 8 successes, for an exceptional success! This takes 12 seconds of in-game time.
As far as doing it quickly and subtly, that sounds like a Composure + Subterfuge roll to me. You aren't casting a spell, so it isn't pinging the other mages' Unseen Senses, but you are staring at them.
Composure (5) + Subterfuge (2) = 7 dice, 2 successes.
Prometheus' eyes flitted about the room, scanning the resonance of each of the mages in the room. He noted the unique way each of their auras shimmered with mana, and kept a mental record of the way magic radiated off of their patterns for future reference.
Important information for the other mages in the room
What does your aura denote about your emotional state? Please use page 206 of the core book for reference and post the color of your aura here. You're also getting a Wits+Empathy to see if you notice Prometheus scanning your aura; you'll need to meet or beat his 2 successes (defenders win).
Gabriel: Wits (2) + Empathy (2) = 4 dice, 1 success. Does not notice.
Jeremiah: Wits (3) + Empathy (1) = 4 dice, 1 success. Does not notice.
Levanna: Wits (3) + Empathy (-1, untrainted) = 2 dice, 1 success. Does not notice.
Thorn: Wits (3) + Empathy (-1, untrainted) = 2 dice, failure. Does not notice.
In the brief lull, Thorn glances at the piano, trying to decide what the best course of action is from here... If the ward was easily unmade, that suggested it was -intended- to be unmade. Surely The Nemean was capable of better.
But once undone...then what? She wasn't quite at the level where she could just banish it. But maybe there were other, less direct routes to take.
(OOC - Thanks Solarious! That's a great post. Very helpful. Is it possible to use Analyze Spirit and/or Read Spirit through the piano, or do I need to wait until I can actually see it?)
Thorn's Aura
Mottled, with patches of light blue and purple, all suffased with bright sparks of light that twinkle like stars.
Too busy preparing for her magic and talking to the others, Levanna failed to notice Prometheus' scrutiny
aura
dark blue that seems to want to bleed into orange, but the orange keeps getting swallowed up. lots of sparklies of an awakened as well.
"So I guess you guys are sure you want to do this. Okay.." she said, mildly annoyed. "We sure put a lot of thought into this decision." she added sarcastically and unnecessarily.
Levanna nodded at Thorn's suggestion. "If we're gonna do it, then yes, we should work together."
She closed her eyes and drew her athame again. She swept the blade around her with an extended arm while muttering her invocations. Then, while imagining a solid mystical barrier descending upon her body and melding into her skin, she pulled her arms close, crossed over her chest in a protective gesture.
spell
Levanna casts Ephemeral Shield, p. 246
"I don't have the power yet to keep a spirit in place preemptively. So when the wards are broken, we either have to act very fast... or hope it wants to play nicely," she said with unease creeping into her voice
"Thorn, it might be a good idea to grant everyone the Second Sight that can't do it on their own. If we mess up or this spirit is too strong, I think that everyone should at least be able to see what's happening," Levanna said. "What do you think? in the mean time I can start preparing to break the wards," she said, producing a half melted candle wrapped in a velvet cloth from her purse. She carefully set it upon the piano. It was apparently required for her to work this sort of spirit magic.
Last edited by BlueLotus; 20th December 2008 at 11:47 AM..
Gabriel muttered a short prayer in a pseudo-Latin form of Atlantean speech, and touched Jeremiah and Prometheus' foreheads. Twilight figures faded into their view, and they saw the piano appear to overlap itself as it extended into the Twilight and material world.
"I can dispel the entrapment as soon as we're all ready," he said. "I think we should try to command it to leave first. Failing that, we should determine its ban."
Light blue veined with light green, with hints of dark green and dark blue, shimmering with the telltale signs of an Awakened individual.
Jeremiah feels the twilight world flow into view, the strange double-displacement of the piano-spirit giving the room a disquieting effect. Feeling the burden of multiple spells interfering with his Pattern, he dismisses all his own active spells and brings up his own protections.
Armor Up
Casting:
Misperception: Mind 2 + Gnosis 1 + High Speech 2 = 5 dice
Mental Shield: Mind 2 + Gnosis 1 + High Speech 2 = 5 dice
As he finishes, the obsessive nature the Guardian had perceived in the spirit sparks some inspiration about their nature.
"I just had a thought. Spirits seem to be representative of something, aren't they, of one concept or thing to the exclusion of all else. When I analyzed the resonances it had imbued into the sheet of music, it was entirely focused on emotions of longing and belonging."
"... I hypothesize that with the use of the Mind arcanum, we can repel or banish it by projecting emotions antithetical to it's existence. Specifically, I would imagine emotions of ostracism or loneliness would be most effective."
OOC
For your question, Shayuri, you can probably target it since you can see it in twilight with Spirit Sight. Go ahead and rip out it's secrets to your heart's content.
On the other hand, using Emotional Urging on spirits is an established tactic against spirits, particularly the Conceptual Courts, and is especially true of the Emotional Choir. Effects can range from being drained of Essence to dealing a point or two of bashing damage and negating Influences.
Ultimately, the effects are up to Tellah. Different spirits react somewhat laterally to spells outside of the Spirit Arcanum.
__________________ I hate to interrupt, but I believe we're being followed. The Mimes on the street corner. No, don't look. ~ Mycroft, Broken Diamond
Proud supporter of Dreamscarred Press and Untapped Potential, New Horizons in Psionics. Get it now! It's the best 5 dollars you'll ever spend.
Casting:
Misperception: Mind 2 + Gnosis 1 + High Speech 2 = 5 dice
Mental Shield: Mind 2 + Gnosis 1 + High Speech 2 = 5 dice
2 successes and 3 successes, respectively.
OOC
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solarious
For your question, Shayuri, you can probably target it since you can see it in twilight with Spirit Sight. Go ahead and rip out it's secrets to your heart's content.
The piano is blocking everyone's view of the spirit, unfortunately--and his view of you. Docking some dice for an area effect or using Sympathetic magic would work, as would many spells of the Knowing practice, since they're often not dependent upon the senses.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solarious
On the other hand, using Emotional Urging on spirits is an established tactic against spirits, particularly the Conceptual Courts, and is especially true of the Emotional Choir. Effects can range from being drained of Essence to dealing a point or two of bashing damage and negating Influences.
Without giving away too much: I like the cut of your jib. That's a clever solution!
"That's a solid plan, Jeremiah," said Gabriel. "I'll wait to free the spirit until you've had a chance to pollute the area with negative emotions."
Gabriel's Aura
Gabriel's aura had a deep basis of yellow and gold, with a mottled, shifting veneer of colors featuring dark green flecks. The Awakened sparkles in his aura, if focuses on long enough, appeared to flutter upward in slow, wing-flapping motions, then dive rapidly.
"Before we pollute the area, and possibly aggravate a harmless spirit into attacking us, we should consider using emotions to draw the spirit closer to the area, instead of giving it extra incentive to flee. After all, a peaceable solution may be much easier to attain here, and much less destructive to the house. A better plan may be to alter the surrounding rooms, the floor and the ceiling, so as to inhibit the spirit from leaving. That way, should we need to catch the spirit, we will have a much lesser area to search through. In either case, I would gladly help you reweave the surrounding area."
"We want it to leave the house permanently and entirely, not to simply move it to another room or out for a week. Still, it does make little sense to trap a spirit in order to force it to leave."
spells
will recast prime 3/mind 2 conj in order to appear as a lonely sleepwalker. Ensuring to cast the new spell before letting go the old one.
Preparing to cast Celestial Fire if the spirit turns hostile
Dice for both: Gnosis 3 + Prime 3
OOC
btw, when I went to look up resonance, it says that anyone who got a single success would realise their patter was under scrutiny, but not by who
will recast prime 3/mind 2 conj in order to appear as a lonely sleepwalker. Ensuring to cast the new spell before letting go the old one.
Gnosis 3 + Prime 3
Failure. Figuring that you'd roll again, I rolled it again, and Prometheus got 1 success.
As Prometheus reconfigured his aura, the other mages felt a twinge of the supernatural.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OOC
Mages who are not Prometheus: your Unseen Senses went off, but there's no indication of why.
OOC
Quote:
Originally Posted by magic_gathering2001
btw, when I went to look up resonance, it says that anyone who got a single success would realise their patter was under scrutiny, but not by who
My mistake. You get away with it without being noticed...this time.
Jeremiah mutters harshly in High Speech, unlocking new perceptions to his senses, and scans the area, searching for scrying conduits.
Spell
Casting Spatial Awareness: Gnosis 1 + Space 1 + High Speech 2 = 4 dice
Taking on the burden on exceeding Spell Tolerance.
OOC
Another uncommonly known rule of spellcasting: sensory casting doesn't necessarily mean line of sight. Sensory range means you have to be about 200 yards, and have some way of perceiving the location of your target. Seeing isn't really necessary. It does form the best conditions for casting, but it is also possible to make do with hearing, or other methods, possibly granted through spells or other supernatural means. Don't quote me on the last part though: I'm not sure if spell-granted perceptions always count, or count at all.
Casting this way always imposes penalties though as opposed to seeing your target, and the harder it is for you to tell where your target is, the greater the penalties levied. For example, you are in a shootout with a Seer, and she has stopped to reload. You can hear that action clearly, so you take the opportunity to fry the her brain with a Psychic Assault, but it is done at a -2 penalty. Hearing soft footsteps from somewhere in your Sanctum in the middle of the night is a great deal harder to pinpoint, and may induce penalties of -8 or greater.
__________________ I hate to interrupt, but I believe we're being followed. The Mimes on the street corner. No, don't look. ~ Mycroft, Broken Diamond
Proud supporter of Dreamscarred Press and Untapped Potential, New Horizons in Psionics. Get it now! It's the best 5 dollars you'll ever spend.
)
Is it possible to use Analyze Spirit and/or Read Spirit through the piano, or do I need to wait until I can actually see it?)
Linear Mode
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