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[Grek]

Question to the GMs:
Is it possible to trade aura points between players? Like, if I wanted to sell some of my spare aura points to Cript for cash or books or something? (I get the feeling he's the one most likely to want them)

[Weirdsound]

Haika gets the final say, but if I had to guess, you'd have to study aura for a bit and design a spell for the transfer or something.

[Haika]

Yeah, I'll agree with weird here. Aura is like your ambient chi or energy that accumulates from magical actions. You'll need to study it if you want to manipulate it.

[Grek]

Gotcha.

[Criptfeind]

What about just collaboration in payment?

[Grek]

A Mage's Manifold Musings on Manipluation Magic:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

1. I know of the following definite Rules regarding the practice of Manipulation:
   1.1. The Rule of Ownership, which states that it is unsafe to manipulate a soul protected by a body if you do not own that soul.
      1.1.1 This seems to imply that it is unwise but not impossible to manipulate souls that you do not own while they are in bodies.
         1.1.1.1 My exorcism spell seems to support this, as I have been warned by my familiar against attempting it on powerful spirits, lest I risk possession.
      1.1.2 I know for a fact that it is possible to act upon an embodied soul that I own, even when it is inside a body.
         1.1.2.1 Known methods for assuming ownership over a soul are limited only to blasting a condensed soul.
      1.1.3 I also know for a fact that souls without a body are not protected by this rule either.
         1.1.3.1 Known methods for removing a soul from a body include exorcism (see 1.2 though) and killing the host body.
      1.1.4 A "body" for the purposes of this Rule is any object that contains a soul. It could be a corpse or it could be a brick. Both are considered bodies.
   1.2. The Rule of Planes, which says that exorcisms do not work on a soul while the soul is located on its plane of origin.
      1.2.1 This makes me worry somewhat for my own soul when I visit other planes. Presumably, I could be exorcised on them. I could also be shot by my fellow mages or eaten by demons, of course, but still.

2. I know of the following Manipulation spells:
   2.1. Exorcise Soul - Contrary to popular depiction, this spell does not remove an invading soul from a body. It destroys the body around any targetted soul, subject to the Rule of Planes.
      2.1.1 If I ever find a human possessed by a demon, I'd be curious to see what happens. I suspect that it would kill the host, but you never know.
      2.1.2 My familiar insists that I not perform this spell on spirits that are too powerful for me. Doing so is supposed to have unspecified "negative ramifications for one’s soul".
         2.1.2.1 This probably means possession at the very least, but my familiar's been reluctant to go into the details and I'm not inclined to find out.
      2.1.3 The spell requires a holy symbol and a mystic chant specific to the being being banished. It may or may not have further requirements, I leave such detail work to my familiar.
         2.1.3.1 Any holy symbol works, as long as I can convince myself that it is sufficently holy. I use a Star of David personally, in honor of my late grandmother.
         2.1.3.2 This seems to indicate that some sort of divinity exists on some level and that it enforces the Rule of Planes and possibly the other Rules as well.
            2.1.3.2.1 I'm informed by my fellow mages that none of the popular religions are actually true or even close.
      2.1.4 Typically, the body crumbles into dust, leaving a shadowy spectre behind that I can condense.
         2.1.4.1 I am uncertain if non-demonic souls would look any different. I suspect so, but I'm not inclined to go killing angels to find out.
      2.1.5 Highly successful exorcisms can destroy the bodies on multiple souls at once.
   2.2. Condense Soul - This spell traps one disembodied soul in a pearl created from cough medicine and salt.
      2.2.1 The basement of the manor, which I later found out has a connection to the Styx, seems to be a good place to harvest evil souls.
         2.2.1.1 My first soul claimed there was chaotic and evil. I would rate at [7/10] in power.
            2.2.1.1.1 The soul attempted to possess me, weakening my defenses by overwhelming me with pleasure.
               2.2.1.1.1.1 I'm not certain if this is something that is unique to this specific soul, to chaotic evil souls in general or
            2.2.1.1.2 It turned into a large crimson pearl once condensed.
            2.2.1.1.3 It was almost certainly never a human's.
               2.2.1.1.3.1 My best guess would be a succubus. I'll have to ask it later.
            2.2.1.1.4 The soul has demonstrated a certain affinity towards spliting itself apart to possess tomato plants, making them grow into giant tomato monsters.
               2.2.1.1.5.1 Audrey, my first tomato plant, was destroyed beyond recovery by gunfire.
               2.2.1.1.5.2 Rufus, my second tomato plant, was recovered intact. I'll be dissecting him soon.
               2.2.1.1.5.3 Seymour, my final tomato plant, has yet to be possessed and remains at a normal size.
            2.2.1.1.5 As noted, the soul has since been divided into 3 roughly equal parts via its attempts on possessing my plants.
               2.2.1.1.5.1 I may wish to look into replicating this feat with other souls and other plants.
               2.2.1.1.5.1 I may also wish to look into the reverse - fusing lesser souls together using plants. Perhaps gafting?
      2.2.2 Souls can (at least supposedly) be grown out of a fungus known as a soulshroom. They're sold for 100$ each.
         2.2.2.1 I should look into these and figure out if they're collecting ambient spiritual energy (as can be done with this spell) or someone stealing nearby souls.
      2.2.3 The reagents required for this spell are cough syrup and salt.
         2.2.3.1 The cough syrup causes drowsiness and supressess the cough reflex, which would at least in theory be useful in incapacitating the soul.
            2.2.3.1.1 Anything that has similiar properties should work here, right? Not that I need anything else with this reagent being so cheap, but it's good to know.
         2.2.3.1 The salt would then be a binding agent, holding the soul in place.
            2.2.3.1.1 I imagine it's used for the same reason other mages draw magic circles in the stuff.
      2.2.4 Note to self: Determine if the pearls produced by this spell count as a body for the Rule of Ownership.
   2.3. Blast Soul - Using this spell binds a soul to my service by blasting it with my dreams while I sleep. If successful, I become the soul's new owner for all magical purposes.
      2.3.1 This spell, for whatever reason, requires that I sleep on a down pillow atop the soul while wearing a motorcycle helmet.
         2.3.1.1 I've no idea why the pillow's required or if it really needs to be a down pillow or if my famliar just likes sleeping on those best.
         2.3.1.2 The helmet actually kinda makes sense - Sabnatch, the demon that granted me my familiar, is known to appear as a lion-headed solider wearing a helmet on occasion.
            2.3.1.2.1 The spell seems to impart my knowledge of motorcycling into the souls I use it on. I wonder if it would impart some other sort of knowledge if I had a different sort of helmet.
         2.3.1.3 Turning a strength 2 chaotic evil soul into a strength 2 neutral good soul seems to have also produced a golden coin with a picture of a gremlin.
            2.3.1.3.1 No idea what's up with that, to be honest.
         2.3.1.4 This spell, like exorcisms, is not smart to use on souls that are too strong for me. Doing so will get me possessed if I mess up.
            2.3.1.4.1 Current limit seems to be a single strength 3 soul or the equal in lesser souls.
            2.3.1.4.2 Not sure how easy it is to fight off a possession, to be honest. I'd rather not risk it.
   2.4. Insert Soul - This spell inserts a soul into a body. Requires a solution produced by combining vitrol and aqueous vitae.
      2.4.1 This spell is subject to the Rule of Ownership once I've put the soul into a body.
         2.4.1.1 As such, if I attempt it with a soul I don't own, I can only use it once
      2.4.2 Alcohol and Acid are mixed in a 1:4 ratio, in which the condensed soul is dissolved.
         2.4.2.1 Once the soul's dissolved into solution, pour the resulting fluid onto the body to contain the soul into while chanting the proper chants.
         2.4.2.2 As always the chant is dependant upon the nature of the soul in question and a number of other factors. I let my familiar look it up for me.
         2.4.2.3 The acid is obviously there to dissolve the soul, while the alcohol is there to hold the spiritual energy once the soul is removed from the pearl.
      2.4.3 I've only used this spell thus far to imbue souls into pixie seeds, but in theory it should work for any body.
         2.4.3.1 Preference goes, of course, to corpses, golems and other bodies that seem likely to animate.
      2.4.4 This spell is difficult to fail, but very random in its effects. How well the body responds all depends on how well the soul can adjust.
         2.4.4.1 Powerful souls tend to do better in this regard.
         2.4.4.2 Wonder what would happen if I inserted my own soul (in whole or in part) into an outside body. Hmm.
   2.5. Soul Conversation - This spell allows me to converse with a condensed soul.
      2.5.1 Or, at least, it's supposed to. I'm really really bad at meditation.
         2.5.1.1 Oddly enough, the version to talk to souless bodies requires no meditation. Only conversing with disembodied souls. Odd.
      2.5.2 I've not gotten a chance to try this one out successfully. Will add further notes once I do.

[Weirdsound]

The soul didn't turn into a coin, you blasted the soul normally and found a coin as well.

[Weirdsound]

It looks like I'll be the one solely running the turns for awhile. I'll try to get one up today, but tomorrow is more realistic. Haika should have the HP update ready by session Monday. You each get your $1500 though.

...

[Weirdsound]

1 hours: Ariel calls up the seed shop with some questions:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

-Can a Naturia Flytrap be passed off as human once fully grown?
-Do the flytraps retain their intellect and/or souls?
-Are the Black and White Corn Kernals on offer still fertile?
-What sort of souls can I expect out of the soulshrooms? Good? Evil? Random?
-Do you do mail order on seeds?

2 hours: Sort through the massive pile of 15 books we have, figuring out what each is about. Once that's done, post a notice in the dining hall with the info asking people to list which ones they want in order of preference.

I'll handle Grek's Questions and book list now. Nothing I have to roll for, and it will take a big chunk out of my turn writing time when that happens.

-Can a Naturia Flytrap be passed off as human once fully grown?
Not outside of a costume party it can't.
-Do the flytraps retain their intellect and/or souls?
Yeah. Humans merged with the flytrap will retain there memories and personalities. They will eventualy however be slowly inducted into the Naturia Emotional Hive, but this tends to effect motivation as opposed to personality or soul. Medicine exists to protect one's human emotions and motivations from naturia influence.
-Are the Black and White Corn Kernals on offer still fertile?
Yeah, but they grow poorly in Southern California. You are better off saving the effort and buying our imports.
-What sort of souls can I expect out of the soulshrooms? Good? Evil? Random?
Pretty much true neutral, although they *may* take on the flavor of the local ambient soul energy.
-Do you do mail order on seeds?
Sending magic stuff through the mail is a big no-no. We can make a delivery via magic river for a flat 500 USD fee.

Books:
1: Meister Jagen's Personal Journal and Spell Log: 1997-2001 (Seems to have lots of information on multiplainar travel)
2: Meister Jagen's Personal Journal and Spell Log: 2006-2009 (Has information on the beasts within the portals and how to control them)
3: Meister Jagen's Personal Journal and Spell Log: 1969-1974 (Has some travel spells, and lots of information on the magical politics of the era)
4: Solo Adventures: 1 Player Voyeurism (Not a magic tome, but you can understand why Jagen kept it locked up)
5: Busty Blonde Balorgs (Same as above... but with more eeeewwww)
6: Subhuman Roster: 2006 (A slightly dated list of vampires, werebeings, and other such things living in Southern California and the surrounding areas)
7: The Neptune Affair (The personal story of a Magically Talented Southern Belle who dated the ancient god of the sea while her father and brothers were off fighting the union. Contains descriptions of some powerful spells.)
8: Werewolf in London (The story of a young werewolf who spent his highschool and college years away from his family, studying magic in the British Isles. Contains lots of spell used to blend in and play sophomoric pranks.)
9: The Carharn Wheel (A dossier listing some members of the Chaos Circle, starting from the fell god Carharn and working its way down. Includes some ritual spells)
10: The Clearsands Tribe (A book describing a clan of high elves living on the plains of valor. It discusses their customs, religion, language, and spells)
11: Spell Suggested for the 2013 Ban List by the Department of Subhuman Affairs (A half complete academic style report authored by Meister Jagen. It lists and describes in great detail spells which he thinks should be banned)
12: Soul of Ursula Jagen (A strange glowing book with nothing written in it)
13: March 1973 Issue of Magia Magazine (The cover shows a picture of Jagen captioned 'Putting the Furies in Their Place'. The magazine is full of articles discussing popular spells, mages, and controversies of the time)
14: Pimping Imps (A book listing and describing many common and less than common varieties of imp, as well as ways that one can torture and control them)
15: Jagen Family Necrominon (The 1844 edition of one of the worlds most infamous spell books. It is written in German. It is full of notes on the margins and back page, just like a family bible.)

[Criptfeind]

Now, here is a question for the GMs and other players, is there any issue with us just holding the books in common? I mean... Any objections?

Also I feel like a owe a few of you (you know who you are most likely) for doing things for me. But I'm a very selfish person naturally, so I am really bad at paying favors back in kind. I don't like it, but that is how I am. So if you people could, now or really anytime in the future mention favors I could do for you? Because I really do want to pay you people back, I just don't know how.

Edit: I mean mechanical favors. I am glad to do flavor favors, but things like "Watch Kathryn do magic" don't really count cause they don't actually do anything.

[Weirdsound]

1 Hour: Information digging. Time to learn what old man Kestrel knows about Mr.Travis. (Payment is with Fool's Gold.)

The fools gold allows for the answer of one question. If you don't give me a specific question by the time I write up the turn, I will pick one for you.

Now, here is a question for the GMs and other players, is there any issue with us just holding the books in common? I mean... Any objections?

Also I feel like a owe a few of you (you know who you are most likely) for doing things for me. But I'm a very selfish person naturally, so I am really bad at paying favors back in kind. I don't like it, but that is how I am. So if you people could, now or really anytime in the future mention favors I could do for you? Because I really do want to pay you people back, I just don't know how.

Edit: I mean mechanical favors. I am glad to do flavor favors, but things like "Watch Kathryn do magic" don't really count cause they don't actually do anything.

I'd say figure out an IC mechanism to make it happen. With Kestrel organizing things it might be difficult to find them if they are all just dumped on the manor bookshelves.

[Taricus]

...I trust your judgement Weird.

[Grek]

@Criptfeind: I'd be interested in trying to implant a soul into a golem body, if you can make a really nice one.
@Books: I'm fine with holding the books in common, honestly. Wouldn't want someone to get stuck with "Busty Blonde Balrogs" while everyone else gets useful spellbooks. I'll even throw in my personal pile of spellbooks if everyone else is willing to do the same. I do have a few requests, though:
-I'd like to try to communicate with #12 at some point. It could be an actual soul.
-Someone should check through #13 for information about purchasing a subscription. Might be handy.
-If any of you speak german, please do a translation on #15.

[Taricus]

Annendum on 15: If you don't speak german, go buy a babelfish.

[Criptfeind]

Sure Grek. Do you want like. A Golem, or a statue? Also what sort? If it is a Golem it needs a means of locomotion.