The first to grab one of the magazines is
Samuel. He feels a strange urge to read it for some reason - it feels like the intuitive way to power and glory lies within. Immediately after him
Clair and
John grab their copies as well, beginning to read them in much the same way as Samuel appears to be doing.
All three of them immediately find that the pages appear to be filled with the graphical equivalent of white noise, everything mashed together, producing a great mass of incomprehensible multicolored gibberish on every page.
[Samuel's mind roll: 4-1]
Samuel, as the first to begin reading, is also the first to notice something. The drawings appear to be... reaching out to him. Before he can act on this new piece of knowledge, the magazine goes right for his eyes, filling his field of vision with nothing but the abhorrent disharmony of the magazine's pages. He tries to shake himself free of the vision, but it seems rooted in his brain, drilling through his skull and violating his internal cranial structure in a way he finds highly displeasing. He twists and turns, trying to shield his head with his hands, but the feeling of something going through his think-parts subsides only gradually, seemingly not caring at all about what Samuel does to try and prevent it. And when it leaves altogether, Samuel finds that it has left something behind - a kernel of strange knowledge. As Samuel appraises the situation - he seems to now once again be in Mr. Lee's store - a certain word combination burns in his mind, begging acceptance. Along with that, it seems like some sort of shrill voice is pestering him.
1. Rain of Sweaty Ducks
I think you're awesome, so let's begin with awesome things! Take this spell and do stuff with it. Trust me, it'll be great! Yeah!
[Clair's mind roll: 2+1]
Clair, despite ostensibly looking at pretty much the same material, seems to have an altogether different experience - instead of the drawings leaping out at her, she seems to be pulled in, becoming very small all of a sudden in a vast, alien universe. Bits of thought float past her idly as she flies suspended, unmoving, reflexively having curled up in a ball, shielding the back of her head with her hands. After nothing happens for a few seconds, she opens her eyes.
Huh. Seems pretty colorful here, actually. Chaotic and infinite, yes, but also quite interesting. Relaxing a moment, Clair begins to freely float, an invisible force carrying her through this new world. She spends a moment taking in the sights - they are relaxing in the same way white noise can be relaxing, flushing out all conventional visual and mental information. Having spent a good minute like this, Clair suddenly notices a small light slowly flying toward her. Or, to be exact, flying in a straight line she just happens to intersect. As it is about to pass her by, she feels like she should grab it, and does so. The light dissolves, nesting in her mind, taking a certain shape that Clair, with some interpretation, can begin to understand within moments as she finds herself back in the pawn shop.
1. Teleport Vase
Practice with this for a moment. Then return when you are done. There is much to do and little time.
[John's mind roll: 1-->1]
John needs only to glance at a page, and it is clear what he's seeing! Adventure! Adventure in his eyes, adventure in his mind, adventure leaking out of his ear holes. More adventure than he can possibly imagine. But first he needs to find out what's actually in this manuscript. It appears to start off with some elementary 3D eye-crossing images, so John just plays along and crosses his eyes, looking at the image dead-on to see what's up.
What he sees... oh god... it's everything! All mysteries, all knowledge, everything he's wanted to know in his life, right there before him! His jaw drops. It's so simple. All that is true and right and wonderful can be found out and achieved with as much difficulty as one has snapping their fingers, it's just a few secrets he needs to know! He could utilize this information and achieve everything he's ever hoped for! Or even better, he could write a self-help book from all this and make zillions! Or both! While John ponders which one to do first, he hears a voice.
~What's goi-oh, shit. Shit on a goddamn stick. You're... not supposed to see this.~There is a flash of light, and everything goes completely dark. The people in the pawn shop notice John suddenly collapse. Or coil up, rather. His fall doesn't really take him anywhere, he just collapses elegantly, almost soundlessly and certainly harmlessly on the spot, resembling a coiled-up spring, causing not even the tiniest bit of a mess. When he wakes up seconds later, he wonders what just happened. Why is he in a pawn shop? And why is this voice talking inside his head?
1. Inspire Camel
2. Enchant Lint
3. Annihilate Aspirin
4. Conjure Dusty Rouge
5. Banish Wig
Uh, yeah. You're in Mr. Lee's pawn shop right now. You read a spellbook he gave you. Look, you've got spells! Lots of spells! Be amazed and pay no attention to the lapse of memory you're currently experiencing! That's how the magic happens!
As the three newly bemagicked individuals react variously to their magazines, Mr. Lee nods his head appreciatively.
"Looks like it's taking nicely! Welcome to the world of magic, eh?""I still don't understand why you won't give any of us the books.""You kidding? Mrs. Lee'd kill me!"Just as a reminder for the new players, you're required to post your character sheet with at least your current name, current spells and current attributes after any turn when any of those change. Such as this turn.
Also note that none of you can choose anything this turn - you get all of your spells, except John has to choose one that he drops due to reaching his spell limit.