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[Kashyyk]

(1) Defy Resistance Egan_BW
(0) Detect Sniper
(3) Heretic's Downfall: Madman198237, NUKE9.13, Kashyyk

Yeah sure. Pretty much the same stance as NUKE.

I suspect you'll be wanting to try Mythril again next design, hey Madman?

[Madman198237]

Well, yes.

Because it's a good idea.


Further personal attacks may be directed to the nearest waste receptacle.




But seriously. It's a better plan. One idea hopes to have lightning strike people, the other strike crystal. And we're probably safe, since eS has specifically said he does not want back-and-forth of counter/counter-counter/counter-counter-counter crap. Because that would be unimaginative, and terribly uninteresting. The battle reports would like read something along the lines of "Well, Group of Idiots #1 countered Group of Idiot's #2's last counter, while GoI #2 countered their new counter, preemptively. Nothing has changed, read last battle report and add 1 to all gains."

[Atomic Chicken]

(1) Defy Resistance Egan_BW
(0) Detect Sniper
(4) Heretics' Downfall: Madman198237, NUKE9.13, Kashyyk, AC

[evictedSaint]

Revision: Heretics' Downfall [4]
Essentially just a firmer grasp of command over the elements of lightning, Heretics' Downfall is a method to draw the route of a bolt of lightning for it.  Lightning prefers the path of least resistance, but through this spell we can "encourage" it down another path instead.

We can't make lightning do impossible feats, however; we can't make a bolt of lightning travel in one direction through water, dispell the jagged lines as it travels along, or make it resist the allure of the earth below, but we should be able to make it jump from the lightning rod towards the enemy.  We haven't figured out how to make it "seek" enemy crystal, sadly, but at least now we have a way around their lightning rods...at least, until they develop something better.

[Madman198237]

Is this a premonition that they're already working on something else?

[evictedSaint]

I'm pre-empting the salt for when they design a counter for your counter for their counter for your counter.

Please vote on the thesis to present.

[NUKE9.13]

So, I'm not sure how much 'original research' the princess is allowed to do. Provided she is allowed to study topics we have yet to investigate, I present:

Spoiler: Stellar Divination, or, The Pre/Tele-cognation Of Various Events By Observing The Movements Of The Stars. (click to show/hide)

Despite having access to a most comprehensive book on the art of Divination, much of our research in the past decades has been directed elsewhere. The depths of that sacred tome are only occasionally read by bored apprentices. We aim to rectify this situation, with an analysis of one of the book's later chapters, which focuses on how Divination may be aided through observing the movement of the stars.

Let it be clear; the heavens are the realm of God, and only He knows the true meaning of every single star in the sky. The Divination Spellbook does not mention this, for it is so obvious that it goes without saying.
The chapter starts with a listing of the major stars and a brief overview of their meaning. There are too many to list here, but I shall name a few notable examples. See attached star charts for the location of these in the night sky.
-Aldebaran: the star of wealth and victory, when this star is prominent it behoves us to seek opportunities that may deliver us such things.
-Algol, the star of violence and defeat, ensure that this star is not prominent before going into battle.
-Gienah, the star of ventures and genius, fortunate portents from this star will aid in researching new spells.
-Procyon, the star of crime and false victories, do not over-extend yourself when under the influence of this star, and resist the temptation to act rashly.
-Sirius, the star of wind and contemplation, quite relevant to many of our mages.
-Vega, the star of flight and sorrow, an ill omen for some, but a boon to those who enjoy carpet-riding.

Having described the stars and their properties, the book continues with an explanation of how to interpret them. There are numerous factors to consider, such as the position of the star relative to the 'wandering stars', the brightness of the star, and the time of year.
The book contains convenient tables with references for common scenarios (see attachment).

Armed now with the necessary knowledge, one proceeds to read about the rituals required to properly 'ask' the stars, and how to adjust your vision such that you may view the stars with increased clarity.
As an example, let us imagine a mage attending to a general in the field. The general wishes to know if the enemy will attack tomorrow. The mage musts take this simple question, and break it down to a form that can be 'asked' of the stars. He might take the enemy's sign (divined in a separate ritual), and attempt to detect it harmonising with stars signifying battle, aggression, or advancement. He then performs a ritual (the details of which the book does not provide, alas), and awakens his senses to the true nature of the stars. The incomprehensible haze of stars shall melt away, leaving only the relevant stars visible, with the connection between them visualised as glowing lines in various colours. He might note that  the sign of the enemy is resonating with Thyclyon, which indicates rearward motion. He would then exit the trance, and inform the general that on the contrary, the enemy intends to retreat on the morrow.

Frustratingly, the spellbook has only hints as to the exact nature of the rituals required to interpret the stars, whilst also warning of the inexact nature of non-magically-aided stellar divination. It may be possible to reconstruct this knowledge, given time and resources. Until then, exploring the mysteries of the cosmos remains a theoretical pursuit.


PS: I told you spending nights staring at the stars wasn't a waste of time.

[Madman198237]

Well, the thesis is not specifically a written thesis. We all appear to have had the knee-jerk "Oh great, essay" reaction (Or maybe you guys are all terrible overachievers halfway decent writers and therefore enjoy essays more than me and my aching wrist), but other "Thesis" projects include streamlined circuitry. Meaning gadgetry.

Our Princess has become a little unstable, enjoys daring tricks, and enjoys accurately zapping things with wands of lightning. (It seemed more reasonable than trying to overjustify a foray into our Wand of Heroism's wondrous traits)
Speaking of which, should we use the Wand next turn? Perhaps we could devise a version that increases intelligence, improving our research, strategies, and tactics.

Spoiler: Hayat Salbi's Investigation Into Magical Propulsion (click to show/hide)

Master Mage-Priest of the Academy of Magic,
to His Royal Highness, King Moskurg

Most joyous greetings, my liege. I have the distinct honor today of presenting you the summary of your daughter's Thesis. She has done wonderful work for all of Moskurg, and glorified herself and her family in the eyes of Allah.

Her Highness showed obvious proficiency and love for the magical carpets we now use. As a result, she had spent much time learning all she could about the carpets, what they do, and how they do it. Therefore, when informed of the Thesis, she immediately chose to improve upon her magic carpet. She requested, and was promptly given, one of every iteration of our flying carpets, and a manual on the manufacturing and upkeep methods used by our soldiers. Using them, she was able to produce a few revolutions in carpet design and development.

She has taken her great love of acrobatics in the air, and, in order to produce a better platform, revisited the original carpet. She has managed to turn her personal carpet back into, well, a carpet. It is flat once more, upturned at the edges (Prevents things and riders from easily sliding off the edge of a banking carpet), and capable of bearing the same weight evenly across the surface without bending. Her carpet, due to various tinkering, is also faster and nimbler than a regular War Pegasus. While not capable of carrying more weight than a War Pegasus, the Princess's carpet provides an excellent surface for both acrobatics and carrying things. As for how, I will not bore you to much with the details, but, as far as I can understand, my liege, your daughter managed to combine the much-praised control we have recently developed over our holy lightning spells and the creation of the wind enchantments for our carpets.

It is thus possible for me to, without boast or exaggeration, declare your daughter this year's most accomplished Magical Academy graduate. It is also possible for me to most highly recommend one of her improved carpets, as it is quite safe, so long as you do not intentionally turn it upside down in flight, while hanging from one of the tassels, which I must mention, your daughter has done.
Quite regularly.

Oops, hope I don't get edit-ninja'd.

I'll try and set up a vote box here. Let me know if I've managed to miss a thesis proposal.

0 Weather Magic in the Light of Allah's Will (More control over weather magic):
0 Stellar Divination (Seeing the future):
1 Magical Propulsion (Improved carpets [Carpet-shaped again!]): Madman198237

Shameless self-vote again, I know, but I really think we stand the best chance if we do something that would cater to our heir's tastes. And plus, who doesn't agree that royalty flying to meetings on a carpet (That isn't awkwardly rolled up and saddled) isn't the best kind of royalty?

[Egan_BW]

...at least, until they develop something better.

Uh-huh. No back and forth, you said.

[Madman198237]

I agree with Egan.

If they nerf lightning, we dissolve crystals.


It's only fair.


_{(Blackmailing the GM! WOOO! Wait, are you guys SURE this is a good idea?)}

[crazyabe]

I agree with Egan.

If they nerf lightning, we dissolve crystals.


It's only fair.


_{(Blackmailing the GM! WOOO! Wait, are you guys SURE this is a good idea?)}

(Y̷̢̭̥̼̮̲̘̰̞͓̦̩̱̥̥̓ͪ͋ͦ̈́͒͐̂̽̏ͤ̉ͭ̉̓͋ͨ͢͢ͅ.̸̴̯͎͕̤͕͍̤̫͈͙͖̈̃̿̿͑̊̈́͋ͫ̅ͬ͊̕ͅ ̴͉͙̘̣̦̱͔̰̟̱̣͎͍̩̙̩̼̬̣̄͌́͂̈́̎ͫ̚̕͝Ḝ̶̛̭̲̲͓̤̭̙̜̙̤̜̱̺̬̳̭͒̄̒ͮ̌̋.̷̭̖̻̻̞̤̣͕̾ͣ̇̈̂̽̈͋̓ͫ͑̿̚̚͜ ̷̨͇̟̜̱̞̲̪ͦ̆͒̋ͩ̏̋̎́͠S̵ͤ͐ͥ͋̉͒́̿̓̎͆҉̗͎̰̝̮̖̟̜̟.͛ͫ̈́́̓͂͐ͧͩͭͯ̿̎̊ͯ̚͏̜̘̪̱͍̼̝͇̳)

[NUKE9.13]

Hmm. I think Madman's thesis is the best option so far, certainly the most appropriate to her character, whilst not being overly ambitious.
Although, it could maybe use some more detail? Like, how did she make the carpet stay carpet-shaped? Maybe some description of her research process? I dunno.

0 Weather Magic in the Light of Allah's Will (More control over weather magic):
0 Stellar Divination (Seeing the future):
2 Magical Propulsion (Improved carpets [Carpet-shaped again!]): Madman198237, NUKE9.13

[Kashyyk]

Madman's was actually quite similar to a thesis I was meaning to write, so I'll get behind that too.

0 Weather Magic in the Light of Allah's Will (More control over weather magic):
0 Stellar Divination (Seeing the future):
3 Magical Propulsion (Improved carpets [Carpet-shaped again!]): Madman198237, NUKE9.13, Kashyyk

[Madman198237]

If you guys want, I can propose HOW, although I was, as you may have noticed, writing it from the point of view of an observer. In fact, I think I know a bit about how....

OK, modified. It's a bit more detailed now. I think that that will work, but please, somebody check it for me.

[somemildmanneredidiot]

Spoiler: An Observation of Ambient Mana and Applied Applications (click to show/hide)

Allah is in everything. From the the Desert Winds and the Sands Among our Homes, to the Storms we call down upon our enemies' heads, Allah is in all things. Tubikh Rrahim shows that it is the within the Will of Allah to allow us to separate areas of the world from His Love and Guidance and therefore be unable to use the great Gift He has bestowed upon us. It thus stands to reason that while one is within His Love and Grace, one is able to access His Gift, be they trained or not, as long as the proper rituals are observed and one is truly devote to Him.

My research this year has therefore been to allow Allah to Guide me in finding the proper rituals and rites one must perform to allow the Creations of His Creations to continue to be connected to His Power after we have created and connected them in our presence, and I have found success in Allah's Guiding Hand. By the Will of Allah, I have discovered a method of enchantment and empowerment that builds upon the paths we have already tread with our War Prgasi that will allow our Carpets to connect to Allah without the hand of mortals guiding them, therefore greatly extending the amount of time one can spend flying on War Pegasi as well as allowing the Carpets to be Charged in His Power when not in use. This enchantment can also be applied to our Alsamma Safina, allowing less Wizards to be used connecting War Pegasi to His Power and making the control of the Air Ship easier by the Grace of less concentration needing to be used to empower the War Pegasi.

-Apprentice Hayat Salbi

290 words so I have plenty of room to expand on things. Any recommendations?