BackstoryAlmost six years ago, the gods began to gift humanity with magic. But, with magic being one of the most powerful forces in the universe, they did not do so lightly. Many of them were skeptical of what humans might do with such unlimited power. Wishing to provide a test, the gods told humankind that they would grant them a small piece of magic. If, in 50 years time, mankind had used these heavenly gifts to better themselves, the gods would bestow upon them more powerful magic.
The scribes of the world began study into this magic immediately. Entire campuses were built around the central study of magic. Newly trained researchers would opt in to experimental programs to simply get as much as a glimpse at the untapped powers of magic.
But magic was not without its pitfalls. As with any new technology, especially one so esoteric, the dangers of blindly diving into the unknown were very real.
Five years, three months, and twelve days after the gods gifted magic to humanity, a large flash of light came from the center of the Institution for the Advanced Study of Magical Forces. At first, it had seemed like business as usual, but it quickly devolved into something else. Within a matter of minutes, the entire complex mysteriously fell silent. The once-bustling center now lay completely still, and half-finished projects sitting near windows remained with no one nearby to work on them. Onlookers who constantly watched, hoping to finally see what magic was, had found themselves with nothing to look at.
Rumors spread as magical research ground to a halt in the city. Some thought they had finally found the solution to many of the nation's problems, and hid it from the public out of selfishness. Others thought they found something so horrifying they never wanted to return to magic. And still others thought that all of the magicians had unlocked such a great power to advance technology so significantly that they simply found no reason to return to such a basic society.
Our party does not have a single consensus as to what exactly happened, but they all see a reason to investigate and get to the bottom of this nonetheless. Will you enjoy what you find? Will you unlock the secrets of magic, for better or for worse? Or will your expedition, too, fall silent?
Any necessary dice rolls will be done using a d20. For hand-to-hand combat...
...if the attacking roll is below the defending roll, the attack misses....if the attacking roll is the same as the defending roll, both attackers parry....if the attacking roll is 2 (or less) higher than the defending roll, the attack grazes....if the attacking roll is 10 (or more) higher than the defending roll, it counts as a critical hit, and does additional damage.
Otherwise, the attack simply hits.
Aside from this, a general rule of thumb is that if something is pretty much guaranteed to hit (i.e smacking someone in the back of the head when they're not looking, or dropping a piano directly on top of someone, assuming you can find one), it probably will unless there's something else to stop it.
Name: Cor Gnosha
Description: An overly-pampered rich boy who has never had to work for anything and isn't quite sure what work actually is.
Why do you want to check out the research center?: I just have far more curiosity than sense and assume nothing bad can possibly ever happen to me.
Inventory: A large amount of Problem-Solving Money (cash and credit), fancy sunglasses, a blank wand, a container of dirt, 8 pencils, and a penknife.
Other: Cor is actually smarter than he looks but really would prefer not to admit it.
Status: Healthy
Name: Bubba
Description: A dirty disheveled looking man that reeks of sewage and alcohol.
Why do you want to check out the research center?: If the people are gone he can live in there instead of the sewers.
Inventory: Bottle of alcohol, rusty knife, pet rat, tough gloves (being worn)
Other: There's a chance he's insane.
Name: Cortana
Description: A girl who spent as much time as she could watching the research center, hoping that they would show what they discovered
Why do you want to check out the research center?: To find out what happened and hopefully continue the work that was stopped
Inventory: Flashlight, Wrench, Hammer, some dirt, 5 pencils, box of chalk
Other:
Name: Harangue
Description: Orange housecat with black stripes.
Why do you want to check out the research center?: To observe its contents for the glory of felidae.
Inventory: Collar with a capsule of mint attached to it.
Other: Has seven lives remaining.
Name: Nevermore
Description: A black raven.
Why do you want to check out the research center?: Shiny!
Inventory: Magical chain wrapped on the left foot.
Other: More intelligent than the average bird. Magically enhanced to be so.
Name: David Kent
Description: Always tapping his foot and checking his pocket watch, David Kent is the sheer embodiment of impatience.
Why do you want to check out the research center?: Those damn researchers have gone on break or something? At this important time? Fine, David supposes - he will have to do it himself.
Pick a couple of small items you'd like to take with you: Silver-Chained Pocket Watch
Other:
Name:
Description:
Why do you want to check out the research center?:
Pick a couple of small items you'd like to take with you:
Other:
Author
Topic: The Secrets of Magic [7/7] (Read 13071 times)