Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Glass]

4, then 2. I don’t want to make a final decision yet, before we get information.

And I suppose we really only had time for two questions in order to make an escape. Oh well.

[Yellow Pixel]

4, then 2. I don’t want to make a final decision yet, before we get information.

+1

[brewer bob]

4, then 2. I don’t want to make a final decision yet, before we get information.

+1

+1

[Enemy post]

4, then 2.

"Why persecute mages when the saints use magic as well?"

The hierophant sighs. "You must not be terribly familiar with the history. Magic as the ancients practiced it emphasized the individual above everything. Nobody believed that good works could advance one's station in life anymore. It was all about personal power. For those who could practice magic, elitism was the only sensible philosophy.

"Worse, the common people who could not master magic began to believe that they were obsolete. Magic replaced the craftsman with automation. It made commerce impossible without glamor. It made the soldier mere fodder for negation. Magic made the commoners angry at their lack of a place in the world. It began to turn the simple against the able. And the simple were more numerous, and angry.

"In this prideful world, on the brink of destruction as better negation spells were developed and the skies were thrown into havoc by automation, Abraxas saw a chance to start over. And now, two thousand years later, I argue that we have a better world. There is a place for all humanity. The saints may be elevated over humanity in some ways, but they are forced to be humble in others, and they must use their magic for good.

"Now, imagine if one person could thwart the system and become the only person with magic who does not follow the Church. Can you imagine the chaos that person could cause? Can you imagine the ego, the belief that just because that person can do something, he may as well?" The hierophant shakes her head. "We have a good system in place. Any clever person must see the wisdom in it. And anyone who insists on sacrificing the world order for their own personal glory is, I would argue, evil."

"It's a system that forces those with the most potential to serve and be humble," Sam says. "If we can become saints, then I'm willing to believe it works."

"What exactly is involved in becoming a saint?"

The hierophant smiles slightly, pleased that you asked.

"You must first turn over all your possessions to the Church," the hierophant says. "You effectively did this already, though you didn't quite know it—your possessions in the cart outside are already being sorted through.

"Those that are humble and not magical will be returned to you. Extravagant things will be sold. Magical writings go to the library. Magical items are destroyed.

"You would then normally take up lodging within the Cathedral to study the Book of Abraxas until you can pass a simple test," she says. "We must ensure your teachings are consistent with those of Abraxas, after all. But the test has become relatively easy over the years, and I don't doubt we could give you sufficient instruction to pass it here and now. Sam here would probably find it ridiculously easy."

"Probably," Sam says, somewhat resentfully.

"Once you pass, there is a small ceremony in this very room.

"And finally, we send you to a new part of the kingdom, where you are observed as you do good works." The hierophant raises her eyebrows. "Not so bad, yes? Nothing diabolical in the process, to be sure."

1."If Sam knows magic, can he become a saint, too?"
2."What would you have me do as a saint?"
3."Is it true that you spoke to Abraxas himself?"
4."Who will the next hierophant be, after you?"
5.Tell the truth: "No more questions—I'm ready to become a saint."
6.Dispel the glamors on the hierophant and the saints.
7.No more questions—make a break for it.

Spoiler: Stats (click to show/hide)

Scribe Foo

Appearance

A bookish, spectacled man wearing a shimmering cloak and tight black clothing fit for a thief or an assassin

Magic
  Negation:7
  Automation:11
  Glamor:1
  Divination:3
  Vivomancy:9

Skills
Ancient History: 8 (Fantastic)
Fighting: 1 (Bad)
Subtlety: 5 (Good)
Charisma: 4 (Good)

Personality
Optimism:62%/Caution:38%   
Humor:54%/Solemnity:46%   
Empathy:45%/Calculation:55%   

Relationships
Romances (Interested romantically, but not sexually, in men and women)
Tal

Tal: 56 (Good)
Cos: 46 (Bad)
Sam: 75 (Great)
Vera: 50 (Fine)
Church: 40 (Bad)
Undiscovered relationships: 1

Kingdom
Adoration: 52%/Vilification: 48%

Inventory
Gold: 334 gold
Sword
Alchemy Set
Torc of Life and Death
Clutch of Dragon Eggs
History Book, True Life of Abraxas
Golem Manual

Students
Blessed Sam

Pets
Verdigris the Baby Dragon

The Dead
The Academy Inquisitor

Plot Points

Chapter 1

You and Tal stumbled on an ancient magic academy.
You discovered a book of vivomancy, and an inquisitor chased you.
You found an ancient dueling ground.
You killed the inquisitor with negation magic.
You explored the academy library.
A divination revealed a potential ally in the form of a golem, so you took a manual on the operation of golems from the library.
You animated a serving tray to retrieve an alchemy set, but in the process, you released some dangerous chemicals.
You found a laboratory with a trapped specter.
You destroyed the specter.
You obtained a clutch of dragon eggs from the crow's nest of an ancient airship.
It became clear that the spilled chemicals were going to consume the whole academy.

Chapter 2


You flew up the coast of the Negative Sea back to Akriton.
You created two horses and freed them in the woods.
You made your parents think your finds in the academy were purely of historical interest.
You read in True Life of Abraxas that those who follow orders regularly are more likely to be glamored.
You learned the location of the Magisterian capital from True Life of Abraxas.
You met a hat seller but bought nothing from her.
You allowed a thief to steal from Fruitseller Fran.
You agreed to hunt a dodecapede with Tal.
You kissed Tal.
You restarted the automated mine that was the dodecapede's lair.
You restarted Akriton's giant fans after the death cloud passed.
Cos and you agreed that you would secretly work for Akriton.
Though you thought you kept a low profile, you heard inquisitors are coming to town anyway.

Chapter 3

Two inquisitors came to your door: the more aggressive Blessed Jacob, and the kinder Blessed Sam.
An old man intervened, claiming you weren't home.
You waited until the inquisitors left.
The old man revealed himself to be Mayor Cos, who is a shapeshifter.
You went to a House of Sun service, led by Blessed Sam.
In the middle, your vivomancy disguise wore off, but Blessed Sam did not take any action to pursue you.
Blessed Sam asked you to heal his pet dragon, Thomas.
You agreed and healed Sam's dragon.
You offered to teach Sam vivomancy, and he agreed.

Chapter 4

You rode to the capital in a wagon with Sam and Jacob.
While Sam and Jacob fought, you sneaked into the basement.
You found a university student held in the Cathedral dungeon—the last mage left there.
You decided to leave the student in the cell.
You found a secret passage that avoided a somewhat terrifying room.
You found a room that looked similar to a vision of a pleasant afterlife.
You found the Cathedral's library.
You found an old statue of Abraxas that promised to answer questions about the Church.
You learned that an item called the Great Oracle lies in the Magisterian palace, and that it could be used to join all minds into one.
You learned some designs that may help scour the sky from True Life of Abraxas.
You read in True Life of Abraxas that Abraxas became an immortal specter, and that you might become one yourself given enough negative energy.
The hierophant came to make an offer of sainthood to you.

[Glass]

Hmn...

I feel like 2.
For ending the encounter, I'm very much struggling between joining the Saints and dispelling their glamours. I don't know what skill is needed to bolt, but I don't expect we have it; dispelling may be negation, though, which we're good at, even if not as good as vivomancy and automation - question how the hell did our automation shoot up so damn high?

[brewer bob]

2

Also unsure of what to choose to end the encounter, but leaning towards 6. Certainly not opting to become a saint, though.

[Enemy post]

- question how the hell did our automation shoot up so damn high?

I think it's always been high, the group uses it pretty often and you've gradually accumulated skill that way. You've also picked up a good bit of it wandering around the church.

What would you have us do?

"I'm so glad you asked," the hierophant says. "Most saints are wandering holy people, doing good works and spreading the word of the Church. And you would do that, at first, as all saints must. But I have something special in mind for you.

"I have been thinking of installing a new advisor to the queen," the hierophant continues. "Blessed Advisor Armand was an inquisitor before he obtained his current position. That inspires a certain rigidity of thinking. He does not know, for example, how the miracles of saints work at all. We have reason to think that the Magisterian Empire may prove a threat in the near future, and so a mage-turned-saint who lived on one of the border towns could prove a better advisor than one bound to tradition. I hope to thread the needle of using more magic without publicly admitting we are doing so."

Sam regards you with a look of shock, as if you had suddenly changed from one thing to another before his very eyes.

"I think you would serve her well," Sam says. "But I admit, I wish it could be me."

"Of course, you would be essentially relaying the positions of the Church to the queen, using your expertise to simply fill in the details," the hierophant says. "And we would need a trial period in which you were a normal saint first—we can't promote someone from nothing. But I think you would find it a prestigious and rewarding position."

"I'll do it if he doesn't want to," Saint Twimsby volunteers. "Ow!" He shoots an accusing look at Saint Ann, but she just stands there innocently.

1."If Sam knows magic, can he become a saint, too?"
2."Is it true that you spoke to Abraxas himself?"
3."Who will the next hierophant be, after you?"
4.Tell the truth: "No more questions—I'm ready to become a saint."
5.Dispel the glamors on the hierophant and the saints.
6.No more questions—make a break for it.

Spoiler: Stats (click to show/hide)

Scribe Foo

Appearance

A bookish, spectacled man wearing a shimmering cloak and tight black clothing fit for a thief or an assassin

Magic
  Negation:7
  Automation:11
  Glamor:1
  Divination:3
  Vivomancy:9

Skills
Ancient History: 8 (Fantastic)
Fighting: 1 (Bad)
Subtlety: 5 (Good)
Charisma: 4 (Good)

Personality
Optimism:62%/Caution:38%   
Humor:54%/Solemnity:46%   
Empathy:45%/Calculation:55%   

Relationships
Romances (Interested romantically, but not sexually, in men and women)
Tal

Tal: 56 (Good)
Cos: 46 (Bad)
Sam: 75 (Great)
Vera: 50 (Fine)
Church: 40 (Bad)
Undiscovered relationships: 1

Kingdom
Adoration: 52%/Vilification: 48%

Inventory
Gold: 334 gold
Sword
Alchemy Set
Torc of Life and Death
Clutch of Dragon Eggs
History Book, True Life of Abraxas
Golem Manual

Students
Blessed Sam

Pets
Verdigris the Baby Dragon

The Dead
The Academy Inquisitor

Plot Points

Chapter 1

You and Tal stumbled on an ancient magic academy.
You discovered a book of vivomancy, and an inquisitor chased you.
You found an ancient dueling ground.
You killed the inquisitor with negation magic.
You explored the academy library.
A divination revealed a potential ally in the form of a golem, so you took a manual on the operation of golems from the library.
You animated a serving tray to retrieve an alchemy set, but in the process, you released some dangerous chemicals.
You found a laboratory with a trapped specter.
You destroyed the specter.
You obtained a clutch of dragon eggs from the crow's nest of an ancient airship.
It became clear that the spilled chemicals were going to consume the whole academy.

Chapter 2


You flew up the coast of the Negative Sea back to Akriton.
You created two horses and freed them in the woods.
You made your parents think your finds in the academy were purely of historical interest.
You read in True Life of Abraxas that those who follow orders regularly are more likely to be glamored.
You learned the location of the Magisterian capital from True Life of Abraxas.
You met a hat seller but bought nothing from her.
You allowed a thief to steal from Fruitseller Fran.
You agreed to hunt a dodecapede with Tal.
You kissed Tal.
You restarted the automated mine that was the dodecapede's lair.
You restarted Akriton's giant fans after the death cloud passed.
Cos and you agreed that you would secretly work for Akriton.
Though you thought you kept a low profile, you heard inquisitors are coming to town anyway.

Chapter 3

Two inquisitors came to your door: the more aggressive Blessed Jacob, and the kinder Blessed Sam.
An old man intervened, claiming you weren't home.
You waited until the inquisitors left.
The old man revealed himself to be Mayor Cos, who is a shapeshifter.
You went to a House of Sun service, led by Blessed Sam.
In the middle, your vivomancy disguise wore off, but Blessed Sam did not take any action to pursue you.
Blessed Sam asked you to heal his pet dragon, Thomas.
You agreed and healed Sam's dragon.
You offered to teach Sam vivomancy, and he agreed.

Chapter 4

You rode to the capital in a wagon with Sam and Jacob.
While Sam and Jacob fought, you sneaked into the basement.
You found a university student held in the Cathedral dungeon—the last mage left there.
You decided to leave the student in the cell.
You found a secret passage that avoided a somewhat terrifying room.
You found a room that looked similar to a vision of a pleasant afterlife.
You found the Cathedral's library.
You found an old statue of Abraxas that promised to answer questions about the Church.
You learned that an item called the Great Oracle lies in the Magisterian palace, and that it could be used to join all minds into one.
You learned some designs that may help scour the sky from True Life of Abraxas.
You read in True Life of Abraxas that Abraxas became an immortal specter, and that you might become one yourself given enough negative energy.
The hierophant came to make an offer of sainthood to you.

[Glass]

I think the question for me is "4 or 5?"
I think the question for some others is the same.
I think the question for various others is "5 or 6?"

I say we split the difference and pick 5. What will happen? Who the hell knows?

- question how the hell did our automation shoot up so damn high?

I think it's always been high, the group uses it pretty often and you've gradually accumulated skill that way. You've also picked up a good bit of it wandering around the church.

I knew it was reasonably high, but I think it was about where our Negation is when we entered the church. I'm pretty sure we managed to increase it four times while we were here.

[brewer bob]

Yeah, I'm fine with option 5, though it might end up badly (but maybe less so than 6).

- question how the hell did our automation shoot up so damn high?

I think it's always been high, the group uses it pretty often and you've gradually accumulated skill that way. You've also picked up a good bit of it wandering around the church.

I knew it was reasonably high, but I think it was about where our Negation is when we entered the church. I'm pretty sure we managed to increase it four times while we were here.

It was 7 when we entered the Cathedral. I counted 3 Automation gains since then, so either I missed the fourth, or talking to Abraxas gave us 2?

[King Zultan]

5

[Enemy post]

We attempt to dispel the glamor.

You draw magic from both the dark sun beneath your feet and the well of energy inside you, mingling them to ready for a flash of power that can fizzle out the hierophant and saints' glamors. The belief that they are good, righteous people is difficult to fight; in the end, you convince yourself that if they are good, they will still seem so when their glamors are gone.

Black and gold motes begin to visibly swirl around you. You pull them inside you, and they burn and sting as they enter. You feel a mounting queasiness in your stomach.

"Why are you doing that?" the hierophant asks. Is she nervous or just confused? You can't tell.

"Philautia omnes, antitha venenum aliorum!" you shout.

The energy within you is released with a flash. But your spell seems to do nothing. Perhaps they never had glamors at all? You're so confused.

"That magic is bad for you, child," the hierophant says sympathetically. "I understand you have a sincere desire for the truth, but you have to trust us."

You feel very unwell, and just nod your head and close your eyes.

"Let's find a place for you to rest," the hierophant says. "Somnia vellum dormituras…"

"What are you doing to Foo?" you dimly hear Sam say, before you lose consciousness.

When you awaken, you are in a dismal stone-walled cell that seems to be somewhere in the basement, and the hierophant, Saint Ann, and Saint Twimsby are outside it. Your hands are bound behind your back, so you can't cast spells.

You're not sure where Sam is.

You're also not certain where Verdigris is. That's upsetting. Nevertheless, you're optimistic that you'll see her again. She always seemed smart.

"I apologize, but all that is for your own protection," the hierophant says. "You seem to have some pernicious ideas, and I'd prefer it if you didn't cast spells until we have more of a chance to talk."

1."Friendship requires trust. Untie me if you want to start things off right."
2."Is it true that you spoke to Abraxas himself?"
3."Who will the next hierophant be, after you?"
4.Tell the truth: "No more questions—I'm ready to become a saint."
5.Tell the hierophant I'll never become a saint.

Spoiler: Stats (click to show/hide)

Scribe Foo

Appearance

A bookish, spectacled man wearing a shimmering cloak and tight black clothing fit for a thief or an assassin

Magic
  Negation:7
  Automation:11
  Glamor:1
  Divination:3
  Vivomancy:9

Skills
Ancient History: 8 (Fantastic)
Fighting: 1 (Bad)
Subtlety: 5 (Good)
Charisma: 4 (Good)

Personality
Optimism:62%/Caution:38%   
Humor:54%/Solemnity:46%   
Empathy:45%/Calculation:55%   

Relationships
Romances (Interested romantically, but not sexually, in men and women)
Tal

Tal: 56 (Good)
Cos: 46 (Bad)
Sam: 75 (Great)
Vera: 50 (Fine)
Church: 40 (Bad)
Undiscovered relationships: 1

Kingdom
Adoration: 52%/Vilification: 48%

Inventory
Gold: 334 gold
Sword
Alchemy Set
Torc of Life and Death
Clutch of Dragon Eggs
History Book, True Life of Abraxas
Golem Manual

Students
Blessed Sam

Pets
Verdigris the Baby Dragon

The Dead
The Academy Inquisitor

Plot Points

Chapter 1

You and Tal stumbled on an ancient magic academy.
You discovered a book of vivomancy, and an inquisitor chased you.
You found an ancient dueling ground.
You killed the inquisitor with negation magic.
You explored the academy library.
A divination revealed a potential ally in the form of a golem, so you took a manual on the operation of golems from the library.
You animated a serving tray to retrieve an alchemy set, but in the process, you released some dangerous chemicals.
You found a laboratory with a trapped specter.
You destroyed the specter.
You obtained a clutch of dragon eggs from the crow's nest of an ancient airship.
It became clear that the spilled chemicals were going to consume the whole academy.

Chapter 2


You flew up the coast of the Negative Sea back to Akriton.
You created two horses and freed them in the woods.
You made your parents think your finds in the academy were purely of historical interest.
You read in True Life of Abraxas that those who follow orders regularly are more likely to be glamored.
You learned the location of the Magisterian capital from True Life of Abraxas.
You met a hat seller but bought nothing from her.
You allowed a thief to steal from Fruitseller Fran.
You agreed to hunt a dodecapede with Tal.
You kissed Tal.
You restarted the automated mine that was the dodecapede's lair.
You restarted Akriton's giant fans after the death cloud passed.
Cos and you agreed that you would secretly work for Akriton.
Though you thought you kept a low profile, you heard inquisitors are coming to town anyway.

Chapter 3

Two inquisitors came to your door: the more aggressive Blessed Jacob, and the kinder Blessed Sam.
An old man intervened, claiming you weren't home.
You waited until the inquisitors left.
The old man revealed himself to be Mayor Cos, who is a shapeshifter.
You went to a House of Sun service, led by Blessed Sam.
In the middle, your vivomancy disguise wore off, but Blessed Sam did not take any action to pursue you.
Blessed Sam asked you to heal his pet dragon, Thomas.
You agreed and healed Sam's dragon.
You offered to teach Sam vivomancy, and he agreed.

Chapter 4

You rode to the capital in a wagon with Sam and Jacob.
While Sam and Jacob fought, you sneaked into the basement.
You found a university student held in the Cathedral dungeon—the last mage left there.
You decided to leave the student in the cell.
You found a secret passage that avoided a somewhat terrifying room.
You found a room that looked similar to a vision of a pleasant afterlife.
You found the Cathedral's library.
You found an old statue of Abraxas that promised to answer questions about the Church.
You learned that an item called the Great Oracle lies in the Magisterian palace, and that it could be used to join all minds into one.
You learned some designs that may help scour the sky from True Life of Abraxas.
You read in True Life of Abraxas that Abraxas became an immortal specter, and that you might become one yourself given enough negative energy.
The hierophant came to make an offer of sainthood to you.

[Glass]

I do not like glamor one goddamned ounce .-.

[Maximum Spin]

Here we see the seat of my longtime frustration with Choice Of games. None of these choices - none of the choices last turn, either, for that matter - are what I actually want to be able to say in this situation. It feels like the choices were made by some kind of robot with no interiority or something, which simply does not comprehend what is actually important about the scene at all.

I abstain.

[Glass]

While I’m of the opinion that the Church clearly has its reasons for what it’s done and is doing, I simply do not agree with their methods, especially not their widespread use of Glamor. That stuff reeks to me of Bad Shit^TM. I don’t like the idea of using it, I don’t like it getting used on us, I would much prefer is straight-up not exist.

Sorry, Sam, but I’m voting 5. I’d rather not do this, but our hand has been forced.

[Maximum Spin]

Not even an option to say, "you know what, you've convinced me, I'm giving up magic completely, you can put surveillance on me for the rest of my life if you need to, I just want a quiet life on a farm with a wife and kids someday where I don't die of magical cancer caused by mind-control."

It feels like the idea that life itself could be precious for its own sake does not occur to the writer.