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[Glass]

“I want to heal and fix stuff and I want to make cool stuff. I do not want to brainwash people, and I do not want to rot myself from the inside out. May I do the stuff I want without doing the stuff I don’t want?”
And yeah, based on what they’ve told us, it’s pretty clear they’re not interested in that. But, seriously. Fuck Glamor. It brainwashes the targets and kills the caster. It’s Bad Magic^TM through and through.

[Yellow Pixel]

5

[Maximum Spin]

And yeah, based on what they’ve told us, it’s pretty clear they’re not interested in that.

Even if they wouldn't accept, the only sensible thing to do would still be to try. It's normal for choice-based games to let you try futile things, even! And it seems very likely that there would be some circumstances, like if we had high church relationship or something, where they'd be willing to accept it... but we're not even given the option.

[brewer bob]

It won't go well, but 5 is the only even somewhat viable option.

Fuck Glamor. It brainwashes the targets and kills the caster. It’s Bad Magic^TM through and through.

Sums up my thoughts about it.

[Enemy post]

Never.

"You're not the first mage to swear such a thing," the hierophant says. "But I won't hold you to it. We'll see whether you change your mind later."

The hierophant and the saints leave you, closing and locking the cell door behind them.

Since your bindings prevent you from casting anything, you try to think of a way to escape that doesn't involve magic. You kick the door. You feel around for secret doors.

But you can't think of anything. You lay down on the cold stone floor, thinking about your decisions. Should you have taken the hierophant up on her offer?

You try kicking your cell door. It doesn't give.

You kick again, and again, and again. But it doesn't give.

You are utterly alone.

You lie down. The cold stone floor against your cheek reminds you of a funeral bier.

Eventually, but not soon enough, sleep comes.

You awaken to the smell of smoke. Your cell door is on fire!

On the other side, you can hear the squawks of your baby dragon, Verdigris.

"Verdigris, you found me!" you shout gleefully. You hold your bonds to the flame until they catch fire and carefully hold still while they burn. Verdigris continues to squawk and purr in agitation. "Just be patient, Verdigris," you soothe. "I'm coming."

Once the cloth is sufficiently blackened, you pull your bonds apart, and they rip easily.

You eye the burning door, mentally running through the spells you could cast, then just give it a sharp boot. The weakened door falls off its hinges, and you are free.

"Miss me?" you say to Verdigris, stroking her head. The baby dragon coos.

Verdigris seems willing to burn doors on command, and in this way, you free Vera as well.

"I could have had a dragon too, if my parents hadn't said it might burn down the house," Vera says. "Though, come to think of it, I guess maybe they had a point."

You retrieve your things from the nearby storage room, find the staircase you originally descended, and follow it up and out of the Cathedral. Nobody has sounded the alarm yet on your escape, and you manage to sneak out undetected.

Outside, it is night. You make your way through the alley next to the Cathedral and out to the street.

Vera inhales deeply. "Ah, the night air smells wonderful!"

You look forward to returning to Akriton. At least you found one mage in the Cathedral—one that you liked, anyway.

At first, you think you managed to lose the forces of the Church back in the Cathedral. You hurriedly rent horses and ride out of the capital without incident.

But a few hours down the road, you can see a formation of twelve torches following you in the darkness, perhaps a third of a mile away. You have little doubt these are inquisitors and Church guards.

You can't run away forever. Perhaps it's time to stop running and think of a way to keep the Church at bay permanently.

Chapter 5:Returning.

"I think they're gaining on us!" Vera says, looking back at the torchlights of your pursuers.

Though you have enhanced your horses' speed with vivomancy somewhat, the fact is that the horses you could find at a moment's notice late at night are not used to hard riding.

You wonder whether there's a more permanent way to keep the Church from following you.

1.Use a glamor and tell my pursuers to report me as dead.
2.Blast my pursuers with negation, leaving one to report that I'm not to be trifled with.

I just want to say that Verdigris was 300 gold very well spent. It's strange that they made you free Wizard Vera, but I guess the writer didn't think it was likely that people would decide not to trust her. I was confused by that vote too, since she's basically just imprisoned for the same things we did.

And yeah, based on what they’ve told us, it’s pretty clear they’re not interested in that.

Even if they wouldn't accept, the only sensible thing to do would still be to try. It's normal for choice-based games to let you try futile things, even! And it seems very likely that there would be some circumstances, like if we had high church relationship or something, where they'd be willing to accept it... but we're not even given the option.

I think it requires being able to resist the glamour to try and propose a more free relationship with the Church, I've seen the conversation on other playthroughs. When I've seen it, the heirophant refuses because the church doesn't think any individual mage deserves freedom outside the sainthood system.

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.
Inquisitors and Church guards pursued you out of the capital.
You escaped the Cathedral and headed home.

Chapter 5

[Glass]

Why do we not have any other options on how to not fight them? .-.

I do not want to just kill them, and as stated, I despise Glamor - not that we’re likely good enough to make it work, regardless.

Why couldn’t we use Vivomancy to disguise ourselves and transfigure something else as to look like our corpse?

Blegh. 2 is our only viable option, no matter how much I’d prefer to do something else. Seriously, we’re good enough at both Vivomancy and Subtlety that you’d think we could try an alternative course of action. I mean, hell, it’s nighttime. Hiding can’t be that difficult.

[Yellow Pixel]

2

Seriously, we’re good enough at both Vivomancy and Subtlety that you’d think we could try an alternative course of action. I mean, hell, it’s nighttime. Hiding can’t be that difficult.

I think just the same...

[brewer bob]

2

Other options would've been nice, though I'd probably have chosen to blast them anyway (and not leave any alive).

Also, really doesn't make any sense that we freed Vera while escaping, but I guess this is some kind of confirmation that she's a trustworthy person?

[Glass]

She does have a relationship value.

[Enemy post]

Nihilo.

"Enough," you say, slowing your horse and wheeling about. "I have to put an end to this."

Vera looks rather excited to hear you say this. "What are you going to do?" She follows you.

"It's got to be done," you murmur. (Increased Calculation.) (Increased Solemnity.) You draw all the negative energy you can muster, covering yourself with glowing black-and-purple tendrils of energy. It smells like barbecue. (Gained Negation.)

"Oh boy," Vera says, excited.

When your pursuers' formation is just a tournament field away, you point at them. "Nihilo magna!"

A black bolt streaks toward the riders, then explodes amid them. You hear a dull boom as the black-and-purple explosion consumes eleven of the twelve riders. The ball of negative energy emits its own eerie glow momentarily. Then there's nothing left but the dark of night where they stood. The horses, the torchlights—all are gone. (Decreased Church Relationship.)

The lone remaining rider takes off at a quick gallop back to the capital. You hope he delivers your message with the gravity it deserves. How many people is the hierophant willing to sacrifice to pursue you? Not that many, you hope.

"Awesome!" Vera says. (Increased Vera Relationship.)

It was almost frightening how easy that was, you think.

"Let's get going," you say, and you urge your horse toward Akriton.

You return to Akriton with Vera.

Along the way, you stop in the Crown Mountains to collect some gold from your automated mine. (Gained 200 Gold.)

The journey again takes a week on horseback—time enough for you both to digest the fact that you have just killed a bunch of people whom most would consider holy.

How does it feel to be a heretic?

1.I never meant for this to happen! My mind is in tumult.
2.This conflict was inevitable. But I will win.
3.My intentions are good. They'll eventually see that.

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:8
  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:49%/Solemnity:51%   
Empathy:39%/Calculation:61%   

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: 32 (Bad)
Undiscovered relationships: 1

Kingdom
Adoration: 52%/Vilification: 48%

Inventory
Gold: 534 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.
Inquisitors and Church guards pursued you out of the capital.
You escaped the Cathedral and headed home.

Chapter 5

You blasted all but one of the guards pursuing you, leaving the lone survivor to report that you are not to be trifled with.
You headed back to Akriton.

[Glass]

3 (Nevermind, see later posts)
I don't want to be an asshole.

1 is also valid. I don't approve of 2, though.

[Superdorf]

1

3 veers awful close to an "ends-justify-the-means" mindset...

[Glass]

1

3 veers awful close to an "ends-justify-the-means" mindset...

Fair enough. I'll also amend my answer to 1, then.

[brewer bob]

Yeah, we really didn't intend this to happen, and given the choices we had, it felt like the only way to go. Though leaving one of the pursuers alive to "deliver a message" probably won't do us good.

So, 1.

[King Zultan]

1