rolled 1 = 1

>>18015714
TIME TO CONDUCT THE JOB INTERVIEWS. Hell yes.

>>18015793
Oh come on!

>>18015714

You parted with Jeanne and Anya, who had their own magical business to attend to, and now need to secure the materials for your summoning. The ritual kit Blackstone gave you contains the chalk you'll need to scribe the circles, and you wrote down the Names you need as well as some array sketches (Using a seven pointed star design Anya recommended) in your Ritual Book.

Now you just need the required tribute items as foci, something to draw the spirit into speaking with you when you call it. Your plan currently is; For Dike, a Spirit of Justice, a set of old-fashioned weights and scales, for Horme, a spirit which is somewhat related to Adventure, a compass, for Veritas, a Spirit of Knowledge, print-outs of Dr. Moreau's research papers will work, and for Nerio, a Spirit of Courage, a plush lion toy you happen to have.

>Which do you move to secure first?

rolled 11 = 11

>>18015926
We can get the print-outs and plush lion at our dorm. The other two should be what we secure first, as a result. We can probably get them at a mall or something. Let's fire a text off to Johnny, see how his friend's doing, and one to Roxy, to see if she wants to observe us summoning some spirits later. I get a feeling that she would find it really neat, if nothing else.

we should secure Veritas first

>>18015966
This.

rolled 33 = 33

well the last 3 should be at home lets grab them first

rolled 46 = 46

>>18015966
This.

>>18015966

Since you already have two of those things handy, sort of, you decided you'd best hit up the mall in the Shopping District, and see if you can't obtain the other two things. A compass shouldn't be hard, but you might have to do a little searching for the weights, unless you can come up with a better idea between here and the mall.

You shoot Johnny a text about Ted, and are pleasantly surprised to find that Ted is conscious and mobile, but doesn't remember anything about friday. Or parts of thursday for that matter. Then, feeling a slightly playful streak, you text Roxy with a simple 'WE WIZARD NOW SON'. You have a sudden sensation that that phrase is now old, and you will never make that joke again.

There is no immediate reply. You guess she is just stunned. You feel a sudden buzz in your ears, and a weird tingling in your chest. Then you notice something red below you. You tilt your vision down, and see a holographic crosshair drawn on the path you're walking on, with "Caution! Stand Back!" forming a triangle in holographic script. You hear a faint whistling sound.

rolled 96 = 96

>>18016184
GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY. COORDINATION + AGILITY LIKE A CHAMP. Because we're awesome at parkour.

>>18016184
DODGE DODGE DODGE

GET THE FUCK OUT, INCOMING GIRLFRIEND

BRACE FOR IMPACT!

>>18016184

You instinctively dive out of the way as a small message tube comes flying in an arc from somewhere else on campus, and smacks into the ground a good three feet past the marked target area with a resounding thud and a spray of dirt and grass.

You pick it up, finding it slightly warm, and find a small hand-written note inclosed inside. Of course. It's a Sunday, and Roxy said she had to work on something. Why wouldn't it be crazy?

>(See image)

rolled 92 = 92

>>18016227
Send her a text explaining that one thing led to another and you're a wizard now. Ask if she would like to watch you summon up some spirits for a pact. That you think she would find it really neat. Then pocket the tube so you can give it back later. Also, tell her she overshot the holographic target by three feet.

>>18016292

You pocket the note and stuff the container in your ritual kit satchel, then pick your phone back up and shoot her another, longer text. 'Long story, but now I am a Wizard. Would you like to see me summon some spirits later?'. You follow it up immediately with. 'P.S. You overshot the marker by a good three feet.'

The prompt response is; 'Yes. Will recalibrate.' You smile to yourself and head over to the monorail station, only wondering very slightly how she managed to place a target right on top of you in about a minute.

>>18016386
Cell phone GPS, I'm betting. Let's send Johnny another text too, see if he wants to watch the summoning. You know, if he's not still with his friend.

>>18016425

You may have a cookie, good sir, for getting it in one.

It is at this point that I remind all of you out of character that Roxane's second degree program was related to Radio Signals.

>>18016386

You sojourn to downtown, to the Shopping District, and the Liberty City Mall. The mall is absolutely huge, and contains almost everything you could need. Anything else you need, you can probably find by wandering the Shopping District itself.

You walk up to one of the handy-dandy directories, which has a touch-screen interface like the maps scattered around campus. There are a couple of outdoors, hiking or similar stores where you could easily pick up a compass, or go to one of the big retail chains. The scales are a bit harder, you don't see anything that jumps out at you, you might just have to go take a wander through the mall. Unless you can think of another idea.

>>18016569
Costume shop. Get a judge's robes.

rolled 50 = 50

>>18016569

and that hammer they use

>>18016614
A gavel.

Let's try not to lose too much time searching for our foci: it's a fuckhuge mall they'll have scales somewhere, even electronics will be OK, we're getting a plushy for the courage spirit ffs


On an unrelated note I'm picturing these as our sunglasses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHa_jqxnn4o

>>18016654
I'm not. He said they were blue-tinted, so I'm picturing Morpheus's sunglasses, but in blue.

>>18016654
This is basically how I'm picturing Dan, but with sunglasses.

>>18016589
>>18016635

Oh, right, you have a better idea. For most abstract Spirits like what you're calling up, the point of the material component is not to necessarily give it something, since they don't really need anything you can give, but to have a symbol that represents what they stand for. It shows you understand enough about who or what you're calling to be worth their time.

So, after buying a relatively cheap compass, you step on over to the costume shop, and ask if they have judges robes. The girl manning the counter raises an eyebrow at you. "Wizard." You say, by way of explanation. It seems to work, and she calls some guy over from the back room to get you some robes and a gavel. That's 2 of 4.

>Head back to get the other two, or do some shopping for something else?

>>18016666
I know, but then again, we're wearing them ALL THE TIME so it just fits in my mind

>>18016685
Well since we never got a description I assumed white guy. Blank more fitting than white.
But that seem to suit the guy.
Also our family is looking even more messed-up now

>>18016762

DAN IS WHAT EVER RACE YOU ENVISION HIM TO BE. ALL AT ONCE. IN A STATE OF QUANTUM INDETERMINACY.

>>18016758
Head back

>>18016685
>>18016758
These two images put together, but with the purple-gray sweater vest being a blue-gray one. That's how I picture Dan. I don't know why, but from the very beginning, I pictured an attractive, nerdy black man.

Anyway, I can't think of anything else to buy. Let's head back and see if Johnny wants to sit in on the summoning. It could turn out pretty cool. (And he may want to sign on for a pact too, which I would have no problem with.)

>>18016685
I pictured him looking a bit more like a young Christian Bale, but with some goddamn hair on his head.

>>18016798
If it's a particularly lanky looking young Christian Bale, yeah. I can see that real easily.

>>18016785
in a state of QUANTUM AWESOMENESS you'd say

>>18016827
>>18016798
>>18016795
>>18016762
>>18016758
>>18016685
>>18016666
>>18016654
>>18016853
I pictured him as blasian, but otherwise, the picture is pretty close to how I imagined him. Let's head back to the dorm now, though.

>>18016798
>>18016827

Yo.

>>18016880
That's more like it.

Here we go, 20 year old Christian Bale. This is more or less how I picture Dan - with the blue shades, of course.

>>18016795
>>18016787

You tuck the compass and gavel in the ritual kit, and sling the shopping bag with the robes over your other shoulder.

You bust on in to your dorm to find Dave and his girlfriend making out on the couch. The couch looks like its in distress. "Dave. Cheryl." You say, by way of greeting, not even breaking stride as you enter your room. You acquire the lion plush, suppressing only a couple of memories, and set your printer to run off the research papers.

You text Johnny to see if he wants to see you summon some spirits. After a string of profanity, you get another text back asking when you're planning on doing this. Apparently he's back at his parents' with the paint and tools he needs to paint The Hammer, and in a couple of hours, He, Peter, Ted and Ted's fiance are going for celebratory dinner.

>>18016988
Text back that you were planning on doing it sooner rather than later. Also drop some tantalizing hint, saying that you already have "the lion, the compass, and the hammer."

>>18016988
>Kill my wife!
LIEK A BAWS!
>Abandon my son
LIEK A BAWS!
>Make some Evas
LIEK A BAWS
>Fuck a clone
LIEK A BAWS
>End of Eva
LIEK A BAWS

>>18016985

>>18017030
Nice, mind doing this one now?
>>18016685

>>18016988
Tell him the paint isn't going anywhere, but that the lion, the gavel, and the compass are all ready to go.

Always pictured Dan as Cole from infamous

>>18017052

>>18017112
...yes.

>>18017109
>>18017010

You send him a cryptic text about lions, hammers and compasses. You get one back that says "Just because you're magic and shit, doesn't mean you get to send cryptic messages." You shoot back with "Yes it does." Johnny says that he'll see and to text him again before you start.

Then the door to your room opens, and there's Roxane. "Hey, what's all this about wizards and spirits?" She says. By way of conversation starter. Before you can say anything by way of reply, she continues. "Also do you still have the message container? We only have so many." You dig it out from the satchel, and toss it to her.

>>18017232
"Heeeeeeey, Danny."

>>18017232
"Well, where to begin...
A Professor Blackthorn offered to help me deal with the Red problem, and after about twenty minutes of warnings, offered to awaken my latent magic powers. I accepted.
I'm also thinking about dong some interviews with a few of the better spirits out there to see if I can't make a pact with one of them to better combat Red."

>>18017232
"I started studying ritual and pact magic and a professor awakened me as a mage." State it in a super matter-of-fact tone.

>>18017284
>>18017276

You calmly explain what happened earlier in the afternoon, and your plans for later, while you gather up your printouts and bind them together with some rubber bands.

Roxane walks over and stares at you intently, apparently trying to see if you're lying. Then bends over a bit to stare at you even closer, and says in a matter of fact voice, "I must do science to you." You're not entirely sure which emotion to experience right now. But hey, on the plus side, you can see down Roxy's shirt a little.

>>18017387
"If you want to keep staring at me like that, I'll just keep looking down your shirt. This is a pretty comfortable situation for me right now. Anyway, do you want to observe the summoning? I have four possible spirits in mind right now, and I have all of the material components put together now."

>>18017387
While she's kinda bending forward like that, use it as an opportunity to grab her face and kiss her. Because goddamn we have the most awesome girlfriend ever.

Then break away and say, "And so you shall! But later, Johnny wants to see the spirits too, and he's on a tight deadline as it is."

>>18017452
I agree with the kiss.

Kiss Her!

>>18017507
>>18017463
>>18017452
>>18017422
http://youtu.be/tXmLRHnoSAs

>>18017514
You can just do a normal link if it's to youtube. Certain 4chan addons even auto-embed em'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXmLRHnoSAs

>>18017452
>>18017463
>>18017507

You know only one move to distract science ladies. You lean forward a little and give Roxane a quick kiss. She's actually quite surprised, and it takes a couple seconds for her to react. She stands back up and says "What was I doing again?" after blinking a couple times.

"You were talking of Sciencing me. But it'll have to wait. I want Johnny to see this too, and he's got plans tonight. And I have all the components." You shake the ritual kit in her general direction. "Components?" She asks, curious. You explain the basic theory of summoning while you make sure you have everything. Thus secured in your items of arcane parlor tricks, you text Johnny that you're about to get magical (again) and start walking.

>>18017622
Dan - lover of science. Literally.

rolled 40 = 40

>>18017622
Let's see if our other (platonically) lovely assistants are still lurking around the ES building. Personally I wholly expect that, as soon as we finish making a pact, for us to get a text saying that they've found Red. That would make perfect sense considering where the dramatic tension currently is.

>>18017686
More likely Red will just randomly attack us on the street and teleport us to her secret lair where she's got some fuckhuge ritual set up, and only our recent pact will prevent us from being bent over the a barrel and lubed up like a pig in heat.

>>18017686

You don't see Jeanne or Anya in the lobby of Parapsychology, nor in the hallways, as you descend into the basements to find the summoning chambre (Which is actually how its spelled on the door). "Of course." Roxane comments. "Had to be in the basement."

You open the door, discovering its reinforced with a steel plate inside, and find a pretty decently sized room, with flat, smooth concrete walls and ceiling, with a glossy smooth black marble floor, perfect for drawing some circles on.

Almost to your surprise, you find Jeanne waiting inside the chamber, playing a game on her phone. She looks up when you and Roxy enter. "Anya had to go home, but I'm not missing this for the world. Never seen anyone do four spirit summonings at once." Well, crunch time. Anything you want to do besides draw circles while waiting for Johnny?

(Also, now is the time to decide if you're using Relationships or spending additional willpower for more dice on the Ritual checks)

>>18017828
>>18017686

Oh, it will be so much better, and so much worse.

>>18017847

Can we do both?

>>18017847
Refresh my memory; are Relationships spent in the same manner as Willpower?

>>18017847
Of course, we'll use both Roxy and the Evokers Club - as if we were to fuck up the ritual and let something dangerous lose, both would be in danger.

>>18018014
No, it's like invoking a trait (as I understand it)

>>18017962

Yes.

>>18018014

Nope. When you spend willpower, you add a die for each willpower you spend to the pool (This being Mind+Occult). When you invoke a relationship, you must justify it somehow, and then you add dice equal to the relationship into the pool. But if you fail the test, the relationship takes damage.

rolled 11 = 11

>>18017847
Let's use our Club relationship, the Roxy relationship, and the Johnny relationship because we don't want to look like an idiot in front of any of them. That sound about right?

>>18018063

Bit excessive. You're already rolling 7 dice, and can't roll more than 10 per check.

(Also, this will be four checks for four separate summonings, because making you do one check for four rituals would be dumb. And hard.)

>>18018045

how much willpower should we use? is 10 ok? should we invoke the relationships with the club,Roxy and our best bud?

rolled 82 = 82

>>18018085
What are our current relationship levels again?

>>18018099

Oh, sorry, forgot I hadn't posted the character sheet in this thread (because duplicate file).

Here.

rolled 32 = 32

>>18018122
So, using Roxy alone would push us to 10? Let's do that.

rolled 21 = 21

>>18018122
Could we do something like push the pool past 10 and then squish two of the dice into a hard die? I know that's how Called Shots worked in Reign. I'm not sure if that works in the version of ORE you're using.

>>18018136
I'd rather use the club and some willpower

>>18018161

Hard dice work a little different in WT, being always 10, but you can make a called shot maneuver by dropping a dice from the pool, then setting aside one of the dice remaining to whatever number you want. You guys aren't taking any penalties and don't have a real height requirement, so additional dice is just insurance at this point. I was just reminding all of this before I go making checks.

>>18018188
We don't know whether or not we need to spend willpower to close a circle. I would rather just use the relationships. We haven't been using those enough.

>>18018206
Then I say use Roxy. Roll ten dice. It's about time we start using relationships.

>>18018219
Yeah, the last time we did we got a girlfriend. Why in the world we aren't using it more is a bit boggling to me.

>>18018229
Because it isn't relevant all the time, but yeah. Now that it is, use it. This is a perfect time - because we don't want her to get hurt or look like a fool in front of her.

>>18018241
Pffft, I could contrive ways to make it relevant to any situation.

ESPECIALLY if it's Roxy. I've known quite a few guys who made everything they do about their girls.

>>18018282
Yeah, but I don't think Dan is one of those guys.

>>18018307
He could be if we wanted him to. He's only known Roxy a few days now, maybe this is the point where he can't stop thinking about her. The point where he realizes his life wouldn't be half as fulfilling if she weren't there.

It's not even something I'd have to metagame. I can come up with actual, legitimate ways to do this if that's what we want Dan to do.

To clarify, yes, you'll already be spending a point of willpower for each summoning circle. Hence why I advised last time that you probably did want to do all at once, because otherwise you'll be using a lot.

(Luckily, you're pretty much guaranteed to make half that back, since Self-Improvement is a Passion)

So, you are all agreed on invoking the Roxane relationship for the ritual rolls?

>>18018362
Yup.

>>18018362
I believe so, yes.

>>18017847

First, you unpack your ritual kit, laying out the plush lion, the robes and gavel, the compass, and the paper, and getting out one of your sticks of chalk. By the time you're done, Johnny shows up, wearing a fancy hat, his own red sunglasses, and carrying his "danger" cane. He observes your summoning materials, but says nothing, just raising an eyebrow at you.

"Ladies and gentleman, if you wouldn't mind spotting me," You say, as you get to work. Using the chalk, you carefully draw four summoning circles, roughly arranging them in a pattern matching the cardinal directions. At the center of the four, you draw a fifth, plain circle, which has an edge touching all of the others. According to your own notes and Jeanne, this should allow you to do all four summonings roughly simultaneously. Thus prepared, you carefully place the required materials in the exact center of the circles. You sit crosslegged in the central circle, and talk steady, meditative breaths, as you prepare to cast your spell.

(cont)

>>18018362
Lets invoke them all. No good reason not to, and it just might help.

>>18018480
Dice pool caps at ten. Any more than Roxy and we don't actually gain anything.

What system is this again?

>>18018581
ORE. It looks like it's using a slightly-modified Wild Talents.

>>18018479

(Taking the highest match for each check here.)
(2x8 on Dike, 1 Willpower spent)
(2x10 on Horme, 1 Willpower spent)
(2x9 on Veritas, 1 Willpower spent)
(4x8 on Nerio, 1 Willpower spent)

You speak each name in sequence, imparting a little of your will with each utterance. You repeat the names three times, then press your hands together, then to the rim of the central circle. Pillars of blue-white light erupt from the center of each circle, engulfing the items you have chosen to sacrifice. The light reaches blinding intensity for a second, before it dims, and reforms into four feminine shapes.

While each spirit looks human, in shape, they are clearly not, having a look like they are almost carved from a stony, glowing blue-white material, their expressions calm masks. Each wears a white dress or tunic in a Greek style, but while similar, each has some identifying feature. Dike stands holding a set of scales in her right hand, Horme is carrying an astrolabe and what looks like some mapping tools, Veritas calmly holds a large tablet, and Nerio holds a naked sword blade, you recognize with your historian-brain as a kind of roman cavalry sword.

With eerie synchonization, each says "Why have you summoned me, mortal?"

>>18018665
"I want to make a pact tonight, and you four are the spirits most closely resonating with who I am as a person. Four pacts, though, is rather excessive, and likely untenable for me. As such, I would hear an offer from each of you - what sort of enduring power you would grant me and what, in return, you would require of me. When all is said and done, I intend to accept one offer made. Now, that said and done, do any of your lovely ladies have any questions to ask me before I begin the interviews?"

>>18018665
Give them the spiel about self-betterment and whatnot.
Gogo Charm.

>>18018665
Grin and rub our palms together, then respond with

"Ladies, welcome to Mundus. I have summoned the four of you here today to conduct interviews. I desire to form a pact with one or more of you, but first we must work out the details of such a thing. To save time, I decided there was no reason not to call all four of you at once.
Let's begin:
There's a mortal girl who desires to murder me who has made a pact with The Red Sun. I'd rather not be murdered, and furthermore, I'd rather not anyone I care about come to harm as a result of associating with me either. To that end, I require power of a more magical nature to both defend and counter that of the Herald of the Red Sun.
So now, allow me to ask each of you in turn, what can you do to aid me in this endeavor, and what do you request in return?"

>>18018707
>>18018732
Make it Commanding. You're self confident, you're in your element, and you're making it clear that THEY need to compete to get YOU, not the other way around.

>>18018736
>>18018732
>>18018707
>>18018741

(2x10 on Command+Leadership)

You give your whole speech, remaining respectful while also making it clear you know what you're doing, and are not some pantywaist conjurer in over his head. Okay, that's about 2/3rds right, but you don't let the powerful Spirits in on that.

Nerio speaks first. "We can see this resonance in your soul you speak of, mortal." She plants her sword in the floor and leans on it, which strikes you as weird, since you're pretty sure it didn't mark the floor at all. "Very brave of you to summon one powerful spirit, let along four." She continues. "Your work is so elegant, it must have taken some knowledge to complete." Says Veritas, gesturing at your summoning array. "Likewise, you method is fair and just." Comments Dike. Horme smiles. "And such initiative, to do this so shortly after obtaining your powers."

Dike takes over speaking. "Alone, none of us possess the power to defeat your foe directly. But if given one of our gifts, you could stand your own against them." She pauses. "But you must be of strong mind and spirit, mortal. Do not take us lightly. Would you uphold justice and rightness, and never turn your back on strife?" She asks. "Would you jump at every opportunity, and never stop seeking adventure in life?" Asks Horme. "Will you always seek knowledge and truth, regardless of the danger? Will you pass what you know to others?" Questions Veritas. "Will you stand unflinching the the face of you enemies? Will you never back down from the challenges life throws at you?" Asks Nerio.

>>18018885
>MY BODY IS READY

>>18018885
It's like they're literally describing the way that we've been playing him.

You elegant gentlemen may debate the finer points of which Spirit might be best to side with. I will return shortly and give a description of the mechanical benefits such pacts allow.

>>18018935
I KNOW! Isn't it fantastic?

"Well, if that's all that you would have of me, then know that such is how I have lived my entire life! I chose you four because you represented that which I honor most in my life, with the assumption that developing a contract would go more smoothly. I hadn't dared to hope it would be quite to this extent though!"

Is there any reason we couldn't or shouldn't take all four? If we absolutely have to pick one though, I'd suggest Nerio.

>>18018885
Let's look at the down sides first. To never turn out back on strife seems to imply to me that we would necessarily have to become a vigilante. We wouldn't be able to avoid the bad parts of town because we don't want to fight people, that sort of thing.

To jump at every opportunity, always seeking adventure, sounds like we're probably going to be doing lots of reckless things, but I expect we were going to anyway. The biggest risk I foresee there is if doing something like cheating on Roxy would count as an 'adventure.' If it did, and if we would suffer consequences the first time we turned down a person willing to facilitate that, I don't think this one would be right for us.

Seeking knowledge regardless of danger sounds like we're our dad - going into mummy-filled Aztec ruins to see what we can find. We certainly have the means to survive most things, but I fear that it might require us to pursue knowledge we don't find interesting. If it just means we have to seek to unravel mysteries brought to us and pursue our curiosity, sure. If it means more than that, it could really ruin our life to take this pact.

Finally, the biggest issue with the last one is that it seems to preclude the option of retreat. If we can make tactical withdrawals, fall back to better positions, and use guerilla tactics (both literally and in a more metaphorical sense) so long as we never actually surrender, I would be okay with this. If, however, it means we can't use the sort of guerilla tactics we used in the night club, I can't condone this option.

So, what do you guys think? Which particular direction do you expect Omega to go in with each of these?

>>18019015

Other than giving me more work?

Well, pacts don't come for free, so if you're pulled in enough directions, there might come a time when you're royally 'effed.

>>18019049
Fantastic reasoning sir, and I'd like to propose we question each of the spirits in turn with these.

>>18019049
So it sounds like we want Courage tempered by Knowledge. We want Knowledge tempered by Adventure. We want Adventure tempered by Justice. And we want Justice tempered by Courage.

>>18019049
I'm guessing the more power get, the more stringent the requirements. So if we go for a minor pact with each, we should get a lot of utility with a manageable cost.

>>18019094
...yeah, that kinda sounds right. If we just included Prudence and had Justice tempered by Prudence and Prudence tempered by courage, it would be a perfect pentagram. It would be Dan.

>>18019094

To nip this one in the bud while I get my dinner. There is no tempering here. These are spirits that represent abstract human virtues. You are the one who is bound by there requirements, not the other way around. So if you say, take Justice and Courage, you'd have to obey the edicts of both (which I will get to describing shortly)

>>18019121
Okay. I guess it's time to wait and see. We've discussed the limits and extents of our potential pacts. Let's see what our choices are.

>>Is there any reason we couldn't or shouldn't take all four?
That sounds like an incredibly stupid thing to try, particularly since we've only been Wizards for a few hours.

Anyway, My vote is for Veritas, being Knowledge is power(hurr), and It can relate both to our quest for Cyrean Tech, and our Magic predicament.

Okeydoke, folks. Here is what each lovely spirit lady is offering.

First, the things that happen for ALL pacts, regardless of whom its with. You'll gain a new relationship with that Spirit, which you can roll in on any subject the Spirit might be helpful with, and is automatically added to any rolls you make that resonate with that Spirit's Virtue. Also, they will upgrade your Magic powers (IE, your magic related Miracles, not your ritual casting) from a willpower cost to a Willpower Bid, which means you only spend the point of willpower if you fail the check.

I'm going to split this here, to see if I can get all the specific spirit's pacts in one post.

>>18019182

This is a package deal, so you can kind of pick what you want from their list.

Dike can:
-Upgrade one of your Charm dice to hd
-Teach you a new magic school miracle, Abjuration (D U, Ranged, Mass) which will be good for defensive things.
-Give you a unique Attack miracle, which harms only those who have unjust hearts.
However, if you take this pact, if you ever witness an injust act and do not take steps to prevent it, you loose willpower. If you yourself willingly commit an unjust act, the pact is instantly broken (which also costs you 1 Base Will).

Horme is offering:
-To Upgrade one of your Sense dice to hd
-Teach you a new magic school miracle, Divination (U, Self)
-Give you a unique Useful miracle which can be used to sense opportunity for adventure. (Adventure Sense, tingling!)
Her cost is that if you willingly turn down an opportunity to explore or try new things, you loose willpower, and the pact is broken (again, which will cost you a point of base will) if you ever turn back from a venture you have committed to.

Vertias can;
-Upgrade one of your dice in Mind to hd
-Teach you any new or add to an already known Magic miracle.
-Grant you a unique Knowledge miracle, which will basically function like a Knowledge skill check, except it is ALL THE KNOWLEDGES.
But the price you pay for this pact is that if you turn down an opportunity to learn more, you loose willpower, and should you ever destroy a source of knowledge, that breaks the pact.

Finally, Nerio can;
-Switch one of you Command dice to hd
-Upgrade your existing Evocation magic miracle
-Grant you a unique charm miracle which you can use to calm down hostile foes.
Her price is that should you retreat from a challenge you have a chance of succeeding at, you loose willpower, and if you ever willingly turn your back on an ally in need, the pact is broken.

>>18019375
So do we get just one ability per pact, or do we get all of the abilities? I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'package deal.'

>>18019391

Pick one off yon list.

>>18019375
I'm liking Nerio's deal quite a lot. Specifically the Charm Miracle.

>>18019375

Getting all four pacts seems reckless, but I believe acquiring just two is reasonable. To that end, Nerio and Veritas seem good. My vote goes to them.

>>18019375
So, with Dike we get a paladin's code, with Horme we have to see things through to the end (do we have to spend willpower to keep from, say, cheating on Roxy?), Veritas I'm just not okay with since it seems like if we, say, accidentally kill Red, we'll Fall since she's likely a source of tons of knowledge, and Nerio sounds pretty okay, actually. Does falling back and regrouping count as a retreat?

Man, Vertias powers are pretty seet, but the cost is kinda steep...

*sweet*

>>18019375
I'm going to nix Vertias. Dike I like. Horme I like as long as it doesn't disincentivize fidelity, and Nerio I like as long as it involves tactical withdrawals. I really like the sound of Dike + Nerio. It would make us a proper Paladin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocwtriYIBF0

Summoning music for y'all.

>>18019467
Seconded, but with Nerio over Dike if we must choose only one.

>>18019421
I'd say we'd get a better deal out of focusing on one, and therefore having more freedom in the future, rather then trying to pile on stuff and limiting or choices.

That being said, I think Nerio sounds best, either the evocation, or the charm skill, though im kind of wondering how often that would actually be useful

>>18019375
Could abjuration be used to keep things in and not just out, like a magic circle but for physical things?

>>18019431

Some of those you don't need to worry about (like the cheating), they are primarily concerned with intent. You're not loosing willpower if you turn down, like, a flavor of ice cream you've never tried before. Now, if someone offers you fugu, that would be willpower, because that's an adventure.

Same with the Courage requirements. Since your intent is to defeat the challenge, which you can defeat, you're set. So long as you're actually tactically withdrawing, and not just saying that as you run away.

>>18019467

Im not entirely sure about Dike. We are all about self-improvement, and if we ever need to do something, a little... unjust to improve our-selves, well then Dike would be a hindrance. Choosing Dike limits us, is what Im saying.

>>18019375
>loose
You mean lose, right?
>Dike
Ugh. Let's not go with STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM.
>Horme
Eeeeh. Not too hot on this one. Some days you just gotta do stuff that's not ADVENTURE~
>Veritas
Sounds fairly sweet, but does the PACT BROKEN count accidental destruction?
>Nerio
gimme gimme gimme

>>18019375
I vote for Horme (Divanation) and Nerio (Charm Miracle)

>>18019548

Hopefully I snuck the "willingly" qualifier in all those requirements.

rolled 86 = 86

>>18019515
Then my vote is for Dike + Nerio. Their bans and requirements seem to have the most synergy, and my initial vote was going to be for Nerio. Since they work so well together, I'm voting for both. Anything else and we stand WAY too big of a risk of being pulled in two conflicting directions. Let's be a paladin.

I think the general consensus here is for Nerio at the very least, and possibly one more.

>>18019581

I am getting that feeling too, yes.

The question then is which Nerio, and if you can reach consensus on the +1 or not.

>>18019375
>and if you ever willingly turn your back on an ally in need, the pact is broken.
Does this include 'Go! I'll hold them off!'?

>>18019603
I'm also going to cast a vote for Dike + Nerio. As for which powers, I'm going to vote for NOT Dike's attack miracle (I would be all for it if it boosted rolls against unjust people, like a sort of Smite, rather than being a stand-alone).

Aside from that, I'm good with any of those powers.

>>18019570
I dont really agree with this Paladin thing, since we haven't really been acting like one thus far. it just seems like a convenient excuse to force us into a completely different direction character-wise without any actual explanation.

Anyway, Nerio Vote.

>>18019603
OH, so we only get one power from each one?

In that case I'm going to put my vote towards the Charm Miracle for Nerio, and Upgrading the Charm to HD for Dike.

I'm assuming that the HD stands for Hard Die and not Hit Die.

>>18019603

Im going to go with Veritas in addition to Nerio.

rolled 62 = 62

>>18019634
Yeah, it's a Hard Die. For what it's worth, I'm voting Dike + Nerio too. We have a Friends 2 loyalty and a Humanity 3 loyalty. This perfectly fits with who we are, and these two synergize really well to boot.

>>18019603
My vote's on the Evo Miracle and Veritas' Knowledge (ALL).
If you give us Dike I will be SO MAD.

rolled 18 = 18

>>18019689
You realize that destroying the tattoos on Red or accidentally killing a really smart person will probably count as destroying knowledge and make us Fall, right? Going with Vertias is dumb. It just requires too extreme of a deviation from how we normally act.

>>18019689

I'll see what I can do.

By actually picking from the list though, you are improving your chances.

(Besides, its not like I preferred Veritas and Nerio from the beginning, or anything. I AM IMPARTIAL. HOW DARE YOU ALL INSINUATE OTHERWISE)

>>18019715

>accidentally killing a really smart person

WILLFULLY. Willfully destroy knowledge.

>>18019715
>It just requires too extreme of a deviation from how we normally act.
>people trying to get Dike
I... what?

>>18019653

I thought our central driving force was self-improvement. Besides, this is a modern setting. You cant be a big damn hero all the time. Lets not inundate this character with school-boy heroics. There are times to be heroic and there are times to be moderate. Dike does not allow us to choose.

My vote goes to Veritas ( her ability to teach or improve any magic power) and Nerio ( improvement of the evocation power)

>>18019752
What are you talking about? Dan has always had as much a hardon for justice as any of the other concepts. He just hasn't had much of a chance to express it I think.

>>18019776

Actually, at multiple points in the past, you guys (some of you) have explictly said "Nah, we're no hero" and ducked from going out of your way to do "justice-y" thinks.

rolled 13 = 13

>>18019776
>>18019763
>>18019752
I voted for Dike + Nerio, but I'm not so adamant about it that I want to keep arguing. Honestly, all of them a pretty good, except Horme. Horme's is just a bit too extreme for me. So, you know, whatever. That said, I don't really feel the need to increase Evocation. If we go with Nerio, I vote for ANYTHING EXCEPT Evocation. We already have psibolt.

>>18019752
>>18019763
So what, when Dan sees someone getting mugged he's just going to keep on waking? Even if they're getting mugged by say, a 12 foot demon?

Fuck that, when Dan sees a situation where someone clearly needs help, and is able to do so, I can't conceivably see him walking away and leaving that person hanging.

It doesn't require us to go and seek out crime where ever it may be. Just if we know about it and can do something.

>>18019873
It's true, when we say that we aren't a hero, it's always in regard to actively pursuing vigilantism. We've specifically said that if we see anything down, we'll stop it, because we're good citizens, but we aren't trying to become a cop or anything. I just really don't want to argue anymore. It seems like there are a few people who are really vocally opposed to Dike, and I'm not nearly that opposed to Vertias (though I am opposed). I would rather bite the bullet than make some people really upset.

>>18019873

im not saying we wouldnt stop a mugging ( why would it matter if the mugger was a demon? why would a demon be mugging anyone?) I am saying, that in the course of self-improvement, we may have to abide by or even do "unjust" things. Dike is a limiting factor here.

>>18019873
>hostage situation
>police are handling it
>NO JOHN YOU ARE THE HEROES
>and then it was a massacre
Hm.
>>18019867
>Psibolt - A
>Evocation - A, D, U
Evo has more utility.

>>18019929
Unless the 'upgrade' is that it doesn't cost willpower to use anymore, it's still not worth it compared to Charm or an HD.

>>18019776
If we were REALLy so concerned with justice, i'd have thought we'd have at least, A) Gone to visit johnny in the hospital, b) Gone to the club to apologize for the damage during the firefight, c) tried to find out who the guys were, or D) at least called to police to make sure the guys got caught.
oh, and we also wouldnt have tried to break into theat lab way back when.

Since we did none of those things, and instead decide to flirt, and such, I cant see us as having a "hard on" for justice, or being a paladin. At most, were a dashing robin hood.

>>18019944

Kind of. All pacts will reduce down from having to spend willpower outright, to only loosing willpower if you fail the check.

Well, if I'm guessing who's who correctly, and nobody is samefagging, then it appears to be 2v2, and one person on Dike's side wants to relent. So let's just go with Veritas then.

>>18019957
Yeah, I do want to relent. I don't like the argument. I think there's more than one other Dike person, though, since at least one other person wasn't rolling and at least one was.

>>18019957
Or we could just go with Nerio and then nobody will be happy.
We can all be miserable together!

>>18019979

I do not like your plan.

>>18019990
Yeah, neither do I. I'll be disappointed if we go with Vertias + Nerio, but I won't be straight-up upset like some people will be with Dike.

>>18019976

I dont like the argument either, its slowing down the quest. But I do still vote for Veritas and Nerio.

rolled 65 = 65

I say go with Veritas.

Some words for Omega to go on then:

To Dike and Horme: "Ladies, I thank you for your time and presence here, and wish you well. Know that though I am not taking your offers, I have the utmost respect for the concepts that you embody. You are dismissed."
To Veritas and Nerio: "Your pacts on the other hand, I believe I will be taking you up on."

Okay, people seem less adamant about NOT Nerio+Veritas than NOT about Nerio+Dike. So, we are going with that. Unless you guys are all willing to step it down to just Nerio.

Now, with that in mind, you need to settle on which of the three options (for each) you are selecting, since we seem pretty torn on to evocate or not to evocate.

>>18020020
Oh man, you should've seen the Waifu Wars that was Dragon Quest. I believe we once spent three HOURS arguing about a girl. It got so bad that Writer-Dude opened up an IRC so he could properly count votes without rampant samefaggotry on both sides.

>>18020043
Charm Miracle + Teach Miracle
sound like the best options to me. I like the idea of being able to completely defuse a situation, and I also like the idea of being able to potentially learn ANY magic one at a time.

>>18020076

second

>>18020046
Oh christ, compared to that this isn't even an argument. It's a civil and polite disagreement between refined gentlemen.

There were just paragraphs of name calling in the waifu wars. Still one of my favorite quests of all time despite that though. After all, you can't really get upset about something if you're not emotionally invested in it.

rolled 53 = 53

>>18020076
I mostly agree. However, I think the new magic is a one-time thing, not the ability to learn new magic ourselves. So, for example, we could use it to get the Divination, Abjuration, or upgrade Evocation, but it does that and just that. So, keep that in mind while casting votes.

Would killing someone count as desttroying a source of knowledge?

rolled 12 = 12

>>18020043
I'm throwing my vote to 'only Veritas'.

>>18020111
Even with that restriction in mind, it's still worth it to take.

>>18020134

Damnit man, we're passed that.

>>18020043
The Knowledge Miracle is pretty bitchin'.
>Hey what's this thing
>*ping*
>Oh, neat! Let's loot it.
Dunno about the Charm one though. Would it work on groups? Mindless things? I presume we couldn't persuade a giant metal girder to NOT land on our face. My vote's on the Evocation Miracle.

>>18020130

Depends on the person. Offing Stephen Hawking would almost assuredly count, but, I dunno, Larry the Cable Guy, or even just Joe Schmoe american probably wouldn't. They probably aren't adding to the sum total of all human knowledge.

rolled 45 = 45

>>18020134
Yeah, we're pretty much done with voting on which spirit(s) to accept.

>>18020163

Charm would have the 'Spray' extra, which allows you to declare multiple targets without penalty. It'll also have Radius, so operates in a range around you. (I think Radius 1 is like, 10 meters).

It does nothing for the girder problem, though. Nor would it work on entities which have nothing to charm. Like robots. (Not that robots will show up in this quest later, no siree bob)

>>18020163

Thats what we have Roxy for though. She is our Knowledge Miracle.

>Grant you a unique charm miracle which you can use to calm down hostile foes
>foes

That answers that. And calming down a room full of potential enemies is in a completely differant realm then dodging a falling girder. We can parkour now, remember?

>>18019375
To throw another voice in, Veritas + Nerio, taking both miracle options.

>>18020236
When it comes to "hard" sciences, yes, but not so much for the Esoterica.

If you destroy a book that is in no way unique, e.g. it is not the only copy, would that break the pact?

Alrighty then. I want to move this along, because we have a little sandbox time, and mayhaps I want to introduce some more plot points.

So, weight seems to be coming in on the side of both Unique Miracles. (Which is a shame because since you guys decided to go the magic route I've been hoping you'd get into getting some more of that) We sufficiently cool with this to proceed?

>>18020296

Not destroying an entire source of knowledge, so no. Rarer books, or books owned by someone explicitly utilizing to gain knowledge they can't get any other way may count. I'm probably not going to rule this hard and fast. But if you haven't read the book, you might take a willpower dock since you're turning away from knowledge you could gain (by destroying it).

rolled 50 = 50

>>18020344
I would actually prefer to upgrade existing abilities whenever possible. I'm going to submit a vote for boosting Evocation with Courage, but getting the unique miracle with Knowledge.

>>18020365

Fuck it, we've wasted enoguh time, seconding this.

>>18020365
Thirded

>>18020365
>>18020382
>>18020031

(+2 WP for Self-Improvement)

"Honored Spirits," you say, addressing Dike and Horme, who are handily on one 'side' of the array. "I thank you for your time, but I have considered my options feel that my path lies outside of your pacts. Go knowing I feel utmost respect for the virtues you represent." Dike nods, and disappears into a cloud made of motes of light. Horme looks directly at you and says "We'll be watching." Before doing the same.

You turn to address Nerio and Veritas. "You, my most esteemed spirits, however, I feel I can agree with. I wish to enter the Pact with both of you." They now nod, in unison. Veritas takes her tablet, and extends it to you, but not outside the circle. "Take heart in the knowledge my gift brings, mortal." She says. You extend both hands and take the tablet, breaking the plane of the summoning circle. Veritas becomes motes of light, which fly through you, blinding you for a second. At first you feel no different, but notice a thin, blue-white strand of light, tied around your right wrist. You then turn to face Nerio. She pulls her sword from the ground, and holds it up. "Kneel." She says, simply. Knowing where this is going, you get down on one knee, and she presses the sword to your shoulder. "Hold my gifts close, always, mortal." Then she two disappears in a cloud of motes. There is a band of energy tied around your upper arm now.

rolled 10 = 10

>>18020561
Neat. Does Evocation still cost willpower to use?

>>18020628
Pretty sure that's a factor of being an awakened magus, rather than a full, or whatever

rolled 52 = 52

>>18020645
Yeah, unless the pact gave the evocation a new power source.

>>18020561

You look up at your audience. Jeanne looks amused, and a little impressed. Johnny is simply slack-jawed. Roxy has that 'does not compute' look on her face, like she's encountered a error in in her programming and is trying to correct it. "I hope nobody needed anything before I hung up." You say, to lighten the mood.

Jeanne chuckles a little, though Johnny and Roxane do regain composure. "You're either very brave, or very stupid, Magister." says Jeanne. "Never seen anyone make two pacts, let alone at once." "What can I say, I'm an interesting guy." And then you had to spend 10 minutes sweeping chalk off that marble floor.

>The rest of your afternoon is free, wat do? In general. Specific tasks are for chumps.

>>18020645
>>18020628
>>18020653

Now only costs willpower if you fail the check.

>>18020656

Evocation training with Jeanne.

rolled 27 = 27

>>18020668
I want to see if we can use Air Evocation to do super-boosted parkour. Matrix-tier acrobatics.

rolled 3 = 3

>>18020656
Science with Roxanne.
She will do Science to us.

Also she is confused right now so we should help fix that.

>>18020804
Yeah, we did promise her.

rolled 76 = 76

>>18020804
I change my vote from air-parkour to this. Let her do science at us and let her ask us questions about esoteric sciences (magic). While we're at it, let's roll a brand new Knowledge check about Eve Moreau and about Red Star.

Also, I want to hear exactly what Johnny, and Roxy have to say about what just happened.

>>18020836
I like the way you think.

>>18020836
Thirded.

>>18020836
>>18020827
>>18020804
>>18020883

(Knowledge Power tests will have to wait another time. I've actually got a bit of a cold, and I'm too worn out at this stage to properly infodump. If you can keep this thread thread alive for a while on, I can probably give the relevant information tomorrow night or Tuesday.)

You go off with Roxane since you agreed to let her science you, and end up back in the genetics lab. She takes another sample of your blood, and has the sequencer run it again, and also sets it to compare it with your first sample. Apparently she's real keen to see if becoming a magus did anything to you physically. While waiting, you spend some time talking shop, as she tries to understand some more of the stuff that was going on back in the summoning chamber.

After discovering that you are in fact, genetically the same, Roxane insists on running some more medical-type tests on you, and you're there for another hour while she looks at some data, and you make random interjections with facts like a winning player at a game of Jeopardy.

As you walk out your phone rings. You don't recognize the number, but the caller ID says 'A. Ashwood'. Do you pick up?

rolled 10 = 10

>>18020965
Ofcourse.

rolled 96 = 96

>>18020965
Hell yes.

rolled 67 = 67

>>18020965

Couldn't hurt.

If we sense anything weird on the line, we should hang the fuck up.

>>18020965

Hells yeah

>>18020965
Let's do this thing.

>>18020965
Answer it

>>18020965

"Hello?" "Ah, good, Fortesque." Says Alexander Ashwood on the other end of the phone, smarmy as ever. "I understand you've been getting around at some of the buildings on campus. Professor Richards is off on business for a while, had to leave to meet with Professor Wayland, you know?" You didn't know. And you also don't know how this is relevant to the conversation. Ashwood continues, "Anyway, I'm running down some leads for her at the Museum of History, in some of their archives and storage chambers and I I remembered that your Father used to teach at the University and worked with the museums, so I thought I could use someone of your... unique talents."

rolled 96 = 96

>>18021108
"You need a smart, charming lad to help you sort through archives? Well, I'm flattered, I didn't realize you fancied me."

rolled 82 = 82

>>18021133
Downvoting this, stupid and unreasonable antagonistic.

>>18021133
THINK it, don't say it. Instead say:
"Sure, I'm available at the moment. What culture in particular are you looking into?"

>>18021175

You say something sarcastic and abrasive to Ashwood. In your head. Offending British Nobility who has a family background in the intelligence community and superheros is not high on your list of things to do. "I can help, sure." Is what you actually say. "Is there anything specifically you need help with?" "No," He responds, "Not specifically. There are a number of objects I have been told to find and catalog in the collection and certain things to look out for. Anyway, if you are coming, then please be at the museum shortly before 6. You'll need to get in the doors before they close, even though we have permission to stay after." You're about to give an affirmative, when he ends the call. Huh, he's a bit of a dick. Oh well, worth it to go check out some museum back-rooms.

METAHUMAN RENAISSANCE 9 END

So to the best of our knowledge, how unprecedented is having two pacts?

Did Roxy find anything particularly interesting as a result of the tests she ran on us?

When we tell Blackthorn about the pacts, can we wait until he's taking a drink so that he can do a spit-take?

>>18021159
Sure, but it's certainly funny

rolled 3 = 3

>>18021280
I'm currently picturing us Air Evoking to run across the walls and ceilings, firing psibolts at an enraged mummy, our drone harassing it from behind as we scream Nahuatl words at each other - the mummy fluently, and us less so. It's a good image.

>>18021335

Its not unheard of. I mean, Dan spent two hours in the Esoteric-specific library looking up summoning and pacts specifically, and came across mentions of multi-pacts. It was outside Jeanne's direct experience, but she's already a powerful Magistra who doesn't need one and only 21 years old.

>>18021366

Forgot to say this earlier, but since Evocation has U and Variable Effect, you can use it to give you bonus dice to certain actions (Like a Agility test). Not necessarily advisable in combat, but under normal conditions, with time and all that, pretty handy.

>>18021770
When do you plan on running the game next?

>>18022024

Thursday. And it'll probably be like this thread was, start a bit earlier, but end a bit earlier.

>>18022046
Do you have a throwaway email I can contact?

>>18022057

In the email field, buddy.

>>18022081
Thanks. I'm going to make a nicer looking character sheet for you, I'll send it there when I'm finished.

Oh wow, thread's still up. Might as well post this here too then.

>>18024713
Snazzy.

>>18024713

What >>18024944 said.

rolled 14 = 14

>>18024713
I like the coffee mug stain.