[OOC] [Mage: the Awakening 2E] The Supernal Suburbia

[Beans]

Here's my Mythweavers sheet, which has all of those! I also went back and linked it in my original sheet post.

Possibly odd suggestion, but since it can be hard to keep track of things throughout the thread in terms of inter-PC linkage, what if we made a communal Google Doc to put stuff like that so we'd have a central reference point?

[Haberdasher]

Changed my rotes section by removing my Fate 1 and Time 1 rotes. I also changed my aspirations by taking out the "find meeting place" one and changing it to "graduate from UChicago," which, assuming that this Chronicle is starting in Ragnar's first semester of grad school, will take over 18 months to fulfill, which strikes me as sufficiently "long-term."

For my nimbus tilt, I'm thinking that, since Ragnar's Immediate Nimbus gives the illusion that things are aging rapidly, that it should affect him similarly. Something like losing the 10-Again quality on Athletics and Brawl, but gaining the 8-Again on Academics and Investigation. Or perhaps a -1 penalty to Strength and Dexterity rolls, but a +2 to Wits rolls.

[rwknoll]

Here's my Mythweavers sheet, which has all of those! I also went back and linked it in my original sheet post.

Possibly odd suggestion, but since it can be hard to keep track of things throughout the thread in terms of inter-PC linkage, what if we made a communal Google Doc to put stuff like that so we'd have a central reference point?

I'll be able to tell you when I'm back at work next week, but I'm not sure I can load Mythweavers through my work internet firewall. Can you copy/paste that info to the rest of the character sheet as normal text so I can view it? Sorry for the hassle.

As for the Google Doc, sure, feel free to put something together if you would like! I will however also need to keep a lot of plot- and character-related info in normal text, as I can't load Google Docs at work.

Haberdasher - Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but with Gnosis 1, you can't have all of those effects. You can only have +1 OR -1 to one attribute or skill, OR add the 8-again quality to one skill, OR take away the 10-again quality to one skill. You will be able to add other effects (and completely change your nimbus tilt) as you gain Gnosis.

Also, the effects of your tilt will be on other subjects, not yourself, when your nimbus flares.

[Haberdasher]

Alright, then I'll just go with the -1 to Strength, to simulate the effect of muscle atrophy from aging. I'll keep the other affects in mind for later on, assuming we get far enough in the Chronicle for Ragnar's Gnosis to increase.

[Kvitebjørn Kong Valemon]

Lynx:
Vice (confirmation/final decision), long-term nimbus. For the nimbus tilt, because you have Gnosis 1, you can only have 1 bonus or penalty dice right now. Also need aspirations, and please mark on your sheet which skills are rote skills (makes it easier for me to double check math later without memorizing all of these for each Order).

For some reason, I thought the Nimbus Tilt always required +1/-1. I'll fix that right away. Still not sure on Aspirations, but I'll figure those out soon enough.

[Haberdasher]

I removed the dots allotted to Library because after thinking, I decided it didn't quite make sense to single out Science when Ragnar has access to the entire UChicago library, which probably encompasses every Mental skill under the sun. So I allocated a dot to Status (UChicago) to reflect his status as a T.A., and two dots to Striking Looks.

I also changed my rote skill to Expression for all of my rotes. Regarding rotes, those only use a single rote skill for determining dice pool, correct? So Gnosis+Highest Arcanum+Rote Skill, not Gnosis+Highest Arcanum+Skill+Rote Skill, right?

I added my Nimbus Tilt, removed the Equipment section because I didn't think anything in it was precisely necessary, and changed the rote skill for all four of my rotes to Expression.

[Caladriu]

Yeah, you just add the single rote skill. I'm also a little curious how a rote/imago for Locate Object or Hung Spell incorporates Expression!

[Kvitebjørn Kong Valemon]

Rote mudra for Locate Object might just be a dramatic gesture, in which, as part of the spell, you end up pointing in the direction of said object. Or swirling your hand in a divining fashion as though you're about to pinpoint a location on a map.

For Hung Spell, it could be a dramatic countdown. Or a swish like with a conductor's baton, to signify the crescendo.

I dunno, something like that.


I added Aspirations! "Get to know the rest of the group"; "Join an order"; and "Get to know a werewolf." I think my character is finished 100% then? At least 99%.

[Caladriu]

rwknoll Added virtue/vice/sympathetic name.

I agree on the artifact coming from a Highstorm, I was thinking when I read your setting description that would be a natural fit. I also like the implication that there actually might be a curse and Moonstone just doesn't know about it.

Hakim's former cabal is the Knights of Alhambra, all Adamantine Arrows, focused on fighting supernatural threats and very busy since the Deathstorm now that the new Hierarch is on the warpath. Surviving members include:
Ghost Dog, Mastigos and member of the onikaze ("Brotherhood of the Demon Wind") who sees himself as a modern samurai and taught Moonstone how to wield a sword. Holds himself to a high personal standard of ethics, and isn't thrilled about Cielo claiming the Hierarchy. The Arrow should point the way as servants, not warlords. [The Demon Wind are a Space/Time legacy with a ronin aesthetic, briefly described in Mage 2E and fully detailed in the Adamantine Arrow book. Basically they're really good swordsmen. It would be cool to reconnect with Ghost Dog and explore the possibility of joining that Legacy!]
Rose of Sharon, Obrimos member of the Choir of Hashmallim and expert summoner who taught Moonstone about ritual preparation and sacraments. Not particularly devout in Sleeper religion despite her ritual trappings [and maybe interesting for Ragnar to compare notes with], but a fierce believer in the Adamant Way and the ideals of the Pentacle, and a strong supporter of Cielo's new direction for the Arrow and Consilium. [The Choir are a Prime/Forces legacy with strong Christian roots, their gimmick is destroying Abyssal creatures and briefly summoning a combatant angel from the Aether to fight with them. They're described in Summoners.]
Askia, Thyrsus who has rejected joining a Legacy due to a principled opposition to altering his soul. His Life magic and physical training regimen helped keep Moonstone youthful and fit. He's a self-defense instructor in his mundane life, and focused on training Sleepers and other mages (including new Arrow recruits, like say, Phoenix) to fight and defend themselves more effectively.

Hakim left the Knights a few years ago over a very practical ethical disagreement in which the others felt he was not holding himself to their high standards of Wisdom. Moonstone chose personal loyalty to Hakim over the principles of the cabal, and that was that.

[Haberdasher]

Yeah, you just add the single rote skill. I'm also a little curious how a rote/imago for Locate Object or Hung Spell incorporates Expression!

Rotes involve mudras, right? My thinking was that, since Ragnar has a specialty in guitar, he could incorporate that into his rotes. Perhaps a member of the Silver Ladder has figured out that Imagos have melodies associated with them. So if Ragnar memorizes a particular melody, he can can mime the act of playing the melody to invoke the Imago.

Yes, that means that Ragnar casts Rotes by doing exactly what you think he does.

rwknoll I know I haven't been adding much about story hooks for Ragnar, would you like me to?

[crapcarp]

Phoenix Character Sheet

Shadow Name: Phoenix	Player: Epicarp	Concept: Hero in Darkness	Path: Obrimos
Alternate Name: Garrick Royce	Chronicle: Supernal Suburbia	Virtue: Compassionate	Order: <Adamantine Arrow>
Sympathetic Name: Timothy Kemp	Cabal: [insert cabal]	Vice: Rigid	Legacy: <Tamer of Fire>

ATTRIBUTES

Mental		Physical		Social
Intelligence	●●○○○	Strength	●●●○○	Presence	●●●○○
Wits	●●●○○	Dexterity	●●●○○	Manipulation	●○○○○
Resolve	●●●○○	Stamina	●●○○○	Composure	●●○○○

SKILLS

Mental		Physical		Social
Academics	○○○○○	Athletics<*>	●●○○○	Animal Ken	○○○○○
Computer	○○○○○	Brawl (Striking)	●●●●○	Empathy	●●○○○
Crafts	●○○○○	Drive	○○○○○	Expression	●●○○○
Investigation	○○○○○	Firearms	●○○○○	Intimidation<*>	●●○○○
Medicine<*>	●●○○○	Larceny	●○○○○	Persuasion	○○○○○
Occult (Mythology)	●<●>○○○	Stealth	○○○○○	Socialize	○○○○○
Politics	○○○○○	Survival	○○○○○	Streetwise (Hunters)	●○○○○
Science	○○○○○	Weaponry	●●●○○	Subterfuge	○○○○○

ARCANA		ADVANTAGES
Death	○○○○○	Health: 7
Fate	○○○○○	Willpower: 5
Forces	●●○○○	Defense: 5 (Brawl 7, Weaponry 6)
Life	○○○○○	Initiative: 5
Matter	○○○○○	Speed: 11
Mind	●●○○○	Size: 5
Prime	●●○○○	Gnosis: 1
Spirit	○○○○○	Max Mana/Per Turn: 10/1
Space	○○○○○	Ritual Time: 3 hours
Time	○○○○○	Obsessions: 1

Merits

• Alternate Identity (Garrick Royce) ●○○
• Status (YongIn Martial Arts) ●○○○○
• Defensive Combat (Brawl) ●
• Defensive Combat (Weaponry) ●
• Safe Place ●●○○○
• Martial Arts ●●●○○
• Danger Sense ●●
• <High Speech ●>
• <Order Status (Arrow) ●○○○○>

Praxes

• Supernal Vision (Prime ●)

Attainments

• Precise Force (Forces ●●)
• Mind's Eye (Mind ●●)
• Universal Counterspell (Prime ●●)

Rotes

• Kinetic Blow (Forces ●●, Brawl)
• <Mental Scan (Mind ●, Occult)>
• <Mental Shield (Mind ●●, Intimidation)>
• <Dispel Magic (Prime ●, Intimidation)>

Nimbus

Long-Term - Events play out like a written tale. A college graduate gets the opportunity they needed, a devious businessman gets the comeuppance they deserve, an innocent child is afflicted with tragedy that changes the course of their life forever, the unconnected situations of strangers weave into one another to bring them together.

Immediate - The skin of the Fallen World cracks as the pure, raw stuff of creation itself pours out. Cracks form wherever the spell was focused. If he cast an Unveiling spell on himself, his eyes would glow and cracks would form around them. If he cast a Fraying spell on someone, cracks would appear on the wound.

Signature - The cracks shrink into words of High Speech. The High Speech describes the spell’s effect in a classic mythological sense. For the Unveiling spell, the words might read "And illusions were swept aside". For the Fraying spell, it might read "Tongues of flame had lashed against flesh".

Tilt - The elemental force is too much to handle, resulting in a -1 penalty on Composure rolls.

Aspirations

• Aid Moonstone in defeating Alux
• Join an Order
• Fail to keep the other Hunter cell away

Obsessions

• Find out about Hakim’s death

Equipment

• Machete (Damage 2, Initiative -2, Strength 2, Size 2, Availability 2)
• First-Aid Kit (Bonus +1, Durability 1, Size 2, Structure 3, Availability 2)
• Staff of Truth (Damage 1, Initiative -1, Strength 2, Size 4, Two-handed, +1 Defense against unarmed or Size 1 weapons, Imbued: Pierce Deception

Tools

• Palm Tattoos (Dedicated): Unleashing & enhancing potential
• Staff of Truth (Path): Revelation, dispelling illusions

Details

General
Age/Birthday: 20/February 20
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 5"
Build: Athletic
Occupation: Martial Arts Teacher
Ethnicity: Mixed
Nationality: American
Hair Color: Grey
Eye Color: Brown
Sexuality: Bisexual

Background

Sleepwalking - Timothy was born to an Awakened mother and a Sleepwalking father, who happened to be a former Thaumaturge, in Boston, Massachusetts. Due to this heritage, Timothy was born with a sensitivity for magic and knew of its existence ever since he could remember.

His father resented magic. Years of practicing the art weighed heavily upon him. More often than not, magic was abused for selfish and depraved ends, causing terrible suffering. Even when using magic for nothing more than to other’s benefit, it still had a price. Save a life, and someone else would die. Prevent a disaster, and it would merely be delayed. Sooner or later, magic would cause pain and suffering. So he decided to abandon magic, believing it to be a force of evil.

Before then, he married Timothy’s mother. Being Awakened, his mother couldn’t simply abandon magic like her husband had. Even if she could, she wouldn’t leave the world of magic for him. Inevitably, this created a rift that separated the two parents, eventually resulting in divorce when Timothy was seven years of age. They believed that he should have a chance at a normal life, which his Awakened mother just couldn’t provide, so his father took custody.

Raised by his father alone, Timothy knew full well of his father’s resentment of magic and was taught to resent it himself, but he never really understood why. He was born with the ability to feel magic, so why did he have to reject it? Wasn’t it a part of him, and thus rejecting it meant rejecting himself? Not that it bothered him much. After his mother left, he didn’t feel much magic at all through the years. By the time he was at the tail end of high school, he suddenly felt the presence of magic. At first he didn’t even knew what he was feeling, but as he felt it more and more, the memories of his mother’s magic came back to him.

The magic came from various people who looked to be members of a cult. Curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to investigate them, which lead him to a basement that set off his magical sense beyond anything he’d ever felt before. He broke in to find jars of organs, journals detailing human sacrifice to gain immortality, and a drawn circle that reeked of blood and gave off ominous magic. That’s when he saw a shadow appear behind him, along with that same magic, but far stronger.

“Naughty boy, knowing too much,” the lich tsked, then they thrust a knife straight to his heart. They came from a distance long enough for him to respond, so he managed to grab the lich’s arm to keep the knife at bay. However, the lich’s momentum forced him to the ground to fight for his life. After a few minutes struggle, the lich finally gained the upperhand, the knife just above his heart and slowly lowering.

Just before the knife began to pierce flesh, a gunshot shattered the struggle. The lich slowly looked down to find a hole in their chest, then more holes spawned with blood spatters as more bullets came. The lich fell on top of him, dead. He immediately pushed them off, to then find the barrel of a gun shoved between his eyes.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” the gunman barked. Timothy was far too terrified to even speak, he could only manage incoherent stammering. “Just another victim,” the gunman sighed.

It turned out that the gunman was one of a small Hunter cell who had been chasing the lich all the way from La Grange, and Timothy had helped them find the lich. After he told them that he could sense magic, they saw him as an incredible asset to their cell. Besides, he now knew of the world behind the veil, he couldn’t go back to his former life. So, they offered him a place to stay there among their ranks. He accepted, believing it would be best to be missed than risk getting his friends and family involved.

At least he understood why his father hated magic so much, it truly was evil. How else could a person commit such terrible acts for selfish gain?

He was a Hunter for two years, taking on the name Garrick Royce as a code name. He utilized his magic sensitivity to take out those who practiced the forbidden arts. Most of them were gutter mages, and of the few that were Awakened, were usually troublesome rogue mages, Banishers, Scelesti, and the like. Oftentimes, he was used as an unwitting pawn by the Orders to take them out. However...

Awakening - It all started with a dream. He saw a tall, thin, pitch-black shape jut from the distance. It birthed a light brighter than a thousand suns, frightening his eyes away to hide in his eyelids. He woke up to find the morning sun shining in his eyes. Later that day, he was in a populated cafe when he began to hear voices in his head. Worse, he could sense magic...coming from him. He was reading the thoughts of the ones around him. The message of his dream was clear: Magic had come for him.

Every day since brought with it another incident. He read invisible words in between the inked ones in his book, he felt the ebb and flow of various energies against him as he walked down the street, his heart broke in the same manner as some stranger who had lost a loved one. Each night came with the same dream. The landscape always varied from windy plains, to thundering storms, to a calm sunset, but the event was always the same. The tower shone its light, blinding him. The only difference was that it got closer and closer every time.

He refused the tower’s call. Pushing the daily events to the back of his mind, and shouting defiance at the tower even as it blinded him. He would not have magic claim him, he would fight it to his last breath. And he would fight alone, he couldn’t bring the others into this. He fought for as long as he could, but the magic pursued still.

It all came to a head when the cell began hunting a sorcerer suspected of being a colleague of the lich killed two years prior. The dream collided with the waking world. The tower, now right in front of him, stood over reality along with a dragon who guarded the entrance. He cried rebellion against tower and dragon, to which they responded with burning him alive. Dead for a time in Fallen reality, his comrades mourned his loss, which was cut short by the ending of their own lives.

He revived in the middle of the tower itself. His stalwart opposition to magic proved his resolve to the Watchtower, and that broke his heart. All this time he had cried defiance and rejection, resisting the temptation of power offered to him, not only was it for naught, but that it was the very key to his failure. The irony weighed down upon his knees as he beat against the wall, sinking into weeping against it. That’s when a long-forgotten part of his soul welled up from his dissolved anger and contumacy.

It rose with the truth in hand: Magic is a pure force. It did not corrupt those who wielded it for evil ends, they corrupted themselves. Magic could just as easily inspire, enrich, and protect lives. Magic is nothing more than raw potential, how one used it was up to them and them alone.

As the revelation dawned on him, the Watchtower burned his palms. Instinctively removing his hands from the wall, he saw the word “potential” written in High Speech on them, as well as on the wall itself when he looked up. Now, he understood. Now, he accepted.

Now. he Awakened.

Awakened - Upon returning to the Fallen World, he found all his comrades dead. With no other lead than the sorcerer, he doggedly chased them on the night of the Deathstorm. He couldn’t find them, however, and the trail went cold since then. The next day, the Consilium contacted him, telling him the basics of his new condition. They recommended him to come up with a Shadow Name for protection and a new identity for his new life.

“Phoenix,” he answered before they could finish explaining, “I died in fire, yet was reborn as something different. Phoenix.”

When asked if he had any questions for them, he asked if they knew about a mage that killed his comrades. They didn’t know, so Phoenix immediately left, he had nothing more to learn or say. Since then, he’s been drowning his grief in training, teaching, and alcohol. However, that will only get him so far...

Personality
Phoenix is very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type of person. He never wore a mask and probably will never fully understand why some people do that. He was also never one to take anyone's bullshit, no matter how much authority they had. If he feels like punching you in the face for making some snark, well, expect to have a fist in your face then. He's not stupid, though. Experience has taught him that punching authority figures results in lots of trouble. That doesn't mean he'll take things lying down, he'll just counter in a way that gives him less trouble.

A lover of mythology, quite a bit of his free time is spent in the local library with his nose in a book. His Awakened perspective has not only enhanced his appreciation for the classics, but it's also given him some unique insight into the world. The tale is what's real, not the tired laws of science. He is the Hero of his own story, as is everyone else to theirs. While this perspective does give him a rare degree of compassion, seeing everyone as necessary to fill out their own roles in the world, it does tend to make his thinking rigid. He might make assumptions about how one's story is supposed to go, or certain possibilities about what could happen won't enter his mind.

Daily Life
Phoenix works as a martial arts teacher at the local dojo (many students who have watched a little too much anime have taken to calling him Royce-sensei). This was very practical as a former Hunter, as it helped pay the bills and he spent his down time training and keeping in shape, not to mention it was one of the things he was good at. The leader of his cell owned the house he lives in. With them gone, their next of kin decided to let him have the house, seeing as he was a good friend to the previous owner and had a job. Unfortunately, the bills are a bit too big for his income to handle all alone, so he’s looking for some roommates.

Experience Log

Beats: 0/5
Experiences (Unspent/Total): 1/2
Arcane Beats: 2/5
Arcane Experiences (Unspent/Total): 1/1

Dots Purchased - XP Cost

• 1 dot in Defensive Combat (Weaponry) Merit - 1 Experience

[rwknoll]

Ok, so I think part of how rotes work isn't as clear compared to wording in 1E, so I wanted to clarify this.

The skill that each Rote is encoded in may or may not be one of your Order's rote skills. I will allow you to pick a different skill than the ones listed as suggestions in the book, but it still needs to be at least loosely related to the symbolism of the spell. For Warding Gesture, for example, I don't think Expression makes sense. Most of the suggested skills have to do with hiding or protecting yourself. Speak with Beasts makes sense to me for Expression, so that one I'm ok with too. But Locate Object I'd also prefer something different.

If the skill happens to line up with the Order rote skill, you get +1 to the roll. Your standard skill specialties do not apply to the roll, because those refer to mundane skill checks, not spell casting.

Obviously, I want you to get significant benefit out of using a rote because the experience cost is meaningful. I'll be lenient with letting you pick skills that are a stretch if it lets you have a higher skill bonus. But remember that some other member of your Order is passing down a way of casting that another master created, probably decades or centuries ago, not just using skills that your character is good at or their own spell adding style. Does that make sense?

[Haberdasher]

Oh, my bad, I thought the skill had to be one of the Order's rote skills, which was why everything was Expression! Well that makes this much easier! I'll use Occult for both Warding Gesture and Locate Object, since that's a recommended skill for both rotes. I'll keep Hung Spell as Expression, since that's both a recommended rote skill and an Order rote skill. Sorry for all the difficulties, for some reason I was interpreting the stuff on rotes to be very specific. Would have been a lot easier if I just asked, my bad.

Yes, that does make sense. Sorry, when I was reading the core book I somehow interpreted the text about rote skills to mean that you have to use one of those skills. Maybe I missed the part where the book explained that isn't the case, but that was the impression I got. Very sorry, that should be the last bit of confusion over rotes that I have! Praxes were much easier for me to understand, for some reason.

[rwknoll]

Caladriu - Love the NPC descriptions for Hakim's old cabal! I'll think of ways to incorporate them into the story in some way. One or more may reach out to some of you and offer mentorship. I think some may be initially distant with Moonstone because they associate him with Hakim's seemingly hubristic philosophy. However, i imagine they would ultimately sympathize with Moonstone after his Awakening as a result of pity for him after Hakim's death. Phoenix may learn about Hakim from one of them, after pursuing the Arrow.

crapcarp - Thanks for putting the new character sheet post up. I updated my link on the OP. The info looks great!

Haberdasher - If there are any other NPCs you think would have meaningful relationships with Ragnar, pre- or post-Awakening, feel free to post ideas here. Otherwise, no worries, I think the info you've provided is great.

[rwknoll]

Oh, my bad, I thought the skill had to be one of the Order's rote skills, which was why everything was Expression! Well that makes this much easier! I'll use Occult for both Warding Gesture and Locate Object, since that's a recommended skill for both rotes. I'll keep Hung Spell as Expression, since that's both a recommended rote skill and an Order rote skill. Sorry for all the difficulties, for some reason I was interpreting the stuff on rotes to be very specific. Would have been a lot easier if I just asked, my bad.

Yes, that does make sense. Sorry, when I was reading the core book I somehow interpreted the text about rote skills to mean that you have to use one of those skills. Maybe I missed the part where the book explained that isn't the case, but that was the impression I got. Very sorry, that should be the last bit of confusion over rotes that I have! Praxes were much easier for me to understand, for some reason.

Hah, no worries. This has been one of my annoyances with the World of Darkness books in general: I never quite know where to find some critical info because it's not always clear. They may or may not tweak layout stuff with the final (non-advance) PDF version.

Once we get the game's IC thread up and running, this will be the ideal spot to post questions and clarifications about in-game events. Please always feel free to ask! I hope I've made it clear that my ST style is to encourage players' ideas and make the game fun (but fair) for everyone. If you prefer to ask a question privately, you can always PM me too.