chucks game

The Ars Magica campaign in on hold until further notice.

-DC
September 13, 2003

Sat Aug 16th

A priest who is forming a university in Paris, procured a number of (copies) books from the Mad priest. Jason was doing a fine job of handeling the snoop, until Sir Eduard intruded .
He was intercepted by Dave and Chris, leading the good priest into the library. Opinion:This of course was a serious mistake. After several months of discussion on how to get rid of 'Sir Pain in the Butt', it seems that CHM had given us a reasonable way to get rid of him (gee thanks). The Librarian is an grouchy SOB who would have reacted negatively to the intrusion, hence, Eduard would have departed the earth via the whimpy librarian. :cry: What a shame
After ridding ourselves of the priest, (and the almost Late Sir Eduard), our meditations were interupted by ghostly creatures popping through a gateway on our grounds. An investigation proved fruitless, until a shamen showed up and explained the situation. A spirit had decided to torment an area to the south (weeks), and was calling other spirits through the gateway. We made several attempts to stop the spirits, until we found a successful way of stopping the spirits. Hopefully this will yield frustration on the part of the main spirit, bringin it to us...

Dave,

Could we put that on the forum as a vote? You know...a survey. It could read something like this...

Do you think Dave is secretly venting repressed feelings?

___ YES.

___ NO.

___ I DON'T KNOW.

___ STUPID QUESTION THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THE ANSWER TO...

Seriously---

No. The church already has a dim view of us. Adding the these sins to our ledger will only increase their hatred...lets not tease the dog.

it would be interesting to see what the covanant will do when the preist reports the perversions taing place there! dave i onder if this is really adonis speaking or a secret desire of yours?

Re: More Blood

Please remember that most of the types of people we could have recruited to be grogs are off getting killed in the Holy Land.

Charles specifically made it a point to say that it will be harder for us to recruit new grogs for years to come.

-DC

Mark,

I take it from your response that you are not in favor of this idea.

That's too bad. As your Companion and Nate's Companion are the Grog Captains, Adonis would have expected them to "lead the way" with this new male-bonding program. Oh, and let's not forget Jason's priest and the Archer too.

Adonis thinks the Grog Captains should have a "companion-bond" with not just one man, but all the men reporting to them.

Lead by example!

Without getting into the "homecentric" jokes, I would recommend some other means. Please remember the church view on Homosexual relations...The Term "Faggot" is generally used to describe homosexual males. People find this offensive, and people like to think the term originated as "a bundle of sticks". The problem with that is the argument is circular. The original "bundle of sticks", were used at witch burnings. This was a way of insulting the witch. They would tie the to be burned witch to the post, and place a tied up homosexual at her feet. Of course both died in the coming bonfire. This of course led to the term "throw a faggot on the fire". This of course developed into Faggot, meaning bundle of sticks. If you start having our grogs "pair up", you'll only be throwing more fuel on the fire...so to speak.
You could pair them up though, and then put them through "hell"...ie PT, combat training, torture, whatever you wish. This would lead to warriors that have a strong bond for each other, and would fight tremendously hard for each other.
This does bring up another point though..Nate, what do you think about getting us some more blood?

Adonis has been doing some more reading about Classical Greece (to be interpreted as "I just watched the 3-hour special on Sparta on PBS").

Apparently, all young Spartan warrior men had a mandatory homosexual relationship with an older man as a mentor.

Everyone knows the Spartans were the best warriors in the world; a fine example to emulate. Adonis thinks our rag-tag grogs could use some good Spartan discipline, courage and loyalty.

Perhaps we should mandate that all our male grogs form a "special bond" with another male grog, to build this sense of "brotherhood"?

ill be there earlier if were doing sf

Adonis still thinks it's a good idea to tell Sir Eduard to take a hike or face the consequences.

What were the reasons again we held off on doing this?

I think it is time to act. Send him back to his family for Christmas and tell him to not come back.

Also, I was talking to Mark today. Can we all meet at 6pm (or sooner) to discuss the game before we formally begin at 7pm?

-DC

No, I figure the priest could handle that job.

I take it that your idea's involve sodomizing Eduard?

Yes, I have :idea: 's, but nothing I would publish publicly. :roll:

I guess I'll restate the quetion

Anyone have any idea's for this weekend.

Anyone have any idea's for this weekend?

No. I am waiting for someone to reply to my posts...

This is a test. It seems the Forums have gotten quiet lately. Is everyone away on summer vacation?

Swampy and Chris have joined the game. Chris has a Flaming Knight who wants to :oops: , well anyway... Swampy has a sawed off runt that nobody sees; Excepting of course that critter he keeps.

Game:

Jason was finally brought up to speed: His magus caught up on his book work and his Friar was finally ordained, so hopefully, that will pay dividends.
The ceremony was quiet, and one hopes the tenure of the newly made priest will be as well

Mary and a visiting Faerie mage went off and investigated the Faerie tree we found the last sesson.

A group of pirates, looking to remove the illusion from a stolen box of treasure, came to our Covenant to have the illusion removed. We succeeded in "removing the illusion" They departed happy, with an arm load of treaure (their 2/3 share). Our covenant is much happier, having just divided fifty pawns of Vis amongst us (25/25).
We queried the pirates, and they admitted where they got it, so we can wonder no more about the fate of the cargo ship that was pirated recently.

We made a trip to a "Fools Fate" covenant, and did some horse trading. Hopefully, the negotiations for the Imagonem book will prove fruitful...

The Flaming Knight, ran across another knight, and spent some time securing ties.

All in all, a very quiet session.

that may be dificult. When do we expect the Tribunal? If its in two years or less, we could do it. If its more than two years, they wouldn't be able to play the next time we get together. I think we are supposed to meet in two weeks. If we can't get them playing then, it will be a month before they can get in...

Haggett & Alexanian are both out of the game.

There has been talk of Swampy joining us. Chris Todd also was thinking about joining us before. He called me to discuss Council GMing, and he expressed interest in joining the game. I suggested he speak with Charles to get this going.

Perhaps we can time their arrival, to say that we "meet" them at the next Tribunal?

-DC

Anyone know who the Baron's Heir is?

We progressed smoothly until the Summer of 1191...

We got a rumor that there was a bunch of Faerie creatures inhabiting a farmers tree. Nate and I went down to investigate. We couldn't communicate with the Faeries (or find them), so Nate moved the tree to the woods, and replaced it with another tree (for shade). We have a possibility for a future adventure.
Upon our return, we found out that Dave's companion's Father, was ill. We investigated, and found him to be sick with a Magical disease (we cured it). After we tracked it down a bit, we discovered eight deaths, and three others that had come down with it. All the infections occurred in the same chapel in the fair. We questioned the three sick people and 'Dave's Dad', and through the use of magic, discovered who was doing it. Apparently, Dave's family has a rivalry going with this fella. He had hired a magus to infect everyone. We confronted this magus (non-hermetic), and she admitted the deeds, but not why. We of course killed her. (We have her rotting corpse) We then promptly captured her boss, and dragged him off to the Countess. She placed him under the gentle ministrations of the torturers... Dave, your Dad is the worse for wear, but still among the living. We didn't do anything for the rest of the living victims...

Nate was working a deal with another Covenant for books, and has added several spells to the list.
A ship carrying a cargo of Verditus Vis and such, was pirated in the Mediterranean. Where the booty wound up, nobody knows.

Alicia went on an adventure, killed a firebreathing worm, that netted some Vis. She is currently trying to trade me some Igneum, but if anyone needs it, please feel free to make her an offer..

We then progressed through the spring of 1192

Creting an item is a lab activity, not a ritual.

An invested device can hold an number of effects determined by its size and material. These powers need not all be installed by the same person.

There are no standard rules for enchanting armor. You need to work it out yourself.

You can also create armor with Creo Terram, but it seems cheaper and more practical to buy from an armorer.

Memory doesn't serve..but I think there is a spell in the "Net Grimore" that does something to that effect....

NEXT ARS MAGICA GAME: Sat the 14th

Creating an item is a Lab Activity, not a Ritual.

I really doubt two magi could work on the same item at the same time.

I think Mage A could instill vis in one season, give the item to Mage B, and Mage B could instill effects the next season.

Yes, I believe more than one mage can place effects into the same item. As long as there was not a blocking condition put on it when originally created.

Yes, I am sure there is a way to make armor better through Terram enchantment. But it's not published. You'll need to develop this yourself. This was one of Guillo's goals, but he's gone now.

i have a question? is createing an item considererd a ritual? can one magi instill vis while another instills effects? can more than one magi place more then one effect on an item? is there a way to make armor through terram magic that resists metal like deflecting steel and iron?

the giving one season a year is not to the libray but to the covanant and it is not in the charter that is a character decision that we made it was never forced apon us.

I don't know about consequences of not being a senior mage, but there are benifits to being one. LIke not having to contribute a season a year to the library. Gathering the vis and keeping some.

charles thank you for the clarifications. might i ask what are the consiquences of never becomeing a senior mage? are arch magi considerd senior mages in our covanant?

Ok. So if someone is teaching a foreigner French, and his score is 5 (teacher) then the student learns french at 2 (1=1, 2=2). Therefore another season would be needed to raise the score to 3....

Thanks guys.

The covenant charter is a huge document that I will probably never bother to create. The charter does call for the senior mage with the highest lab total to create the first longevity potion for each junior mage. If these senior positions are filled by player magi, it is quite possible to lie and claim a lower lab total to avoid the responsibility.

Art books should be valued on this scale:
<6 Yawn!
6-9 typical
10-15 good
16-19 excellent
20+ Wow!

Most covenants have no Wow! books. Outsiders may be aware that Corraish has a few books of this quality, but exactly what is a secret. Excellent or better books are almost never traded.

A character gains three experience points per season, up to the level of the source. There is a special procedure for study of magic theory using vis. Magical arts are a separate matter; experience points are not used.

A book needs a single copyist. The seasons copying need not be consecutive.

i belive that is the way it works that is the process i was told to use. arts are different then skills.

please explain that again....
From what your saying, no matter the teaching instrument, you get a two (2).

if you learn it from a chr. you only get points so studying for a seaseon with a 0 in the skill gets you a 2 in it.

General Question:

If a Character doesn't have a particular skill-
AND
1) Learns it from a book- is it treated like anything else?
Skill 5 book. Would that give a 3 skill?

2) Learns it from a person- Is it treated the same as learning it froma book?

Sounds good, but (in game), how do our characters figure that out?

Spoke with Charles.
Correction:
The mage with the highest InCo lab total is obliged to provide the Longevity Potions for the youngsters.

-DC

charles never gave me a copy he just answers questions about it.

we have a copy :

i would like the charter checked on that are you sure it dose not say that the senior mages will provide the first longevity potion? i know the senior mages have to provide 6 vis a year for us to distribute.

thanks DC. I was unaware of the details.

Adonis expects to read all 27 chapters of the Corporem book sooner than any of the rest of you. When we find an Intelligo book of better than 6, he'll read that too. (Longevity potions are based on Intelligo Corporem).

I suspect that puts me in the lead for "official longevity potion maker" for future covenant members.

But please keep in mind that is years and years and years away. If not in campaign time, then in game time.

Also keep in mind there is no obligation for the best person to make the potion. We are incredibly fortunate that Paulette, with her very high Arts, is willing to brew our potions. Who is to say she won't delegate the duty to Alicia, or me, for some future mage, and that guy will get a potion that only lasts for 10-20 years?

The Charter sez junior mages get their first potion brewed for them. It doesn't guarantee the potency.

-DC

The librarian this wasn't so much a secret, as it wasn't being disclosed. I didn't want to hear from everyone how it wouldn't work. (Thank you)

Copying: Mike entered:" As for copying the books, if this is seen as useful you could simply do it as your covenant lab work for your season per year
So yes, it was suggested. Oh, and yes, I do remember that everyone else has contributed. The point of contention was as stated above. I asked for help copying, and was told to do myself (as my season of work). Hence the discourse that followed. Done.
Potion: you can get one of those without much of a problem. Just ask for, and yea shall....
Bully: Actually, thats what I think you should do . You play Bad cop, I'll play good cop. Together we will get it through his head.

as for bozo as soon as i get done catching up i will go with you. i am not opposed to most adventure but i am forced due to character concerns get a few 15 to 20 lv arts quickly.

on a side note i think the dead librarian thing was good but why was it secret?

ok .... noone has suggested that you copy books. there was a missunderstanding in the typing or reading of the response. please drop that issue there is nothing to argue about.

i will go with you on that mission you want to acomplise, however i have to resolve some things with charles. my character might not be alive to go on the mission! i will mention i am not going to help you convert him to our cause. he is a means to an end. i will bully him before i kowtow to him. i will go for the vis you mentioned might be found.

the game is a very personnal progression where you are attempting to make a unique and powerful character. people already show a greater deal of togetherness by not certamaining over each pawn of vis or books they want to read. the idea hat we each donate a season a year to the library is a major help in the growth of our covanent. noone should be expected to much more then we are trying to accomplish now.

i think it needs to be sadi that everything cannot be done at one time. we dont need to accomplish everything at once. we have 100 yrs each.

the coment i made about the longevity potion is more for charles. my chr. joined with the intention of reciving a potion. dose that give me legal grounds to sue the senior wizards of the covanant if they die before i get one? hmm interesting i think someone should train an apprentice to be a great longevity potion maker and thats all he or she will do!

i think your point was not well made you list your accomplishments yet you dont seem to remember that all memebers of the covanant have been contributeing one season a year at the same time. i dont understand your point? you had a good idea and i helped out the whole covanant including you. what do you need? what are you looking for? do you want everyone to give up personnal study to work soley on your projects?

You missed the point altogether.
I just saved everyone those mentioned season.
...Which allows us to
a: finish the other stuff sooner
b: actually have the two mega art books
c: move on to other gainful activities

I mentioned that it would be a good idea copy the books.
You stick me with idea that "I" should should do the copying, while everyone else goes about their *own business. I don't think its funny at all.
(ps: you really want ME to do the copying??? Now thats laughable...how would you read it?)
* This leads to the other problem that Jason mentioned (again). When it was suggested we take Bozo (Sir Eduard) on a little adventure, everyone was "Yeah, thats a good idea, but not me. I'm staying here to study". This very important issue is being tabled. Nobody wants to deal with it (just like copying) today, maybe tomorrow.

Different topic, same respose. huh?

Jason: As for making potions, I was under the impression that it was each magus' responsibility to make their own. Our Cov. addresses the problem differently (currently). If it should become an issue though, I can, and would make them, but not until my scores go up a bit...which should be after doomsday, with all the other stuff I need to do.

Work together? Jason, that's what I've been proposing. The problem is that every time a job needs doing, its " I have more important things to do". In other words "Me,Me,Me".
Thats been the whole point of the last few entries I've made. Everyone seems to want everyone else do the work for them. Oh, they are willing to help, but only for the required season, then its back to "My stuff"...to heck with the problem, I did my job. This is why the books were missing and the library is incomplete for twenty years. Nobody took responsibility, pulled up their pants, rolled up their sleeves and got the job done. No initiative.
Which lead to this whole discourse. Oh, you did all that for us...okay go do more. I've got better things to do.
NP. I can do that.

i agree the vasalization makes my chr want to find somewhere else to live. I think that as long as people put there one season of time into the covanant a year then we should be able to do what we want with the rest. i think the higher books should be restored and eventually copied. but we need to complete the library examination. we need to know what we have.

i have another issue. what will happen when paulette dies? who makes my longevity potion? i am not sure where this covanant is going but, we are going there together. we determine the future of the covanant. we need to work together.

on the subject of appretiation i dont appretiate that mark decided to secretly discover the mega magic books. i do appretiate the wok he did for the covanant. i also agree with mike if you did spend 8 seasons working for the covanant then you are free to reaserch for as long as 5 years without contributing to the covanant. i also agree that your contributions are no greater or lesser then anyone elses. when you contribute a season you fuffill your duty no matter what you do for the covanant.

i through nessecity need to raise some of my art scores to up arround 20. i will continue to contribute my season a year to the covanant.

Mark: When did I say anything about you and any outstanding credit or obligations you might have? I said that people could use copying as covenant service. If you have 8 seasons invested across three years, then you do have the next five years free from obligation. If at the end of that 5 years you wish to spend your time making more items, copying books, or scanning for your service, then go ahead. As for the books that your item uncovered through conversation with the ghost it summoned being counted as additional library service....that is laughable. I could as well claim that half the books identified by using the monocle since its creation should be credited to my obligation, since I made that item. You have spent 8 seasons out of 12 laboring in the covenant service and that is about to pay its due for you: 5 uninterrupted years of research, free of obligation, as well as first crack at the discovered books.

In short, chill out

Jason's wanting to wait until he has a few scores in the 20s is impractical at best; those are very high scores. OTOH, if he wants to spend his covenant obligation scanning, or making items, rather than copying books, that is his prerogative.

I guess Charles wasn't clear enough about trading high-level books. It generally is not done. Ever. Having a 27 Corpus book is not going to get us a 25 level perdo, or Vim, book. If you want to pursue this, I would suggest going to next tribunal and looking for a like-minded magus. You might be able to trade with a magus who has a private collection. Most covenants view their books as proprietary knowledge and magi from other covenants as competitors.

As for winter, this covenant has several attributes of winter. The recent vassalization of our covenant has probably put the death-knell on our future---if nothing changes.