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The history of mankind is expressed in an endless series of conflicts. Between families. Between clans. Between classes. Between nations. Between concepts. These struggles have had many different causes, but share one ultimate root - the need to survive. Whether it be a war over resources, a religious crusade or a grand revolution, all conflicts are ultimately about killing one thing so that another may live. Conflict is merely the means through which such contradictions are resolved. The only way they can be resolved. That would be fine, if not for the enormous harm such conflicts bring. Each time two sides clash, something is lost irretrievably. With the steady advancement of magic theory and its applications in warfare, this cost is growing ever more unbearable. Most scholars agree that the day when the whole of humanity collapses under these losses is rapidly approaching. The impending demise of mankind is widely predicted to be both complete and unavoidable. There is no other course. Mankind cannot survive the resolution of its' greatest contradictions. Yet, among the many mages who dedicated their lives to researching the hidden secrets of magic, there existed a small few who boldly denied such a finale. They poured their efforts not on developing military, industrial or practical applications, but rather on finding ways to save mankind. To transform human societies into something greater, that does not need conflict to survive. These were called Sages. Though their efforts revolutionized magic, technology and humanity itself time and time again, none were able to even approach this ultimate goal. To solve humanity's greatest dilemma. Almost all of them expired centuries ago, with few willing to take on the impossible task of carrying on their legacies. It has been over sixty years since the last and greatest member of this grand tradition exiled herself beyond the Threshold, the thin layer separating our world from the dimension from which all magic stems, with no chance of returning. The futility of their efforts was laid bare for all to see. It seemed that was the final end of the search. All that remained was to await the conflict that would bury us all. To watch in despair as the world we have built violently descends into all consuming chaos. There could be no hope. That's the way it seemed. Until today. The Last Sage has returned. And nothing will ever be the same again. *** This is going to be an experimental CYOA about forcing humanity down a new path. I plan to update this once or twice a week but make no promises. There are two ways to participate in this, either as a Leading Actor or a Nameless Contributor. To be a Nameless Contributor, you don't need to do anything special, just vote in collective decisions whenever they appear. If you want, you may also contribute your own suggestions. To be a Leading Actor, you need to submit a character in the format outlined below. In addition to votes and suggestions, you'll be able to take center stage in the events of the narrative, have several actions to take and may play a pivotal role when the time is right. - Name: Your character's name. - Gender: Your character's gender or pronouns, if you wish. This is mainly for writing convenience. - Role: Your character needs to be either a Scholar, Leader, Mage or Visionary. This will have major implications on the types of positions and actions available to your character later on. - Background: The life your character led before this point. The setting itself is fairly vague right now, so you can take this in pretty much any direction you want. Basically, there's magic, there's conflict, and there are numerous human societies in various stages of development. So long as your background is consistent with that, feel free to write whatever. Go as brief or in-depth as you like. Leading Actor character submissions will be open for quite a while, but I am going to post the first update after getting around 3-4 submissions. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 21:47 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 2, 2023 01:57
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Nov 2, 2023 01:57
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Also reserved.
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Nov 2, 2023 01:57
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Name: Antonius von Schnee Gender: He/Him Role: Scholar (or maybe Mage, depending on which one would work better with the background within the mechanics of this game) Background: An older, highly respected magus, and the tenured dean of topomantic studies at the Grand Imperial Institute of Thaumaturgy of the (relatively newly) constitutional monarchy of Varraxia. Chief author of the groundbreaking grimoires, 'Reflections upon standardized arcana' and 'Formal proof of the Fifth Fundamental of astral alignments', and generally considered a very influential figure on the field of magically resonant spacetime phenomena. Currently malding because the impregnability of the Threshold's brane-dynamics for the retrograde manifestation of mundane materia has been repeatedly proven from first principles of arcane study (and especially by his theories about it), and everybody's all up his rear end about this supposed impossibility having occurred.
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Nov 2, 2023 02:44
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Name: Avantus Benussman Gender: He/Him/The Man Role: Visionary Background: Avantus have no choice. He have to take the 3 billion dollar from his kickstarter and run. The "Greatest Game Ever Made" that he promised that can "Unite the World", "Bring Peace and Happiness", and "Reduce All Conflict into Casual Entertainment" was a little too ambitious for someone with only 201 IQ. It can't be helped, his brain simply conclude taking the money is easier than fulfilling his duty of making this amazing game that even a sage might die of old age trying to fulfill. Thankfully, he don't need to refund any of it. No way he will ever be push into a situation where he will be forced to manifest this hypothetical game into reality and save humanity from their doom or something.
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Nov 2, 2023 03:32
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Skavog Rolsc He/Him Visionary/Scholar Background: By trade an explorer, scavenger and guide among the ruins of the fallen. As necessity demanded so did he develop the many skills required in order to survive and thrive in the wilderness between the enclaves of humanity. Skavog is first and foremost a survivor, but has learned to live as 'A jack of all trades and master of none but often better than a master of one'. A near universal constant that Skavog internalized over decades in his grim business and noted among the records waning years of fallen civilizations is one simple truth: specializing gets you killed. An entity that focuses too much on one aspect of what keeps it alive is absolutely going to develop a blind spot, slip up and get got. Skavog has formed a major philosophical movement around being as well-rounded as possible, acting with wisdom and efficiency, and exercising logical distribution of resources in order to promote survival and advancement of general competence. He has promoted the application of his philosophy to everything from personal habits to economic theory to the complete overhaul of civilizations' entire sociopolitical structures. This seasoned veteran of overcoming virtually every hazard available to humanity by having a big toolbox is getting tired of playing nice with the stupids and everyday further contemplates dragging everyone kicking and screaming into enduring prosperity through wisdom and sheer grit. Has a fondness for aardvarks and echidnas. Enjoys long walks on the beach during cloudy autumn days with his parasol and sunglasses. Has at least a half dozen multitools on his person at all times. Vodka with lime, shaken with smoked salt and garnished with cocktail onions. The egg came first and the chicken was trying to escape the factory farm. .45 Anti Cow Projectile EDC.
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Nov 2, 2023 07:21
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Applicant: Leading Actor  Name: Walthiero Minnesanger Gender: He/They (interchangeable) Role: Wandering Mage-Poet Background: Changeling, faeborne, or moontouched, even scoundrel, scofflaw, or miscreant, it mattered not - regardless of what expression of distrust could be used, the young Walthiero had heard them all leveled against him since even his earliest recollections. Born under the trickster moon as a sickly boy-child to pious and overworked parents, Walthiero ran from home to join a troupe of traveling troubadours before his voice had even begun to drop. "Castrato," was the word for his fate under their limited care, an irreversible process for a life which he'd choose to change course on once again, by abandoning his old roaming troupe of actors for a relatively quiet life of learning his letters, numbers, classics and histories at a religious univerisity, and all in exchange for singing in the temple's choir events. The invisible shackles of the university's dogmatic religious doctrines slowly chafed at Walthiero's heartstrings, however, and the young poet slowly came to realize that they would always want to wander the land making music and sharing stories, and that they'd have to get used to being branded as an outsider and an upstart wherever they roamed. In order to follow their dreams and keep the bad luck at bay, Walthiero knew they had to keep wandering as they were: an unsexed minstrel singing to melodies of epics, politics, and grand romances. Lux Anima fucked around with this message at 08:41 on Nov 2, 2023 |
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Nov 2, 2023 08:17
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Paractas, That-Which-Redeems They/Them Leader Paractas is a firebrand, a masterful public speaker who has toured the cities of the Gerontocracy of Delrednia, a seeker after truth and a hunter of falsehoods. They can stir a crowd to action, and though they try to eschew it, many of their successes can be attributed to the potential threat of it. Ironic, given their philosophy that ‘There has to be a better way’. There are those who would follow Paractas into perdition itself, or into the dreaded exploding teeth of imperial battle mages. They are one willing to take the reins and act decisively, a dangerous combination with their support. Paractas is Delrednian born and bred, was educated in the Municipal Schools such as was provided, a keen, sharp and driven student. Their movement started during their time at the Institute for Higher Studies. Paractas does not speak of their parentage much, though they occasionally correspond.
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Nov 2, 2023 11:48
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Name: Their Divine Radiance Manifest Solian Ruuh, the Sceptre of Disorder Pronoun: Royal We Role: Leader Background: Solian Ruuh is the figurehead of the prominent 'khetic' cultural/religious movement and the recently installed theocratic despot of 'Lower Khet', formerly the People's Republic of Redobia, and a charismatic, if ruthless and dogmatic politician. What little remains of Redobian nobility have either renounced their worldly desires and converted to Khetism or fled into exile, leaving no active opposition to Their Divine Radiances rule. Though much of Lower Khet's industrial and military infrastructure is still recovering from the revolution, the lands are rich in resources both magical and mundane, leading neighbours to contemplate whether to band together to thwart the upstart tyrant at the risk of rousing his supporters that, as with many religious movements, defy borders, or if they should fortify, isolate and let things sort themselves out. With growing unease in the world, a few might even consider (or be persuaded to consider) the merits of Khetism and seek to join the cause. As for what 'Khetism' actually is, a layman's understanding would describe it as a philosophy concerned with spiritual enlightenment attained through breaking with with the old and living in the now, though it's deeper mysteries have an additional nihilistic bent to them. The term "Khet" is Old Redobian for "denial" or "void" though modern linguist insists the meaning has shifted to something closer to "heaven" or "peace" in recent decades.
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Nov 2, 2023 17:23
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About Crossing the Threshold "To cross the Threshold" is a colloquial expression which means "to pass on", or more plainly put "to die". The invisible porous membrane through which the various essences of magic seep into our world from some higher dimension is usually impassable to ordinary physical matter. Nevertheless, the use of various advanced techniques developed over the long ages of explorations in several magical disciplines enables the creation of a wide variety of "holes" and "passages" which allow the transfer of material objects to the "far side". All of these disparate "crossing methods" have a single commonality - they allow for travel in one direction only. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise that very little is known of what lies within that higher dimension on the far side of the Threshold, despite the many generations and lifetimes expended on its study. And whatever meager amount of reliable information which does exist regarding the conditions there absolutely guarantees that no living being could possibly survive there. Among powerful mages, crossing the Threshold is regarded as an exceptionally arrogant form of suicide. For these reasons, when Sage Aveline of Sevirn-Tor embarked on her self-declared "expedition to the far side" exactly 63 years ago without having trained any successors, the Sage tradition was deemed to finally be extinct. Aveline's crossing occurred suddenly, after several decades spent in seclusion. A thorough examination of the writings and materials left behind in her dwelling, conducted by the world's foremost experts in every relevant magical discipline, yielded nothing but an expansive list of highly novel results in magical theory, all without any potential whatsover for any practical use. This is what prompted the Formal Association of Mages to grant her the infamous title of Last Sage. It was intended both as a recognition of her immense contributions to the advancement of magic research and as a rebuke of the inglorious end of her career, which brought down her own obscure yet highly-respected tradition. *** The overturn of these universally recognized truths was merely the first of many revolutions enacted by the Last Sage upon her return. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 00:02 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 2, 2023 23:55
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A Cordial Invitation From the Far Side The future history of humanity would forever regard today, the day of the Last Sage's return, as the origin of everything that follows, a sudden blunt singular divide between the Old and the New. You are one of the few who know another truth. After all, however stupefying, dizzying and overwhelming today's events would soon prove to be for the rest of humanity, your own surprise at what is to follow is relatively muted. You are one of the few who know at least some measure of what is going to transpire. This is not because of any special powers of insight or prediction on your part - you were simply warned in advance. Exactly one month ago, you were one of very few people to receive a special letter. This letter was special in two ways: its contents and the manner of its delivery. Right in front of you, a masked female messenger clad in some sort of ceremonial robe appeared as if out of thin air, handed you a letter and a small vial, and promptly disappeared. You would later learn that what you witnessed was one of the first bi-directional crossings of the Threshold in the history of all existence. The letter's contents were as follows: Greetings. Receipt of this letter indicates Our regard for you as one of the exceptional figures of the waning human world. You are cordially invited to join in a Conference of Exceptional Significance, which shall take place on the day of Our Return, one month past the delivery of this message. Please do not tarry in arriving, as your special experience and perspective are urgently required in the construction of the Next Stage of Mankind. As a reward for your cooperation and discretion in this matter, We have enclosed a sample of Our First Gift. Consuming it shall permanently preserve the fragile essence of your soul against the vagaries of human mortality. Secretary One (the First), writing on behalf of Sage Aveline of the Far Side The vial you received with the letter contained a shimmering aquamarine liquid and was adorned with the inscription DRINK TO CONQUER DEATH. What did you do with it? This is an individual choice taken separately for each Lead Actor. You can either drink or refrain. If you want, you may have someone else drink instead, though it is not recommended. Please provide at least a rudimentary description of the character that drinks it in your stead if you choose this. In addition to this choice, if your character is either a Mage or a Scholar who specializes in a magical discipline, you may attempt to analyze the vial and its contents. The result would be resolved randomly, with a very small chance of a catastrophic failure contaminating the sample and preventing you from drinking it. Any other outcome would still let you pick between the other choices normally. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 01:26 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 3, 2023 01:22
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Paractas, That-Which-Redeems How very curious. Here was one who had returned from Beyond the Threshold, who had devoted themselves to finding that better way, extending an invitation and an elixir to safeguard the soul from death. Doing so via an emissary appearing out of nowhere right in front of me. If the magical art of teleportation was so accurate, the world would be awash in the blood of would be leaders at the hands of ambitious, determined people with the learning of it and a sharp knife, such was the Worse Way the World was in. Huh. To the matter at hand, this vial. Just as easy and more straightforward to do that whole killing thing if harm was intended, so the presumption is this is not malicious, or if it is it's long term clever maliciousness. As for the note, such an intriguing way of putting it. There is apparently a soul, and the vagaries of human mortality can imperil it. Not technically promising immortality or invulnerability, might just guarantee an easier passage across the Threshold. But an outreach had been made. An expression of faith, essentially in me and my work. Why not answer that with a matching gesture of faith? Let's uncork the bottle. A drink, to Sage Aveline and the better way. That-Which-Redeems Consumes.
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Nov 3, 2023 02:15
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Avantus Benussman "Huh?" Avantus ponders upon this mysterious letter that refers him as 'exceptional' and someone of 'Exceptional Significance'. "Am I?" A frown slowly form on his forehead as doubt begin to sets in as he contemplate what sort of quality he possess to qualify for such an immense honor. Is it his talent to scam his fellow human being for 3 billion dollars, or his 201 IQ that he claim to possess? More importantly, the construction of the Next Stage of Mankind need a video game developer? As he fold the letter back in half, Avantus' mind has already went through many calculation and eliminated the possibility that this might be a prank or a scam; cost of teleportation from the masked female messenger alone would cost a fortune. Too expensive to recoup the cost for any TV Station. Twirling the bottle shimmering aquamarine liquid in his hand, Avantus comes to a decision. "Very Well."  As a visionary who shall embark on a Nyaa fucked around with this message at 03:38 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 3, 2023 03:33
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Walthiero Minnesanger (He/They) Wandering Mage-Poet One month prior to the Last Sage's eminent return, the wandering minstrel Walthiero Minnesanger had been strolling down a winding, beaten path over the foothills of a majestic mountain range and strumming their lute in practicing a new folk-hero song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJBbX0jzM2c He was all alone for company outside of his own lute and limbs and voice and the play of the elements in the rapturous skies above. His strumming fingers were thoroughly thrumming with joy from the immaculate views of plains and forests rounding about the sparkling lake in the great valley basin below. Trails of smoke from the cooking fires of a distant settlement joined with the drifting clouds above and marked the musician's intended destination. The young bard kept his timing with their song, his step, their breaths and his heartbeat, and they estimated he'd reach the small lakeside village shortly before dusk. He was singing: "The answer, my friends, is blowing on the wind - the answer is blowing- in the wind...." Walthiero had suddenly stopped playing, sliding his fingers up the lute's neck in a note of strangled surprise: there was a religiously-robed woman standing in the trailway, one who he had not noticed in his various fields of vision before she was already in his way, blocking his path and seeking to make eye contact with her own two piercing eyes, peering at them through the holes of a ceremonial mask he couldn't recognize. From her sleeves the woman produced a sealed envelope and a glass phial wrapped in delicate paper tissue, and then somehow she managed to vanish before Walthiero could question this messenger who would bear such gifts. AFancyQuestionMark posted:A Cordial Invitation From the Far Side What a blur the last few weeks had been! -And just to think, that tomorrow was going to be the BIG DAY. Walthiero stood to collect coin on so many offhand bets he'd made at various bars and shows around town. The phial's seal was uncorked, its aquamarine contents were sniffed for a whiff of death, and, finding none, the glass was raised in a tiny toast to the glowing image of Mother Moon, so lovingly framed by the inn's windowsill. The young poet spoke his last words on the eve of the Last Sage's Return: "For great health, we drink in your silvery light. Good luck to all, and to all a good night!" Lux Anima fucked around with this message at 09:58 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 3, 2023 07:30
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Their Divine Radiance Manifest Solian Ruuh, the Sceptre of Disorder We received the missive apprehensively, as grudges abound post-revolution. A last play by the High Mages of Redobia? Unlikely, the most prominent conjuration specialists had been dealt with in the early stages of the conflict and the temple was warded besides. Whilst one or two mages may have slipped away, they would not have expanded what power was needed to bypass all of Lower Khets defensive efforts merely to deliver a letter and some voluntary poison. They knew as well as Us that a decapitation strike must be both thorough and final. So what would We make of it? A new faction playing to old themes, but promising a great Change. A gamble to be sure. To reject it outright would be costless, but such was not Our way. Khetism would have Us grasp the opportunity by the throat, to ride the Wave of Uncertainty to a better Now. As for the promise of immortality, such was a fools desires and anathema to the teachings. Thus Solian Ruuh accepted the missive but rejected the potion, spreading word amid the faithful that through Their Dedication, Great Change was already spreading throughout the world. A message of hope that also served to grease the wheels of conflict. They could not have devised a better plan themselves.
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Nov 3, 2023 10:35
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Antonius von Schnee Antonius had always liked the campus park. He always took a walk there, in the afternoons, and indeed liked to think himself as something of a fixture; Old von Schnee on his afternoon stroll. He was aware that nobody really cared that much, but he liked to think it regardless. Right now though, the park dominated his thoughts in a rather less pleasant fashion. The old mage knelt down and picked up the topomantic metronome he'd surreptitiously left next the base of a bench the day prior. It was, indeed, off-phase with the one he'd left in his office, to a predicted degree if this was indeed a Threshold breach. That, of course, did not prove anything conclusively. Which was more likely? That some random lady was casually breaking all known laws of arcana, or that they simply turned invisible whilst activating... say, a precisely calibrated brane-thumper to give the illusion of a Threshold breach, to seem "mystical"? Antonius shook his head, and caught himself doing air quotes whilst musing alone in silence. He checked over his shoulders, and thankfully nobody seemed to be around to witness it, at least. He sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and continued his walk, though in a mood noticeably more grumpy than before. He did have to give it to the lady, whatever trick she had used was quite difficult to pin down. He was confident he would find an inconsistency soon enough, though. Funny. Thinking about it just made him more agitated. To spare the shreds of what remained of his former decent mood, Antonius turned his pondering on the symposium of alchemists. They'd promised him a report on his "immortality" potion by this evening... "Professor..?" Shaken from his reverie by some second or third year student whose name he'd long since forgotten, his eyes darted from the young man to his own hand doing the air quotes again. gently caress. OOC: Antonius is not the sort to just drink some random-rear end potion given by a stranger. He is also not an alchemist. However, due to his position, he uses the Power Of The Establishment to attempt to analyze the vial. Theantero fucked around with this message at 19:39 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 3, 2023 19:34
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Theantero posted:Antonius von Schnee Report of the Alchemical Symposium The symposium's report is truly extraordinary. Rigorous alchemical analysis performed with modern techniques tends to yield very straightforward and concise results even for the most complex of samples. Not so with this. The document stretches over a hundred pages. The list of authors, reviewers and assisting scholars grows with each new section. Every second line is accompanied by several annotations, footnotes, comments and corrections. There is no Abstract. The content under the Component Analysis heading could easily pass for a post-modern treatise on metaphysics. The Reproduction Efforts section details dozens of attempts, ranging from the standard techniques to the latest experimental approaches to some truly novel methods. All sharing the same final line - "Could not reproduce composition or principal properties of sample". The less said of the Conclusions section the better. The only usable information in the report can be found within the section titled Observed Anomalous Properties. Even then, it's only a single item buried among the litany of theoretically inexplicable yet perfectly benign properties on the list. However, the existence of this individual item alone more than justifies all of the work and headache that went into producing this report. "A common property observed in all the aforementioned experiments and described theoretically through Qualitative Metem-Analysis is the sample's arresting effect on first-order magical-material interactions. The sample has repeatedly demonstrated the capability to isolate any self-consistent magical essence from all material interference (!) as well as to virtually eliminate magical decay and diffusion. This result seemingly violates Rioxin's Anti-Stability Theorem, the Second and Third Principles of Mana-Dynamics, as well as a variety of other established theoretical conclusions. Therefore, we suspect it to be a persistent, reproducible observation error. In the counterfactual case where this effect is indeed a consistent property exhibited by the underlying substance, we have no doubt that this would indeed be the fulfilment of the ancient mythical quest after a Potion of Immortality. If synthesis of this material could be reliably achieved, we and our fellow alchemists all over the world would have to seriously consider researching methods to turn lead into gold. Speaking more seriously, the validity of this result would undoubtedly collapse all the theoretical foundations of modern Alchemy and so may be safely disregarded as a possible conclusion." The result of your analysis attempt was Mixed, though leaning more towards Success than towards Failure. Your character may use these conclusions to explain the vial's "immortality" effects should they prove to be real. You are now left with the original choice to either drink, refrain or let someone else drink it (though again, the last choice is not recommended). AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 21:49 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 3, 2023 21:33
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Antonius von Schnee It was all spiraling out of control. In the few weeks since the arrival of the strange messenger, the whole debacle concerning her and that little vial had essentially consumed the whole institute. Antonius rubbed his temples and stared out the window, only half-picking up on the loud conversation that was dominating the conference room. "-amentally rejects the possibility of the perpetual exertion of thaum-" He could see the Astral Orrery outside in the park, hastily constructed to measure the subspace echoes of the apparent brane anomaly, in the middle of rings upon rings of spell-circles drawn by the topomancers trying to make heads and tails of the geometries. Gone were the back-of-the-napkin metronome calculations. "-othesis regarding the possibility of a meta-memetic locus? Now I personally find that unli- If it was a prank or a sleight of hand, it sure was a good one. He stared at the unimposing vial on the table in front of him despondently. "-ot forget the problems posed by the theoretical existence of a persistent essential pressure gradient within realspa-" This was irritating. He might not have been an alchemist, but it was obvious they were at an impasse. The sound of a stopper being popped, despite its softness, cuts through the loud conversation like glass. With a single gulp, Antonius empties the entire vial. The room is dead silent. "This is the one thing we haven't done yet", he speaks, tone clearly annoyed, "Now we'll know." OOC: gently caress it. We drink. Theantero fucked around with this message at 22:26 on Nov 3, 2023 |
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Nov 3, 2023 22:23
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Nyaa posted:Avantus Benussman Your backers, who have faithfully stuck by you so far through your extended fund raising debacle, would never be deterred by an obstacle as insignificant as another vast (and obviously unnecessary) sum of funds or the goal bearing no relation whatsoever to the original project pitch. The stretch goal is met within a day of your announcement. Of course, now that the goal is achieved and the money is in hand, you are faced with a choice. Should you fulfill your backers' expectations by drinking the mysterious potion, or refrain? AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 11:23 on Nov 5, 2023 |
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Nov 5, 2023 11:13
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Quote is not edit.
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Nov 5, 2023 11:14
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Avantus Benussman  What the hell? How did this stretch goal get funded within the day he posted it? The multiplayer update took 3 days!  Avantus sighed as he hurriedly place down a random glass. He thought he have time to prepare for the show, but the enthusiasm of his fan and audience is so stressful. Perhaps the next stretch goal should be +2 billion so he would have 2 days to prepare for what he plans to do next.  5 Minutes into the start of the live stream, and there's already 50 millions people joining and chanting "Drink! Drink! Drink!". Did he miss something about Sage Aveline or there's a drinking meme that concise to my goal? Or is there a secret donor who invested 1 billion dollars just to watch this happen? Either way, he have to keep his promise as always.  The supposedly mystical aquamarine liquid sure looks like water when pour on a plain looking glass huh? Would his audience feel scammed by such a plain looking thing? He would have purchase a fancy cup for this if he have more time, but people are jokingly threatening to sue if he don't start drinking now. Very well, he shall proceed with the plan.  "I shall drink this after the bathroom break, everyone!" Avantus announce triumphantly to his audience as he depart from his seat, but instead of going to the bathroom, he released the fence of his cat pen.  Introducing Teffy, a cat that was among the Dev photo of the team, which legally qualify him for drinking the content of the potion if it happen to do so. Ahhh, he was such a fine cat that have been with him for the past 5 years ever since he saw this stray helping a beggar makes money on the street. Its original owner gladly sold it for $50, not realizing the full money making potential of this business cat. Potentially life-saving too!  Unbeknownst to his audience is that this glass cup have been inlaid with catnip that will lure Teffy to start licking it, then get so high up that it end up consuming the whole drink live while Avantus is busy in the bathroom. Once the deed is done, Avantus can safely and sorrowfully claim that the cat count as a dev legally-speaking and he won't mind drinking another one if the kind Sage Aveline would sponsor him another one with another +3b stretch goal. However, if the cat dies on stream, then he would claim it was an accident and the juice wasn't fit for animal consumption. If the death wasn't apparent, then he will stealthy bury and replace the cat to pretend nothings happened.
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Nov 5, 2023 14:10
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A Sample's Consequences An eerie silence. A blank canvas. A dry chill. You feel as though you are having a vision, or a waking dream, but you see nothing. You are nowhere in particular. Though perhaps there is someplace you should be. Somewhere familiar, yet far away. You head there. Time doesn't pass. You eyes do not open, as you never closed them in the first place. You arrive at your destination. Your surroundings fade into view and your senses return to you. This place is you. Or rather, your body. The you which you inhabit. You don't know how long you were gone, but it seems to have been too long for it to bear. You weren't breathing, after all. So, it died. Of this, you have no doubt. Your body was definitely dead until just a moment ago. Yet it caused you no trouble at all. To bring it back to life. As easy as breathing. You can't understand how it happened, but you are no longer you. You are the you outside of you. The superior you. The one which has no end. Your gaze falls to the inscription on the empty vial in your hands. It came true. You have conquered death. After drinking the sample, you can no longer die. Moreover, it seems that any damage to your body may be reverted under your own power. The full extent of the changes is unknown to you at this time. You may try and experiment later. This message applies only to those of you who chose drink the sample (as well as a certain black cat). The rest may carry on as before. So long as your sample is still within your possession, you may drink it at any time. However, you've missed the opportunity to do it before the Day of Return. Update will follow shortly. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 19:15 on Nov 5, 2023 |
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Nov 5, 2023 19:13
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The Day of Return The day began like any other. Nature running along its course. Humanity proceeding with its mundane business, slowly fanning the flames which were to bring about its own destruction. Nothing out the ordinary. You are of the select few who spent these early hours in tense anticipation. You had some small inkling of today's significance. But you never expected anything like this. The sky turns dark. A strong wind blows from below. Then the pillars. They rise up suddenly. Enormous stone structures shooting up towards the sky. In no time at all, they are everywhere. The middle of plains, clearings, mountain tops, the oceans, city squares. No matter where you look, you can see at least a dozen of them over the horizon, standing taller than the sky. Then the lines. They stretch out from pillar to pillar across the dark sky. Each has its own color. Dazzling. Pulsing. A complex diagram drawn over the heavens. Then the chimes. They resound everywhere, filling the air with a cacophony of different tones. At first, there is no panic. Everyone just freezes. They look around, staring at the world with clouded eyes, dazed. As if they were in some shared fevered dream. "The end has come..." you hear someone whisper. You know it to be a lie. This is not the end. This is just the beginning. The Last Sage has returned. And you have work to do.
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Nov 5, 2023 20:18
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Walthiero Minnesanger (He/They) Wandering Mage-Poet Walthiero strode out into the streets with a calm, mob-quelling confidence, strumming the strings of his lute with hands that now belonged to The People. Their heightened voices rang out from within, expressing the inner selves with such honesty, truth, and clarity that even those being consumed by the panic of the miraculous day were brought to heel: "Fear not, good friends! The Great Sage of Yore has Returned, so let us all rejoice!" Walthiero cajoled, from having leapt atop a barrel in the market square. As the multifaceted minstrel pattered through his newest musical set without pause, he ambled down the streets of one of the largest cities on the continent, his audience curiously in tow. A throng of diverse faces followed this procession, their inner fears yielding to a rapturous attentiveness and the collective camaraderie of shared warmth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ2a-xHkDMA&t=1887s Everyone who was present for Walthiero's open air musical theatrics would later have fond memories attached to the question, "Where were YOU on the day the towers broke ground?"
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Nov 5, 2023 20:48
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Nov 5, 2023 21:32
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Lower Khet, Royal Palace. formerly Redobia House of Parliament  "Ready to go in five, your Excellency!" Solijan Ruuh waved the chief Telelusionist away with an idle wave of his perfectly manicured hand and stepped up to the enchanted lectern at the apex of the balcony overlooking "Seize the Day. So say the teachings. Well, the Day of Seizing is upon us! Fellow Believers, see now how I was right! How my predictions for this day come true before your eyes! Hear my words echo into the dazzling sky! The old ways are dead and gone, and with them the superiority of the arcanists, the technomancers and dread alchemists! Watch as their profound theories crumble into dust as once again they are proven false beyond all reproach! The barrier they so brazenly claimed to mark the Finality of Death has been conquered, and with this sundering Great Change shall not only be ours, but for the World to sample! I ask you, fellow faithful, rejoice! Take this as the Sign of Signs! Cast down the Oppressors of old! Embrace the chaos of the New World Disorder! For Yourselves, For Everyone! For Khet!" Pause for applause. 24 karat gold smile. A few public executions. Today was going to be a good day.
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Nov 5, 2023 21:36
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A Conference of Exceptional Significance You are standing in a hall. There are many like you here. Some faces you recognize, many you don't. All are like you. This hall is very spacious, and it seems as though it could easily host gatherings several times your number. At the front of the hall, there is a stage raised high above you. On it, stand two masked women in ceremonial robes flanking a lanky man with a neat goatee, wearing an ornate pair of reading glasses and an official looking suit. The others around you are silent, but you can feel their restless anticipation. After a short eternity, the man begins to speak, occasionally glancing at his papers. His polished voice reaches every corner of the hall. "Good day, everyone. Welcome to Our abode. I am One, Secretary to the great Sage Aveline. Thank you for giving Us your trust and attending this conference." You don't actually remember handing in any sort of reply to the invitation. Even had you wanted to do so, you had no method of contacting that mysterious messenger. Similarly, you have no recollection of entering this hall. In fact, the hall does not seem to have any obvious entryways of any kind. Thinking on it more, you realize that you have absolutely no idea where you are or how you reached this place. "Today's conference is incredibly important. It is the first of a series of discussions that will forge the future of humanity itself. You all have been granted a great privilege. And a grave responsibility. For you see, it is your views and insights which will form the basis for the work to complete the Next Stage of Mankind." You feel the weight of those words. You've read them before in the letter, but the events of today have thrown them into sharper relief. "With all that said, I will now proceed to the heart of the matter. All you have witnessed today is the first step on a path of transformation laid down by Our Sage Aveline. Her expedition to the Far Side has yielded a great multitude of new discoveries, which, along with her brilliant design, enabled the creation of a grand Plan. The Plan's purpose is to fulfil the ultimate aim of the Sage tradition - to avert mankind's demise." "The Plan, however, goes much further than that meager goal. It's ultimate end point entails the elimination of all violent conflict. Or rather, the creation of a mankind that has no need for it." "Our preparations are already complete. Today, you've seen some of Our labor bear fruits. Though their true significance may still elude you, they should suffice to demonstrate just how serious We are. There is nothing in this world that could stop Us from carrying the Plan out to completion." "The next phase of the Plan requires your cooperation. We have prepared a number of Gifts for mankind. Each designed to eliminate a specific root cause of the conflicts tearing humanity apart. However, in order for this transition to proceed in a smooth manner, We need to control their distribution to the world in a way which guides the rearrangement of human society along an optimal course. For this, We have need of a variety of internal perspectives. This is the role allotted to all of you." "Now, before We discuss the First Gift, I am going to pause and grant you the opportunity to ask questions. I am sure there are many aspects of this which are unclear to you, and it is my role to clear them up for you. Please, go ahead and ask." Before we continue with the rest of the update, you may ask questions or discuss the situation among yourselves. Over the next several hours, I will keep an eye on the thread and answer any questions whenever they pop up. After this, I will post the rest of the update and our first collective decision, so be prepared for that.
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Nov 5, 2023 21:36
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Avantus Benussman Avantus ask the most relevant question at hand. "Had anyone seen my cat?"
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Nov 5, 2023 21:51
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Paractas, That-Which-Redeems "How can we be certain that Mankind-Without-Conflict is still mankind?" enquired the firebrand.
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Nov 5, 2023 21:59
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Walthiero Minnesanger (He/They) Wandering Mage-PoetNyaa posted:Avantus ask the most relevant question at hand. "Had anyone seen my cat?" "Wait... there it is, by this bench. 'Scuse me, sirs and madam."
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Nov 5, 2023 22:05
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Antonius von Schnee Antonius' eyes darted between the people present. Vaguely important looking, some of them, though most of them he did no recognize. No matter. As someone of aristocratic lineage, he was perfectly used to all kinds of nonsense functions. "Right, since you're offering...", he dug around his suit for a note, "...I have several questions, but let's start with the most pressing ones." "First, what are the exact mechanics of the retrograde Threshold breach? As per the very First Fundamental of astral alignments, which states that the mundane is defined as objects capable of force interactions only within brane-structures, it should not be possible for any mundane materia to even hold itself together in the higher dimensions, let alone propel itself or force a Threshold breach. If for whatever reason this Fundamental, or the others, do not hold true, how come, say, thaumic siphons or advanced telelusion arrays or all other such inventions of the last half-century that depend on their correctness function anyhow?" He looked at his own hand. Taken how he felt somewhat alien in his own body after drinking the strange potion, he could hypothesize. "...Secondly, in a potentially related matter, what exactly are the effects and working mechanisms of the potion I was given? The symposium of alchemists could not make heads or tails of it."
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Nov 5, 2023 22:13
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Nyaa posted:Avantus Benussman "Of course, We see all that goes on in the world. That one has been under Our close observation since you've granted it immortality. Here it goes now." You look at the direction the man is pointing and see your cat strutting across the hall. You could've sworn it wasn't here before.
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Nov 5, 2023 22:13
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Avantus "Good." Avantus nods in satisfaction as he picks up his cat, sit back on the chair with the cat on his lap as he gently pets it. "I can think better with my immortal cat around. Now I can consider heavier issues such as: How will the new world handle wealth and resource? Will there be currency system? Digital? Unlimited resource utopia? Free market or equal distribution?" Avantus needs to know if his 4 billion dollar will become useless in the new world.
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Nov 5, 2023 22:19
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AJ_Impy posted:Paractas, That-Which-Redeems "That's a matter of individual perspective. The thing that is certain is that Mankind-With-Conflict could not be mankind for much longer, since it would have soon ceased to be. Therefore, Mankind-Without-Conflict is the only kind of mankind that will be allowed to exist."
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Nov 5, 2023 22:22
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Theantero posted:Antonius von Schnee "If I were to take the time to answer that in a form your limited perspective might fully comprehend, We would be here for several years. I can't afford to take up that much of the conference's time to elucidate these matters. If you want, I can send you Our response to these queries in writing at some later date. I will only allow myself to make one brief remark - both of your questions stem from a single fundamental error in understanding the nature of not only the Threshold, but the concept of 'material objects' itself. The alchemists too, suffer from the same confusion." AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 22:39 on Nov 5, 2023 |
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Nov 5, 2023 22:32
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Nyaa posted:Avantus "These questions are mistaken, not only in timing but in direction. The shape of all such matters will be determined by the consequences of the decisions all of you will reach collectively over the course of our discussions."
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Nov 5, 2023 22:36
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Antonius von SchneeAFancyQuestionMark posted:"If I were to take the time to answer that in a form your limited perspective might fully comprehend, We would be here for several years. I can't afford to take up that much of the conference's time to elucidate these matters. If you want, I can send you Our response to these queries in writing at some later date. I will only allow myself to make one brief remark - both of your questions stem from a single fundamental understanding regarding the nature of not only the Threshold, but the concept of 'material objects' itself. The alchemists too, suffer from the same confusion." Antonius merely nods. "Reasonable enough, I suppose. I would, in fact, prefer an answer in written form."
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Nov 5, 2023 22:37
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Walthiero Minnesanger (He/They) Wandering Mage-Poet Walthiero tenderly gripped the neck of his instrument and lifted it lightly into his arms like he would a lover before a waltz. He strummed a chord in G-major and stepped back into the limelight of speakerdom within the group, briefly amused by how easily his strings, once plucked so, commanded the attentions of even the thaumic intelligentsia... "We ARE a mankind-at-conflict, in this current here and now," the young bard explained without a hint of conjecture, "Have been and will be, if we don't reach a consensus for where the destiny of our agapé lies for humanity." A brief pause: for managing breath; to feel the room. "For great Justice and Love, we are here to settle matters rooted in the past in an ongoing transition into a unified cosmic verse." Another lilting, upbeat chord was struck upon the hearts in the room. "We began as a cacophany - disparate wills calling from the chaos and burdened with doubts - and we are here to form a holy chorus sharing knowledge towards our soulful reenlightenment." There was no question in Walthiero's delivery: if he had misspoken, the one calling himself One would be sure to issue corrections, they were certain.
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Nov 5, 2023 22:46
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Lux Anima posted:Walthiero Minnesanger (He/They) Wandering Mage-Poet "That's certainly a correct and poetic summation of Our endeavor."
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Nov 5, 2023 22:57
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| # ? Jun 10, 2024 04:06 |
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Avantus Benussman "What if we screw up this so called Next Stage of Mankind? Do we have a second chance to restart this project?"
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Nov 5, 2023 23:00
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