Turn 8
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"Time passes, the shadow on the sundial moves"
Roll for the Event! The dice roll on the table... 57!
At dinner, Linda suddenly starts talking about an unexpected topic.
"Gregory, honey, I couldn't help but notice how far you've come lately in the difficult art of painting!" Your mother begins, beaming with pride, putting aside her cutlery. "Especially impressive is that wonderful painting with moths. You know, I even dreamt about it a couple of times, because those butterflies came out as if they were alive!"
While you, biting your fork, are frantically trying to remember when she might have seen your last painting, Linda leaves for the living room and returns with a small paper roll.
"I decided to support this good cause, so I made you this little gift. Enjoy it!"
After a bit of fiddling with the heavy wrapping, you find a box of quality oil-based paints inside. It comes in handy since your supply is starting to show the bottom.
"Thank you, Mom!" You smile at Linda and kiss her on the cheek.
Dreams about moths, huh? Very interesting...
(Received: A set of good paints +5 to the next 5 painting rolls. Once the supply is depleted, it can be replenished with trade action, after the market opens).
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It was just a normal school day. In the case of Winslow High, it was a boiling cauldron of gang kids, informals of all stripes, and generally aggressive and sometimes intimidated teenagers in the prime of puberty. According to unofficial statistics, one in two had a knife, knuckles, or other means of harming their neighbors. (-1 mind action per turn for the sake of study, +1 pocket means every 2nd school week (Will be received at the end of the turn))
You have two! actions of the body (B), three actions of the mind (M), and three actions of the passion (P). You have 17 funds at your disposal (all available savings).
Influences:
- Vitality - The drums in your ears. You can work better. (+5 to Body rolls) 1 Lv.
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Turn 8 Results
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As you summarize the week, you can't know whether to be happy or sad. On the one hand, things were clearly going well, but on the other hand, you could only recruit one follower. And you can only initiate him properly if you organize a cult. For that, you must have passed the initiation to the Principle yourself.
Deciphering the texts of ancient books continues to steadily bring new Knowledge contained in them, but it won't last long. After the supply of occult literature runs out, it will be necessary to look for another source of priceless information...
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Influences:
- Vitality - The drums in your ears. You can work better. (+5 to Body rolls) 1 Lv.
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Work:
[X] (B) This body is mine. All of these rites and rituals are quite traumatic, not to mention sacrifices. Yes, and some knowledge, as well as much more than some practices, hurts the one who learns and performs them. You need a much sturdier and stronger body so that you don't have to go to the emergency room after every vein you open. Exercise should do you good, and the dumbbells dug out from under the rubble in your room are already helping in no small way. Requires 3 passes, 70% chance of success. (On completion, +1 body action, increase vitality.)
Required: 30. Roll: 25 + 10 (Decreasing Growth Burst) + 5 (Vitality) = 40 Pass!
The dumbbells go back to propping up the wall: their weight is clearly not enough to be productive enough, and from tomorrow you will have a whole gym, with an understanding trainer at your side. Even though you're still dutifully doing your warm-ups, it's having less of an effect than you'd like. This gym came along surprisingly just in time.
Study:
[X] (M) School attendance. As a minor U.S. citizen, you are obligated to receive a general education. The state doesn't need savages. Well, more than there already are. Sick leave is over, and it's time to go back to school.
Required: 10. Roll: 36 + 5 (Scholarship) = 41 Pass!
All the accumulated debts were successfully closed last week, so the lessons are just a routine. Even worse, because you already know all the subjects you have passed. P.E. lessons are still going on without your participation because the time you need to recover from the injury is not over yet. However, that didn't stop you from throwing the ball around with Sparky, and he had to make some effort to keep up with you. After that, the number of strange looks he threw at you noticeably increased, but you had already planned how to solve the impending crisis. You just have to hope that it will work and not blow up in your face.
[X] (M) Books are immortal memory. Among other things, the Predecessor's possessions contained books. It is unlikely that he kept tabloid journalism along with mystical pigments. The subject matter of the books and the references in the diary suggest the same thing: Whatever the content, these texts are related to Mansus and the Principles. There is much to be gained by reading them... Except, where to begin?
- "Traveling at the Night," by Christopher Illopoli, volume 2. Requires 1 pass, 75%/15% chance of success.
Required: 35/85. Roll: 59 + 5 (Scholarship) + 2 (1d6 from "The Watchman's Secret")
= 66 Pass.
There is an extensive discussion of the similarities between Illopoly's own dreams and those of the Emperor Elagabalus, who Illopoly regards as a dupe or avatar of the Sun-in-Rags. 'The White is west of the world,' Illopoly remarks, 'and Winter does not wait forever.'
Among other things, there were also more substantive notes in the text: 'Elagabalus found his way to the White Door at last, thankfully. Speech can't pass the White Door, and honestly, Elagabalus never had anything very interesting to say. I tried to follow in his footsteps, but I never learnt enough of the White. I suppose I'm thankful for that, too. But here's what I do know...'
(Received the Secret Knowledge: A Sexton's Secret Knowledge of Winter) Certain knowledge, it is said, can be expressed only through the particular quality of a silence. It has been suggested that one can only read such knowledge with one's eyes closed, but only by mischievous commentators. [Use this in a Rite with a corpse and Edge aspect, and the corpse will rise.]
In addition, due to the analysis of the author's thoughts on serious topics, from the next turn there will be an influence - Enlightenment (+5 to the rolls of the Study. In case of failure it can turn into a Fascination) 1 Lv.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
[X] (P) Admiration for art. Your drawing skills have dulled considerably, and at the best of times, they didn't exactly shine. But you can fix that! The Internet is full of films about famous art galleries with the works of great artists of the past and online tutorials on many kinds of art! With a goal in mind, you can greatly improve your skills.
Requires 4 passes, 60% chance of success. (On completion of +1 sense action, creativity boost)
Required: 40. Roll: 95x 1.5 (Emotional Fountain) = 143 Supercrit! Wandering the expanse of the World Wide Web, you managed to stumble upon one rather unsightly portal, but its contents turned out to be many times
more valuable:
Man has always strived for beauty, harmony, and self-expression. And this aspiration since ancient times is manifested in painting, a form of fine art, the first works of which we can find even in primitive man.
The immortal paintings of great artists are admired by millions of people. Art, both classical and modern, is one of the most important sources of inspiration, taste, and cultural education for anyone, and even more so for the creative.
There are many world-famous paintings - several hundred - but the most famous are given in this list: ...
A few hours later, when you manage to tear yourself away from the multitude of paintings, each of which is connected in one way or another with the Clock, your head is filled with a host of questions about the world's fine art. Because there's clearly something very wrong with it. (A 1/2 bonus roll will be added to the "First follower" option)
[X] (M) There is knowledge in words 2. A mind is a useful tool. Especially when the path to greatness involves comprehending the Secret Knowledge. To better understand them, to gather them into a single mosaic, decipher them, and perhaps to find new ones - one should keep this tool sharply honed. There were some of your parents' old school textbooks left in the home library, and the articles found on the Internet are still relevant. Requires 2 passes, 60% chance of success. (On completion of +1 mind action, increase in erudition)
Required: 40. Roll: 19 Fail!
Because of the many events and things you've devoted yourself to this week, there's not much time left to develop your mind. But that's only part of the reason: You're running out of study material. And you've also noticed that many of the study guides are not a tool to sharpen your intellect, but a trivial collection of known facts that need to be memorized. Not at all what you need: For the study of the arcane arts, flight of thought is far more important than erudition in the mundane sciences.
Conversation:
[X] (P) First follower? Your only close friend, Sparky, may well have some talent for the arcane arts. He's beginning to suspect something, due to your altered behavior and loss of trust in him. If you don't fill him in on what's going on soon, Sparky might do something stupid. Requires 1 pass, 65%/5% chance of success.
Required: 35/95. Roll: 97 x 0.5 (Emotional Fountain) + 1 (3/2 - Extra. Throw from the Admiration for art Crit) + 5 (Vivid Imagination) + 15 (Well, we're friends, aren't we?) = 69 Pass. (Ahem. Who said anything about the Grail in the comments?)
You take your time and tell Sparky that you want to tell him about a cool thing that will turn his life upside down. Considering that you've made this announcement before, and more than once, he's cool with it. After all, you've shared your conspiracy theories with your best friend more than once (most of which are probably true, you just don't have enough proof).
"Maybe we could hang out at my place after school? It's been a long time since we played Mortal Kombat..." Sparky suggested, clearly ignoring your subtle hints about the seriousness of the subject at hand.
"Аh? All right. It's the only thing that really matters, I'm not kidding!"
"Yes, yes, a very secret world conspiracy, but you can't prove anything." There is more boredom and blatant irony in his voice than snow in the Arctic.
Actually, this time you have the proof, and it's very real. But for reasons of conspiracy, you are holding back until you are in a safer place.
When you take the bus to Sparky's house, the first thing you do is ask if anyone else is here beside him, and you earn a few strange looks. When you're sure you're alone for the evening, you offer to go up to his room, fleetingly surprised by the increased amount of red in it. Sitting on the edge of the bed, you begin your story with a strange find in the attic...
"...and I haven't even read all of it yet, so there may be a few more Secrets of various aspects." After the long speech, your throat was already feeling queasy, and thoughts of going down to the kitchen for water flashed in your head. But Sparky's next question stopped you more firmly than a concrete wall.
"So I understand correctly that you found a bunch of murky literature of dubious origin, which makes you go crazy, as someone's diary clearly warns you about. Started studying this literature, and you started having hallucinations, memory lapses, and other things? And now you want me to do the same thing, right?"
Well, from his point of view all this may look a little suspicious, but you have a reliable counterargument...
"But it works!" With puppy eyes, you whined. "It's like superpowers you can learn from a book!"
"So far you haven't demonstrated any superpowers, just talk. And the delusions may simply be a consequence of your driving brain." It looks like your roll for charisma was offset by his intellect. So it's time for a demonstration. And you're going to make sure it's convincing.
"All right, I'll prove it! Close your eyes and count to thirty."
Despite all his skepticism, Sparky trusted you and closed his eyes.
Looking around, you plunged into the bowels of your memory, searching there for the necessary Knowledge. What could be lost?
Me. Me could be lost. Frozen, out of breath, against the full-length poster of Legend, you listen to the rustling of invisible wings around you, observing the room through squinted eyelids.
2d6 (Sparky's Mind) vs. 3d6 (An Ecdysiast's Parable )
2,1 (3 total) < 6,6,6 (18 total)
(Author's note: I'm shocked myself, if anything...)
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Sparky open his eyes. He blinks perplexedly, and looks around, swiping at you a couple of times, but clearly not seeing, or realizing, that you're there.
"Um, dude? Where are you?" Rising from his seat, your friend walks around the room, looking in the closet and under the bed, walking at arm's length from you a couple of times. "What are you, offended and gone or something?"
He ran out of the room, stood by the stairs, probably looking at the sneakers you'd left at the entrance to the second floor, and then started peeking through all the doors. If at first, you wondered if your friend was kidding you, now it was clear that it was for real. Sparky would never be able to fake panic like that in his life.
When he goes all the way around the house and comes back to his room to get his cell phone, you reach out and grab his shoulder. You nearly lose your hearing the next moment. It's been a long time since you've heard Sparky squeal like that.
It was probably even louder than the time you yanked his leg while you were watching "Pull Me to Hell", right in the middle of another screamer. But at least now you were sure he wasn't making fun of you.
"So, are you convinced now? I've been standing here the whole time, and you didn't see me." The solemnity in your voice was enough to shame the Pope, but it was more than justified.
From the wheezing and gurgling coming out of Sparky's throat, he can't answer with words yet, but that didn't stop him from nodding and elbowing you right in the ribs.
(Received 1 uninitiated follower ( The tendency to the Aspect of the Grail). The cult must be organized for further action)
Travel:
[X] (B) A place to exercise. For productive exercise, you need to find a gym of some kind. According to your agreement with Linda, she'll pay for your membership, but you have to find a comfortable enough place, preferably not affiliated with any of the gangs. That should be enough until your strength exceeds that of mere mortals.
Requires 1 pass, 60%/20% chance of success.
Required: 40/80. Roll: 79 + 5 (Vitality) = 84 Pass!
Actually, the problem is not finding a gym; there are plenty of those in Brockton Bay. The problem is that most of these gyms are owned by one gang or another, and half of the rest are unreasonably expensive fitness centers that only wealthy people can afford. Which your family can't possibly be included in.
So you had to wander around the neighborhood with a sheet of printed addresses, instantly turning back when you saw the gang signs painted on the facade. Sometimes everything looked decent on the outside, and you'd go inside, but only to see the suspicious monotony of races inside or the excessive number of tattoos per square meter of visible skin.
Just when you were almost desperate to find a decent and inexpensive place, and there were only a couple of addresses left on the list, a modest sign on one of the old houses caught your attention. Gym. And that was it. No advertising, no contacts, not even the owner's last name. It seemed suspicious but still, you decided to go in, and you didn't regret it later.
It turned out that this small institution was maintained "for his own" retired Blackwater veteran, but since recently he has been short on cash, so now for a modest fee, anyone can practice. Except that the owner does not welcome members of gangs, so you can safely engage without fear of recruitment.
When you pay for your monthly membership, the owner of the gym gives you a piercing look from under his frowning eyebrows, but still gives you a business card. You'd be willing to swear that this man belongs to the Edge as much as it is possible for the uninitiated.
(Gained an indefinite (as long as Linda pays for you) gym membership, +10 to body development rolls. Added an extra marker to the success bar because of the possibility of bonus interaction).
[X] (P) Rumor Check. I think I met another soul in the woods last night. I don't remember what we talked about, but I think we would know each other if we met in person. We must hurry before the details fade from my memory. (Disappears by the next turn) Requires 1 pass, 50%/10% chance of success.
Required: 50/90. Roll: 47 x 0.5 (Emotional Fountain)+ 5 (Vivid Imagination) = 28 Failure.
Following your inner guide led you to the most prosperous part of town, which was already a bad sign. It's hard to find anyone willing to waste their time on dubious hoaxes in a place like this. If this were another time and another city, there would still be some options, but here and now? However dubious the odds are, you're willing to take the risk: a wealthy follower would greatly facilitate many of the tasks of establishing a future cult...
When you stopped in front of the low white fence of a two-story mansion, you froze in indecision. For some reason, your knees began to shake, but even before your hand had time to press the bell button, a tall white man in even the most expensive-looking robe came out of the house. When he came to the gate, he took out the correspondence from the mailbox, and only then did he pay attention to you.
"Did you want something, boy?" He asked, giving you an appraising look.
"Not really, mister," you say, picking your words carefully, "You just seem familiar to me for some reason. Have we met before, by any chance? Somewhere in the Woods?"
The gaze of the familiar stranger suddenly went from suspicious to blank and expressionless, and the hand free of paper slipped into the pocket of his robe.
"Very unlikely. I don't like nature. I also don't give alms and I don't buy anything from hand. So get the hell out of here."
Not knowing what to say, you watch as the stranger turns around and begins to walk slowly back toward the house, keeping you in sight until the last moment.
Too bad, this person doesn't seem to be in the mood for dialogue.
Received a special influence "Mystique I" - causes rolls on the probability that you will get attention. And you won't like such attention. (Roll at the beginning of the next turn.)
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