1227.2t Dinner And A Show

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: In the Ruins of Bibracte
61

Fiona mingles between courses, before and after, when everyone else is up and about, making small talk for the most part. And flirting. Mild, almost imperceptible ("Is she hitting on me? Not sure...") but ramping it up depending how the other person responds. So, probably, cranking it up with Stultus. Her flirtation isn't confined to the new people (Stultus, Gerulf, and Rose): she's also mildly flirting with Alexei, Isen, Tranquillina, and (not so mildly) Korvin.

At one point during the dinner, Fiona realizes that she has a drop of gravy on her chin, and proceeds to slide her tongue across her chin and licks her lips to get it, while looking at Stultus and hopefully seeing if anyone else reacts. ((Per 0 + Awareness 3 + die roll of 6 = 9. And yes, I did randomly roll for her tongue length, came up with "tip may touch chin." Don't ask how I figure that :wink: ))

62

(( I'm so sorry, Peregrine... but you asked for this. :smiley: ))

Stultus gives as good as he gets with the flirting. Banter, humor, and double-entendres are meat and drink to this particular Tytalus. Fiona's trick with the tongue does arrest his attention... though probably not in the way she would have wished, because the expression on his face (in a rare unguarded moment) can best be translated as "Really? No, really?"

A few seconds later, he frowns, and hurriedly sets his goblet down. His face grows more and more wrinkled as he tilts his head back, massaging his nose in an effort to stop the impending sneeze. Little whimpers (more like moans, actually) issue from his open mouth -- "Ah... Aah... Aaaahhh...." -- as his fingers frantically slide up and down over his nose. Up and down. Over his very long, pointed nose. His efforts are to no avail: with a final "AaaghCHOO!" he gives vent to a truly prodigious, explosive sneeze. Thankfully, it's into a handkerchief he blindly fumbled out of his sleeve at the last second.
"I'm so very sorry, sodales. Something in the air, I expect."

63

"A great many, though the goal is a more fundamental understanding of Rego and what distinguishes it from Muto. I have a theory regarding their relationship which I am still in the midst of formulating but which, I hope, might have profound implications for both Arts."

64

"Ah, really?" Tranquillina interrupts Gerulf. "Have you seen the rebuttal by Obesarus ex Verditius of In Flux Veritas? I imagine it would interest you." Tranquillina motions Loys over and instructs him to carry the commentary down from the library, with great care. "Do not let me touch it, nor anyone else at the dinner table," she says in full hearing of their guest; "it is too precious to be spoilt by gravy or wine." Loys smiles and hurries off to comply.

65

Korvin hops a little as Fiona walks by and give him a pinch on his bottom. He turns with a smile and gives her a loud slap to the same spot. Ahurrrmm. Where were we? Ah yes. Rego and muto. I you thinking of using rego to control the particles of matter? To try and increase or decrease properties of a object?

66

His eyes widen slightly. "How fortuitous. I haven't had an opportunity to review that volume before." He watches as Loys leaves to fetch the volume. "This should be quite interesting."

"The very depth of such an idea strikes at the core of my supposition: there is no true distinction between Rego and Muto. If magi can, through the use of Rego to do extremely minute work, change the properties of an object, then the difference between Rego and Muto becomes academic. Once that barrier is removed, we can begin to study Rego/Muto mechanics in greater depth to determine their true progeniture, thereby increasing both our understanding as well as the power of the Art. At least, that is a theory."

67

How well do you understand Aristotle's Metaphysics? This seems like the core of your research. While some actions of Muto can be imitated by Rego the opposite is not true.

68

Stultus's head swivels, listening to both Ulfengaard and Korvin from across the table. "I was just about to say that, Korvin. Why is it that we can affect some instances of a thing's Material aition through Rego but must use Muto for others? And what about the Formal aition? We must use Rego for some aspects of it, Muto for others, and in some cases can use either, interchangeably." He regards Ulfengaard with respect. "I never thought of it that way, but you're right -- and that's brilliant."

69

Fiona will contribute to the conversation about Muto and Rego (since she had Magic Theory 6 and an Affinity with Muto), although she is a little skeptical that the two forms can be used interchangeably. [color=blue]"I'm sorry, sodales, but I don't see how, for example, I can use Rego to make Stultus my size when that is clearly the purview of Muto. Perhaps you can enlighten me?"

((Unfortunately, the player is unable to come up with the appropriate technobabble to spew, so just pretend that she does so. Com 2 + Magic Theory 6 + die roll of 6 = 14. I chose Com rather than Int to reflect her ability to express what she knows rather than know what she knows. If it's Int, that makes her roll 1+6+6=13.))

[color=blue]"What do you think, Tranquillina?" Fiona says as she looks down at the Bonisagus.

70

Alexei is weary both from wine and the strain of his wounds, but the latest talk of spells affecting the body perks him up.

"That would be quite a breakthrough I think...but perhaps futile. There is some overlap between the two Techniques of course. You can use Rego Animal to make a foal into a steed, but for that steed to then grow ever larger, it must be Muto. The Essential Nature is the law that is being trfiled with. I know two variants of spells that can make myself or a group of men even larger than Fiona...quite useful in combat. But Rego could not accomplish it. You must forge a whole new line of reasoning for this to apply to Bonsiagus's theory. And I'm doubtful it can be done...in one lifetime."

((Alexei is not the brightest, but does have one of the highest Magic Theories at the covenant.))

71

[color=blue]"Among other places," Fiona says with a smile.

She purses her lips thoughtfully.

[color=blue]"You're thinking of Creo, dear," she finally says. [color=blue]"To turn a foal into a steed, I believe that's Creo, not Rego. Although it could be possible to use Rego to control the growth of an animal, I would imagine that would be vastly more difficult than using Creo, and would, as you said, be a breakthrough. There may be some small areas of overlap in the Techniques, but each Technique, as I understand it, is much more distinct than Forms can be.

"For example...if I were to grant you," Her eyes flick downward for a second, as though looking at Alexei through the table top, [color=blue]"the body parts of a stallion...while that would be an overlap between the Forms of Corpus and Animal, since I am incorporating aspects of both, that would not necessarily be Creo as well as Muto, since I am changing what is already there (although not necessarily for the better) rather than creating what isn't there at all."

72

Alexei finishes his cup of wine and then looks at Fiona and then back to his hands and starts trying to figure something.

"Wait...you can use Rego to make a plant flower and fruit...yes, you're right, it is Creo, my mistake."

73

Stultus shakes his head at both Fiona and Alexei. "I think you are missing what Gerulf is saying, Sodales. At least, if I understand him correctly. We make changes to things with both Muto and Rego, yes. Thing is, that's not in keeping with the classical view of the world. I think what Gerulf is getting at -- and please, Gerulf, correct me if I am wrong -- is that we can make progressively smaller changes with Rego. Smaller and smaller. What happens when we get down to the basic components of all matter, the things Democritos called atomoi -- indivisibles? Could we make changes with Rego that would otherwise require Muto? And if we can -- what does that say about the separation of Rego and Muto? Could Bonisagus' theory be wrong where those two Techniques are concerned?"

He grins at Gerulf, looking a trifle awed. "I've always assumed that the differences between Aristotelian philosophy and Hermetic magic pointed to an error in Aristotle's thinking. After all, Creo reaches into the Platonic Realm of Forms, and Aristotle says there's no such thing. But if you're right, and the disparity is due to Hermetic Theory being wrong... the implications are simply staggering."

74

In theory, Rego could be used to grow something. We know that Rego is normally for natural things. By this I mean that it is natural for the foal Gestures to Alexei to grow into a horse. It is the alteration of quality. To change water into steam Rego manipulates the particles in the water. Adding more hot and airy particles and removing some moist particles. Muto does the alteration by manipulating the categories of qualities. Changing the shape, color and smell. Turing a man into a pig would not change the inherent nature of the man. He would look and smell like a pig but still be effected by Corpus spells. Korvin looks to Fiona to see if he got it right.

Now my understanding of the theory that Gerulf has mentioned is changing the quality of growth and diminution. Normally this is done with Muto but in theory, you could use Rego to attract hot and dry particles to an object and make it grow. You could control it's weight be increasing the earth particles that have a downward pull or decrease the weight by adding more airy or hot particles. At least that was the theory explained to me by a drunk elementalist.

75

Alexei seems incredulous.

"There is an interesting topic of discussion, of affecting the atomoi. The problem is you cannot see nor sense something so small, so how can you affect it? And before you mention the possibility of an arcane connection, your arcane connection would be the specimen itself and you are caught in paradox like Zeno once posed."

76

Tranquillina has sat mostly silent since she sent Loys off to fetch Obesarus's Commentary. (He returned several minutes ago, but the conversation was so vigorous that Tranquillina bade him place the volume carefully on a side table, which she motioned Choiniere to clean for him. The servant and the other kitchen staff seemed a bit nonplussed by the loss of one of their staging surfaces, but a sharp glance from the maga, together with the well-known stories of people becoming ill when they disagree with her, squashed any protestation.) She was going to respond to Fiona's direct query about her foundational descriptions of the Techniques, but when Alexei quickly offered up his opinion she simply smiled at Fiona and kept listening. It is true that Tranquillina would enjoy a conversation on Magic Theory at any time, no matter its length, and she certainly follows the debate with attentive eyes and ears; but her mind is currently focused upon gauging the levels of training of the newcomers in Hermetic theory, as well as their raw intelligence. After nearly half an hour of calm analysis over the rim of the drink she is nursing, she feels that she has a pretty accurate judgment of the people at the table in these regards. ((Per 2 + Magic Theory 7+2 + stress die 7 = 18; Per 2 + Folk Ken 3 + stress die 8 = 13.))

Her first mild surprise is that Gerulf, while certainly well deserving of his recent success in his Theoretical Interview, is not quite as advanced in his study as she might have expected from a newly Gauntleted Bonisagus. At least he appears stronger than typical new magi from other Houses (although Rose, from her few comments - and their stunning encounter four years prior - seems his match). To Tranquillina's amazement, the clown Stultus demonstrates quite a decent grasp of theory, particularly as it relates to Philosophiae (or so she imagines, that field not being one of her strengths). And all three applicants demonstrate a keen and noticeable acumen, shunning easily countered arguments and perceiving the nuances and assumptions in others' statements. (Yet every time she appreciates the validity of a notion expressed by Stultus, his smug turns of phrase remind her that no Tytalus is to be trusted....) She smiles at Gerulf's youthful idealism - did she herself ever dream so large, about the limits of magic?! - but approves of his ambitious approach; she shakes her head slightly, but with equal fondness, at Alexei's hasty errors; she wonders yet again just what Fiona can accomplish with her strange herbs and unnamed concoctions. As usual, Korvin impresses her with his deep understanding of the Founder's theory; with his organizational skills as well, he sometimes seems more like a Bonisagi than a Mercere, and certainly puts the lie to those who deem all "Redcaps" as second-class members of the Order.

Seeing an opening, Tranquillina places her half-empty cup before her on the table. "One must be careful to distinguish," she offers, "between two different interpretations of the matter under discussion. The more 'heretical', if I may use that term without prejudice, is to suggest that Rego can be harnessed to precipitate precisely the same effects as Muto, perhaps by fine control of these atomoi as you speculate." Her vague gesture around the table doesn't really single out whom she considers to have speculated this. "That is a theory worthy of investigation, with all due skepticism of course, but with eagerness as well. Less drastic, but still of significant interest to us practitioners, is the ability to use Rego to accomplish the same tasks as other Techniques can, but via its own mechanisms. For example, we can cure an illness in a traveler using Creo Corpus magic - or battle wounds as well, though you might not think it so to see our brave Hoplite sitting here untreated!" She winks at Alexei's hearty laugh. "But can that illness also be treated by directly manipulating, using Rego, the balance of humors within the traveler's body? One could achieve in a moment the same benefit that a physician's regimen might have on ... the humors." She stops herself from trying to enumerate the humors, unsure of her knowledge of medicine.

As the conversation moves on, Tranquillina realizes that she can truly be considered something of an expert in Hermetic theory. Of course Maximianus's training, abridged though it was, formed the primary basis for her knowledge; but she has studied hard over the decades since her apprenticeship, and it is satisfying to feel secure (even momentarily) against judgment in that arena. She lifts her goblet to Choiniere to be filled, enjoying the idea that she needn't be on guard every second of her life against accusations of inferiority.

77

Roberto rolls his eyes :unamused:

And then Roberto proceeds to bust out laughing a hearty guffaw!
:laughing:
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...
kaff
huhahahaha...
haha...
...
Bwahahehahehahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then he calms down, drinks his wine and chews a loaf of bread. Snickers. Grabs some cheese maybe. Snickers again...
Then the topic turns to magic theory, and he gets bored and mingles with some of the grogs to find something more interesting to talk about.

78

[color=blue]"Actually, when Atsingani was stealing our sheep a few years ago, I was able to break their control of one via Animal by turning it into a man. Since he was no longer a sheep, the Animal spell had no more hold over him."

((Fiona will contribute more to the conversation than I am able to, since I know basically nothing about Aristotlean metaphysics, have never heard of aition before, and so forth. I'll chip in what I can, but... shrug ))

Fiona chuckles at this little display, but will occasionally shoot Stultus a thoughtful, almost appraising look.

79

(( Aition is usually translated as 'cause'. The problem is that it's a misleading translation, since it has very little to do with 'cause' as WE think of it, in the terms of 'cause and effect'. I figured since Stultus likely read Aristotle in the original Greek, he'd just use the Greek word rather than fumble for a translation. ))

80

((Yeah. Same here. I'm out of my depth as a player, especially being so new to the game. So that really stunts Gerulf's story when he should be rather learned on these matters. Just assume he has a few minor things to add to the conversation.))