Chthonic Magic taint

[Ovarwa]

Hi,

@Wanderer

The botch would be nasty, especially if you are unaware of its effects. S H/U is no big deal, as long as you left around no other evidence that registers as Infernal to Hermetic investigation. It is well known that S H/U is no reliable evidence of diabolism since it registers a lot of stuff as Infernal which is proven not so to extensive Hermetic investigation, again and again.

Of course, those magi who trust their virtues might just WW anyway.

Even without that, who wants the inevitable closer scrutiny?

Technically, it is even Hermetically legal to use the special tricks. The Code forbids trafficking with demons, not smelling like one.

This may be a reasonable interpretation, but then by the same meter, Binding and Commanding magic and faerie spirits ought to be legal too, despite RoP:I tells that having Infernal Powers is illegal.

It says something subtly different, that many magi assume that having such powers is sufficient proof. I didn't quite like that section, but CM is too good a virtue without some real problems.

Anyway,

Ken

[Kallista]

@ladyphoenix

I hope not, the last thing I want to do is be constantly picking everyone's parma just for looking around?

Just like second sight and certain other sense abilities, you have to be looking to use it.

I thought Second Sight was also always on too. Same with Magic Sensitivity. These are either heightened or new senses, just another way to describe the scene to players.

I dont think they would have a noticable impact to other people's parma, because it is passive. It's not a matter like reading another person's mind, it's being sensitive to what is there already.

I'm from a universe where if a character is actively paying attention they get a bonus to awareness rolls, but the story guide rolls awereness checks for everyone. So my interpretation is probably different from most.

[Erik_Dahl]

I'm inclined to say all of his magic is tainted, appearing unholy to those Divine and Infernal powers that can sense it. The text does say "his magic becomes tainted, just as if he had the False Power Flaw" and that does seem pretty clear. Basically, as far as the Divine is concerned, the character has chosen a side between evil and good, and thus the Divine judges the character accordingly. This is different from the holy magus who has free will to use his magic to sin. If the chthonic magus repented of his wicked ways and sought forgiveness from the Divine, it is possible that his magic might be cleansed of its taint-- but that also means giving up the Virtue.

[ladyphoenix]

Actually, the holy maga has to use the sinful hermetic magic to sin. Holy magic won't work and it is basically only spont spells with the hermetic because all formulaic spells have to be reinvented for holy magic (this is explicit)

[Erik_Dahl]

@ladyphoenix

Actually, the holy maga has to use the sinful hermetic magic to sin. Holy magic won't work and it is basically only spont spells with the hermetic because all formulaic spells have to be reinvented for holy magic (this is explicit)

Free will to use his Hermetic magic to sin, I meant. Holy magi can't use their holy magic to sin, you're absolutely right.

[Wanderer]

@Ovarwa

Of course, those magi who trust their virtues might just WW anyway.

True, although of course magi with SH&U or similar Divine detection abilities are not so plentiful, so an occasional WW is a wholly different degree of severity than becoming the object of sanctioned Quaesitorial investigation.

Even without that, who wants the inevitable closer scrutiny?

Oh, I dunno, the basic benefits of CM, even if you do not use the more risky benefits, and of Spirit Summoning, even if you do not use the other Goetic Arts, seem quite substantial to me. Bonus from Infernal Auras, one less source of botches, and you can put all that nice Infernal vis to good use. Summoning means you can call on assistance from neighboring auras with little need of Arcane Connections.

[Ovarwa]

@Wanderer

@Ovarwa

Of course, those magi who trust their virtues might just WW anyway.

True, although of course magi with SH&U or similar Divine detection abilities are not so plentiful, so an occasional WW is a wholly different degree of severity than becoming the object of sanctioned Quaesitorial investigation.

Even without that, who wants the inevitable closer scrutiny?

Oh, I dunno, the basic benefits of CM, even if you do not use the more risky benefits, and of Spirit Summoning, even if you do not use the other Goetic Arts, seem quite substantial to me. Bonus from Infernal Auras, one less source of botches, and you can put all that nice Infernal vis to good use. Summoning means you can call on assistance from neighboring auras with little need of Arcane Connections.

Summoning requires AC to work at all.

Check the rules.

That's 6vp, fwiw.

Anyway,

Ken

[Wanderer]

@Ovarwa

Summoning requires AC to work at all.

I was referring to scouring, which does not require ACs.