Technically I did still need to assign resonance for the appropriateness of the virtue- fortunately it resonates well and it worth a bonus not a penalty, so it succeeds on the first attempt.
I had misread how ordeals accumulated- your reading is correct.
I'm uncertain where you are getting the elemental associations of these traits from. Hardy and Imposing Appearance both would have resonance bonuses, Long winded however has a -3 penalty, which again doesn't seem to be an issue... while this trait could be associated with a wolf the initiations so far have not added a wolf element to the heartbeast...
I was mentioning the elemental traits because I got them from the corresponding animals (Bear and Wolf).
I was planning on these being the traits that added those elements, should I do it differently?
The ritual is deigned to add traits from the animals whose nature you already have- adding a new animal would require modification of the initiation, though once that animal has been added the existing ritual will be able to function normally based on the new combination. Obviously traits that are not a good match can be added in this way through the regular ritual, but it will not add a new animal to the mix.
Ok. So to add new elemental/animal aspects, how spread out in time do they need to be? And how do you want to handle? I see him exploring the nature of the dragon before focusing on the physical transformation (stats and size).
First keep in mind that at 2 transformations per year he can also spend 10xp per year on regular abilities of spend up to two seasons on regular (non-vis using) lab activities each year.
What do you mean by "exploring the nature of the dragon"? This could be anything from studying magic lore(dragons) to performing any of a set of initiations...
By "exploring the nature" I mean understanding that the dragon embodies all four elements. (if you agree that it does, or can). It probably makes sense to put some study into magic lore, and he realizes his inner heartbeast is incompletely expressed and tries to bring out the other latent elements (in both senses of the word).
A dragon is not necessarily the embodiment of the four elements- earth, air, and fire certainly each have a case for them, and starting with a crocodile for a base certainly gives you a strong potential to get all 4, but it is not inherent in dragons- normal dragons are as likely to embody animal nature, or vim.
Can- it certainly can. So the question then is how to go about this- you can certainly add an element to the long winded initiation even though it is not necessary in a way that involves adding an element of the wolf - a personality trait, a quest to seek and understand a wolf spirit or heartbeast, or some form of disfigurement that incorporates wolf features. You could even have to kill and eat a werewolf (adventure). This is where I want you to be creative and make the decision about what element your character would add, and also whether you want to do that with an element that you an already make or use it to try for something harder and wolf-related.
Sorry, I wasn't sure if you wanted me to come up with the initiations. I like your idea a lot, I will use it.
Since the embryonic initiation involves spending a season at an ancestor site; which being remote, Draco feels comfortable being in his inner heartbeast the whole time. When he does that, he begins to feel something lacking, and strange urges, which make him think his inner heartbeast is incomplete. He follows his instincts to satisfy the undefinable craving, and ends up modifying the script as follows:
He feels the urge to hunt and kill, with the sensation that his prey is hidden most of the time, but comes out to feed during the full moon. This leads to him hunting down, killing, and eating a werewolf. (Script modification for wolf).
He feels a growing hunger, but also lethargy, and a desire to get out from under the open sky and sleep for a long time. This leads to him gorging himself, then finding a remote mountain cave and hibernating all winter. (Script modification for bear).
descriptively these are good but they need to be something more than just "I do this incidentally while I am following the normal script"...
werewolves won't hang out at ancestor sites for a multitude of reasons, so this is simply adding a +3 quest.
what is the actual effect of the bear modification supposed to be? Spending an extra season in bear shape while asleep?
Adding a +3 quest was what I intended.
And yes, additional season spent for the bear one.
That is Int+cult lore with target of 9, so auto success on each of those for script modification. which initiation scripts are you modifying?
Modifications of the embryonic script for heartbeast improvements.
Are these giving qualities, or adding something to heartbeast outside of the normal scope?
I meant which improvements were you making with the modified script...
Let's go with Long-Winded for the wolf and Hardy for the bear.
Obviously that year will not have any lab time- have you assigned your non-initiation time for the previous initiations? Also having cleared these 5, what is next on your agenda?
I might space them out a year or two if that's alright with you. (so they're not both in the same year.)
After this, the agenda is just going to be size and stat increases.
I was thinking about another couple of immunities - deprivation and weapons (to whatever definition is acceptable - "steel weapons" or "normal weapons") - but those would require ordeals; and you may not approve anyway, so just asking your opinion of the virtues generally for now.
I don't see either immunity fitting any version of dragons or of any of the beasts being incorporated into this version of a dragon.
Got it.
Then will just be size and stat increases. You want me to put those here in groups of three for your approval, right?
yes.
Next three improvements will be +1 Size: EF 18; +1 Size: EF 21; +1 Size: EF 24
Can I ask to do them in 4's? It works out that I can actually swing the vis for doing improvements 4 seasons in a year, unless you have a problem with that.