Spring 1220: Announcements and Decisions

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: The Rise of Atlantis
61

"So," Magnus continues, "I see three possible ways to proceed. First, Simon can try a spirit journey to follow a ley line out into the ocean to see if he can find where it meets four others. Second, we can prepare for a journey for some or all of us to travel by ship following a ley line to do the same thing in person. Third, Meliai can try and find a daimon that can help us 'revive' the arcane connection in Duncan's carving[sup]1[/sup] so that we could use routine scrying magic to investigate Atlantis."

"The first option is the easy one. If Simon is willing, it seems the lowest-cost option for us to get some information right now. I'm not sure how easy it will be for him to find the nexus during spirit travel.[sup]2[/sup] And I'm not sure how fast he can travel in that form. But I would personally be willing to stand guard over his body while his spirit was away."

"The second option is more assured, but more costly. It means weeks of preparation and travel, more if we want to wait until summer when the seas, I'm told, are not as rough, though it brings many of us to the location where we can use our resources to investigate in person."

"The third option is also compelling, since it allows us to perform our research without an arduous journey. It would also give us the name of a very useful daimon, which I know would be quite useful in my own research. However, this option would take at least a season of effort, possibly more, and would certainly have a cost in vis in summoning the daimon."

"Of course all of the options share the limitation that we're trying to investigate an area the size of the Isle of Man with just a half dozen people. Even with magic, that's quite a task. Still, I have to believe that there will be something worth looking at where the ley lines meet. If nothing else, theory says that it should be an extremely powerful magical aura."

"So, I say that we have Simon investigate the ley lines tonight. Based on what he finds, we then decide if options two or three are necessary. Remember, we can raise the island any time we want. This is all simply by way of precaution."

[hr][/hr]
[sup]1[/sup] - a trivial Magic Theory check for the gathered magi would tell that the most significant moment for the carving was when it was created. If a daimon could restore a lost arcane connection to the carving, that would be the one it would restore.

[sup]2[/sup] - assuming that Second Sight works in spirit form, he should be able to see the ley lines. I figure that's just the sort of thing that Second Sight would let you see.

62

Haestus carefully considers the proposals and leans forward to answer. "We have nothing to lose and much to gain from Simon's explorations. It strikes me that should you be able to capture species, we could use that as an AC for conventional scrying. Even retrieving a memory should be good for something. For further exploration, I would favor the ship expedition as both Dobran and I are hands on kinda people.

It does strike me that there are likely still freshwater spring sources on the isle, and one of those could be reachable via regio network. I understand others also have access to regio networks, perhaps we can explore those before spending silver or vis?

63

How about we try the first, and if that's not enough we move to the second and then third. Silver has costs and vis more so. Artemis says. I think the biggest danger would be upsetting a dragon or spirit who likes the underwater nature of the land.

64

"That seems a sensible course of action. There is only so much I can do during the time my spirit roam, but whatever we can learn will help us prepare for the upcoming expedition or even for the rising of Atlantis proper."

Simon ponders for a while before continuing:

"Artemis is right. We need to consider the moral implications of our action. For instance, what right would we have on the island if the Atlanteans adapted to life under the waves? We could not in good conscience rob them of their home. But this is still a rhetorical question at the moment. Let us hope that the situation will be clearer when we gather again later. It takes some times to prepare myself for the voyage; however if we adjourn this meeting for a few hours, that should be enough."

65

Constantine offers "Simon's first investigation will be excellent," nodding to the Magus. "I am very in favor of Magnu's suggested journey to the region. Our best secondary investigations will probably need to be local to be most effective, and we have time to be patient. Even with the location of the ley line conversion, there may be other sites of interest."

OOC: A few questions on ley lines.

  • Approx what is the Hermetic base for viewing a ley line with InVi? e.g. Intellego Vim Base 3 can be used to view and traverse Regio boundaries with T:Vision. Is that the same-enough to a ley line?
  • how do they appear? Are they visible (with the right spells) from a long way away, or more like tiny dotted lines?
66

"Well, it's decided then," Magnus says. "We'll adjourn for an hour or two to allow Simon his explorations, and then reconvene. I can arrange for some light refreshments to be served while we wait."

"Will you need someone to watch over your body while your spirit is gone?" he asks his fellow magus. "I should be happy to do so."

[hr][/hr]
Any last preparations before Simon goes off on his journey? Duncan can describe what the nexus is supposed to be like in sufficient detail for it to be a target roll of 18 to find it.

Also, until we get Simon's lab seasons settled, I'm going to assume that Simon only knows the spells listed on his character posting.

As for ley lines, yes, base 3 to see them is fine. I always figured they were hazy lines passing through the air, visible if you're looking for them, but easy to overlook if you're not (requiring an Alertness check to see in addition to a Second Sight check). But once you've found one, it's easy to follow. I'd say they're visible from about 100 paces off, after that they start to fade. You typically need to know where you're looking to find them. The right magic spell could, of course, make them easier to find.

67

"I you wish to, I would be honored. You probably can have a conversation with Zaltys my familiar, while you wait for my return. This old snake always have interesting stories to share.?"

He stands up and says to his fellow magi: "I will try my best to convey memories of my reconnaissance to you all when I return.", before looking towards Magnus: "Is there a room where I can lay on a bed?"

68

While refreshments are brought in to the others, Magnus escorts Simon to a room that contains a bed, chest, chair, and small table. "This is one of our guest rooms," he says. "It should serve quite well."

Simon makes his preparations and lies down on the bed, magus and familiar guarding over him. Then he begins the mental preparations for having his spirit leave his body behind. Slowly he drifts into a trance-like state, focusing his energy inward to loosen the bonds between body and spirit. A short time later, his spirit rises up out of his body to begin his journey westward. For a moment he hovers above his body. And in that time, Magnus raises an eyebrow and simply says, "Godspeed!"

Then the spirit rushes off over the ocean at a cracking great speed, with luck toward the location identified by Duncan earlier. Nearly an hour passes by with naught but the ocean for company until Simon's spirit suddenly dips beneath the waves. It gets darker here, though as a spirit, Simon does not get wet.

Soon Simon's spirit slows down and comes to a stop. It's dark here this far beneath the surface. He can sense that there are some kind of large structures looming over him, but he can't see all that clearly what they are. One thing is certain, though, he can feel the water around him. That means that he's in a powerful magical aura, as you'd expect at the confluence of five ley lines.

[hr][/hr]
As noted previously, there's no chance for Simon to fail his roll, even for the most difficult Seeming target of 18, so I won't even bother rolling the dice.

Magnus' Second Sight roll: Second Sight Check: 1D10+13 = [7]+13 = 20; success; he sees Simon's spirit.

69

While the meeting is suspended, Meliai seeks out Father Augustus, "Oh Father, I have a proposition I wanted to put to you." She grins wickedly.

70

Father Augustus is probably already sitting comfortably somewhere and smiles back to her gesturing to a seat near him. "Tell me what you have in mind."

71

"I have recently acquired an apprentice, and I was wondering how you are at instruction in Latin."

72

"I've taught many topics, particularly when I was younger and lived in the city. And my Latin is sound. Yours seems very reasonable too. What particularly are you after?"

73

"I was hoping we could reach an arrangement for you to teach my apprentice Latin so I can focus their studies with me on more esoteric pursuits. I'm assuming you have some form of rate that you charge for such lessons."

74

"Actually I don't have a price. My teaching and my time is dictated by mother Church. "
"Tell me Magus Melaia, why would you place your student into the hands of... 'an upstart faith' following the 'cult of one God'? "
"You spoke so strongly against my faith that I'm unsure of your motivation. Do you care to explain?"

75

Meliai half shrugs "my apprentice has been raised in your faith, I figure a couple more years exposure won't hurt, and you are well qualified to teach Latin."

76

Simon wanders the former streets of the sunken city for some time, slowly pushing away the seaweed and avoiding partially crumbled structures obstructing the way. Under the faint glow of the magical aura, the outlines of temples and palaces appears and only to fade way in the darkness reigning a theses depths. Coupled the constant pressure from the sea, it creates an eerie atmosphere, never experienced by the Criamon.

Still the magus press forward, trying to get as much details as he can perceive, as well as finding recent traces of magical creatures inhabiting Atlantis. Later, pushed away vigorously by the water and with his vision being increasingly clouded by particles of torn away from the ocean's floor by chaotic currents, Simon will decide to end the underwater reconnaissance. His spirit will rise slowly, as he tries to assess the depth at which the city lies, only to emerge in a powerful storm.

The magus spirit, following the thread by which it is linked to his body, then depart Atlantis, flying high above gigantic waves and unimpeded by the hurricane-force winds. Approximately an hour later, Simon will open his eyes, and say gently, with a tired voice: "Duncan and you... were right. Atlantis is where you said it would be."

After the meeting is reconvened, Simon try to use the art of Imaginem to show what he saw of the sunken Atlantis.

77

Father Augustus shrugs in response. "I'll think about it".

78

OOC: It's not entirely as you described it. There's no glow from the aura, so Simon would have to cast a spell to see in the near dark. But he can spontaneouslty manage that. Yes, there are signs of what look like ruined temples, though nothing you might call a palace in sight where he was. Still, it definitely has the architectural style from the earlier vision.

There are also fish in evidence, though no immediate sign of magical creatures. But there is a lot of space around to look and Simon can't say that he made a thorough survey of the area. He has a high enough Magic Lore, however, with a specialization of magical creatures. So he does get the impression that there's some kind of powerful magical creature in the area. Nothing specific he can point his finger at. But it's a feeling he has. There are cetrtainly no signs that the ruined city is inhabited by merfolk. Of that Simon is quite certain.

[hr][/hr]
When Simon awakes he finds Magnus and Žaltys in the middle of a philosophic debate about the nature of truth. But the two immediately set their conversation aside when they see the Criamon has arisen.

"That's fantastic news," Magnus says once Simon reveals that Atlantis is indeed where they thought it was. "Duncan will be so relieved." He smiles. "I must admit that I'm fairly well relieved myself. But come, if you're feeling up to it after your trip, let's reconvene the others."

A short time later finds the magi gathered once more and Simon summons forth an image of the sea floor at the confluence of the ley lines. It's a simple image, or is that the effect of seeing it all through sea water? It's hard to tell. But one thing is clear. There is an ancient sunken ruin exactly where Duncan said it would be out in the Atlantic Ocean. What else could it be but Atlantis?

[hr][/hr]
Summon Image
CrIm 10
This spell summons an intricate visual image with some moving parts.
(Base 1, +1 moving images to get the fish and such, +1 for intricacy, +2 Voice, +1 Conc)

CT = [15 (Cr) + 10 (Im) + 3 (Sta) + 5 (Stress Die)]/2 = 16; success
Stress Die: 1D10 = [5] = 5

Finesse + Perception Check: 1D10+10 = [10]+10 = 20 = 10
Botch Die: 1D10 = [7] = 7 = no botch
10 is good enough to make the image.

79

Haestus is awed to see the legendary city with his own eyes. "Simon, would you be willing to Muto your memory into a more tangible form so that we could use it as an Arcane Connection for scrying?"

80

Simon stokes his chin and frown for a moment, trying to think of a way to change a memory into something more tangible, and then after a while says:

"I can try to give substance to my memories, there are hermetic precedents with spells such as the Inmost Companion after all. However, I doubt that anything more that a tenuous connection would remain at this time, given the propensity of memories to loose in clarity over even short periods." The Criamon, visibly strained by the mental rigors his spirit was submitted adds: "There are no ways I can cast such a spell if I do not do it ceremonially. I suggest you decide on the scrying you wish to perform, as I cast the spell; as I doubt I will be capable of remaining concentrated for long." Simon then secludes himself in a quiet room not far from the council room, and starts his incantations, which will last for more than an hour.

OOC:

I assumed that the magical sensitivity would translate in the aura and/or the buildings to be perceived as glowing/colors like some InVi spells do. I tried to keep the exploration to a minimum on purpose, so as to not spoil other adventures. What is the depth of the city by the way ? That details seems important, as it might give an idea to Magnus if his ritual is sufficient to raise Atlantis or not.

MuMe(Te) 30 (Per, Conc, Ind)
Mu 28 + Me 10 (Te 10) + 3 stamina + 7 aura + 5 artes liberales + 5 philosophiae + die roll 6 - 3 fatigue (seems appropriate) = 61