Vis search (winter 1220)

Retired Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Ad Astera per Aspera
121

Tartessos and Paphos will meet the witches at the gate and give them the tour of Domus Aureus, starting with the truly impressive wall built by Antonius and ending in Tartessos' studio. Paphos will do most of the talking and naturally the conversation will gravitate towards the conflux of architechture and magic.

"Welcome to Domus Aureus! I am Master Paphos, a Mason and artist of the Pygmalios School. Some of what you will see today is my work; I specialize in merging magic with art. My companion is Tartessos, originally of Iberia, now of Domus Aureus. He is a stronger enchanter than I, and far more versatile. it is likely most of the effects you might be interested in are his bailiwick. May we offer you refreshments?

Servants will offer bread dipped in truffle infused olive oil washed down with pomegranate juice. Garlic salted almonds and dried dates are also offered.

"Come, let me show you the wonders of our Golden Home!

He will show the orchards where the food came from and demonstrate the Acorn to Oak magic item to mature a plant in a single day. They will cast the enchantment at the beginning of the tour and revisit it later after significant growth has been accomplished. He will then bring them to the Great Hall, a massive two story Hall flanked by Limestone pillars topped by the Dome itself. The Great Hall itself shares some architectural detail with cathedrals and is just as impressive. Next is the unfinished hospital which Paphos explains is meant to be as much a college as a working hospital. Perhaps they will run across Tomas and introduce him?

A quick stop in the grog's common areas shows how much room even the common folk currently have. Lastly, they will exit through the Grand hall into Tartessos' Studio. The Grand Hall exits to a smaller two story hall, his Grand Entryway which is made of polished limestone flanked by two massive staircases. They proceed upstairs to his studio office where several items Tartessos owns are currently displayed.

here are some of the items displayed:
Attentive Chest of the Mage's desire, a chest that follows the magi around and opens/closes upon demand
The Mason's Friend, a chisel that makes all terram products malleable as clay
The Sculptor's Wand, that allows anyone to sculpt using Finesse (rego craft magic)
From Acorn to Oak, already demonstrated
The Janus Tablets, that allow long range communication

Paphos will explain that besides his artwork, Tartessos can make single use charms, or make items that last one, seven or seventy years, with longer durations adding price, the base being three times the cost to make the item.

122

Talus will tag a long, hopefully getting Pallas to translate for him.

[hr][/hr]
Boy, it sucks not speaking the language.

123

When the visitor get shown the underground labs, Tomas will happily (and after being reminded of the need for translation, a little slower) start talking about the potential for healing and longevity improvements.

124

Actually Paphos is not showing them the labs; by now they are all sanctum'd up. Plus there might be some religious taboo we are violating.

125

They are interested in the acorn to oak item, and wonder if you could make something that would work on plants besides trees, maybe for an entire garden.

126

Edit: I forgot expiry cannot be used for LEI's, so ignore all the above about expiry and Verditius pricing standards; Tartessos will only be selling charged items, although Paphos would happily accept commissions for his permanent items.

"Despite it's name, the Acorn to Oak item will affect any living plant, not just trees. As designed, this particular one would only affect a single plant at a time, and I could make a device with eleven such uses for 16 vis. A version that is perhaps more economical would affect ten plants at a time would have nine uses and cost 17 vis (increase range to Voice and Target to Group, level 40 effect)I could even make one that affects one hundred plants at a time with eight uses for the same 17 vis, but it is up to you if the increased target would actually be useful. Affected plants need to be nearby, no more than a stone's throw distant; the plants must be already growing, although that could mean seeds planted that morning. Lastly, accelerated growth will not help if the plant finds this climate inimical; it might grow during the spell, only to instantly die when the effect ends.

Creating this enchantment would take me about a season, give or take, and due to current obligations I would not be able to deliver before the new year regardless of what, if anything, you were interested in. Also, while I quoted a price in vis, I am open to alternate payments, such as exchange of services or other value."

OOC, I am calling the general price for charged items to be one per magnitude of original effect, plus one for each charge. This is roughly equal to what he could make selling LEI's considering they cost vis to make and the charged items do not.

127

They nod through all of this, then one asks "Speaking of services, are you looking for healers for this hospital of yours? I believe it would be in our best interests all around to cooperate rather than compete."

128

"I think healers would be quite welcome; we have several of varying knowledge and are always seeking more. By all means be welcome to refer patients to us as well. My colleague Tomas is in charge of our healers and we also have several good texts that students can learn from although I fear they are only written in Latin."

129

"We do produce potions which provide healing and restore fatigue, I am guessing these would be more valuable than vis in trade."

130

"I'm sure there would be some interest in both of those. Are you able to make permanent healing potions without vis? We must use vis to make our healing permanent."

131

"No, we use vis in all of our healing. And in all of our potions."

132

"Still," Talus observes through a translator. "Such potions would be of value to us."

133

As a note- in general with Herbem spells, group targets are described in terms of a radius of effect, allowing for a large number of small plats or a small number of large ones. Aside from that...

"I think we would prefer the effect which can cover an entire garden in one use. How much would you value a potion which heals a light, moderate, severe or incapacitating wound instantly? Or would you have an interest in potions of invigoration? Assume we trade these in lieu of vis, or make a split payment, how much vis would each potion be worth?

134

OOC: Assuming reinvigoration is fatigue restoral, isn't that one of the things the order does not know how to do?

135

OOC: Yup. That's one place that folk witches are one up on the Order.

136

sorry this took so long, busy thanksgiving and all...

sounds like the L40 voice/group/8 charges one for 17 vis is what they need?

"Hmm, If I were doing it I'd go with 3, 4, 5, and 6 for light, moderate, severe and incapacitating, respectively. I assume each such elixer has a single use? The Invigoration effect I'm afraid has little commercial value, although perhaps some practical use in certain circumstance. One each, perhaps? I think the severe or incapacitating would elixers would be most desirable, after all lighter woulds can quickly heal without magic.

On a professional note, our magic is also able to support a body in healing itself, using the normal amount of time but with a much higher chance of a positive outcome. Can you magic do the same? And my colleagues told me you mentioned other arcane practitioners nearby? Do you know where?

137

"At those prices we will probably pay in vis instead. At twice those prices we could talk. There is another group of magic users at a nearby island, we have declined to deal with them at all. What sort of devices might you have that could aid our sisters in protecting themselves?"

138

"Hmmm, a shame that. Perhaps we could still get one or two at some sort of premium just to save someone a spot of time. I'e always found the best protection is to not stand out and minor illusions could certainly accomplish that, perhaps something to change appearance? On a less subtle means we can summon physical barriers or even ward against specific things. What sort of threats do you face that you need protection from? Any defense is more effective when designed well against the threat. "

139

"Mostly ruffians when we travel and seem to be vulnerable women."

140

"Something on the more subtle side then? There are a large variety of effects that target the mind, including creating fear, or perhaps seeing you as an authority to be deferred to? Or just make any harassers fall asleep? On the less subtle side, they could be buffeted by a howling wind or a temporary physical barrier could be imposed. If a specific effect is decided upon I could calculate cost and how many times it can be used."