Difference between revisions of "Beastmastery Detection Experiments"

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* Northerner steals paper that has been prepped above.  He has several metal boxes (jewelry box, footlocker, etc) with latches keeping them close.  He puts stolen paper inside one box; Seeker must find which one has the correct paper inside and open it by destroying the metal latch (Destruction of Metal); other boxes have symbolic animals inside of them.  He then folds the origami '''crane''' (Transformation of Wood).
 
* Northerner steals paper that has been prepped above.  He has several metal boxes (jewelry box, footlocker, etc) with latches keeping them close.  He puts stolen paper inside one box; Seeker must find which one has the correct paper inside and open it by destroying the metal latch (Destruction of Metal); other boxes have symbolic animals inside of them.  He then folds the origami '''crane''' (Transformation of Wood).
 
* For finalizing the ritual, we set up a beeswax candle with a dragon on it ('''dragon'')', then cup the origami crane in one hand, bring it near the candle, but interpose the other hand to protect it, taking the damage from the candle and soaking the power.
 
* For finalizing the ritual, we set up a beeswax candle with a dragon on it ('''dragon'')', then cup the origami crane in one hand, bring it near the candle, but interpose the other hand to protect it, taking the damage from the candle and soaking the power.
 
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[[File:beastmaster_detection_castle.png|100px|thumb]]
 
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Revision as of 21:17, 4 May 2020

This is a ritual to make one-shot items to detect beastmastered or otherwise mind-magicked people. I have confirmed that this is a power 5 ritual.

Major Themes/Narratives:

  • In current ritual form, Artist = Empire, the Northerner's actions represent their interference in the affairs of the Empire.
  • Core magic theme is "Hidden control by Northerners, seeking of that control by Empire"
  • Transformation of person to animal, as they are being controlled as animals
  • Representation of appropriate Empire spirits/countries within the ritual

Modified scenes with seeking added to them:

  • Invoke the Yang: Change skill of invocation to something more artistic.
    • Test 1: Need to figure out better skill
  • Invoke the Yin: Northerner takes all the ritual items. A magpie comes in and brings back a bunch of replacement items; Invoker must use Perception to pick out the right items from the pile.
    • Test 1: Can we train a magpie to do this?
  • Northerner uses lemon juice to put hidden animal symbol on one sheet paper amongst many. Artist must determine which paper has the hidden symbol and reject it (this is purely for show) He then performs the calligraphy of a bear symbol (Creation with Earth)
    • Test 1: What is the hidden writing method: lemon juice, others.
    • Test 2: What are you writing: Should it be an animal, an animal name in Torgut, the word "MINE" in Torgut, etc.
    • Test 3: How many pieces do you want to write on?
  • Bloodhound (dog) must find the Northerner's scent amongst set of target animals (real or stuffed). This proves he is worthy to seek and thus put his paw print on the paper; handler must use Animal Handling to put paw print (Control of Water).
    • Test 1: Need to work out basic mechanics of paw print
  • Northerner steals paper that has been prepped above. He has several metal boxes (jewelry box, footlocker, etc) with latches keeping them close. He puts stolen paper inside one box; Seeker must find which one has the correct paper inside and open it by destroying the metal latch (Destruction of Metal); other boxes have symbolic animals inside of them. He then folds the origami crane (Transformation of Wood).
  • For finalizing the ritual, we set up a beeswax candle with a dragon on it ('dragon)', then cup the origami crane in one hand, bring it near the candle, but interpose the other hand to protect it, taking the damage from the candle and soaking the power.
Beastmaster detection castle.png

Experiment #1: (2 points, 10 cumulative points) [Incorporated into outline above] Multiple sets of boxes, each set is made of one type of metal.

Feedback: Decoy boxes should all be one type; actual hidey box should be of multiple types of metal. Russian doll portion is doing a lot; having them be boxes of different construction that seem to be for people: e.g. jewelry box, footlocker, etc. is less fiddly. Each box is then of different metals.


Experiment #2: (2 points, 12 cumulative points) Five different types of dragon candles/candle-holders

Feedback: Beeswax candle with dragon carvings on it is best. Bees and wax are ritually neutral. Invokes image of mage's study with items of subtlety and meaning. Nice in that it explicltly invokes "No fire" in an interesting way.


The items will be origami animals that can be burned & when you look thorough the smoke you can see mind influences on people. Either Cranes or Phoenixes. Crane is for sight, Phoenix for magic - Phoenix might object less to her image being lit on fire...

Nope, that doesn't quite work. The smoke flows towards anyone beast mastered in the area.

Invoke the Tao:

  • Int with Feng Shui to lay out the implements and materials. 1st person
  • Yang with Magic Ritual!
  • Wits with Perception to find and select the correct ones! 2nd person
  • Yin with Magic Ritual.

Invoke the Elements:

Spirits that seem appropriate to invoke include Bear, Dog, Crane, Magpie, Phoenix.

  • Place the paper into a metal frame to write on it. Magpie in some way?
  • Calligraphy to draw characters for sight, mind, etc. on the paper. Creation with Metal. (to make this metal use a metallic ink or metal stylus or stamp?)
    • Make this Creation with Earth by using charcoal or chalk to write with. Write signs for the Empire with explicit Dragon iconography.
  • Animal Handling to have a dog place a wet paw print on the paper. Control of Water (Wanted Dog cause he's one of the defending spirits.)
    • Make it a bloodhound.
  • Crumble up a stone and use the sand to dry the paper? Destruction of Earth.
    • Dismantle the frame. Destruction of Metal.
  • Origami to fold it into a paper crane (or phoenix). Transformation of Wood.

The dust goes into your eyes! Yang soaked by perception dice loss!

  • No longer any dust. Cut yourself on the metal pieces to soak the Yang.

The Yin goes into the crane!.


New Plan: 3 person ritual- The Artist, The Northerner/Beastmaster, The Defender

The Artist rolls Int with Feng Shui and Yang with Magic Ritual to invoke the Yang & lay out the implements.

The Northerner comes in and messes with it. An animal comes in and messes it up.

The Defender uses Wits with Perception and Yin with Magic Ritual to find the correct implements in the mess & invoke the Yin.

The Artist uses Calligraphy to draw symbols for the Empire with dragon iconography using charcoal on the paper. May also have art or drawing skill to add images. The Northerner tries to distract with bird calls. A loud animal with a wire tied to it tries to distract the artist.The Defender quiets them somehow or covers the artist's ears. Creation with Earth

The Artist brings in a bloodhound, the Northerner tries to entice it away with food, the Defender makes an Animal Handling roll to have it place a pawprint on the paper. Control of Water Change to the Northerner has an animal on a thin wire that he uses to try to distract the hound.

The Artist folds the paper into a crane using Origami, the Northerner uses a symbolic metal puppet to interfere, the Defender destroys the puppet. Transformation of Wood/Destruction of Metal. The northerner has a man with a thin wire attached or tries to attach the wire to the defender. The defender breaks the wire

The Yang is soaked by ? getting cut by the wire or injured defending ? The Yin goes into the Crane.


Experiment 1: Invoking the Tao

Test 3x3 grid

Artist: Feng Shui/Ceremonies/Noble Lady Pastimes

Northerner: Cats/Self/"beastmastered" guy

Defender: Wits w/Per as either Find the Items in the mess/see the attack coming & block it/grab the important objects before attack arrives.

We get four points!

Cats are dodgy. Noble Lady Pastimes works with the aesthetic, Feng Shui was ok. Something artistic. Find the items works best.

Build up to beastmastery of men, appropriate escalation and drama. Use something to indicate control like threads. Final step would have him trying to control the Defender! Or some other guy and the defender can cut the thread. .

Make them metal threads so that can be destruction of metal!


Experiment 2: Calligraphy

Spend 50 li on art supplies and try out different papers/charcoals and seeing which symbols seem to work best.

Xiao Fa does Calligraphy. 12 - tries many different types of calligraphy involving dragon & phoenix, or implying a sinuous dragony form without including dragon, etc.

Takanata does Art. 14 - dragon and phoenix, map of empire, northern wall, etc

KuanXi does Art Appreciation 14

Something small and symbolic in the heart of the origami that doesn't show until it's burned. Can get something from transforming one piece of art into another piece of art when its folded.

Art to outside, symbol to inside.

If we do the magpie frame, the defender can hold onto it and be damaged. Metal threads work.

We get two points!


Experiment 3: Bloodhound! (2 points)

We borrow a bloodhound from house Tokai.

How do we imbue the paper with bloodhoundness using a wet paw print that doesn't mess up the art or origami? Only one print.

Distraction could be another animal with a metal thread on it. Or a lure of food and a metal thread ready to wrap around it. Or there could be a thread on our hound?

What kind of things distract it? Where can we put the paw print? How to do threads for symbolic beast mastery?

Think about symbology of threads throughout the whole ritual and how we use them on each step in a consistent way. <- different experiment.

So, for this test we'll look at what will distract the animal at the 5 success level. Hunting dog.

Fox/ Ferret / bunny rabbit / skunk

Fox is winner in terms of the dog wanting to go after it. Skunk is winner for dog wanting to go away from it.

We need a bigger piece of paper. The paw print could be the symbol in the middle..... How do we place the paper so that the print can be put on it? Do this step first? Do we put it on the floor or get the dog to jump on the table? Or go up a ramp onto the table?

If we have the dog go up a ramp to the table to make his mark it's a harder roll, so the distraction can be lesser?