Jan 25, 2026 2:45 pm
1 - Joe Noakes
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Jan 25, 2026 2:57 pm
Despite Joe’s best efforts, or perhaps because of it, they were about to be late for school.
How did this happen? What will you do, if anything, to try to make it in time?
Apart from the prompt, consider a brief mention of: How did you spend summer break? What were you most looking forward to at school this year? What are you dreading?
How did this happen? What will you do, if anything, to try to make it in time?
OOC:
Welcome to your first post, but read the main thread first! Apart from the prompt, consider a brief mention of: How did you spend summer break? What were you most looking forward to at school this year? What are you dreading?
Jan 26, 2026 12:44 am
"C’mon, sis, we’re going to be late! You don’t need everything, just take paper and pens! You didn’t prep your bag last night? You had all summer, for pity’s sake!" Joe stood at the front door, drumming on the frame with his fingertips.
"We did not have all summer, we’ve only been here a few weeks and it’s a complete nightmare!" raged his sister Emily, careering down the stairs.
An awkward moment of quiet passed between them.
"Never more so," Joe agreed quietly. Even as he tried to comfort her, he knew he was repeating words they had used before, but there was no way to pretend that this morning was going to be anything like their previous lives, and decided to cut to the running-joke-summary-line they had found fitted at the end of all the oh-my-god exchanges; they had already reached a point where that phrase summed up the awful shared pain, and desperate comfort, and the certain knowledge that, however bad the summer had been, things could always be worse still. "Keep calm, and carry on!". His strained smile met her wobbly grimace.
"One day you’ll say that once too often, and I’ll throw something at you!"
"I know, and if we ever don’t need it any more, I’ll stand still and let you; but for now, standing still won’t help. C’mon, it’s a mile and a half, and we’re going to have to run!" That was no joke, their parents had encouraged them both to keep fit. They even kept up their slightly breathless exchange:
"Why rush? No first class to miss!"
"‘Course not. Nobody knows the timetable on day one. Still, a good impression always helps!"
"So turning up sweaty and out of breath is giving a good impression?"
"The mean kids will sneer anyway, and the teachers will care more about punctuality."
"Don’t remind me. You’re worried about the teachers?"
"Actually worried about the total change of school system; worried they’ll have learned different things and I’ll look ignorant."
"English is still English."
"Not the way some of these people speak it!"
"Oh lay off! How’d you think these people would cope with a Geordie? Or a Weegie? Every country has weird accents!"
"I’m most worried about history. Saxons, check. Normans, check. Tudors, check. American Civil War? No chance."
"Just remember, big brother; no Tea Party jokes!"
"We did not have all summer, we’ve only been here a few weeks and it’s a complete nightmare!" raged his sister Emily, careering down the stairs.
An awkward moment of quiet passed between them.
"Never more so," Joe agreed quietly. Even as he tried to comfort her, he knew he was repeating words they had used before, but there was no way to pretend that this morning was going to be anything like their previous lives, and decided to cut to the running-joke-summary-line they had found fitted at the end of all the oh-my-god exchanges; they had already reached a point where that phrase summed up the awful shared pain, and desperate comfort, and the certain knowledge that, however bad the summer had been, things could always be worse still. "Keep calm, and carry on!". His strained smile met her wobbly grimace.
"One day you’ll say that once too often, and I’ll throw something at you!"
"I know, and if we ever don’t need it any more, I’ll stand still and let you; but for now, standing still won’t help. C’mon, it’s a mile and a half, and we’re going to have to run!" That was no joke, their parents had encouraged them both to keep fit. They even kept up their slightly breathless exchange:
"Why rush? No first class to miss!"
"‘Course not. Nobody knows the timetable on day one. Still, a good impression always helps!"
"So turning up sweaty and out of breath is giving a good impression?"
"The mean kids will sneer anyway, and the teachers will care more about punctuality."
"Don’t remind me. You’re worried about the teachers?"
"Actually worried about the total change of school system; worried they’ll have learned different things and I’ll look ignorant."
"English is still English."
"Not the way some of these people speak it!"
"Oh lay off! How’d you think these people would cope with a Geordie? Or a Weegie? Every country has weird accents!"
"I’m most worried about history. Saxons, check. Normans, check. Tudors, check. American Civil War? No chance."
"Just remember, big brother; no Tea Party jokes!"
Jan 28, 2026 1:38 pm
Teenagers on the cusp of adulthood weren't typically given to superstition and other such easily-dismissed thoughts. But if there were a chance for hindsight years from now, the Awakened ones of the Class of '26 might be able look back to as early as their first day of school to realise that change was in the ether. Perhaps it was the greater weave of fate that pushed against their coming back, as if delaying them, keeping them away from the penumbral shores, from what was about to happen.
But they wouldn't have known that of course. To them, the situation was simply that they would be late. Joe and Emily were about to set off, and while it was certainly the case that there was no timetable yet and hence no first class to miss, first impressions mattered. Joe as a senior, would probably be able to figure out something to wiggle out of latecoming, but it wouldn't do for Emily to be late on her actual first day ever.
But they wouldn't have known that of course. To them, the situation was simply that they would be late. Joe and Emily were about to set off, and while it was certainly the case that there was no timetable yet and hence no first class to miss, first impressions mattered. Joe as a senior, would probably be able to figure out something to wiggle out of latecoming, but it wouldn't do for Emily to be late on her actual first day ever.
OOC:
Time to warm up your dice! You will be late for school unless you make a succesful Ability roll of your choice. Narratively justify in your next post whichever one you choose to roll. Alternatively you may use a relevant Sphere power, which for this particular situation will automatically succeed as coincidental magic, but magic was used nonetheless ;) Jan 29, 2026 12:02 am
OOC:
As the lateness problem was telegraphed in the previous post, I’ve already set up that the Noakeses are running to make school on time (hopefully!). I lifted the distance of a mile and a half from the air; as that’s distance running, I’m assuming Sta+Athletics: 4 dice. Difficulty is up to you…Rolls
Sta+Ath: - (4d10)
(7393) = 22
Jan 30, 2026 12:15 am
OOC:
I’ve managed to get some PC time and I’ve upgraded Joe’s character sheet with his Merits, Flaws and backstory which I’ve slightly clarified. Hopefully you will feel I’ve done you a few favours as his parents provide several potential longer-term hooks (or places to put them when you’re ready) in addition to his flaws, some of them in areas Joe wouldn’t have known much about before his Awakening (and possibly still doesn’t).A few things I haven’t got around to discussing yet; I didn’t post Joe’s summary in the general thread at first because it wasn’t ready, but then it occurred to me that, as he’s new, a good deal of ignorance about him is actually appropriate. If you feel that the other players should be trusted to separate character knowledge for themselves, I think we’re approaching the point where his summary (or a version of it?) could be posted - let me know what you think. I have also tried to ensure that the areas of his background I am poorly versed in (Akashic theory, oriental philosophy, spirit magick, spirit realms, cosmology, etc.) are precisely the areas where Joe is also ignorant, to make him easier to play in these respects.
I have assumed that, as a reincarnate, his Avatar actually has some history in more than one Tradition; although the Akashayana feel some responsibility for him (hence Lady Shrouded Mountain), his Past Lives also include experience of the Burning Times, among the Verbena but possibly others as well (the Chorus had a phase when they weren’t very fussy, ‘burn them all, God will know his own’, etc.).
After some thought I made one actual change; I bought the Burning Aura merit I was feeling drawn to, and lost a point in Mentor to pay for it, so the freebie point reckoning is still accurate. I realise this potentially acts against the Unobtrusive merit, but I reason that to remote or mundane monitoring Unobtrusive will dominate, while in person Burning Aura may start to make its presence felt, and mystic senses will of course tend to register the effects of his Aura. It could even reflect his mood; burning with fervour, power, or anger, as appropriate to the situation.
Next time I have some spare time I will try to work out his paradigm and tools, which is an area M20 seems to dig into a lot harder than previous editions.
Last edited January 30, 2026 12:17 am
Jan 30, 2026 4:14 am
They didn't need to go full tilt, not at first anyway. Emily was happily cheerful and energetic for her first day and was more enthusiastic about running faster than Joe was. They only decided to go full burst when they reached the long driveway with the gentle incline that wound its way up to the campus, because they saw that the few stragglers in front of them had also decided to pick up their pace. In fact, there were still a few vehicles still wending their way forward as well. Maybe they would waive latecoming for the first day.
But Joe needn't have worried. They cut it close, but were on time.
So go ahead and respond here with a post, and then head over to the main thread.
And yep I'll review the character sheet some more, we'll probably want to discuss the Past Lies aspect a bit, there's great potential in discovering magic there . Also, I'd recommend a very recent Awakening, ie mom just passed away, and maybe your Spirit Mentor is only just about to take an interest in manifesting themselves to you. That's probably more in line with the overarching premise of how this game begins, with newbies trying to figure out their magic.
No worries about paradigm etc, I fully intend in our session 0 to work all our way through the various starting aspects of Mage.
But Joe needn't have worried. They cut it close, but were on time.
OOC:
I was thinking you might've have made a post alongside your rolls, but then realised you were waiting on me for a difficulty number. It'll be default difficulty 6 unless otherwise stated. So go ahead and respond here with a post, and then head over to the main thread.
And yep I'll review the character sheet some more, we'll probably want to discuss the Past Lies aspect a bit, there's great potential in discovering magic there . Also, I'd recommend a very recent Awakening, ie mom just passed away, and maybe your Spirit Mentor is only just about to take an interest in manifesting themselves to you. That's probably more in line with the overarching premise of how this game begins, with newbies trying to figure out their magic.
No worries about paradigm etc, I fully intend in our session 0 to work all our way through the various starting aspects of Mage.
Jan 30, 2026 10:33 am
Joseph and Emily have done a fair bit of running, with only brief pauses to wait to cross roads. The snatched exchanges of conversation trail off as the oxygen debt builds in their muscles. Joe tries to keep their pace moderate, wanting to keep a reserve of energy, which proves necessary for the long uphill drive leading into the school grounds.
"Where do we go?"
"Just follow everyone else, I think."
I was thinking of Penny’s demise as happening a few weeks after arrival, with Joe’s Awakening arising during the processing, and probably within the last two weeks to a month. Lady Shrouded Mountain (who I’ve pictured as a kind of Akashic Qui-Gon, with a touch more sternness, either an ex-Akashic who wasn’t reincarnated, or some kind of allied spirit, who became a trainer for isolated Akashics, including quite possibly Penny before Joe) would then be showing up either immediately as part of the process, or very shortly thereafter. It’s even possible that, if she had been working with Penny, she’d have been around Joe as soon as Penny died; it’s just he wouldn’t have been aware of her until his actual Awakening.
With his father being a mage, and the event anticipated, I’m picturing his Awakening as more transformative than traumatic, with a few basics established immediately; most of all, don’t rely on magick when mundane abilities will do, it’s too risky. Paradox is obviously going to be an issue in this setting.
A Spirit Mentor is explicitly not supposed to teach Sphere Magic, although I was assuming that she would be able to teach him what he could do with what he has, while also focusing on the other skills an Akashic needs to develop; Do for a start, for his own safety (this is why he has the second dot in it) but also expecting Belief Systems and other disciplines such as more Meditation to be included urgently. I could certainly see Lady Shrouded Mountain instructing Joe to ask Alan for specific Sphere training, very likely Prime.
"Where do we go?"
"Just follow everyone else, I think."
OOC:
I was actually awaiting the outcome of the roll before continuing, not knowing for example if another challenge or complication might be coming.I was thinking of Penny’s demise as happening a few weeks after arrival, with Joe’s Awakening arising during the processing, and probably within the last two weeks to a month. Lady Shrouded Mountain (who I’ve pictured as a kind of Akashic Qui-Gon, with a touch more sternness, either an ex-Akashic who wasn’t reincarnated, or some kind of allied spirit, who became a trainer for isolated Akashics, including quite possibly Penny before Joe) would then be showing up either immediately as part of the process, or very shortly thereafter. It’s even possible that, if she had been working with Penny, she’d have been around Joe as soon as Penny died; it’s just he wouldn’t have been aware of her until his actual Awakening.
With his father being a mage, and the event anticipated, I’m picturing his Awakening as more transformative than traumatic, with a few basics established immediately; most of all, don’t rely on magick when mundane abilities will do, it’s too risky. Paradox is obviously going to be an issue in this setting.
A Spirit Mentor is explicitly not supposed to teach Sphere Magic, although I was assuming that she would be able to teach him what he could do with what he has, while also focusing on the other skills an Akashic needs to develop; Do for a start, for his own safety (this is why he has the second dot in it) but also expecting Belief Systems and other disciplines such as more Meditation to be included urgently. I could certainly see Lady Shrouded Mountain instructing Joe to ask Alan for specific Sphere training, very likely Prime.
Last edited January 30, 2026 10:38 am
Jan 31, 2026 1:00 am
OOC:
One thing I figure Joe might need to urgently learn (from his mentor?) is how to damp down that Burning Aura. It's a lovely story hook, but I worry plot-wise Joe's return to school is going to trigger all sorts of alarms!Jan 31, 2026 1:57 am
OOC:
It’s really that big of a problem- and the school has detection means that make it that big a problem?The description says it’s very difficult to conceal, and I don’t even know how he’d do that. Edit: I see, Mind 1 as he lacks Prime 2, presumably coincidental, but the stated penalty to hide an aura presumably ups that to a difficulty 6 at least…
Would he know to do this routinely? Presumably yes, from his Mentors…but if he regularly damps it down is there any point in having it…?
I was sure it’d be a feature at some point, but I don’t want to derail things immediately!
If it’s that big a problem, I could undo the purchase?
Last edited January 31, 2026 12:02 pm
Feb 1, 2026 2:26 pm
OOC:
I'm totally encouraging of all character choices and would enjoy building situations around them, merits and flaws both! Just pointing out that something like Burning Aura basically makes a character stand out from the rest when some aura reading ability is used (like a metaphysical flame in a crowd). Not trying to make you worry too much about it, swap or keep, it's early days yet so tweak accordingly. Just re-mentioning the starter premise of this game: young adults who were unaware of their magick potential, whose parents were mages but didn't tell them so. But they did put/keep their children in this school for some reason. Your backstory for Joe's character moved that needle along quite a bit, so we're working around it a bit, but no biggie :).Eight of Pattern means skill, and also artistry, prudence, attention to detail, centredness, and is associated with employment. (I drew a starter card for everyone to see what random subplot generation I might throw their way.)
Feb 1, 2026 7:30 pm
BedzoneII says:
OOC:
Your backstory for Joe's character moved that needle along quite a bit, so we're working around it a bit, but no biggie :).Eight of Pattern means skill, and also artistry, prudence, attention to detail, centredness, and is associated with employment. (I drew a starter card for everyone to see what random subplot generation I might throw their way.)
OOC:
Sorry, wasn’t trying to shake things up; rather, to fit in, at least for a while!Card sounds entirely appropriate to an older version of Joe…
Last edited February 1, 2026 7:31 pm
Feb 5, 2026 12:23 pm
BedzoneII says:
OOC:
I'm totally encouraging of all character choices and would enjoy building situations around them, merits and flaws both! Just pointing out that something like Burning Aura basically makes a character stand out from the rest when some aura reading ability is used (like a metaphysical flame in a crowd). Not trying to make you worry too much about it, swap or keep, it's early days yet so tweak accordingly. Just re-mentioning the starter premise of this game: young adults who were unaware of their magick potential, whose parents were mages but didn't tell them so.Both parents’ traditions have a range of mundane underpinnings which the children could easily be inducted into the basics of without revealing the full nature of the Awakened world, and I imagine that they would not have told the children anything that would imperil the family if blurted out in an incautious moment, nor caused problems if one or both failed to Awaken (again I’ve not said a dicky bird about any potential Emily may or may not have). It also occurred to me that some disapproval and/or tension might exist between the two traditions assuming their awareness of the relationship, never mind the children; I’d thought of this possibly making them less than respectable among one or both Traditions’ old guard, if you wanted a reason for their Tradition ties to be looser than usual.
I purposely left the exact events of Penny’s demise, and the nature of Alan and Penny’s mundane careers, vague to leave you wiggle room; I’d assumed that Alan at least had some magickal reason for coming to this area as well, helping to account for why he’s capable but frequently busy/unavailable, but I left that for you to work with as well. If you want, I can come up with some ideas for these areas, but I don’t want to throw more spanners into your setting!
If Joe’s keeping the Burning Aura (and I realise that nailing this down is probably becoming increasingly urgent!) do you want me to roll for the effectiveness of Joe’s attempts to suppress it? I’m picturing this as a daily exercise with Lady Shrouded Mountain…
Edit: Ultimately it’s supposed to be a merit; if it’s going to mostly operate as a flaw, that could suggest that it’s best discarded?
Last edited February 7, 2026 1:04 am
Feb 7, 2026 8:43 pm
The two new ‘counsellors’ dress and demeanour screams NWO. (Possibly a red herring if you’re into such things! ;-) )
Given how recognisable that trope is, my initial reaction is there’s a good chance Joe has been warned about it- that is kind of Awakened streetwise 101, along with clues to spot a basic HIT-Mark. However I’m also acutely aware of sailing close to the wind on character knowledge in this setting. So, does he know enough to jump to the obvious conclusion?
Given how recognisable that trope is, my initial reaction is there’s a good chance Joe has been warned about it- that is kind of Awakened streetwise 101, along with clues to spot a basic HIT-Mark. However I’m also acutely aware of sailing close to the wind on character knowledge in this setting. So, does he know enough to jump to the obvious conclusion?
Feb 8, 2026 1:20 am
OOC:
Regarding how much Joe thinks he knows about our new counsellors, it's safe to say let's take a relevant roll for that. This roll can be the one I'm requesting for at the moment, as Joe is having his dizzy spell. Remember, he can jump to the conclusion, but he still may or may not be correct. There will always be red herrings :) :). So how much Joe knows in general about magecraft we can determine along the way, with rolls if necessary, no need to assume he knows a lot, or too little, from his existing background, eg we can invoke Mentor, or Dream, or Spirit Mentor, etc, as and when necessary to explain what he knows or doesn't know.Back to Burning Aura, I'm not too bothered by it. The merit is that it gives a bonus to Resonance, but as it's an optional rule I haven't implemented the mechanic for it, only the storytelling aspect. It's why Wren detects Joe and Jonathan when her Resonance sensitivity kicked in. So the Aura will definitely benefit narratively at the right time, but it will also continue to suffer the drawback as described.
Btw, am narratively tapping into the fact that Joe has Dream and Demense, maybe Past Lives, to come up with this fainting incident.
Feb 8, 2026 2:41 am
OOC:
Ok, then Burning Aura stays.I was assuming you had a reason for the fainting fit, but it’s nice to feel kept up to speed. Thanks!
Red herrings expected, especially since our characters are inexperienced and a little (IC) knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Then, since Awakened streetwise 101 in this case is contemporary knowledge, I’m going to suggest Mentor is most appropriate, and since Joe is not at his best -and- about to faint, Wits may be more appropriate than Intelligence as he has to order his thoughts quickly…? That would make a dice pool of five.
Last edited February 8, 2026 2:42 am
Feb 8, 2026 3:20 pm
Sorry, I thought you’d explicitly included Mentor as a possible reference:
Note: using Past Lives for the roll about the counsellors means that one of his past lives must have been alive sometime in the last 70 years or so.
Quote:
Regarding how much Joe thinks he knows about our new counsellors, it's safe to say let's take a relevant roll for that. This roll can be the one I'm requesting for at the moment, as Joe is having his dizzy spell. Remember, he can jump to the conclusion, but he still may or may not be correct… …we can invoke Mentor, or Dream, or Spirit Mentor, etc, as and when necessary to explain what he knows or doesn't know.Last edited February 8, 2026 3:24 pm
Mar 1, 2026 12:08 am
I’ve made some notes about belief system, paradigm and tools at the end of Joe’s sheet.
The more I think about Joe’s magickal training and his mother having taken the lead in preparing him for possible awakening, the more I think she ‘d have been unlikely to prepare him for Entropy 1 and Dim Mak, and much more likely to teach him some basic chi raising in preparation for Prime 1.
If you’ve no objection, I think I should change that dot from Entropy to Prime?
The more I think about Joe’s magickal training and his mother having taken the lead in preparing him for possible awakening, the more I think she ‘d have been unlikely to prepare him for Entropy 1 and Dim Mak, and much more likely to teach him some basic chi raising in preparation for Prime 1.
If you’ve no objection, I think I should change that dot from Entropy to Prime?
Last edited March 1, 2026 12:59 am
Mar 1, 2026 1:23 am
OOC:
None of the dots are locked in yet. I did say the premise of this intro was a pre-Awakening/just Awakened situation, so if you haven't committed nor used certain skills and powers, then continue to swap them for something else.Mar 9, 2026 3:12 pm
"It was crazy! Did you feel it? I don't know what that was all about." Emily Noakes was meant to have experienced the fun of orientation activities and the energy of joining a new school, but all she could babble on about when she finally met Joe was about the incident. Joe could see she was a little green in the face, she youthful vigor supressing some of the nervousness. "Was school anything like this last year?" Joe himself wouldn't have known that much more, for he only joined last year.
Mar 10, 2026 12:47 pm
"No, no power failures, no mass gatherings, but then I was only there for a week and a bit, and everything was winding down for the end of term. A bit relaxed, a bit ‘demob happy’, that’s all. I think the teachers were hoping to ease everyone back into ‘school thinking’ today; nobody planned for this and it threw everyone for a loop. Nice to find most of the seniors are quite mature about it all though. Did you get to sign up for anything?"
Joe isn’t sure if Emily knows anything about her namesake’s disappearance, and isn’t going to bring the subject up unless she does; he doesn’t want her worrying unduly. Later that evening he will try to describe the day’s real events to his father if he can, but only once Emily is asleep or thoroughly distracted. Overnight of course, he is sure to discuss this with Lady Shrouded Mountain.
Joe isn’t sure if Emily knows anything about her namesake’s disappearance, and isn’t going to bring the subject up unless she does; he doesn’t want her worrying unduly. Later that evening he will try to describe the day’s real events to his father if he can, but only once Emily is asleep or thoroughly distracted. Overnight of course, he is sure to discuss this with Lady Shrouded Mountain.
Mar 10, 2026 1:50 pm
"I put my name down for Track and Field. I thought I was just going to try out a couple of sprints, but they asked me to try the jumps and I didn't do too badly." Emily was glad that Joe asked, it made for cheery conversation on the journey home. "One of the athletics seniors recognised my surname, said she was classmates with you, Korean girl with a chill vibe, I forget her name."
Dinner was on their own that night. Their father, Alan Noakes, had guiltly needed to work late, and had also hinted that he might need to make a short out of town trip. Joe really wanted to speak to his dad about the events of the day, but between waiting until Emily was bundled in bed, and how tired his father looked when he reached home, Joe figured he would retreat into his own room as well. Perhaps the dreamscape would offer him hints of the answers he sought.
Dinner was on their own that night. Their father, Alan Noakes, had guiltly needed to work late, and had also hinted that he might need to make a short out of town trip. Joe really wanted to speak to his dad about the events of the day, but between waiting until Emily was bundled in bed, and how tired his father looked when he reached home, Joe figured he would retreat into his own room as well. Perhaps the dreamscape would offer him hints of the answers he sought.
OOC:
Tell me a bit more about what Joe's Avatar seems like. In the spirit realm, I can see some degree of interaction between the avatar and the Lady. I'm going to postpone the Joe and dad convo a bit.Mar 11, 2026 12:23 am
OOC:
With an Avatar of 2 I didn’t think Joe’s "inner other" is likely to manifest a terribly detailed personality, certainly outside of exceptional circumstances like a seeking. I think it’d be quite Spirit-oriented, and I’d assumed that the avatar’s previous incarnation(s) would also have been mediums; if I were to infer how the burning Aura would figure into this, it’s not that the avatar is especially powerful, so maybe it’s very noticeable to a certain kind of sight. Maybe his avatar just likes dealing with other spirits, perhaps of a certain type, or maybe it has other motivations and this is all side-effects. Yes, I was looking at the Spirit Magnet flaw but eventually decided that being perpetually haunted by unpleasant spirits was a bit too much for a neophyte mage. I did consider that his parents might have opted for an urban school for the sake of a high gauntlet to reduce his chances of stepping sideways etc. by accident! You once implied that the school would have been a deliberate choice by the Noakeses, that’s my starting pitch for this possibility!No problem postponing a conversation with his father for a while. Need to think about how to deal with such a conversation, because I can see it could be a terrible deus ex machina and/or a lot of work for both of us.
For what it’s worth, I was short of inspiration for Lady Shrouded Mountain. Her name was inspired by Mount Qaf (the former cosmic reference point which was implied to have been substantially replaced/reshaped as the Digital Web) and the Sphinx who may have lived there (in a previous edition…) which fitted with the unaging-source-of-gnomic-wisdom air I had in mind for her. Naturally it’s up to you whether there’s anything to that; I think that lore is mostly Batini and/or associated with a rumoured domain in the Web (somewhere), so it’s unlikely Joe or his father know anything about it. Did his mother? Again, up to you!
Last edited March 11, 2026 12:26 am
Mar 11, 2026 12:46 am
Assuming Joe makes it into his dreamscape tonight, he really needs to unburden himself of everything that happened, and to Lady Shrouded Mountain that happens quickly enough. He certainly has a problem with controlling his Avatar, he also doesn’t know who if anyone he can trust at school. The two new counsellors are particularly scary, because while he doesn’t know much about the NWO, that’s the vibe they give off, and if that’s who they are, one wrong word could be very serious trouble whatever stage the Ascension war is at now. Left to himself, if he can’t avoid them he might just have to play dumb.
He’s more or less certain that the staff know something however, simply because after the disappearance of a student there wasn’t so much as a single police car in evidence. Most of the kids forgot Emily Walsh; but the staff were flustered enough to break routine and clear the school early; yet they obviously didn’t call the police. So, he reasons, they were doing something about yesterday themselves.
He’s more or less certain that the staff know something however, simply because after the disappearance of a student there wasn’t so much as a single police car in evidence. Most of the kids forgot Emily Walsh; but the staff were flustered enough to break routine and clear the school early; yet they obviously didn’t call the police. So, he reasons, they were doing something about yesterday themselves.
Last edited March 11, 2026 12:51 am
Mar 11, 2026 11:23 am
Ok, the word "awakening" has entered the conversation IC. Joe (as I currently imagine him) has a huge advantage, in that he knows he’s a mage and is potentially in a position to inform the others of at least a few basics.
However I don’t know if I should. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and I’ve been assuming that Joe also knows a few scary things about the Technocracy. If he drops what I’ve been assuming into the game it’s liable to have a significant impact (whether they believe him or not).
Bottom line: I could do with some guidance on what Joe actually knows or has heard before I make an irretrievable mess, or reveal too much.
I know you didn’t basically plan for already-awakened PCs, nor necessarily other things in Joe’s background so I assume you already have a plan for getting these PCs over the hump of enlightenment, and I _really_ don’t want to derail your plans any more than I already have.
However I don’t know if I should. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and I’ve been assuming that Joe also knows a few scary things about the Technocracy. If he drops what I’ve been assuming into the game it’s liable to have a significant impact (whether they believe him or not).
Bottom line: I could do with some guidance on what Joe actually knows or has heard before I make an irretrievable mess, or reveal too much.
I know you didn’t basically plan for already-awakened PCs, nor necessarily other things in Joe’s background so I assume you already have a plan for getting these PCs over the hump of enlightenment, and I _really_ don’t want to derail your plans any more than I already have.
Mar 11, 2026 3:30 pm
OOC:
Thanks for the thoughtfulness, yeah I really wasn't intending for any PC to be ahead of the others in this game. Having an already awakened mage amongst the rest who are pre-awakened makes these starting chapters potentially less interesting for everyone concerned, because the awakened mage can simply explain everything going on, as opposed to the point of this early part of the game, which is to discover bit by bit who they are, and what is the larger world around them. Our PCs don't know what Traditions are, they don't know what is the Technocracy, heck some of them don't even know what's happening to them is magic. So I do appreciate you noticing how your PC's background would potentially be at odds with the central premises of how this game starts.
Honestly, if you're open to the idea, I'd rather we dial back Joe's awakening. ie, he barely knows all these things himself, as opposed to that he's been coached for months or even longer on all the ways of magehood. He's barely gotten to know the Lady, who's barely begun to tell him anything. He doesn't have all this background knowledge. He's only just started to dream, and these dreams are disturbingly interesting because they reveal things that don't gel with his perceived reality. (I intend to use your Demense and Dream to help move things along, ie Joe learns some things through them, and then he can decide how to use the info to help the rest of the team.)
Also, the other premise of this game are the largely absent parents; there's a plot reason for that, so I'm assuming no one's been brought up as a mage to have nightly mage conversations at the dinner table, but they might have picked up hints.
Shall we try to align your PC a bit more instead, since we now have some breathing space to do so?
Mar 11, 2026 8:57 pm
Hm. Joe has to have had some guidance because he’s first tried not to use magick in the assembly (because he’d been warned not to reveal himself) then deliberately did so (sensing Emily Walsh’s life pattern). His spirit mentor explicitly cannot teach spheres, but we were content that she could guide him in using what he already has.
How’s this; we remove the dots in Mentor. Alan Noakes is now a Sleeper and occultist. He does know magick exists but doesn’t know Joe has awakened, nor does he know any other mages, so he hasn’t discussed anything with him. One or both of the dots goes instead into Library to reflect a cache his mother left for him - a thought construct in the Demesne which Lady Shrouded Mountain can reveal when the time is right?
Joe now awakened more recently than originally conceived, in a series of dreams over the course of the summer. He knows only what Lady Shrouded Mountain has told him, so he no longer knows about the other Traditions nor the Technocracy or the Ascension War. His reaction to Necht and Nixon remains, but just because they creep him out.
How’s this; we remove the dots in Mentor. Alan Noakes is now a Sleeper and occultist. He does know magick exists but doesn’t know Joe has awakened, nor does he know any other mages, so he hasn’t discussed anything with him. One or both of the dots goes instead into Library to reflect a cache his mother left for him - a thought construct in the Demesne which Lady Shrouded Mountain can reveal when the time is right?
Joe now awakened more recently than originally conceived, in a series of dreams over the course of the summer. He knows only what Lady Shrouded Mountain has told him, so he no longer knows about the other Traditions nor the Technocracy or the Ascension War. His reaction to Necht and Nixon remains, but just because they creep him out.
Mar 12, 2026 2:27 pm
OOC:
Great suggestions! And thanks, I don't mean to need you to swing in the opposite direction entirely. Joe certainly knows some stuff and has had guidance, we're just dialing back a little, he's still reasonably aware. I do like the parental love between an occultist and a mage, nice! I can use that. Mar 12, 2026 7:42 pm
OOC:
It’s a conceptually limited change which leaves most of the character unchanged but deals with the biggest problems. It does have a few implications; for example, Joe’s mother must have been the one to establish the Demesne now; that suggests that Lady Shrouded Mountain’s first task was to introduce Joe into it. It also suggests that Penny probably established and used the Demesne herself as a mental workspace and it’s now effectively bequeathed to Joe. So, as well as being useful he is now likely to have an emotional connection to it once he knows (which he may or may not already; my original assumption was that Lady Shrouded Mountain created it as a training space for him, and for now he may still be assuming that it’s hers rather than his). This also opens the door to his mother having left other clues to her life and work besides her Library there; if you ever want to introduce clues about what happened to her there’s one way of doing it.
Thinking about it, the Library probably includes Alan’s mundane collection for the Occult and esoterica; it’s just what limited magical material Penny could assemble that would be kept safe in the Demesne where no interloper would be able to find it.
Edit: Updated backstory in case anyone looks.
Last edited March 13, 2026 11:58 am
Mar 13, 2026 2:40 pm
"Have a seat." Despite the serious formality of the title of Doctor, Veritas was generally regarded as a motherly figure amongst the staff, more youthful in appearance than one might guess her true age to be, though her chopped bob and bangs, slightly streaked in grey, gave her some kindly gravitas to match.
The counselling room was furnished with soft armchairs and a table for the counsellor, carpeted but enclosed with no natural light. A small shelf sat to one side with a tray of glasses and a water flask.
Today though the shelf was partially blocked by a third person in the room."Ms Nixon will join us today as well, as part of the school's efforts to improve our care programme." The woman looked as proper as she did yesterday, again in nearly the same shade of grey suit. In her hand was a tablet and stylus.
"How are you doing at the moment Joe? I hope Emily's first day with us was a good one." Veritas meant Joe's sister, of course, but the mention of the similar name shook him slightly.
"I am concerned about what you may have experienced at yesterday's blackout. Can you tell me a bit about what's going on with you right now? I'm ready to listen if you're willing to share." So that’s what the school was calling it, a blackout.
Her tone was gentle, but nonetheless probing..
The counselling room was furnished with soft armchairs and a table for the counsellor, carpeted but enclosed with no natural light. A small shelf sat to one side with a tray of glasses and a water flask.
Today though the shelf was partially blocked by a third person in the room."Ms Nixon will join us today as well, as part of the school's efforts to improve our care programme." The woman looked as proper as she did yesterday, again in nearly the same shade of grey suit. In her hand was a tablet and stylus.
"How are you doing at the moment Joe? I hope Emily's first day with us was a good one." Veritas meant Joe's sister, of course, but the mention of the similar name shook him slightly.
"I am concerned about what you may have experienced at yesterday's blackout. Can you tell me a bit about what's going on with you right now? I'm ready to listen if you're willing to share." So that’s what the school was calling it, a blackout.
Her tone was gentle, but nonetheless probing..
OOC:
As mentioned, this is your individual scene within the main thread, where you have to see the counsellor. The overall conversation in the waiting room was and is still ongoing, and when you leave this session the other six are still outside talking. (I’m running this simultaneously across all threads so we don’t hold up the main thread too much.)Mar 14, 2026 12:30 pm
"Thanks for asking, Doctor, it was a bit of a surprise, but I suppose power cuts can happen anywhere. Strange that there was no natural light or emergency lights, though. Emily was a bit hyper afterwards, but that’s my kid sister; she managed to sign up for track and field, I think she said, before everything went strange. I signed up for running myself, never made it to the Library or the - someone said there was a history and politics club, I might try and have a word with them during the take-down of the stalls, or I suppose they’ll still accept sign-ups for a while, especially after what happened."
Joe watches both women for their reactions.
Joe watches both women for their reactions.
Mar 19, 2026 1:13 am
The same disconcerting feeling Joe had yesterday as his eyes darted to Nixon even as he recounted his version of the affair was amplified, for the guidance counsellor from the Board of Education revealed no expression throughout, save for the occasional scribing on her tablet. This was regardless of what Joe said or how he said it, nothing seemed to garner a response.
Veritas was in contrast warmer and much more assuring in her manner. "Stress can sometimes make events feel distorted. I am glad you handled the situation so well Joe, and for looking out for your sister. Did you talk to her about it? I trust you were able to allay her concerns."
But there it was. All savvy teens were alike, able to give an account to an adult to get out of trouble. The question was whether Joe had been able to successfully redirect the conversation towards talking about his signups. Also did Veritas pick up the topic of his sister in order to summon Emily as well? It seemed to matter whether Joe and Emily had spoken about this.
Joe had the feeling though that the version of the story he chose to tell was somehow important to himself personally. That it would shape how he dealt with his newly experienced reality in some way.
Veritas was in contrast warmer and much more assuring in her manner. "Stress can sometimes make events feel distorted. I am glad you handled the situation so well Joe, and for looking out for your sister. Did you talk to her about it? I trust you were able to allay her concerns."
But there it was. All savvy teens were alike, able to give an account to an adult to get out of trouble. The question was whether Joe had been able to successfully redirect the conversation towards talking about his signups. Also did Veritas pick up the topic of his sister in order to summon Emily as well? It seemed to matter whether Joe and Emily had spoken about this.
Joe had the feeling though that the version of the story he chose to tell was somehow important to himself personally. That it would shape how he dealt with his newly experienced reality in some way.
OOC:
Time for a Manipulation+Subterfuge roll, at difficulty 7, and you'll need 3 successes, representing the wisdom of the adults in the room when dealing with teens and their tales. Consider if the Short Fuse flaw might kick in because if Joe's protectiveness over his sister.Mar 19, 2026 11:34 am
OOC:
Joe has a 2 in Manipulation and nothing in Subterfuge; he's basically honest. That said, he’s recently acquired several reasons to want to mislead people about stuff. Would you mind him spending 3 of his (presumed, I don’t think you objected to any claims) xp to a first dot in Subterfuge?I have that flaw in mind. Neither subject it applies to is yet under any threat; Joe is more concerned about himself.
Do please also note that everything Joe said in this first speech was deliberately true; he is (so far) deflecting but not lying. He suspects that the counsellor wants to dig without actually mentioning the subject she wants to dig about, which gives her a problem… and he means to make her work.
Mar 20, 2026 9:10 am
OOC:
Happy for you to still move dots around, or spend then along the way. We've got some honest PCs along us, that's good! They can succeed by being forthright rather than through dissemblance. Yes I did pick up on Joe redirecting rather than lying.
As all counsellors go, they aren't going to prime the subject by saying what the thing is, (unless they have some stronger ulterior motive to do so, not that I'm saying Veritas doesn't.) Let's see where the conversation goes. It might come down to a resisted roll next if necessary.
Mar 20, 2026 10:28 am
OOC:
Done.OOC:
Well that’s never going to amount to three successes!Last edited March 20, 2026 10:29 am
Rolls
Manipulation + Subterfuge - (3d10)
(425) = 11
Mar 30, 2026 9:43 am
"I have the impression that there is something you would like to tell me, but you are unsure whether you ought to or not. Since talking about it might be difficult, tell me instead why you are hesitant. Is it hard for you to explain it in a way that you think it ought to be understood? Are you struggling with how it makes you feel right now? Or are you afraid of what might happen if you reveal it?" Veritas nudged Joe along with her usual gentle affirmative tone, which would have felt entirely safe were it not for the fact that Joe could not ignore the presence of Nixon still sitting in the periphery.
OOC:
As discussed, Joe can hardly succeed on this one, so no matter what, Veritas knows he's not revealing everything. Time to find some other words to weasel out so that she'll let him go!Mar 31, 2026 2:34 pm
"You have a point, Doctor, and frankly I’m surprised that you’re on a fishing expedition rather than conducting rumour control. Thank you for recognising my concern for my sister. She doesn’t seem to have been upset by the rumour mill going apeshi- sorry, pardon my French, going crazy - around here. I’m very surprised that you’re asking me about what I heard rather than announcing what actually happened. There are kids saying that one kid never turned up yesterday, and another vanished in that power cut. One kid off sick first day of term? Probably happens in half the schools in the country. But a kid disappeared? If someone had actually disappeared there’d have been police combing the grounds and probably the buildings as well, but yesterday? Nothing. This morning there’d be a missing persons announcement. But no, still nothing."
"Now I could picture someone deciding to run off and hide when the lights went out as a prank; but most likely only if they knew it was going to happen, else they’d be too surprised. So did they have an accomplice? Could some student kill the power across the building? How many students were not in the hall or the gym? How many students even know where the main switch is?"
"My best subject is history, Doctor, which mostly comes down to two things; sources, and evidence. Confused sources create bad history. And right now there’s a different rumour for every student in the place about what happened yesterday, while the authoritative sources are not only silent, but actually resorting to asking what the rumours are. Not only does that seem like a strange course of action in the circumstances, but it suggests that whatever is known is being kept quiet. If it’s serious, that’s a problem, on several levels. If it’s trivial, why leave the rumours unchecked? If the sources and evidence don’t add up, a historian is left with theories. I’m trying to think rationally about this, and it’s been worrying me since last night. But I know a rumour mill when I hear one. And it’s humming all across the campus."
"So yes, I have concerns. What is going on, and is my sister safe in this school?"
"Now I could picture someone deciding to run off and hide when the lights went out as a prank; but most likely only if they knew it was going to happen, else they’d be too surprised. So did they have an accomplice? Could some student kill the power across the building? How many students were not in the hall or the gym? How many students even know where the main switch is?"
"My best subject is history, Doctor, which mostly comes down to two things; sources, and evidence. Confused sources create bad history. And right now there’s a different rumour for every student in the place about what happened yesterday, while the authoritative sources are not only silent, but actually resorting to asking what the rumours are. Not only does that seem like a strange course of action in the circumstances, but it suggests that whatever is known is being kept quiet. If it’s serious, that’s a problem, on several levels. If it’s trivial, why leave the rumours unchecked? If the sources and evidence don’t add up, a historian is left with theories. I’m trying to think rationally about this, and it’s been worrying me since last night. But I know a rumour mill when I hear one. And it’s humming all across the campus."
"So yes, I have concerns. What is going on, and is my sister safe in this school?"
OOC:
Flaw invoked, delicately for now. Truth, logic, and a touch of teenage arrogance, not to mention a whiff of misdirection under the counterattack.Last edited March 31, 2026 2:44 pm
Apr 1, 2026 2:45 pm
Veritas' expression ranged accordingly as Joe's spiel started and gained momentum, from her trademark patient attentiveness, to a slight furrow in her brow to project a soft concern, and then finally an aspirated outtake of breath as if to express shared solidarity with Joe's frustration. And all this while, the poker face of Nixon in the periphery.
Veritas' next words though, were nothing close to supporting Joe's view. It worries me that you're holding on to an interpretation that doesn't match objective evidence. I get that you are worried about your sister, good of you as a brother to want to make sure she adjusts well. But painting yesterday's blackout with such extreme observations, and making assumptions of what other students think, do you think that is appropriate? I am sensing a great deal of anxiety here."
It was beginning to be obvious to Joe that the official stance would be maintained. If he wanted to dig into the truth, he would have to actually talk with those who genuinely saw as he did and also wanted to get to the bottom of this. Here it seemed he needed to thread the line between saying his truth, but not get into trouble for it. Would he try to brings things to a close by saying what Veritas wanted to hear, or would he dig his heels in?
Veritas' next words though, were nothing close to supporting Joe's view. It worries me that you're holding on to an interpretation that doesn't match objective evidence. I get that you are worried about your sister, good of you as a brother to want to make sure she adjusts well. But painting yesterday's blackout with such extreme observations, and making assumptions of what other students think, do you think that is appropriate? I am sensing a great deal of anxiety here."
It was beginning to be obvious to Joe that the official stance would be maintained. If he wanted to dig into the truth, he would have to actually talk with those who genuinely saw as he did and also wanted to get to the bottom of this. Here it seemed he needed to thread the line between saying his truth, but not get into trouble for it. Would he try to brings things to a close by saying what Veritas wanted to hear, or would he dig his heels in?
OOC:
Nicely narrated. I didn't even need to ask for a Willpower check from you. Downside is Veritas knows where Joe stands, we'll see if he gets into trouble because of it. She's a counsellor, not the disciplinarian, so it's not like she'll be 'punishing' him for this (even if other potentially bad things happens). We can wrap this up? Unless you think Joe can get some more out of this. Apr 1, 2026 5:21 pm
Doctor Veritas’ professional approach is somewhat reassuring; her personal feelings are obviously at variance with the position she’s obliged to hold. That suggests that her own intentions are good, but it also constitutes confirmation that Joe is heading somewhere in the right direction. However, hold she obviously will, even when she’s so rattled that his final question, which should certainly have gained a near-reflexive response (either "of course" for a simple lie or "why would you think the school would not be safe?" if the answer was not so screamingly obvious) got overlooked completely. Tellingly, she also didn’t see fit to quash the rumours, even when as good as challenged to do so, suggesting that the planned cover story (the ‘power cut’) has not been developed to cover the maybe-disappearance, probably because what actually happened isn’t known. Very interesting; if the staff don’t know what actually happened, then they’re definitely still investigating, and this interview is part of that process. At the very least, if this was a prank, enough hints about the fate of the transgressors would be mentioned simply to deter anyone else from trying something similar in future.
No, the details are being hastily hidden but the cover up is pretty plain to see; if even the obvious facts can’t be explained, blatantly attack or deny them. Joe’s observations were carefully factual; his deductions were open to question, but she left them quite alone.
"So the rumours are exactly that? Are they always like this as soon as anything at all unusual happens? Well, then I’m sorry to have taken up your time. I had been stewing about this, but I suppose I need to develop a thicker skin. I’ll tell Emily not to worry if the subject comes up again."
No, the details are being hastily hidden but the cover up is pretty plain to see; if even the obvious facts can’t be explained, blatantly attack or deny them. Joe’s observations were carefully factual; his deductions were open to question, but she left them quite alone.
"So the rumours are exactly that? Are they always like this as soon as anything at all unusual happens? Well, then I’m sorry to have taken up your time. I had been stewing about this, but I suppose I need to develop a thicker skin. I’ll tell Emily not to worry if the subject comes up again."
OOC:
Thanks! I think Joe's done here; he has no further prospect of extracting anything useful that I can see.Apr 4, 2026 6:39 am
Joe was smart enough to figure out what was being said, and by inference what was being omitted by Veritas. It confirmed his suspicions of a cover up, and concluded that he had to go find out for himself what was actually going on.
"Once Emily has settled in I'll have a chance to hear how she's doing, I'll be arranging to see all the first years."Veritas mentioning his sister chilled him a little, but that only strengthened his resolve to get to the bottom of everything, for both their sakes.
"Once Emily has settled in I'll have a chance to hear how she's doing, I'll be arranging to see all the first years."Veritas mentioning his sister chilled him a little, but that only strengthened his resolve to get to the bottom of everything, for both their sakes.
OOC:
Yep, done here, back outside!Apr 6, 2026 9:54 am
Joe has a couple of problems.
One, if he lets on to some of what he knows, the natural follow up would be curiosity about how he knows; and it’s hard to imagine him being comfortable explaining to fellow teens he’s only known for a few days about his dreams; that he’s dreaming about someone who is at least female-presenting, not to mention older (possibly ageless) makes this even more awkward. He’d expect to be ridiculed mercilessly if this came out (it’s almost feeling like another Dark Secret!). It’d take a lot of trust for him to open up about this, and he’d almost be more willing to share it with Dr Veritas (individually) than his peers; at least she wouldn’t spread it round the school to taunt him.
Two, I note that ooc the others are leading towards investigation of the burnt out wing. Joe’s own personal lead involves going back to that precise spot in the gym but he isn’t comfortable explaining why, as above. Since this seems unlikely to link with what the others are doing, is there any way he could pursue it himself; maybe find ten minutes in the day when the gym isn’t in use - alternatively, is there an activity he could find which would allow him to stay in one spot there for a while, maybe a yoga group, or some other event as a spectator?
One, if he lets on to some of what he knows, the natural follow up would be curiosity about how he knows; and it’s hard to imagine him being comfortable explaining to fellow teens he’s only known for a few days about his dreams; that he’s dreaming about someone who is at least female-presenting, not to mention older (possibly ageless) makes this even more awkward. He’d expect to be ridiculed mercilessly if this came out (it’s almost feeling like another Dark Secret!). It’d take a lot of trust for him to open up about this, and he’d almost be more willing to share it with Dr Veritas (individually) than his peers; at least she wouldn’t spread it round the school to taunt him.
Two, I note that ooc the others are leading towards investigation of the burnt out wing. Joe’s own personal lead involves going back to that precise spot in the gym but he isn’t comfortable explaining why, as above. Since this seems unlikely to link with what the others are doing, is there any way he could pursue it himself; maybe find ten minutes in the day when the gym isn’t in use - alternatively, is there an activity he could find which would allow him to stay in one spot there for a while, maybe a yoga group, or some other event as a spectator?
Apr 6, 2026 1:44 pm
OOC:
Yeah, I was hoping you'd be returning to that hanging clue where appropriate!It's true that everyone has individual threads and also individual goals, that will continue to happen. But I'm hoping to balance that against the fact that there's a collective direction to take as well, not just seven individual directions. So I do expect some conversation to take place where Joe says he's got a lead on tracking Emily that can be fruitful, and for the group to decide and prioritise what to investigate first, then next, etc. For all we know, following Joe's lead could lead to better outcomes (tracks Emily down, or figures out why the trail ends, gets clues to continue on, etc) than investigating the building. Discuss it! :)
As for characterisation, I like the dilemma that Joe has, how much to reveal, how much to keep. I'll leave it to others to decide how to react, let's not assume the ridicule, it may be camaraderie that's the outcome instead.
Apr 15, 2026 9:47 pm
Joe texts his sister:
I’ve been roped in for helping clear up the stalls left in place yesterday along with the other seniors. I think I’m invited to hang out with some of them after school. Are you ok to go home without me? Joe.
I’ve been roped in for helping clear up the stalls left in place yesterday along with the other seniors. I think I’m invited to hang out with some of them after school. Are you ok to go home without me? Joe.
Apr 27, 2026 12:07 pm
BedzoneII says:
[quote]Can’t do this IC yet, but pooling the above, it sounds more and more like Emily was possibly actively doing something herself; that her path from the point(s?) where she "disappeared" can be detected also casts events in a different light. I was wondering if her disappearance had been a stepping sideways through the Gauntlet, but while Joe is nowhere near being able to create such a passage himself he could have detected one; it seems that something else was going on. [/ooc]
I can hint that there might've been some Gauntlet side stepping, but maybe it didn't happen in the hall/gym itself. ;)
OOC:
Been wondering how Spirit could be used to create multiple manifestations, and that was the clue I was missing!Method 1: Multiple windows from one original location: Emily was actually in one place, probably in the Penumbra, but created personal windows through the Gauntlet in multiple locations leading to different locations in the material world. This might have needed Mind to multitask and manage all the interactions at once.
Method 2: Emily bargained with someone (other manifested spirits?) to act as her duplicates; more effort to arrange, less hard magick to maintain.
Neither method of itself explains the reason this was done, nor how it ended. Hence, some outside agency was somehow involved (I.e. other than Emily).
Working hypothesis: Emily’s effect ended involuntarily, for method 1 because her magick/concentration failed, or for either because the multiple Emilys generated too much paradox. The darkness is some sort of protection against huge numbers of mundane witnesses to a vulgar effect; hence a means of managing paradox events, and whatever it was, was powerful enough to subtly rewrite reality (some of Emily’s possessions were reallocated to nearby students, memories are being ‘softened’, etc).
As to the reason, assuming Emily knew about the protection effects, it may actually have been a deliberate prank!
Apr 29, 2026 10:15 am
Joe could tell when his sister finally got out of class, since she was now checking messages to reply to her brother. <sure I can get home myself. how late will u be?>
Apr 29, 2026 10:26 am
Joe replies to Emily;
Damned if I know. Leave me some leftovers to microwave in case they don’t all go for pizza or something after this! You & dad know how to reach me. Joe
Damned if I know. Leave me some leftovers to microwave in case they don’t all go for pizza or something after this! You & dad know how to reach me. Joe
Jun 29, 2026 7:38 am
I was rather struggling to decide how to develop the library scene further, since both Demesne and Spirit Mentor seem highly personal and more than a little improbable even in the light of developments so far; although that aspect of his barriers is definitely coming down somewhat, I’m still dubious about a teenage boy admitting to anyone that he has recurring dreams involving a strange older woman!
However it seems likely that Wren is about to provide something else to focus on…
However it seems likely that Wren is about to provide something else to focus on…
Jul 3, 2026 12:57 pm
OOC:
True that Joe won't be talking about his Mentor that openly. I do think Demesne though has some more open-ended possibilties. It can be a shared landscape others can experience too, if Joe invites them in (through meditation maybe, that's one of Joe's schtick I think), in some way equivalent to Myra inviting others into her private space so to speak. Who knows what answers, or questions, might pop up inside? I also allow some looseness with Dream in the same way in terms of entering the dreamscape. Jul 16, 2026 10:11 am
Hadn’t thought through Penny’s maiden name; I had pictured her as having some HK Chinese background, but that doesn’t preclude the name. TBC.
The use of the maiden name automatically dates the context but also provides (the seed of) a reason for the Noakes family to have come here. I did leave that hook hanging for later…
(Edit: If this was his mother before she married, she presumably wasn’t here to plan the education of her own children… but was she attending the school herself, as a teenager? That would explain why she thought of this place as somewhere suitable for her own kids! I think Joe needs to check some records and find the Quidditch trophy for the right year!)
It also opens the door to the possibility of trying enter his Demesne in this space, and possibly manifesting Penny within it, since she built it originally… (edit: of course a younger version might not be much more aware than Joe is himself, but might be able to provide some very useful insight! However as it was probably an older version of her that prepared the place… a range of possibilities, I suppose. Experiment required!)
The use of the maiden name automatically dates the context but also provides (the seed of) a reason for the Noakes family to have come here. I did leave that hook hanging for later…
(Edit: If this was his mother before she married, she presumably wasn’t here to plan the education of her own children… but was she attending the school herself, as a teenager? That would explain why she thought of this place as somewhere suitable for her own kids! I think Joe needs to check some records and find the Quidditch trophy for the right year!)
It also opens the door to the possibility of trying enter his Demesne in this space, and possibly manifesting Penny within it, since she built it originally… (edit: of course a younger version might not be much more aware than Joe is himself, but might be able to provide some very useful insight! However as it was probably an older version of her that prepared the place… a range of possibilities, I suppose. Experiment required!)
Last edited July 16, 2026 10:40 am
Jul 16, 2026 1:44 pm
OOC:
Without the Time sphere it's hard for Joe to date when his mom might've been here. We can keep that detail as part of the ongoing discoveries Joe is making about his own family, and why mom wanted to come back. Tentatively I have her being here in Ashford before she got married (for an indeterminate period of time, could be longer or shorter), but not necessarily as a student, although that could work too.And sure, let's have a Leung, Chan, Yuen, Lau, Cheung, etc, instead, I like that! Pick one and I'll retcon with an edit!
Jul 23, 2026 10:49 pm
Penny Leung is good with me.
Not sure how long Joe’d have taken exploring this sensation and digesting what he’s learned…
Not sure how long Joe’d have taken exploring this sensation and digesting what he’s learned…