[✗] [World Lore/Bardmancy Addition] Adfectio Stones and Emotion Wisps

[Hyperdron 355]

Spoiler

In the interests of interesting RP, the following recommendations are made in introducing this lorepiece to the server:

• Sizes, Densities (quality), and Adfectio Dust are common, open knowledge. 
• Heartstones may be known to be an exceedingly rare form of adfectio stone that any self-respecting jeweller would absolutely die to see once in their lifetime.
• The existence of Wisp Limits and Shattering may be inferred by anyone with an adept knowledge of Emotion Wisps (but metagaming the exact numbers immediately probably won't be that fun - experiment and learn!)
• Bardic Boons will be grandfathered knowledge for all Bardmancers currently T4 and above, and any Bardmancer that reaches T4 without having already been taught about them may self-teach the knowledge.

 

Art by MaR-93

 

Adfectio Stones and Emotion Wisps

Jewels of the Bardic Arts

 

Long have these beauties of the earth below bedazzled and fascinated those that walk upon its surface; gems capable of interfacing with thought, alighting to the depths of one's emotions. Expectedly then, they gladly made their way into the tools, crafts, and ornamentations of Descendantkind, proudly, timidly, excitedly showing their colours to whomsoever would be so curious as to reach for them. Yet should one ask a minstrel, an artisan, a dancer, a wordsmith, one well-versed in the practices of the soul-born magic of Bardmancy, if anything else were capable of capturing such brilliance as adfectio stones could - another obvious answer would come to mind: Emotion Wisps.

 

Until recently, a harmony between the two had never been thoroughly explored, but as Bardmancy's prevalence among artistic communities quickly grew, so did certain interactions come to light. While the knowledge of the more mundane applications written here had always been present to some extent across artisanal conventions, the stones' specific affinities with Emotion Wisps are now made widespread knowledge for those Bardfolk who wield their emotions as extensions of their art, collated by several eager pioneers and disseminated throughout the realms.

 

Sizes, Densities, and Limits

Adfectio stones naturally form in a range of sizes and densities. Size is self-explanatory - it refers to how large a single cohesive stone has formed that can be harvested without breaking it apart. Density then refers to the population of a stone's internal globules in comparison to an average standardised volume - a high density adfectio stone will contain microscopic globules only able to be measured with proper equipment, while a low density adfectio stone will contain large globules easily visible to the naked eye. Higher density stones produce far more lustrous colours when polished, and as such are highly sought after for their aesthetic value - hence 'quality' is a word that has often been used synonymously with 'density' - though lower density stones are also useful for their sturdiness, found in many an architectural marvel built to stand the test of time.

 

Globule shapes can differ greatly too between stones - for instance, some may have long and thin tubes that tile like xylem tissue, while others may have almost-flat discs that pile atop each other - but globule shapes are always consistent within their own stone, being the main reason they maintain a natural shape and structural integrity during formation and harvesting. While this does not necessarily affect the stone's ultimate quality, artisans throughout the ages have long held beliefs passed down through schools and cultures that certain shapes are better and/or easier to use for certain crafts and trinkets.

 

In terms of Emotion Wisps, the size of an adfectio stone determines roughly how many different Wisps can be contained and how many different Main Emotion Groups can coexist within it; the density also slightly affects the number of coexistable Main Emotion Groups, as well as the stone's structural fragility when exposed to an overload of emotional energy. A high fragility means a stone is extremely prone to fracturing at even the slightest overload, while a low fragility means a stone can weather far more exposure to an overload before any physical damage is incurred. Generally, as size goes up, the capacity for Wisps and Emotion Groups increases; as density goes up, the number of coexistable emotions also slightly increases, but the stone's fragility increases too. Information on fragility mechanics can be found under Shattering.

 

When an adfectio stone contains an Emotion Wisp, the general appearance of the stone can differ to a normal Wisp-containing object due to the sometimes discrepant colours the stone and the Wisp translate emotions into. For instance, a Peacefulness Wisp in an adfectio stone could display oranges (Bardmancy) and reds (Adfectio Stones); a Confusion Wisp could display greens and purples; a Fear & Enthusiasm Wisp together could display blues, yellows, oranges, and greys. Should individuals come close enough to such stones (within an inch of their surface), the colours of their emotions will still present themselves in the stone as usual.

 

How these colours meld or combine within the stone can vary, but often involve either some sort of lava-lamp aesthetic akin to normal Wisp-containing objects, a splashing aesthetic akin to normal adfectio stones, or a sparking aesthetic as if expressing a reaction between the two. The variance in aesthetics is commonly attributed to a combination of the densities and shapes of the internal globules, though there seem to be no absolute rules on this - one observation that has been made with certainty, however, is that as the number of Main Emotion Groups present increases, the more pearlescent all of these effects become.

 

The table below provides a guide to the Sizes, Densities, and applicable limits of adfectio stones that can be found, as well as offering an (optional) d100 rolling system for harvesting adfectio deposits.

 

Size	Globule Density	Maximum Wisps	Maximum Groups	D100 Roll
Tiny (Pebble) 0.5-6cm	Low Medium High	1 2 2	1 1 2	1-10 11-25 26-40
Small (Cobble) 6-12cm	Low Medium High	3 4 5	2 2 3	41-50 51-60 61-70
Medium (Cluster) 12-25cm	Low Medium High	6 8 10	3 3 4	71-76 77-84 85-90
Large (Chunk) 25-40cm	Low Medium High	12 15 18	4 4 5	91-94 95-98 99-100
Heartstone* 35-50cm	Very high	24	6	N/A

 

*Heartstones can only be found through ST events (eg. as a reward), and must be ST-signed.

 

With enough time and careful work, most adfectio stones can be broken down into multiple stones of smaller Sizes, all remaining the same Density. An (optional) conversion ratio is given below:

[1] Cobble -> [2] Pebbles

[1] Cluster -> [2] Cobbles OR [4] Pebbles

[1] Chunk -> [4] Cobbles OR [8] Pebbles

Heartstones cannot be broken down, as their structures are far too delicate for any practical attempt to succeed. They can, however, be slowly sanded and polished to any smaller preferred size.

Sizes, Densities, and Limits Redlines

Spoiler

• While Emotion Wisps are locked to a range of colours within their Group's specific hue, the colours adfectio stones can take on and the relevant redlines from their base lore are not otherwise affected by this lorepiece.
• If an adfectio stone is smaller than 5mm, it cannot hold any Emotion Wisps, immediately Shattering if a capture is attempted.
• If a harvested stone is sanded/polished/broken down to a Size smaller than the minimum for its original Size, it inherits all the limits of that new Size, Shattering if those limits are now exceeded.
  • Breaking down an adfectio stone cannot split already-present Wisps between the new smaller stones - they will always all remain in the single largest stone during the process.
  • Heartstones are the exception to this redline, and can be reduced to the minimum size of a Cobble (ie. 6cm/60mm) while keeping the same Wisp and Group limits. For every extra centimetre reduced past this, it would lose 1 maximum Group and 4 maximum Wisps (eg. a 40-49mm Heartstone could store 16 Wisps across 4 Groups), down to an absolute minimum of 4 Wisps and 2 Groups. As a reminder, you cannot break down Heartstones into multiple stones.

Adfectio Dust and Routes

[High] Density adfectio stones can be ground down to a much finer powder than necessary for Alchemy, referred to as 'adfectio dust'. This powder can be used much like any mundane powder - for instance, as simple glitter, or infused into paints, inks, and materials. Notably, however, adfectio dust retains the glowing properties of an adfectio stone exposed to emotional energy (albeit to a more limited maximum lustre), and does not suffer any structural issue with overexposure. Artisans have utilised this in many creative ways - making engravings upon a weapon that flare up with a wielder's anger, or activating aesthetic redstone devices from further away than just a stone could, for example. Notably, creating routes with adfectio dust for emotional energy to travel can only extend the energy's travel distance up to 3ft (1 block) from the source of the emotional energy.

 

One popular application of adfectio dust in particular is in creating 'mood tattoos' with adfectio dust-infused inks that glow in response to the canvas' emotions. Because the adfectio is all constantly in contact with a sentient being, it causes it to constantly glow - however, because it is so ingrained in the physical body, an overexposure to many strong, muddled emotions (even if entirely sourced from the individual themselves) can cause pain to the individual, akin to numerous tiny static shocks scattering across the tattooed areas.

Adfectio Dust and Routes Redlines

Spoiler

• Adfectio dust routes can be as long and winding as desired, as long as at no point does it travel beyond 3ft from its source of emotional energy. This range cannot be boosted.
• The pain of 'mood tattoo' emotional overexposure is entirely flavourful and does not inflict any significant enough effects to interrupt concentration or reduce physical capabilities. The exposure thresholds at which pain is caused is left up to the player affected.

 

Shattering

When an adfectio stone is too overwhelmed by many different strong or muddled emotions, it will begin to crack after a few seconds, being overwhelmed by a vibrant rainbow static - and if exposed for even longer, will eventually break apart entirely. For [High] Density and greater stones, the resulting detritus can be salvaged for adfectio dust, but the remains of any lower-Density stones will be unsalvageable and useless. The presence of the emotionally-charged mana of Emotion Wisps twists the nature of these Shatters into something much more severe for those near the stone, the consequences growing exponentially with the amount of Wisps that may so suddenly and viscerally be freed.

 

An adfectio stone's Size determines how much exposure to individuals' emotions it can handle before it overloads and instigates a Shatter:

• Pebbles and Cobbles can handle exposure to up to [2] individuals feeling strong/muddled emotions.
• Clusters can handle exposure to up to [3] individuals feeling strong/muddled emotions.
• Chunks can handle exposure to up to [5] individuals feeling strong/muddled emotions.
• Heartstones, due to their exquisite structures, cannot be Shattered by exposure to individuals' emotions, only by Wisp-based overloads.

Individuals who have bound a Wisp to themselves are always considered to be experiencing strong/muddled emotions.

 

An adfectio stone's Density determines how quickly a Shatter takes place:

• [Low] Density adfectio stones Shatter in [5] emotes.
• [Medium] Density adfectio stones Shatter in [3] emotes.
• [High] Density adfectio stones Shatter in [2] emotes.
• Heartstones Shatter in [1] emote.

Should an adfectio stone Shatter, the table below describes the scaling effects should it release any Wisps (if no Wisps are released, there are no extra effects):

 

1 Wisp	Any living being in contact with the stone at the time of Shattering feels a subtle pinprick against their senses, as the Wisp suddenly absorbs from them a small spike of emotional energy equivalent to its embodied Emotion before instantly vanishing.  Affected beings would be unable to experience this sapped emotion for only a few narrative minutes (or [30] IRL minutes, whichever is shorter).
2-4 Wisps	Any living being within #w range (2 blocks) of the stone at the time of Shattering feels multiple pinpricks against their senses, as the Wisps suddenly absorb from them spikes of emotional energy equivalent to their own embodied Emotions before instantly vanishing. Affected beings would be unable to experience these sapped emotions for [1] IRL hour.
5-9 Wisps	Any living being within #q range (8 blocks) of the stone at the time of Shattering experiences a sudden bout of pins and needles uncomfortably dulling their senses, as the Wisps pull from them significant amounts of emotional energy equivalent to their own embodied Emotions, vanishing after [2] emotes. Affected beings would be unable to experience these sapped emotions for [2] IRL hours.
10-14 Wisps	A bundle of turbulent energy bursts from the Shattered stone, assailing the senses of any living being within #q range (8 blocks) with a blunt, numbing force, immediately tearing from them significant amounts of emotional energy with no discretion for the emotions sapped, vanishing after [2] emotes. Affected beings would be unable to feel ANY emotions for [6] IRL hours.
15+ Wisps	A hideous amalgamation of chaotic energy explodes from the Shattered stone, forming a singularity of emotion that only seeks to feed for as long as it can before it inevitably collapses in on itself and ceases to exist. This amalgamation makes no distinction between emotions, viciously consuming any emotional energy it can find from any living beings within #rp range (20 blocks), possibly causing them to undergo a total sensual numbness - even inciting out-of-body experiences. The amalgamation lasts for [3] emotes before vanishing as suddenly as it came into being. Affected beings would be unable to feel ANY emotions for [1] IRL day.

 

Shatters may be averted should the source(s) of the overload of emotional energies be removed in time, though often marks of the overload will be left visible on the stone as physical damage - cracks, fractures, the breakdown of internal globules, or subtle remnant streaks of the colours of emotions that caused the overload, for example. Surface marks can be rather easily buffed out, but internal damage is almost always permanent.

Shattering Redlines

Spoiler

• "Individuals" refers to the adfectio stones' base lore definition of who can elicit an interaction with a stone, per its redlines. 
• Adfectio stones cannot be repaired in any way once they have Shattered.
• Shatters cannot be instigated through any methods other than an emotional overload of the stone through Wisp capture or exposure to individuals experiencing strong and/or muddled emotions, and cannot be sped up or slowed down by adding or removing 'levels' of overload.
• Emotion Wisps released through Shattering cannot be recaptured, as the Wisps' emotional energies would be too unstable to be resettled in another object.
• Shatters do not inflict any significant enough effects to interrupt concentration or reduce physical capabilities - the physical/sensual effects can be shrugged off without much trouble, though RPing the emotional effects is mandatory to the extent described and redlined. 
  • Shatters do not deal any lasting physical damage, eg. no cuts/bruises.
  • The physical/sensual effects only last for as long as the Wisps 'feed'.
  • How the lack of certain emotions is RPed is left up to the affected players.
• Non-living beings and beings already incapable of feeling emotion are immune to the effects of Shatters. This cannot be used to metagame the nature of a being.
• The effects of Shatters cannot pass through walls.
• If a stone is swallowed (???), it will immediately Shatter. This still deals no physical damage, but will still cause the swallower to experience all applicable effects per the table.
• No limits, mechanics, abilities, or otherwise throughout this lorepiece are affected or changed by an adfectio stone's level of damage. You either have a stone that works like a stone, or you exploded it. :)

 

Bardic Boons

Through the adfectio stones' various synergies with emotional energy, Bardmancers have discovered methods of utilising them to improve their interactions with Emotion Wisps and further the expression of their arts. In order to make use of the boons of Capturing and the Gift of Accordance, one must be at least a T4 Bardmancer with knowledge of Emotion Wisps, but the boons of Feeding and the Power of Accordance can be utilised by anyone with the sentience to interface with an adfectio stone.

Capturing

When a Bardmancer is attempting to capture an Emotion Wisp into an object using Capture the Moment, if their chosen object is or includes an adfectio stone, they may lower the DC for their capture roll by 1. This modifier can stack with any other modifiers the Bardmancer may have. Wisps captured in this way will always settle in the specified adfectio stone - ie. for an object that includes an adfectio stone, the Wisp cannot wander beyond the stone (unless adfectio dust routes are present), and if multiple stones are present, it cannot hop between them.

Capturing Redlines

Spoiler

• If an adfectio stone is included as part of a larger creation capable of capturing Wisps, all Wisps will be captured into the adfectio stone and cannot naturally wander the larger creation, thereby limiting a Wisp's usual object-based effects to solely the stone.
  • If such an adfectio stone is removed, all Wisps will remain in the removed stone.
  • This limit can be alleviated through the creation of adfectio dust routes (eg. through paints or material infusions), allowing the Wisps to wander and causing those areas with adfectio dust to take on the object-based effects too. Wisps will still be considered captured within their original adfectio stone and cannot be removed from said stone through usage of these routes.
• Objects with multiple adfectio stones may be used to capture multiple of the exact same Emotion of Wisp, as long as the Wisps are all stored in separate stones (eg. no putting two Happiness Wisps in one stone).
  • Using adfectio dust routes to connect stones that contain Wisps of matching Emotions does not amplify any existing auras, abilities, or so on.
• If an object already contains (a) captured Emotion Wisp(s) prior to the addition of adfectio stones, these Wisps automatically count towards each newly added stone's Wisp and Emotion Group limits, and will Shatter any stones whose limits are exceeded.

Feeding

Wisps captured within adfectio stones only require feeding once per [1] IRL week, as opposed to the usual once per IRL day. Feeding in these cases can be as simple as touching the adfectio stone, and allowing the Wisps to consume the individual's own energies as they flow through it. This may dull their feeling and expression of any consumed emotions for some amount of time afterwards.

 

The summoning of an Emotion Wisp of the same Main Emotion Group as a captured Wisp can also fulfil the feeding requirement, as long as the captured Wisp is within range of the summoned Wisp's emotional aura.

Feeding Redlines

Spoiler

• Wisps captured in an adfectio stone can be treated as being fed without need for RP as long as the stone remains in a player's inventory. As soon as it leaves the inventory (eg. stored in a chest or item frame), the [1] IRL week countdown begins, only reset if feeding is RPed or it is returned to a player's inventory.
• Individuals feeding Wisps in this way must have sentience (ie. be able to activate an adfectio stone) and be capable of feeling the embodied Emotions of the Wisps.
• The dulling of emotions post-feeding is not required for RP, but is recommended for flavour.

The Gift of Accordance

Bardmancers who have bound a single Emotion Wisp to themselves for long enough ([1] IRL month) may in a non-combat situation use its energies over the course of [3] emotes, now accustomed to a stable feeding method, to teach - or 'tune' - a captured Wisp inside an adfectio stone to make use of the stone's innate emotion-interfacing properties. This ritual can only be impressed upon stones that already contain only a single Wisp, and can only be done [once] an IRL day.

 

Captured Wisps that have been given the Gift of Accordance (referred to as 'Accorded Wisps') no longer require feeding at all, as they have learned how to continuously absorb ambient emotional energy from the environment through the adfectio stone. This causes the adfectio stone to constantly glimmer a mixture of colours - that of the Accorded Wisp's own colour, the colour of the Bound Wisp used to teach the Accorded Wisp this method of sustenance, and the colour the adfectio stone usually gleams when exposed to the captured Wisp's emotion.

 

However, Accorded Wisps have now chosen their forever-home, and Bardmancers will thus find it practically impossible to remove it from its stone - be that through binding, transferral, or any other methods of moving it. Their fusion with the stone also makes it far more fragile when exposed to differing emotions, making it easier for the stone to be overloaded with emotional energies:

• Anyone feeling emotions that are not explicitly the Emotion of the Accorded Wisp when in contact with the stone will cause its colours to waver, interspersed by violent internal sparks of the colours of those differing emotions. Exposure to any more than [4] different emotions will overload the stone, no matter how many or few individuals are in contact with it.
• Capturing even [one] more Emotion Wisp within the stone will also overload it, causing the internal globules to break down and the colours to turbulently merge together.

In both cases, the stones will immediately crack once this exposure limit is surpassed. If the source(s) of the overload of emotional energies are not then removed, the stone will always Shatter according to the emote count of its original Density, leaving the Accorded Wisp to vanish into nothingness.

Gift of Accordance Redlines

Spoiler

• Any size of adfectio stone can host an Accorded Wisp. The size of a stone that hosts an Accorded Wisp does not make their fragility differ to what is described in this subsection.
• Accorded Wisps are capable of following adfectio dust routes. Again, this cannot be used to remove an Accorded Wisp from its stone.
• Accorded Wisps cannot be transferred from one object to another.
• Accorded Wisps cannot be used for Self-Binding (the 'Binding to a Wisp' spell).
• Accorded Wisps cannot be 'un-Accorded'. If you want it to be free, say bye-bye to the stone and explode it.
• Any item containing an Accorded Wisp must be player-signed and specify the embodied Emotion in its description or linked content.
• Accorded Wisps may be attached to a cursed, blessed, or otherwise enchanted object, but do not interact with that object’s alterations unless specified within a specially made MArt.

The Power of Accordance

Accorded Wisps gain a stronger aura of their embodied Emotion through the Gift that leaks from their stone out into the environment - any living being standing within #w range (2 blocks) of an Accorded Wisp for more than [3] emotes may find themselves feeling its emotion, as if they were touching an object containing a Wisp. Similarly, touching something that contains an Accorded Wisp now only requires [1] emote to fully experience the object-bound effects.

 

Should a bearer of an Accorded Wisp choose, they may temporarily empower its emotional aura even further by  touching the adfectio stone (or a dust route connected to the stone) and offering up their own emotional energy of the Wisp's embodied Emotion over the course of [2] emotes. For the following [3] emotes or as long as the bearer remains in contact, the aura will grow to #q range (8 blocks) or fill an Amphitheatre (if within one), imbuing any living beings within range with its embodied Emotion as if a Wisp had been summoned (this aura, unlike an actual summoning, will not stun). 

 

Once this time is up, the aura will return to its original state, the Accorded Wisp cannot be used in this way for the next [12] IRL hours, and the bearer that used the ability will be unable to experience or offer any emotion the same as the Accorded Wisp's for the next [2] IRL hours.

 

For an Accorded Wisp inside a Cluster, a Chunk, or a Heartstone, the original passive aura is instead extended to #q range (8 blocks), the activated aura can reach up to #rp range (20 blocks), and the bearer that used the ability will instead be unable to experience or offer any emotion the same as the Accorded Wisp's for the next [12] IRL hours.

Power of Accordance Redlines

Spoiler

• Individuals attempting to use Accordance must have sentience (ie. be able to activate an adfectio stone) and be capable of feeling the embodied Emotions of the Wisps.
• Individuals attempting to use Accordance must have a valid item to represent the object with the Accorded Wisp.
• Accordance cannot force someone to change their mind about anything, such as whether to attack or whether to leave.
• Accordance does not force emotional changes on people; simply inform them of the effects and allow them to RP it.
  • If you think that the existence of Affection/Love/etc. Wisps let you romance roleplay with anyone, everyone, and/or everything, ST have permission to take you down to the river and encourage you to tell them about the rabbits. PLEASE. BE. NORMAL.
• Accordance does not affect people through walls.
• Multiple auras can stack, but do not change how strongly each one is felt, even if their emotions are the same.
• Accordance can technically be used in combat, but offers absolutely no benefits, and the emotions it summons will also offer no benefit or disadvantage. It is flavour, through and through.

 

---

Purpose (OOC)

Emotion Wisps and Adfectio Stones - a match made in heaven. I didn't quite say as much the first time I submitted a certain MArt to the forums, but I left it heavily implied. In that MArt's rejection (sorry 2024 MArt team, btw), it was recommended I work on submitting more general interactions to benefit the server as a whole, so naturally I took a big ol' hiatus from the server for the next one and a bit years to not do any of that. Now I'm back! And given I'm winding up to resubmit that MArt (sorry 2026 MArt team, btw), I figured I'd finally do what the team at the time suggested and yoink some ideas out of that write and slap them into a general submission.

 

Essentially, the Emotion Wisp niche of Bardmancy is small at the minute, somewhat unwieldy, and not particularly visible outside the magic itself, so I sought to offer a couple of ways to rectify that while I work on a larger expansion (Wispmancy soonTM). Throw in a bit of detail to adfectio stone lore, add a few boons for Bardmancers (AND PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO HAVE WISPS) to take advantage of, and toss in a not-too-devastating bane for those who want to be a bit silly - it's a small lorepiece, but hopefully one that should bring a lot more depth to both artisan roleplay and bard roleplay.

 

To note, I didn't feel there was enough need to warrant a full-on rewrite of adfectio lore, given Elrith's current version still holds up nicely and so it'd just be a waste of time. Everything here should match up correctly with the characteristics defined for the stones in that lore (and basic Wisp mechanics, of course) - it's just clarifying some things for the purpose of lorepiece marriage, not aiming to change anything per se, so I figured this submission would do fine as just a standalone Addition post.

 

Credits

Writer: @Hyperdron

Original Lorewriters: @tgrtand@Bardmancer(Bardmancy), @_Elrith_(Adfectio Stones)

 

Adfectio Stones Lore

Bardmancy Lore

[Vertigo_Round 328]

I have some very normal not bomb related ideas, +1

[Customable 304]

boogie bomb

[UniBearse 922]

I will always support bard stuff no matter what

[Pallodium 3775]

This lore has been denied.

 

At this moment, LT are slowly getting more and more concerned with the slow bloat that Bardmancy has been approaching in its breadth, and this is a severe step towards that- it's an unnecessary lorepiece which both excessively bloats Bardmancy but adds a lot more to the general metaphysics of the world which don't really make sense without bending  many rules. Sadly, we will not be considering any pieces in this vein for the forseeable future.