PrimnyaQuorum

"They never understand, ever after -" The Watcher starts, eyeing the missive from the road. His Yisar nudges him, evidently unwilling to entertain aimless ramblings so early in the morning. A drawl out sigh escapes into the frigid air, as he circles the section he takes concern with. A reply is scribbled onto the either side, and hastily dropped off to a Courier as he passes a nearby settlement: Monk Sakuraba, I hope this finds you well - many of the concerns you list are well-founded, equally as others are derived from a lack of knowledge easily corrected. I can, of course, only speak of your concerns on the sections regarding Voidal Magics and Valindra, briefly. Such a conversation is nuanced and best done face-to-face, but a precursory explanation can be offered here. If your contention is the accuracy of the objection, I would note the exact wording on the Commission - that such a practice enacts a heavy toll upon the individual, and thusly should be entrusted to those only with a strong enough Body, Mind, and Soul. If there is any single person alive who not only wholly fits this criteria, but has for several centuries without fail, it is Valindra. I doubt myself Canonism will see a Elf with both her devotion to the Faith and sheer grit for another ten-thousand years, and longer. In a similar argument lies the Art of Watching - no doubt the church is familiar with many a Mali' with stars embedded into their eyes, no better then the next mage. Watching entails with it a heavy burden, one many opt to ignore - one Valindra and I have tirelessly upheld through hatred and pleas of aid alike, from those of the Faith and otherwise. In truth, of my humble opinion, the Commission would benefit from elaboration - I know not what a 'Tier ' is, nor is it clear in a simple manner what each magical practice entails, down to the very risks to mind and soul. As you can imagine, after the perhaps-righteous prosecution mages have endured for the folly of Ando Alur and Celia'nor, few are willing to come forward and elaborate. Nevertheless, I would be happy to sit down over tea and discuss these questions you undoubtedly have, so you may further serve your parish in Truth and Fairness. I am not quite as knowledgeable as Valindra, but we both have been incredibly busy handling the Horror that has taken after His Holy Image to prey upon the Faithful Flock - I simply happen to have slightly more time. Please write back if such a meeting interests you with a date and location. Kindly, Lord-Magister Haus Master of the Ziggurat of Hohkmat, Watcher of the Veil @Publius

That damned, weeping Watcher stared at Scrisa as she drew her last, blood-stained breath. A ward of a dear friend, and someone he himself had cherished. He tried, he so believed - to keep her away, to prevent it. He told those with him to lower their weapons, to allow her to grieve, and yet- For all he was, for all his might, he could not stop it. And so another part of his Heart died with her - for he knew in the very end: She was right. She did not deserve this. And so he wept in private, and prayed to what he did not believe in - not for forgiveness, but mercy upon the one who deserved it above all else.

Haus remembers the child who ran from the clinic to shade, carrying a jar with a spider in it. He remembers the Queen he stood before with the Grand Lord, explaining to her what role his office offered to the Crown. He remembers the look on her face - confused, worried, and supportive. He remembers lying in the frost and snow as his life slipped away - how the hearth she had nurtured had allowed him to endure, how that warmth remained with him as he lay abandoned. He remembered the countless acts of Violence he had threatened, and the few he had done, for her honor and integrity. What lengths he has gone to tend to the Hearth, for her. A drink is poured out into the dirt for the People's Queen, and a unexpected, lifelong friend.

A bloodied dagger remains tight in his grip. Star-drowned eyes watch the corpse topple over before him, of a man so devout to his goals he resisted all temptation. That Watcher knows in the very depths of his soul the day will come when questions are asked, when his loyalty will be tested once again. People will claim he had some elaborate scheme, served some higher power. As he hears familiar voices from outside, his heart aches and weeps - that very misery he knows he inflicts is the same that guided his hand. His tears do not stop, nor does his grief subside as days pass. A part of him has been severed, to die with the very life he took. He knows the mission he must uphold now. The Veil demands it.

In his private quarters, Haus winces as words in a hellish tongue come into his view, dropping the paper atop his table as he rubes at his eyes. He quickly flips over the page, ponders the problem, and writes to the only man he can think of who might be qualified to handle this: Bishop Villorik, I hope you are well, admist the chaos that is once again, humanity. I write to you under a most grave understanding - within the Dark Magicks section, there lies a word that I cannot read, for it burns my very eyes and inflicts hot flashes upon my skin to simply read. Such discomforting text is a clear sign of Vile, Evil Tongues, ones that no mortal man could ever utter. It goes without saying, then - one of the Author's of this document is perhaps hiding in plain sight. I urge you as the last bastion of action within the Church to look into this mater, before such acts are raids of vile and hellish creatures occurs upon the rest of Canondom as it has Hohkmat. Kindly, Lord-Magister, Haus Master of the Ziggurat of Hohkmat, Watcher of the Veil @Xarkly

Cosmic eyes, often focused beyond the mundane realm, narrow upon the parchment nailed to a door. He produces a tiny black booklet, and scribbles something further.

Admist the chaos that is the Human Geopolitical situation, the paper from Balian makes its way to the desk of a Watcher. He frowns - he's quite fond of this island, and how it remained untouched by mortal hands. He eyes a tiny black book that's come to safely rest upon his desk, and begins to scribble notes into it.

Somewhere, star-drowned eyes read over the missive. A brow twitches as Amaya is mentioned, and suspected. The paper is burnt to ashes as he reads onward, about false relationships and lies. Haus stands - and taking a page from his dear Mentor's book - makes a little black book of his own. Names are jolted into it. He decides to leave the forgiveness to someone else.

"...Poor Amaya." Haus bids in his own silence, a copy safely kept in his quarter's and away from the burning hands of the Haeseni. Somewhere across the room, a larger stack rests - his own collection. History memorialized. The Once-Weiss never imaged he'd live to see the Descendant of the Lion, Karl III, engaging with Hellish forces. Truly, a wonderful surprise. Yet all he could muster was that of sympathy for the dear Queen - the one who had lead the Haeseni through thick and thin, perhaps to be disgraced by association. He rose, opting to pace around his halls. Perhaps she need not be.

Firstly - I love the idea of this re-write, and I think it brings a good many needed changes to fire (Thank GOD someone clarified actual burn damage mechanically). That said, there's certainly a few points that could be made more clearly, and some things I disagree with. This is a first few passes worth of notes, so - grain of salt. I am assuming the idea of voidal magics being a optional two-slot is a trend you intend to continue across the elemental evocations, and I'm all for it. Clarifications: Generally, How long does each Tier take? You've listed what you learn at each Tier, but not the time needed. I like the damage system mechanically, but it is a bit strong in terms of lethality - I think it should remain 4 emotes of exposure over a vital area to render someone critical, and half that if blue fire is used. In addition, I think its worth describing how base fire interactions with certain common types of armor, in regards to damage and lethality. At what Tier is a fire mage capable of self-teaching the second slot? Would it be marked under the original MA? How long should it take someone to master the entire second slot? Who can access the second slot? Personally (And not like I spent a month combing over voidal magic to fix this) It is easier to write spells as [1 Connect + X Charge + 1 Cast] Emotes - it would probably help make more visually clean the idea you have of de-powering certain spells for a quick and less potent casting You mention in the overall redlines one of the main limiting factors in Fire Evocation is the Line-Of-Sight, as is said in the Voidal Connection page - repeatedly throughout though, spells are seemingly limited to arbitrary ranges that are irrespective of the line of sight that don't really make sense. I'll touch on this when I get to them, but for spells that don't require it -I.E Flamethrower - I think this should be either Line of Sight, or set per spell. This is more of a personal ideal, but I never saw a problem with having non-combative fire be a color beyond that of a standard flame. It's flavor, and hasn't hurt anyone. On the subject of flavor, though - I do really like that you clarify how the spells ought be emoted, though maybe leave a bit of wiggle room if there isn't for a mage to create the own style of casting? Again, a personal idea - how would other elements, or elemental evos, interact with voidal fire spells? It could be nuanced to write, but it would help clear up what spells within voidal magic can to what against other spells. Critiques/Suggestions: Ignite: From what I can tell - Enwreathe, Cauterize, Conjure Fire, and any other displays of non-combative Fire. I personally think Non-Combative Conjure Fire should be written as it's own thing and treated separately - it gives true freeform creativity to the mage, only limited by the basic redlines it needs and ET Discretion during non-CRP portions of events. I would separate within each tier what the general potency/flame is like, how it works as a Cauterize-eqse spell, and how it works as a Enwreathe-esqe spell. I wholly disagree with the range slapped onto this way - Enwreathe should work as long as you have line of sight on the target's weapons, and Cauterize should only work if you are within arms reach of said target. Otherwise, as a general spark-producing tool, that range might work though again - it should be line of sight. A point I'll mention in other spells and elaborate further on in Modifiers - I don't see why Combustion/Enduring/Blue Fire/Fumes cannot be applied to the Enwreathe portion of this spell. Fire Projectile: Again - the range. A Translocationist with a Arcane focus, or a extra emote, can travel up to 32 blocks. A 20-Block (RP Range) spell limit seems arbitrary. The Redline against Eminants doesn't really need to be there. A Eminant only gains a stack of Incanter's Flow upon the casting of a spell and as far as I understand - Fire/Flame Projectile counts as 1 Charging and 1 Casting, regardless of how many projectiles are summon, thrown, or lost. I'm assuming this is Flame Projectile and Flame Blast rolled into one spell, plus Super Flameblast and Ultra Flameblast. No complaints here on that, though I would specific for fumes if the radius of the smoke is double that of the initial spell radius - I.E Does a T5 Fire Projectile Fumed create a 10m Radius of Smoke? It'd be good to be able to know that information from within the Spell spoiler in my opinion Fire Wall: I like the idea of a useful flame wall. Generally - does the fire itself act as a visual obstruction given the flames border several meters taller then the average descendant, or is that specifically limited to fumes? This is a concern I'll address on the Modifications part, but - why can't this wall be made combustive, or enduring, or blue fire'd? I'll return to this point in more detail when I get there I would clarify the mechanics of encirclement like the original spell does - you mention it as a option for application but don't expand on it. How far away does it have to be at minimum from the target? How far can it be at maximum? Fire Pillar: This spell feels weak for a Mage who isn't a Eminant at 3 stacks of Incanter's flow. Rarely will a target remain still in a 2x2 area for the 2 charging emotes, nevermind a 4x4 area for 3 charging emotes. The Combustion effects are incredibly strong. The current Launch sends a target 1.5 Meters into the air and may, at most, cause sprains in the ankle. Atop of breaking bones, this T4 + Combustion spell (that is now T5 Cost, 5 Emotes, and a 2x2 area, exaggerating the concerns from before) sends them flying 6 meters into the air. This is, if it lands, a Fight-Ending spell regardless of how into the fight someone is, while equally being useless to cast. Flamethrower: A nerf that I'm sad for but probably was needed. I don't quite understand the T3 Variant - at two blocks and three emotes there isn't a chance your getting that off before someone has DC'd you, or forces a dodge/self-disconnection. I heavily dislike the idea of spells that are only applicable to mages with enhanced connections such as Scions or Eminents. For the T5 Twin Flamethrower Variant - Can this spell be fired at two different targets within the mage's line of sight (infront of them?) Or only in the same general direction? For Enduring - Do the Enduring Flames linger for three emotes following the conclusion of spell, or from when they were first applied? That is - if I sustain a Flamethrower for 4 emotes, does all of the Enduring Flame vanish on the 7th emote after I've concluded my spellcasting, or does it vanish after 3 emotes have passed from application - which is to say chunks of enduring flame would vanish over time and the area set of fire slowly lowers? Firestorm: Again to the Modifiers - I don't see a reason why the T3/T4 Variants of the spell can't have Modifiers as a option I don't quite understand the height part - assuming the only range requirement is Line-Of-Sight, does that specify how high the clouds are from the ground? Flame Field: This looks pretty good as is, though would a mage not be caught in their own flame field if using the T4 Variant and a Focus? Again like a broken record, but I don't see a reason why more Modifiers can't be used here - why not fumes to create a smokescreen? Here, I agree with the use of a range limit IF a focus is used, or otherwise originating from the mage. I would mention somewhere the mage is, presumably, standing in a safe spot with no flame under them - if so, how large is this area, and could others stand in it? Flame Implement: In honesty, this is a Scion-only spell that they can't even use, considering it's T4. A mage attempting to attack would disconnect and thusly be unable to use the spell. I would instead considering making this a T4 Ignite - allowing someone to almost entirely shroud a person's weapon in dense flames that trades the edge for the ability to add Modifiers. Alternatively, you could allow this to create a Anchor that someone else can grab onto, and via Enduring create them a flaming weapon, per the redlines of the existing Flame Implement - Get creative with it! I don't quite understand the fiery after-trail - is it for flavor, or would it damage someone who tried to pass through? Could I make a fire whip and spin it around really fast and then make burning air? Fulminating Blast: This honestly feels underwhelming - I don't know the difference between a Ray or Beam, nor why each would have different radius's. Casting the spell ought to be consistent in it's dimensions and effects. Again, range - I don't see a clear reason, especially given its a Event-Only use spell, to cap it by a set range instead of Line of Sight. Given that it is a event spell, perhaps up it's capabilities a little more, and define it as consuming the mage's entire manapool, and thusly rendering them unable to cast? This may be better left as a last-resort spell for a event, rather then a spell someone might consider casting with other options. Modifiers: Generally: I don't understand why some spells can have some modifiers, and others cannot. As a general rule of thumb, I like the idea that T5 spells cant be up-tiered past White Fire, and thus can't accept Modifiers. Still - Why shouldn't I be able to apply Combustive to Enwreathe as is currently accepted, or enduring and allow weapon strikes to spread fire to opponents? Why Can't my T4 Firestorm rain down smoke or create a burning oil field underneath it? In my opinion, the Modifiers should strive to give versatility to the way Fire Evokers can cause chaos and damage, and only not apply where it makes sense. I.E Flamethrower is a stream of flames, and thusly a semi-solid, combustive stream doesn't make any sense. TL:DR - Modifiers should always apply unless they rationally don't make sense in the application. It shouldn't matter if its useful - giving players the tools to do more things, useful or powerful or not, is what makes something freeform, which seems to be the main point of this re-write. Atop that, and this is more a clarification - can Modifiers be stacked, following the redlines that each adds a tier's worth of cost and +1 emote to the spell length, or is there a maximum limit of Modifiers per spell? If so, what is it? It would be cool to stack something like Enduring Blue Flame, through following the logic it could only be applied to T3 Spells if such could be done. Blue Fire Given how you earlier clarified damage by burns, I think it might help to add that to how Blue Fire applies its damage for rapidly. I'd also clarify somewhere how normal fire effects fire, if Blue Fire can bypass it after two emotes I don't think fire resistance would entirely nullify the effects of Blue Fire - maybe give whatever its applied to 1 Emotes worth of resistance to the effects before it might otherwise succumb, but otherwise that's entirely negating +1 emote and +1 Tier's worth of Mana. Alternatively, this could be best left to the individual lore pieces that have Fire Resistance or Immunity. White Fire: Does White Fire, on it's application, instantly PK the user? Can it be sustained across several spells in a sort of countdown? Does a White Fire PK Bypass methods of surpassing death, Such as Kloning, Machine Spirits, or other CAs/FAs? Whatever it is, it should be marked down. Combustion: Does a Combustive-Modified Spell retain its heat aspect - that is, if I hit someone with a T2 Combustive Fire Projectile, will they suffer the burns and concussive force added by combustion, or does the combustion replace the burn effects with concussive effects? In addition, at the higher tiers of combustion where Combustion begins to apply in a radius - does that burning effect carry to that radius if it applies? Fumes: I think I understand, but just to clarify - In using fumes a emote is not added, but the charging emotes replace flame and embers with soot and ash? Is there a reason the smoke created by fumes cannot be sustained longer then 4 emotes? Again, this feels like it could default to how the spells describes its sustainment by tier cost, instead of arbitrarily lasting 4 emotes. Enduring: I really like this concept of a deployed spell - I think, again, the idea of a arbitrary 3 emote limit doesn't make sense. Rather, it could be that it follows the sustainment guide from a spell, OR that Enduring contains its own sustainment guide - That is, based on the Tier of Spell its applied to, it can remaining up for a set amount of emotes before requiring a additional cost of mana equal to the tier casted at to sustain for another set amount of emotes. This would give more freedom to the mage to sustain for however long they wish. I would include here that the puddle of flaming liquid left by Enduring is twice the radius of the original spell, for clarities sake, as well as under each spell where it could be applied if you want to be extra clear.

A lot of people have mentioned how Corc's fit into a ecosystem where Siliti existed - with them gone, would it not be worth properly re-writing corcs to be the vampires of the server, instead of a lesser to something that isn't around? The main point I see contested is that Corc's are a infection, and thus as a open FA shouldn't be wildly strong considering just about anyone, anywhere can pick up the FA. To that end - could their not simply be a MA version of Corc that introduces further capabilities, shifting away from the idea of a "infection" to a more true vampire? I don't play a corc nor darkspawn, so evidently these suggestions are given with a grain of salt - but Corcs have always felt underwhelming for a Darkspawn, considering they are easily caught and effectively gain nothing except a feeding timer and past a certain point, a inability to lose the Feat. Is any thought ever given to a re-write from the current Corcs or are they happy with the current state of the Feat?

I like the concept, though the main reverberation effect could use some work in my opinion. It's worth noting, though - a voidal mage struck by any weapon is going to get disconnected, nevermind whatever wacky effects it has. I would clarify either the range of such a stunning effect, as well as what it entails (can anyone caught in take a major or minor action? what about movement or speaking?) ought be more clear. Additionally, does the effect only target the wielder and target, or does any piece of this metal giving off its stunning effect apply such in a radius? Personally, I think the reverberation should be on some cooldown per encounter - having it occur a unlimited number of times per encounter seems a bit strong, nevermind the potential for stunlocks. Something as simple as X number of emotes per occurrence of the stun, or a maximum number of times it can occur per encounter would be helpful Overall it's really neat idea, and mages malding over the idea of specifically being targeted should remember they can be disconnected by a random brick being thrown at them, which requires far less effort then trying to melee CRP a mage.

Lord-Magister, Watcher, and Blonde Mage supreme Haus awakens from the psionic disturbance of varying, argumentized letters. He rubs his forehead, muttering into the emptiness of his bedroom "Blasted birds - I can hear them flying in my sleep. Awful things. Who would have that much mail to send?"

"The evocationist can now conjure an air dome which will deflect anything flying at baseball speed or lower so long as the shield is maintained. The wall can now deflect projectiles flying at speeds higher than an arrow though not at crossbow bolt speed. " T4 is when a Air Evoker can actually summon a dome instead of a wall, though I don't think it's a bad change to make it so the T4/T5 Variants retain wall strength but are forced into domes.

I remember a report recently where someone got tested after SS'ing in to a hub pillar from CT, so I don't really think "Don't want to get tested? Don't go to X place!" is a solid idea. People will just bandit the roads and subject others to "random" testing and take the refusal to incur a serious wound at random as a offense. It should be difficult, and resourcing consuming - not impossible - for the average guy to darkspawn test. Why not both? There are other ways to expose people with Dark MAs and CAs beyond a simple gate test, in the same vein they're encouraged to enter places in means that avoid the gate test (which IS a form of mass testing, let's not pretend it isn't - Unwillingly's said it much better). The test should cost resources, and not be something that can just be one and done ignored in character. The only real arguement I see again the test incurring a severe wound is that people who do minimal "Please submit or we will kill you *produces infinitely clean aurum blade and salt" will now have to put in effort. Perhaps even do some roleplay.

I'll throw my two cents out, though I am not someone who plays a Dark MA/CA- That Aurum is a open material and salt is seemingly in unending supply - Testing RP, in my opinion, has been boiled down to a joke. Does your character not want to deal with a wound that will be painful and require stitches, at least - nevermind the risk of infections transferred for using a unclean blade and rubbing salt into a wound with unclean hands? You're a darkspawn and need to be instantly killed. Not in My OOC community! There should be tests for darkspawn, but they should not be easily preformed and done by open noded and infinitely available resources. Testing should have a cost that isn't easily replenished. You can't also ignore "Random" Darkspawn testing.

Haus, Lord-Magister of Paradox and a uncheerfully involved soul in the prolonged war idly scanned over the missive. Those cosmic eyes lingered on the signature at the bottom of the paper. He remembered, in what felt like a lifetime ago, standing in a small room with the same man when Adria had stood in the shoe's of the league as a small group of the Sarkozic's men and family discussed their options. He remembered fighting alongside the Countess, assaulted by a Mogg bandit on the road. He was long tired of wars of countless faces and the same drawl, echoed over and over like a vacuum. He hoped, of course, things might be different- But hope would only carry him so far. Action had to occur. And so he began to gather some items, and study his maps.

There's probably a conversation that can be had over every gatehouse having a unlimited supply of salt and aurum weapons that never cause a infection, or the "random" darkspawn testings that occur. I like the idea that a disguise isn't just broken or see through by means of bare testing RP, nevermind the work that has to go into making a actual disguise

In the kitchen of the Caravan, the Master of the Kitchen Hausmage housemagery representative takes stock of countless cookbooks, spice and herb racks, and the assortment of various ways food can be prepared. The missive lies on the counter, scattered among other paper. He can't hide the giant smile plastered over his expression. For the first time in a long time; He feels right where he should be.

Purpose Over time across the Voidal Magics, inconsistencies have popped up in the form of redlines that make little sense, contradict their own lore, or otherwise are wrong (looking at you, 5 emote spell that takes 4 emotes). This round is aimed specifically at standardizing emote counts, as well as fixing out these inconsistencies. Nothing new is being added to any magic, this is simply a go-through of the magics to make reading them more straightforward and sensible. Definitely did not forget this one in the drafts sorry :3 Winter Decorations: 2 coming soon. Earthen Offensive Rocks/Spikes New: Credits PrimnyaQuorum - Writer lord_of_losers - Feedback

"You know what they say about property." Haus states towards his Yisar, already halfway into a bottle of something alcoholic as missive after missive begins to scatter across his desk. "Fiction, not Fact. A pity about the throne, though - where else will the world source another dragon?" The creature screech's in his ear, at wit's end with his rambling.

"Awh, - a copycat. They even carried over the common translation." A Kindred Spirit muses to his ever silent - and increasing annoyed - Yisar. "Audo did it better, though, and fir- alright!" He exclaims, as the creature flicks its tail against his head, akin to a slap.

Source “…Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark nor ever eagle flew— And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.” Prayer. That Watcher never thought himself well-kept in Faith. He had once been - devout, enduring through GOD and Kingdom any machination of dread and disgust he sought. Protected, so naively assumed. Fire. Oh, had he done his best to tend to the heath entrusted to him. Restless was his Watch - no soul or thing escaped his attention. How it rotted and festered into his very soul, an idea of duty. An inexact idea that had cost him a life he once had, freeing him to that which he dreamed to have, bordered with the lunacy of freedom. Insensate. Sensationless prayer, to reminisce on what he had been. The false pinnacle he had in his grasp, until that lie turned his flesh to ice, and blood to sludge. Shoved once more into pitiful isolation, he felt naught but anger. Yet it was not anger that had tears weeping from his eyes, so aberrant as they were. Haus stared, mind excused from vacuous body, at the barrier before him - ‘hands’ clasped before him, some solitary mockery of that gesture of worship. Cerulean and Purpureus swarmed across its unfathomable presentation, clashes of Cloral and Saffron spiraled into Maroon and Carmine - The Veil. A hollow spot, rings of white bleeding from it, seemed to spring to life across its surface, spaced across illimitable gaps of ascertain time - before absence swallowed it whole in an instant, like it never truly existed. Even those colors seemed to shift in hue and presence - energy beyond use devoted to purpose so mundane, and yet - absolutely ineluctable. He drifted - movement without expenditure of will or energy, such beneath effortless - a distance from its surface. Like a suitor to a distant admiration, he found himself enthralled, a slip of his mind. Closer he dared glide forward, a ‘hand’ drifting out to brush across that barrier. For a moment - ‘he’ ceased to be. In that mind, stretched past endurance in need of perseverance, it saw no separation between what it saw, and what it considered ‘itself’. ‘He’ was the Voice of that thing - so beautiful and vitriol, so ancient and still Beyond Time. An extension of its need to survive to the existence of mortality, the very will that would see it triumph, or succumb. Mortal and Immortal lacked sufficiency - time did not exist, for it surpassed such boundaries of Material Things. Eternity, and no time at all - as old as existence, and always inexplicably contemporary. A God, a Maker, a End - no difference could be held between such concepts, for to it they simply were itself. So turned that gaze outward - to the absence presented. There was no light from such depths, no darkness - only a gnawing need to entrap more, sustain that nothing. Such hunger writhed with energy, an absurdity that granted itself arcane fuel. In an instant, ‘he’ felt it - He was unwhole, as something stole his senses from that Veil. It was not benevolent or vile - it bore no features, no words. It simply enwreathed him in hated revelations, like a Priest to his Congregation of sinners. Source The Basilica - for a time, the Holy See resided next door. Drenched in Holy Scenes and Fervent Faith, a apex of religion. He wandered forward, standing short of the raised Pulpit. A trio of Thrones sat atop it, and three figures sat on those thrones. He took them in - only to be brushed aside by an eerie figure, its long blonde hair swaying in an unseen breeze, pale skin akin to a mirror in the snow-reflected light that streamed through stained glass. Human, a male. The rest he knew. To the left, a throne stood of books and tomes - above it hung a crimson sun, radiant and scorchingly bright. In that light, Haus found he only felt a comforting warmth that bid him calm. His heart sang to it, but words could not follow - he was silent, unwillingly. The pale woman that sat atop lounged comfortably, a tender smile on her visage. To the right, the throne stood more resembling a stage. Instruments warped together in some peculiar recognition, while atop it all resided a moon, full and pale-white. The light washed over him - igniting his very soul ablaze in righteous rage, as if commanding him to unravel himself where he stood, and surrender to - no, wield - the very hellfire that raged through his veins. The woman who sat on that throne did so confidently, as if she had belonged there beyond any measure. Her eyes, deep monochromatic blues peered towards him with unending energy - the Fuel to his Fury, assurance and belief. In the middle was the most bewildering of them all - clockwork intermixed with flesh, so finely woven together that he could not tell where the machine ended, and life began or the inverse. Nothing hung above that throne of perfect imperfections - the woman who sat atop it did so with poise, golden eyes beaming identical light towards him. It confused him, but he felt no hate in that gaze - perplexingly, he felt like he was being mocked for trying to understand it, in the way a Soldier might mock a child for the pitiful attempt to mimic a drill - yet it was not a evil mockery, but a kindness. He ached to speak - to be Truthful, confess his misunderstandings and wants to those throned, to plead for forgiveness he need not owe and beg penance - but words could not follow. He tried to blink, and even that was stolen from him. Dreadfully, he came to understand his purpose was to observe. That too perfect figure stopped short of the steps, turning to face Haus. It seemed to warp before his very eyes - all features stolen, save a robe of no color that concealed its features, and eyes of swarming hues and colors. Like lightning, it struck him the very Veil he had been abducted from filled those sockets. It gave no reaction, no semblance of emotion. It bid a hand towards the throned, and he felt the very air saturated with energy. Sound filled his head, an awful thing he could not understand - it was no language of flesh, spoken by a speaker without a voice. It’s presence wrought nausea, almost, to his senses as the figures on those thrones succumbed in a blink. To the left, that pale woman’s hair swayed in an unseen wind - only for that screeching gale to erupt from her. Where that energy did not consume her form, winds tainted a blackened color clawed and torn her apart - flesh was ripped away and scattered across that crimson sun. To the right, the woman’s head seemed to tilt to the side, as her skin bubbled and trembled - abruptly, waves of water erupted outward, stained crimson with her blood as it replaced muscle and bone with turbulent waters, swirling and rushing where that same energy did not devour. The moon drowned in those waters in futile protest. In the middle, that golden-eyed woman seemed to simply vanish - a surge of blackened mists expelling from her form, seeping around the very throne she had sat atop. As those mists condensed into the seat, he could only watch in horror at how she had been fused into the Throne - still alive, as those golden eyes blinked and fingers, surging with the very same energy, twitched towards him. She had been utterly rended apart. The only figure left standing turned, flicking a hand towards Haus. He blinked, arms raising to shield himself in some defense and that holy place of worship warped. At once, it was ravaged by flames - metal melted, wood combusted into ash, and the air grew thick with smoke. The Watcher’s eyes opened, only to find his ability to feel had been denied of him. His very arms - his entire body - was warped into flames, avaricious and all-consuming. Smoke flowed where his veins had once been, and where his mouth had been spewed forth flames - ones that spiked and dulled in intensity with each breath of air that fanned the fire. Those ‘arms’ lowered as he looked across at the figure- He was that figure. It stared back at him, a reflection. As he saw his whole self utterly lost to those flames and absent energies, those eyes caught his attention; where the sockets had remained, they had been filled with deep black eyes, tiny and filling every crevice and space like an insect. Something akin to laughter echoed around his skull, as understanding was given - like gospel, like reverence. This was no fate, no past or future. This was him - it already was consuming him. He had already been lost, and in turn - so had all near him. So he screamed in grief, in rage and hatred, fervent - those flames that had become him erupting hotter and brighter as he marched forward, hell-bent on ripping that reflection of himself apart. With each step, however, that figure changed - it no longer resembled a man, and then it no longer resembled anything. The laughter stopped, everything stopped - and it lurched out at him, devoid of thought or feeling or sensation. Only Hunger. Haus awake with a start, gasping in a breath of cold air. A hand raised to shield his cosmic gaze from the rising sun as his mind slows, and his eyes water. His hands cover his eyes as he sobs - he cannot find the strength to absolve himself that it was simply a nightmare. It takes time - time to let each sense seep through his conscious mind: The feebleness of his enfeebled body, the cold air that he shakily breathes in and out, the gentle sound of wind brushing past trees. Reminders of his mortality - where he is, who he is. His purpose. A hand reached out to his bag, fetching a familiar aurum pin. He ran a finger over the four interwoven diamonds inlaid into the item, and watched as they shifted hues - cyans, blues, purples, and grays. A soft smile graced his exhausted visage as he watched faint, red constellations trace the outer edge of the magic pin, before he affixed it to his lapel, over his heart. Delusions and voices pried for his attention, inescapable forever - but for now, he had some measure of peace, enough to saddle up on his Yisar and continue his trek onward. After all, he had no choice - all he left for himself was forward, to endure. ‘He’ was It’s Voice, and It’s Will. And he was so very tired. He shook his head, as that colder air woke him up and dispelled that encroaching madness. He would make it through. For the first time in decades, he had a home and a future - friends by his side, and people in his Heart. For them, he knew, no goal was unobtainable, and to them he was simply Haus. That was enough for the Watcher, amidst Infinity. Enough to Live for.

"...Tempting fate, aren't they?" The Lord-Magister, Haus, asks towards his Yisar as the report reaches him. He holds the paper out and down from his spot on the creature's saddle, as if so it may read it. It merely huffs, indifference present as Haus continues. "Oh, well. Don't be led by those who can't. Don't kneel to someone who can't make you." The Yisar, as if fed up by the Watcher's ramblings, bucks him off to the ground. He re-saddles in silence, the point taken.

The formerly-Haeseni Watcher, Haus, skims over the writings as he sits idle at his own camp. For a moment, he seems content to toss it into his kindling - before thought strikes him. He gathers his own writing supplies, brow knitting as he thinks and thinks. The silence is deafening, for that cosmic-eyed man. "Be Silent - not you, Asseran." He mumbles under his breath, tapping towards his temple "Awfully crowed today." The Yisar merely offers a flick of it's head, returning to lounging about as Haus writes. "Ordained Friar, I would be remiss to ignore the reference to the Epistle of the Magi, and the irony of me writing, anyway - while your point is clear, articulate, and well-founded, I think you've missed a part of what likely is the same issue. I believe it is not simply just that the Church is powerless by virtue of the politics arranged and battles fought over land and materialistic things by the Canonist lands - it has, in turn, actively discouraged anything but the most pious and perfect for lending aid. Far too often, I have noted across many lands and people, those of the Faith are quick to - as you so perfectly stated - attempted to burn the shadow away when none exists. The Illuminating Light, the teachings, are so few and far that many I have seen and heard see the church as nothing more then vessels of human sin, marching under His Banner. I have witnessed the awful powers that lie in such shadows raze catastrophe across the lands of Canonism - powerless to only observe as entire cities flooded or turned to ice in the span of a handful of minutes. I have watched as bodies were removed from the carnage by the cartful, given impromptu rites, and forgotten. I have watched as myself and others have tirelessly worked to extend our hand to burn away this shadow, to only be turned away at best. How, I ask, is anyone suppose to know the Illumination of Teachings if they are either ignored or scorched away needlessly? How, indeed, when at the mention of a single Vampyre I have watched man turn on man, and cast the finger of blame - and yet when that Beyond his Light strikes us, there are no hands to help fight back because the foe does not come in flesh and blood that so easily slain as our fellow man. I suppose the point is that it is not enough, to simply say that the Faithful have been pacified and turned to the table of politics and the solution lies in raising its own Banners to strengthen itself. In truth, to many and myself, I can no longer see the Light coming from the Church itself. I see it in the Pious Few - those who truly absolve themselves from these mundane affairs and devote themselves to the Faith - but when the idea of Church comes to mind, I do not see Teaching and a devotion to the same principles. You must forgive my lacking reading of the Scrolls, but is it not that the Sword should be raised only in need - not in wrath or sin, or simply because a man bearing flesh and blood has screeched 'GOD Wills It!' louder then the voice of reason? It cannot be ignored, however - beyond all woes and grievances, the first step to progress is acknowledging the need for such. I admire your resolve, to ponder such problems from the frontlines. Change is difficult enough to find, and it often lacks the driving force of a soul with Will in it's step and deed. I bid you good health in the many fights to come. Kindly, Haus"