" my name is Erica, i sensed from a few miles off and decided to come see whats up, I was hoping that talking to someone else who has magic would help me figure out what is going on. I have no interest in any sort of deadly violence if I can at all avoid it. "

>>400714
This is the way you should go

Maybe you should tell her that you just got fired and what's worse, you were treated like shit during the whole thing. At the very least show some respect and not fire you so flippantly.
This may get you some symphathy from our young black mage here. At the very least , some common ground.

Girl needs perspective: Apparently the both of you are shrimp in an ocean of magic users that are mostly sharks or worse. You and Nicole need each other's backup in order to stand a good chance of not being chumped by the first one that decides to use their centuries of talent and practice to squash you like a fly.
"I'm Erica, pleased to meet you Nicole. Do we really have time for killing smartasses? What I've learned about this magic stuff so far says it's only a matter of time before someone with this kind of power who's been doing it for centuries shows up to squash us like flies. I think we'd be much better off getting to know each other and figuring out how to protect ourselves for when that happens. Want me to fill you in on that stuff?"

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/15(Sun)15:50 No. 401547 ID: af10de
File 133453022929.jpg - (76.22KB , 312x445 , 48.jpg )

>Talk her down

I introduce myself and explain just how shitty my day has been so far. After I've established that I'm not here to kill her or anything like that, she seems to calm down a little. Maybe now I can figure out what she meant by her little threat.

"It's that stupid church bitch. Apparently anyone who doesn't use her brand of faith is a demon worthy of being destroyed - our kind got enough torture 70 years ago, you'd think I'd at least get a pass for that."

...well that's a bit discouraging. Unfair as hell, but still discouraging. Trying to get that much more out of her doesn't get too far, either. At least we have a working truce in place. So now what?

>[ ] Try joining mana to summon something
>[ ] Try summoning on your own
>[ ] Ask Nicole about her kill-spell
>[ ] Go back home
>[ ] Other (Please Specify)

her kind? also, church bitch? explain.

>>401547
Get more information on this "church bitch" and "our kind" if we at all can. Affect that our concern is primarily that someone might come after us, and we need to know about it.

Give her a cell phone number if we've got one, and get hers. As long as we're sticking around in this world it would be silly not to use its conveniences.

Please ask her to kindly explain what the hell she is talking about. Remind her you just got magic powers today. Some history and the current state of affairs in the local magical community would be nice.

>>401547
I got a feeling that Nicole is Jewish, what with the "torture 70 years ago" remark.

Ask her about the church caster. What's up with her anyways?

Try joining mana to summon the ARCHITECTS OF WILL

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=220517&type=card

and then see if she feels like being more cooperative about talking to us.

Ask what this 'church bitch has' to do with the rabbit thing.

>>401589
Summoning mind manipulators is risky to begin with, and summoning mind manipulators with the help of the person you plan on manipulating is just silly.

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/15(Sun)20:55 No. 401637 ID: af10de
File 133454854976.jpg - (41.18KB , 375x523 , 82.jpg )

>>401581
>>401583
>>401584

Right. We both have cell phones, and while I'm not sure if other worlds have mastered cellular technology, at least this one has - I'll gladly take advantage.

"Now then, this 'church bitch', as you so eloquently referred to her...anything more you can tell me? If nothing else, I don't want to make any enemies I don't have to." I'm trying to help my case, but the other girl doesn't look at all happy about talking about this.

"In that case, stay away from the churches. Holocaust-denying self-righteous assholes, every single one of them. Was bad enough before one of them decided to show her magic off to me - and by 'show off', I mean 'try to erase me from existence'. If you ever come across a blonde girl named Sarah, make yourself scarce."

>>401584
"Well, I've only had access to this...magic...and I still can't believe it; for only an hour or so. Mind filling me in on the local magic news?"
Nicole only laughs at that. "Erica, I'm gonna shoot straight with you, because you seem to get it: I've had this for all of 20 minutes. I'm the last person you want to ask for gossip...or much of anything related to this."

>>401588
Good guess - turns out her whole family is Jewish. Not terribly devout, but I'm hardly one to judge. She can do her thing, I'll do mine.
Life's simpler that way.

Sure, she's got sorcery that can drain the life out of a person's soul and casts it without batting an eye, but Nicole is still just a kid. I may not be *that* much better...but I really think I ought to keep her close. What should I say?

>[ ] "Hey, wanna go and teach that snobby churchrat a thing or two?"
>[ ] "Hey, wanna come back and crash at my apartment?"
>[ ] "Any ideas on someone who could help us with this and not want us dead afterwards?"
>[ ] "What do you want to do?"
>[ ] Other (Please Specify)

>>401637
Well, you might want to teach Nicole about summoning and mana bonds, since well, its the only things you know about. Mana bonds first, then go to someplace quiet to see what Nicole will summon

well, since both of you have enemies, you two could just ally up and collaborate, y'know, compare notes or something, somewhere secluded where you won't be interrupted. say, are there any swamps around here?

>>401656
Well, if there's no swamps, I think a slightly more disgusting black mana souce would be the sewers.

>>401637
Hrm. We only sensed Nicole here- if there's someone named Sarah running around, shouldn't we be able to sense her, too? Try to extend our senses and get a bead on any other magic-users in the area. If that doesn't produce results, try more divination-type spells, as before- telepathy, clairvoyance, whatever.

Let Nicole know what we're doing so she doesn't grow suspicious, of course.

Suggest that you work together to learn more about magic, as it would be best to find out more before the church girl or worse shows up.

>>401663
this

>>401657
Or graveyards

we should keep in mind that Nicole tried to kill us as soon as we met. granted she thought we might have been there to kill her but we should explain to her the importance of fire discipline, there are a variety of reason both moral and practical that you don't want to accidentally kill some random bystander.

>>401669
Seconded. Seriously, we need a lot more clue and power than we've got to start going Ghengis Khan here.

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/17(Tue)14:46 No. 402031 ID: af10de
File 133469921422.jpg - (57.43KB , 312x445 , 10.jpg )

>>401641
>>401657
>>401668
You're right, that could certainly help, and there's a cemetery a bit down the road - just down the hill and back up again. I bring it up to her, and she seems intrigued.
"I like it, but I doubt that'll be something we can do when the sun's still shining. call me tonight, we'll get something done." Given the mischievous smirk on her face, I bet she can barely wait.

>>401669
"You know, it's generally not a good idea to try and use soul-robbing magic against just anyone...I think we should avoid using magic against anyone until the anyone uses magic against us first. Okay?"

She frowns but agrees. It's for the best...

>>401656
>>401663
I ask her if she has any ideas on someone who could help us learn more about this shit - she doesn't. I could try calling that Alexi woman...though I'm not sure how Nicole would take it.

>[ ] "I may know someone who can help. Want me to call her up?"
>[ ] "Wanna try summoning something who can help?"
>[ ] "I've got nothing, I'll see you tonight."
>[ ] Other

Say you'll meet up with her tonight, part ways, and then try out Alexi

Suggest it as a short term goal to find out more about this Alexi and if it checks out to go visit. Suggest as a short term goal that you both get the hang of how to use magic and back each other up so that if Alexi turns out to be as dangerous and loony as the other planeswalkers that you might be able to deal.

We should mention the possibility to her, but we should wait for that until after she has done the mana connection, so you have more total power at your disposal if something goes wrong. (Also she will probably feel more secure about it after she has a mana bond.)

>>402031
Well, time to cut this short. The both of you can discuss business at the graveyard. Also, don't unsummon you owl. Having him around would be nice to have as security for anything that could happen.

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/19(Thu)16:16 No. 402382 ID: af10de
File 133487740395.jpg - (68.42KB , 312x445 , 2.jpg )

"Alright, call me when you're on your way. I'll meet you there." Nicole nods and goes back to reading her book. It's not too much longer before I'm back at my apartment.

Let's see...a google search for "Alexi" and "Mercadia" doesn't give me anything I can use. Maybe I need to be a bit more...proactive in my info gathering.

>[ ] Try Summoning Alexi
>[ ] Don't summon, conserve your magic for tonight.
>[ ] Other (Please Specify)

Other: Google Magic: The Gathering.

as far as we can tell mana regenerate on its own, so there is no reason to conserve it overnight. lets try calling up Alexi. also while this magic system does seem to have allot of similarities to magic the gathering its possible that Ericas world doesn't have that particular game.

>>402382
Knowledge is power, and we can always convey things we learn from Alexi to Nicole should we wish to. But if we summon Alexi together with Nicole, we won't have the chance to censor information. We may not have to, but it is an option.

There is also the slim chance that Alexi may have issues with Black mana users, so this is a chance to get a feel for her disposition.

I'd rather have the extra mana in case Nicole tries to screw us over, but I'm fine with summoning Alexi for a chat.

Also, prepare for going out at night in a pretty deserted area. You gonna want your hiking shoes and pepper spray just in case.

>>402449
Now that you mention it, we should look into getting a gun. Nobody expects a mage to pull out a non-magical weapon and shoot them.

Now that you mention it, we should look into getting a gun. Nobody expects a mage to pull out a non-magical weapon and shoot them.

Try to find a forest or a plain and try to link to those? Fully empowered planeswalkers can use all the colours but we don't know your limits yet.

>>402638
Er... doublepost or what?

Anyways, yeah, guns. If Voldemort had just shot Harry, he'd have won.

Alexi may disapprove of Nicole. don't summon her until after the meeting.

focus on gathering fucktons of mana. and summoning a tough bodyguard dude in case Nicole tries something funny.

>>402762
Me being derp.

>>402822
Welcome to TGchan! fun facts: you can delete your posts by clicking the little box next to them, scrolling down to the bottom, and hitting "delete". I am also guessing you were trying to
>greentext
with that? all you gotta do is put that greater than sign at the beginning.

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/21(Sat)15:13 No. 403008 ID: af10de
File 133504638097.jpg - (67.12KB , 312x445 , 126.jpg )

>>402638
>>402762
A...a gun?

I have to admit, the thought never occurred to me. I can look up how much it would run me - remember, I don't live in some big metropolis where I could sidle up to some gangster on a street corner - I'd have to do everything aboveboard, and that takes cash I really don't have a lot of.

>>402405
>>402431
>>402449

Alright. I should be able to do this. Closing my eyes and taking a few deep breaths, I let my magic go to work. I try and picture the same sort of place that Claire came from...the swirling breezes...and now add some mana to this and...

>88

...it's cold. like winter decided to show up either four months late, or eight months early. Opening my eyes, there's a woman kneeling before me that could only be the Zephyr Mage I was told about.

...It dawns on me that I really don't know what to say to her...so I'll just have to wing it.

"Thank you for granting me with your audience. I...I guess I want to ask you about magic, if it's not too much of a hassle..."

The woman takes in the tiny place that is my apartment before sitting on one of the chairs. "Well, since you asked so nicely...to be honest, I don't terribly mind the change of scenery. And you look like you could really use my help. So out with it, what do you need?"

>I...hmm. that's a good question. What do I need from her?

Explain how you recently received magic from some rabbit thing, and it appears that a number of other have as well. At least some of these others seem mentally unstable, so it is likely you will need to learn how to fight and/or evade other mages as soon as possible.

>>403008
"I only know a few things like how to form mana bonds and summoning. The rest? I'm not sure. The politics? I don't know. Also, a black mage has asked me to help teach her, when I don't know anything about this."

Also, Alexi's a guest in your home. Give her somerhing to drink.

>>403008
Ask her about the summoning. Why does she specifically answer the summons? What does she, or others she may know, get out of this arrangement? Do they get some of the mana used for the summons?

Has she or anyone she has spoken to been summoned here, this world, before? Give her any details she may need if it's unclear

" I know that how to do basic summoning, and some of how mana works, that's about it. as far as i can tell i have allot of raw power, and no idea how anything works. I have yet to see any situation were that is a good position to be in. "

resist the temptation to ask her how you'd apply magic during the sex act and tell her about your encounter with the rabbit, and the mage who recommended her. and maybe Nicole, but just maybe.

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/22(Sun)12:23 No. 403330 ID: af10de
File 133512263480.jpg - (78.11KB , 312x445 , 69.jpg )

>>403019
>>403024
>>403050
"Well...I guess I'm looking for a teacher. some furry thing came up to me this afternoon and told me I can do magic, and it's just been stumbling about from there. I know a little about summoning and mana connections, but I'm highly doubting that'd be enough to survive in a place where people know about this stuff..."

Alexi nods, I hope she understands just how over my head this is. "Why you needed a furball to tell you that you had magic is something I know to not ask, but you're right - you'll need a lot more know how if you were planning a trip to Mercadia anytime soon. I certainly can school you on some of the finer points, but you can conjure things and you know how to gather mana. I'd say that puts you several steps above your average budding magician - especially if this is your first day."

I...well, damn. I didn't expect that kind of praise. And if I learned that sort of thing this quickly, then I ought to be well on my way.

>>403042
"Do you mind if I ask a personal question? Why did you decide to show up when I called for you?"

Alexi shoots me a look before speaking back up. "You know how dumb it sounds to ask if you can ask a question, then ask it anyway before I can say anything? Try not to do that."

After I'm done stammering some bullshit apology, she continues. "To be honest, most of the time I don't - when you summoners want me to fight in your duels, what you usually get is just a spiritual copy. All the special abilities at your disposal, but none of the risk of me actually dying to stray fire.
Of course, you seemed like an interesting case - and I could tell you weren't locked in mortal combat - so I figured it'd be worth it to pop my head in. I take it magical duels is something you'll want to know about, yes?"

I nod again. This is going to be an interesting conversation already, I can tell...

>[ ]"So, I have a friend who uses a different kind of magic than me...is that bad?"
>[ ]"So, I understand you can manipulate air... How does that work?"
>[ ]"My knowledge of how summoning works is kinda limited. Any tricks to maker it easier?"
>[ ]"I'm not really up to date on what spells I should be studying - any ideas?"
>[ ] Other (Please Specify)

"Roughly the same thing happened to another girl in this world, and she ended up becoming a black magician from it. I've promised her I'd try to look out for her, and vice versa. How risky is that?"

"Knowing about that, what's your advice on what I should do now? I'm interested in learning more but what little I've heard about duels seems alarming. I'm pretty sure I need to know more about what other planeswalkers do and how to avoid getting into bad situations with them, but if there's a way to learn more about that from this world that doesn't involve summoning people who willingly tell me it's not so obvious."

Magical duels is probably something you need to know, and tell her about Nicole and her enmity with Sarah, because lets face it, Sarah sounds pretty tough and aggresive.

Is there a way to specifically summon a copy, in case you want to do something like disarming a trap the fast way?

all of the above.

Charm!!MuAmVlLGL0 2012/04/25(Wed)06:44 No. 404554 ID: af10de
File 133536146999.jpg - (87.51KB , 312x445 , 68.jpg )

>>403351
>>403425
"So...I ran into someone who is apparently in the same boat as me, but uses black magic instead of blue like I do. Is there any reason why I shouldn't try to be friends with her or anything?" I really hope there isn't a reason, because she seems like a nice kid...

"Well...I'm personally not a fan of black mages. Course, if the two of you are on good terms with each other and haven't been ordered to take each other out, I'd keep her around. Between your counter magic and her ability to snuff out summons, the two of ye'll not have too many opponents that can do all that much."

...That's actually pretty cool, that the two of us should be able to stop almost anything. It makes me think that I actually have some potential in this whole magic business.

"Oh yeah...magical duels. Admittedly, I don't know anything about them. How much of it do you know?" She just shrugs, but anything she can give me is more than I have right now.

"It's gonna take some time to explain exactly how things work. I figure this will cover most of it, but you're gonna have to figure this out firsthand eventually. I can only give you a primer."
The next hour and a half is dedicated to how combat works - apparently mages have all but ritualized it into some elaborate game. Personally I think it'd be easier to shoot something at them while they're casting, but who am I to argue with that kind of tradition?

>See next post

Duels using magic are conducted,by in large, in the manner of a game of Magic. There are, of course, a few changes that need to be noted and remembered for Erica to do well.

A beginning mage starts with 10 life. Upon connecting with mana links or reaching certain benchmarks, (read: levels, though I didn't want to call them that) A mage will gain more resilience. If reduced to 0 life, a mage is not automatically dead, but is significantly injured and death is a possibility.
Currently, Erica has 9 life out of a maximum of 11, due to that psionic blast. She'll regain those 2 life points after a good night's sleep.

In a duel, Erica will be limited to the spells that she has committed to a pool - to start with, her "deck" will have 20 spells available: four castings apiece of five different spells, plus any number of basic islands. A mage can have an absolute maximum of 48 spell castings available in their pool - and Erica is likely to reach that cap sooner than you'd think. As mentioned before, Erica can currently have up to 10 islands under her control without putting undue strain on her mana link. Gaining levels will raise this cap.

The last big rules change is that, due to her inexperience, Erica can only cast three spells per turn cycle. (one turn cycle being from the start of her turn to the start of her next turn) Copied spells (twincast, replicate, storm, etc.) do not count toward this cap.
Spells that only draw cards do not count towards the cap, and allow for an additional spell to be cast that turn cycle for each card drawn. (if Erica casts Divination as her first spell of the turn cycle, which draws 2 cards, she'll be able to play 5 more spells this cycle).
Spells that do something and then draw a card DO count towards the spells per turn cycle cap, but also allow one more spell for that cycle per card drawn. (If Erica casts Merchant of Secrets [>>396212] as her first spell of the turn cycle, she will be able to cast 3 more spells.)
As with her land cap, this limit on spells cast per cycle will increase with experience.

I'm pretty sure that's everything. Refer to the discussion thread (http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/361540.html) for the building of Erica's starting deck, as well as any questions about the system.

Turn 2 will start once Erica's decklist has been agreed upon.