HokumPocus

The Five Senses

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Octavio was a man of games, and although The Senses wasn´t one of his favorites he was well acquainted with it. Both the aristocratic background that he masqueraded in and the humbler one he grew up with shared an interest in them, albeit the former had a lot more gambling to it. He curled his lips into a smile so wide it almost looked devious at the mention of playing.

"Games? I have to say, these pieces look different from those at the palaces, but the core rules are the same I assume." He said, scratching his chin. The sound of footsteps caught his attention.

"You can trust us to guard you as you rest, you know. But, if you´re that determined to help, then I guess there´s no point in stopping you." remarked Octavio, cheekily. He was picking up game pieces left and right, amusing himself and remembering several of his adventures that involved them. Chres had been setting up the board at the same time, so he was partly helping him out. Partly.

"I have to say, these tiles are interesting." he said, delicately holding one by pinching its corners. He thought about the effects of having a third member on their improvised little team, and felt glad that so many of his party members were so passionate about combat. Somebody has to be, after all. He thought. Illusions had an easier time passing as the real deal at night, but it would be hard to defend anything through brute force given his skill set.

Lynx was still sound asleep and Octavio didn´t feel like he´d be necessary right now. Sure the cat could help when it came to scamming people, but it ultimately wasn´t worth it considering everyone at the table was a teammate.

The Sanctuary

---

The anubis favored wearing gaudy accessories and keeping wandering eyes guessing as to which ones housed magic, but they also enjoyed wearing them in secret, wrapped to the body and hidden from view. At the mention of analysis Ar´oa withdrew a small rod tied to his forearm in a disconcertingly stealthy motion, all without having broken sight of the bracelet set in front of him. It had been placed near the meats on his platter, the visual beauty melding with his appetite to produce a strong feelings of wanting to consume.

There was another who wished to sit with them, a man who had introduced himself as Vilkas earlier. He seemed to be a regular human in appearance, but appearances could be deceiving. "You are welcome to join us." replied Ar´oa. The man had beautiful golden eyes. He turned back to the jewelry.

"Yes, curses." He said to Stephanie, ears perked slightly. He let the small bracelet settle on the palm of his hand with a gentleness that seemed impossible for someone of his size.

"The anubis believe that artifacts, that is, tools for power, house either dead magic or living magic, what the other races refer to as enchantments and curses." He thought that the two would be confused as to what he was plotting, so he began to explain the basics of his craft. "Handling a curse is handling an entity with as much life as you or I, like capturing a wild and unpredictable animal. Enchantments are simpler to scrutinize."

The golden rod was engraved with various symbols representing organs, their carvings twisting and connecting with one another in a representation of the complexity of the soul. He brandished it confidently and linked it to the bracelet with a soft clink of fine metal against fine metal. A soft blue glow cascaded throughout the engravings.

"Studying an enchantment would be closer to... foraging for a fruit within a forest, rather than tracking an animal." He was unsure if the comparison made sense. Their kind knew what forests were, so he reasoned that it did. His pitch black eyes had remained fixated on the pair of objects firmly pressed against one another. The familiar determination of discovering the unknown rushed through his veins and kept him absolutely focused on the task at hand.

"Curses are very dangerous in comparison, but they should not be destroyed however..." he said, in between breaths that steadily grew deeper. "...There is life within curses, one that must be unraveled and coaxed into ascending beyond our world... destroying a curse is simple but... a grave sin." His hands trembled in short bursts, his willpower assuring that the connection held. "That is why... understanding them is necessary. That is why... those like I are necessary." His eyes clamped shut in concentration. He was a curse hunter dealing with an enchantment, and although it was much simpler it was not a task he was accustomed to.

"This process... will be quick. There are no countermeasures... on this artifact..." He said, grim satisfaction lining the edges of his words. His voice was noticeably struggling to keep its usual tone of stability and confidence. "No countermeasures... an anubis... would never..."

With a sharp exhale of air his mind sprang back into normality, signalling the end of his plunge into exploring the bracelet and its hidden quirks. He had only managed grasp the essence of the enchantment for a moment, but that had been enough to understand what it could do. "Interesting." he muttered. He slowed his breathing to a more reasonable level and gazed at Stephanie. "There are several complex effects happening within this. Allow me to... breathe a little."

The Five Senses

gonna work on a post O w O

The Sanctuary

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"When you speak of magical engineering, are you referring to the understanding of components behind magical artifacts and equipment?" he asked, puzzled. "A talent of mine is the detection of and successful interaction with curses, though if you are referring to enchantments I may still be of help."

Even by simply hearing him speak it was possible to tell that he was an anubis. "A talent of mine" rather than "my talent" which could imply worthlessness or specialization or "one of my talents" which could imply arrogance or ignorance. His culture was one of careful words, and even if no one would jump to logical conclusions through flawed statements he continued to speak in this calculated manner all the same.

He delicately cut a small chunk of meat using silverware much too small for his enormous hands and ate it in a clean swallowing motion as soon as it made contact with his mouth. Cheeks were for the other races.

"The reason why I had wanted to speak with you was in fact an apology of a similar subject." He ate another small morsel of food, carefully and quickly. The other races preferred to eat this way over tearing through their meals, so he would do the same.

"I had assumed you were aware of your amulet´s effects and did not mention them." he said, a cold and polite tone rested atop glimmers of curiosity. He had seen wilder artifacts in his homelands, but was not disappointed by the craftsmanship the human race had to offer. Regardless, it was clear that she had disliked it. He felt it necessary to explain not having detected anything with his artifacts. It would have been rude to do so considering they had just met, of course, but he thought it was best to be clear.

Stephanie´s second artifact had been a bracelet adorned with several gemstones and what looked to be an extensive amount of engraving. Ar´oa´s simpler robes were indicative of his more subdued interest in jewelry, yet still carried various engravings themselves and swayed on a body whose blood was entirely anubis. So he gazed at it, interested.

The Saltaire District

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Irvine´s movements throughout the crowded city streets were frantic and were executed through short, quick bursts of life. It was as if he was a marionette being controlled by an invisible giant, one with an affinity for the macabre. He made sure to dart his head around as well, in the exact same sudden fashion in case he was being suspected by the human scum all around him. If there was anything he hated more than having people invade the privacy of his office, it was him invading the world of everybody else. He felt alien and disgusted by those around him. They were certainly, most definitely thinking of despicable things about him. Yes... definitely!

He made his way to the pub where several of his new teammates had headed and clenched his jaw in frustration. Pubs... disgusting, awful, loud, dirty, smelly pubs. Rotten, raunchy, overcrowded, suspicious and malicious pubs. His level of irritation with the outside world had surpassed his standard displeasure and reached a level that could have been labeled "seething". He entered quickly and quietly like a twitching rat in the home of another.

Where are you people. he thought to himself. The thought repeated several times in a various range of intensities inside of his mind.

On his back was a large backpack with a meticulously organized assortment of ointments, cures and the like. His mind thought back to Alex´s words... his casual mentioning of the healer´s guild. The healer´s guild! Didn´t they know one of Heston´s best medics was right here? He had even made sure to pack one of his favorite bone saws in case it was required. Most of the backpack had been filled by the saw and what appeared to be a small rod, which was in fact an unorthodox staff used for healing magic. It was a cold and blunt affair of metal that looked nothing like a typical tool for healing but got the job done all the same.

Moments later he had at last he had found his party. He approached them awash with relief in a set of respectable healer´s robes the color straw appeared to be at night. The man had handsome features and a bright smile that shone when he spoke. It was a pity then that he had let his passion in life consume him.

"Ah, how relieving it is to find members of my party! Ignore the words of that Alex fellow over the healer´s guild. I am a much better option!"

The Sanctuary

---

Ar´oa had assumed that the continually morphing splendor of the creature, no, Mirithal, would be what his mind would center on for the duration of their introductions, but Stephanie had more shocking information for him. She had been completely unaware of her inner thoughts being violated and shared to those around her this whole time. He thought that she was surely aware of it and was wearing the amulet because it bestowed some other enchantments that had made it a worthwhile accessory, or even for ceremonial or cultural reasons. He recalled her words of contempt towards her mother, the woman who had gifted the amulet, and reasoned that it made sense in context.

The rest of The Sanctuary´s visitors had begun to engage in lively antics with one another, but what had stood out the most among their conversations was the bestowing of a new name to the tree creature. Giving each other temporary names was an ordinary facet of the anubis lifestyle, but it was clear from R´s words that there was more significance to it than privacy. Mirithal, as it was now called, spoke in a way that had reminded him strongly of some of the spirits he had crossed paths with in his lifetime. It made the fantastical beast more familiar to him in behavior than anyone else present, ironically enough.

What followed after their introductions was a tour around The Sanctuary´s facilities that concluded with a display of what would be their living quarters. Ar´oa had been surprised at the overwhelming abundance of everything around him to say the least. Food and equipment plentiful and offered to him with no drawbacks or requirements, as well as instructors qualified to guide one through them. He thought back to his ordinary life, one of fighting with disgusting beasts over scraps of food and raiding dangerous decrepit buildings for any technology to put to use. No longer would he have to survive in such hostile conditions. Ar´oa would thrive now.

The nausea that hit him as R prepared their rooms registered as a minor annoyance to him. Dealing with forces that could break your mind regularly tended to strengthen your insides after all. He was more curious with how his room would be set up over anything else, seeing as the Wasteland was no place for extravagant beds and wooden furniture. He had imagined it would be identical to the sorts of rooms described in storybooks, heavy and impossible to move around if you had to travel elsewhere. What he had seen had rendered that assumption completely incorrect, however.

It was an endless desert, one with calm winds and soft sands. In the distance lay a lone tent that beckoned to him with all of the embroideries and accents that would be typical for his caravan. Farther still was a pristine oasis adorned with exotic plant life. Both the tent and water were a beautiful shade of sapphire that contrasted with the sun-tinged surroundings and promised relief. He left quickly after. The magic used to render this "ideal bedroom" was interesting, but he had a lot of energy left and an insatiable drive to find out more about the castle. Before any serious exploring would get done though, he walked over to the mess hall to prepare. It seemed that regardless of being promised safety, the scavenger in him yearned to desperately eat now in case the opportunity was taken from him later on. That and, well, the anubis was hungry.

Entering the mess hall, Ar´oa saw a young human eating by herself, one that he recognized as Stephanie. He entered the kitchen and prepared a platter of cooked meats whose origins he did not identify nor care about. Eating the various monstrosities that plagued his homelands had conditioned him to have no qualms with scarfing down meat of all kinds. He was used to eating raw meat as well, but knew that other races disapproved of such practices.

He walked over to where Stephanie ate, a robed pillar of blue that moved elegantly across the mess hall in long strides.

"Do you mind if I eat alongside you?" he asked. While normally one to eat alone, he had several questions on his mind.

RWBY: Burning Embers

open to getting clowned on if I messed something up

Opal

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Personal Information

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Name: Opal Jalatl

Nicknames or Aliases, if applicable: N/A

Age: 18

Race: Coyote Faunus

Kingdom of Origin: Vacuo

Appearance: Opal is a coyote faunus with a tail the same dark brown color of her hair. Her toned body is taller than most women her age, at 5´11".

Her casual clothes are a limited assortment of staples that fall on the masculine side of fashion, as a no skirts and all jeans wardrobe with plenty of solid colored shirts and no jewelry. She is a woman of austere tastes who prefers to have a small amount of well cared for clothing over anything else. Opal´s not exactly in a position where she can buy any more, though. Years of finding trouble outside of home have led her to develop a light tan, not that she cares.

Personality Traits: Brave, Stubborn, Direct, Serious, Loyal

Drive: As one of the eldest children in a struggling Vacuo family, Opal has had to take up various dangerous odd jobs throughout the years. She is now eighteen years old and wishes to receive the training that would allow her to take on bigger threats and pull more money in for them.

---

Mechanical Information

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Lv: 1
XP: 0
Wealth Level: 2
Legend Points: 0

Perks:

-Courageous

When the odds are stacked against you, you never falter or waiver. Once per game session, as a free action you can cancel all negative effects upon you related to fear or low morale.

Opal has had to be strong to preserve the wavering safety of her family, resulting in a clear mind devoid of panic or fear when in danger.

-Brute

While others might convince with a silver tongue, you speak the universal language of fear. Once per game session, if you make a show of physical force, you can use your Might attribute for a Persuasion roll. If your Persuasion score is already equal to or greater than your Might score, you get advantage 1 on the roll.

Having an ineptitude for interpersonal communication doesn´t bother Opal on account of owning a giant pair of claws.

Flaws:

-Stubborn

It's your way or the highway. Maybe not all of the time, but once you've made your mind up on an important matter, you won't budge. You probably won't even compromise.

Years of being a solo hunter with almost no cooperation have molded Opal into a capable fighter, but a poor teammate.

-Overt

You have a strong aversion to subterfuge, legerdemain, and smooth talking. After all, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so why not follow the straight and narrow path? Your overtness may lead to you mistakenly foil the plans of allies, such as by blurting out a sensitive truth in the midst of a tense negotiation.

As a naturally unemotional person and a lifelong loner, Opal isn´t well versed in the art of carefully picking out her words, or even regular conversations to an extent. The subtle nuances and feelings of others have a hard time registering in her mind.

Defenses

HP: 31/31

• Guard: 19 (17 Base 2 Armor)
• Toughness: 17
• Resolve: 15

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Attributes

Physical Attributes

Might: 4/1d10
Fortitude: 3/1d8
Agility: 3/1d8

Social Attributes

Deception: 0/0
Presence: 1/0
Persuasion: 0/0

Mental Attributes

Learning: 0/0
Logic: 0/0
Perception: 2/1d6
Will: 4/1d10

Supernatural Attributes

Alteration: 0/0
Creation: 0/0
Energy: 0/0
Entropy: 0/0
Influence: 2/1d6
Movement: 0/0
Prescience: 0/0
Protection: 1/1d4

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Equipment and Inventory

Stats taken from example armor at site

Scavenger Armor
* Type: Medium
* Wealth Level: 2
* Fortitude Required: 3
* Defense Bonus: 2
* Speed Penalty: 0

Night Tearers
Weapon: Claws. Opal´s claws differ from the reference images in that they contain a handle on the inside that must be gripped.

*Dual-wielding one-handed melee
Dual-wielding two one-handed melee weapons grants advantage 1 to all attacks.

*Forceful
This weapon can make attacks with the Might attribute and invoke banes accessible via Might.

*Precise
This weapon can be used to make attacks with the Agility attribute and invoke banes accessible via Agility.

*Heavy
The weapon is particularly heavy to carry. You may carry a maximum number of heavy items equal to your Might score.

Weapon Banes

Persistent Damage

(Bleeding damage)

(Power level 2)

Stunned

Other Banes

Opal´s semblance manifests as the ability to have partial control over pure light. At her command she envelops herself in a harsh white light, with an intensity and target area that can be scaled and controlled to achieve different effects.

Demoralized

(Power level 3)

Opal unleashes a howl or a similar show of intimidation while enveloped in light to demoralize opponents. The intensity of the light enveloping her is not very strong and is intended to be mainly noticed by those she is engaging in direct combat with.

Provoked

(Power level 4)

Opal´s body glows with a light whose strength passes the point of just demoralizing her opponents. Coupled with war cries she is now incredibly offensive to the senses and will divert attention to her.

Inventory

Outdated scroll

Basic rations

Beat-up backpack

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Actions and Feats

Battlefield Opportunist I

Your battlefield prowess allows you to capitalize on windows of opportunity that others don't notice, making you far more deadly in melee combat. Whether you wield an axe, plasmablade, or your bare fists, foes struggle to maneuver around or away from you.

You may make an additional opportunity attack per round for each tier of this feat you possess. You can only make one opportunity attack per triggering action (e.g., you cannot make multiple attacks against the same foe when they leave your threatened space).

Brutal Intimidation

Your powers of persuasion stem from application of brute force rather than your social grace. When you smash a table, brandish your blade, or flex your muscles, people stop what they are doing and listen to you.

If you're able to make a show of physical force, you can use your Might attribute in place of Persuasion for the action roll.

Tough as Nails I

You have a remarkable ability to shrug off pain and punishment that would take down lesser heroes. This power might stem from your rocky carapace, extreme combat training, or simply an extra dose of grit that you acquired from a hard life.

You permanently gain 5 extra hit points per tier of this feat you possess.

Climbing

You gain the ability to climb or parkour perfectly, akin to certain vampires, aberrant creatures, ninjas, and insects.

You gain a climb speed equal to your base speed and can scale horizontal and vertical surfaces, even climb upside-down, with no fear of falling.

XD

The defeat of Colton's pokemon had cranked Harvey's worries to eleven. No longer would he able to lean on the aid of a teammate in the very likely case of struggling. And boy, was he struggling.

A lone magnezone surrounded by two enemy pokemon with nothing but a flimsy substitute to protect himself. It didn´t take a battling expert to know that he was in big trouble. He thought about the two offensive attacks at his disposal, and began to debate with himself in an intense mental discussion that was honestly not much better than just flipping a coin or something, seeing how inexperienced he was with these whole "pokemon" and "solving conflict" things. A thunderbolt towards volcarona? The large and alien looking moth pill creature was being kept airborne through some bizarre looking wings, and he knew for a fact that it meant it was probably a flying type. Probably. What about flash cannon? It was definitely a powerful attack for a steel type to use, but Harvey struggled to think whether or not it would be useful on either of the two.

Besides, he thought, even if I beat one of them, there´s still another I gotta take care of!

His eyes darted back and forth between the two pokemon, before a third option presented itself. Another attack. A staple move that had been featured in countless television programs and documentaries. If there was nothing that he could do to save himself, then all he´d have to do is dish out as much damage as possible. Readying his hands close to his ears, Harvey shouted.

"Magnezone! Use explosion!"

RWBY: Burning Embers

XD

Harvey was at a loss for words at all the pokemon that were right in front of him. I mean sure, they weren´t real, but there were four of them! And they were enormous! He was struggling with his mind that wanted to panic at the sight of all of their colors and teeth and pointy stabby bits. The scizor in particular looked like something he'd want twenty feet away and covered in bubble wrap at all times.

Colton had said something while performing the game's first move and Harvey had completely missed it during his habitual spiral into worry and doubt. He flashed an awkward and forced smile at his partner. "Yeah!" he answered, meekly, in the tone of someone who didn't want to appear rude because they didn't understand something but wasn't confident enough to ask the person to repeat themselves.

If he were to have any chance to truly win this battle, then Harvey would have to think strategically. And so he did, for a little bit.

"Magnezone! Use substitute!" he shouted. It sounded less like someone commanding an animal and more like someone desperately yelling at a voice-activated appliance to get it to work. He didn't know much about pokemon moves apart from the obvious ones, but this one had quickly become his favorite. It put distance between him and the opponent, made him feel safe, and gave him time to think things through. A comically oversized plush animal had taken magnezone's place in the simulation, leading him to guess where the "real" pokemon had gone. Any rational explanations of its pixels having momentarily disappeared would have gone over his head, as he was generally ignorant of the modern world and its quirks.