DShomshak

Option: Board of Regents trustee Hermes Trismegistus Legendary founder of Hermetic mysticism. Possibly and Egyptian wizard, possibly a syncretism of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. Mythical either way, but also the author of The Emerald Tablet, the foundational text of Hermetic magic. He recently wrote a lighter guide for interested laypeople, The Emerald Tablet for Dummies. Dean Shomshak

... But not surprised. Dean Shomshak

Sorry, typo. The Archmaster's hat. See page 12. Dean Shomshak

Another magic item from the arcane artisans of the Paolini Academy: Magical wands, rods and staves are not unique to the Ars Hermetica. Mundane archeologists know that such tools go back at least as far as ancient Egypt. Hermetics, however, really like magical sticks. The best known emblem of Hermetic power is the Blasting Rod, of which the Grand Grimoire says that it “…collects the clouds, disperses tempest, averts the lightning, or precipitates each and all upon any portion of the earth at the pleasure of its director.” Don't tell Security Chief Ash, but some might say it's the original Boomstick... But the professors of the Paolini Institute craft many personalized rods and staves as well. One of the most ambitious recent efforts was meant to channel the power of the Moon, using nothing less than a fragment of actual Moon rock brought back by the Apollo missions. (It was all Professor Bonestell’s idea. He stole the rock from a museum exhibit, replacing it with a chip of Earthly basalt. He feels no guilt at the theft, suggesting the museum merely wanted a rock for people to gawp at. Hey, in 20 years nobody’s noticed the substitution…) This magnificent magical staff would use the subtle and delusive power of the Moon to influence the minds of mortals and spirits alike, bending them to the will of its wielder without their resenting their servitude. Early tests of the finished staff went well. Then somebody stole it. Magister Paolini is pretty sure who did it, but says punishment will come in due time. The staff passed to other hands, though, always one step ahead of Institute attempts to recapture it. Students and alumni received these pictures of the staff and its last known possessor, a slippery character who should under no circumstances be trusted: Option: Notable Achievement: The Staff of Loki Professor Bonestell has a more ambitious plan, though: a scepter that incorporates bits of all seven astrological planets. A "Rod of Seven Parts," one might call it. He already knows where to get bits of the Moon; Martian meteorites are scarcer, but he knows where to get one of those, too. Other planets have regrettably not delivered parts of themselves to Earth (unless you count the solar wind, which Professor Bonestell has already determined will not work for his purpose.) Instead, probes from NASA and other space agencies are delivering sections of the Rod to the desired planet, with spirits pre-bound to carry the empowered section back to Earth. Cassini already delivered its section to Saturn (placed on board using some discreet time travel); Messenger delivered its section to Mercury; the Parker Solar Probe carries a section that's absorbing power from the Sun; Juno will eventually deliver its section into the storms of Jupiter. When the Rod is complete, Professor Bonestell believes it will not only channel the power of all seven planets, it will open Gates beyond the universe itself to the Primum Mobile. Not everyone at the Institute is sure this is a good idea. Dean Shomshak PS: Logan, you haven't recorded the Archmaster's Hot on the roster yet. PPS: Bob the Skull can be the head librarian for the entire university, if nobody objects.

FLAVOR TEXT: WITCHCRAFT PERFORMS A MAJOR HERMETIC WORKING (Not meant to make light of the weather disaster going on in California, but this is the sort of thing one could wish there were real magicians to perform. An example of one of the classic purposes of magic: commanding the powers of nature.) (Stay safe, Cali comrades!) Weather forecasts tell Witchcraft that yet another atmospheric river is heading toward California — a big one — and the state just can’t take any more. As a special project, she travels to the state and performs a rite to change the weather. Even for a grad student, simply dispersing a storm is too big a feat of magic. All that water still has to go somewhere. Moreover, disrupting the weather that drastically could have much worse consequences later on. Witchcraft decides she will only redirect the rain a few hundred miles north or south, to some place that isn’t already so waterlogged. Meteorologists will be puzzled, but nothing obviously magical has happened. Of the planets, Jupiter governs wind and weather generally, but the Moon has the strongest connection to water in particular. Therefore, Witchcraft builds her spell around the power of Jupiter encompassing and controlling the power of the Moon. Preparing a ritual chamber on the West Coast, she hangs the room with blue cloth (the color of Jupiter) bearing crescent moons, owls, crabs, rabbits, and the symbol of the zodiac sign Cancer — all Lunar symbols — in silver paint. Blue vases hold bouquets of willow twigs, lilies, moonwort and rosemary (Lunar) with twigs of oak, beech, poplar, olive or fig, with shamrocks and stalks of grain (Jupiter). A brazier burns saffron, lignum aloes, and ash seed (perfumes of Jupiter). For a magician’s rod she carries a javelin of oak; her blue and white robe is pinned with a brooch of tin, the metal of jupiter. Candles with blue glass shields light the scene. Her friends in the Champions stand in the corners within small magic circles so they can watch the rite without disrupting it. Everyone bathed before the ceremony and wears simple white robes that were exorcised with smoke from a censer and salt water sprinkled using a bundle of dried herbs. At an hour propitious to Jupiter, draws an elaborate magic circle and consecrates the enclosure with incense, sprinklings of water, and invocations to the angels of the cardinal directions. A lectern in the circle holds a disk of blue paper, a pen, silver ink, and other small tools. Each tool receives its own incantation. Witchcraft uses the silver ink to draw a 9 x 9 magic square on one side of the disk, and the Sixth Talisman of the Moon on the other. Her hands tremble slightly as she draws the talisman, moving more slowly. Her friends feel their skin prickle at the building power. The air smells of ozone. Though the room is sealed, small breezes ruffle the curtains. At last the talisman is complete. Sweat beads Witchcraft's forehead but her voice is firm as she commands the winds to blow as she directs, invoking the names of angels, the ruling spirits of Jupiter and the Moon, and Almighty God. She lays the completed talisman over a map of the Pacific Ocean and blows. Even the other Champions can feel the tremendous power flow out of the room. Far out over the Pacific Ocean, air pressure will rise on one side of the atmospheric river, and drop on the other, bending the path of the fast-flowing current of moist air. In game terms (Champions Complete), the base Power is Change Environment: generate 1 level of wind, in the direction Witchcraft chooses, to push the atmospheric river off course. Advantages are: * Indirect (+1/4) so the magic can leave the ritual chamber. The magic originates at a point Witchcraft chose before she cast the spell (and allocated the points from her VPP); * Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4), so the wind fills an area; * MegaScale (1m Area = 1,000 km; + 1 3/4), so the Change Environment has a big area; * MegaScale (1m Range = 100 km; +1 1/2) to send the center of the magic up to 5000 km away, far out into the Pacific; * Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible; +1), so nobody knows any magic was even done; * Costs Endurance Only to Activate (+1/4), so Witchcraft doesn’t have to keep pouring END into the spell; necessary since Witchcraft doesn’t have the points to make the base Power Long-Lasting. She must stay awake for hours, maybe days, while the conjured wind slowly moves the oncoming storm. Total result; 30 Active Points. But the GM doesn’t allow characters to perform MegaScale effects at the drop of a hat, so the spell also takes these Limitations: * Gestures (only to activate; -1/4) as Witchcraft manipulates her ritual paraphernalia; * Incantations (only to activate; -1/4) for all the, well, incantations; * Extra Time (20 minutes, only to activate; -1 1/4) for the ceremony; * Focus (OAF, Arrangement; -1 1/4) for all the aforementioned paraphernalia; * Increased Endurance Cost (x7 END, only to activate; -1 12), because casting magic like this takes a lot out of you; * Side Effect (3d6 CON Drain if the ritual is disrupted in any way, or there’s any magical interference; -1/4), because magic like this is not entirely safe. 5 Real Points, 21 END. Bonus! A story seed: The paper talisman bursts into flame and blue light strobes around witchcraft. She cries out in pain and falls to the floor. Despite the earlier warning to stay in their circles, the other Champions rush to her side. “Stars and stones,” Witchcraft gasps. (She picked up the expression when she took a class from Professor Dresden over in Modern Urban Magics.) “There’s other magic at work.” Defender helps her to her feet. Her expression hardens. “These aren’t natural storms. This is an attack. And whoever’s doing it is going to regret it.” Dean Shomshak

As good a thread for it as any, I suppose... Happy Pi Day! It's the most nerdiful time of the year... Dean Shomshak

A query for the Commissioner: As I mentioned when I picked Witchcraft, I'd like to give a description of a majpor Hermetic magical working as an example of what an Institute professor or grad student can do. With Hero game mechanics, to show what's possible with a 30-point VPP. Would you let me post this as supplemental to Witchcraft's entry, or would you prefer to treat it as an Option Pick of its own? Dean Shomshak

As previously mentioned, one young freshman was expelled from the Paolini Academy, though Doctor Destroyer promptly gave him a scholarship to the Department of Destruction. That student tried to get out of chores done for a professor by using Mercurial magic to animate a common household item as a servant. It went very wrong. Bob the Librarian complained that even with magic it took weeks to dry out and repair all the books. But the student did have help. He drew upon the power of one of the Institute's many formidable items crafted in centuries past to channel the power of the Celestial Realms. Ever since "the Broom Incident," the Institute has made it more difficult for students to access such artifacts of cosmic power. Option: Notable Achievement: The Archmaster's Hat (Or given the Diskworld inspiration for the Superdraft, perhaps it should be called the Achchancellor's Hat.) Dean Shomshak

"Yo, in your face, Ptolemy! *That* for your crystal spheres!" He's not popular with the Hermetics, either. Dean Shomshak

I had considered Harry Dresden for my Grad Student, but then what about Bob? Even if I used the TV version instead, it felt... awkward. So instead: Why should DT be the only one to recruit from the Champions Universe? When she isn't fighting villains and miscellaneous Forces of Evil, Witchcraft improves her skills at the Paolini Academy. It's sometimes a little annoying having another grad student Bethany. but they manage. Page 71 of The Mystic World has a decent picture of Witchcraft performing Hermetic ritual magic. I'd post it, but it does not seem to exist online. And the few images of the Champions Online version of Witchcraft were, eh, uninspiring. To compensate, later I'll try to post a few examples of what a Hermetic Magus can do with a 30-point VPP. Maybe later tonight, or on Sunday. (Not Saturday, I have gaming then.) Not additional entries, but supplemental to this one. Okay with that, Logan? Dean Shomshak

Hey, kids! How ridiculous can clickbait get? This turned up in my newsfeed: Super-Earth Threatens The Destruction Of Our Planet (msn.com) Er, no, not like for real. It's about simulations of what could happen to Earth's orbit if a super-Earth suddenly appeared between Mars and Jupiter. Nothing good; no surprise. But since to the best of our knowledge planets don't appear from nowhere or teleport into star systems, the exercise is of little immediate concern. Though it *did* get me to click it, if only from morbid curiosity... Dean Shomshak

Oh, I can come up with a theological rationalization: In Hinduism, everything is an aspect of Brahman. You are Brahman; the god you worship is Brahman; the offering you make to the god is Brahman. It's all Brahman worshipping itself. The robot, too, is Brahman, so its worship is just as valid. OK, it's really all the other strain of South Asian religion: magic. No deep theology, really: Do the act, get the merit. Pour X many ash oblations into a stream, say the mantra Y thousand times, get magic power. The goal in Hinduism and Buddhism is supposed to be liberation/enlightenment, but that can be defined in multiple ways. For many people, that means a magic power to get what you want. But then, I remember seeing an ad for a Gold Prosperity Cross allegedly dipped in Lourdes water, so I dare say no religion is immune to the lure of magic charms and mechanical rituals, with no shortage of con men ready to supply them. If the magical merit -- tapas, "heat" in Hinduism -- accumulates to the robot instead of the person who set the robot in motion, though, eventually the gods are compelled to give magical power to the robot. Potential Champions character/scenario, here. Dean Shomshak

Instead of a specific news event, here's an article about a wider cultural trend with some pondering about what it means. Possibly some material here for SF or urban Fantasy campaign design. https://studyfinds.org/robots-hindu-rituals/ Dean Shomshak

I'm having no problems: The challenge is having too many ideas than too few. Well, some might not fit well with the Superdraft concept as they are only glancingly related to anything pre-existing, the way I turned an obscure 16th-century Hermetic writer into a demi-Time Lord. And a fair number would actually work better for other departments. But if other people want more time, I can use it to refine the concepts for my last two picks. Dean Shomshak

Droll, considering my Star Student pick. Well, the Institute does have time travel... Professor Holst said, "Magister, I admit I'm a little concerned. He's diligent -- brilliant, even, and knows how to hit the books when it suits him -- and it's impressive how he's adapted Hermetic musical theory to, ah, 'shred the guitar..' But he seems... high strung. Anger management issues. I wonder if a young man who wants to be called 'ripper.' is really a good fit. Are we creating the next Scriabin?" Paolini smiled and waved a hand. "It's a phase. I have every confidence he'll outgrow it and we'll all be pleased with the Magus he becomes. He might even teach, someday. Or become a librarian, Bob says. Time will tell." Star Pupil: Young Rupert Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080523015738/buffy/images/d/d8/Ripper.jpg (Pooh, it won't paste in the picture. Oh, well.) Dean Shomshak

A small irony of the video is the argument that the Left must learn and accept what used to be considered part of conservatism -- a particular kind of conservatism, anyway: that humanity must be constrained by rules, enforced by institutions. The only questions are what the rules shall be, and who sets them, to what ends. The fence of a prison camp, keeping you in, is not the same as the fence of a minefield, keeping you out. Dean Shomshak

I forget whether it was an episode of the Ancient Discoveries TV series, or an episode of Junkyard Wars, that introduced me to the steam cannon. Like it says, the propellant is steam: An external fire boils the water, building up pressure, while some sort of clamp holds the projectile in place. Release the clamp, and the projectile fires. Not a hand weapon of course, or one that could be fired rapidly, but field artillery or emplaced artillery might be feasible. (I introduced it to the Exalted game along with "erupters," a sort of early Chinese weapon midway between cannon and flamethrower. The game already had a quasi-natural incendiary/explosive called "firedust," because early in the game's development someone really, really wanted to have gunslingers without gunpowder.) Dean Shomshak

Fine. It's noon. Here we go: The Institute’s faculty gathered in the library to discuss offering a scholarship. Maybe even several. Not everyone thought it was a good idea. “You can’t be serious,” said Professor Holst. “She’s far too young, and there’s no evidence she knows anything about magic, Hermetic or otherwise. That any of them really know magic.” “Indeed,” said the professor whose name nobody ever seemed to recall. “Remember my young apprentice? The one with the ears, who seemed so eager? Remember what a disaster that became?” “Be fair,” Professor Julianus whispered in his wind-through-the-trees voice. “That animation spell on the broom worked amazingly well. I’m glad he’s gone, but it was still some of the most powerful Mercurial magic I’ve ever seen. At least Magister Zerstoiten seemed glad to take him off our hands.” “Gentlemen,” Magister Paolini interrupted. “I know she’s very young, and very ignorant. They all are. But their powers are undoubtedly magical, and undoubtedly derived from the planets. While they take remedial classes, we can study them and discern who or what gave them their powers, how, and why. Moreover, two of them seem to possess powers derived from Uranus and Neptune. We cannot pass by a chance to investigate those two, especially. And added to the five who seem to be the core of their group… They make seven. A hebdomad. I believe the Highest Itself may be guiding us to them.” “Plus, they’re girls,” the Librarian said. “Very cute girls, especially the one with the super-long ponytails, and ooh, those short skirts…” “Bob, hush,” said Magister Paolini. “And they’re not really seven,” Professor Bonestell said. “They have associates linked to Saturn and Pluto, too, even if they’re dead sometimes. And the boyfriend. That makes ten, not seven.” Magister Paolini threw up his hands. “Fine. Ten. But the boyfriend seems to have some obscure Solar affinity, so the group shows a degree of completion that suggests a more than casual plan. We must find out whether to accept and advance that plan, detour it to our own purposes, or try to block it.” “Also, girls,” Bob said again. Magister Paolini primly ignored him. The other faculty members riffled through the dossiers again, thinking. “They do show considerable power,” Professor Crowley said. “Best to keep such power under close observation. And control. If we don’t use it, someone else will.” One by one, the other professors nodded or murmured their assent. “I’m sure Magister Sparkles would love them,” Professor Holst said with a grimace. “At least two sets of lovers. Or people in love, anyway. If we wait for them to grow up, Sparkles might snabble them up first.” “The origin does seem, well, implausible,” mused Professor Bonestell. “A magic makeup compact, given by a talking cat? That… can’t be real. Someone is pulling something, and we should find out who. Or what.” “Also, boo—“ “Shut up, Bob!” everyone said in unison. “I’m glad to have your support,” Magister Paolini said. “Our agents will contact them directly. I’m sure we can make our offer… irresistible.” He rose, picked up his staff, and strode out in a swirl of robes. The others followed, Professor Bonestell wheeling the bust of Julianus the Theurgist, until only Bob the Skull was left in his domain. “Nine girls,” he chortled. “And two of them… intimate. Whee!” Freshman Student: Sailor Moon. (And the rest of the Sailor Guardians. Oh all right, and Tuxedo Mask, too. But if we must confine ourselfes to one character, Sailor Moon.) Dean Shomshak

Bob approves. He can be the skull. But he needs to know: Will there be parties? With girls? Dean Shomshak

The ninja is sort of a "extra special character" for the set, often acting apart from the others, so a little extra in the name department fits. For extra cheese, it's Robo Ninja Tobikage! And Steve is right that anyone who'd make robot martial artists would likely also make them catgirls. But I think I'll save that for their second appearance in campaign. First appearance, straightforward robots. Second appearance, somebody modified their appearance to catgirls. Thank you all! Dean Shomshak

The Paolini Institute has several powerful planetary spirits pre-bound to serve. These are called synocheis, "connectors," because they supply a connection to the celestial realms. Some of these are housed in telestika positioned around the Institute building and grounds. Only one synocheus, however, is actually considered part of the faculty. The Institute's departmental librarian is a spirit of Mercury: vastly intelligent, highly mobile when released from its home in a consecrated human skull, and with an infallible memory for everything it has ever witnessed or learned. And over the centuries, the spirit has learned a lot. Knowledge is power, making this spirit powerful indeed. Also... very snarky. Famous line: "We have now left reason and sanity junction. Next stop, Looneyville!" Magister Paolinin has commanded the spirit to confine its service to students to answering questions, though; and asks students ta actually read the books, scrolls, tablets, and other writings in the Institute library, instead of just asking the spirit for the answer to their questions. The spirit may appear as simply a yellow-orange glow in the eyesockets of the skull. When released, it manifests as a cloud of yellow-orange sparks. Even a bound spirit can have a price. The Librarian's price is that the Institute's library also has an amazing collection of girlie mags and romance novels. Other Staff Member: Department Librarian, Bob the Skull (Basic version from the Dresden Files books. Evil Bob and the TV version are still available.) Dean Shomshak

Noon here, so it's time. Here's Scriabin again, as the Notorious Alumnus. Dean Shomshak

Hey, you know Adam Smith? The Wealth of Nations guy, prophet of the Free Market that infallibly regulates as by an Invisible Hand? That wasn't what he said at all. Several weeks back, the Freakonomics radio program/podcast devoted three episodes to Adam Smith, tracing his biography, the development of his thought, and how ideologues have used and abused his writings ever since. Number One thing to know? He wrote *two* books, and his Theory of Moral Sentiments was jusgt as important as The Wealth of Nations -- and they are both necessary to understand Smith's full inquiry. He was primarily a moral philosopher, who ended up studying economics to examine what people actually did, and why. But people tend to pick phrases from Wealth to support whatever beliefs they want to push, and ignore everything else. (A bit like the Bible, that.) The cartoon version of Smith's analysis of markets pushed by the Austrian School and its Chicago School offshoot is particularly egregious. For the rest... hear the episodes, I can't possibly do them justice. Here's a link to the first episode, which has a link to the podcasts if you prefer that format. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/season-12-episode-19/ Dean Shomshak

Yes. Yes, it is. Dean Shomshak

Not sure how useful this is for me right now, but interesting... Dean Shomshak