Enchanting Illusions.

Dear Journal,

... i have a dream.

... i dream about mastering enchantment magick, so i can cast enchanting illusions - sinister, eerie and beautiful ... somewhat scary, yet gentle, slightly seductive, distant as stars that along with Selune-moon light a night-sky ... expressive as any of perfected Art forms.

... i want to work meticulously with details, so these will have Nuomenal depth and feeling.


... i've progressed far with illusions already ... what draws me to it is still is understanding 'illusory nature of reality', something that far-eastern / thinking of Kara-Tur here / philosophies and religions talk a lot about.

The 'True Seeing' spell that i learned a while ago - helps too.

... i say that 'True Seeing' spell gives me 'Second Sight', that can pierce through illusions.

After going past veils of illusions thanks to the Second Sight, my knowledge and experiences with illusions allow me to understand what's true, what's illusion, and how illusions work, from what parts they consist.


... i am working on enchantments, but its a slow process.


What's an illusion, and what's not?

... well, aside tricks of colours and light/shadows that hide imperfections and emphasize what's beautiful ... or do other things ... there are illusions that affect all of senses / sight, hearing, scent ... etc. /

... can a simple makeup work be considered illusion? in a way it can be, i think.

There are beings and phenomena in reality. Beings have mind, phenomena do not.

... i think makeup, clothing etc. are phenomena created by wishes of beings that people could be more beautiful, that world could be more beautiful.

After making a wish, many of people start to experiment and work, trying to find a way to make their wish(es) come true and real.

Can all of phenomena be considered illusions? In a way, perhaps ... but i think it's too far-fetched simplification.


How will i look when dressed elegantly, when wearing a nice evening dress ... when wearing around clothing a beautiful, enchanting illusion?


... i need to experiment with scents, will wear new perfumes as well.


-- Yours, Chea Allin, a Witch.

Stonepeak Again (Zak's Tale).

A while ago i've been in Stonepeak and bought a ring of strength.

Then i've learned that Stonepeak's shops also sell belt of strength.

Spent some time stealing gold and valuables from kobolds, then found a party of adventurers and went to Stonepeak again.

Most notable of adventurers was a dwarf named Bunus. He's very tough even for a dwarf - when he was badly wounded he was concerned more about beer leaving his body with blood than about health risks.

... i've bought belt for 8 000 gp, then we returned to Peltarch.

-- Zak, Adventurer   Merchant.

Living in Rawlinswood (Marlenka's Tale).

It is said that for new to be born, grow, and live - old must die.

In nature there are cycles ... growth of one population can lead to dying of another. Classic example is wolves and hares.

This is but one example, there are many other interactions between populations - both beneficial for ecosystem and harmful.

Sometimes certain animals are in excess number, and need to be hunted to reduce their population size.

We rangers often are protection and strong arms of druids ... and druids are our spiritual teachers, authorities and leaders.

Druids observe all aspects of nature - animal populations, health of animals, plants and trees ... weather patterns, forest fires, famine, disease, presence of undead or harmful outsiders from other planes ... and other disasters, too many too mention here - or even remember or know by someone like me.

It is druids who tell rangers what and when to hunt - and how much.

Druids also stress to not waste any part of killed animals. Mostly it's meat, fur, and bones.

There are exceptions of course. Not every druid is a leader, not every ranger is follower. There are also friends in druidic groves - both humans, humanoids and forest dwellers - not only animals, also dryads, nymphs and many others.

... so i live under druidic guidance, sleep in their groves or in deep woods ... unless there's something to do among civilized people.

... usually it's trade or warnings, occasionally also fighting with or against townspeople.

-- Marlenka, a Hunter Ranger.

Uneasy (Marlenka's Tale).

... i've always been shy.

... most of my time of i've spent in Rawlinswood, with animal friends.

... i've hunted only enough to feed myself ... but how to not waste animal skins?

... perhaps i should make gloves for sale ... i like long evening gloves.


... today met a dwarf, in Norwick ... we had a nice but short conversation.

-- Marlenka, a Hunter.

Stonepeak & Ring (Zak's Tale).

Heard rumour that near Blackbridge in Giantspires Mountains is a miner's camp of humans & giants.

Heard it's called: 'Stonepeak'.

Heard rumours that Giant there sells rings that enhance one's strength.


Organized a trip there, and rumours proved true.

Bought a strength ring, for about 7000 gp.

-- Zak Swiftblade, Adventurer & Merchant.

Marlenka (Character Description).

Character Idea:

Shy Animal Hunter Archer, and quality glovemaker.


Descriptiopn:

Light, slim and fragile looking silhuette but those who know her know that she's quite tough and resistant to pain despite that.

She is shy and cautious of strangers ... but good, loving nature nevertheless.

Her height is about 170 cm, hair dyed green, free falling to her shoulders ... and her eyes are black like night sky.

Usually wearing black studded leathers, she carries longbow, sword and large dwarven shield.

On her armour there are symbols of Selune, Sune, Tymora and Fenmarel Mestarine.


Spirituality:

Follows:
- Selune / Moon Godess /,
- Sune / Godess of Love /,
- Tymora / Godess of Luck /,
- Fenmarel Mestarine / Elven God of Solitude and Outcasts /.

Meditates on breath for calm mind.





Known Ranger Spells:

/ she can cast two 1st circle ranger spells and one 2nd circle ranger spell per day. /

/ usually it's cure light wounds x2 and cat's grace x1. /




She branded evening gloves she makes: 'Merole'.


-=- Evening dress, with evening gloves. -=-

... merci Mercedes.


Equipment:

-=- a Longbow, for Hunting. -=-

-=- Simple Arrows, for Easy prey. -=-

-=- Sharper Arrows, for Tough prey. -=-

-=- Slashing Arrows, for Unusual prey. -=-

-=- Masterwork Dark Studded Leather Armour, for Protection and Sneaking. -=-

-=- Leather Boots, for walking where thorns are. -=-

-=- Spear, for Melee with Animals. -=-

-=- Longsword, for Melee. -=-

-=- Dwarven Large Shield, for Melee. -=-

-=- Hunter's Belt, for Trapping. -=-

-=- Hunter's Ring, to be aware. -=-

-=- Wooden Cup, for drinking water, tea or wine. -=-

-=- Wooden Bowl, for eating. -=-

-=- Rags, for hygiene. -=-

-=- Knife, for eating and for skinning animals. -=-

Spellblade's Agility (Zak's Tale).

... i've paid Sister of Bones member for enchanting item again.

... this time it is ring that enhances my agility and attunement to weave.

... now i need to get two items that enhance my strength ... two of listed below:
- perhaps a ring,
- perhaps an amulet,
- perhaps a belt,
- perhaps a cloak,
- perhaps a helm or other headwear.

-- Zak Swiftblade, Adventurer.





--
Character name: Zak Swiftblade.
Character receiving item: Zak Swiftblade.
50-50 XP Hit: N/A
Caster Level: ?.
Enchanting Facility: Sisters of Bone's Enchanting Facilities.
Spells Used: Cat's Grace, Fox Cunning.
Materials Used: Gold Ring, Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl, Cats Grace Potion, Fox Cunning Potion, Oil, Candle.

Item Level: 7.
Next Enchantment: ?

Item name: Spellblade's Agility.
Item properties:
1. +1 Dex,
2. +4 Spellcraft,
3. Bonus 0 level spell slot (Sorcerer).

Costs:
7 point item -------- 6,000 1e exp (about 1,000 3e xp at character level 10) ----- 3,300 gold
(3e xp are xp listed on character sheet)


Description:

Silver ring enchanted to increase wearer's dexterity and attunement to weave.


Enchantment process:

Zak made a deal with Sister of Bones, a deal to enchant his gold ring for gold.

After reserving time in laboratory & paying the fee, Sister prepares for a ritual of empowerment.

She purifies gold ring by draining unneccessary energies from it, then crushes gems, mixes powders with potions and oil - then spends energy.

She meditates, deeply visualizing cat spirit and energies flowing from his chakras to the ring.

She visualizes wearer using ring in combat, with more agility than before.

She smears the gem-powder, potions & oil into armour, spreading the mixture evenly.

Spell she uses is 'Cats Grace' and 'Fox Cunning', to impart qualities of agility and understanding of weave on wearer.

Sister of Bones casts energy so the oily mixture imparts permanent qualities of grace and spellcraft on ring.

Then she lights a candle and using tongs holds ring in a candle-flame, letting oily substance burn with smoke.

Form she meditates on black cat form, then sends energy rays around ring, energy rays that build up into powerfield (mandala).

Sister of Bones oversees energies as they flow, speaking arcane formulas as neccessary and correcting errors as they arise. After a proper amount of time, when all energy points are opened and joined with energy channels, she uses forms that give appropriate properties on each of them, then closes enchantment, finishing.

As a side-effect of enchanting, colour and substance of the ring turns to silver.

Spellblade's Agility ring is ready, she seeks Zak and gives it to him.

He will check the item in a real combat.