Generic Fantasy Roleplay Knowledge Thread

[Zaleramancer]

Zaleramancer wrote

I'm considering making a Sorceress class based off the Greek Myths..

Part Alchemist, Part Poisoner, Part Mage..

Should make for an interesting combo.

Any suggestions Shad?

[Zaleramancer]

Or anyone else?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

A pharmakeia, naturally.



Gimme a sec, I have a link.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Oh, wait, nevermind. I can tell you myself.

A pharmakeia (Greek for witch AND for witchcraft) is a skilled mage. Capable of hexing, jinxing, enchanting, brewing potions, tonics, poisons and elixirs, crafting charms and talismans, invoking higher beings with incantations, turning people into various different things, etc.

Basically everything the typical witch can do, but developed much faster, because being a Pharmakeia often implied that one had divine lineage.

Most famous users of Pharmakeia? Oh...nobody special... 

[Zaleramancer]

Interesting.

So what would you suggest for abilities?

So far, I have a mixture of potent (If mana expensive and short duration) magic, and herbs/potion/poisons which they use to support, enhance and refine their magical skills.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Well, there's so much to choose from. It all depends on your desired field.

You can do general magics, or explored something specific.

For example:

Pasiphae was known to have worshipped Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love. And this is what she got out of it.

Theoi.com wrote

[Prokris] fled to Minos, who wanted her and tried to persuade her to have sex with him. But if a woman had sex with Minos [who was not Pasiphae], she could not be saved; for after he had slept with many women, Pasiphae put him under a spell whereby, whenever he went to bed with another woman, he would ejaculate wild creatures into her vagina, thus killing her.

But her worship also came at a price.

Theoi.com wrote

Pasiphae, daughter of Sol [Helios] and wife of Minos, for several years did not make offerings to the goddess Venus [Aphrodite]. Because of this Venus [Aphrodite] inspired in her an unnatural love for a bull.

Yes. This is how she became mother of the Minotaur.

[Philote]

Shadowulf1 wrote

whenever he went to bed with another woman, he would ejaculate wild creatures into her vagina, thus killing her.

.....Wut?

[Zaleramancer]

I know, right?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

What? We conjure up pocket dimensions all the time!

Even pocket dimensions leading to infernal realms.

Pasiphae just happened to have a different place to keep hers...

[Zaleramancer]

Is there anything else?

Less disturbing, perhaps?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 Well, you know Circe turned folks into pigs.

But honestly, I only brought that up because of the amount of power that sounds like it requires.

The three I named were the most powerful witches in Greek myth, capable of even invoking the Arae and the Furies.

Basically go with normal spells. You just learn them faster, and they start off stronger than the normal.

[Zaleramancer]

Thing is, It would feel... off if the Sorceress were to just start flinging fireballs.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Well, it doesn't have to be just flinging fireballs.

Maybe start off with some extrasensory stuff first. Maybe build your way up to Precognitive Reflexes?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

I hope Phasma's not too powerful this time around...

[Philote]

I'll help with abilities if you need it.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Okay, I'm done. Tell me what you think...

REVISED

Shadowulf1 wrote

Phasma Geist
Race: Human (Psychic)
Gender: Female
Class: Spirit Medium
Familiar: Casper (Black Cat)

Strength (Str) Low
Dexterity (Dex) Mid
Constitution (Con) Low
Intelligence (Int) High
Wisdom (Wis)  High
Charisma (Cha) Mid

Level 1: Familiar Link- Mentally and empathically link with Casper, her spiritually-attuned black cat familiar; the two can perceive each others' thoughts, emotions, location and physical condition; master and Familiar become slightly more dexterous
-Mental/emotional effects affect BOTH parties

Level 2: Sense Spirits- Now, Phasma may perceive spirits on her own (even if she is out of Casper's range); when they manifest in the material plane, their position (even if out of normal sight range), their alignment and base thoughts/emotions/motives
-Spirits must be manifested, and in range

Level 3: Sense Death and the Dead- Phasma can perceive whenever a person is about to die, is dying, or has died in her immediate vicinity, as well as HOW a person has died or will die; she may also sense the presence of the dead and the undead (and what kind)
-The more violent the death, or the more powerful the undead, the worse her symptoms get when she senses it

Level 4: Psychometry- Touching an object or subject brings allows Phasma to read any psychic imprints left on it; memories of the past, visions of the future, information about the object, etc.; this is random.
-Involuntary; about three imprints a day

Level 5: Speak with Spirits/Spirit Affinity- Phasma may now communicate with spirits, verbally, empathically and telepathically, regardless of the language they had in life; the language they speak is the universal language of the afterlife; this empathic/telepathic connection also makes same/similar-alignment spirits more likely to assist without needing to be asked or propitiated first
-Works only on same or similar-alignment spirits (and some are pacifists, meaning they won't fight with/for her); Does not FORCE spirits to respond or cooperate

Level 6: Mediumistic Automatism- Spirits of similar (good) alignment can enter Phasma's body to relay messages from the Astral Realm (via speech/writing, motion, etc.); this also allows them to direct her movements (fighting, etc), if both parties are willing
-The longer a spirit stays embodied, the more it wears her out afterward; number of spirits that can be channeled may increase over time

Level 7: Domination Immunity- Phasma is now able to withstand possession by any intangible entity of opposite (evil) alignment; she is also immune to being compelled or charmed by means such as a Charm Spell or a Hypnotic Song
-Can still be possessed by similar (good) aligned spirits (though she gains greater control over time

Level 8: Astral Projection- Phasma can not only perceive other disembodied spirits--she can project her OWN spirit! Her spirit can physically leave her body, and travel, via flight, through the Material and Astral Realms.
-Body left vulnerable to harm (except for Casper's defense)

Level 9: Touch Intangible- Her psychic sense of touch has developed so greatly, that Phasma can now touch spirits (and other intangible matter) as though it were fully corporeal; on a subconscious level, she can sense when spirits attempt to influence her
-Makes her more susceptible to a spirit's Telekinesis

Level 10: Harm Intangible- Phasma's touch can now induce psychic pain in the essence of a spirit of her opposite alignment; opposite-alignment spirits also feel this pain in attempting to influence or dominate her
-Intense emotion causes her to harm even benevolent spirits

Level 11: Spirit Push/Harm Aura- Phasma's touch can now also induce pain within the aura of a living being, through a touch, by producing an empathic rapport between her spirit and that of another; adds force to her punch against sentient beings
-Requires physical contact

Level 12: Exorcise Spirit/Ward Off Spirit/Banish Spirit- Phasma is capable of expelling and warding off spirits and lesser demons from any place where she does not want them to be; from an area, from an object, or even, with concentration and focus, from a living body
-Up to six uses per day, depending on strength and number of spirits

Level 13: Summon Spirits- Phasma has surpassed defensive repulsion of spirits; now she can also call spirits to assist her; frightening foes, attacking them, possessing them, etc.
-Only lasts for two rounds (or whatever the equivalent of five minutes is)

Level 14: Automatic Abilities- Phasma can channel more than thoughts, memories and emotions from spirits; she can channel whatever superhuman abilities they have (any they have as spirits, as well as any they had in life)
-Only up to five abilities channeled per day

Level 15: Remote Control- Phasma's mind is far more dextrous from dealing with foreign minds; she can now split her consciousness in two, allowing her to maintain mental integrity when she astral projects (and thus be less vulnerable when she does so)
-Dividing her consciousness requires concentration

Level 16: Mediumistic Recall- Phasma is capable of remembering whatever knowledge her astral form has gained when separate from her body, as well as any useful knowledge she picks up when channeling
-Does not allow perfect memory; trying to absorb too much at once may cause headaches

Level 17: Compel Spirits- Phasma is capable of compelling spirits now; they will easily follow any command she gives (in their capability)
-The smarter/more strong-willed it is, the harder it is to compel; also, only three to four uses per day, depending on power

Level 18: Astral Possession- Phasma's Astral Projection may now be used as a weapon. Any living humanoid she encounters will be a suitable target for her to hijack as a living meat puppet. The astral form she projects is fueled by the energy from the soul of the possessed, rather than Phasma herself
-Only works on humanoids, and only lasts the equivalent of five to ten minutes (depending on strength and size of the target

Level 19: Mediumistic Transfiguration- Phasma's attunement to the Spirit World is so great, that now she can superimpose an intangible spirit over her own body as though it were another tangible form; others will regard it as such; this effectively serves as a form of Shapeshifting.
-If the spirit is larger/heavier than her, she will suffer fatigue from their psychically superimposed weight; if they are smaller/lighter than her, she may feel light-headed as she adjusts to being lighter

Level 20: Astraportation/Astral Travel- Phasma's power is at its height. Typically, this feat would only allow her spirit to use the Astral Realm for Teleportation, thus multiplying her speed of spirit travel; however, due to her mixed lineage involved with the dead, her connection is deep enough that she can physically pass into the Spirit Realm, using it as an apparatus for whole-body Teleportation
-The amount of weight she can transport beyond her own depends on how many spirits she channels at the time

[Philote]

So, before level 13, how do you plan on fighting a bandit?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Mediumistic Automatism, of course. It allows me to channel thoughts and emotions, but also movement, if both parties are willing. Hence Automatism, meaning movement (especially that which is monotonous, or seems to be lacking conscious control).

[Philote]

That is still only level 6 that you would get that, and then 13 levels were you would be relying on only physical attacks.

Let me write something up for you.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 Kay