Difference between revisions of "BogModAlternateSidereals/Astrology"

Revision as of 19:34, 28 December 2010

One of the current problems with Astrology right now is that it does little of actual prediction and more of a wide bag of effects that could easily have been charms. So here are some ideas on how to make it less complicated and more useful. Some key ideas are that Fate isn't set in stone but it does have weight to it, that Sidereals are not bound to just things under the Loom's auspice and that there is always free will at work

General Rules

Sidereal Astrology is beyond mortal astrology as surely as a Dawn Caste's mastery of battle and war are beyond mortal hands. They are not so bound by the Loom's limitations but instead can touch to the weave of events that underly things and make predictions without it as surely as Exaltations know where to find people just at the right moment. Yet there are limitations still on this power.

Some places are beyond their prediction. The Deep Wyld and beyond is too shaped by things without reason and their astrology fails to predict that which hides there. The lower levels of the Labyrinth are too close to the Void which consumes fate as surely as it does all things. The Well of Udr is another place that is a blind spot as its connection to the other disrupts normal investigations there. The Underworld, Malfeas, Creation, Yu-shan, all such are within the reach of their Astrology to influence and predict.

While in Yu-shan or Creation a Sidereal can use their powers on both realms easily. However to work them the same on the Underworld or Malfeas requires they be within that realm which means either a shadowland or the underworld proper or in Malfeas or walking the 5 day path that will lead to it.

On top of that there are ways to hide what one does from fate as surely as there are ways to avoid the sight of the gaurds on the wall as you make your escape. Neither effect necessarily trumps the other but it does often mean that Sidereals will have to make a personal investigation themselves to figure out what is going on. For example the Deathlords in their fortresses in the Underworld are well aware of the Sidereal Exalted and with necromancy and sorcery and geomancy they cloak their fortresses from their investigations. A very talented and very lucky Sidereal might pierce those and get some clues but since they would allready have to be in the Underworld to check it does become a hassle.

A bit of history. The Sidereals had made their mind up about the Underworld long ago and deemed it no real worry. They never really checked back on it in a serious way and so had no clue of the coming Great Contagion. They know of the Deathlords now it is true but things are much like the dance between detective and criminal with the criminals holding the edge for the moment. Looking to Malfeas is also something rarely done. It is assumed that the Yozi can not escape and as such they are no serious harm. Escaped demons or cults hold their interest more. Even if they were to send someone to spy on Malfeas and brave its dangers to read the strange stars there the Yozi are hard to predict by their nature and charms and the Ebon Dragon especially has taken steps to ensure the nature of his plans are hidden. Perhaps if one of the elders of the Sidereals were to try it they might detect the truth but odds of a young agent making a correct call are as small as the odds of taking on Isidoros.

In summation Sidereals can predict a lot of things beyond the regular scope of their core book. However there investigations can be contested. Where a ninja would use stealth the use of occult can let one hide actions from being easily spotted amongst the stars. Even then there predictions only have so much reach, perhaps for an age. In this way has pride and the actions of others surprised the Sidereals at times.

Event Weaving

In plotting the stars and making the charts a Sidereal can effect what people will do. The whole process takes a days worth(8 hours) of work reading astrological charts and cross referencing with the individual and predicted heavenly states in the upcoming time frame. She can influence large groups as well as smaller ones with this. This works on anyone within a place that obeys some form of fate's rules or is not themselves the source of fate. So this will not work on the Yozi but can be worked upon their demons even though they exist beyond Creation's fate. Places within the true wyld which have no fate or reason to events can not be so influenced.

In effect this functions as a Social Attack though it is actually a shaping effect though not an attack. The Sidereal names an event they know or believe will happen and a target and roll Intelligence + Craft(Fate). They add bonus successes to this roll equal to the appropriate House the choice will involve and can substitute Craft(Fate) with an appropriate Ability if appropriate. If this roll meets or exceeds the targets Dodge Mental Defense Value when that event comes up they will make the choice the Sidereal planned unless they spend 2 willpower to work against Fate. Essence users need only spend a single Willpower point. This simulates the target choosing their own destiny. This effect works best when the action planned is within the target's nature. Targetting large populations causes an Internal Penalty equal to the group's Magnitude and is checked against their leaders DVs just like with normal mass social combat.

This weaving does not trump interference by others and fighting off two influences means the target need not spend anymore willpower to choose their own path. So while a King may be influenced to marry his daughter to the tournament champion, the impassioned pleas of her love struck suitor can still change his mind.

For example: The Chosen of Battles Serene Tiger is preparing to influence a battle between a Wing of Realm Soldiers in Harborhead and a group of rebels. She is well acquainted with the leadership of the Wing and that the two leaders are both competitive and antagonistic and rather typical Dynasts. She works long into the night to put in certain events into the planned weave of Fate. First that the night before the battle that the leader of the Wing will drink to excess with his men. The day of the battle the commander of the Talon will try to assume command.

She has an Intelligence of 4, Craft(Fate) 3, House of Battles 3, and War 5. For the drinking she rolls 7 dice(Int+Craft) and adds 3 successes(House of Battles). She also will use her First Craft Excellency and the Storyteller likes the descriptions and how she does her astrology for a 2 die bonus. Total dice pool of 15 with 3 bonus successes. She gets 11 successes. For the next she will roll 9 dice as the Storyteller agrees that War is an appropriate ability for having one commander take over for his hung over superior or even for such military chain of command matters. She gets after rolls and charms 12 successes. Both beat the targets MDVs.

The night before the battlefield Cynis Dave can either try to fight fate and not get really drunk or go with it. He goes with it since it isn't exactly out of character for him. The next day finds him heavily hung over. Now even if her other roll hadn't of succeeded there is good reason to assume command. Tepet Jim tries to assume command which leads to infighting between the two. The rebels fall upon them while the Realm force is still disorganized and they take a sound drubbing as they refuse to support each other.

Here she knew her targets and their natures. She further set things up so even if one of her fate workings failed the other could still have a reasonable chance to go ahead. Even if Cynis Dave had not gotten drunk his competitive sub-commander Tepet Jim might still try to take over. Both men being competent commanders trying something like making them appoint one of the rank and file to take command of the Legion would surely have been fought off. It is a subtle art that can have great reach when used right. It is not a club to enforce their will on the world.

This is the same style of influence that the Gods of the Bureau of Destiny use to shape events. When they want a group to abandon a village they use this as well as contacts amongst the other bureaus to shape events to encourage people to follow the inspiration put into their heads. It is an offense to use this on Celestial gods of rank 3 or higher with the Severity equalling the Gods rank.

Probablistics

Predictions and Investigations

Astrological Cloaking

BogModAlternateSidereals