Divination prism

Favored by the Monks of the Crystal Hand, the prism is a divination tool used by Moon Mages. As the prism spins on its chain, the mage interprets the patterns of colors and fractures to determine what the future holds. It is fitting that a group devoted to perfection and the identification of personal flaws would excel at predicting what is to come by studying how such colors and fractures echo from the hidden flaws of the crystal.

Properties

• Visual: No visible indication for alignment or skill accuracy. Age is indicated in the passage of real life time.
• Durability: Average
• Bond Rate: High
• Power Precision: Very high
• Duration Precision: Average
• Sect Affinity: Monks of the Crystal Hand
• Currently cannot be used to predict on others.

Use

Like all prediction tools, before use the mage must know the ALIGN ability (learnable at 4th circle) and have made a successful observation. Furthermore, before the first use, the prism must be RUBbed to bond it to the user. Before each use the prism must be TURNed to wind the chain. Syntax is to ALIGN <skill/skill set>, and then to RAISE the prism. Prisms may not be used to predict on others.

Example

Raising it to catch the available light, you release the prism, allowing it to spin freely from the chain. You focus your sight on the prism as it spins, casting light violet tinged light as it moves in a small, uneven spiral then cracks into a random series of fractures. As the sapphire prism swings to a halt you notice the cracks go smooth and feel a fleeting moment of joy.

Interpretation

1. The color of the light indicates the magnitude of the prediction; violet being the weakest and red the strongest according to the rainbow.
2. The size of the spirals indicate the duration of the prediction.
3. The pattern of cracks indicate the skill.
4. Joy indicates a positive prediction, sadness a negative one. "Rapture" indicate a critical success, which will improve the tool quality (and is always a positive prediction).
5. Any additional messages have to do with quality changes.

So the example given is a very weak, very short, positive prediction on an unknown skill.

Qualities

When LOOKed at prisms have six qualities. Qualities are listed from best to worst. As with all tools each message indicates a range. Italics indicate a potential starting value when purchased.

Age

Quite new
Rather new (12.5 RL days old)
Somewhat new (25 RL days old)
Slightly used (50 RL days old)
Worn (75 RL days old)
Well-worn (200 RL days old)
Rather old (250 RL days old)
Quite Used (~1.5 RL years old)
Weakened (~3 RL years old)
Ready to break (~4 RL years old)
Practically an antique (~5 RL years old)

Centering

Perfectly balanced
Almost perfectly balanced
Well balanced
Well centered
Centered
Slight off-center
Off-center
Somewhat unbalanced
Crooked
Terribly crooked

Swing Accuracy

Have an excellent chance to
Have a very good chance to
Have a good chance to
Have a decent chance to
Have a promising chance to
Have a fair chance to
Might have a little trouble
May have some difficulty
Will find it hard to
Have little chance
Probably cannot

Clarity

Perfectly clear
Exceptionally clear
Extremely clear
Unusually clear
Impressively clear
Clear
Barely occluded
Slightly occluded
Very cloudy
Barely translucent
Almost opaque

Color Accuracy

Have an excellent chance to
Have a very good chance to
Have a good chance to
Have a decent chance to
Have a promising chance to
Have a fair chance to
Might have a little trouble
May have some difficulty
Will find it hard to
Have little chance
Probably cannot

Imperfections

Very easy
Quite easy
Easy
Relatively simple
Rather simple
Simple
Slightly difficult
Moderately difficult
Rather hard
Very hard
Almost impossible

Explanation

Age indicates the real life time since the tool was first bonded, it does not seem to be related to uses or breakage rates in any way. Centering modifies duration and Clarity magnitude, with swing and color accuracies modifying the chance of misreading of each of these respectively. Imperfections modify the chance of hitting the correct skill. There are no visible indicators for how likely you are to understand the skill or for polarity of the predictions.

Messages

Color (Power)

Color	Bonus
Light violet	>0
Violet	>15
Blue-violet	>30
Blue	>45
Green-blue	>60
Green	>80
Yellow-green	>100
Yellow	>115
Orange-yellow	>130
Orange	>155
Red-orange	>170
Red	>185
Dark Red	>200

Note: The resolution between light violet and violet seems... odd. I can't properly explain this right now, this is an approximation. Top few are estimated - not enough data since the curve doesn't seem to be linear. --Mozzik 08:29, 12 September 2009 (UTC)

Spiral (Duration)

Duration	Minutes
Tight	>0
Small, uneven	>10
Uneven	>30
Oval	>50
Wide oval	>70
Wide	>85
Wide, sweeping	>95

Magic Skills

Skill	Card
Primary Magic	Few spiraling
Harness	Several spiraling
Power Perception	Handful of spiraling
Magical Devices	Many spiraling
Targeted Magic	Countless spiraling

Lore Skills

Skill	Card
Appraisal	Many twisting
Mechanical Lore	Several twisting
Scholarship	Some twisting
Teaching	Some large
Percussion	Few miniscule
Strings	Several miniscule
Vocals	Countless miniscule
Winds	Many miniscule
Animal Lore	Handful of large
Astrology	Countless large

Defensive Skills

Skill	Card
Bone	Hollow pattern of irregular
Cloth	Trace of irregular
Heavy Chain	Several irregular
Heavy Plate	Countless irregular
Leather	Forming a lattice pattern
Light Chain	Few irregular
Light Plate	Many irregular
Multi Opponent	Many circular
Parry	Several circular
Shield Usage	Few circular

Survival Skills

Skill	Card
Climbing	Several scattered
Disarm Trap	Many wide
Escaping	Few long
Evasion	Few thick
First Aid	Some long
Foraging	Few broad
Hiding	Countless thick
Lockpicking	Few wide
Perception	Several thick
Skinning	Beast
Stalking	Several broad
Stealing	Handful of thick
Swimming	Many broad

Offense Skills

Skill	Card
Light Edge	Few thin
Medium Edge	Several thin
Heavy Edge	Many thin
Twohanded Edge	Countless thin
Light Blunt	Few slanted
Medium Blunt	Several slanted
Heavy Blunt	Many slanted
Twohanded Blunt	Countless slanted
Slings	Few barely noticeable
Staff Sling	Several barely noticeable
Short Bow	Many barely noticeable
Long Bow	Countless barely noticeable
Composite Bow	Handful of barely noticeable
Light Crossbow	Few fractures of varying width
Heavy Crossbow	Several fractures of varying
Short Staff	Few hairline
Quarter Staff	Several hairline
Pikes	Many hairline
Halberds	Countless hairline
Light Thrown	Few jagged
Heavy Thrown	Several jagged
Brawling	Many jagged
Offhand Weapon	Two distinct clusters of circular

Special

Rapture - Appears in place of the emotion. Critical success, improves all physical qualities.
The crystal seems clearer than before, as if some imperfection has faded with the fractures. - Improvement to one quality.
As the cracks disappear, you notice that some of the previous fractures fade as well, leaving the prism in better condition. - Improvement to one quality..
You notice the crystal clouds slightly after the cracks disappear leaving an imperfection in the crystal's structure. - Damage to one quality.
You notice that a few small cracks still remain. - Damage to one quality.
As the sapphire prism swings to a halt you lose your grip and drop it to the ground/floor. - Fumble, damages all physical qualities. Make sure to pick it up!
Suddenly the chain snaps causing the prism to crack and split into many pieces!

Notes

• RP verbs that can be used with prisms: BREAK (Destroys the prism), COUGH, EAT, FIDGET, GASP, HUG, PEER, POKE, PUSH, SMILE.
• RP verbs that only work or message differently for Monks: CLEAN, CLENCH, KISS, TAP.

Also See

• Sapphire Prism"Moon mage" is not in the list (None, Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Empath, Moon Mage, Necromancer, Paladin, Ranger, Thief, ...) of allowed values for the "Guild association is" property.