Divination bones

You recognize the bones as a divination tool used by Moon Mages and preferred by the Skindancers and other Nomads of the Arid Steppe. Shamans and seers use the arrangement of the bones as they fall on the ground to predict what will come. First created by the shamans of the Arid Steppe as a means to scry the future, carved and enchanted bones have been used for countless years and are among the oldest known type of divination tool. Part astrology, and part mysticism, there are some Nomads who believe that the power of the bones lies in their connection with the dead, while others insist that it is the enchantment process, through which the bones are imbued with magic properties, that gives them their unique properties. A seer, properly trained to observe celestial bodies, tosses the bones on the ground before them and reads their seemingly random placement, often with uncanny insight.

Properties

• Visual: All properties of the tool are visible.
• Durability: Low
• Bond Rate: High
• Power Precision: Low
• Duration Precision: Low
• Sect Affinity: Nomads of the Arid Steppe
• Currently the only player made tool, thus allowing them to start at higher qualities then other tools.
• Larger range of possible power/duration modifiers compared to other tools.
• Handles fumbles very differently from other tools - damage is only to one physical quality rather then to all physical qualities, whereas crits remain universal improvement to all physical qualities (Though to a smaller degree then other tools). The net effect is that crits should outweigh fumbles unlike other tools.

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 bones must be RUBbed to bond it to the user. Syntax is to ALIGN <skill/skill set>, and then to ROLL the bones. In order to predict on another the mage must ROLL bones at <target>.

Example

You toss your divination bones on the ground before you.
The Krr-tich bone stands on end for a moment before falling over.
It points directly away from you.
The Sek-rith bone falls flat on the ground.
It points off to one side.
The Moon Sphere bounces once.
It comes to rest and depicts a suit of leather.
The Sun Disk bone lands white side up.
You scoop the bones back up.

Interpretation

1. The direction of the Krr-tich bone indicates the magnitude of the prediction. Pointing closer towards the user indicates a stronger prediction.
2. The direction of the Sek-rith bone indicates the duration of the prediction. Pointing closer towards the user indicates a longer prediction.
3. The Moon Sphere indicates the skill.
4. The color of the Sun Disk indicates the polarity. White is positive, black negative.
5. Any additional messages have to do with quality changes, or turned predictions.

So the example given is a very weak, medium duration, positive prediction on the leather armor skill.

Qualities

When LOOKed at bones have eight 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. Bold indicates extra start ranges possible from crafting.

Krr-tich/Sek-rith Balance

exceptionally well-balanced
very well-balanced
well-balanced
fairly well-balanced
balanced
average quality
barely off-balance
somewhat poorly balanced
poorly balanced
very poorly balanced
horribly unbalanced
unbalanced as to be almost useless

Krr-tich/Sek-rith/Moon Sphere Attunement

perfectly attuned
almost perfectly attuned
very well-attuned
well-attuned
fairly well-attuned
attuned
slightly mis-attuned
somewhat mis-attuned
mis-attuned
very mis-attuned
extremely mis-attuned
horribly mis-attuned

Moon Sphere Balance

perfectly round
of exceptional quality
of very good quality
fairly well-made
somewhat well-made
of average quality
barely off-center
somewhat off-center
off-center
quite off-center
very off-center
barely recognizable as a sphere

Sun Disk Attunement

heavily attuned to its white side
strongly attuned to its white side
attuned to its white side
slightly attuned to its white side
barely attuned to its white side
attuned normally
barely attuned to its black side
slightly attuned to its black side
attuned to its black side
strongly attuned to its black side
heavily attuned to its black side
extremely attuned to its black side

Age

The bones have never been used.
The bones are barely used. (>0 prediction)
The bones are in good condition. (>20 predictions)
The bones are in fairly good condition. (>50 predictions)
The bones are starting to show signs of wear. (>100 predictions)
The bones are a bit nicked. (>200 predictions)
The bones are slightly scratched. (>300 predictions)
The bones show signs of excessive use. (>400 predictions)
The bones are very well-used. (>500 predictions)
The bones are heavily scratched. (>600 predictions)
The bones are very heavily worn. (>700 predictions)
The bones are worn almost to oblivion. (>800 predictions)

Explanation

Krr-tich Balance controls magnitude, Sek-rith Balance controls duration, and Moon Sphere Balance controls accuracy with attunements modifying the chance of misreading of each of these respectively. Sun Disk Attunement controls the polarity of predictions, and is considered a physical quality for bonding purposes. Age indicates indicates the number of predictions performed and is related to breakage changes.

Messages

Krr-tich (Power)

Direction	Bonus
It points directly away from you.	>0
It points almost directly away from you.	>40
It points off to one side.	>80
It points almost directly towards you.	>120
It points directly towards you.	>160

Sek-rith (Duration)

Direction	Minutes
It points directly away from you.	>0
It points almost directly away from you.	>20
It points off to one side.	>40
It points almost directly towards you.	>60
It points directly towards you.	>80

Magic Skills

Skill	Symbol
Primary Magic	Ball of fire
Harness	Crystal prism
Power Perception	Dowsing rod
Arcana	Runestone
Targeted Magic	Ball of flame

Lore Skills

Skill	Symbol
Appraisal	Red ruby
Mechanical Lore	Flint and steel
Scholarship	Open book
Teaching	Podium
Percussion	Drum
Strings	Harp
Vocals	Songbird
Winds	Flute
Animal Lore	Handful of large
Astrology	Star
Empathy/Thanatology	Two clasped hands
Musical Theory	Musical note
Trading	Donkey

Defensive Skills

Skill	Symbol
Bone	Skeleton
Cloth	Thick Robe
Heavy Chain	Suit of heavy chain mail
Heavy Plate	Suit of heavy plate mail
Leather	Suit of leather
Light Chain	Suit of chain mail
Light Plate	Suit of plate mail
Multi Opponent	Three stick figures
Parry	Pair of crossed swords
Shield Usage	Shield

Survival Skills

Skill	Symbol
Climbing	Tall mountain
Disarm Trap	Pit trap
Escaping	Empty leg shackles
Evasion	Winged sandal
First Aid	Bandaged arm
Foraging	Mushroom
Hiding	Cloud of smoke
Lockpicking	Lockpick
Perception	Eyeball
Skinning	Bear hide
Stalking	Man cloaked in shadow
Stealing	Torn coinpurse
Swimming	Flowing river
Backstab	Dagger and skull
Scouting	Bear's footprint

Offense Skills

Skill	Symbol
Light Edge	Dagger
Medium Edge	Rapier
Heavy Edge	Longsword
Twohanded Edge	Two-handed sword
Light Blunt	Small club
Medium Blunt	Light mace
Heavy Blunt	Heavy mace
Twohanded Blunt	Morning star
Slings	Sling
Staff Sling	Staff sling
Short Bow	Short bow
Long Bow	Long bow
Composite Bow	Composite bow
Light Crossbow	Light crossbow
Heavy Crossbow	Heavy crossbow
Short Staff	Short staff
Quarter Staff	Quarter staff
Pikes	Pike
Halberds	Halberd
Light Thrown	Throwing knife
Heavy Thrown	Heavy throwing knife
Brawling	Clenched fist
Offhand Weapon	Pair of swords side by side

Special

The Sun Disk teeters for a moment. It tips over to land white side up. Your knowledge of the heavens made this so. - Turned prediction due to observation pool. The Sun Disk bone teeters for a moment. It tips over to land white side up. Your bond with the bones made this so. - Turned prediction due to Sun Disk attunement. You feel a strengthening of the bond between you and your bones. - Improvement to one quality.
You feel a weakening of your bond with the bones. - Damage to one quality..
The Sun Disk spins for a moment. - Critical success, improves all physical qualities.
The (bone) seems to have been damaged. - Fumble, damage to quality of specified bone. Sun Disk is the most rare result, but suffers the most damage.
Suddenly all the bones shatter into thousands of tiny pieces!

Notes

• RP verbs that can be used with bones: BABBLE), COUGH, DROP (Damage to a random bone), GASP, HUG, PAT, PULL, PUSH, RUB, SHAKE, TAP, TOUCH, TURN, WAVE.
• RP verbs that only work or message differently for Nomads: CLEAN, KISS, PRAISE, RAISE.

Enchanting

Items Needed

One of the following base items:

• a boar tusk (Wild Boar)
• a heggarangi boar tusk (Heggarangi Boar)
• a sabre-length ivory fang (Sabre-toothed Warcat)
• a curving ivory fang (Long-fanged Warcat)
• a steed hoof (Eidolon Steed)
• a war mammoth tusk (War Mammoth)
• a pair of pothanit tusks (Croff Pothanit)

Enchanter's Burin
Celestial sigil of the Ram
Some white and black skaefarees oil (Bought at Throne City)
Sigil of one of the three moons
Shadows, Dazzle or Unleash to activate
A knife that can be used for carving

Steps

1. Scribe Ram onto the base item.
2. Carve your base item. The tusk will now turn into bones. Continue carving your bones until they are complete (This will 17 carves of 15 seconds and 10 carves of 35 seconds for the Moon Sphere). Once you are done carving the Sun Disk you are complete. DO NOT carve after the Sun Disk or you will destroy the bones.
3. Dip your bones in either the white or black oil.
4. Dip the bones in the other color of oil twice.
5. Dip the bones in the first color oil once more.
6. Scribe, activate and bind a sigil from one of the moons onto the bones.

The carving process teaches both astrology and mechanical lore, and most of the process is driven by mechanical lore.
"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.