Session 3 Downtime - So Much Study

by Locke

Overview

Unsurprisingly, Locke spends his downtime deep in study, research and experimentation. He hits the book in order to learn Dream Study, a spell that will make him make much better use of his time by spending every other night in study, rather than slumber. After this, he gets on with the process of improving himself with melee lessons every morning, the business of understanding the universe around him every afternoon, and concentrated study in magic lore every night.

Thanksing

Locke properly thanked everyone who gave him housewarming gifts.

Working With Gwyn - Securing the Secrets

I spent one afternoon in Gwyn's spider-infested home, working with my friend on an extremely complicated miniaturized lock, with the intent of securing The Notes in a lockbox in the hidden room underneath the Observatory.

During this time, I also explained his goal of learning about the Black Cube, which I intend to analyze closely to determine if it comes from this Actuality or another one. The only resources I know of for sure which would set me on the path to unlocking the Black Cube's secrets were books in the Vancian Library, which of course, I can no longer access, since I have left them. I was greatly interested in whether Gwyn might consult with his contacts among the Makers, to see what information they had about the Black Cube, as an alternative source of information.

While not too concerned about the spiders in Gwyn's home, I noticed that quite a few of them are significantly lot larger than they were the last time I visited. Soon, they'll be a problem for other small animals... and probably, they had to be dealt with before they get big enough to be a danger to people. I remember that one of my classmates possessed the trick of communicating with all spiders, great and small; maybe that would be a Secret worth learning?

Advances

-2 Acumen (Spell, learn Dream Study via regular study)
-3 Acumen (Action skill, learn second point of melee)
-2 Acumen (Narrative skill, learn second point of Magic Lore)
-2 Acumen (Character secrets, learn Elevate Spells)
-2 Acumen (Character arcs, start Aid for Gwyn)
-2 Acumen )Character arcs, start Aid for Gwyn's mystery skill)
-2 Acumen (Character arcs, start Uncover the Mystery)
-1 Crux (Apostate, learn Counterspell, raise to level 3)
-1 Crux (Apostate, learn Street Magic, +1 stealth, +1 searching)
-1 Crux (Apostate, learn Guided Hand)
-1 Crux (Apostate, learn Extra Spells)
-3 Crux (Eats Knowledge, learn Consume Spell)

Time Accounting

6 days to learn Dream Study
14 days to learn Melee 2 and Magic Lore 2
7 days of research for Uncover a Secret: Measuring the Black Cube
7 days of research for Solve a Mystery: Therefore Fight, O Arjuna
7 days of research for Aid a Friend: Helping Gwyn Lift Up the Lacuna Union
15 days of additional research

Character Arcs

Uncover a Secret: Measuring the Black Cube

In this arc, Locke is attempting to uncover the basics of the Black Cube... what is its purpose, where does it come from, is it safe to summon, etc?

Cost: Seeker. (2 Acumen cost paid.) (DONE in downtime 1)
Naming the Secret: (The Secret I seek is an understanding of the Black Cube sufficient to summon it from its eldritch plane, that I might experiment with it. 1 Acumen ) (DONE in downtime 1)
Step: Research. Could not come up with any continuation except for books in the Vancian library.(FAILED in downtime 2)
Step: Research. Asked my Vance friends for help and was refused. (FAILED in session 3)
Step(s): Research. (should be done, +1 acumen) Note: DONE
Step(s): Investigation. (should be done, +1 acumen) Note: DONE
Step(s): Tracking. (should be done, +1 acumen) Note: DONE
Step(s): Revelation. (should be done, +1 acumen) Note: DONE
Step: Climax.(should be done, +2 acumen, +1 joy) Note: DONE
Step: Resolution (should be done, +1 acumen) Note: DONE

Aid a Friend: Helping Gwyn with SOLVE A MYSTERY
Will have to figure this out.

Cost: Agreeing to help (DONE in downtime 3, -2 acumen)

Opening: Answering the Call (DONEin downtime, +1 acumen)

Aid a Friend: Helping Gwyn Lift Up the Lacuna Union

The Lacuna are our neighbors, and they need help. Gwyn is right to make their cause his own; now I should do so as well.

Cost: Agreeing to help (DONE in downtime 3, -2 acumen)
Opening: Answering the Call (should be done)
Step: Tracking
Step: Travel
Step: Climax
Step: Resolution

Solve a Mystery: Therefore Fight, O Arjuna

Why did the Blood Prince return my wartime project notes to me? What do they want? What good can possibly come of this?

Cost: On the Case (DONE in downtime 3, -2 acumen)
Opening: Pledging to Solve the Mystery (should be done)
Step: Research
Step(s): Investigation
Climax: Discovery
Resolution