[SD:RtR] Oasis Desert Chat - Chapter 1

(SoulDive’s official Forum, The Situation in Horizon Oasis Desert chat)

000First, AllSight, BertVurn, DesDose, Filegreen, InkyCat, KillTheKrill, Lem-In-G, MoxieBoxie, Roxie1337hxs, Zap2to2Zap, ZZZJohn

000First: First

{000First has logged off}

ZZZJohn: Really? For a chat?

DesDose: Leave him be. I don’t know how they manage it, but they seem to always snag the first reply whenever and the admins open subchats like this.

ZZZJohn: Meh, probably an admin’s Smurf account.

DesDose: Wouldn’t really be a Smurf account in that case? At least, I don’t think it would count.

InkyCat: Whatever the case, looks like the regional desert is going to be hopping. Anyone else nearby? I figure they’re going to form a proper raid.

FileGreen: I’ll have to sit this out. A bit too far and a bit too unprepared to fight undead. Not really what my skill set is for.

InkyCat: Aren’t you some kind of nature mage?

FileGreen: Yes, but no. A proper nature mage would be fine for this. I, however, focus on growth of the natural.

DesDose: Buy isn’t that nature magic?

DesDose: *But

FileGreen: Oh, sure, I USE nature magic. It’s just that a proper nature mage would use both sides of the coin. For every spring, there is a fall. Or rather, because yes, I know there are places that because of location, do not get either. For every bit of growth, there is decay happening. And the Decay side of things is what you want for fighting the undead. Nothing quite like disrupting an undead internal magic and forcing their unnaturally preserved bodies to decay away into dust.

DesDose: Oookay, I’ll just take your word on it, then

InkyCat: Whatever, who else is in the area and plan to join the fight?

Roxie1337hxs: I just got out of the fountain something or other starter town, so no chsnce

Lem-In-G: @Roxie1337hxs ditto

Zap2to2Zap: I just left Whale Island in the opposite direction.

KillTheKrill: I’m in Dagger Grove myself. Been making my way towards Whale Island because it did sound fun a few months back and figured I would give it a spin.

InkyCat: So no one in chat is going to be there? Like, what?

KillTheKrill: Well, for one, this is a new chat. Most of us are here waiting for someone to enter and give us the low down. Like, yeah, undead disaster and all. But we knew that already. For the admins to open a new chat means something serious has changed.

InkyCat: I guess we can only wait a while and see what happens.

InkyCat: Still no one?

InkyCat: it has been an hour

InkyCat: two

InkyCat: 3

{May/Hem has joined the chat}

{JuneSupport has joined the chat}

{WizardsName has joined the chat}

{Don’tCallMeSam has joined the chat}

May/Hem: Finally! I thought the guild was going to keep questioning us even longer. Just because we found the likely source of the undead and managed to escape, doesn’t mean we know Everything about it.

JuneSupport: Don’t humble brag about us finding the ruins. We didn’t do anything special. Anyone could have stumbled upon it.

Don’tCallMeSam: And I bet more pottery would have survived.

WizardsName: Hey, keep the drama to in-person.

JuneSupport: Besides, breaking pots is a pretty common thing to do, statistically. Right up there with hating that video game fairy voice. I don’t know why that became THE voice for fairies in video games, but here we are.

May/Hem: They’re small so of course they’ll have annoying high-pitched voices

InkyCat: Hol’ up, you guys are in the thick of this undead thing?

Don’tCallMeSam: I’m not even against breaking the pottery! I just wanted to check what was inside first.

May/Hem: Inky! Yeah, we’re in the thick of things.

JuneSupport: And while it was a bit of a brag, May/Hem isn’t wrong. We did discover a place full of the undead. Though I will note! There has not been any actual confirmation that the ruin we found is the true source for all the undead.

Don’tCallMeSam: Eh, I was able to get some information after my questioning wrapped up. It seems the undead we ran into matched the ones that are showing up. Well, the skeletal sort. Seeing withered zombies in the desert doesn’t really tell you much. That’s just what happens.

May/Hem: Mummies!

WizardsName: Be happy we didn’t find any. For the undead, Mummies are to clerics what Liches are to wizards.

FileGreen:Uh, that isn’t quite correct. Give me a second

May/Hem: Typing up a book there!

JuneSupport: Give them a chance

FileGreen: While lich equals wizard and mummy equals cleric is technically true. There is more to it than just that. Mummies do end up with cleric-like powers, however they are much broader in ability and the same goes for the lich.

Also, a lich can technically be a mummy, at least to start. What distinguishes a lich and a mummy is the method by which they become undead. A lich is a simple thing. They are defined by being an undead spirit with a phylactery. Mummies, on the other hand, are a physical undead raised through special rituals.

Neither are natural undead. While you can find spirits inhabiting objects and undead wrapped up like a mummy, they are not actually those undead. The reason liches are connected with wizards and mummies with clerics is because the source rituals tend towards one source over the other.

A wizard looking to extend their life into undeath will have an easier time bending their magic towards lichedom. Even in instances where Liches gather, it is a matter of individuals gathering. They hide their phylacteries from everyone.

However, just because it is easier does not mean only wizards become Liches. Though it is generally accepted that among Liches, the wizards are the strongest. That does not stop literally anyone from attempting to become a lich. If you can get a phylactery and potion, then it becomes a matter of making sure your soul survives death. Feral Liches are actually the most common result, though easiest to kill because they keep their phylacteries on them. Sometimes people even kill them without realizing they were a lich.

On the other side, the ritual to create a Mummy practically requires the assistance of others. This is because you basically need to die before it all kicks off. Your body needs to be prepped and what not. Similar to IRL mummification. Like, I guess if you can survive all of that, it would be possible to mummify yourself? And a good enough wizard could likely automate the process with summons and constructs.

Anyway, once again, while anyone can be mummified, it is the clerics who are considered the strongest. Though one benefit of mummification is that you’re more likely to “survive” the process. As in, maintain your mind.

Oh, and I mentioned that a lich could be a mummy. That requires a lot of work and is even less likely to “survive”. I don’t know the details, but basically you need to do the whole lich thing, including the potion that kills you, but then someone needs to suppress the magic that would raise you, then do the whole mummification ritual. At which point, you let both processes finish at the same time. Though generally not considered worth it as one of the major benefits of a lich is the fact they can abandon their body if needed. While this combo thing only lasts until the lich loses their body for the first time. At which point, they’re just a normal lich.

Oh, and more on Mummies. Just because you go through mummification, doesn’t mean you rise instantly. The process preserves the body, and so many religions that use mummies as guardians will actually not raise them. Instead, leaving them unraised so they can’t be detected, while also leaving whatever being they gave their faith to the ability to raise them at a moment’s notice. Though it can’t be reversed. Once raised, you’re raised.

Anyway, I will admit that every lich has some wizard-like powers, and the same is true for mummies and cleric powers. The nature of the magic raising them imbues the resulting undead with certain abilities. Liches get stuff like cold fire, death with a simple touch or purposeful glare, and the mere sight of them can cause some weak-willed people to flee in terror. While Mummies always have a death curse, spread mummy rot with a touch, and like the lich also get that fear effect. Admittedly, many of the greater undead have an “on sight” fear effect.

May/Hem: Whistles Well, that’s a wall of text and a half. Though given the nature of the undead we found, unlikely to be too useful. Whatever group made this ruin, they seemed to go heavily into skeletal abominations.

Don’tCallMeSam: Yeah, while there are clearly modifications being done to the skeletons. There don’t seem to be signs of any ritual work. Though I guess a lich could be possible.

FileGreen: It will depend on how the system views the two. Or rather, are they so powerful fresh off being revived, that the area is too low level. Both Liches and Mummies are high on the undead power level chart.

JuneSupport: I don’t have any special knowledge on the subject, but I can see terms like “lich” being reserved for the more powerful undead. Those on the weaker side either getting to be a lesser lich or some other form of undead.

FileGreen: and I’m certain you don’t just get to be a mummy because you’re wrapped in bandages. Though maybe if some deity analog puts enough power into someone? Eh, whatever, there’s a number of greater undead you might find in there. I don’t know any off the top of my head, but if skeletons are what you’re facing, I’m sure something fitting exists. I mean, seriously, there’s greater undead for the mindless zombies. Though some debate whether a mindless undead can truly be a “greater” undead.

May/Hem: For someone focused on growth and nature, you sure have quite the fascination with the undead. Nothing wrong with that, just assumed you would have chosen abilities to either fight or raise them.

FileGreen: In a bunch of older action RPGs, necromancers tended to be the minion based build, which I always found amusing to play. And depending on the RPG, sometimes not even “evil”. Especially when talking about the mindless undead created without slaving some sort of consciousness to the body. Those undead, and the raising there of, would be neutral and more in line with a construct. While in SoulDive, undead are always a net negative. In gaining power through death, they lock in their own end. Admittedly, the intelligent ones can live longer than most mortals. Though that has more to do with gaining more life by ending the life of others. So I don’t really count that. Especially when regular leveling can help the locals increase their lifespan. Turning undead to live longer is just one of those poisoned choices taken by the desperate and evil.

JuneSupport: Well, I’m glad to hear you realized that. From some of the news I’m seeing, more than a few people thought the same of the necromancer in older games, but without doing research decided to try it in SoulDive as well.

InkyCat: Hah! There’s an entire thread devoted to those emo wannabes and their moping. “Oh woe is me, why does everyone hate me?”, “Why is my character decaying when I channel literal death through my body?”, and of course, “Why isn’t my vampire listening to my orders?” Because of course a bunch of them thought having a stylish vampire minion would be a good idea.

May/Hem: But vampires are like, the worst divas of the undead world? And they even give up some of the “benefits” of undead. Like, sure, zombies, ghouls, and wendigos want to eat human flesh, but they don’t Need to. Vampires? Without blood, they begin to lose strength. Well, that or sanity, depending on how SoulDive takes things.

JuneSupport: both

May/Hem: Okay, yeah, vampires are the worst kind of undead minion. They’ve got decent survivability, but only until the other side knows you’re using them.

FileGreen: Eeeeh, I’d like to defend them. They make great horror monsters, after all. But honestly? They’d do better in the sci-fi game than SoulDive. Well, as long as their whole “vampire veil” thing translates up like I’ve seen it interpreted before.

May/Hem: @FileGreen ???

FileGreen: Yeah, I’ve seen some media present the whole “can’t be seen in a mirror or throw a shadow” ability as applying beyond just that. Also, applying it to tech. So, like, a security camera doesn’t see them. You need either magical surveillance or to somehow put a soul in your tech system.

May/Hem: Oh yeah, that would definitely make them a terror in a tech setting that hasn’t yet mixed too much magic into their tech. Whether that’s modern, future, or alt.

FileGreen: Anyway, when the dust settles, do you guys mind doing a bit of a write up? There haven’t been too many events like this over the last year.

Don’tCallMeSam: I might sell a write up to one of the news agencies covering the game.

WizardsName: I’m totally going to write something because while I’m not interested in touching the undead. As stated, it’s a net negative to use the undead. But I am interested in the magical lore side of things.

Don’tCallMeSam: @WizardsName Don’t release anything until I can sell my story! Same goes for the rest of you.

InkyCat: Anyway, hey, @May/Hem , since we’re in the same area, can we meet up? My team might be able to help.

May/Hem: I can certainly meet for a quick chat, at least! Do you know a good public cafe in the city?

InkyCat: The Sand Bar has a cafe vibe during the day? We can DM a bit to schedule things.

May/Hem: Sounds like a plan!

Raid that Ruin Preface

InkyCat And Her Crew - Chapter 2