the sage has to show a high ability in something, we know. in other words, present a thesis & defend it. but there must be a hq for this. i've just dashed this off, so see it as a rough draft for comments and improvements.
Preparation:
spend a significant period of time (usualy at least one year)
researching and preparing a thesis on a specific subject.
convince the university that you are ready to be examined and obtain support from the other students and staff for your heroquest.
Regalia:
A bound thesis written on parchment +5
A luxurious beard +1 - +3
Gifts in payment to the university +1 - +2 (only for use in getting
in to Lhankhor Mhy's Library)
Robes +1
A stammer, nervous tic or other sign of social awkwardness developed
from spending too much time with books +1
A quill and ink
A piece of leather to put over your head +1
A good excuse for getting an extension +1
station 1. Enter the Great Library. (cross to the hero plane). The gate to the library is guarded by 2 daimons that ensure only the worthy are admitted to LM's hall. The first tests that the candidate is intelligent enough to enter by asking several general knowledge questions and engaging him in an arguement about something not related to his general field (entrance exams). the second tests that the candidate is able to pay for his education... candidates should bring symbolic gifts - this should be the roll to cross to the hero plane proper.
station 2. Acquire Inspiration. the candidate should find a daimon (professor) appropriate to his discipline to inspire his studies. The daimon serves as a source of inspiration in his researches, and also a mentor. the carryover from this station reflects the sympathy and strength of the inspiration. failure of any kind indicates that the professors dislike the candidate, and are either indifferent to them or try to hinder or disrupt their research.
station 3. Search for Knowledge. the candidate must explore Lhankhor Mhy's Library to find the basic information for their thesis. The library is vast and catalogued according to a bizzaire logic of its own. Use Library abilities are appropriate for this. The time spent in the library seems endless.
station 4. Unravel Truth. Once the data has been mined from the library, the candidate will need to analyse it, placing it in sensible order and ironing out contradictions and inconsistences. The data often appears as a jumbled mass of string, a complicated knot, or a clump of thorns that must be unravelled. Truth affinities or abilities are appropriate.
station 5. Perservere. The candidate has discovered what they have searched for, but they need to now organise this knowledge into a form such that it can be understood. This is the most interminable part of the quest. But it is working hard that seperates the scholar from a Yinkini! At this point of the quest the candidate might be faced by any number of temptations that lure him away from the pursuit of his objective: Yinkin or Eurmal may cajoal him into going for a drink; Laziness spirits may start haunting him; Uleria's handmaids may tempt him away for nights and days of wine and love. What ever the distraction the candidate must defeat it on its own terms. Sometimes there may be several foes faced in this part of the quest.
station 6. The Mistake. At this point the candidate realises that a terrible mistake has been made in their research. There is missing data, or Eurmal has made all the words meaningless, or part of the arguement is weak. The candidate is faced with Doubt and Despair, and must resist with his own self-confidence. Arrogant, Aloof, Self- etc are all appropriate abilities.
Station 7. Convince the Examiners. Finally the candidate's thesis is complete... the document he brought with him from the mundane world appears in his hands. One part of the Library is set aside for defences of theses, and it is here that the candidate finds himself. Lhankhor Mhy himself leads the tribunal made up of six other judges, Professorial daimons.
The candidate must present his thesis, and then defend it from the criticisms of the examiners. at this point he should defend with the ability signifying his main area of knowledge (Heortling Customs, Meteorology, etc). This is the critical station of the heroquest, and if it is failed then the candidate has failed to become a Sage of Lhankhor Mhy. Terribly bad results may mean the candidate is sent to Detention, or Lhankhor Mhy decides they have mis-spent their gift of Intelligence.
If the quest is successful the candidate is recognised as a Sage of Lhankhar Mhy (possibly with minor amendments to his thesis). During his time in the library he should have had the opportunity to learn several feats, and he can remember all these. He may also have found a valuable scroll, or magical ink, or a pen. Exceptional candidates may find that their Inspiration has returned with them to the mundane world as an ally. Community benefits include increased prestige for the institution that sponsored the quest, and bonuses to the Knowlege abilities of the university's wyter.
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comments?
cheers,
guy
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