(Private Sanctum) Mirror Mirror

[Anima]

The Shaman sits across from the strange mirror, pondering the frame, the shine, the frozen in time existence of it.

He sighs and leans forward, setting his kombucha down on the table next to him. Time to get to work. He gathers his supplies, pulling on buckskin breeches, lighting incense, forming a quick, practiced Imago in his mind, he is protected against the Numina of ghosts and spirits should things go wrong.

  3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-17 15:46:00		Anima rolls 8 to Spiritual Bulwark (HS) (10 Again)		4, 8, 1, 1, 6, 8, 6, 10, 6		3 successes

He breathes in the incense scented air deeply, letting his mind clear. He begins to chant, chant and dance.

Here, in his private study, this neurosurgeon that has dedicated his professional career to science and medical research is dancing, half naked, wearing buckskin pants, and shaking a wooden staff; wreathed in ivy, tipped with a pinecone; around a dusty old mirror he pulled out of a haunted hospital. If he could step back and appreciate the silliness of it all he would, but he doesn't have the time. His focus is on this mirror, and the chanting and dancing. Some might laugh if they knew, some might see this as a silly, unnatural ritual, but those people aren't paying attention. Each step in the dance, and whirly-do with the staff matches a piece of the Imago. It's not just a dance... it's a mnemonic device.

An hour passes, the imago is shaped, sweat is dripping off of the doctor, and he stops, in front of the mirror, admiring his own ridiculous form as a sleepy spirit wakes up.

  Paradox failure

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-17 15:33:48		Anima rolls 1 to Dox (2-1 for 3dot -1 for magical tool) (10 Again, Chance)		3		failure

  4 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-17 15:41:47		Anima rolls 8 to Rouse Spirit (Extended Spellcasting+HS target 3 successes) (10 Again)		9, 7, 9, 1, 5, 9, 4, 8		4 successes

A touch out of breath he tries to speak to the Spirit and stutters for several moments before he can untie his tongue.

"Hello friend."

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-17 15:47:08		Anima rolls 7 to Spirit Tongue+HS-1 (10 Again)		4, 3, 8, 5, 3, 10, 10, 9, 1		4 successes
2020-02-17 15:46:51		Anima rolls 8 to Spirit Tongue+HS (10 Again)		2, 7, 3, 2, 2, 1, 7, 1		failure

[Yumyumcrow]

The spirit is born emerges from his reflection, creating an etherial 4-D effect as his Sight partially extends into Twilight where the new entity exists. The entity stands beyond behind the mirror but Anima can easily see through the mirror and its physical frame to the plane beyond. The object is like a doorway; its polished and reflective surface now has a metaphysical depth.

The spirit looks like him, is dressed like him in his buckskin garments, and is posed as he is posed. A reflection of a reflection.

"Hello friend.

It even sounds like him, though his voice is blurred and made tinny by the metaphysical distance and ephemeral nature of the spirit.

And the intrepid Thyrsus creates another spirit This one is also Rank 1 so its capabilities are... limited.

[Anima]

A touch of a smile dancing on his face, hubris and narcissism all tangled up with caution and anxiety.

"Please, tell me of your previous owner, what was their reflection before they abandoned you in the hospital?"

Unable to resist his grabs an orange from the fruit bowl next to his chair, curious as to how this spirit will respond; will it reflect his words, his actions, will it garner a measure of pleasure eating a spiritual reflection of succulent fruit. The answers it might hold could be incredible, but the doctor must understand how this alien creature thinks. An appropriate challenge for a brain surgeon.

[Yumyumcrow]

The spirit responds - as much as it is able - by mimicking his movements. It can't quite follow the full range of Anima's interactions, given the entity is in Twilight and he is look at it through the mirror. Still, the entity does an incredible study of the Thyrsus' movements if it isn't holding a reflection of the orange.

"We think they were twins," replied the spirit using Anima's same voice, tone and speech pattern.

"One stood behind the other always. And other figures danced with them."

But the mirror's shiny surface stayed the same.

[Anima]

Twins... what could that mean to a spirit? Is it as he would assume?

The Thyrsus peels the orange, eating a piece while he ponders the spirit's response.

"Can you describe these twins to me? Describe what you reflected? Or show me? Can you remake your image in the memory of theirs?"

His eyes follow the strict lines of the mirror, it's subtle ornateness. Do they conceal runes? Is the doctor missing something obvious?

[Yumyumcrow]

"I do not have the power for that," the spirit replied, continuing to use his intonation and mannerisms.

"But they were bound together, one behind the other. One always with a hand on the shoulder of the other. So they were twins. The one behind didn't speak much."

The spirit tried an impish grin and rolled its shoulders in a cute, yet inhuman, impersonation of a shrug. The smile was so not Anima it hurt.

[Anima]

A shiver ran down the doctor's spine as the thing smiles at him. ​Gross, do I really smile like that? No, no way. Often one must be interpretive when dealing with spirits, but in this instance, it might be exactly as it's being described...

"Tell me about yourself. What is your name? Where alterations have been made to you?"

Stalking around the mirror in a circle, fingers tracing the lines, Anima is still looking for any clues to the nature of the ritual.

  14 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-02-26 09:59:43		[05] Anima rolls 8 to Investigates a mirror (10 Again, WillPower)		9, 2, 5, 10, 5, 1, 6, 9, 6		3 successes
2020-02-26 09:59:43		[04] Anima rolls 8 to Investigates a mirror (10 Again, WillPower)		5, 8, 3, 10, 9, 3, 2, 2, 8		4 successes
2020-02-26 09:59:43		[03] Anima rolls 8 to Investigates a mirror (10 Again, WillPower)		4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 3, 1, 8, 5, 6		3 successes
2020-02-26 09:59:43		[02] Anima rolls 8 to Investigates a mirror (10 Again, WillPower)		1, 8, 8, 9, 4, 9, 9, 1		5 successes
2020-02-26 09:59:43		[01] Anima rolls 8 to Investigates a mirror (10 Again, WillPower)		3, 8, 1, 1, 8, 10, 9, 5, 5		4 successes

oops

If possible please ignore the last three dice after the first roll, I only meant to use WP on that initial roll. I discovered if you used the extended roll drop down, the checkbox applies it to all the rolls. Subtracting 3 from the right on the other four rolls reduces total successes by 5. If I have to live with my mistake that's 19 success with an exceptional success roll in there.

[Yumyumcrow]

"We are The Question," the spirit replied with a frown after a long pause. The frown reflected deep thought, rather than concern at the Thyrsus' careful observations.

Brightening, the Question continued: "The moveable frame is not as old as the pool of my eyes reflection. And we feel etchings carved into my back - but we don't know when. I are only just awake."

Again... That shrug. And the 'oh so helpful' smile which uncannily fit onto Anima's face more easily than his own. The entity was watching Anima now. Studying the mage as the Awakened studied the mirror.

Anima can tell that the spirit speaks a truth: the frame of the full size mirror is not the original - it is less ornate and more square than the mirror, which sits uneasily at the heart of the object. The mirror is slightly more rounded at the top, the bottom, and in the middle. As a result it rests at a very slight angle, and when Anima checks the frame creaks with relief as that angle is widened.

The etchings along the wooden back of the reflective surface have been made deep and with a lot of care and attention. They are a mixed bag of glyphs taken from a range of occult traditions and schema's.

I am so sorry. I forgot this scene was active.

[Yumyumcrow]

le BUMP. Just in case you want more...

[Anima]

The Shaman gets excited, this is something! Something leads to Someone! Someone is Somewhere! What, who, and where are now answerable questions, just leaves the how and why.

A gentle smile to the spiritual reflection of himself.

"Thank you friend,"he dismisses the spell keeping the spirit roused, letting it return to its slumber. He examines the glyphs, obviously not runes and attempts to discern each of their origin and total meaning.

  3 successes Int+Occ

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2020-03-06 09:47:34		Anima rolls 6 to Know occult things (10 Again)		3, 3, 9, 4, 9, 9		3 successes