The man in the chair

[Salem]

Salem's back in the Circle again and is about to go on his first mission since coming back. It's going to be with his fellow Libertine and thus he feels it's going to be best to be prepared, so that they can make a good showing to the rest of the Pentacle mages. The place the Libertines was going to had been settled on, so he figured a bit of research was in order.

He settles into his desk at home a day or two ahead of time, getting ready to do some research. He flips his computer on, confirming his security measures are on, VPN and firewall and all that jazz, while he starts to intone a few words of High Speech as he works to bolster his skills at research.

Gain Skill (Academics) 1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-02-06 06:30:43	Salem rolls 7 to Gnosis + Mind + HS (10 Again)	3, 8, 4, 4, 3, 5, 2	1 success

He smiles as he feels the spell snap into existence as he starts looking into the Folsom Flea Market and the surrounding area, starting first with the more mundane aspects, seeing if there's anything that sticks out to him that would hint at the place being more than it was. He's only going to focus on this aspect of it for a few hours.

Research (9 successes)

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-02-06 06:45:51	[03] Salem rolls 11 to Int 3 + Acad 4(3+1) + Spec 1 + Internet 1 + Desktop computer 2 (10 Again)	3, 9, 6, 3, 10, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 7, 7	3 successes
2026-02-06 06:45:51	[02] Salem rolls 11 to Int 3 + Acad 4(3+1) + Spec 1 + Internet 1 + Desktop computer 2 (10 Again)	9, 3, 3, 8, 2, 7, 9, 9, 3, 4, 8	5 successes
2026-02-06 06:45:51	[01] Salem rolls 11 to Int 3 + Acad 4(3+1) + Spec 1 + Internet 1 + Desktop computer 2 (10 Again)	6, 2, 2, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 8, 3	1 success

When that first bit of researching is done, he'll let the Gain Skill spell dissolve back into nothing while he starts to intone more words of the Supernal tongue as he wills another casting of that same spell, focusing this time on the occult knowledge of the collective unconscious. He frowns as it the spell doesn't seem to want to take form. He takes a moment to give it another try and again it fails.

Gain Skill (Occult) failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-02-06 06:54:50	Salem rolls 6 to Gnosis + Mind + HS -1 Repeat action (10 Again)	3, 3, 3, 5, 7, 2	failure
2026-02-06 06:53:35	Salem rolls 7 to Gnosis + Mind + HS (10 Again)	4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 5, 5	failure

With a grumble of annoyance, he instead embarks on a more occult orientated batch of research into the flea market and anything that might have occurred at it or near it, perhaps even information on leylines themselves.

Occult Research (7 successes)

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2026-02-06 07:01:35	[03] Salem rolls 7 to Int 3 + Occult 1 + Internet 1 + Desktop computer 2 (10 Again)	10, 5, 3, 6, 6, 9, 7, 6	2 successes
2026-02-06 07:01:35	[02] Salem rolls 7 to Int 3 + Occult 1 + Internet 1 + Desktop computer 2 (10 Again)	8, 2, 2, 10, 2, 1, 5, 10, 2	3 successes
2026-02-06 07:01:35	[01] Salem rolls 7 to Int 3 + Occult 1 + Internet 1 + Desktop computer 2 (10 Again)	5, 3, 10, 9, 5, 5, 6, 3	2 successes

Accidentally rolled too many times on the last research attempt, so just posting the first 3 results, as he had planned on taking the same amount of time doing that aspect as the mundane.

[ReubanBrightwood]

I hate to be an arse here but the leyline/hallows plots resolve around following the leylines and seeing what you encounter along the way, which is to say Salem does not know he is going to end up at the flea market until he gets there.

The plots are smaller, more episodic and focus around the many and various supernatural elements a mage might/could encounter while traversing the fallen world. (the site doesn't use arcane experience but I aim for these plots to be reminiscent of scenarios or situations that would grant that RAW).

Knowing he is going to be out and about exploring prep is absolutely a good idea and worthwhile but without invoking a means to divine the future Salem just doesn't have this level of information to work with. After he has been, a follow up glimpse for research and digging into whatever he encounters would be absolutely on the table though!

Also please remember the contagion penalty when casting spells! Salem only has stamina 2 and 4 spells in pattern from rituals. Meaning he has -2 to all spell casting rolls currently (combined spells count as one spell for spell control but each spell still counts separately as normal for spell tolerance)

[Salem]

Not a problem! This all makes perfect sense. Sorry to have jumped the gun in this case.

Ah! Will remember the contagion thing. I did not realize that they still counted separately. I thought being cast as one spell made it one spell for all intents and purposes but looking back over the combined spells rules in the book, RAW, I can see it being interpreted and ruled as you have. No problem.