groves

by Saran

Back to Ideas.

Saran2009-01-18 17:34:00
Random idea, I think Elryn or the likes suggested it once but I couldn't find it.

Basically a skill spec for hunting, let's you grow the 13 sacred trees in a single room and once mature you can gather materials to work small folk magics from them.

A vague thought for different magics is below which was basically me looking through sites to see what the tree might have been used for and trying a lusternian application.

QUOTE
TREE: Birch
Folk Magic: Gather a strip of bark and set it loose in a river, this will cause any who attack you to be lusted to you with an increasing chance to fade.
This is from a spell to call your love to you, I guess it would be helpful mainly in demesne breaking situations where you could run in a few rooms and while you'd get hit the mage/druid would end up lusted to you a few times. Doesn't really do too much to others unless lust prevents attacking all together.

TREE: ROWAN
Folk Magic: Shape an amulet from fallen wood and tie it with a red thread for protection against harm.
physical DMP, simple.

TREE: ASH
Folk Magic: Scatter ash leaves to promote dreams, causing them to come more often and sleep to be more effective.
Couldn't really think of anything, makes sleep slightly more effective and might increase the chance for you to see dream messages which could help when they are released for events

TREE: ALDER
Folk Magic: Push the pith out of green shoots to make whistles that summon winds to blow everyone away
Nice little gtfo, not sure how powered it would be but it attempts to throw everyone out of the room.

TREE: WILLOW
Folk Magic: Sitting within the embrace of the willow offers glimpses of prophecy and inspiration.
This was an interesting one, the inspiration could be some form of defense but the prophecy could be some wisdom the admin could release akin to the current quests leaving druids to meditate in their groves for snatches of prophecy

TREE: HAWTHORN
Folk Magic: Form a ball from its leaves and burn it to release yourself from affliction. Can only carry one at a time.
Kinda like true heal I know, but it's a one shot and you'd need to be able to physically burn the single-shot ball

TREE: OAK
Folk Magic: Burning fallen wood creates a barrier of protection around the grove.
Another toughie, so protection barrier... thing

TREE: HOLLY
Folk Magic: Burn a sprig and inhale the smoke, you will be blessed with another level of regeneration for the next day
Seriously, everything is healing/protection/purification...

TREE: HAZEL
Folk Magic: Shape an amulet from fallen wood to offer a bonus to intelligence
'cept this little buff

TREE: VINE
Folk Magic: With a small section of the vines from a grove, you can bind another to your will as the vine binds other plants to its.
Yes, another application for druids vines though more metaphorical

TREE: IVY
Folk Magic: Wrap your rowan amulet in ivy to protect yourself against spiteful magics
Adds magical type DMP to the earlier amulet

TREE: REED
Folk Magic: Bundled together, you can sweep the ground with it forcing all spiritual presences out of the location.
bai bai weavers, would kick any weaver out of the location possible dig length timer.

TREE: ELDER
Folk Magic: Elder will protect the grove, any damage to the sacred trees will cause it to lash out. Whoever destroys the elder will be cursed with afflictions until the next day phase (midnight/day, dawn/dusk)
Hard one, but the spirit of the elder is described as a guardian and if you burn it you are cursed so here you go. Adds a small level of difficulty(annoyance) to tearing down a grove.


Aside from the singular magics of the trees, as you grow you gain the ability to combine their magics.
Oak, Ash, and Thorn are said to create a place where you can see in to the fey. As being able to transverse ethereal is well... kinda bleh for any one in a commune this might allow the caretaker of the grove alone to travel to the tree of trees or the like.

An instakill might be offered by linking symbols of the path through life and pushing the target towards the end of life.
Combination of Birch (birth), Willow(the inevitability of death), Holly(to ease the passage), Elder(death)

So at 4:33 am I submit and go to sleep. Make what you will but tired I is.
Unknown2009-01-18 22:20:17
That sounds pretty nifty and well thought out... I like it. I don't know if it would be useful that much given how often raiders come into an opposing commune, and even if you could grow them anywhere it might be difficult to balance being able to destroy them against controlling that location in addition to a demesne.

Just so I understand what you mean, this is an alternative to Ecology as a specialized Hunting skillset, right? So you could choose Hunting->Ecology or Hunting->Groves?
Unknown2009-01-18 22:29:54
Might be OP, but I like this.
Abethor2009-01-18 23:16:14
This is a really unique idea, and I'm a fan.
Saran2009-01-19 05:45:40
Aye, a choice other than ecology that would be unique to druids. The actual location of the grove doesn't matter so much, i'd expect they'd end up being at totems just for the sake of ease. You can gather the material components for the folk magic from the trees and then use them wherever you like.


so for example I could grow an Alder tree and create the whistle from it, that whistle can be used anywhere to use the folk magic.

Or the birch tree, you can drop the bark in any river location to get the defense.

As to the grove specific effects
The elder is a protection against people coming in and tearing down groves in off times. You can either take it down first and suffer the curse, or take the rest down first while dealing with its attacks then finish off the elder last.

The oak could make the room you are in private effectively and prevents entry.

Trees could be combined to offer different effects but still should retain the folk/metaphor magic style.

So willow might offer inspiration but if you burn different woods that offer visions then it can allow you to see some admin set messages.
Unknown2009-01-19 06:16:10
QUOTE (Saran @ Jan 19 2009, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Aye, a choice other than ecology that would be unique to druids. The actual location of the grove doesn't matter so much, i'd expect they'd end up being at totems just for the sake of ease. You can gather the material components for the folk magic from the trees and then use them wherever you like.


so for example I could grow an Alder tree and create the whistle from it, that whistle can be used anywhere to use the folk magic.

Or the birch tree, you can drop the bark in any river location to get the defense.

As to the grove specific effects
The elder is a protection against people coming in and tearing down groves in off times. You can either take it down first and suffer the curse, or take the rest down first while dealing with its attacks then finish off the elder last.

The oak could make the room you are in private effectively and prevents entry.

Trees could be combined to offer different effects but still should retain the folk/metaphor magic style.

So willow might offer inspiration but if you burn different woods that offer visions then it can allow you to see some admin set messages.

I like. And I could definetly see some RP value to putting it at a totem. A sacred grove with a totem to your animal spirit in the center? Sounds good to me.

I have a thought though. Make it so Elder is like Tents, and make the grove seperate from the rest of the world, like a tent. Make it so only the "owner" of the elder could touch it to get into the grove, and anybody else would have to follow in, or chop down the elder.

Might be bothersome to code, but again, RP value!
Saran2009-01-19 06:40:59
QUOTE (Kialkarkea @ Jan 19 2009, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I like. And I could definetly see some RP value to putting it at a totem. A sacred grove with a totem to your animal spirit in the center? Sounds good to me.

I see that as how it would be anyway if only for totem return, but would be hesitant to make anything within the skill to support that because well... people who have totems at nexi or the like... if it's some private place for them to work then it could be annoying unless (see below)

QUOTE
I have a thought though. Make it so Elder is like Tents, and make the grove seperate from the rest of the world, like a tent. Make it so only the "owner" of the elder could touch it to get into the grove, and anybody else would have to follow in, or chop down the elder.

Might be bothersome to code, but again, RP value!


I don't think the groves should be restricted to owners only, anyone should be able to enter, with the elder serving as a form of defense against attacks on the grove. That being said, either from the start or once 13 trees are planted, a separate grove room could be formed that lets anyone walk through a special entrance to the grove. Burning oak could then effectively close off the entrance and act like a mono until it burns out or is doused.
Unknown2009-01-19 08:44:07
Elder could afflict anyone using chop or mulch. Willow could be scrying. Oak prevents staffcasting, crudgeling, demigod zapping and pushing hexes and so forth as if you were shielded. No effect against those who are in the room.
Unknown2009-01-19 11:09:25
I'll throw in a "Good idea but will probably turn out like the Spiritsingers."

Still a good idea, though. smile.gif
Saran2009-01-19 12:55:07
QUOTE (Alacardael! @ Jan 19 2009, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'll throw in a "Good idea but will probably turn out like the Spiritsingers."

Still a good idea, though. smile.gif


Got bored at work

Saran takes slender strips of elder and birch in his hands, binding them together with holly and willow as he mumbles gently to himself under his breath the only intelligible word being "Alacardael". The woods flowing together seamlessly under his touch.

His eyes raising gently to gaze at Alacardael, Saran traces his fingers along the peculiar grain of the wooden circle he wields. Abruptly, he slams the circle over his knee, snapping it in two. As splinters of wood dance away on the winds, Alacardael ages rapidly and soon nothing more than a dusty corpse remains.
Unknown2009-01-19 13:34:51
I've always like the RP idea behind Groves in the other Iron Realms MUDs, so I like this one too.
Konton2009-01-19 16:16:56
This seems like it could be a fun idea.
Unknown2009-01-20 11:00:50
QUOTE (Saran @ Jan 19 2009, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Got bored at work

Saran takes slender strips of elder and birch in his hands, binding them together with holly and willow as he mumbles gently to himself under his breath the only intelligible word being "Alacardael". The woods flowing together seamlessly under his touch.

His eyes raising gently to gaze at Alacardael, Saran traces his fingers along the peculiar grain of the wooden circle he wields. Abruptly, he slams the circle over his knee, snapping it in two. As splinters of wood dance away on the winds, Alacardael ages rapidly and soon nothing more than a dusty corpse remains.


This is an interesting instakill. grin.gif