So I haven't been a geomancer long, maybe a year, but I'm really intrigued by this whole "Geomancers are insane" thing. I love Ixchilgal's roleplay, always referring to himself as "we" and even bearing the title "The Collective of Ixchilgal." I'd love to do something like that, but I'd just be seen as copying him, I imagine.

Well, I started my own little "going crazy" RP today by having Ongaku think there was a Merian Aquamancer following him around. The fact that he's a bookbinder and has learned Merian has helped somewhat with this RP. I don't want him to become so crazy that he can't function, but I want him to be able to start tolerating and even perhaps befriending his little Merian friend. The problem with this is that the other Magnagorans might think there actually IS an Aquamancer prancing around the city...

Anyway, are there any suggestions as to how to go about slowly driving Ongaku to madness? Right now, he's adamant about getting rid of the Merian, but I'd love for him to be able to embrace his madness at some point. I'd also love to add some other insane quirks, like a split personality, a nervous tic or a compulsion. I'd love some tips, pointers and suggestions!

Well... maybe convince yourself that if you are a Merian, this aquamancer would start looking for another one, right? And what's the best way to do it than with illusions?

Go about claiming to be a Merian!

Ooo, that sounds interesting...

Ostentatious madness is deeply irritating. Especially if you can't keep it up. Don't go with something that makes you unable to function, because you will inevitably find yourself dropping it on occasion. During the serpent event when the Geomancers lost the ability to taint, a guild champ who will remain nameless went completely up the wall. And I mean completely. It was great. But he magically regained total sanity whenever there was a raid and he needed to. Which sucked. Either you need to create a character trait that does not stop you being useful, or you need to accept that you aren't useful and deal with it. Roleplay madness is not something that should be turned off whenever convenient.

There are precedents within the Geomancers for hydrophobia. Aiakon refused to wash or drink, and gradually came to believe that any use of elemental magics of a watery basis i.e cleanse, scry, literally diluted his connection to the earth and the taint - the touch of water was polluting and required ritualistic cleansing. I've always quite liked the mad, unwashed, socially unacceptable geomantic stereotype, who mutters to himself and periodically erupts furiously during polite conversation. In one room desc in the Geomancers' manse, there is a description of some primitive graffeti - a geomancer dashing out someone's head with a rock and laughing wildly (or something similar). I have no idea who wrote it, but I think it makes great characterisation. Geos aren't necessarily clever or intellectual, they can be dirty and stupid (this is how I used to justify Revan). Geomancy can be just as much a physical connection to and manipulation of the earth, rather than a scholastic art. The troglodyte Geo is a great stereotype.

In any case, you could try inventing a fanatical view and then adhering to it rigidly (just make sure it isn't something that will put you on a colision course with the city hierarchy) - whether it be a loathing of water or a conviction that gutter mutts conspire against the taint because they urinate everywhere. Be unreasonable. Foam at the mouth a little... But quietly, because nothing is worse than loud and badly sustained roleplay. Then, once you have your basis, bring it up a notch. I used to turn Aiakon into a raving madman before I'd go off on holiday. It provided an in character reason for a sustained absence - Aiakon might have returned to his estates to recuperate, or gone to the Earth Plane to meditate or to the Dramube triangle (which, by the way, should be treated as pretty much holy by Geos, since it represents a more or less uni-elemental perspective on an environment which should be watery).

I ramble. I am in Spain and it is hot, and this keyboard is iffy. Toodleloo.

P.S Believing you are a Merian might be fun... but don't expect to be able to keep it up because you will be running against the prejudices of the city and of Fain. You could have great fun having your delusions beaten out of you. Revan spanking you over the head with a rock, perhaps?

A method I use for fleshing out my character's personality is to have emotes triggered off of the ambience messages. This may or may not be useful to you.

Heh heh. Revan smoosh silly fishy with rocks.

Revan angry!
Revan smash!

It's an interesting idea, but Aiakon beautifully summed it up: make sure you can still function, if you want to raid/defend/any sort of thing that requires damaging something else.

I really like the hatred of water idea. I hope you don't mind if I use that, Aiakon.

Unwashed, partially insane, bloodthirsty fanatics that leave massive destruction in their wake. It's like an autobiography.

I'm an IRL Geomancer, so just do what I do and you'll be set.

Oooh! The merian following you around is quite funny. I've seen the administration get involved with personal storylines before. Good luck! ^^

P.S.: The merian are watching you....>>

Heheh. Oh Gods. I remember that.

You should see the Paladins, though. They're also insane. Well, some of them at the very least. Particularly the Dove knights, who go insane trying to keep track of every other Squire and Page out there and keep them in line. They develop homicidal/sadistic tastes for torture and violence of innocent newbies. See: Jigan, Gadritan

You can start keeping a diary, or a writing a book filled with disturbing, torturous methods of dealing with novices or day to day inhumane punishments of different novices you meet. You can also write a funny book for novices (See: Page Fun), that has tones of 'you will get in trouble for just standing around the Pool of Stars'. Even better, it doesn't have to be about novices either, you can scribble down your insanity in your diary.

"Oh sweet glorious Earth, kiss me, embrace me, and KILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL"

That was fun to watch you. Especially when everyone was looking for a dreamweaver or an illusion and then came to the relization of 'Oh, he's a geomancer." I think if you can keep up with the idea that the merian has too leave at times for this or that then you can stay functional.

o.O I really like that idea. Imagine someone finding the book by "accident" and reading something that would make Lovecraft look like a romance novelist.

I had a lot of fun confusing the heck out of you guys, too. The Merian isn't always there, but Ongaku's very nervous about it now. I was only on for a little bit earlier, but I had him pacing nervously and fidgeting because of said Merian. I'll probably come up with a name and story for Ongaku's hallucination too.

I really like the journal idea too! Thank you, Yevah!

Nooooooo!!!

There's enough filthy, mudded all over, ghastly smelling Geomancer's as is!

(although the Nightsoigne smeared with mud and dirt pack design sells well because of that)

But no, don't pick up traits that will scar your kids for life!

Do you have any idea, Aiakon, how long it took me to make your son take a bath?!

...

And not to derail.... I love the stalking merian idea!

Perhaps he is trying to convert you?

I'll convert HIM...into fishcakes

You should become another fishcake addict as a form of silent and stalwart defiance to He Who Stalks You!

Psh, Revan is not "smashy squishy". he's just hot headed alot

I admit I did kind of mess up the insanity with the serpent event. Ah well

I was thinking perhaps the fear of water was slightly cliched, but I still like it. And yes, I was thinking maybe the Merian is trying to "cleanse" Ongaku. I also really like the addiction to fishcakes.

You should find Rheum in game. I haven't been playing as much lately, so you'll have to look hard.

Rheum had this thing for a long time where he would take merians, kill them, cut out their hearts, and then try to purify them in a whole bunch of different ways. It start in the Pool of Stars, which needless to say resulted in getting kicked out. Together, we could take over the world *cough* Rather, we could try to purify your little merian friend. That's what daggers are for, after all.