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Pink Feather Cake
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There's a concern that's on Saulanna's mind.
>Can Saulanna's high power be detected? By a god, perhaps?
"Uh, well, not too easily! Most of your power is bound up in your inner world, which is another realm of existence. So even people with magic-sensing powers shouldn't be able to pick up on your mojo unless you're actually throwing a ton of magic around right in front of them. On the other hand, if someone was actively suspicious of there being a little Titan around, and was looking and checking for signs, they might sniff you out. Aaaaaand probably most people can get a sense of something weird about you, they just won't know what it is."
Hmm. That's a little less reassurance than Saulanna would like.
>World Reading seems really useful!
"I'm happy to hear that you think that, my lady. However, I must say that it can be limited. Knowing someone's Heart's Desire, for example, is not much use if it turns out to be completely unrelated to the discussion at hand."
"True enough, Wu-blu, but on the other hand, I've been meditating on that a bit! I think you're underestimating the thematic resonance with mistress and her Hero Soul. They both have some capacity for reading humans and other living creatures already, so with the pile-on to yourself, maybe your Reading will be a little stronger than you think? Like, maybe you'll be able to read MalAffections at level three as well, on top of Heart's Desire. That's more chance to be handy!"
"... "Wu-blu"?"
>Making people misunderstand each other
"Mm... perhaps. Not yet, however. As an Aide, I'm the only one of us for now that can make abilities that directly affect others, but only for the purposes of helping them, not hindering them. The idea of subverting understanding rather than helping it is also... uncomfortable to me. But, it is within the range of my themes, by opposition. I can already do... something like that, if you recall."
"One of a Lord's Noble devas usually manifests as a representation of their opposite, right? So you might get, like, a confusion or silence deva some time. What would I get? Stasis or something?"
"That's often the case, yes. I wouldn't make a premature guess. To get back on topic, keep in mind that any power you exert on people besides yourself can potentially be defended against, particularly in the case of powerful Heroes."
>Defensive Moon ability
"Well, Moon Heroes do get protection stuff! Some sort of animal thing, maybe. Like... an ability than enhances your attachment to stuff that's your "territory"? Draw on that "GRRR, MINE" impulse, you know? Maybe an ability where you spend some MP and then for a while you treat something that's somehow "yours" as if you had an Affection for it."
>Knowing what people are going to say
Saulanna thinks there's an innate problem with any ability that would depend on identifying what someone is going to say, whether it's to counter or interrupt or any other defensive purpose. The social attack is a representation of how Saulanna is influenced by people's arguments; the information they give her and the points they highlight. If she knows what they're going to say, then she's actually just doing their job for them!
"Only in regard yourself, my lady; and without the benefit of their charisma. It would be a helpful ability if you're dueling with someone over the persuasion of a third party. And it's certainly a possible ability for me to have! The only caveat is that it would have to be able to go off by itself. Either I'd have to prepare and "hold" it for use in advance, or create a version where it automatically activates to tell you you should act, in which case it would be draining my Power to fuel itself without your direct control. In any case, it's a power that would need me to have some World Reading to build off. Level two, I think."
>Knowing the motivation for an argument/what a person is getting at
"Again, possible, but it's a form of mind reading, and would need World Reading as a prerequisite at quite a high level."
>Bonus to deva coaching
"Well, I could use my own Boost, I think. One point of my Power for a bonus of 3."
>Making your words carry different meaning for different people.
"Directed subtext, or making one target understand you better, or in a different way? Hmm. I think that would be possible, yes. I do already have my ability for sending messages, so it shouldn't be hard to build off that."
>Time-based calming
"Ooh. Giving yourself time to reflect and get objective again, without the whole discontinuity thing you'd get from just dipping back in here? Tricky. But possible. Or, could kind of... imbue you, with the objectivity that suits an eternal immortal whose existence is beyond the span of ages. Like me!"
"Like... you?"
"Sure! Wub, I have got crazy patience. Trust me."
"I... Alright, I'm drawing the line, please. Do not call me... that. Anyway. Yes, you can do that. It actually may fall into the relatively slim line of generic Titan themes. Though dispassion isn't always a benefit, you know. Getting yourself worked up over a particular subject is a good way to prevent yourself from being persuaded on it."
>Changing what someone has already said, before it gets heard
"Oh boy. Uh, I don't think I can manage that. Maybe some kind of combination ability with Wordblood helping me? But not for ages. At least, not if you want the person who said it to not realize something's up. Double if you don't want them to pick it up on the Loom of Fate. Even without all that, still, nowhere near doing it yet."
>Altering someone's memory
"It's possible, or would be if I was stronger, but difficult against the unwilling or even the simply unaware."
>Time shenanigans with use of Power Words
"Like, stop time, say it, start time again? I am way off from time-stoppage in the outer world, mistress. Even then, it still happens, people will know something was up."
"You could... er. Hmm. Well, this is a little close to the whole... inter-deva mental influence thing... But using Power Words in your inner world wouldn't be detectable from outside, my lady. I think... well, perhaps the specific case of using one to dispel mental influence, maybe... I... could use a Word on... you? Oh, ugh. I feel a bit unclean just thinking in that area. Just forget I said it. None of them seem to use serious mind control powers thus far."
>>490739
>"Firm Opposition Policy"
Saulanna isn't sure she wants to articulate this idea, given how Wordblood seems to react to the idea of direct mental influence being used between devas. Perhaps it wouldn't count, since she's the Queen? But she actually feels a little uncomfortable about it herself.
>>490735
> "sharpest tongue"
"I could gain an ability to let me endow others with the benefit of my own Boost, my lady. A bonus from use of language is within its dominion, I'm sure."
>subtext detection
"I already grant you the ability to understand hidden meanings, my lady. Unless you mean hidden meanings the person themselves doesn't intend to deliver? Psychological slips and the like. Little clues. That may be possible. Having a level of World Reading first would help."
>"Forked Path Oracle"
"Ooh. I can try, mistress! Can't guarantee 100% accuracy since I'd be only getting a feel and not actually looking directly, but it could work. You'd need to tell me what "favourable" is whenever I use it, though."
>"Power Rush"
"That's doable, too. I tell you, though, you can't move a lot of Power around without someone noticing, even if you're just using time shenanigans to steal from yourself!"
>>491038
>sound more/less trustworthy
"That's more in the range of your own Moon Boost, my lady, if used with your Inspiration or Dickery."
>turn will damage into emotion damage, or vice-versa
"Er. That's a little... inorganic? The mechanics are just representations. And it's not really in-theme for any of us... Well, maybe some sort of beast psychology where there's no rational comprehension and only emotions matter, your Moon abilities might produce something like that..."
>social exhaustion
"Making people lose energy and get tired faster? I think I can do that. I'm not strong enough to use my abilities to directly affect others, yet, though."
>directly blocking Will damage
"That thing Wordblood thought of there might work. It's probably conditional or something, though, like you'd only be able to use it against arguments that threaten something you're protecting, or the like. You gotta zone in on those themes, mistress! Samsara's gotta be your friend!"
>emotion bottle
"I don't think that fits into any of our ranges, my lady. It sounds dangerous, as well."
Hmm. Saulanna... isn't sure. An ability that shifts her emotions away until later... yes. Somehow... yes, she might be able to do that. She doesn't quite understand how, but... some part of her can try that. Yes.
Yes.
>telepathy
"Well, my lady, I can already send messages to people. Perhaps I could develop another ability that would allow me to devote Power to maintaining a bond, and allow myself to speak to them as much as we like for free, while it's active? As for receiving messages, I can get an ability off the side of World Reading, at level three, that would allow us to hear any prayers directed at us. That would serve."
>making our meaning clear
"I could do an ability that ensures we're understood as intended, my lady. It could even work over environmental factors, like speaking over noise. An aide to teaching, too. That could well be useful! If not so much for our immediate situation."
>extra actions for Wordblood
"That's possible, but not quite yet. Perhaps with another level of Soul Force, I could do it."
>>491453
>tracking "flow of information"
"I'm... not sure what exactly you mean?"
"Just sensing when magic is being used on you, maybe? You can probably get a Moon ability on top of your Sight Beyond Sight that does that."
>>491710
>"Magic of Tomorrow"
"Well, I can learn to do it, but again, moving a lot of Power around quickly isn't subtle. And as for the Power I would get on top of when my pool is full, well, that's the Power I use to spin into Titan's Will, you know! It's not just wasted."
>change what just happened
"Not yet, mistress. And it takes a lot of power! Enough that you would have been able to change it when it happened to begin with, with more besides. And dangerous. And noticeable! Small changes I suppose wouldn't be too bad, I guess, and not too hard or expensive if chance was a factor and you're just changing how the dice came out. Still, risky stuff!"
>"Echoes of Samsara"
"Well, samsara ssssoooort of works like that already, so I could try just enhance the effect. Though you know, it's not exactly so much about the repetition as it is the significance of the repetition, you know? And all the like... similarities, and symbolism and stuff coming together... it's hard to explain. I can do something, though."
>"breaking" perception
"I could do that. It'd only blunt them a little, though, depending on how important the raw charm of the words is. Sounds sort of annoying to put yourself through, as well! And you'd have to use it in advance."
>"Will of Many"
"Ah. Er, hmm. I can already use my Boost to help me help others, and I could learn abilities to endow others with magical enhancement, but unfortunately it doesn't work in reverse. I have no special facility to gain anything by receiving aid myself."
>"Hearts As One"
"Well, for us, this is effectively the case already. Forming unified groups with others? Possible. A little beyond my power at the moment."
That's about all that Saulanna's thought of so far, in regards magical abilities.
As for other thoughts...
>Heart's Desire
"Yes, you could do with one. As a Titan, especially, and a deva, you need to find your Purpose. However, you can't merely decide on one. It is your choice, but it is a choice you have been living, that shows itself in your deeds. All I can suggest is that you reflect on your experiences, and in time, you will come to realize what it was that was driving you all along."
"Well, mind you're not too old-fashioned, Wu-Blu! There's never been a Titan kid before! And part of growing up is changing when you become an adult. And part of being human is being able to change, and we're part human! Maybe she can develop a temporary Desire and Purpose that'll just do until the big one comes along."
"I... suppose so. It would be strange, but there has been stranger."
"Well, there you go, mistress, a ton of stuff to think on. Whatd'you say? Any other ideas, or do you want to pick out your selection now?"
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