proceed to new world (do not ask questions, do not collect delightful prizes)

[space_between]

Here is a young woman curled up on a bed, shivering, having thrown off her blankets when she woke earlier.

She is asleep. For now.

Comments

[space_between]

"What is the life that is stolen? What can the dead do? Does seeing somewhere through the demonic orb count as being there for the tome of Gateway? --Do I need to have the tomes with me to use them?"

[shadopolis]

"Maximum possible lifespan. Fight for you, tell you things they know, or construct things for you. No and no."

[space_between]

She winces slightly. But if she took from people who were dying and she couldn't save, if she took from people she would have to kill anyway-- "What happens if someone loses all of their maximum lifespan? --Are there any renewable sources of lifespan?" She doesn't expect that to be the case, but it's worth checking.

"How often can the augments be used? Are there any downsides to any of them you haven't already mentioned?"

[shadopolis]

"They die. Only one, from the Hermit card. It depends on the Augment. Yes."

[space_between]

"What are the downsides you have not mentioned? --and how often can each Augment be used?"

[shadopolis]

"The Life tome will fix your apparent age at an age from six to twelve. The Gate tome will require you to sacrifice your true demonic form. You cannot turn off the Death tome's power, and its pacts only last for twelve hours. All Service augments only function for one hour per day. The first Body and first Metaphysical augment can only be used once per day. The second Body augment can only be used five times per day."

[space_between]

She considers this. "What is my maximum potential lifespan without any influence from the Life tome? How does the Gate tome interact with the armour Service augment? Can the Service augment's hour be split over multiple shorter periods in the course of a day? --How does 'per day' function, is it 24 hours from the previous use or -- does the world even have 24 hour days?"

[shadopolis]

"All Lilim live exactly ten thousand years, unless they gain lifespan from some other source. The Gate tome will grant you a new kind of armor for your Service augment - a dark robe that will strengthen your body and allow you to change your body into a cloud of black mist. Yes. Days end and begin at midnight, and yes, they are twenty-four hours."

[space_between]

"Are there other sources of lifespan?"

What else does she need to know? Oh, yes--

"Would sacrificing my true demonic form have other effects other than no longer being able to use it? How long do the Gateway, Life, and Service augments take to activate?"

[shadopolis]

"Not to Lilim, yes, the tomes take about an hour to perform the ritual, the Service augments take one heartbeat."

[space_between]

"What are the other effects? The tomes take an hour of ritual every time they are used? --Do the shields need to be already activated to defend me, or can they do that themselves?"

[shadopolis]

"You would gain a new true demonic form. No. Yes, they must be already activated."

[space_between]

"...What are the advantages, disadvantages, and other properties of this new demonic form? When do the tome take an hour of ritual, how long do they take in other cases, and what is the determining factor?"

[shadopolis]

"It will make your shadow become a haven for the teeth and eyes of demons. Your body will become durable and amorphous. These will be permanent effects once you spend the hour on the ritual: thereafter your powers can be used with a mere thought."

[space_between]

That... sounds unsettling, but what exactly does it mean?

"What do you mean by it becoming a haven? What would the practical effects be of my body being amorphous? By with a thought, do you mean the powers will activate as soon as I decide to use them?"

[shadopolis]

"... the answers to your first two questions are difficult to explain, but will not be harmful to you in any direct way. The answer to your third question is yes."

[space_between]

"Would they be harmful to me in indirect ways? Would they be harmful to other people around without my input, or against my wishes?"

[shadopolis]

"Yes, in that they might make you unsettling: no, they will be entirely within your control."

[space_between]

"And this would only be while I was in my true form, correct? ...can they spy on me?"

[shadopolis]

"Yes, and no."

[space_between]

So: Social, cards, Life tome, Gate tome. She needs to decide on a fifth, but for the moment...

"What are the limits of the social augment?"

[shadopolis]

"Clarify."

[space_between]

"You used the word 'almost' multiple times describing it. What are the exceptions? How large an audience is necessary for its full effect? --For that matter, how does it being used appear to the audience, and outside observers? How long does the conviction last? Are there any other limitations along those lines?"

[shadopolis]

"Those with very strong wills. At least five other people. It appears as natural charisma. Until the public speech is done. No."

[space_between]

"--They are only convinced for the duration of the public speech? What happens after?"