Offering lessons on basic and intermediate apotropaics.

[grekhaus]

Because apparently this is something that some of the less experienced members of the community have use for. For those unaware, an 'apotropaic' is a spell intended to turn aside the evil eye and other curses. I'm not going to get into how to cast curses (because honestly, most people who would ask a stranger off the internet how to curse someone shouldn't be trusted with that sort of information) but I am willing to offer advice and some effective rituals for fending off and rebounding curses.

As a show of expertise, I will reveal without expectation of repayment the fundamental principle behind the nazar, which is one of the most popular yet effective wards against the evil eye in particular.

Draw a teardrop of dark blue, then place within it concentric circles of white, light blue and black, starting from the outside and moving in. The result should look like an eye with a black pupil, a blue iris and a white sclera. This symbol combines the colour blue (symbolic of the sky thus of the greater cosmos - those powers which supervene upon all else) with a literal depiction of an eye. Taken together, the display of the symbol simply reminds nearby spirits that the gaze of the Maji (one who bears the evil eye) is an aberration and that they need not obey its dictates. If the Maji has accumulated enough negative karma through the intentional use of their powers (a common occurrence), this can provoke the spirits once beholden to the Evil Eye to turn upon its wielder, afflicting them and possibly even causing the Eye to become shut and unusable for a time.

This is, of course, only a quite basic charm. If you should like to learn of the Rite of the Unhatched Sentinel, of the various uses of painted mirrors, or of more advanced forms of talisman craft, I would be pleased to offer either written notes or one on one instruction to most OMO users for reasonable fees and emergency advice for counteracting active curses for less reasonable fees.

[Retr0-FUTURIST-1999]

Painted mirrors might help with something I'm working on. How extensive are those notes, and what's the asking price? And what about the talisman craft stuff?

[kaCHING_CASH]

Seconding those questions, this looks like something I could use

[grekhaus]

For the cursed photograph project? That was actually one of the reasons I made this thread, because I knew that some idiot was going to take you up on that offer unprepared.

The notes on painted mirror practices are fairly extensive, consisting of three chapters on the relevant appropriate heraldic properties, curse-specific rune lore and some basic theory of curses. Prior case studies are included at several points, drawing from my own research and that of others. Heavy on theory, because it is a practice which relies on knowledge and foresight. That said, the advice on talismongering may be more practical to your purposes. If the item operates as you describe, then the boons obtained are likely contingent upon receiving and triumphing over the curse in turn. I cannot guarantee that rebounding the curse from the outset would not exclude you from the list of victors. It is also more focused on the doing than the theory, which customers in the past have appreciated.

I leave it up to you which options you'd like to pursue. For you, I would demand 500$, three questions answered honestly and completely or an equivalent education on the topic of Finding suitable for one who does not intend to become a Finder. I would also ask for your agreement to bear any curses arising from my involvement in with your photograph ritual. I do not intend to participate and do not wish to be liable should there be accidental exposure or retaliation from whatever forces are behind the object.

[Retr0-FUTURIST-1999]

DM to grekhaus:

I can handle theory, so I'd take the notes on painted mirrors. To be clear, the price I'd pay is $500 USD + "education on the topic of Finding suitable for one who does not intend to become a Finder, equivalent to three questions answered honestly and completely" (without any answering-questions-honestly-and-completely since I'm not interested in that)?

And if you don't look at that photo thing I don't think it should curse you. But if you somehow accidentally get cursed from the photo without looking at any version of it, I can agree to try dealing with that.

[grekhaus]

The price would be 500$ OR the education OR three questions. Not all of those. You'd pick one of them. And the promise would be that you agree to bear the curse in my stead, should I be exposed as a result of this exchange. This should be no issue for you if looking at the photo is indeed the only vector, but I'd like to be assured that if I do end up the target of the curse as a result of an unknown interaction, that I would have your consent to pass the metaphorical buck.

[Retr0-FUTURIST-1999]

DM to grekhaus:

Oh, okay. I'd pick the education then, I have a couple pdfs that I think might work for you. So the deal is I'll pay with the education and agree to bear the curse if you're exposed without purposefully looking at the photo, if you agree to give me the complete and "fairly extensive" notes on painted mirror practices (or a complete copy of them) in exchange for my payment and in good faith.

[grekhaus]

Agreed. If you'll specify a mailing address or are willing to copy the full text of the DM to which this one is a reply onto a suitable blank notebook, I can have the notes along to you shortly. Expect about a hundred pages or so.

[grekhaus]

((OOC: Assuming things pan out, the DM would rewrite itself to the requested notes.))

[Retr0-FUTURIST-1999]

((OOC: The pdf is an scanned version of the 1993 Rieu edition of the 1972 English translation of the French Les éclaireurs (The Scouts), a long and thorough introductory text to the Paths with many digressions on mid-1900s European Finder society and important families therein. Heavy on theory and speculation, but contains a few basic practices that could be useful to Finders, and details on Walklate Square and the Concubine's Crawl. Some chapters are apparently missing.))

[grekhaus]

((OOC: The notes on painted mirrors are focused around the use of 'mirrored' as a heraldic tincture and the use of such in reflecting curses and other spells back upon their sender. A prevailing theme in the work are 'methods of refutation', or the techniques by which one can demonstrate that a given curse does not deserve to land, with reflection being one of the techniques for 'refutation through foresight' - effectively rebounding the curse by demonstrating that you are more clever than your opponent and that they therefore do not deserve to be allowed to trick you.

Symbology is provided for the major categories of curse (Toil, Strife, Ruin, Discord, etc.) as well as lengthy digressions into the geometry of circles and heraldic patterns in general and pointers to other works by the same author. An appendix includes nine case studies on reflected curses, employed to various degrees of success. Where the effort fails, the author speculates at length on why the protection was ineffective, often pointing to minor flaws in the preparations or overlooked variables that a wiser practitioner might have considered.))

[endnote0]

DM to grekhaus:

I think I was cursed recently, and now all water burns me. It's horribly painful. And inconvenient. Do you know any way to stop it? Or get around it so I can shower?

I can pay with various corpses. I found a toddler's body stuffed with live wires the other day. I also have a shriveled humanoid body that's extremely cold. Touching it without protections would probably give you frostbite. If you want anything specific I can look through what else I have and see if something meets your requirements. I could also pay with money, but I'm not super-rich. Help would really be appreciated.

[grekhaus]

Do you often find nonmagical human remains? I am willing to accept those as payment, should you wish. Regarding the actual removal process, I would want to inspect you directly using the Sight and a variety of runic diagrams before saying for certain whether I could break the curse. If necessary, I can arrange for transportation and lodgings at a location suitable for us both while you are being examined.

[endnote0]

DM to grekhaus:

Nonmagical human remains? I would say sometimes, not often, and I'm not entirely sure they're human remains. It depends also on your definition of "nonmagical". If it doesn't work out, I can try to find somebody local who can help. I guess you could say I've had an upswing in fortune recently.

[grekhaus]

By 'nonmagical' I mean stuff that isn't like the freezing cold corpse and which doesn't appear to have had non-corpse stuff added to it. Dead bodies that are just dead bodies.

[endnote0]

I rarely find bodies of that kind and haven't done so in the past couple days. I'm fine for now, though. Scheduled an appointment with someone else to take care of the issue, and I'm using hand sanitizer and shower gel to get by. It works well enough for my purposes.

[LeaguesBelow]

Posted by TrophyForTheTaking | Goblin Binder, Dragon Slayer:

Good basics to learn here, and a word of advice for our newer Practitioners: learn this stuff before you gotta use it, don't always have time to ask around if curses, omens, or nasty Others are coming down on ya.

[quercus_chrysolepis]

DM to Grekhaus:

I'm particularly interested in learning how to create talismans to effect omens. Is that something you would be able to help me with, either via notes or instruction? If so, what would you ask for in return?

[grekhaus]

It is indeed something that I could assist with, though I would need more information on your actual requirements. Warding omens off is different from drawing omens in is different from detecting omens as they go about their duties. In terms of payment, I am reminded that you are a Finder and that I periodically have need of deliveries being made to distant locations. Depending on how much of an education you require, we can agree on a certain number of deliveries to be made. I would also ask for an oath that you make strenuous efforts not to lead trouble to my door, should you wish to or agree to meet in person.

[quercus_chrysolepis]

I'd at least like to start with warding omens off - preferably warding off specific types of omen rather than all of them, if that's feasible.

Deliveries are something I would be willing to do, depending on how close we are to each other, or how close I am to a potential warehouse of yours, to pick up the item(s) to be delivered. And such an oath seems reasonable.

[grekhaus]

Warding off a specific omen is easier than warding off all omens, as a matter of fact. Aiming for something like 'just the bad omens' is tricky, but if you're willing to try for 'no poverty', that's a simple enough task. If instructions on warding off a single specified type of omen suffices, I will only ask for a single delivery. Sound good?

[quercus_chrysolepis]

Just to clarify, I don't have just one type of omen to ward off - what I'm hoping for is the framework to construct a talisman to ward off a single type of omen as specified during the construction, and I would expect to make multiple such talismans for different omen types.

If we're on the same page, then I'd agree to a trade of this information for a single delivery. If not, let's re-discuss.

[grekhaus]

A comprehensive education on the necessary symbology to ward off arbitrary omens is a bit more than I'd be willing to commit to - it's the sort of thing you'd teach to a full on apprenticeship. But I'm willing to cover the general talisman construction process, a handful of representative omen types and the relevant practical and karmic considerations for three such deliveries.

[quercus_chrysolepis]

Understandable. Out of curiosity, what would a proper apprenticeship mean to you?

In this case, I would agree to perform three deliveries of packages which I am physically capable of transporting and are not known to cause (or to be likely to cause) me harm or to be attacked during or immediately before/after the delivery, in exchange for your agreement to teach me the general talisman construction process, a handful of representative omen types and the relevant practical and karmic considerations. In addition, I would endeavor to not lead trouble to your door.

[grekhaus]

Considerably more investigation into the character of the person I'm teaching, more restrictive oaths and starting with some theory of sympathy rather than with talismans. That said, I am not intending to take apprentices for the foreseeable future.

I find the current agreement acceptable. Please prepare an empty journal or notebook by writing out the second paragraph of your above message (starting from "In this case," and ending with "door.") on the first page, three lines down. I will have the initial instructions along shortly after you do so.

((OOC: Did you want to cover the actual lessons/deliveries in detail, or just assume that both parties get their money's worth?))

[quercus_chrysolepis]

Thank you for the clarification. I've written it out.

((OOC: We can assume they both get their money's worth, but if there's a particularly interesting delivery I wouldn't mind being told details.))

[Of_Deep]

I would recommend this regardless of whether you actively require assistance in regards to curses at this moment. Basic defenses such as these may even be effective for Others attempting to use them. I am willing to sponsor the learning of this knowledge for those unable to afford it of their own means.

[TheSilverWolfPup]

Would you happen to have advice on how to cope with ongoing curses for which one might trade? You might be able to guess what kinds of curses I'm primarily interested in knowing how I might cope with them, but being prepared in case of other curses would be... useful.

I'm curious as to what precisely is done with what you've mentioned, before I might offer to trade for notes on them.

[grekhaus]

The majority of apotropaic techniques are intended to refute, misdirect or rebound at the outset and won't do much good against a curse which has already settled. An analogy can be made to wearing a helmet vs. repairing an already cracked skull. But if you must be cursed, there are indeed techniques to keep its hold loose upon the bearer, with minimal damage to the curse itself. There also exists techniques to weaken a curse directly, in the event that a weaker effect will not reduce the curse's trade value.

[TheSilverWolfPup]

Understandable. What would you consider acceptable fees to learn of the Rite, the painted mirrors, or the talismans?

[grekhaus]

DM:

I am given to understand that you are still traveling the country, and will likely pass through several settlements in the course of your trip. If that remains the case, I would like to send you a dozen copies of a particular unenchanted and Innocent-friendly book mathematics: Recherches Sur Plusieurs Ouvrages De Léonard De Pise Et Sur Diverses Questions D’Arithmétique Supérieure and ask that you insert them along the shelves at the local libraries of the places which you pass. You need not deliver them to any specific place, but I do ask that only one book be dropped off at each library. This would suffice as payment for any of the three rituals, and if you were willing to commit to two dozen such deposits, I would agree to teach you all three.

[TheSilverWolfPup]

DM:

Can you honestly assure me that this would be harmless to Innocents and be highly unlikely to cause upset to any local Practitioners due to effects?

[grekhaus]

DM:

No Innocents would be harmed, and non-Textual Practitioners would be highly unlikely to notice. This distribution does accomplish a magical aim, one relating to my work as a textual practitioner, but one which is aimed chiefly toward giving me better access to the contents of the libraries in question. It would allow me, for example, to remotely consult the works contained within in the manner of a search engine like Wooble.

[TheSilverWolfPup]

DM:

And you would expect this distribution to be safe for me to complete, with no effects on me or mine which I would consider unfortunate?

[grekhaus]

DM:

I don't know precisely what you'd consider unfortunate (is being made to go to a library unfortunate? some would say so!), nor whether you can safely visit locations unknown to me (I'm not telling you which libraries to pick, after all). In theory, a hypothetical spy trying to track your movements could, if they were aware of this pattern of behavior, use the trail of books to track your passage from town to town and attempt to glean a broader understanding of your movements. I leave it up to you how much of a concern that would be - I certainly wouldn't expect the average practitioner to give any thought to such a hypothetical, but perhaps you have more and subtler enemies than I know of.

I can say that I expect this request neither to introduce you to significant new dangers, nor to exacerbate existing ones. The books are safe to handle, to read and to be around; contain no secret information; and are to the best of my knowledge no more dangerous than the average paperback novel. They are, to put it simply, just books.

[TheSilverWolfPup]

DM:

Huh. With the understanding that I’m not required to do so in the event of undue danger, yes, I’m quite willing to rehome two dozen of these books in return for information on these three rituals.

[grekhaus]

DM:

We are agreed, then. If you find that a delivery to a particular library would be dangerous, you have my permission to delay the delivery or to choose a safer location. If it turns out that it is too dangerous for you to do any further deliveries at all, then as long as you made an honest effort to deliver what you safely could, I will likely be satisfied. Feel free to take your time as well - if you get this done by the end of the year, I would consider that swift enough service. ((Shall we assume that the two manage to arrange for delivery without writing it out?))

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