Her motivation? She doesn't really have any obvious drivers apart from not wanting to lose her other hand.

Why such a field? She needs a real motivation to enter such a baleful business. Go to Comment

A solid support NPC to fill the necessary role  in  with enough human touches to make her believable and rather likeable. 

I do agree with others though the gal seems to be lacking a bit in any ultimate dreams or goals. Perhaps she desires to see her cybernetic marvel of a hand enter more wide spread use among  amputees? (Veteran soldiers especially)

Also, perhaps putting a space between each plot hook in #1-4 would help break up the wall of text and make that area a lot easier to read. 

Go to Comment

Interesting character. I like her although the only motivation I see is her dedication to her father. I like the idea of using her as an evil mastermind in a supers game. Go to Comment

It started off seeming like it would be rather cliche, but it turned out good! Very nice characterization of an interesting people. Go to Comment

An excellent people! Lots of interesting details.
I do find their reaction to scars a bit overboard - I would imagine very few dark-ages persons would be free of scars. Especially those who raided aggressively.

That aside, this is a very good sub. Go to Comment

A thought-out, fleshed-out, and clearly-written sub that removes any excuse I might have had to use generic horse-barbarians ever again. Well done. Go to Comment

The Candle of Horror is great. Go to Comment

Watch those candles!

Love them already. :) Go to Comment

73. Candle of Candles - the owner of this one will come to like candles, and will most probably start to collect them. If set aflame, it will sizzle into a blob within a minute.

74. The stupid one - when lighted, this candle will become extremely slippery to the touch. The original was a mistake, but it has found its uses... just be careful to not put yourself on fire.

75. Candle of Bonfire - it emits the sound, and light of a large, roaring fire - just not the warmth. Put it into your fireplace for some ambience. Go to Comment

4?+3. Candle of Dreams

This is a thin taper, with fanciful designs molded or carved into the wax. If it is lit near a sleeping person, it creates an illusion of the dreams of that person that everyone can see. This illusion only exists within the range of the candle's glow; things farther away either fade away or are projected as if on a screen, depending on the quality of the candle. Lower end candles create only visual illusions, high quality candles add the dream's sounds, and the very best can create tactile illusions. The candle's magic only works on one person at a time, and when the dreamer wakes, the candle is snuffed out.

4?+4. Candle of Convenience

This seems to be a normal, unremarkable candle. However, this was created to do away with the need for a match or spark. A single breath is all it takes to light the candle, making it popular with those who often find their hands occupied. It also cannot be blown out; it must be snuffed out by other means.

4?+5. Candle of Languages

Any who stand within the glow of this candle can understand each other perfectly, no matter what language they're speaking. This only applies to spoken words; sign language and written text are not translated. Large courts, embassies, and wealthy owners of establishments in multi-lingual areas often employ banks of these candles as their light source. If the candle goes out, the translation effect immediately stops, often resulting in hearing nothing but gibberish.

4?+6. Candle of Mishap

While this candle is lit, nothing works properly in its radius. Tools break or go missing, items with moving parts jam, weapons either get stuck or break, papers blow away or are damaged, spells go awry, etc. Even items that should have no reason to malfunction do. Higher quality candles can even cause misunderstandings between people and unintentional insults. However, there is a quality that offsets this effect; the candle burns down very quickly and will sputter out within only an hour or two of being lit, at most. Go to Comment

56- Demonlead Candle

The candles are black, with a redish cast, and oily feel. They seem to be intricately carved with runes and demonic elements.

This candle is made with the blood and fat of a demon (in which they will regenerate from the removal, but the removing process is painful to the demon). Most Deamonlead candles are made by the Demon itself, but some very, very powerful karcists (demon summoners) can bind down the demon and produce the components. As the candle is made, it appears carved. That is not the case, the taper takes on the runic and demonic carves images as it dries.

Normally, one lights the candle and is drawn (as if summoned) to the demon. This can make for an easy trip to a hell (or other place the demon might be). Sometimes these candles are sent as invites to others to talk.

Very experienced summoners can use the candles to bring the demon of choice to them. However it take a very extensive ritual, almost harder and longer than summoning the demon in the first place. However, the demon can not resist the summoning and is easier to bind to the circle of protection using it.

Since only middle rank or better demons can survive the process of making a Deamonlead candle, there is always powerful demonics involved. Go to Comment

57 - Orgone Candles

Orgone: A universal life force hypothesized by Wilhelm Reich, supposed to emanate from all organic material that purportedly can be captured with a boothlike device and used to restore psychological well-being. Some other names are mana, theiron, and chi. It has commonly been interpreted as "the stuff of which magic is formed", as well as the substance of which souls are made.

Any candle can be used to embed mystical energy of a given elemental or spiritual flavor/ wavelengths. The candle should be of an appropriate color and often is painted/ carved with appropriate to the energy to be stored.
Air - Yellow
Earth - Green
Fire - Red
Water - Blue
Espiritus - Grey
Fey - Pink/grey
Therio - Green/Grey
Dracos - Blue Grey
Solar - Gold
Lunar - Silver/ Grey
Note: These are European colors, Chinese/ Indian mythos would use different colors and tap to different elements.

Sometimes a small crystal is inserted in the bottom of the candle.

Energy is stored in the wax matrix of the candle in a draining several hour long ritual. Three times the energy is put in that is held in the matrix. The energy is released by burning the candle in a ritual position. So if you are empowering a two hour long ritual, the candle would need six hours of full strength channeling of the energy tupe being stored.

In practice the candles are used by solo practioners who need several elemental/ energy flows to be worked for a given ritual. You can "hold the corners" by yourself by having the other three corners rooted by candles appropriately charged.

(So store some magic points in the candle for future use. ) Go to Comment

58) Ward Candles

This is a set of four or five candles. Each candle it dedicated to a divine or elemental force. The set is then bound with strong protection spells. By setting the candles up in a circle (or general polygon) and lighting them with a small spark of energy, they will form a warding, protecting those inside from magical/ spiritual forces outside. If incorporated into a proper mystic circle, it will multiply its effectiveness three fold. The effects will last as long as the candles are burning and the lines between the candles are unbroken. Go to Comment

All of these candles are magical really. Some are just more alchemical. Some require spells, others are just clever uses of chemicals impregnating the wax. (The sleeping candles came to mind, as certain vapors would do the job). After all a great deal of science was once the domain of magic.

Eliminating the duplicates, we are over half way to 101. Go to Comment

60) Blessed Candles

With this blessed flame
I remand myself to The Holy Flame
Spiritus of All
May it clense me of my sins
And Light my way
And Light the holy fire within (myself)
Amen

These candles are made at a number of monestaries around The Lands, in a manner defined by the Holy One. During the entire process, from culling and mixing the wax to the final finishing, monks are to pray certain prayers. In fact, the process of making the candles is practically it own liturgical cycle.

What is produced, besides a lovely handcrafted candle of good texture and solid composition, is a Blessed Light Candle. The lighting of the candle, especially if done so with a prayer on your lips, is said to ward off Evil by calling The Holy light down to you. The Holy Spirit is to move with you, assisting you in Holy Work.

These Candles are used during certain ceremonies throughout the liturgical year, and as special gifts to those who must pray alone (so they won't be alone). The Clergy will often use these candles "in special cases" to ensure the spirit is with them.

The Candle functions as a bonus or tool to any clerical thaumaturgical and some thergical actions. They can also be considered Orgone Candles for Clerical Energies. Go to Comment

62) Windstore Candles

These candles are broad, thick, and do not give off much light. The wax is a muddy cream with a cross hatched pattern at its base. Minor air sprites (elementals) are bound into the wax when they are created. Thus the candles will burn without using up air or lighting gases found in mines/ tunnels. They can also be used underwater. Go to Comment

63) Candle of Shadow's Will

The candle can only be used in a darken room, with little to no light from other sources. If lit in a better lit room, it will simply be a normal candle with an unpleasant smell.

If lit in a room with little to no light besides the candle, the candle will glow brightly and throw deep dhadows on the walls of every person, "unique object", or something specifically designed to cast a shadow (like a shadow puppet). After a brief time.. the shadows will begin to move on their own. They will move and interact. Usually they will tell a story of some kind. It could show a future or past, it might show inner thoughts or unfelt motivations, and depending on what the shadow puppet is (the silloute of a dragon, god, castle, or what ever) you can set up specific scenarios.

If the people are quiet and do not move much, they might hear the shadows make sound.

The insights one can gain by watching the shadows might lead to motivations in their real life. Go to Comment

64) Candle of Love's Waiting

Now a submission: http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=4906

If you want to see the expanded inspiration text:
These are thick heavy candles of an odd greenish creame color. Each candle is made with baby hairs and current blood of the recipient by a skilled mystic chandler (Candle manufacturer). They are favorites of wives, lovers, and mothers who send their loved ones off to battle or to far away lands to trade.

To activate, the candle is held by the loved one, and the person staying home lights it, just before the loved one is leaving. Words of love are traditionally exchanged. The candle is extinguished. The loved one leaves on their journey. The candle should be placed in a window or a shelf by the door. Ideally, the candle is lit that night and it will stay lit until loved one returns home OR can not return home ever (this is a euphemism for dying, but better candles will sometimes take in to consideration people who will never return and might as well be dead to their loved ones). One candle lasts one journey, even if that journey takes years. (note the light is so soft that it provides no real lumination).

Candles of less skilled mystic chandler or those made without baby hairs (or using other recipes of lesser effectiveness) create a candle that must be lit every night. The candle will only light and glow if the loved one can return home. If the candle will not light, the person is lost never to return (again another euphemism for dead or might as well be). If the candle is not lit every night before dawn, it will lose its hold on the loved one. Some people prefer these candles as they require a show of devotion on both sides. These candles are also reusable for many journeys and last as long as they would as if they were mundane candles (9 hours (figure 2 minutes spent each lighting at minimum).

These candles are tied to their loved ones who are away. Thus such a candle can be used to cast magic on the person as if they were right there. And there is little to no resistance possible to spells so cast. Now many people use this connection without magic, to send a feeling of love to the loved one (and feel that loved one back). With magic, messages can sent, spells of healing or luck, cantrips of clean, and so on. However, malific magic is possible against the candle. And with little or no resistance against it, the loved one is an easy target.

Note: unlit candles tied to a person could be used as a magic focus. Thus candles just "hanging around" could be a liability. The linkage explains why these candles are not as popular as one might think, especially among The Nobles, Magical, or Wealthy.

It is traditional in some areas that these candles are used in wedding ceremonies, when both natal candles (small love's waiting candles made soon after birth) of both the bride and the groom are lit together from the sacred fire. It helps bind them together with their loving vows, and shows that they are on a journey together. Go to Comment

69 - Candle d'Amour

If the candle is lit in their presence, everyone in the glimmer of its light, has is bathed by an aura of The Spirit of Sensual Love. Everyone's throughts turn to romance and more carnal desires despite better intentions or common sense. And it does not always limit itself to "conventional" or the way people normally think of these things. Violence, as most think of it, seems impossible in the glow of the light. In addition to increasing desire, it also improves performance. When the effects of the candle is over, most people are fairly exhausted. If one leaves the light, the effects continue for a time after.

If you enter the light after it is lit, the effects are strong, but not overwhelming. They are often used by houses of the red lanterns.

Appropriate Ego/ Will/ Drive checks (as well as magical resistance) will occur. Two or three fails checks will lead one into a sensual frenzie. (You can choose to fail a roll). Such rolls are modified by other reaction modifiers and such. And of course Sensual Skill checks have increased bonuses. Go to Comment

It is on the list of things to do. Go to Comment