Age of Dragons: Scholar-Sage

Age Of Dragons: Main Page -> Age Of Dragons: Lifepaths -> Scholar-Sage

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Overview

An Academic Point

"...a butterfly, of the order Lepidotera, though specifically it is Hesperia argentia, or silver moth, as we can see from the silvering on his pectinate antennae. It is easily mistaken for the grey iron moth, though we can see from its horn-shaped genitalia that it is indeed argentia and-"

Impatient to get to the point, the warmaster interrupted Words-Remembered.

"Yes, yes, I'm sure the sexual organs of insects are fascinating, but I believe I was asking you about more pressing matters, vis a vis arcane solutions to our current situation."

The situation the warmaster was speaking of was that the Ascendancy's mortal armies had invaded the region.

An entire barony had crumbled under the surprise appearance of an orcish legion, that had seemingly managed to march across a vast expanse of Kalarni desert undetected, and was now pillaging the domain at the edge of the Arrantian City-States. The invasionary force formed a beach-head, and that beach-head could have a profound impact on the greater war.

"It is an academic point I admit," continued Words-Remembered, "but an important one at that."

"I fail to see..." started the warmaster, but it was the scholars turn to interrupt.

"Indeed, you fail to see. Which is why you need my help. You imagine that I can summon some arcane force to decimate the enemy army... and indeed I could."

"Then do so."

"But what then would you do about the remaining nine-tenths of the invasionary force? No... I can help you far more with thought than with magic. Consider this... the silver moth is not usually found in this area. Its normal ecological pattern is to boom in population every three centuries or so some seventeen leagues north of here, then for populations to follow the tricentennial storm front as it sweeps along the edge of the Kestrel Hills. If they are here at this time, then the storm front has been changed, and I can only surmise that the weather has been magically manipulated somewhere in the region to the north here..."

The war-master was listening silently now, so the scholar continued.

"If we look at the map of this region, we can see that overt attempts to create rainclouds over the Kalarni desert to the north-east would have been noticed from a great distance, especially from the Citadel of the Mother's Sword. So we must presume that instead additional rain must have been created here, along the so-called 'scorpion path'. Water here would have eliminated the titular scorpions, who are of course not animals but guardian demons of an earlier age. Thus, a route not usually available..."

"..is where we will find the orcish supply line," finished the warmaster, smiling.

Words-remembered smiled and nodded. Attention to detail, a little knowledge and observing a butterfly could change the course of a war. Sometimes, the academic point was the important one.

The Scholar-Sage Lifepath

Knowledge is power. In the case of draconic scholar-sages, this is often literally true as study leads to the mastery of powerful sorceries. It is unsurprising that many outside this Lifepath regard this as the Scholar-Sage's true calling: to master magic.

However, a true Scholar-Sage knows that the mastery of magics is a mere side effect of diverse learning and represents only a fraction of useful knowledge. A draconic mind is capable of incredible feats of applied thought, deep philosophy and academic mastery. While a mortal has only mere decades to study, the dragon has centuries, and is has the advantage of far greater intelligence as well.

To the Scholar-Sage, to waste this gift of superior sophis is an insult to to their own potential and a rude denial to the world of the gifts of thought that might be formed through a millennium of study.

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Lifepath Powers

The suspires on this path are provided as examples of spells that might be mastered by a Scholar-Sage. The player and GM can collaborate to create substitution spells of equivalent power if desired. Regardless, the dragon learns 3 Perception-level spells at 150 Experience, 3 Influence-level spells at 300 Experience and 3 Control-level spells at 450 Experience.

Concentrated Study

• Experience level required: 50
• Activation Cost: Always on, no cost.
• Keywords: Discipline;

The Scholar-Sage must first learn how to learn. With this Discipline in place he gains +1 dice on any Sophis rolls relating to learning new information, memorising or study.

Knowledge of Aligned Academia

• Experience level required: 100
• Activation Cost: Always on, no cost.
• Keywords: Discipline;

The Scholar-Sage gains +1 dice on any Sophis rolls relating to knowledge relating to his own alignment. For example, life-aligned dragons would gain the bonus to knowledge about ecological cycles, biology, wilderness survival and related topics. Order-aligned dragons would gain the bonus to knowledge about hierarchical structures, society, history of society and similar topics. Chaos-aligned dragons would gain the bonus to knowledge about conflict, emotion, art and other chaos-related fields. Death dragons would gain knowledge of poisons, of disease, and of other death processes. The fields of knowledge should be defined fairly widely.

Unity of Spoken Word

(Example Perception-Level Hierarchomancy spell)

• Experience level required: 150
• Activation Cost: 1 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Hierarchomancy*;
• Hierarchomancy spells cannot be cast by Chaos-aligned Dragons.

When this spell is cast, the Dragon draws a circle on the ground and inscribes runes in the ur-draconic language within it. Within this circle anybody and everybody can hear the spoken words of anyone else in the circle in their own native language, regardless of what language is being spoken.

Read Weather

(Example Perception-Level Autarchomancy spell)

• Experience level required: 150
• Activation Cost: 1 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Autarchomancy;
• Autarchomancy spells cannot be cast by Order-aligned Dragons.

The dragon takes a moment and inhales, absorbing a deluge of information from the environment that means little on its own, but combines to allow the scholar-sage to make an accurate weather prediction for the next few days, barring arcane influence.

Post mortem

(Example Perception-Level Necromancy spell)

• Experience level required: 150
• Activation Cost: 1 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Necromancy*;
• Necromancy spells cannot be cast by Life-aligned Dragons.

The dragon breathes in over a dead creature's face. The dragon ebcomes instantly aware of the exact cause of death and time of death.

Smell of Blood

(Example Perception-Level Vitamancy spell)

• Experience level required: 150
• Activation Cost: 1 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Vitamancy*;
• Vitamancy spells cannot be cast by Lifer-aligned Dragons.

The dragon inhales the scent of a sample of blood. He becomes aware of what species and breed of creature the blood came from, as well as their general state of health.

Knowledge of Unaligned Academia

• Experience level required: 200
• Activation Cost: Always on, no cost.
• Keywords: Discipline;

The Scholar-Sage gains +1 dice on any Sophis rolls relating to knowledge relating to the two alignments that are not his own, but not opposed to his own. Life is opposed to death, and order to chaos.

The Small Death

(Example Influence-Level Necromancy spell)

• Experience level required: 300
• Activation Cost: 2 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Necromancy*;
• Necromancy spells cannot be cast by Life-aligned Dragons.

When this spell is cast, the Dragon moves close to and exhales on a target, which immediately dies. This suspire can only affect a target of Soma, Pneuma and Sophis of 1 or less. If used in combat, it counts as a Battle Action that can only be used at zero range, but which does not require an attack roll.

Surge of Pleasure

(Example Influence-Level Vitamancy spell)

• Experience level required: 300
• Activation Cost: 2 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Vitamancy*;
• Vitamancy spells cannot be cast by Life-aligned Dragons.

The dragon blows arcane energy invisibly towards a target, who momentarily feels a small surge of pleasure, somewhat less intense than orgasm but comparable to the satisfaction from fine food or a cool drink when thirsty. The target is unware of having his emotions manipulated. A favourite trick of scholar-sages is to have a victim experience pleasure with an activity not usually considered pleasurable, and thus cause cognitive dissonance.

Set in Stone

(Example Influence-Level Hierarchomancy spell)

• Experience level required: 300
• Activation Cost: 2 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Hierarchomancy*;
• Hierarchomancy spells cannot be cast by Chaos-aligned Dragons.

The Scholar-Sage speaks over a tablet of stone, or similarly prepared hard inorganic surface, and infuses his words with pneuma. The words he speaks are engraved into the surface. This suspire can record up to an hour of speech.

Dissolve Information

(Example Influence-Level Autarchomancy spell)

• Experience level required: 300
• Activation Cost: 2 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Autarchomancy*;
• Autarchomancy spells cannot be cast by Order-aligned Dragons.

The Scholar-Sage exhales over an information storage medium of some sort (be it a book, an engraved tablet, or whatever else). The information within is scrambled so as to become unusable, through letters jumbling, ink running and stream of consciousness phrases being scattered randomly throughout. This spell cannot be used on any target with a mind, so cannot for example effect anybody's mind.

Knowledge of Opposed Alignment Academia

• Experience level required: 400
• Activation Cost: Always on, no cost.
• Keywords: Discipline;

The Scholar-Sage gains +1 dice on any Sophis rolls relating to knowledge relating to the alignment opposed to his own, but not opposed to his own. Life is opposed to death, and order to chaos. Effectively with this and the other two Knowledge disciplines he should be now gaining +1 dice to all Sophis rolls relating to knowledge.

Womb of Dust

(Example Control-Level Necromancy spell)

• Experience level required: 450
• Activation Cost: 4 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Necromancy*;
• Necromancy spells cannot be cast by Life-aligned Dragons.

As a battle action, the Scholar-Sage exhales a cloud of black dust at a single target within long range. The target is rendered permanently infertile.

Rites of Summer

(Example Control-Level Vitamancy spell)

• Experience level required: 450
• Activation Cost: 4 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Vitamancy*;
• Vitamancy spells cannot be cast by Life-aligned Dragons.

Whilst flying, the dragon exhales, charging his breath with pneuma. A short rain follows behind him, covering an area of 2-3 square miles. For the next one year, the area which was effected supports plant life as if it were high quality well-watered fertile soil.

Crown of Dominion

(Example Control-Level Hierarchomancy spell)

• Experience level required: 450
• Activation Cost: 4 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Hierarchomancy*;
• Hierarchomancy spells cannot be cast by Chaos-aligned Dragons.

For six hours after this spell has been cast the Dragon gains absolute dominion over mortals. Any creature with Sophis 1 or less will unerringly follow any commands spoken to them by the dragon to the best of their ability, though they must be able to hear and understand the commands.

Nightmare Incantation

(Example Control-Level Autarchomancy spell)

• Experience level required: 450
• Activation Cost: 4 Arcane Energy
• Keywords: Suspire; Autarchomancy*;
• Autarchomancy spells cannot be cast by Order-aligned Dragons.

The Scholar-Sage speaks words of dissonance that echo through the region. Anyone within three miles that is currently sleeping is immediately wracked with terrifying and severe nightmares. The dragon has no control over the form of these nightmares. A character does not regain any mental, physical or arcane reslience from the hours while suffering the nightmares.

Exceptional Draconic Focus

• Experience level required: 500 years
• Activation Cost: 1 Mental Energy (per rerolled dice)
• Keywords: Discipline;

Half a millennium of hard study and clear thought have granted exceptional awareness and mental focus to the dragon. This mental acuity has applications beyond the usual scholar's role - without any doubt, the experienced scholar-sage's sharp mind helps hime with every and any task he undertakes.

At any time the dragon can use Exceptional Draconic Focus to reroll one dice on any dice roll the dragon has just made. Exceptional Draconic Focus can be used multiple times during a round, so long as the cost is paid.

Secret Technique

• Experience level required: 600
• Activation Cost: Special;
• Keywords: Special;

The Scholar-Sage gains one power from any other Lifepath. This power cannot be one that normally requires an Experience level of greater than 350 in that lifepath.

Second Secret Technique

• Experience level required: 700
• Activation Cost: Special;
• Keywords: Special;

The Scholar-Sage gains one power from any other Lifepath. This power cannot be one that normally requires an Experience level of greater than 350 in that lifepath.

Brilliant Mind

• Experience level required: 800
• Activation Cost: None, always on;
• Keywords: Disicpline;

Permanently add +1 to the Scholar-Sage's Sophis. This also increases Mental Resilience and Mental Energy accordingly.

Moment of Genius

• Experience level required: 1000
• Activation Cost: Special;
• Keywords: Discipline;

The honing of the draconic mind leads to an inevitable and certain sharpness that can be applied to any task. Dragons believe that each scholar-sage is entitled and destined to one true moment of genius. Once that moment has passed the mind is dulled by its application - the scholar-sage will never reach such heights again.

The scholar-sage can make a single Sophis check, but instantly roll sixes on all his dice.

The GM and the player should collaborate to discuss exactly what this moment of genius is, but the GM should be ready to allow campaign-changing events to come from this moment of genius - for example he could allow the dragon to invent the internal combustion engine, or discover and apply electricity or gunpowder. Alternatively the idea could be more abstract - the dragon could realise the existence of microbial organisms and trigger off a wave of new medical thought, or could invent and successfully implement modern-style democracy.

Of course, GMs are free to introduce moments of genius without recourse to this discipline: even mere humans may have them given enough luck!

Lifepath Resources

Archive Access

• Experience level required: 25 years

Personal Library

• Experience level required: 200 years

Protégé

• Experience level required: 500 years

At this age the Scholar-Sage can set himself up as mentor to a younger dragon. This dragon is usually almost always another Scholar-Sage, though not necesssarily of the same breed as the mentor. It is unusual (and requires GM permission) for a protégé to be on another lifepath. At time of acquisition, the protégé is normally quite young (50+4D6 years if determined randomly).

Protégés are discussed in more detail in the Legacies chapter.

Archive Master

• Experience level required: 750 years

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