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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: devonapple on September 30, 2011, 06:33:44 AM

Title: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: devonapple on September 30, 2011, 06:33:44 AM
So, Harry had to be "Happy" (among other components) in order to capture sunshine in a handkerchief, which was later used to fry a Red Court Vampire.

How would you build an item meant to defend against an anticipated White Court mind-whammy? What sort of socio-emotional situations would you mine for Ritual Declarations to get a Potion that effectively (albeit temporarily) suffused its bearer with True Hope, or True Courage? Or would these things be just as hokey as making a True Love amulet?

During a scene that was spiraling downhill, in which my nigh-insane spellcaster was filled with despair and fell in easy reach of our White Court Virgin (Malvoran), I successfully established that my guy had prepared for the possibility, and had prepared a defensive amulet which would make him unpalatable to his friend should her discipline be begin to slip (under the weight of some Compels). It was a relief at the time, of course, but in retrospect: was it appropriate?
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: sinker on September 30, 2011, 07:55:43 AM
I thought that the events of "Love hurts" seemed to imply that those emotions can be sort-of achieved through magic. I don't really remember well though (and my friend has my copy of side jobs).
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: EdgeOfDreams on September 30, 2011, 07:57:23 AM
I believe that artificial hope, courage, or love could have a protective effect - enough to invoke for "you don't want to eat me right now".  However, I would not give it full-on-catch-piercing-power for causing harm to a WCV.  It's the difference between holding up some garlic and actually staking dracula.
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: devonapple on September 30, 2011, 02:44:06 PM
However, I would not give it full-on-catch-piercing-power for causing harm to a WCV.  It's the difference between holding up some garlic and actually staking dracula.

That's the effect I was hoping to achieve, yes.

For the previous one, we established that I had used  (among other ritual paraphernalia) a dreamcatcher hung up in a movie theater during particularly inspiring movies.

Any other ideas for Lore Declarations for that thing? I need to recharge my previous amulet in case my WCVirgin friend finds me tasty again. ;)
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: chelatek on September 30, 2011, 03:35:03 PM
To stop a White Court from seducing you? Baseball and cold showers in a sports bottle.
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: Silverblaze on September 30, 2011, 03:59:29 PM
To stop a White Court from seducing you? Baseball and cold showers in a sports bottle.

Icy/Hot (or similar ointment) your own boxers.  That should cause enough pain to avoid any kind of seduction. 
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: Magickal_Grenadier on September 30, 2011, 04:20:50 PM
Icy/Hot (or similar ointment) your own boxers.  That should cause enough pain to avoid any kind of seduction.

This is wrong on soooo many levels. -shudders-
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: devonapple on September 30, 2011, 04:25:57 PM
As a member of the Malvoran branch of the White Court, this WCVirgin is more equipped to incite and feed off of Despair than Lust, so hope-related Declarations make more sense for this particular need. I'm looking for sources of hope that I can harvest and distill for another amulet should it come up again.
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: sinker on September 30, 2011, 05:55:07 PM
Political rallies or really rallies of any kind. The birth of a child (usually). Research labs (I know that sounds weird, but they are looking optimistically into the future). Political monuments. Some museums/exhibits. Is that the kind of thing you're looking for?
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: computerking on September 30, 2011, 07:29:19 PM
Memorabilia from the Martin Luther King "I have a Dream" speech, a knob accidentally broken off of a television during the Moon Landing/One Small Step for Man Broadcast, Positive pregnancy tests from the biohazard bins of Fertility Clinics, The pants of a Department Store Santa, and scrapings from the stage floor after tryouts for a Broadway musical.
Title: Re: Hope in a Bottle?
Post by: Michael Sandy on October 04, 2011, 09:02:54 AM
There was a cool moment in the Pink Floyd movie, The Wall, where the bombers broke free and bombed the Germans in the Bulge.  The moment of the cavalry coming, like Gandalf riding with the Rohan, is pretty powerful.

The first flower, or the first signs of spring could capture the smell of hope.