Calligraphy (sage study)
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Calligraphy is a sage study in the field of the Way of the Spirit, a discipline that transcends mere writing to become a form of meditation, influence, and manifestation. Through the precise and intentional inscription of characters, a practitioner shapes behaviour, perception, and even the course of events, guiding the world through the silent force of the brush. Each stroke of the brush is an extension of the monk’s spirit, a means of focusing the will and expressing the deeper truths that words alone cannot convey. The act of writing is not merely communication—it is an act of cultivation, harmony, and self-discipline, aligning the body, breath, and mind with the principles of the cosmos. The placement of each line, the pressure of each stroke, and the rhythm of movement are as vital as the meaning behind the words themselves.
Beyond its influence, calligraphy serves as a signature of the soul, revealing the nature of its creator. The style, energy, and balance within the script reflect the monk’s temperament, state of mind, and spiritual progress. A hurried, unbalanced hand speaks of inner turmoil; a controlled and fluid inscription speaks of clarity and mastery. For those who can read its nuances, a piece of calligraphy can reveal more about a warrior than their deeds ever could.
A calligrapher’s work carries both presence and consequence. Inscribed upon banners, scrolls, or even the simplest pieces of parchment, the written word carries an unseen weight, influencing those who behold it. Whether posted at a monastery’s entrance, displayed in a ruler’s court, or left upon the walls of a mountain pass, a single inscription may warn, inspire, or challenge, altering the thoughts and actions of all who encounter it.
Sage Abilities
The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.
Amateur Status
- Characters of Beneficence: enables five written sigils that, when placed with care, can be used to improve fortune in commerce, deterring would-be thieves and ensuring that the marketplace thrives with honest dealings. Their presence helps to prevent accidents, reinforcing the stability of a structure or space, reducing the likelihood of damage through misfortune. In times of tempests, they offer a small resistance to the elements, softening the bite of a storm's fury. For those who wander, they provide guidance, subtly leading the lost toward familiar paths and ensuring that travelers find their way home.
- Practiced Discipline: enables the character to maintain composure and efficiency of motion when under duress. If wounded in combat, they fight as though they were one level higher, with regards to THAC0 and number of attacks, but only these things. This condition remains until the character is able to retreat safely away, with any real harm ceasing to threaten. The benefit does not enhance damage, spells or other abilities — only the precision and rhythm of their strikes, refined by necessity.
Authority Status
- Character of Speech: allows the calligrapher to inscribe a message that, when read, can only be heard by a single designated person. Though the letters may be seen clearly, all others present will perceive only meaningless figures; only the chosen recipient can understand them. The intended recipient, however, hears the message in full, as if spoken directly to them.
- Character of Warning: inscribes a single character upon a door, gate, or entryway, declaring that any who enter unwanted or act with ill intent beyond that point will suffer misfortune. All the following day, all rolls made by the affected individual must be accompanied by a 6-sided die; if this die results in a "1," the d20 roll automatically fails, regardless of the result shown. The inscription does not physically prevent entry but instills a lingering sense of unease.
- Characters of Propriety: allows the inscription of four sacred characters, each reinforcing the fundamental virtues of tradition and order. Their presence within a household, shrine, or hall serves as a constant reminder of duty and reverence, shaping the behavior of those who dwell there. One character preserves the family, strengthening bonds and fostering unity. Another reminds of the dead, ensuring that ancestors are honored and their wisdom not forgotten. A third ensures loyalty, reinforcing commitments between kin, retainers, and sworn allies. The final character maintains right thinking, discouraging wayward thoughts and guiding those who read it toward clarity and discipline. These have a mystical power that will influence others within the character's sphere.
Expert Status
- Character of Revenge: when drawn on parchment, then burned, call upon the gods for an attempt on the life of a deservedly wicked and malevolent individual who holds public power.
- Character of Alarm: signify that improper entry will not only sound alarm, but will ensure the speedy arrival of allies and the wrath of the ancestors.
Sage Status
- Character of Protection: promise that the structure itself will act to repel those who dare invade or seek to desecrate this place.
- Character of Upheaval: when drawn upon parchment, then released upon the wind from a high place, has the power to raise an army of thousands, who will gather against a state that deserves to fall.
- Script of the Darkness: communicate with the underworld for an exchange of knowledge.
