Another in our continuing series! In the below picture there is a Realmsie-shaped black hole. Can you figure out who it is based only on the profile? Tell us on social media if you think you know who it is! The answer will be revealed later in the day.
In this edition of Spell Badly, we started off by giving ChatGPT the rules descriptions of several spells in the Omnibus. Only these specific spell rules were given with no other context from any other part of the Omnibus; no combat rules or anything else of the sort.
Cure Disease, Detect Magic, Find the Path, Heal Limb, Immunity to Poison, Intervention, Magic Missile, Protect Item, Raise Dead, Regeneration, Repair Armor, Resist Magic, Seed of Life, Soul Bane, Speak with Dead, Vision, and Zombie Walk.
Then ChatGPT was asked to generate rules for spells after we told the AI the names for those spells. What follows are the rules that were created.
Magic Armor (4th Circle)
Uses: 5 - Material: Disposable or focus - Active: Hold armor and MC for 15 second count
This spell imbues a suit of armor with magical protection, making it more resistant to damage. While under the effect of this spell, the armor will absorb the first two points of damage dealt to it by any source. This protection lasts until the armor has absorbed two points of damage or until the spell ends, whichever comes first.
In order to cast this spell, the spellcaster must hold the armor and material component for a 15 second count. The material component may be either disposable or a focus. The spell ends if the armor is removed or if the spellcaster loses concentration. This spell can only be cast on physical armor and does not work on shields or other types of defensive equipment.
Fire Storm (6th Circle)
Uses: 1 - Verbal: 20 words - Active: Throw beanbags for 30 seconds
This spell creates a storm of fire in a designated area. After reciting the verbal, the spellcaster must throw beanbags in a continuous stream for 30 seconds. During this time, any player in the designated area is considered to be struck by a Fireball every five seconds, until the end of the 30-second duration.
This spell affects all players in the designated area, including the spellcaster and their allies. The designated area must be clearly defined before the spell is cast, and must be at least 10 feet in diameter. The spellcaster may not move from the designated area during the 30-second duration, or the spell ends prematurely.
Caveats: Fireproof, Immunity (Fire), OOC Calls. This spell does not deal extra damage to players who are immune to Fire or who are wearing Fireproof armor. If a player calls Immunity (Fire), they are unaffected by the spell. Any player may call an OOC Call to request that the spell be halted prematurely. The spell ends immediately upon such a call, and the beanbags are to be dropped to the ground.
Arrow of Light (3rd Circle)
Uses: 3 - Verbal: 15 words, plus a target declaration - Active: Hold your hand out and say “Arrow of Light!” while pointing at your target - Caveats: Damage, Magic Weapon
This spell creates an arrow of pure light that the caster can shoot at a target. When the caster points and says “Arrow of Light!” they may immediately shoot the arrow at their target. The arrow causes 3 points of damage to any target it strikes, and will bypass any non-magical armor. If the target is hit by the arrow, they are affected by a Magic Weapon spell for 60 seconds, allowing them to strike as though their weapon was enchanted. If the arrow misses the target, it dissipates harmlessly. This spell cannot be used to destroy magic circles or similar effects.
Request Boon (4th Circle)
Uses: 1 - Verbal: 20 words, followed by a statement of the desired boon - Caveats: OOC Calls
This spell allows the spellcaster to request a boon from a powerful entity such as a deity or an elemental. The spellcaster must first explain to the entity what they are willing to offer in return for the boon. If the entity agrees to the deal, the spellcaster may make their request. The entity may or may not grant the request, and may even offer an alternative boon instead.
The spellcaster must make it clear when casting the spell that they are seeking a boon, and should clearly state their desired boon following the verbal component. The entity may only grant boons that are within their power and not detrimental to their interests.
If the entity agrees to the deal, the spellcaster must immediately inform a MM or EH of the terms of the agreement. If the spellcaster fails to fulfill their part of the bargain, they will suffer severe consequences, potentially including curses or other forms of punishment. If the entity fails to fulfill their part of the bargain, the spellcaster may be entitled to compensation or may seek revenge through other means.
Zone of Greater Healing (7th Circle)
Uses: 1 - Verbal: 20 words and an explanation - Material: A large, brightly colored cloth or flag
This spell creates a large zone, up to 10 feet in diameter, in which those inside will receive accelerated healing. While in the zone, any non-diseased characters who are not undead will heal twice as fast as normal, and any character who is suffering from a disease will heal at the normal rate. The material component of this spell must be laid out on the ground in the center of the zone and must remain there for the duration of the spell. The spell lasts for 10 minutes, after which the cloth or flag used as the material component will disappear. The spellcaster must explain to those entering the zone what the effects of the spell are, and the EH or MM may enforce that those in the zone must roleplay receiving healing for it to be considered valid. The zone cannot be moved once it is created.
Would you like to see some more crazy ChatGPT spells? Respond on social media with the the name, and only the name, of a spell that you want to see exist, with no other context, and some of your requests might be part of a future edition of Spell Badly!
by Kelly "Fern" Perfetto
It has been seven months since the last official combat tournament in the Realms, and ten years since the first Tournaments of Artemis. As much as I, and many other people, value a good quest, we are looking to take to the field again for a nice long day of beating up our friends in round after round of war maneuvers.
Last year’s Tournaments of Artemis was a wonderful introduction to the tournament and questing season of 1022 for me, and an educational introduction to the arena of combat tournaments overall. Over the course of the day I made a good number of friends, and all the enemies I found were only temporary.
Those attending this year’s tournament should expect to be sorted into teams day of - no Queen of Hearts style preparations and planning months in advance. This team building lends itself to the fun but not frivolous atmosphere of the day, cementing the idea that we are all there to participate in tournaments, not to win them all. The day will include, of course, the war maneuvers this event is famous for, along with squad battles, one on one fights, and what has only been described thus far as ‘challenges’ that may earn a team points throughout the day. I don’t know what those are, but I’m excited to find out! Maybe a scavenger hunt.
Last year, some of the war games that stood out to me the most included old classics, and new… I’ll call them inventive tactical games, for Aeston’s sake. One of the most memorable experiences from last year was when we were playing Kill the Huntress (Kill the Queen with multiple targets) and I looked around, realizing I was somehow the only Huntress still standing. It wasn’t for lack of trying. Another favorite from that year was when Huntresses ran around among stakes driven into the ground, creating mazes out of thin rope that both teams had to make their way through, fighting all the while. One of the non-combat challenges was “Heraldry Rush” (I remember as I look to my ToA IX team award certificates), which I hope runs again so that I can compete and prove that collecting all those heraldry photos really was worth it. I look forward to seeing another tournament’s worth of these classic competitions and inventive challenges.
Last year, I missed out on much of the food, being as energetic and hopped up on adrenaline as I was. I’ll try to do better this year. Those attending the event can look forward to Sir Gwen’s cooking in the form of a late lunch. Snacks to fuel more fighting throughout the day will be provided as well. I should take advantage of those too. Might do a little better than last year, provided I actually eat, focus, and I’m not helping to prepare for a giant battle.
Though I can’t wait to get back to exploring, fighting monsters and beings from other worlds, and unlocking the mysteries of the Realms, sometimes it’s just nice to sit back, relax, and make a day of hitting your friends over and over again in late April. Come to the tenth Tournaments of Artemis, and join my team as a friend and ally, or join the other side as a temporary enemy!
By Diamond
Do you remember the name of the hero Am Dm G C
Who gave his life for Ivory’s sake? Am Dm G E
And do you remember the way that he lost it, Am Dm G C
In a sacrifice that none of us would make? Am Dm G E
Chorus:
For how do you know that the doing is right Am Dm G C
If all that you’ll know o the deed is what’s sung? Am Dm G E
Bards are all liars, can’t really trust ‘em Am Dm G C
Even the one that’s singing this song Am Dm G E
C E C E C E C E
And do you remember the way he hated magic
Hated it so much he would cast it out
He’d send it away in a flash
Much like the memory of what he’d done
Chorus
Partnered to a snake he called “Fluffy”,
Neither one of them was right in the head
But that doesn’t matter because without ‘em
All those in Ivory, they would be Dead.
Chorus
He lived as a Sea Elf, in the Coasts of the White
Which none but the sages can find on a map,
Even though he fell defending the city of light.
Aurora protect him, he did what was right.
Chorus
Bards always write up the heroes with drama
Not so much those who do what had to be done.
So remember the Callin, Carmen, and Baba
And also the name of Gwydion!
New Chorus (x2):
But you can know that the deed is right A D G C
Even if the song is never sung A D G E7
If what you have done will hold back the night A D G C
Whether the war is lost or won A D G E7
Here are some more pictures of current Realmsies from many years ago (for various values of the word 'many'). Special thanks to Melissa Fitzgerald and Robyn Nielsen for providing the bulk of the pictures from this batch.
It’s a mystery >;3
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In all seriousness, here’s why I want to go. I know a lot of people are freaking out about Rakshasa, but that’s tertiary to everything else the EH’s have planned! And what is it they have planned?
Didn’t you read the very first sentence? It’s a mystery!
What, you thought I was joking? I never kid! Except all the times that I do.
I was one of the first to sign up to go, *the* first if you believe the Realms page. Surely that means I know something others don’t that would prompt me with such excitement to sign up.
Again, not really. I know the EH’s throwing it and view them fondly, Dani’s character once let mine have a free armor repair from Anna’s, and Anna’s character later let mine have a free armor repair anyways, and IC Omri, my character, views Irri, Emma’s character as a friend.
OOC, I know them from various practices, and Emma is a fellow Riverhawk. If you’re not going to Riverhawk practices you’re really missing out. I want to support them and see what they have planned.
Now that isn’t a ringing endorsement in and of itself, but looking at the event page, I’m even more excited to go! The menu they have, for this is first and foremost a tea party, looks delicious. I don’t really drink tea but I’m honestly considering it.
I plan on using the delightfully planned out menu to fuel my puzzle solving and combat whacking fervor the day of. I’m new to the Realms, maybe one of these days I’ll be one to chill out at the table and sip tea while others run around with the energy and focus of headless chickens.
It looks like a lovely mix of social, puzzling, and some combat! And since it’s capped, unlike feasts, I feel it will be easier for everyone to get some of the action, and unlike some other events, it’s not combat focused so everyone regardless of energy levels can participate.
Now here’s Omri’s thoughts on it! Take it away Omri.
Thanks Kyra who is the one who controls my every action because they are my player.
I’ve not been active in the Realms for very long, I only started my Journeyman’s journey about half a year now (in fact it’ll be my exact 6 month anniversary the day of the event). So what better way to celebrate it than a tea party with people who I’ve gotten to know in this wonderful region?
I’ll admit, I’ve heard things since getting here, things I wasn’t privy to myself. Allegedly the tea party started being planned because of invitation of Rakshasa. This has a lot of people freaked out, and I was hoping that by showing up I could be there to aid in whatever turns may occur. Now some of the Rakshasa have been banished, so they *probably* won’t show up? It would be nice not to see… some of them again.
But I know Irri and Hedda and Eliza! Last time I saw Eliza she was crying blood but she said that was fine. And Hedda kindly repaired my armor. And Irri is my friend. The letter denotes they need some aid with the fire forest and creatures, something I’ve had on my list of ‘things to check out’. Like a deadly tourist brochure of the Realms. Hopefully not deadly though!
The food looks good, and if I were go through each item in the letter that piqued my interest, this article would go much longer. So I will halt here and encourage you follow your own interest.
May your path be lit,
Omri
by Justin "Grarr" Balanca-Hawkes
Hello everyone! My name is Grarr and I’m here to tell you all about the events that transpired earlier this week! So, get your cleaning supplies, it’s going to get moldy!
The day started seeing everyone in high spirits, ready to confront any challenges that came our way be it mold, Red, or anything in between. It was an interesting feeling in the room getting ready. For some this was the closing of the story that brought us to the Realms years ago, for others it was an opportunity to spend the day questing. Regardless of the reasons for everyone being there, our day was about to get started and it wasn’t going to be gentle about it.
The day started out with a puzzle being solved in front of a set of Doors, followed by a phone call telling us to “Light the beacon and I’ll find you” and the Doors swinging open. We funneled into the room to find it full of molds of all different colors and abilities as well as some Red. The fight had begun. I found myself on the left side of the room fighting with green clockwork mold while white mold came from the right side of the room and killed us faster than the healers could get us up, all while yellow mold flew above us and rained down spores on us. All of this was just the start to our troubles though. Anyone killed by the mold immediately started to be rendered soulless as mold began to cover their body. Eventually almost all of us had been killed and rendered soulless and things were looking grim. It took the intervention of our previous ally, Olivia Bishop, to bring us back and for us to start clearing the way to the Source Well. Once the Source Well was secured we needed to tether it to us so that we could draw on the power of Source as we pushed deeper into the Fortress of Doors and purge it of mold and Red. The ritual needed us to connect the Well to a set of 4 pillars spread out within the room with strands of Source all while avoiding being killed by the various kinds of mold that were still attacking us. Once the pillars were connected and the ritual was completed we were able to return to our preparation room and have a precious moment of rest.
Our rest ended when Olivia came to tell us that she had found the Door that the Red were coming from and that we needed to close the door or Red would continue to spill into the Fortress. With that we gathered our things and went again into the many rooms of the Fortress of Doors. Luckily the room we entered wasn't immediately hostile to us, but was instead full of puzzles and challenges on one side and an ominous Door spilling out Red light and being guarded by a pair of Red soldiers. There were four puzzles in total, one for each pillar that needed to be brought to the Source Well in the center of the room. There were six statues surrounding one of the pillars that would mimic the movements of anyone who picked up a ball of their color and would kill them if they moved in an incorrect way to solve the puzzle, a floor of glass that would shatter if you didn’t step on the correct piece of glass, a room of golems that would freeze you if you entered their line of sight, and what I’ve been told to call “Mastermind Bowling” which is exactly what it sounds like. The statues were the first to be solved, followed quickly by the glass floor and Mastermind Bowling. The freeze golems proved to give us a fair bit of trouble though, resulting in myself and three others being frozen before the pillar was retrieved. I was later told that it took a combination of Styx and Bogen using their Source Powers that they were granted to get the pillar back. It apparently also had the unfortunate side effect of dropping the pillar on Styx’s head, squashing them under its weight. With the fourth pillar retrieved and positioned and those of us that had been frozen being released the fight against the Red picked up anew, as they had been gathering their forces while we were solving puzzles.
The objective was simply to close the door and keep it shut. Luckily for us I had been entrusted with TOOP, a magic item that could keep any Door open or closed as long as it was in place. So with our objective known and the tools to complete it ready we dove into the fight. We fought tooth and nail against the Red while Bogen and N, both being incorporeal, looked for ways to push forward. Eventually I decided that it was time to call in a favor I was owed from several years ago. I was given the ability to throw lightning bolts and was given a single Cry of Life! I was knocked down again shortly after calling in my favor and woke up to see Alias frantically giving Seeds of Life to the dead around himself, myself previously being among them. Once I got to my feet I saw a lot of us were down and we were being pushed back from the Door by the Red. I used my Cry of Life, and we surged forward again, our numbers replenished and ready to fight again. The next few moments were a blur of people calling in favors, phoning friends, and using their Source powers. The last thing I remember is Fern calling Mage, everything freezing, and when things started moving again the Door had been shut and TOOP had been placed to keep it shut. The Red wouldn’t be getting any more reinforcements and we pressed into them, clearing them out before having to leave back to our preparation room again.
We had another opportunity to rest for a moment, and most of us took the chance without hesitation. Griffin had other plans though. He sat down, put his feet up on the desk and decided to make a call to the Board of the Fortress of Doors requesting more resources before we went any further in. And it WORKED! All of the casters had a surge of power as all of their spells were reset and refreshed. Our rest didn’t last too long though, as Olivia found the path to the Core of the Fortress and we were off again.
The path to the Core was filled with sticky black mold that we needed to move through the shifting walls of mold while avoiding getting stuck to it. It took 8 hands to move one of them and they were again scattered around the room and needed to be retrieved before we could move on to the next room. Once we gathered all of the pillars we could go into the next room, which was full of a combination of Red and mold pairs that were immune unless they were close to one of the pillars. The pairs were difficult, but ultimately were dealt with and we were able to keep advancing.
Through the final door something truly horrid could be heard… Conga music! All of us that were from the original group that ventured into the Fortress of Doors years back felt a shiver of pure dread run through us. We knew what the final confrontation was going to be before we even stepped into the room. There, congaing around the room with malicious intent was our last challenge: LOOP. We proceeded to break off sections of LOOP to weaken it until we were able to overload the Source Well and restart the Core, killing all of us. We all managed to escape with our lives thanks to Ryu and Bogen using their Source Powers together to give us all a Second Chance. Once the dust settled we got to talk with Olivia one last time through a phone and we found out that we were successful in our efforts and were thanked for our services. And with that our quest came to a close and we all went our separate ways.
Thank you all for listening and I hope you enjoyed reading along!
The following text is spells from our Ominbus that have been translated into another language by using Google Translate and back into english using FreeTranslations.org.
Aura of Protection translated into Chinese and back to English:
The recipient of this spell alleviates the effect of their next blow by invoking "magic", "silver", "disease", "puncture", "lightning" or "poison". Recipients of spells are not affected as they did when they were hit, but treat the blow as if it were an ordinary sword strike. When the spell is activated, it needs to call for "protection".
When casting spells, the recipient must be kneeling or lying on his back with no weapon in his hands. The spell can be cast on recipients other than the caster; To do this, the caster must be free of weapons in his hands and touch the receiver while casting. This spell may be cast multiple times on a PC. If the caster casts this spell on another PC, they cannot cast the spell again until the belt is returned to them.
Death Wish translated into Irish and back into English
This turn, when spent on a dead body, puts a simple order in their minds. The spell checker must give the scroll to the target player after finishing the verb. The target must read the scroll by now and may refer to it at any later time as necessary. However, the scroll and the information contained therein are OOC, and they are not known to the computer in any way. When the target character is alive, and hears the trigger phrase, they have to fulfill the order for as long as they can. Spelling ends when the target successfully completes the order, or is killed trying. The target may ignore any orders that violate the forced caveat.
This sprite will not work on a body without its soul. The spell Protect the Soul rejects all the effects of this spell.
Immunity to Poison translated to Welsh and back into English
This period makes the recipient immune to the next dose of toxin that would otherwise have affected his PC during the event. When harmed by the next poison attack, whether amputated or delivered by a poisoned weapon, call it "Immune to Poison!" Only one Immunity to Poison is used at a time. The recipient must take any common damage from a poisoned weapon whether or not it is protected from the actual poison. The MC must be given to the recipient when the spell is cast, and they are responsible for disposing of it when the immunity has been used. More than one Immunity to Poison can be cast on a receptor; The impact stacks up. The MC of the spell is neither stealable nor transferable after it has been cast. This charm can also be cast as an antitoxin for any one poison the recipient has suffered, but in this case it will provide no further protection.
Resist Magic translated to Sanskrit and back into English
This mantra mantra is the mantra of the end, the void-maya-explosion. If the speller wants to, then there is a slight effect of neglect. Such powers are never used, the spelling is dead or not. A: Speller: Do not use the correct spelling of Resist Magic at the same time. Sometimes the mantra or the effect of the effect is to protect the resistance magic against the future and the speller wants to ignore the influence of the "Resist Magic". For example, spellers of these mantras perform normal weapon-like behavior in the attack of magic, do not ignore the effect of the mantra on the first projection, do not ignore any medicine used for the first time, limit the language or permission of a circle of protection etc.The news. If the spelling of the spelling is short, then the mantra ends with the word (although the speller uses Resist Magic, etc., it is not possible to remove other mantras). In addition to the mantra duty, there is no possibility of the above being brief, nor can you protect the spelling, nor do you exist or exist.
Zombie Walk translated to Scottish Gaelic and back into English
This spell allows the lettering person to live a body, bringing the continuity as long as they are changing the spell. If the letterman is in a sabbatical in the second part to learn to be beaten, the spell will come to an end and the body falls to the floor. In order to build this spell, the lettering person must give the word recital and a short presentation to gamers who ask what they should do, making sure they know where they fall.
