Paths & Numina

Divination

Reading tea leaves, casting rune stones or bones, studying the night sky — all these are examples of tradi­ tional practices of Divination, variations of which span a multitude of cultures. As long as there’s been the concept of a future, there’ve been people wanting to know what it

Example Example Divination Divination Practices Practices

24 Sorcerer

Storyteller Storyteller Notes: Notes: Managing Managing Divination Divination

held for them. Some of the newest, though more difficult, practices involve using advanced computer programming based on extraordinary sciences and hypermath.

A hedge magician performing acts of Divination attempts to predict the future. However, the future’s an ever-changing and muddied mess. A sorcerer may use Divination to find clues to the most likely outcomes, but the wise seer knows the value of accurately interpreting the imprecise and dream-like symbolism to judge likely probability changes.

Rarely is anything about the future set in stone. Mortals die, but the where, when, and how are de­ termined by infinite variables: choices of action and inaction alike. The mere decision to scry the future and tell anyone about it could drastically change outcomes.

Because Divination leans on ritualistic practices, there’s no distinction between spells and rituals for this Path save casting time and effort. Divination rarely qualifies as vulgar magic, and many hedge magicians skilled in this art find it profitable to perform in the open. However, some practices such as Haruspicy (predicting the future by studying the entrails of a sacrifice) run the risk of legal

consequences if discovered. Most Diviners choose one practice, but it’s not unheard of for sorcerers to have a few practices they use depending on the situation or client, especially if a favored practice is illegal or subject to being thwarted by the weather, such as with astrology.

System

Modifiers: +1 difficulty if using Extraordinary Science, but this Practice gives more precise probabilities.

–1 difficulty when under the influence of mind-al­ tering substances. Visions and signs may come easier and more vibrant in altered states but remain up to interpretation.

Aspects: Divination uses the following:

Time Period

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one day

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one week

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one month

••••

one year

••••• 10 years