Artistry (skill)
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The art of crafting has been present in Aetherius for countless years, from the simple making of letters for writing, to journals for recording histories, to crafting beautiful instruments to bring music to the masses. Artistry allows many mundane things to be created, for use across the world. Yet there are also certain artesian creations that have more esoteric abilities, and though the secrets of their very construction involve symbols and components that can effect the wave of magickal tides are not known to those outside of the profession, it is known that masters of their craft can create paintings which can capture the very essence of their subject, allowing them to possess certain abilities of their originator. From the mundane letter to the marvellous portraits, the abilities of true masters of crafting are without parallel.
| Mandolin | |
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Syntax: CRAFT MANDOLIN
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You may craft a mandolin while in the presence of a workbench. A basic but versatile instrument, in the hands of a skilled musician it can grant a variety of defenses. |
| Commodities: 5 wood | |
| Changelog: | |
| Paper | |
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Syntax: CRAFT PAPER
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In the presence of a workbench, you may turn one wood into five pieces of paper used as a commodity for other crafts. |
| Commodities: 1 wood | |
| Changelog: | |
| Sketchbook | |
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Syntax: CRAFT SKETCHBOOK
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While in the presence of a workbench, you may craft a sketchbook, used to bind the essence of others in a drawing. |
| Commodities: 50 paper | |
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| Quill | |
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Syntax: CRAFT QUILL
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While in the presence of a workbench, you may craft an eagle's feather quill, necessary for drawing in one's sketchbook. |
| Commodities: 1 eagle's feather | |
| Changelog: | |
| Flute | |
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Syntax: CRAFT FLUTE
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While in the presence of a workbench, you can craft a small silver flute, used to provide a variety of beneficial defenses, while also capable of harming an opponent. |
| Commodities: 10 silver | |
| Changelog: | |
| Sketch | |
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Syntax: |
The art of sketching other creatures and players is a very powerful one, as it allows you to bind their essence to the drawing, and later use it under your control to attack others.
Initially, you are only capable of sketching mobiles. As you study more about Artistry, you will learn how to sketch players of various magickal professions, and to utilise the sketches against your foes. Note that you can sketch mobs of a given type ('mage', 'runeguard', etc) to obtain profession sketches. Abilities of these sketches are described in their own AB help files. To use a sketch, you can tear it out of your sketchbook. Once torn, you can then use the SKETCHLINK command to link yourself to the sketch and control it. Sketch commands use their own balance, the length of which differs based on the command - some are more complicated than others. Most sketch abilities are slower than the corresponding player ones, though. You can have a maximum of three sketches active at once. If you wish to use more, you can insert some of the currently active sketches back into your sketchbook. Additionally, the magickal energy of each sketch is limited - after certain amount of attacks, the sketch will weaken too much and dissolve. If you get separated from your sketches, you can use CALL SKETCHES to summon them back to your side. When a sketch runs out of attacks, a new one will automatically replace it, should you have any still in your sketchbook. Only sketches with exactly the same profession and ink color combination will be used. Sketches can be filled with inks for additional effects - the relevant AB help files describe the usage of each. Sketches of mobiles have the following abilities: SKETCHLINK BATTER <target> - Causes damage to the target. SKETCHLINK LOCATE <target> - Attempts to seek the direction in which the target can be found. The sketch can only locate players within the same area. |
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| Knife | |
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Syntax: CRAFT KNIFE
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While in the presence of a workbench, you may craft a small knife sigil. The knife sigil can negate several defences that would prevent the detection of the target's present location. Once thrown, this effect will last for several minutes. |
| Commodities: 1 silver | |
| Changelog: | |
| Green Ink | |
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Syntax: FILL IN <sketch> WITH GREEN
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Sketches filled with green ink will regenerate some of their health upon each successful attack. Each sketch can be filled with a maximum of three inks. |
| Commodities: 1 green ink | |
| Changelog: | |
| Drum | |
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Syntax: CRAFT DRUM
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You may craft a small oaken drum while in the presence of a workbench. The percussive sounds of this instrument, when played by a skilled musician, may cause harm to your enemies or provide you with beneficial defenses. |
| Commodities: 1 leather, 1 cloth, 3 wood | |
| Changelog: | |
| Bard | |
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Syntax: SKETCHLINK <word> <target>
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Sketches of a Bard are capable of using the following Voice words: Rubait, Kiyan, Mellaon, Kawis, Daemos, Oyiem.
Voice words used by sketches are not affected by resonance. |
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| Blue Ink | |
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Syntax: FILL IN <sketch> WITH BLUE
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Sketches filled with blue ink have a chance to freeze their target upon each successful hit. Each sketch can be filled with a maximum of three inks. |
| Commodities: 1 blue ink | |
| Changelog: | |
| Portrait | |
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Syntax: CRAFT FRAME
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An Artistan may capture the essence of someone on canvas. Once the basic portrait frame has been constructed, the artist must then detail all aspects of the portrait. All portraits must be approved by the Master Artisan before they may be used.
Once the portrait has been approved, the portrait becomes the property of the portrait's subject. Furthermore, any allies of the subject may use the following abilities: PORTRAIT <portrait> GLANCE |
| Commodities: 10 wood, 10 paper | |
| Changelog: | |
| Panpipes | |
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Syntax: CRAFT PANPIPES
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You may craft a small set of wooden panpipes while in the presence of a workbench. A skilled musician may play this instrument to cause a variety of both harmful and beneficial effects to the target. |
| Commodities: 5 wood, 1 rope | |
| Changelog: | |
| Circles | |
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Syntax: CHOOSE CIRCLE <circle>
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There are six different circles you may select from. You may choose a new circle after one hour, provided you have not been in combat in the last 30 seconds. You must have learned Circles in Artistry, Thespia, and Voice before they may be used.
AUTHOR ARTIST DANCER MUSICIAN SINGER ACTOR |
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| Yellow Ink | |
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Syntax: FILL IN <sketch> WITH YELLOW
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Sketches filled with yellow ink will only take half damage when attacked. Each sketch can be filled with a maximum of three inks. |
| Commodities: 1 yellow ink | |
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| Druid | |
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Syntax: |
A sketch of a Druid can use the following abilities:
SKETCHLINK SWING <target> SKETCHLINK WHIRL SKETCHLINK LIGHTNING <target> |
| Changelog: | |
| Scribe | |
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Syntax: SCRIBE <journal 1> INTO <journal 2>
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The first option will open each of the respective journals (or books) to their respective bookmarks and copy the bookmarked page of the first journal into the bookmarked page of the second journal. The bookmarks of each journal will then be advanced.
The second option will copy the specified page of the first journal into the bookmarked page of the second journal. The bookmark of the second journal will be advanced by one page. The third option will copy the bookmarked page of the first journal into the specified page of the second journal. The bookmark of the first journal will be advanced by one page. The fourth option will copy the specified page of the first journal into the specified page of the second journal. No bookmarks will be changed in this case. |
| Changelog: | |
| Red Ink | |
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Syntax: FILL IN <sketch> WITH RED
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Sketches filled with red ink have a chance to set their target on fire upon each successful hit. Each sketch can be filled with a maximum of three inks. |
| Commodities: 1 red ink | |
| Changelog: | |
| Craftsmanship | |
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Syntax: |
Your skill as an Artisan is so high that you are now able to craft items three times as fast. |
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| Hunter | |
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Syntax: |
A sketch of a Hunter can use the following abilities:
SKETCHLINK FIREBLAST <target> - Causes fire damage. SKETCHLINK FROSTBITE <target> - Freezes the target. SKETCHLINK STING <target> - Stings the target with the formaldehyde toxin. SKETCHLINK MEMORISE - Causes the sketch to memorise its current location. SKETCHLINK RETURN - Causes the sketch to return to its memorised location, taking you along. Unlike the Hunter ability, the sketch can only return from within the same area. |
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| Globe | |
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Syntax: CRAFT GLOBE
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A skilled Artistan can create a globe of illusions, which may be infused with up to 5 illusions.
Once the globe has been crafted and infused, anyone may activate the globe. Activating the globe will place it on the ground, and will cause it to display the sequence of the infused illusions, with a random wait between each. You may put a new line in the illusions you globe displays with the special character sequence "\n" (a backslash followed by an n). Only one globe may be active in a room at any one moment. |
| Commodities: 1 wood, 1 silver, 1 gold | |
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| Mage | |
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Syntax: |
A sketch of a Mage can use the following abilities:
SKETCHLINK BLOODBOIL <target> - Causes damage to the target. SKETCHLINK FREEZE <target> - Freezes an individual. SKETCHLINK FREEZE GROUND - Covers the ground with slippery ice. SKETCHLINK FREEZE FIREWALL <direction> - Removes a wall of fire in the specified direction. SKETCHLINK FIRELASH <target> - Sends a lash of fire at a target. Unlike the Mage spell, this one can only be used within the same room. SKETCHLINK FIRELASH ICEWALL <direction> - Melts an icewall in the specified direction. SKETCHLINK ICEWALL <direction> - Summons a wall of ice in the specified direction. |
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| Purple Ink | |
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Syntax: FILL IN <sketch> WITH PURPLE
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Sketches filled with a purple ink will cause additional damage. Each sketch can be filled with a maximum of three inks. |
| Commodities: 1 purple ink | |
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| Harp | |
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Syntax: CRAFT HARP
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You may craft a golden-stringed harp, the trademark of the master Bard, while in the presence of a workbench. When played, the beautiful music produced by this instrument can cause a series of harmful or beneficial effects to the target. |
| Commodities: 5 wood, 3 gold | |
| Changelog: | |
| Runeguard | |
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Syntax: |
A sketch of a Runeguard can use the following abilities:
SKETCHLINK SLASH <target> [toxin] - Slashes the target, causing damage and afflicting with a toxin. This ability is affected by the rebounding aura. - The used toxin depends on the ink that the sketch has been colored with. If the sketch has more inks, you can specify any of the matching ones, or a random one is chosen. Red: Ciguatoxin SKETCHLINK RAZE <target> - This ability attempts to remove defences that would prevent the sketch from attacking. SKETCHLINK ENGAGE <target> - This ability causes the sketch to engage the target, lashing out at him should he attempt to flee. |
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| Artisan | |
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Syntax: |
A true master of Artistry may craft superior instruments. Instruments created by an artisan will experience an increase in the strength of the effects caused by the playing of the instrument. |
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| Renegade | |
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Syntax: |
A sketch of a Renegade can use the following abilities:
SKETCHLINK GARROTE <target> - Attempts to choke the target with a whip. Unlike the Renegade ability, this one will only hit if the target is incapacitated. SKETCHLINK BIND <target> - Attempts to bind a target, who must be asleep or unconscious. This ability requires a rope. SKETCHLINK CLOAK - This ability causes the sketch to shroud your actions in secrecy. SKETCHLINK DSTAB <target> [toxin] - This ability causes the sketch to stab a target twice, delivering the oxalis toxin and a toxin depending on the sketch inks used. The toxins are the same as those used by the Slash ability of the Runeguard sketch, including the ability to choose one. SKETCHLINK YANK <target> - This will attempt to drag a nearby target into your room, should he not be protected by the mass defence. |
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| Gold Ink | |
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Syntax: FILL IN <sketch> WITH GOLD
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Sketches filled with a gold ink are immune to critical hits. Each sketch can be filled with a maximum of three inks. |
| Commodities: 1 gold ink | |
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Sketching
One of the primary features of the Artistry skillset is the creation of magickally animated paper sketches. These hand-drawn pages of artwork become enchanted loyal servants of the Bard, able to be commanded to perform a variety of attacks upon enemy players.
Sketches are classified by the source of their inspiration as follows:
- Creature sketches mimic any mobile creature in Imperian. They have a simple attack that deals damage and can be used to locate other players in the same area.
- Bard sketches mimic the Bard profession. They may use certain Voice abilities against an enemy to afflict or deal damage.
- Druid sketches mimic the Druid profession. They have abilities that can knock down a target or reveal hidden players in the room.
- Hunter sketches mimic the Hunter profession. They have freezing and fire attacks and can deliver the formaldehyde toxin, as well as provide instant travel across the local area.
- Mage sketches mimic the Mage profession. In addition to dealing damage, they can freeze, firelash and summon walls of ice.
- Runeguard sketches mimic the Runeguard profession. These focus on delivering toxins, removing defensive shields and punishing an enemy for attempting to flee.
- Renegade sketches mimic the Renegade profession. They have the capacity to entangle, stab with poison and garrote an enemy, as well as pull nearby targets from an adjacent room.
Only three sketches may be enchanted at one time, and each sketch has a limited number of attacks they may perform before they are destroyed.
Additionally, each sketch may be upgraded by adding up to three coloured inks to their outline:
- Green allows them to regenerate health with each attack
- Blue gives their attacks a chance to freeze the player
- Yellow halves the damage they receive
- Red gives their attacks a chance to set the player ablaze
- Purple increases the damage their attacks deal
- Gold makes them immune to critical hits
Instruments
The Artistry skill also contains a number of abilities that craft the instruments needed to play most Thespia songs. The instruments crafted can be used by any Bard as long as they have the relevant Thespia ability, and the skill of the Artisan can determine how effectively they perform in the hands of a musician.
Instruments crafted are all identical in appearance, and consist of the mandolin, flute, drum, panpipes, and harp.
Both instruments and other crafts constructed using Artistry require the use of an artist's workbench.
Miscellaneous Crafts
Artisans also employ their craft to create a variety of items useful in the daily life of a travelling Bard, from elegantly personalized stationery and documents to magickal devices that delight and amaze. These utility items include: a knife-shaped sigil, which can peel back cloaking defences that prevent detection of those in the location it is activated, and a magickal globe that displays a sequence of custom illusions.
Certain Artistry abilities also allow the Bard to create objects with a unique appearance that has been designed by themselves or other players. These abilities confer access to a number of design patterns that have been approved for use by Artisans, allowing completely customised items such as letters, journals, books, tomes, and scrolls.