The match-ups form for the Gift Exchange is now up!
Here is the Match-ups form: https://forms.gle/D3SuaMw7Sb1yKC4w9
And here are the prompts from which to choose: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OUZsPcxjDL7T2Xk1wdXtFmZVz1wBGdv1PuVLgawyCa0/edit?usp=sharing
Once all the gift exchange participants (5 this year) have answered (or on September 10th) the match-ups form will close and each participant will privately receive the name, prompts and dislikes of their giftee by DM.
If a participant does not fill the form before Sept 10th they will be given a random giftee. If you do not think you'll be able to finish your gift before the exchange (February 10th) please let us know asap so that we can find a back-up to make the gift instead!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
The text melts and shifts, the font sweeping across the card as the letters slowly rearrange and reform. When it’s done with its metamorphosis, Zorian stares down at the new words. They read: “May Zach and Zorian’s love be eternal and everlasting through sickness, poverty, deaths, magical complications, and the whims of higher powers.”
Or,
Zorian Kazinski's very chaotic, very horrible, most terrible month
In other news, finally finally finally this fic is done. Behold my 44k of madness. I told this fic could be anyone, go anywhere, and it soared.
I don't even know how to describe this fic, but I injected all the whimsy I've ever had into it. People have told me this fic have killed them or caused them to dissociate, and then proceeded to thank me for the experience. It may or may not be traumatizing.
Thank you, for everyone who helped and supported me with writing (and especially @cal-cium-the-nerd my beta). I love you all.
I hope the delight and fun I had writing it transfers to you via osmosis.
I wonder if there would be any value in specifically making two ttrpg systems for MoL.
One where everything is as crunchy as I feel like a system can handle: with hundreds of spells, shaping stats, ways to modify casting, etc. Just something insane where there is a book of all the spells and spellcasting trees in full, separate from the "core" rules.
And the *other* being a much more toned down, streamlined system, both in general but most specifically with spellcasting. Like instead of millions of spells it's just templates like "missile, beam, cone, direct targeting" and you applying the effects/damage types that you've unlocked.
I naturally gravitate towards the first system style, at least in terms of what interests me as a player/gm if I wanted to simulate the world of Ersetu, but things being too granular might not be more enjoyable for fans of MoL that don't want to do spreadsheet macros and memorize a lot of rules. Should there be a way to make a MoL-inspired system that don't enjoy that style of play?
So after listening to the clamoring demands of all my fans (me, myself, and I) I've decided to make a post about how I imagine a dungeon meshi x mother of learning crossover would work.
So every mc in dungeon meshi has some core character trait that allows one to explore some aspect of the worldbuilding in a way that also matters
Marcille is how the audience knows how magic works, Chilchuck is the insight to the economics and professional function of dungeon delvers, Senshi is an insight to the ecosystem, and Laois is how we know about the monsters and biology of individuals
Of course there's overlap and more to their characters, but broadly that's what they're mostly focused on
Zorian would be amazing as a character in dungeon meshi as a native, not as someone who was isekai'd. Zorian would be the closest version he could be to his canon self, as if he grew up in the meshi world. Not as powerful and gamebreaking as archmage zorian, but a good generalist mage with a penchant for mind magic/empathy.
As a natural mind mage & empath, he'd be a great insight and POV character for psychology and sociology, with some neuroscience thrown in too
BUT ALSO
(spoilers for dungeon meshi ahead)
he could introduce the idea of how angels in meshi could work, in contrast to the demon
because in meshi, the "demon" is desire made into a literal eldritch god of magicall demons are just the expression of one other worldly singular demon, pure desire and temptation and want driving itself for the sake of satisfaction that will never be accomplished but we could make it so that a singular "angel" (or even group) exists in contrast to the demon. instead of being a mote of magic that consumed desire and hunger itself, it's something that first absorbed some type of social desire
the angel(s) would represent more tempered desires, things that can only be solved through self restraint, discipline, and sacrifice. Things like peace, relief from guilt, or respect. Just in general, things that are "higher up" maslow's hierarchy of needs, and probably leaning towards things that require groups and communities and order, to contrast the winged lion's representation of chaos.
So zorian, based on how I feel about his character, would be great as a representative/unwilling peon of angels in this world, because as I've ranted about before, I think Zorian has an incredible sense of duty and discipline, perfect for how angels could work.
He could even have a really interesting character arc where he rejects social systems and organizations due to how they've failed and shunned him in the past, not recognizing his need for validation and true community. He desperately wants to trust someone but can't if he never tries to let his barriers down. And of course I'm interested in how he'd influence the rest of the cast's character arcs.
I wonder how Zach could also fit?
Anyway, those are my two cents on this crossover atm.
So, first things first with MoL events: Prompt week is coming up this octuber 17th to 23rd. If you need a reminder of what the prompts are, they're here:
Not exactly an update, but a reminder, because we don't want people to forget this is coming up.
Why do we think that people might forget? Because the gift exchange sign ups are now open:
https://forms.gle/qZ2sfzhvpYrJ1nQw9
They close on the 25th, match ups will open on the 30th, and gift exchange week will be February 10th 2026! So a bit farther away from the prompt week, so hopefully those that want to participate can have a chance.
We can't wait to see everyone's Mother of Learning art/writing!
So, if I'm going to try to make a fan ttrpg about everyone being a mage, I want to talk about how spellcasting could work.
As a casual fan of ttrpgs and one that's been sifting through other people's magic systems I would say, very broadly speaking, there's about two relevant "ways" to being a spellcaster. There are obviously more but these are closest to how MoL spellcasting could work imo.
The first and most renown way is spell lists. Either you pick a class that has certain types, you randomly get access to spells based on tables, or you study and learn spells. Spells say what they do and do what they say, with no ability to twist or do improv. A wizard can't go all of a sudden "I cast burning hands but spend more spell points to keep the cone of fire continuously shooting out of my hands for multiple turns!"
This method isn't as popular in "all magic user" systems it seems, and for good reason. If the main fantasy of being an all wizard party is delving into the secrets of magic, then all the answers being what is plainly stated in the rulebook is . . . not a great way to fulfill that fantasy. However, Ersetu's magic largely functions based on this model of "structured magic," so this needs to be kept in some form or another. There needs to be motivation for learning spells from ancient scrolls and keeping them secret from other mages after all.
The second method, found in the most popular "all wizards" games is the what I call, "creative formula" in Ars Magica. In games like this, the method of casting magic is more based on generalized "spheres" or "schools" of magic combined by or limited by other aspects of the pc related to how they can actually manifest magic. For example, Ars Magica uses the famous "noun and verb" system where if you want to make a fireball you use the "create" sphere and combine it with the "fire" sphere and create fire, in the form of an explosion. There are other ways to design the fomula but that's the gist of it.
This, I think, works very well for unstructured magic (shaping), but with how hard, methodical, and limited unstructured magic means that if I were to implement this method, the formula for casting unstructured and expanding your skill will have to be very carefully balanced. For example, it makes sense for you to be able to use alteration magic with the verb "destroy" to crumble up a rock, but I don't think a novice mind mage should be able to as easily use the verb with mind magic. There needs to be either limits to what verbs/forms one can use with what schools of magic and/or varying levels of difficulty depending on the combo. Like for example, at level 2 you can combine the verb for "mimic" with the alteration school and make one statue resemble another, but you can't do that with, say, soul magic.
With this in mind, I think the best option is to actually have two "separate" systems of magic at the same time. Structured magic would be something that is the most easy and straightforward thing to learn. You automatically progress a decent amount with level ups and other than managing the eventual large list of spells you know, is very easy.
Shaping however I imagine as something that you have to actively practice and invest in to get gameplay benefits outside of minor tricks. Could have a skill tree of methods and tiers of power level tied to each type of magic to allow for more and more creative freedom the more you invest in it. But I imagine the speed of it would be much much slower compared to "standard" casting, and maybe not even able to reach the same ceiling of raw power/capability as structured casting. Probably have to calculate how much downtime it takes to increase a shaping skill/unlock a technique, and also adjust that formula depending on which type of magic you're learning and if you have a bloodline/are a species specialized in that. Like say Veyers with elemental (fire) magic and aranea with mind magic.
This probably tripled the amount of work I'll have to do to make this balanced (and make it fun for players) but I can't quite imagine it working any other way.
I've been thinking about the mol fan ttrpg design, and this might be a bit weird to those who recognize MoL as very much inspired by D&D, but I'm considering for the main "attributes" dropping strength as a stat. Or maybe rolling it into the constitution/fortitude equivalent.
Because, let's be honest: Does how much you lift actually matter to most mages? And with the ttrpg trying to capture the experience most characters (all magic users in this case) will have in the Ersetu world, why should physical strength take up such real estate as the main stats? Sure, I could imagine at lower levels your ability to punch or swing a weapon being useful, when novice mages are still taking two rounds to invoke a spell you can run up and stab them and ruin their focus, but at higher levels? It's much less important.
I think characters should still have the option to be martial arts/weapon user mages if they want that fantasy (Hey, we all like the "combines magic with traditional fighting" archetype) but in my opinion it would make more sense to delegate "unarmed combat" or maybe "weapon fighting" to its own skill in the "non spellcasting" area.
In the Alanic-raises-Zorian AU, what is the cutest thing Alanic has done for little Zorian, growing up? (can be multiple things)
For those that don't know: https://archiveofourown.org/works/67182568
This is the prequel chapter to the AU the asker is talking about.
At the orphanage around the holidays, before Alanic could trust himself as a parent and before Zorian was adopted. it was obvious to everyone that Alanic favored Zorian the most. He always picked out thoughtful presents for Zorian, more thoughtful than the generic stuff he gave to the orphans en masse (like everyone got the same pair of socks, even though they have different shoe sizes, but Zorian got one of those mana sensing practice spheres).
The first time Alanic started training Zorian, and one of the nuns watched little Zorian do his best to imitate Alanic's stance, she almost died from cuteness (before immediately becoming worried that this super scary warrior priest might take it too hard on Zorian).
Thank you so much for asking about it! I love this AU
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