Finding Inspiration

One of the key elements of familiar is that the characters can derive mystical inspiration from all sorts of unexpected sources.

One of the other elements is that inspiration and mystical insight comes from assorted texts from all over the world.

Why not combine the two ideas?

Why not allow some characters to develop insight from sources that most people would simply ignore?

Here's a example of something I've been devising...

Alissandre Ramirez (1973), Harbour Rose Publishing)

This pulp romance novel from the early 1970s was ignored by many in the mystic community for decades. A product of it’s time, it tells the story of an abused mistress and a neglected wife who join forces against the successful advertising executive at the centre of their two lives. Willing to do whatever it takes to teach him a lesson, they suffer injuries and humiliation before delivering justice in the final chapters. It was only the transcendence of several suburban housewives that led occult groups to take a deeper interest. It was produced by one of the smaller publishers in the paperback romance market, and never appeared on a bestseller list, but regularly appears in the stock of second hand bookstores across the world (it was translated into over twenty languages). Despite promising a sequel, the author never released another book; her royalties were never collected, and were entrusted to a variety of charitable foundations.

Prerequisite Ability: Survive (Physical)

Key Verbs: Know, Stir

Key Nouns: Soul, Potential

Connection: Self Harm

Rotes:

Caress (Know Soul)—To perform this rote, the mystic spends a scene cutting their wrist then bandaging the wound (dealing a level of injury to themselves in the process), they apply the blood from this wound to their lips or fingertips (the part that will be used to touch their victim). Once dried, the rote may be enacted and it provides knowledge about the next person who is either touched or kissed. The player may ask a single yes/no question about the target. (Bonus: each additional success provides more knowledge about this person as an extra yes/no question)

Swan Song (Stir Soul)—This rote is empowered directly by the will of the mystic (one energy from their capacity pool). Its effect influences a single touched/kissed target to perform a single task in the minutes after the contact. (Bonus: each additional success adds a degree of difficulty to the target’s ability to resist this influence)

Birds of a Feather (Know Potential)—This rote requires three energy, and provides insight about multiple people and forces at work in a scene. It lasts the entire scene and has a range stretching throughout the building where the mystic is located. It provides knowledge about the inherent potential of a scene, and eliminates one of the penalties that might afflict the mystic (Bonus: each additional success earns a trait that may be used to help or hinder actions relating to the discovered potential of the scene)

Destiny's Flight (Stir Potential)—This rote requires two energy, and may be directed against anyone who has a relationship with the mystic, or has been successfully affected by the ‘Caress’ rote. It inspires a target to act according to their destined potential above other concerns for a full scene (Bonus: each additional success instantly restores an aegis that might suffer as the target moves toward their potential) 

I can see that the wrist cutting element might be a bit tasteless, and will certainly be a controversial talking point, so that might change... but many of the characters in this game are victimised and often damaged when they start their journeys toward enlightenment. Part of the idea of the game is that these are people who are able to transcend their origins to become heroes to the communities around them.

Still a bit undecided.