OOC: Information about Pactios
A “pactio,” as it is called in the manga, is essentially a contract between a mage (in this case Negi) and another person (his partner). A pactio is formed when the mage and the partner stand within a magical circle and share a kiss. When this happens a card is created as proof of their contract (this is the Master copy, another copy can be made from the master copy so that the partner can have it as well). When a pactio is formed, a mage can transfer some of his magical power into that person, increasing their natural capabilities, by an average of ten times their normal capacity. That person can also summon an artifact (or item), usually magical in nature, and that will reflect that person’s personality/interests. Another interesting thing about pactios is that they can also be used to summon a person as well as communicate telepathically. Apparently, there is a limit as to how far away a mage can summon his partner; the maximum distance is around 10 km in canon. More canon info can be found here, but keep in mind that I’m going off of the manga’s rules for pactio and not the two animated versions…because there are some differences in use.
Obviously these things can’t be at their full strength in the roleplay due to limits placed on magical abilities. I think I should also address the fact that Negi will likely NOT be making a pactio with everyone he comes across (it’s not IC for him to do so since he doesn’t LIKE dragging people into the world of magic). In addition, Evangeline will have to be present for any Pactio’s to be made as she is the only one who knows how the circle and the magic work. Here are a few limits I think would work on the pactio’s themselves:
1)Time Limit. Partners can only summon their item for a short amount of time. I think at first this time limit should be very short (after all, unlike most characters who can summon weapons, they aren’t used to this kind of ability). The limit would never go away but I think eventually that they would have a longer time limit of usage. This time limit is also based on their proximity to Negi. So, if Negi is in the presence of his partner the item will stay out longer and if Negi is not there or unconscious the Partner can still summon the item but it will only stay out for a much more limited amount of time (probably about a minute or so).
2)No Summoning or Telepathy Negi cannot summon his partners with the card, and if he can’t use the summon ability, I don’t think he should be able to use the telepathic link the cards provide either.
3) Power Down. In the manga, a partner’s natural abilities are increased by ten fold (meaning that if they are naturally fairly physically strong they are going to be 10 times stronger with a Pactio). Can’t have that either, so, I figure we can go with two times their natural ability.
4)Item Power Down. This sort of correlates with the time limit but some items can have other restrictions placed on them. This would depend on the item of course but, for example, if Asuna were here instead of being able to use her giant sword it would be back to its harisen (fan) form. Another example would be if Nodoka had her mind reading diary…she’d probably only be able to read one person’s mind after knowing their name instead of the multiple diaries she gets…also the diary might only have broken fragments of thought or be just pictures instead of some text. As I said, this will be a case by case basis and will depend on the item. We can work out specific power downs depending on the character and their item at the time the pactio is formed.
5)Limits on Negi. Pactios take magic from Negi who already has a limit on his magic ability. As such, I believe it is only fair that there be other restrictions based on that. Negi can probably only afford to let one or two people (at the most) have their item out at a given time, if he still wants to be able to use magic himself. This means that if Negi has pactios with a good number of people he won’t be able to power up all of them at once, and if more than two people try using their Pactios they’ll likely drain Negi of his magic power leaving him either powerless for a day or so OR making him faint. Granted, Negi won’t be able to use much magic when others are tapping into his power so his spells will also be weakened when using the power of the Pactios.
6)Limits on the Partner. The use of an item could also leave the partner weaker for a little bit, maybe even a little dizzy.
7)Limits on Evangeline. Evangeline is needed to make the Pactio circle and help power it. Due to the magic and power behind Pactios, Evangeline will only be able to perform this ceremony once a week, twice if she really pushes it and there is a great need for one.
Once a character makes a pactio they can summon the item they receive with the following commands:
Adeat - summons item
Abeat - dismisses item
Feel free to comment here if there are any questions.
Obviously these things can’t be at their full strength in the roleplay due to limits placed on magical abilities. I think I should also address the fact that Negi will likely NOT be making a pactio with everyone he comes across (it’s not IC for him to do so since he doesn’t LIKE dragging people into the world of magic). In addition, Evangeline will have to be present for any Pactio’s to be made as she is the only one who knows how the circle and the magic work. Here are a few limits I think would work on the pactio’s themselves:
1)Time Limit. Partners can only summon their item for a short amount of time. I think at first this time limit should be very short (after all, unlike most characters who can summon weapons, they aren’t used to this kind of ability). The limit would never go away but I think eventually that they would have a longer time limit of usage. This time limit is also based on their proximity to Negi. So, if Negi is in the presence of his partner the item will stay out longer and if Negi is not there or unconscious the Partner can still summon the item but it will only stay out for a much more limited amount of time (probably about a minute or so).
2)No Summoning or Telepathy Negi cannot summon his partners with the card, and if he can’t use the summon ability, I don’t think he should be able to use the telepathic link the cards provide either.
3) Power Down. In the manga, a partner’s natural abilities are increased by ten fold (meaning that if they are naturally fairly physically strong they are going to be 10 times stronger with a Pactio). Can’t have that either, so, I figure we can go with two times their natural ability.
4)Item Power Down. This sort of correlates with the time limit but some items can have other restrictions placed on them. This would depend on the item of course but, for example, if Asuna were here instead of being able to use her giant sword it would be back to its harisen (fan) form. Another example would be if Nodoka had her mind reading diary…she’d probably only be able to read one person’s mind after knowing their name instead of the multiple diaries she gets…also the diary might only have broken fragments of thought or be just pictures instead of some text. As I said, this will be a case by case basis and will depend on the item. We can work out specific power downs depending on the character and their item at the time the pactio is formed.
5)Limits on Negi. Pactios take magic from Negi who already has a limit on his magic ability. As such, I believe it is only fair that there be other restrictions based on that. Negi can probably only afford to let one or two people (at the most) have their item out at a given time, if he still wants to be able to use magic himself. This means that if Negi has pactios with a good number of people he won’t be able to power up all of them at once, and if more than two people try using their Pactios they’ll likely drain Negi of his magic power leaving him either powerless for a day or so OR making him faint. Granted, Negi won’t be able to use much magic when others are tapping into his power so his spells will also be weakened when using the power of the Pactios.
6)Limits on the Partner. The use of an item could also leave the partner weaker for a little bit, maybe even a little dizzy.
7)Limits on Evangeline. Evangeline is needed to make the Pactio circle and help power it. Due to the magic and power behind Pactios, Evangeline will only be able to perform this ceremony once a week, twice if she really pushes it and there is a great need for one.
Once a character makes a pactio they can summon the item they receive with the following commands:
Adeat - summons item
Abeat - dismisses item
Feel free to comment here if there are any questions.