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In his desperate search for a means to circumvent the weakening of Mystery, a Magus discovers Gensoukyou.
—
The Nettenseele family had been one of the old greats, boasting a lineage of nearly 18 generations dedicated to the pursuit of the Root. With their Alchemical magecraft, they had been one of the premier makers of homunculi for eons, a clan of master artisans and skilled physicians that believed the soul to be synonymous with the body. In their minds, it was possible that creating a "truly ideal vessel" would result in the birth of an equally perfect soul.
A legacy of centuries collapsed in the blink of an eye as mankind and medicine pulled back the veil on the human body, applying reason and science to the organic machine.
Then, to add insult to injury, the Einzberns - longtime rivals of the Nettenseeles - gave up their own dreams in despair, killing themselves en masse until only the autonomous labor of their own vaunted homunculi propped up what was left of their remains.
Perhaps the Nettenseeles could have recovered, given time to lick their wounds and repair their theory. They would be greatly diminished, but Magi are, by nature, tenacious creatures.
And then Touko Aozaki had spat in their faces with her puppets, a magecraft that far surpassed even the greatest of techniques and treasures in their family vaults.
That was the curtain call for your clan.
You are Josef Nettenseele, the last heir of a dying line. Your father, no longer bearing the responsibility of a Magic Crest, is preparing to hang himself in the room next door. You will have to dispose of his body yourself, if only to clean up any potential trails for your hunters to follow–not to mention how a corpse would disturb the hotel waitstaff.
Plans must be made. Safehouses must be checked. But above all, you have a responsibility as the future…
…Ah. As the [i:lit]current[/i:lit] clan head, you have a responsibility to further the craft, even if it means you must throw everything out and start over again.
[Select one.]
>Wipe Clean the Family Crest.
(With your Origin of Refinement, you can recycle a large portion of the Crest for your personal use. While this noticeably improves your parameters, it relegates the Crest to little more than a combat tool. Beyond that, the various theories and notes your ancestors painstakingly collected are effectively overwritten, granting you a headstart on your new beginning. This is your best chance at finding a path to the Root yourself, if you're so inclined.)
>Keep the Crest and Lay the Foundation.
(By acknowledging your own limits, you have failed as a Magi. However, abandoning the Root does not mean abandoning the path; instead, you may pave the road which all future generations will travel upon. Keep the Crest and its secrets, even if parts of it are no longer useful, but dedicate yourself solely to finding a means of preserving Mystery. This will emotionally free you and may restore the Nettenseeles to glory once more.)
