Grinning Mage

Prankster mages who wield unfugl, the poioumenonic energy that allows them to make changes to reality for very specific purposes. They wear masks with distorted grinning faces on them.

Recruitment

To become a grinning mage, one must be recruited by them. They are very secretive and never inform others of who they are. They only operate when they know they won't be caught, and anyone who is caught is immediately stripped of their paraphernalia via magic so as not to expose the group. (Though rescues often happen later.) To be recruited, one must show a propensity for mischief, a knack for trouble, a yen for surprises.

The Element of Surprise

Grinning mages generate and wield unfugl by performing stunts, incredibly, bizarre, inexplicable stunts that sew confusion and inspire mischief. The element of surprise is the most potent ingredient - they must do something no one expects. If they can devise something, grand or small, that will surprise people, they will have some ability to do it if and only if they do it entirely for the pleasure of surprising people. It must have no agenda but mischief. Furthermore, it must involve a narrative of possibility that results in the perception of an impossibility. In other words, it must be improbable, but not impossible.

One may not engage in any mischief and absorb unfugl. It must be grand and bizarre, something so inexplicable it bears no definition nor explanation. As such, one can only become a grinning mage by being recruited and joining another, more experienced grinner in their work. Their first prank is always an initiation that gives them the powers they need to engage on their own.

In terms of game mechanics, a grinning mage must present their idea to the GM, and player and GM will determine if it is suitable for unfugl. If it is, the player rolls their basic skills for whatever it is they are doing, gaining bonuses along the way as the mischief builds, culminating in a series of narrations.

The Bump

The bump is the instinct grinning mages have for mischief. The moments of inspiration and the awareness of opportunities. They have this bump so long as they have their masks on their person (worn or not).

Sparking

Sparking is when a grinning mage has had the bump and begins to engage in improbable mischief. During this time, they have bonuses to actions required for the mischief. If they fail to achieve mischief, the spark fades and cannot be regained to achieve that particular mischief. It will only return when wholly new mischief is devised. While sparking, the grinning mage must have their mask on, and they must act quickly to take advantage of the unfugl.

The Grin

The grin is the moment the plan come together. During this moment, the grinning mage, still masked, will bask in the mischief caused and soak in the unfugl through their grin, fueling themselves for the next surprise.

Anonymity

If a grinning mage is unmasked, they will lose the anonymity needed to achieve surprises and mischief. As such, their masks vanish if they are caught, so that they are not known to be grinning men, thus exposing and destroying the power of all grinning men.

Raspberries

Raspberries do not refer to the fruit, but to the act of blowing raspberries, which is done with the tongue to make a rude noise. Doing this while masked causes the mask to do the same, extruding a wet cloth tongue that disturbs anyone who sees it.

Recovery

Once mischief is done, there is always a period where the grinning mage has to recover from the work. This varies depending on the improbability of the prank. The more absurd and improbable, the longer the recovery period is. The only exception to this is when a grinning mage's prank causes a fuddyduddy (read: someone who is opposing the grinning mages) to break down. If this happens, they can act again instantly to finish the fuddyduddy off.

Inventory

Grinning mages have a peculiar set of tools:

Grinning Mask

All grinning mages are given a cloth mask with a badly stitched green smiley face on it. This mask allows them to feel the bump and perform the grin. It is required to experience sparking.

Firecrackers

Grinning mages love to use firecrackers in their work. The sudden eruption is a good source of surprise, and the smoke can help provide a getaway. All grinning mages have a pocketful of these at any given time.

Trout

All grinning mages can pull a large, iron-scaled rainbow trout out of their pockets and slap people with them if they are sparking and need to drive people away from their mischief. It has no wound score, nor can it cause coma. Its stun power is either 13 or +3, whichever will get the best result.

Specializations

The grinning mages belong to a very select group, within which there are some specializations:

• Bhramavadi: a grinning mage from Majon who seems to focus on mundane magic tricks, but using incredible magic to do so.
• Cracker: a grinning mage who specializes in fireworks-based combat, usually with very grand explosions, often found working sieges.
• Gewürz: a grinning mage who uses cooking and baking to make very surprising foods. Usually something will explode.
• Grinning dog: a grinning mage who works as a pirate.
• Grinning glick: a grinning mage who engages in stage performances.
• Grinning thief: a grinning mage who engages in theft.
• Lækari: a trouble's brother who works more as a buffoon than a clown.
• Micinci: a grinning mage from southern Taggarus who uses wild rhythms and dances to create strange surprises.
• Prod: a grinning mage who works as a street performer, usually a busker.
• Pulvermischer: a grinning mage who makes their fireworks.
• Sparky: a grinning mage working secretly at a carnival to create wondrous attractions.
• Spriessen: a grinning mage who plants a garden of surprises, growing plants for the group that help in their schemes.
• Trickshot: a grinning mage who uses their powers to perform stunts with firearms or bows and arrows.
• Trouble's brother: a grinning mage who works as a clown and uses a lot of classic clown tricks.

The Grinning Men

The original grinning mages were terrorists who used their powers to create mass confusion. The core of the group still keeps this spirit alive and calls themselves the Grinning Men.

Similar Occupations

Other users of unfugl include

• Flibbertigibbet: a maiden-witch who uses mischief to survive.
• ]Gesere: a jali who uses unfugl to tell surprising stories.
• Grifter: a con artist who uses unfugl to bilk people.
• Kleineskind: a street urchin who uses small amounts of unfugl to survive.
• Marvelman: a toy- and games-maker who uses unfugl to make marvelous toys.
• Mephit: a skunk friend.

Societal Role

Grinning mages are terrorists untrusted in all societies.

Skills

Common skills include

• Sewing
• Burglary
• Explosives
• Painting
• Fishing
• Storytelling
• First aid

Stats

Modifiers from base of nation/species:

PRO +1
ATH +2
STR -1
AWA +2
WIL +1
STH +3
PRS +1