Measuring our Mojo.

[Nemesis]

Long before I was introduced to this site and its academic slant on the paranormal, I was faced with a delima that I worked to solve thru trial and error. That delima related to the management of resources at my disposal for any given mission. Some things were very easy. I can count the number of rounds in a magazine and keep track of how many magazines I am carrying. Thus I know just how much I can rely on that resource. By careful counting while I shoot, I can track my ammunition usage closely enough to allow for hot magazine changes, saving me precious seconds in dangerous situations.

Physical resources I can easily keep track and manage. What about less tangible, invisible resources? What I am referring to is the power that allows me to cast magic. This was problematic for both me, my handlers and the Foundation for a number of reasons. Part of the problem was that the Foundation wasn't what introduced me to magic and they had few resources to help me develop the talent. Thus in many ways my mystical training was not what it should be. A lot had to be learned through trial and error.

With the encouragement of my masters, I devised a way to determine how much power I had at my disposal. With some experimentation I discovered which spell cost me the least amount of power to cast. A spell rather like a flash-bang grenade, actually. In any case, I cast it as many times as I could before I was completely drained. I determined that was how much mystic power or 'flash points' as I then dubbed them.

The next day I cast a different spell and then I cast my flash spell until I was out. Simple math then revealed how many flash points it had used up. I would then rinse and repeat for all my spells until I knew how many flash points each used.

What we also observed was that during different encounters with different creatures, my power would be boosted. So the Foundation arranged to expose me to a variety of different creatures with different abilities and power levels. I was then able to determine the subsequent increase in flash points. It turns out that the more powerful the being I am near, the more power I have available. I have thus far discovered power multipliers of 2, 4, 8 and 10.

Likewise, the Foundation arranged for me to be at places of power during various times of the year to determine what effect that had on my power. It was occasionally quite dramatic.

Now that I have begun tutelage under Dr. James, I have been exposed to a wide variety of new mythologies, formula's and ways of doing magic. I have come to realize just how retarded my magic was under the Foundation. Still, he has encouraged me to continue controlled experiments to explore my power and its full range. With his help I have been able to unlock the secrets to new spells. I have also researched quite a few related subjects. And I think I may have found a scientific name for the power that I wield.

It was first coined in 1845 by Baron Dr. Carl (Karl) Ludwig von Reichenbach. The term for the living energy within all living things is Odic Force. So in that vein I propose to call the measurement I once called Flash Points, Odic Force Points or OFP's. Or perhaps Odic Points (OP's) for short.

It would be tactically unwise to reveal how many OP's I have though I would be quite willing to help other mages figure out how many they might have available, though this might require some trial and error.

I have compared myself to my mentor, Dr. James and we have made several interesting discoveries. For starters, he only has 20% more OP's than I do, despite the fact that he is a much more experienced mage than I am. He claims this is because I am still a teenager and that a bunch will burn off sometime in my early twenties. But he also assures me that I will continue to grow in power as I grow in experience and knowledge. We have also noted that he recovers his OP's twice as fast as I do. We haven't figured out why yet though.

We have also discovered that his power increases when in proximity to me yet my power does not increase due to his proximity. He suspects it may have something to do with my connection to the Dark Lady. I suspect he may be correct.

This report and those that will follow are part of a research project I am doing for Dr. James. He says that in addition to enhancing my mystic studies, projects such as these will help prepare me for University as the structure is similar.

[KonThaak]

Been way too long, Nemesis. How ya been?

This is an interesting study. I never actually thought of my energy coming in "points" or having limitations of that sort. Usually, I just gauge how physically tiring it's becoming to cast spells.

Due to some changes I'm going through, right now, my energy has been fluctuating pretty drastically... If you'd like to contact me privately, I wouldn't mind chatting about it.

[Grace]

You've confused my daughter for me. I've changed my name to reflect changes in my life and she has taken my old moniker.

It's good to see you again, it's been too long.

As for talking to my daughter, she's recently departed for the Yucatan with her mentor and Gotham Witch. They're going to do some research of some sort.

[KonThaak]

Grace, now, then? That's cool. We need to talk, sometime. Preferrably soon. Drop me a PM. Please.