Seekings

Seekings are available to Mages after a number of months have passed equal to twice the pursued Arete level (2 months from 0 to 1, 4 months from 1 to 2, etc). Karma points can be spent in order to waive the wait times (but not the XP cost, just the wit time).

Request a Seeking through +request. At this time, you may add to (but not contradict) your Avatar +note to give the ST more to work with and deepen the development of your Avatar. The Storyteller will then devise a challenge, place a staff-only note on your sheet for reference and internal consistency among STs regarding the details of the challenge, and then use your Avatar +note to have your Avatar communicate with you and push you towards the challenge. Until the Seeking +request is resolved, your character's actions are evaluated regardless of whether you are in an obviously scheduled seeking scene.

Seeking challenges are designed around the concept that your Avatar embodies. You will be expected to become more in harmony with your Avatar's ideals, and your character will be pushed with a challenge that comes with significant risk. This risk may be psychological, physical, social, or a combination. Seekings to achieve Arete 3 or higher will inherently include permanent ones, such as death and deep psychological scarring.

The price of success may also include significant consequences such as loss and ostracization and war wounds both physical and psychological. It's pocket change to pay for heightened understanding of the truth of the universe. If your character fails their Seeking, you may apply again after a month. So, if you have Arete 3 and failed your Seeking, you can apply again after 1 month, then again after another month, and so on.

While a player may not use karma to apply for an arete 4+ mage outright, they may use karma to request a Seeking the moment they have an approved mage and the amount of karma to spend on it. Please note, this karma expenditure does not actually guarantee any success with your Seeking and does not have an impact on the XP cost of an Arete raise. Karma spending merely waives the wait time that normally governs whether you are eligible for a Seeking.

If you qualify for a Seeking but do not have the XP you may still request and perform your Seeking since these things can take time in the first place. You may not raise your Arete until you do get the XP, but you may indeed get the on-screen, IC parts out of the way if you do not mind having to accumulate the XP before being able to enjoy the mechanical fruits of your Seeking.

Wait Times Between Seekings
Current Arete	First Attempt*
0†	2 months
1	4 months
2	6 months
3	8 months
4	10 months
5	12 months
6	14 months
7	16 months
8	18 months
9	20 months

* Number of months that must be waited since the prior raise.
If you fail a seeking, you must wait another month or pay the Karma listed below under 'subsequent attempts'.

Karma Costs To Waive Wait Times
Current Arete	First Attempt*	Subsequent Attempts
0	4 karma	4 karma
1	16 karma	4 karma
2	24 karma	6 karma
3	32 karma	8 karma
4	40 karma	10 karma
5	48 karma	12 karma
6	56 karma	14 karma
7	64 karma	16 karma
8	72 karma	18 karma
9	80 karma	20 karma

* Amount of karma that must be spent to pre-emptively trigger an Arete raise instead of waiting.