Motists

A form of sworn path magic that focuses on the emotional and cognitive manipulation of a individual in order to influence the mark and produce a desired effect. This is usually done through a magical application of charm and seduction but can also be achieved through intimidation or intellectual persuasion via reason and logic.

## Motist Profile

### Loyalty Price

Compared to other loyalty prices, Motists give up very little to achieve a great deal. However **they can not conjure anything for themselves and their magic simply will not work when applied to selfish gains**. Due to this lack of direct consequence for becoming a sworn to this path there is an abundance of amateur Motists in the city. Many see it as a safer alternative to the more drastic loyalty prices of paths such as Spectrists or Martists and yet still being able to tap into the magic afforded full citizens. You can find any number of clatter and chaw Motists at a dive bar come payday, trying to convince others they need them to help motivate others.

### Effect

The most basic explanation of a Motists abilities is pushing a mark's inclinations to align with that of the sworn. This is done through the Motist connecting to the mark's innate wills and wants and pulling on them in order to illicit a desired response which is called being "Motivated". However this is not, as they say, easy to do. A Motist must have an understanding of their mark. They must know the needs, the desires, the wants of the individual or the motivation will be infinitely hard. The more divergent the request from the Mark's actual inclination the harder the Motist must push and the greater chance of being found out in the moment. If a Motist understands the mark however, the motivation is easier and less noticeable.

It is currently unknown why being hired to motivate someone is not constituted as being "selfish" for the Motist. Scholars of the path have debated this for over a century and there is still no clear consensus as to why this loophole exists... but it does.

### Limitations

* As stated before, Motists must perform their magic on the behalf of someone else and can not manipulate an individual for their direct benefit. However, being hired to perform a motivation on a mark and then being paid does not constitute a "selfish" action.
* Motists creating magic gives off a scent like a strong perfume that is distinct to the individual Motist
* The effects of the magic lasts based on the skill of the Motist. The more skilled and deft the Motist, the longer the effect but the ensuing "hangover" of being motivated is more intense.
* A motivated individual will experience the following when the motivation has worn off: Headache, nausea, sluggishness, sensitivity to light, and the strong lingering aroma of the motivation but in a decayed/rotten state. "I keep smelling this smell... like rotting roses and spoiled cream."
* Motivated individuals also know for a fact that they have been motivated when the effects level out

### Application

*For example, a easy motivation:* Joe has been sober a week and wants a drink but promised his boyfriend that he'd stop. Joe's ex wants to get him in trouble with his current boyfriend so he hires a Motist to go to the bar and persuade Joe to not only drink but drink to excess. Since it is already in Joe's head that he wants a drink, the Motist barely needs to nudge him to taking it. Once the first drink is taken and third, fifth, ninth and fifteenth are not hard to press. Joe goes home drunk and gets in trouble with his boyfriend and the hangover hides the after effects of being motivated but Joe still smells burnt sugar. He knows he's been motivated but there is nothing he can do about it but try to make an excuse. It doesn't work. The Motist gets paid and everyone but Joe goes home happy.

*In contrast, a difficult motivation:* Ethel the Bar Owner is short on clatter and the Primbois are coming tomorrow for their "insurance payment". A Motist has been hired by the Primbois to make sure Ethel doesn't have the funds to pay them tomorrow. Since Ethel wants to keep the clatter and knows that not having it could mean life or death it will be hard for the Motist to press on her to give up the money. The Motist will need to press on other wants and desires that are closer to the surface (a need to keep this place open, a want to stay alive) in order to work their way into convincing Ethel that giving up the clatter will help her more than keeping it. This could take hours or even days to complete as the Motist worms their way into Ethel's head. The Motist will need to learn more about her in order to not be immediately discovered and the work will need to be subtle. A rush job like this has a great deal of risk involved and a only a deft Motist would be able to accomplish it give the time constraints.

### Tiers

Unlike other sworn paths, Motist do not base their powers in tiers. They have no further powers to discover beyond the initial ones acquired upon taking their Vow of Intent. Any further power gained comes from practice, understanding the subtle art of manipulation, and being able apply such understanding to the pressing of a mark's emotions and mind.