You have disconnected.
Ganaroth has connected.
skypotato has connected.
Ganaroth is disconnected.
Ganaroth has connected.
Riot has connected.
|
|
Ganaroth:
Heyo.
I was a bad person and didn't check discord basically all week.
|
|
|
Riot:
No
worries, I didn't wanna ping you in case you had things going on
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Sorry
about that. Hopefully the place didn't burn down.
|
|
|
Riot:
lol
it did not in fact burn down
|
|
|
Riot:
(back
in like 5 mins)
|
|
Vul:
all
the fire
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Nah,
always feel free to ping me. If I'm too busy to answer, I just
won't answer. I don't mind somebody trying to contact me.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Well,
as long as it's still standing... I'll check out what I missed at
some point.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Heyo.
Welcome back!
|
|
|
Riot:
How's
things for y'all?
|
|
|
Vul:
I
believe von was going to show up at ~6:30 and was all, "Feel free
to do introduction/recap without me"
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Relative
to my mean average, pretty ok.
|
|
|
Vul:
something
about "You have insufficent pylons" except pylons were sleep
|
|
|
Riot:
And
glad you're doing okay!
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Remember
that my sense of what "okay" is has been permanently warped,
though, lol. I became half obsessed with Tanya the Evil over the
period, and it's adequetely filled my time, what with reactors and
such.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
It
does use refuge-in-audacity, but in a smarter way than other
villain protagonist shows that I've seen. And there's more meat
there than just seeing what horrible thing she'll do next. Anyway,
Imma start typing the intro.
|
Last time on D&D: You touched base once again with Patience, who
explained the form that the event was to take, and also met a strange
little half-orc that apparently assisted Ra'ven while she was away from
the rest of the party. Does anyone remember how Patience said it would
go? I have the dialogue.
|
|
Riot:
"The
first part of the event will have a presentation of the combined
findings of the various experts, held in public. Now, the most
powerful of those here will aready have been briefed before we
arrive, but most will not. They'll learn the broad strokes during
this first presentation, and will listen to a number of both
experts and politicians weigh in, but will not be allowed to ask
questions. After this, there will be a short recess to unveil the
various informative panels and such, as people will need to
educate themselves about whatever aspect of this situation will
affect them most severely. We need to attend the opener, but the
panels are where we really want to be. They'll probably be divided
up every which way, by topic and by location, and by potential
responses... There will be a lot of crossover, and it will likely
be quite chaotic. Try to find panels in which middle ranked and up
nobility are congregating which have to do with relevant topics.
I'd suggest anything military related, and anything that seems
like an unusual method of solving the problem. Those types always
need just one more component."
|
|
|
Riot:
And
then we hand out business cards
|
=^v^=:
(( oh what sorta outfits we rocking
to the thing? ))
|
|
Riot:
I
posted my WIP of Lucky in WEA colors in #character info
|
|
|
Vul:
also
i found a random fox pin graphic if we are doing fox pins
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
((Ideally
from Patience's perspective, you would be wearing the
pseudo-uniforms that she had rush ordered, but she can't really
force.))
|
|
|
Riot:
Ah,
I got the impression they would be more tailored for each
individual
|
|
|
Riot:
Just
using the color scheme
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
(Rush
tailored, you could say. Thankfully, in Si En Kelar, it's possible
to find tailors who use magic to complete their tasks in a
fraction of the traditional time. That's basically what she did:
Drop a bunch of money to have it done quickly.)
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
(They're
still bespoke, and in your own style (with a couple of subtle
military flares), but not technically handmade. It's more like
they were magically 3D printed.)
|
|
|
Riot:
Right
that's what I meant, I just didn't explain it well
|
vonel has connected.
You can feel the gaze of the various guard contingents in the courtyard,
glaring at you as you enter the building, leaving them to continue
soaking in the rain. Their feel of their glares is palpable... but while
a few raise cries of protest, most seem to grudgingly understand what it
going on. Inside, this time not seated and reading a book but rather
frantically dealing with the interior crowd of the more important (read:
wealthier) attendees, you almost immediately spot Kaylen, the
dissatisfied page. She spots you as well, and waves.
|
Kaylen:
"You
made it! Good. Now someone is here that doesn't have twelve
lackey's tongues up their ass. I starting to think that nobody
below the level Viscount was even invited. You know, because the
common people don't exist, and such."
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
choose not to take offense. Please realize others may choose
differently."
|
|
Clarity rolls her eyes, outside of
Patience's line of sight
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor doesn't seem to
notice at all.
|
Riot:
(( also Hi Von! ))
vonel:
(( hi ))
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean, are you a Viscount?" Ra'ven says with a hint of tease to
Kaylen
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Yeah...
so, I was actually assigned door duty AGAIN so that when you
showed up, I could guide you to where you're going. Only people in
the main presentation are the VIPs and the guards. So you're
guards now, and I should probably show you your positions, right?"
She pauses. "Thanks to you, that data got saved, and it put a lot
of things in perspective. I'm in the loop because, well,
circumstance, so I can tell you that the content of this
presentation is gonna be a little different than originally
planned."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
(Hi
Vonel! Sorry, I was typing up all that at the time, and am slow.
I'm glad to see you!)
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Oh
yeah, the Viscount of Enniten Dormitory, the Duke of Doorways and
the Raj of getting my research ignored."
|
|
Lucky chuckles
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"I'm
hoping this whole incident changes things. You people helped,
showing up on my shift, getting me involved. Now Okorion got to
see the side of me that gets things done, instead of "disrupting
the academic environment."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "Are you going to refrain
from disrupting this academic enviroment this time then?"
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"I
mean, the shit I'm onto, it's pretty important. Not as important
as THIS, but still important. And maybe related, now that I've
seen the new data. And I think he's finally starting to believe me
enough to take a look." She rubs the back of her neck, bashfully.
"I mean... if they're listening to what I have to say, I'd rather
they keep listening. So everybody gets to see well-behaved Kaylen
for a while, at least. I don't want to mess up this chance."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "Good, glad I could be of
help..."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"It's
very much appreciated. Anyway..." She signals a second page, who
returns a desperate look of sheer panic as he realizes that he
intends to leave in order to show you to your positions. "Let's
go. We've got you all grouped together on the upper balcony. We
have a few of our own guards up there too, and others at the
entrances, but we're deliberately keeping the numbers low. We
can't be sure of their loyalty, while we're pretty certain about
you folks. So we're restricting it to a number we figured you
could handle if they turn. Messed up, huh?"
|
|
Eileen:
"Makes
sense to me."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Tactically
sound."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Ya
that's pretty messed up.."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"You'll
have a good view of everything, and..." she grins, and hands out a
fistful of feathers. "Single-use featherfall charm. If something
happens in the crowd, skip the stairs and just jump off. Nobody
else gets these, by the way."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Not
even you?"
|
|
|
Lucky reaches out and takes one.
"Thank you. Hopefully we won't need to use them."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Uh,
I am NOT a guard. If a fight breaks out, I'm not rushing towards
it."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Also,
I won't be on the balcony, so I don't really need one."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"But
yeah, I hope so too. But with all the shit that's been going on,
preparing for the worst seems like the right move."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Well
I mean I can fly is all....."
|
She leads you up a series of stairs to a high viewing balcony situated
above an enormous lecture hall; an ampitheater clearly built for
hundreds, but with touches of metal, polished to a shine by ages of
hands, signifying the wealth and status of the place. That capacity,
however, seems to be filling incredibly quickly. You watch as another
group enters a room that clearly has not enough seating for them, and
feel the ground shudder. Along the edges of the rows of seats, the walls
retreat further back of their own accord, and new seats appear,
accomodating the new arrivals. From your position, nobody in the crowd
would be able to see you without looking back and up. There are no
chairs here, but there are a number of handles affixed to the back wall.
Kaylen explains that you can put your weight on them and about halfway
relax, if you want. Six other quards, wearing the brass helms of the
Society's security force and carrying large crossbows. The lot of them
give your group a resentful gaze as you enter.
|
|
Kaylen:
"Well,
I don't know who of you can fly and who can't! I was just giving
you one each to be on the safe side. If you don't want it, you can
give it to someone, me included I guess." She shrugs.
|
|
|
Kaylen looks over at the crowd, lips
pursed. "I think we're at about half of the expected attendance
right now. I don't know if we've ever strained this room to this
degree before. Fucking ironic if this place just ripped apart and
a whole bunch of us died from something this stupid."
|
|
|
Lucky cocks an eyebrow at the statement
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Vul,
with that ringing endorcement of the personal value she'd have for
the feather you can just keep it, don't worry."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Yeah,
keep it. These aren't really all that expensive. Anyway, you have
any questions I can answer? No second chances at this point."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Oh
ya, assuming everything goes to shit like you are preparing for,
where should we meet back up?"
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Is
there any faction or contingent in particular you think we should
keep our eyes on? Or is it more just 'possible powder keg' at this
point?"
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"If
things go to shit and you can't shut it down here, there's a
saferoom that the staff, you included, are supposed to go to.
They'd need something pretty potent to open it up." She pauses.
"There are a couple of factions we've been warned about. One of
the Lansiri Philosophy delegations here is "The Sky's Vanguard,"
and oh boy do they have a hate-boner for Garmera. On the opposite
end, we actually recieved a last minute application from the
Silverfang Cult, who frankly like her TOO much. But they've gone
through the channels, and aren't sending anyone with a bounty here
in Si En Kelar, so we kinda have to let them come. Even if those
two don't fight each other, they might go nuts once the
information is presented."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Then..."
She looks around for a moment, then whispers. "There are a few
groups here from beyond the league too. The Ordoman delegation...
them just BEING here might start a fight. Nobody likes a kingdom
of the dead, right?" She nods. "Yeah, too much. Don't know if
you're familiar, but out in Evenbough, there are whole regions
that the cult controls, and the people there are offered up as
sacrifices to the Wolf Mother. But nobody coming here has been
proven to be a part of that."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Fanatics
of any stripe tend to have a very rigid world view that they'll
defend - sometimes incredibly violently."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"That's
not even a joke. It can get bad enough around here. Imagine if we
were in Lansir? I have no idea how that country doesn't just
explode."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Ooooh,
yikes. That's the Kaldion delegation. Fuck. Um, hey, didn't you
say at one point that you had wind powers?" She turns toward Vul.
"I need to get down there super fast and make sure they don't see
each other. The blood is BAD there. Think you could give me a
strong updraft?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms, "I mean I could see
saying she probaby should eat something, but like, sounds like
it's the more problematic sacrifices of 'random people we have
laying around."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
(I
meant to say make sure that they and the Ordomans don't see each
other, but left the other party out. -.- )
|
|
|
Vul:
"ya,
flying? How specific a spot?"
|
=^v^=:
(( how far is the spot down as well?
))
|
|
Kaylen points straight at the balcony,
which is about 20-25 feet above the seating below.
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Look,
I don't need a perfect landing, I just need to get downstairs
before someone gets stabbed over a blood feud."
|
=^v^=:
(( I mean if you'll allow it,
otherwise she's carrying a fox for her decent. ))
|
|
Kaylen:
(Either
way is fine. If you want to jump into her arms, she'll roll with
it.)
|
|
|
Vul wouold, in fact, turn into a fancy
fox to hop into her arms, as skipping that first step is probably
a bit akward
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
Took a short rest.
HP:
53 / 54—
Surges:
2 / 8 —
APs:
0 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
|
Clarity:
((I
mean we all would probably have taken a long rest at this point I
would assume))
|
|
|
Kaylen:
"Cool!"
With that, she simply runs and vaults over the side, dropping Vul
when her feet touch the ground and running over to the Kaldion
delegation that she'd pointed out, all smiles as she directs there
attention to the other side of the room."
|
|
|
Kaylen:
(Yes,
you are all entitled to a long rest.)
|
|
|
Vul floats back up
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
54 / 54—
Surges:
8 / 8 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
Perra:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
67 / 67—
Surges:
5 / 5 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
|
Eileen:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
67 / 67—
Surges:
10 / 10 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
|
Lucky:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
63 / 63—
Surges:
6 / 6 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
|
Clarity:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
61 / 61—
Surges:
10 / 10 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
Alsyne:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
74 / 74—
Surges:
10 / 10 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
Io:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
58 / 58—
Surges:
11 / 11 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
Yltheria:
Took an extended rest.
HP:
51 / 51—
Surges:
7 / 7 —
APs:
1 —
Daily Items:
1
|
|
|
Vul floats over and ends up being held
by Perra
|
=^v^=:
(( good old anti-frost power ))
=^v^=:
(( did anyone decide they wanted the
other 3 people allowed in the target? ))
=^v^=:
(( for endure elemets? Vul and perra,
ra'ven turned it down ))
=^v^=:
(( think lucky did as well ))
Riot:
(( I honestly don't remember ))
More people continue to file in, and you're treated to the interesting
sight of the room expanding still further, like a fan unfolding.
Eventually however, the influx slows, then halts. A deep bell chimes,
cutting through the conversation, as the familiar spindly figure of
Professor Okorion takes the stage.
|
Professor Okorion:
"I
doubt that there has ever been such a gathering of luminaries
under a single roof as we have today. That we have come together
in peace and comity, I think, sets an example for things to come,
because all of our strength and resourcesfulness may be required
in the coming years." A single voice rises in outrage at the
mention of years, and Okorion testily cuts him off. "Years of
suffering, strife, and toil. There is no quick solution to the
problem we face, and hopefully you will begin to understand why."
He gestures, and an illusion of Garmera appears in the air. "This
is the normal state of things, recorded some seven years ago." He
gestures again, and the image shifts. Now Garmera is in a slightly
different position, and there appears to be slight color
differences in spots. "This one was recorded seven years ago, and
was the subject of intense debate at the time, but no conclusion
was ever reached." Another gesture, and Garmera has shifted yet
again. Helpful arrows appear, pointing to several spots along the
great wolf's belly. "This was three years ago. Intermittent
protrusions were first noticed where none had been, alongside
bulges in the abdomen that have increased since then."
|
|
Vul:
|
|
Effect:
He's a fox now, unless he was
already one.
|
|
Riot:
(( brb ))
|
|
Vul:
"Was
there something other then the big thing we found being
announced?" Fox vul looks to the rest of the party
|
|
|
Professor Okorion:
"This
information was kept quiet amongst ourselves for a time, as we had
little idea what was even going on, let alone how to advise the
response. At the time, the assumption was that Garmera had become
diseased, and that we were witnessing the rapid formation of
tumors. However, new information has come to light which paints
that as pure optimism. To be brief, the preponderance of evidence
gathered by the Cloudless College and other talented
Ethereologists across the world has proven to my satisfaction that
Garmera is in fact beginning to enter late-stage pregnancy." The
crowd erupts in shouting and curses, while Okorion continues to
stand on the stage, expressionless except for perhaps some
fatigue. He allows it to go on for a while before gesturing with
his other hand, causing the bell to toll loudly over the din of
the audience. When they are quiet again, he continues. "This is of
course unprecedented, and seems absurd on a number of levels, but
after consulting with experts in standard lupine physiology, the
signs suggest that she is the equivalent of roughly 1.5 months
into her term. Based on the rate of growth, if we assume that
Garmera's biology is similar, birth should occur in four to five
years. If this takes place, the immediate effects to the entire
world will be catastrophic. I will cede the floor soon to a number
of experts on navigation, trade, agriculture, warfare, and other
relevant fields. They will explain the vast extent of the possible
changes to our world, and contingency plans for dealing with it
should we prove unable to prevent it. And you may trust that every
avenue is being explored in order to do just that."
|
|
|
Professor Okorion:
"Now,
in the weeks to come, the greatest minds of our peoples,
yourselves among them, will be tasked with formulating, and then
enacting a response." His voice becomes severe. "And you will
enact a response. Our Emir, praise his name as a great believer in
science, has sent me with this message: "Those in attendance have
been seen and noted. Any of you who fail to contribute immediately
to the effort of preserving our world will no longer be welcome in
Si En Kelar, whether it ends or not. Any nation, order, or
organization here that does not meet their responsibilities in
this matter will be forever barred from our ports, until those
here and now who do not heed our warning are executed, and their
heads sent to me as an apology." Ahem. So, it appears that for
your own sakes you may wish to work together for the duration of
the crisis."
|
This time the shouting is worse, and despite the toll of the bell, the
audience seems to be in no hurry at all to quiet down. Okorion visibly
sighs and makes an effort to regain control, but it's clear that
whatever momentum he had is gone, lost in a storm of outrage and
outright threats. With each attempt to quiet them down, Okorion looks
increasingly concerned, and you can see him stepping nervously from one
foot to the next, shifting his weight as though squirming.
|
|
Professor Okorion:
(At
any time, you may feel free to interject or take action. I just
realized that I hadn;'t saird that explicitly.)
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Aww,
I suppose it makes sense they'd want to prevent it but I'd still
rather see the pups..."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"If
he thinks there going to calm down now he's underestimating that
threat."
|
|
|
Vul:
"I
mean the 'be banned from here forever' is kinda a big deal i
guess?"
|
|
|
Io:
(Question:
Are any of "my" dmpcs here right now? I'm not sure if Io or Ty or
someone came with. If they did, which ones would you like to be
here?)
|
|
|
Eileen:
"It
was more the killing any one here right now to make amends thing."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Yeah,
summary executions without any sort of plan already in place is...
well, you see what happens."
|
|
|
Clarity waves an arm toward the crowd
|
|
|
Lucky:
"So
it's just 'volunteer or die?'"
|
Riot:
(( would Hector and Yltheria have
come? Seems like something they'd be interested in ))
|
|
Io:
(Sounds
good. Hector and Yltheria.)
|
|
|
Eileen:
"'Volunteer
or kill you envoys to get back in our good graces,' they had to
know that would be the actual thing to cause a riot."
|
|
|
Vul:
"More
like being conscripted..."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"It
feels pretty intentional, yeah."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"...
ya know, I'm pretty sure those Silverfang people will be unhappy
with this decision."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Yeah,
them especially."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"It's
a weird move, and not one that seems like a slip up, that's for
sure. At the very least he's put a target on this entire city for
whenever this is over. What the hell was he thinking, making that
announcement?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"So
we threatened the zealots with death if they don't immediately
join the effort to put a stop to their one true god giving birth.
Good plan."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Yeah,
I don't like it. The Emir's message does come across as though he
thinks that everybody NEEDS to work together. But the way it was
said... the threats. Nobody here was going to roll over and take
that, even if defying that proclamation will mean a lot of
difficulty. These are prideful folk."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"I
don't understand. It seems like a natural consequence."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Okay,
maybe I'm crazy, but that seems way too dangerous a proclamation
to make, right? Like you said, it puts a target on the city if we
survive. So like - and again, this might be insane - you don't
think someone is putting that message in his mouth, do you?"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"When
you're rich and powerful enough, nothing is a natural consequence,
kiddo."
|
|
|
Lucky:
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean, it's not like, it's not entirely needed though?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Assuming
it will destroy the world, you do sorta need a bit of a threat to
go with the 'actually we need to work together and not fuck this
up'"
|
|
|
Lucky:
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I
agree that there needed to be some way of securing everyone's
cooperation, but this isn't it. None of these people are going to
be making productive decisions today, after that."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Indeed."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Does
Iron do that 'join or die' thing?"
|
|
|
Clarity:
"They
do. And they were practicing taking over people's bodies. Like
Jydith did with that girl."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"From
a long distance."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Maybe
they are part of the plan?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
mean, someone like the Emir of this city would have wards that
could stop that, right?"
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"He
should, yes. If anyone in the world would."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"so
maybe it's their condition?"
|
=^v^=:
(( is there a delegation from the
devils here? ))
=^v^=:
(( well, obviously? ))
|
|
Clarity looks to Ra'ven, "So you think
he's following the Iron's direction? I guess I can see either
thing happening, though the possession only if they could manage
to break through his wards."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"Impossible
to know without an examination. Perhaps the Iron Empire believes
that they, rather than Si En Kelar, should be the standard the
world rallies around, and have sabotaged this summit to ensure
exactly that."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean not even sabotauge, it might be part of an alliance?"
|
|
|
Clarity:
"They've
always believed that. If you don't bow, they destroy you. They
only stopped their last advance because -"
|
|
|
Clarity stops talking suddenly and
gulps. "Everything I've ever seen has shown me they want to be the
dominant power in this world."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"You
cut yourself off to avoid giving us information your weren't
comfortable with sharing. I understand."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean it's a threat with a command to obey, in theory there should
be a show of force then?" she looks in askance to Clarity
|
|
|
Lucky:
"An
alliance might explain how they were able to operate in the city
unhindered, right? Not that they seemed to really care, either
way."
|
|
|
Clarity looks uncomfortably at
Yltheria before switching her focus to Ra'ven. "There usually is,
yes."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"But
I don't know if Iron has changed their tactics - I mean we'd never
seen that whole 'distant possession' thing before."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Oh
I hope that's not why the brought those cultists?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"It's
a perfect flashpoint. All these dissonant voices. That threat."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"...I
don't want to believe that they're working together in full. I
mean, the Emir is wrecking his reputation over this. Maybe the
Iron gave him guarantees that he'd continue to be the person in
day-to-day charge of the city afterwards, or something."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"They
haven't ever had a real alliance though, right?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns, "I'm not exactly a
scholor...."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"We
don't have enough evidence to identify the goals of anyone
involved. We can only look at what has occurred, and form
conjecture about what it could lead to."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"What
you and I would call an alliance is not what they would call an
alliance. They must be the dominant power. You must be brought to
heel, first. And if you don't, you die. That's the deal. It's not
working together - it's working for the devil's whip."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "Well, if you assume the
stated goal is genuine."
|
|
|
Lucky looks to Yltheria. "That's true.
This is all guesswork, until something happens or someone speaks
up."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
|
|
|
Clarity:
"I'm
sure they'd see it as a perfect opportunity. The Iron Empire saves
the world, and is welcomed as a glorious leader, or they use the
combined might of the empire and Si En Kelar to become the leader
by force. Win, win."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "It's just... I don't
think making Garmera actually mad at us will end well."
|
|
|
Clarity looks at Lucky and Yltheria
and her shoulders fall slightly. "But yeah, this is all just a
guess."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"If
Io and Ty speak the truth, there were gods before, and there will
likely be gods after. But the world that they watch over will be
something completely different, if this is allowed to happen. At
least that's the gist I get."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"See,
thats fine, maybe even more worlds cause more Wolfs..."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
get the feeling almost everyone would die in the process."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Hmm.
I'm not sure we should be assuming anything. But, well... I've met
people from the Iron Empire. Never been there, but I've met them.
No, they aren't sitting this out. Those people I'm talking
about... they were quiet. You'd almost think they were dead
inside, or shocked. But no, they just keep everything to
themselves. It's a survival habit there. Except when you start
talking about war. And then... then I could see this little
glimmer behind the eyes, like something flipped in their heads.
And after that, they were REALLY interested in the conversation.
Creepily so. I don't think they've ever seen a war that they
didn't want."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"Not
enough information. How many wolves? What size? What metaphysical
properties do they posess?"
|
|
|
Clarity:
"That's
who they are, for sure."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"See,
that's how you know I'm not one of them, I don't actually like
wars" she says ever so slightly shakely
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"I
wasn't about to accuse you, friend. Appearances aside, you don't
act anything like them."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"None
of you are Iron, nor could you be. Trust me."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"Without
additional knowledge, we don't even know if it's possible to
induce birth in a safe manner for mother, child, and world.
Everyone is leaping very quickly to the idea of killing it,
instead."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Killing
her would be just as bad right?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Well
ya, leaving the malestrom unchecked?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"There
is only one all-consuming force of destruction and it's not the
being that gives us light."
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"You
would have to ask an Ethereologist for a complete rundown of the
possible effects, but if the eyes were also extinguished upon
Garmera's death, the resultant cooling of the air column might
slow trade significantly, and changes in climate patterns would
likely make large areas uninhabitable, at least. But there are a
lot of "ifs" in this conversation." She rapidly opens and closes
one fist, clearly frustrated.
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean there is a bunch of other discussions that are supposed to go
on as well, probably those discussions."
|
|
|
Eileen continues to watch the crowd
wating for the other shoe to drop.
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
mean, Io and Ty talk about a time before Garmera and the
maelstrom. If I remember right, Ty didn't even know who Garmera
was.
|
|
|
Clarity looks to the crowd as well. "I
don't think those discussions are going to be quite as civil as
anyone planned."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"i
do understand, I'm actually... well.. really upset too?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
to
her credit the really upset is her nails digging a bit into her
hands and a slight char forming around where her sandles touch the
ground
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"But,
you know, wait and see right?"
|
as you are talking, you see a man in the fur-and-fang cloak of the
Silverfang Cult climbing onto the stage. Okorion appears not to notice
him until it's too late. He walks behind the despondent professor, and
delivers a backhand to his temple, causing him to sprawl on the floor,
either stunned or unconscious. After giving him a satisfied look, he
begins to address the crowd in a shockingly loud voice. "I am Packmaster
Asger Vayak, of the Silver-Fanged Children of Garmera." He very
deliberately uses the cult's official name. "And I have a very short
statement. Any attempt to harm the Great Wolf or her litter will be met
with the strongest and swiftest response we are capable of. Our members
are in your cities. We are in your factories, and your farms, and your
banks. We are in your armies, and your skyship crews. We are even in
your governments. We are even in your homes. They are watching you.
Their knives are concealed, but drawn. Cross us in this holy matter, and
your regret will be instant."
|
|
Clarity:
"There's
no way there's that many of them, right?"
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"For
the rest, we are happy to work with anyone that acknowledges our
first claim on the holy secrets Garmera watches over, and who
pledges not to harm her."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"...and
there it is."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"So
they just declared war on Si En Kelar, then."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean yes?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"That
makes sense?"
|
|
|
Eileen:
"On
everyone actually."
|
|
|
Lucky:
|
|
|
Lucky:
"So
I just mean much more directly and immediately."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Hard
to tell. Anywhere you go in this world, you can find the
Silverfang Cult, but they don't come out publically with their
numbers. They're right about saying that anyone COULD be a member,
though. That kind of paranoia has always worked well for them...
bet you he's allowed to leave, even after having said that."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Hey,
hate to be that girl, but arent' we like, sorta his security
detail? The guy who just got knocked out?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms, "You'd think I'd have met
some..."
|
|
|
Ra'ven sighs, "Maybe they avoid me,
not uncomman choice..."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Hmm.
Damage done on that front, but maybe you're right. We should at
least see how badly he's injured. Could one of you come with me,
watch my back? NOT YOU, Yltheria."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I'll
go. Anyone else?"
|
Indeed, several people who appear to be medics of some variety are
currently clustered around the stage, looking as though they want to
check on the professor, but are too afraid of the cultist to get closer.
|
|
Eileen:
"I'll
come to, can't do much from up here if a real fight breaks out any
way."
|
|
|
Ra'ven sighs "I probably can even get
him out of there silghtly dramatically?"
|
|
|
Clarity:
"If
you think you can get him here safely without starting an even
bigger confrontation, that might be smart."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Otherwise
I'm jumping down, too."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"Those
assembled... we are now witnessing the proof of our doctrine! The
Great Wolf grows and multiplies, throwing its progeny as a banner
across the sky, to say that it is the true being of which we are
only silver shadows. This world has been small long enough.
Garmera has decreed that there shall be more. And nobody can stop
it." He continues to pace back and forth across the stage, hands
clasped behind his back, smiling.
|
|
|
Ra'ven goes to grab and drop down from
the balcony assuming she might be able to save the feather, (is
there a good way to get within 5 squares of the knocked out guy?
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Not
within a single round, no. This lecture hall is a pretty big
place. But Vayak doesn't seem to be about to hurt him further,
either.))
|
=^v^=:
(( not single round more like,
inconspicious spot that close ))
|
|
Ra'ven has this
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
((Oh,
than yeah, absolutely.))
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
|
Fiery
Rift
: Close burst 5
|
|
An ally disappears in a ball of flame to appear next to
her.
|
|
Effect:
Teleport ally to adjacent.
|
|
(0) some guy
|
—
|
some guy
|
Effect:
The ally is teleported to a square
adjacent to Ra'ven. All foes adjacent to the square the ally
left take 5 fire damage.
|
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
(Hah
lol.)
|
=^v^=:
(( which might be useful for
extracting the guy without being obvious where to ))
|
|
Vul:
"I
dont know if we can like, swoop in and calm anyone down though,
since do you even know half of these groups?"
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"To
the one not assembled, but who issues commands from on high as
though you have the right of rulership over us, a right that no
person has, I say this: Your threats have been heard. You will
have our response shortly." He stops, and looks down
contemplatively at the unconscious professor. "A puppet for filth,
and a mouthpiece for a tyrant. I feel... conflicted about simply
leaving him here."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Well
that guy isn't calming a single person down with his bullshit."
|
|
|
Ra'ven speeds up tryign to close
distance
|
|
|
Hector Achilon jumps over the balcony,
landing softly in on of the aisles between the seats, rushing
toward the stage. bellowing a challenge. Vayak, whose hand had
just been slipping into his pocket, immediately pulls up short,
his attention swinging over in that direction. With their
attention elsewhere, Ra'ven can probably get close enough without
anyone noticing.
|
|
|
Vul:
"I
could distract him at least?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"...
oh that's distracting too."
|
|
|
Ra'ven makes him disappear in a poof
of brimstone as low key as she can manage
|
|
|
Yltheria:
"He
is like that sometimes."
|
=^v^=:
(( ironically if it's a stealth check
it's pretty low key ))
|
|
Asger Vayak:
(It's
an easy check, and I don't see the need to make you roll it.)
|
|
|
Ra'ven does the extraction then
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Ha,
I like him."
|
|
|
Vul:
|
|
|
Eileen hops over the edge as well and
follows after Hector, "Yep."
|
|
|
Vul continues being a fox that Perra
is holding
|
|
|
Lucky turns to Yltheria and gives her
as kind a smile as she can manage, "I guess that's that. Stay
here, kid. If you can help from a distance, fine. But this is
gonna get really messy."
|
|
|
Perra jumps over to gliding to the
ground on her wings.
|
|
|
Clarity watches Lucky hop off the
balcony with a look that seems something like recognition and
familiarity, before taking a quick breath and hopping over herself.
|
Riot:
(( taking dog out brb ))
|
|
Vul de-foxes upon landing
|
|
|
Vul:
|
Effect:
Vul can turn into any sort of tiny fey or
natural beast. Usually a fox. He can also talk or turn back
to normal.
|
|
|
|
Vul:
|
|
Effect:
He's a fox now, unless he was
already one.
|
|
|
|
Asger Vayak shouts as flame envelopes
Okorion, scorching Vayak's feet and cloak. When he lowers his hand
from where he covered his eyes from the flash, Okorion is already
gone. Vayak looks about, clearly irritated. "Fine. Meddle here, in
inconsequential, petty ways. The sky-traitor isn't important; the
message is." He narrows his eyes at the approaching Hector, who is
now laughing uproriously in a baritone cackle as he skids to a
hault. "...Oh. Oh, I see." He looks up to see the rest of you
descending. "And there we have it! The Emir's hired dogs, ready to
silence the words of the true faith even as our prophecies
unfold!" He raises one finger, and draws a knife, made of bone,
but ornately carved and to all appearances as sharp as any steel
blade. "If you attack, the hides of our armor and the fangs of our
weapons will find work to do, and not just amongst you guards."
|
Riot:
(( back ))
|
|
Vul is annoyed and shouts back, "So
you threaten to kill those here after saying how threatenign to
kill those here is bad."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"We're
not here to kill anyone. But you really are an asshole and a
hypocrite."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Zealots
always are."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Have
you said you piece Are you done? I'm sure others wish to actually
discuss what to do."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Yeah,
if you're about done, we'd like for people here to maybe start
discussing what to actually do."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"It
occurs to me, suddenly, that we weren't searched for our weapons
when we arrived. A fascinating coincidence. And, only
superficially, mind you, that means that the rest of you very much
resemble hostages." He pauses. "Anyone who wishes to use a message
ritual to call for help may do so, but be sure to mention that we
require the Emir's presences for a more in-depth discussion of his
plans for Garmera and her progeny." His eyes fall back upon the
approaching party. "You can attempt to call my bluff if you wish,
but don't complain to me when someone you never even thought about
lies dying on this room's floor." His eyes focus on Vul. "The
insult was no more than that. The Emir's real sin was to threaten
the one true being. Though I will admit that his discourtesy has
hastened our plans."
|
|
|
Lucky:
|
|
|
Vul:
"Absoulty
nobody here thought you would react differently. You were also not
stripped off your weapons. Why exactly is that?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"You
weren't hidden."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"No,
we were invited legitimately. Also a strange coincidence, given
the subject matter."
|
|
|
Vul:
"So
really are you sure you aren't being played right now? As you
dramatically said, you knocked out the mouthpiece."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"It
occurs to me that maybe you think you're not a puppet in someone
else's game."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"It
occurs to me that you think I MIND being a puppet in someone
elses' game, so long as I can do my duty to protect Garmera from
people like this. Whomever our benefactor might be, I think them
sincerely for putting us within arms reach of our goal."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
*thank
them.
|
|
|
Clarity:
"If
your god is so strong, what makes you think it needs protecting?
Especially by someone like you, who slinks around in the shadows."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"The
Emir is just a person, like everyone here. Like you. Do you think
people can protect gods?"
|
Riot:
(( yes I am purposely ignoring the
existence of Io for this discussion lol ))
|
|
Vul:
"I
mean, honestly your slot for yoru speach is probably running thin,
you might be best to leave?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"I
believe your group will sadly be made illegal here..."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak sighs. "We do not protect
Garmera because she requires it, we protect her because she
DESERVES it. Were your kind actually capable of reaching her, and
attempting to cause you harm, she would devour your fleets whole.
But to attack her would be blasphemy, no matter how futile." He
narrows his eyes at Vul. "Perhaps I was not clear. Someone begins
publicly contacting the Emir's court within one minute, or a
person in this crowd dies."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"Oh....
and being banned from a city that is about to be torn apart by the
blessed progeny is not much of a threat. Just a tip."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"They're
all like this because they all read the same books when they were
dumbass little kids."
|
|
|
Lucky makes a jerkoff motion with her
hand as the cultist yaps
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Blasphemy
blah blah blah"
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Always
the same script, right?"
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Every
single time."
|
|
|
Vul:
|
|
|
Hector Achilon whispers out of the
corner of his mouth. "Of course, even if they're boring morons,
that doesn't mean that his threat isn't real. Let's be careful...."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Would
it not behoove you to perhaps, wait this one out a bit?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"Save
your fellows being spent and not accomplishing your actual goal?"
|
|
|
Vul:
|
|
|
Clarity:
"Imagine
getting played by devils and calling blasphemy at others."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"We
are waiting. For... 40 more seconds." He grins. "All of us were
shriven through snow and bone before we came here. Death holds no
terror for us."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon barks a laugh. "Yeah,
that's just not true, no matter what you think you've done."
|
|
|
Vul sighs, "If youa re also just a
mouthpiece, might we talk to the person behind you who actually
makes decisions as well?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"What
good would it do the Emir to talk to you?"
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"You
won't know until we try."
|
|
|
Clarity:
"He
already declared the lives of everyone here forfeit if they didn't
comply. So that means he doesn't care if they live or die. You are
literally accomplishing nothing."
|
|
|
Vul:
"You
aren't exactly eloquent, you are using a threat to get to them,
which, I would suspect, they are aware of watching this."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Why
bother with the show of contacting them? They will come if they
care to."
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"The
threat was to convince you to cooperate! The Emir will be VERY
concerned if this summit is turned into a killing field, and
NOBODY is able to work together!" He waves his knife in front of
him, towards you. "I've warned you twice that someone would die if
the Emir wasn't contacted. Time is up." He makes a gesture, and
behind the party, slightly under balcony you came from, the
attendant to a Cor Falcan Dragonborn noble draws a slender knife
across her mistresses scaled throat. Blood sprays from the cut as
the woman desperately attempts to hold her own neck closed. After
a few moments, she collapses, leaving both an assassin and several
members of the audience dripping with her life.
|
|
|
Asger Vayak:
"You
once again have one minute."
|
|
|
Perra:
o.o
|
|
|
Lucky:
"He
was going to do it anyway."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
"Yup.
No reason to draw this out further, then."
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
((Okay,
tis after 10, and I'd like to call it for the night. Next time
around.... conflict!))
|
|
|
Riot:
Sounds
like a plan to me
|
|
|
Perra:
Yep,
sounds good
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
I'm
going to try really hard to not make this awful, ok?
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
I
mean not screwing up and making it out of bounds like last time.
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
I'm
still not done making the monster tokens, though. -.-;
|
|
|
Vul:
do we
have a map yet to be moved to?
|
|
|
Riot:
I'm
not worried. You pretty much figured out what happened with the
last one, and the second session of that was aces. I have faith
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
(Not
yet. I'll move you next week. And thanks, Riot. I appreciate that.)
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
Now,
go forth and spread the word of Garmera to all unbelievers!
|
|
|
Riot:
Gnight
all! Thanks for the game
|
|
|
Hector Achilon:
Night!
|
|
|
Ra'ven totally would but has different
faith then this ass
|
Riot is disconnected.
vonel is disconnected.