| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

Innlandsmuth, the Beginning Part II

Page history last edited by Master of the Hunting Mist 14 years, 6 months ago

This is the second part of the Innlandsmuth special event module, run by Master of the Hunting Mist (4xp) for Crystal Seeker, Heaven Sent Owl and Running Silver Ice. 

 

 

    Running Silver Ice finishes off the delicious stew...but sadly is still stuck in girl form. Irritating! He/she wanders off after the others, looking quite pleased and full, "So what now?"

    "Now we compare notes I suppose," Owl says. "We got sidetracked by...less said about it the better I think. You?"

    Crystal lightly opens the doors, ushering Owl in before closing it behind him. In a deep whisper in his ear, her ruby lips brushing his cheek, "We have to evacuate as soon as possible. This village is blessed by a Dark God or forsaken monstrosity from before the time of mortals. We are in grave danger...as the night approaches."

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "we have 5-6 hours before darkness falls I believe"

 

    Running Silver Ice is left outside as the door is closed in her face. She blinks at the door, tilting her head a bit.

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "oops, I didn't see your pose"

 

    Obed is hovering around, performing domestic chores in a deliberate and methodical manner. He seems most intent on something.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is lagging a bit. A fair bit.

 

    Crystal continues, "We must apologize to and inform our companion. I feared that if we all entered the same room, his obsession with her would lead him to become suspicious before we had a chance to move. By the way, try to avoid eating any more food here...I fear now what it may contain, although I've noticed no symptoms yet." Crystal warns.

 

Running Silver Ice turns around and heads back on out into the public room, "Well! Another night here, it seems. Does this place flood so often?" She sets a hand on her hip, looking around, "And for that matter, isn't this kind of an odd place for a town? Was there a mine or trade route through here at one time?"

 

        Owl nods, speaking softly in Old Realm. "<Yes, I doubt they managed to find a "boar" despite the flooding. I think I can get out, I might be able to carry you but not you *and* her. And even so, what happens to the next unfortunate traveler? I'd rather put a stop to this if we can.>"

 

         Obed nods his head to Ice, bobbing in a fashion most odd, as if his head was floating, only connected to his body by his neck, "There was a time, before the Great Plague, when we were actually on a river! It was such a long time ago...the river was moved in one day, as its told by the elder ones. The Fae ravaged the land itself, and twisted it into something different, as is their wont. I myself have seen evidence of our past fortunes in the hands of our elder ones, and have wondered at our past."Running Silver Ice ohs, eyes widening, "A lost past! What zort of evidence might zis be?" He/she motions with her free hand as the other remains on her hip. She places the hand to her chin, looking aside, "And zat would explain the marshy land, no?"

 

    Crystal responds quietly, also in Old Realm. "<This language is no protection in this instance, because while these people are uneducated in general, the native tongue of the power behind these twisted people is no doubt that of the Old Realm. If you want to find the source of the problem, you'll have to wait for the night and conceal your power while we track it down, till the time is right. In the light of the sun, shadows flee to the corners.>"

 

    Heaven Blessed Owl sighs softly, switching back to Rivertongue. "Great. I don't know any other languages...something I should deal with one of these days, but I digress. Got any ideas other than informing our companion and getting some sleep in preparation?"

 

         A wistful look passes over Obed's features, his small, sharp teeth filling in his mouth as he reminisces on dreams of times llong past and glories far away, "There were a few wonders that we still have, a necklace, a crown, a few other trinkets that I have gleaned over the years. Such fine mastery! Such incredible fancy in their design! Oh! How I wish to behold and live in such glory myself!"

 

    Running Silver Ice gestures aside, dropping her arm to her side, "Zen why not move? Head to Great Forks, or even Phan. Zat is not too far from here. Zere is no need for your people to remain here, cut off."

 

         A cruel glint enters Obed's eye as Ice speaks, the wistful smile turning into something treacherous, almost, if one were sensitive to such things. "Oh no, our family lives here, and there is tradition. We get by, as we are, and our lot is not as bad as many in Creation. No no, I would not think of abandoning all I know and have learned from living here..."

 

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice uses Charisma Excellency.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "State your OOC intention"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "What does he lose or you win by your Social attack?"

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice will just pose the stunt, to answer.

 

    Running Silver Ice blinks, folding her arms under her breasts, the vest flowering upwards a bit away from them. Tilting her head, she swings her hips to the side and asks, "Learned? Like what? Is zere somezing special 'ere zat cannot be found elsewhere? I am most curious! Ze place, it is razzer pretty--to me at least, 'aving grown up near ze Bayou of Endless Regret--but zere is very little to farm, and it seems ze flooding is treacherous. Would zere be some reason to stay?"

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Reveal information, I see. Make the roll."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "2d"

(Judge) Running Silver Ice rolls Charisma + Charisma + Presence + 2 + 2: [ -1- -1- 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 8 successes.

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "-2 diff from stone, perfect sym up."

 

    Crystal considers, "I do not know how strong you or Flashing Silver Streak are at using your inherited charms yet, your Highness. I know I am no match for these people, and could not withstand the attentions of whatever they are worshipping. If we wait here, they will attack at least one of us tonight, probably the single person...although I can't say. We can hide outside and wait for their master or masters to arrive to sort things out. Or you could take Obed hostage and make him tell you where to go...although I suspect it will still have to be night before their source of taint is manifest." Crystal outlines step by step.

"But beware, Obed is a master lier." Crystal warns. "Nothing he says can be fully trusted."

 

         Obed straightens, his smile tight, his eyes hollow dark orbits as his hands claw and pluck at the air in front of him. "There are things passed on from generation to generation in our family, things that only us who have stayed true to our ways have learned. I will also learn these secrets in time, and I will enjoy the bounty of the elder ones as well! There is a place, no-! A world! That I might go to, to serve at the hand of my ancestors, and enjoy the fruits of all our work and suffering!"

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Ice, Per + Invest please."

(Judge) Running Silver Ice rolls Perception + Investigation: [ 4 6 9 ]

        Resulting in 1 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yep, some kind of clannish theology, particular to this degenerate place."

 

        Owl nods. "I noticed as much, he seemed sincere even though we know what he said was a lie. Right now we don't know enough. The question is, are we better off starting, ah, hostilities ourselves in the daylight, or wait for them to make a move?"

 

        Owl shakes his head. "Either way we need to talk to Silver, and see if she's found anything more useful."

 

    Running Silver Ice ohhh, eyes slightly wide, "Zat sounds quite amazing! Ai, tis unfortunate zat I am an outsider, and cannot learn zese sorts of tings. No?" She smiles and wheels around, glancing over her shoulder, "But ze story, it sound verra interestin'. Mebbe you'll tell me ze rest sometime, yes?"

 

         Obed looks down upon Ice, beady eyes fixed on her tender flesh, head sadly shaking, "No, it is only for those who live and breathe the traditions that we have developed over the generations. You have no place here, to hear such secrets.", turns and walks away, broom trailing.

 

    Running Silver Ice hehes in his/her mind. People are so easily manipulated. Wandering casually back to the rooms, she knocks on the door with her foot, "Hello!"

 

        Owl suddenly whirls at the noise, his hand reaching for...something? Before he stops and sighs. "Great now I'm jumpy," he mumbles as he moves towards the door.

 

    Crystal opens the door, breaking her intimate whispering with Owl, "Flashing Silver Streak, welcome, we have much to chat over." She waves FSS into the room and quietly closes the door.

 

    Crystal whispers quietly, "Is he following you?" to FSS.

 

    Running Silver Ice whispers, "No!"

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Ice, please spend the motes for your Charm"

(OOC) Running Silver Ice just spent 4 motes of Essence from his Essence Personal pool

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "Is he following me?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Not that you noticed. He went the opposite way, towards the service area."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "...is it my turn now?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Or more accurately, are you waiting on me?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Pretty muchg. I don't have an NPC in this scene right now."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The order doesn't matter at this point, exchange info and we can end scene."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "In that case Crystal knows more than Owl does, I'll let her start ;p".

 

    "I will let Heaven Blessed Owl converse with you over our choices for courses of action as it is not the place of a humble creature such as myself to influence the choices of the mighty Lords of Creation. I merely hope that you are compassionate enough to consider my safety. I am bound by certain oaths that require me to ask you to hire me as a representative of the Longinus detective agency should you wish me to aide you in uncovering the dangerous nature of the village's source of power." Crystal informs the others gazing downward in a servantile manner, her emerald eyes shadowed.

 

        Heaven Blessed Owl blinks and sighs. "I think we've already established I'm not exactly made of money at the moment. And where did all that come from?"

 

    Running Silver Ice replies, quietly, "Well in zat case I should tell you zat I saw ze herbologist--she looked most slug-like! Like zome sort of progressively degenerative disease. Barely human!" She motions idly, "I zink zey will attempt to take me next. I 'ave made ze innkeeper most interested in me! Zey will take me to zere dark place, I zhall transform, and zen you can come in, yes?" Someone being subservient? Nothing ususual about that at all to her!

 

        Heaven Blessed Owl raises an eyebrow. "Or they try to make you their dinner. Crystal here has said that whatever's empowering them is Bad with a capital B. Right now, the question is do we let them make the first move, presumably after sunset, or shake things up ourselves?"

 

        Heaven Blessed Owl blinks. "Wait, transform? Are you seriously wanting to become like them?"

 

    "I am permitted to accept credit or later service on the standard of our usual payments from those of your standing. It shouldn't be a problem. It's just that my obligation at this time is to return to Great Forks unless hired to do otherwise as a representative of the Agency." Crystal clarifies.

 

    Running Silver Ice grins, "I am, as you say, quite a bit more zen I appear, yes? I am of ze Lunar Exalted. Do not worry! You are quite safe wit me."

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So, a plan?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is lagging.

 

    "Thank you for taking my welfare into concern." Crystal responds warmly.

 

        Owl rubs one temple. "Even if she didn't, I would. I wouldn't leave without you, even if I had to leave...but we digress. What do you think, Silver? Attack now, or later?"

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "they get to decide, I will inform along the way, without trying to push their opinions..."

 

   Running Silver Ice just shrugs, "I do not care. If we attack now, we will 'ave no idea where zey are coming from."

 

    "The are a form of creatures known widely in the Underground as Darkbrood, though I cannot say the source of their malady at this time. Expect the possibility of facing a Dark God and its minions should you continue, although I admit that many are not so potent. Because you have freely guarantee my safety and exodus from this region, a contract is no longer necessary and I will aide you in any way I can." Crystal says cheerfully, perking up, eyes no longer shadowed.

 

        Heaven Blessed Owl sighs. "I'm asking you what your plan is. Right now I see two options. One, we commence hostilities before they are ready. Upsides being we have daylight on our side, downsides being we might not know enough of their plans to put a permanent stop to them. Two, we get some rest and prepare for whatever surprises they have in store tonight. Upsides being we'll probably learn more than we ever wanted to, downsides being they'll be the ones prepared, we'll be flying blind, and they might have more reinforcements than they have now."

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Thematic check: what is necessary to succeed in a Lovecraftian horror?"

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "Sanity."

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "Being Hellboy."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl hasn't actually read Lovecraft...

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Skip that, you're all already super-investigators."

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice sure as hell isn't.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You're far better off than any investigator *could* be. Supernatural powers without the insanity and slavering devotion to some alien god to go with it."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "How do investigators succeed in Lovecraftian stories?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "...being proactive?"

Flashing Silver Streak grins broadly, "As a Lunar, I am not particularly concerned for my safety! But as you two are mortals, I recommend leaving ze 'heavy lifting' to me!"

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "Not opening the giant stone door."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Nope. It's in the name."

Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Investigating?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Whoops"

 

     "Their masters will only come forth after darkness, but either Obed or the herbalist may be in high enough standing to know something to aide us. However, Obed is a master lier...it's possible he no longer knows truth from fiction." Crystal outlines. "There is also the possibility of hiding in the day and coming out at night. I can create a blind for us to hide in at the earthworks and we can wait for confusion to ensue in the night if that is your wish, o mighty Lord and Lady." Crystal outlines.

 

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "By investigating. :P"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "And after you've investigated, if you have any sanity left...*that* when you do what is necessary. Do you have enough information to make a decision yet?"

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "I think so. Could we drop the RP for a moment and work out a solid plan? We'll slog through at a snail's pace going back and forth with poses."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Oh, does anyone have any Charms up at the moment?"

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice says, "I think we should let RSI get captured, and Crys and Owl follow to the secret hideout."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ok, what's your plan"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yeppers."

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice has Perfect Symmetry.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl has no charms up, but in a moment or two was going to surprise open the door just for paranoia's sake.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, I've got a lot of charms up...because they don't go down for hours and I recover essence so quick....I'll look them up and list them...they don't have any commitment costs because they're MF Charms"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Nice."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So, meanwhile, one idea I had was to go knocking on the apothecary's door (nicely or not) and see if she can lie as well as Obed can."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "there's one that will require me to spend another willpower later to make it through the night though;"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "I'm of the opinion that Obed was chosen as "the face" because he's good at lying. Others might not be so skilled, but either way it's not worth chatting with him"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "that's one solution Heaven Blessed Owl...might want to have Crystal along also as she's pretty perceptive"

-= OOC =- Running Silver Ice did tell them the Apothecary was incredibly inhuman.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver name-changes for ease. Alias rice.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Also, they hide their old folks, at least, for that reason, most likely."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Yes, and from that, Crystal, and for that matter Owl, concludes that, she, like Obed, might know something whilst the "common" folk might not."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, plus we know already the bad stuff won't come out till dark, unless there's some secret passage underground or accross the swamp somewhere...which would be dangerous in itself but maybe limit the number of foes, though that's not a guarantee"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Well, Mist has strongly hinted at that but we don't know for sure. What we DO know is they're putting an inordinate amount of effort into seeming "normal" for them to not be stalling"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "so either way, I don't know, if we accidentally set warnings off, the stuff might not come out later, while if we dissapeared, they might investigate"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Biggest question on my mind is that they took ONE person last night. Why? Why just one?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "for food"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "To avoid a big fight."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Which is why I suggested letting me be taken."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Unlikely. They have plenty of food."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "....oh crap. There's another reason."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "They might need breeding material for their half-bloods."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Of the four of us, counting that traveler...how many of us used charms the night before?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, but pork isn't an every day menu item ;), FSS is probably right"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver probably didn't use any charms that first night

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "Crystal had charms up the whole time"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl used AESS that night when he saw Silver's tats.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "...I thought you did have a charm or two up, Silver?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver didn't think so, but maybe?

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver also has the tattoos, so its irrelevant

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I just said you were Lords of creation, that's probably a big IC hint"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "A couple of scene-longs for the first two scenes."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver nods.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "The point is, we don't know why they only took one or possibly intend to take only one at a time, and it could be because they knew WE were Essence-channelers."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "and you said you were a lunar"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Well anyway, if they aren't going to move against us, staying until nightfall doesn't help us much. What are we supposed to investigate?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver has never actually played Call of Cthulhu.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Why can't you just burn the town down? What won't happen if you do that?"

        Heaven Blessed Owl keeps listening and talking, though in one moment suddenly opens the room door and looks outside.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "it's pretty crazy, my teams kept dying and going insane in it...Lovecraft is nice"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist managed to get through Beyond the Mountains of Madness.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver wants to find out where these horrors -are- not just deal with their surface dwellers.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You certainly won't get that if you attack now, right."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver isn't proposing attacking.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver has proposed each time waiting to see if they'll grab FSS.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "How hidden are your tattos, Ice?"

Heaven Blessed Owl pages: Wasn't anyone outside was there?

You paged Heaven Blessed Owl with 'Nope.'.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "we could say we're going out hiking...leave signs of a false struggle and then hide out to see who investigate who stole their "guests" when we don't show up for dinner"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "o.O"

 

        Heaven Blessed Owl steps back inside and closes the door again, looking somewhat sheepish.

 

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Not very. But I also haven't popped an anima banner."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "None of us have spent peripheral. Silver, what do you think of Crystal's plan?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Well...I mean, how would we ever get them to lead us to their secret lair? I could turn into a mouse and hide in Crystal's pocket and let them take her? Or whatever."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I dunno. I'm not good at this sort of thing."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver likes action.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "the mouse idea is pretty good"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Crystal has a very distinct appearance. Ice has tattos. Owl seems to hang with them. The traveler...had what now?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "nothing, he was a normal mortal"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Nothing else that made him stand out alone from your group? Like, he was, alone?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "so far as we could tell, but I didn't check him with Crystal's sight"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, he was alone and not socializing"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "There is that, he did keep to himself...Owl used AESS, he showed up as mortal"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist some kinds of people make for easy victims.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So? Going out into the swamp *may* frustrate them a bit. Or it may not, or they may be able to counter it, having lived in the swamp all their lives, probably having a specialty related to it, and possibly some Charms to go with their enlightened Essence. What would you gain out of it?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "they're keeping us here, reinforcements are coming"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I could act like I'm here alone? I mostly have anyway."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver slept alone, only talks to these two because the city is kinda paranoid.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver could go around and try to socialize with townsfolk.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "As though desperately seeking companionship."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "What else did you see in the shed, Silver? All you've told us is that the lady was inhuman looking."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Oh, I would have mentioned the huge amount of herbs, the vat of animal fat, and the horrid smell."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "we'll assume our characters are sharing info freely I think to save time"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "I just don't like waiting. Waiting means whatever they're doing keeps going forward. I want to break their momentum"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Ice, how's your occult/lore?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "We're Exalted. Their momentum means about as much as shooting a train with a BB gun."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Lack both!"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "we could stop by the apothecary for hints and mosquito repellent"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Let's go to the apothecary."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "if we can't decide on anything else"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Righto, I figured. Crystal/Owl, you recognize the makings of a full thaum-lab. Probably some obscure path, along with some alchemy. Possibly an alternate divination method to boot."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Sorry, confused me there Mist. Are you saying that's what we find, or that's what we've got from Silver's description?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "that's bad, divination can be pretty powerful...it makes it harder to hide"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will socialize with the town to ostrascize himself from the other two.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Ice, that was after checking out *one* building. There are a couple dozen, and at best, you have until nightfall."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Silver's desc"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver nods.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Bets that the "find escaped dinner" ritual was a high priority on the divination front..."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "we might find a lot of informaton in those buildings"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Right now, the only Points of Interest are the inn, and the apothecary. Correct?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, find escaped dinner would be high on the list, part of husbandry"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "The Apothecary is at the town square, where we traced the presumably dragged traveler's trail to before we lost it."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "but add to that divination"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "No, those are the only ones that you have detailed. They have a potter around here somewhere, most of the stuff that you've had served is with it."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So then we have: Inn, Apothecary, Potter (location unknown), yes?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver feels really lost, this is a style of play he's not used to. "Could I get some hints?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The entire town has a particular feel, but the detail does not resolve until you focus on it."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "A couple dozen buildings. Other places that might make a town work to be self-sufficient?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Tannery?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods to Ice. Five points.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Well, they've got to have some sort of fisherman or trapper, probably both. Travelers aside, the alligator and catfish have to be acquired somehow."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will investigate the tannery as a mouse.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "wait, what about their housing, do they have a lot of above ground homes or are those mysteriously small in number"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods to Owl. Ten points.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods to Crystal...all the buildings are aboveground, or they'd be flooded constantly. So what does this suggest?

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So lots of aboveground homes?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Or mysteriously small in number?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Cause either way I can draw some conclusions from that..."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Lots of aboveground homes, we can theoretically estimate how many hostile villagers. Mysteriously small in number? The "elders" are aquatic."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "All the homes *have* to be above ground, unless there's a population that's amphibious. I'm trying to point out what other industries *have* to operate here."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "whoever is bringing them the food, would know the swamp really well, they can remain isolated indefinitely...poisoning travelers to weaken them at their whim"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Er, well someone set up the damn,."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Which means a carpenter for the houses"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "What did they make the houses and dam out of?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods to Owl. Fifteen points.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "it was an earthworks for the dam, a mason"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You can *predict* what you'll find in a place like this. Then you look for what is there, and notice what *shouldn't* be."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ok, we have apothecary, potter, trapper, fisherman, tanner, mason, carpenter..."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Inn for travelers..."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You're sitll not sure what the dam was made out of. Logs could do it just as easily."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Wait. What about a school?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Schools aren't really universal"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "...yeah"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "The average joe in Creation is literate, or at least I thought...but that's as easily explained by parental tutelage..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Churches aren't either."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver imagines almost no one is literate.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Not an industry. No civilization or standardized method of teaching information. Also, 'generational', 'elder ones', and a strong emphasis on family prolly indicates a lot of home-schooling."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Wait. Churches aren't universal, but Obed seems to be into some local "religion" that seems specific to the area."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "this far out we wouldn't expect universal literacy"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Also not an industry, and if Owl/Crystal is right, they got all the religion they need."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "If it's specific to the area, and a heavy thing on local "tradition"...why wouldn't there be a church?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Do you have any idea what form their religion might take?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I dunno, what else does a village really need?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "No. My point is wouldn't there BE a place they gather for religious observances?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It's a good thing to look for, but it's not something you can readily predict."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ahh."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "worshipping Darkbrood elders or a dark God would be my guess"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "But then, wouldn't that be the odd place out then?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "The place that cannot be otherwise explained?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It certainly could be, depending on a number of factors."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Like, how proximate dop they want their holy place to outsiders, would be one consideration."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "I see your point, could just as easily be out in the swamp somewheres."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver could take to the air as a bird and circle around.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Well, back to the computations...they'd also need a farmer or something for the rice...someone to gather and/or grow the vegetables..."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "if they worship something, they would gather somewhere all at once, we could check for tracks"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "for such a place, a well worn path"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So, game plan?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver can scout about from the air for a gathering place.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Sounds like we want to find a place that has an "inordinate" amount of foot traffic, assuming it's not out in the swamp"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "and Owl and Crystal can stroll around town some more trying to find more hints"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "How many buildings face the town square? Or for that matter, what is IN the town square?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Stick to your strengths. How's everyone's survival?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Secondary to that, did the trail of dragging go directly from inn to town square, or did it meander all over town before reaching the square?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is lagging like a sonovamom.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl needs to buy that up, that's for sure.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver has Survival 1.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Out the door, through the well-traveled and wet square."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Play to our strengths, eh? I've got Lore 5 Occult 5 MEdicine 5, Awareness 5. Trying to think which could be brought to bear here.."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist lagged out. Last I saw was Owl posting his best abilities.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver strength is talking to people, melting their minds, and tearing them limb from limb.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver is a combat-heavy Changing Moon.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I could turn into Odel, but that'd put me dangerously close to Anima Banner."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I can generate 10 or more dice for just about any skill, but Occult, Lore and Craft are crystal's best things..and awareness, combat is weakest for Crystal"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl has a few combat charms and an artifact bow. Not useless in combat, but he doesn't like his chances against a horde of supernaturals.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So, some overlap. Also, what capabilities do you have? Ice's mouse form is stellar in this situation..."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "perfect memory, I can also attempt to use the Vision Stone, but the results are usually missing things that are outside of fate"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "it may give some hints though"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Used today already. What else/"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "but it takes a full dramatic time investigation action, so we lose time"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver has any normal animal form, also the Eight-Tailed Mole Hound, Forest Mimic, and simhata as his three special forms.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl has a bunch of Medicine charms for healing peeps up, can read the intent behind someone's statement, see invisible spirits, walk on air...think that's about it.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "no, I only used the Omen Stone and Dreamstone, I still have the vision Stone I can use today, which is far more controllable than the Omen Stone but takes a lot longer to use"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "but we already know so much, I don't know it would add anything"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alright. With these tools, how do you get to know what you need to? How do you learn more?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "No idea. I asked three times about flying around as a bird, or searching the tannery as a mouse."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "And I said, at least four times, those forms are *incredibly* useful."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I am avoiding telling you what to do."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I say Flashing should do it and report back, then we decide whether to check the thaumaturgy lab to see if there is a summoning ritual"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "So what do I learn from those places?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Care to pose, and make a Per+Awa check to go with it?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "at the same time, Crystal and Owl can innocently stroll the town looking for any more clues, that way we aren't just wasting time"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Righto. You will quickly get an idea of the layout of the town."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "maybe see about buying mosquito ointment ;)"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Ice has an entire jar of the stuff...care to think of something else?"

 

    Flashing Silver sneaks through the shadows, hustling along in teeny-tiny field-mouse form. Ducking along, currying through the dark, hidden places where people cannot tread, Flashing Silver Mouse investigates the tannery from top to bottom, searching for clues, checking for unusual circumstances. After sniffing about all he can for information, he finally leaves and takes to the skies, soaring as a sparrow through the heavens as he criss-crosses the village and makes ever-increasingly wide gyrations about the countryside. Following the flood to its dam, following tracks that reveal themselves, he goes far, flies near, to the trees, away from here.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Make the roll, 2d, mote recovery or wp?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "WP, and should be full up."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "but that is her jar, and we'll need it for the road later since we'll be parting ways once the floods go away, that isn't a suspicious request in the least"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "should be three auto-suxx for stealth in mouse form, 3 autosuxx for perception in bird-form"

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls Perception + Awareness + 2: [ 2 3 4 4 6 7 7 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alright. I'll pose it for you."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist was afk for food.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl realizes something. "Wait a sec. If the apothecary is the village healer, and she's gone heavy thaumaturgy, then how much, if any, of her shop is for medicine?"

 

         The tannery reeks as any place of carnage does. The fluids and prayers used in the preparation of animal hides are among the foulest in Creation, a favourite pastime of some Underworld denizens. The front of the tannery looks normal, a place to enter, to let hides stretch, or be treated in plain view...and then there's the back area. Where you see the unmistakable hides of mortal men and women and children. In various stages of assembly, they hang, or lie in piles. There are perhaps hundreds of them. One of them has silver tattoos much like yours.

 

         The overview is somewhat enlightening. The dam is an easily reconstructed affair; they appear to have some moveable pieces and simply pile debris up against it until it slow the flow of the river down, and then release it. There's a skiff tied off to it for fast travel to and from the village, and a couple of trappers sucking on some beavers they have acquired in their efforts.

 

         To the west of the Village is a rising bluff that stends out from the swamp. It seems like an area clean of the fetid decaying swamp that threatens to claim all who dwell in it. At the bottom of the bluff, on the far side from the village, is an area clear of everything. The waters there are dark, and deep. There are a number of villagers there...old, and naked. They seem to be preparing the area for some...festival?

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Odds are, she's got points in Lore, Craft, Medicine and Occult."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ah, right. Just a thought."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I read Clawspeak. Was that silver-tattooed person a Lunar?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Oh yeah. A wanderer, and a loner."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Wow, if these guys blithely take down Celestial Exalted, this place might be a little higher caliber than expected."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will go back and report all that right away.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You do not know the circumstances upon which that Lunar was taken down."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "How did they even manage to /find/ hundreds of people way out here?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You have better rephrase that question."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "It's not a matter of finding. It's a matter of calling."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Not it either. Though it helps."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Well we're out in the middle of nowhere. No trade routes pass through here."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Thaumaturgy to "draw" people in, perhaps?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Hrm."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Or something nastier to do the same?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yes, husbandry used to summon mortals"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Well that explains why we all showed up."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "A road does. Nope. Like I said, it supplements. It is low volume. So, what should the question be?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "it would also snag exalted, Seeker would be the exception"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "How long have the hides been there?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That's the right question."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "How long have they been up to these schenanigans?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver laughs. "I should have thought of that sooner." *points to the very first page of the Lumeria section*

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Or close enough. How long has this been going on?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I see in the dark - An ancient metropolis. - Its Gods call to me.""

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "And more importantly, I'm going to assume from Silver's desc that it sounds like the old ones are doing some sort of summoning?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is clevers, he isss! Yesss...

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yep, damn near. *Some* kind of ritual."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "A summoning that can potentially kill Celestials. We don't know how the Lunar died, but it's best to assume worst case scenario: He went down fighting."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. So, all in favor of making sure that summoning doesn't finish?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver raises a hand.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I think we lost Crystal."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "so what's the plan?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist puts up Crystal's hand for her.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "lol, yeah, what's your assault plan"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Oh, you're here! :P"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Is there anything more to find out?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver's assault plan is 'Hit them until they are dead.'

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That-all took one scene's wort of time. Two hours have passed by the time you've shared info. 3pm."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "only if there's something we discover in the village with our last tour"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "but yeah, 3pm, we have to stop it before dark"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Right now, in general terms? Get over there and boot some heads. In specific, well, Owl isn't comfortable leaving Crystal behind, especially since who knows what Obed & others will do if they realize the jig is up. Now, to clarify, is the place an island in the swamp?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Right, the villagers seem less apathetic about your presence the further you get from the road/village main."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver could stay behind to cause a distraction and catch up as a bird?

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It is a raised area in the swamp. The rest is pretty much flooded. The village lies length-wise *across* the road, so it's a short trip going from the north entrance to the south entrance, but going from east to the west sides of the village takes a bit."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Well, here's a rather rude question, but Owl is going to blush and ask it anyway: how much does Crystal weigh?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl is only Str 2.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver, Str 4.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The north and south sides are controlled by the palisade. East-west goes out into the swamp, forcing you to get wet (or worse) to get around the palisade."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I bet the water is utterly saturated with leeches."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "so far as I know, Crystal weighs 100-140 pounds with her traveling supplies"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I would not disagree with you."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Thing is, given these guys preferences for darks & water, associated with something underground...I'm thinking aerial assault."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I've got archery and a mechanized crossbow"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver obviously can fly.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Can't remember. Is there a window in the inn room?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "A shutter, no glass."

[Public] Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "Spider Library is go!"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Oh, right 2 hours regen...one sec"

(OOC) Heaven Blessed Owl just spent -10 motes of Essence from his Personal Essence pool

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Brings me back up to full, heh"

(OOC) Flashing Silver just spent -16 motes of Essence from his Personal Essence pool

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You have not been resting, so HS respiration only."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl has a level 4 HS. 8 motes/hour.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver was down from another plot. Spent 4m for the charisma excellency, 4m for the perfect sym

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nodnods

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver has 6 levels of HS's, one in a HS amulet for another +1

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So, is the timing right? Are the stars aligned?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver defies the tyrannous stars.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "back"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "In any case, I'm thinking Silver can fly there, I can walk there, and hopefully carry Crystal...book doesn't say what your "carry weight" is but Owl can apparently left about 450 lbs without a roll"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I get 15 per hour, but my charms are spread out in time and I don't have any instants that I think will come into use"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Er, lift"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "And for those wondering, when I say "walk there", I don't mean on the ground. Stone of Airwalking ^_^"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Mist, you were saying it's at the bottom of the bluff-island-thingy in the swamp that the old ones are gathering? Not at the top?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I have Pillar of Temperance, Pillar of Conviction, Faithful Servants Mien, Unfolding Pattern Intuition, Mien of Conviction and Upon Strands Lightly active...basically essence sight, danger sense, mental defense and bonus dice to non-social actions she does slowly"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "believe all that is what you missed, Mist."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Oh, and apparently Silver is back now, my bad"

(OOC) Crystal Seeker just spent 1 points of Willpower from its Willpower pool

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The bottom, correct. Right along that dark trench of water."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Thanks. Okay, Ice, I presume you're a hand-to-hand type? Or at least closer range than 2 archers?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Yep, hand to hand"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will raise Instinctive Dexterity Unity when we get there, but before the battle.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver spends for it now.

(OOC) Flashing Silver just spent 8 motes of Essence from his Essence Personal pool

(OOC) Flashing Silver just spent 1 points of Willpower from his Willpower pool

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ok, here's my proposed plan then: we go over there by air. Ice either travels first or otherwise watches Owl give Crystal a piggyback ride over there whilst chortling merrily. Owl & Crystal land at the top of the bluff, as we do so Ice dives in and starts kicking butt whilst Owl & Crystal provide fire support. Opinions?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Works for me."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is running this module, can't really comment.

-= OOC =-

Crystal Seeker says, "I'm game"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "I'm thinking we leave via the window, because I suspect right now Obed's watching to see when we leave the inn. Yeah, there's a chance one of the villagers will notice us climbing out the window but leaving by the door means we WILL be noticed."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Is one of our rooms facing away from the ground floor door?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "we can't just walk out of sight you mean?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Oh. Durr. We could do that too >_>"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You could. You have. When you went looking for the donkey."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I mean obviously if we go too far they have people watching"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "But if we just walk around the inn and then "take off" so to speak..."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "from the village that is"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Perhaps."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, that's what I was thinking"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So, ice, whattya think, window or hidingspot?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Climbing out the window means it's over if someone notices you"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Just wandering off is less weird"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Let's do that then. Especially since the inn is the only 2 story building, now that I think about it"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Either way though, nothing to be done about me & Crystal looking suspicious once we're in midair"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Just have to hope nobody looks up"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Unless you want to make a distraction?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You'll have tons of cover. a swamp is not a marsh. Trees everywhere."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ok, let's do it, we'll try to get out of sight in air as soon as we can with trees or what ever in the way"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ah, okay then, Who wants to pose first?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "you go ahead, it was your idea ;)"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver nods

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ok, I assume we're posing carrying out the plan rather than discussing it all over again IC"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Oh yeah, please."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist hopes he hasn't lagge dout again...

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Nope, still good."

 

        A plan is made and agreed upon. The "festival" must not come to pass. Owl and Crystal leave the inn, Obed's attempt to ask about their destination waylayed by Flashing Silver striking up a momentary conversation with him as the the other two leave. Once again he rebuffs her attempts to pry information out of him, and soon she steps outside herself.

 

        Meanwhile Owl and Crystal take a "shortcut" between two buildings, once out of side Crystal climbs onto Owl's back. Bracing himself, he uses his hands to brace Crystal's legs and then begins to move as if climbing stairs in place, moving further off the ground with each step. Moments later their path is indicated by a bird in the air, and Owl begins to follow as best he can with his living cargo.

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Sorry, as you can see was typing ;)"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Doh! Once out of *sight*"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "kk. You have a free-floating 2d stunt to use in the upcoming scene."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "YAy!"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You get to the bluff without incident, overlooking the ritual area. Where are you all?"

Clinging to Owl's back, Crystal considers how useful flight is on the surface world. "I think it worked." she tells Owl as they stroll through the air.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will land in a tree branch watching the ceremony. When he gets the signal from the duo, he'll fall out of the sky in Deadly Beastman Form.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So noted. Ice on standby. You two?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "Crystal will point out a good shooting spot on the ceremony for herself...on the bluff I guess"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "if I recall your description"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That is the best. Hard to get to, easy to shoot from."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, that's what I thought"

 

        Arriving on top of the bluff, Owl pants as Crystal dismounts, "Few think to...look *up*. S'why the hawk is so good...at catching a mouse." Starting to catch his breath, he continues equally softly, "C'mon, we've got surprise, let's not waste it." His hand reaches out, and with a flicker a golden powerbow is in his hand.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist shall pose now.

 

"I'm with you." Crystal says, unfolding a mechanized crossbow and clicking an ammo cartridge into place.

 

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will post after Mist, and begin the attack

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Please do not, Ice. You agreed to wait for the signal, that's what I expect you to do."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Me posing is not a signal from the two. Do you wish to attack randomly instead?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "No..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver would appreciate you not assuming he is going to act like a moron.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Except that attacking after I pose is effectively attacking at random."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Look, I thought you were posing because they were going to do the signal."

 

As the archers raise their weapons, Crystal gives the ok signal to Flashing Silver Streak.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist shakes his head. You all just got there. It is my duty to describe what is happening *now* just in case it changes how you choose to approach this.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "is that what you need?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Owl paged me and said you were opening with Dazzling Flare."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ok, LET THE MAN POSE, then we'll go from there, mmk?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Because things have changed slightly."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Then by all means pose and cut with the snark."

 

         The day is overcast, with the late afternoon light lending a soft glow to the sky, reinforcing the greyness of this swamp, and the corruption of life therein. Darkness and light are muted alike, as the naked figures below continue their work. They've laid out sigils painted onto skins in Old Realm outlining an area about ten yards wide. Staked out under a tiny hillock is the figure of a mortal, bound and gagged. Teeth marks line his body, a gruesome testament to his treatment in the recent past. At first, its hard to recognize, but the process of elimination has you realizing that this is the same traveler that disappeared from the Inn last night. Implements are laid out to one side, and a long table, or perhaps a makeshift altar is before the ceremonial space. Imagining for a moment, the area can hold the entire village. Torches are ready in another area, and a brazier with coals. The entire area is flooded, much like the rest of the swamp, except for the aforementioned hillock.

 

[I *tried* to hand them some extra clues...]

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "If you're done, how many moving targ...I mean figures, are there?"

 

Flashing Silver flutters down onto a branch and simply observes for now. He occasionally glances up to the bluff, waiting for the signal and stepping impatiently from one scrawny foot to the other. Seeing the person tied up and bound, it is hard to resist growling. But being in bird form helps allieviate the need for violence as birds thankfully cannot growl.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Six. Crystal, all E3, with that same icky darkness from before."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is lagging again.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ok, we'll wait for Owl's flare I think, since he'd like the dramatic entrance"

 

        Heaven Blessed Owl looks over the scene. "I'll start from the right then," he whispers, before firing three brilliant shots, bringing his patron's radiance onto these tainted ones.

 

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Ready for me to begin the assault then, you two?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alrighty. That's a 1d right there, care to make your rolls, Owl? Also, first, make a Stealth + Dex"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Three shots, might as well cash in the 2d stunt, supplementing all 3 with Essence Arrow Attack (Dazzling Flare) so this is going to be 8A base damage (assuming these are "creatures of darkness")...okay"

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Dexterity + Stealth: [ 4 6 7 8 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Good assumption."

(Judge) Hunting Mist rolls 6: [ -1- 4 6 7 8 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

 

Crystal starts from the left to complement Owl's shooting, whirl of her crossbows gears heard briefly as a backdrop to the two thumps as her bolts are propelled with precision to her targets.

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "By the by, should I have rolled the stunt dice on the stealth roll, or did I do it right?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ah, nm I gues"

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Stealth + 4: [ 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 7 8 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 7 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You can apply the 2d to either, same with the 1d"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "I'll keep the 2d for the shots themselves then"

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls 1: [ 4 ]

        Resulting in a failure.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ok, I'll use 2d for the shots"

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls 1: [ <10> ]

        Resulting in 2 successes.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "let us know when to roll our attack"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is lagging again. :P They detect Owl's incoming shots, but Crystal's are flawless.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Nerts. Oh well, shall we roll the attacks?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "4 DV for Owl, Crystal, they're DV 0 for you."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl was targetting 3 different people hoping to catch them unawares.

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 2 - 3: [ -1- 2 4 5 5 5 8 <10> <10> <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 9 successes.

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 2 - 4: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 3 3 4 5 6 9 ]

        Resulting in 1 successes.

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 2 - 5: [ -1- 6 6 7 7 7 8 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 8 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The third is unaware for you, Owl."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Suxx by four, miss, suxx by 8"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Third is not going to be a happy camper then...16A to him, 9A to target #1, #2 is a whiffer...yep"

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 2 - 2: [ -1- -1- 3 3 5 6 7 8 9 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 8 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Add that to your damage, no soak, and rollit."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 2 - 3: [ -1- 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 8 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 6 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Crystal, how were you targeting?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Oh wait, more like 13A to target #1, math failure"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl shuts up for the moment.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Owl, roll the damage"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "No agg soak. 4 lethal soak."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls 15: [ -1- -1- 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 6 successes.

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls 13: [ -1- -1- 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 5 successes.

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls: 13 [ 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 5 6 9 10 ]

         Successes: 2

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls: 16 [ 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 9 10 ]

         Successes: 7

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "4 to one, 3 to another"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "2 agg to target #1, 7 agg to target #3. I was assuming Owl started at the "far right" and worked his way to the left."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, and seeker started at the left and went right"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Same. #3 *EXPLODES* in a burst of fiery glory. #1 is injured, as are #5 and #6. #2 and 4 are untouched."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Make sure your scene-long Charms are paid for and accounted for."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Then we go into join battle."

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls Wits + Awareness: [ 2 4 5 5 5 6 9 ]

        Resulting in 1 successes.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver suckages!

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Also, I'd start to transform before JB, at Crystal's signal."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl has yet to put up scenelongs, but spent for those shots already

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "So I'll bein warform on my starting tick"

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Wits + Awareness: [ -1- 3 3 4 5 5 7 <10> ]

        Resulting in 3 successes.

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Wits + Awareness + 1 + 2: [ -1- 4 4 7 7 8 8 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 9 successes.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owlo.O

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "No problem, it's reflexive, can happen on your JB roll."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Ah, right, I have Enhanced Senses (Hearing) and (Scent) Do I gain +4 dice, Mist?"

(Judge) Hunting Mist rolls 7: [ 2 2 3 3 3 7 <10> ]

        Resulting in 3 successes.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Looks like we're going on tick 6, ice..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver isn't sure if they stack

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Not in this case, Ice."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Can't smell the incoming shots I'd imagine. Hear, probably."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "And, Crystal is up first, then everyone else on 6."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver nods.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "two shot flurry, at the two uninjured ones, I'll pose"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods

 

With endless efficiency, Crystal continues to hold the auto-fire in place while swinging the crossbow in an arc so that the bolts release in time to where the two uninjured combatants are in the bullseye, attempting to weaken their adversaries before Flashing Silver Streak engages them.

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "did I manage a 1d stunt"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yes indeed."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 - 2 + 1: [ 2 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 5 successes.

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 - 3 + 1: [ -1- -1- 4 5 6 6 6 7 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Good for a hit on the first one, miss on the second."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "overage by one. Recover motes?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That was #2 that got hit."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls 8: [ -1- -1- 6 8 8 8 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 6 successes.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "What's the speed on that crossbow, by the by, 5?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "5 to that one"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "By the by, you can use +droll to roll damage ;)"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "...and he-she-w/e falls down into the swmapy water."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Now that it has become relevent...Indeed, Crystal, how fast is it?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "speed 5"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Chirst. Reload?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I don't have to reload till after the tenth shot"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "when I click in a new magazine"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Yikies. Well, you're up again on tick 5."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "wow, two shot flurry going back the other way, so shot to #1, and #4"

 

The unparralelled genius of mountain folk weaponry in the hands of someone without instant combat charms is made manifest as Crystal Seeker continues to level the playing field, instantly reversing direction to finish off the wounded before they can even begin to respond.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "1d"

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 1 - 2: [ -1- -1- -1- 2 4 5 7 7 7 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 6 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Hit."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Dexterity + Archery + 2 + 1 - 3: [ 4 5 5 5 5 8 8 8 8 <10> ]

        Resulting in 6 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "By 2..."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls 9: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 3 7 7 8 9 ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "And same. Number 4 is injured finally!"

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls 9: [ -1- 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 ]

        Resulting in 3 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "One goes down"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Recap:"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "ALright. Recap. 1,2 and 3 are down. 4 and 5 are crippled, six is wounded."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Can I land to be in range of 4, 5, and 6?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Melee range, that is."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yep, git'r'done, Ice."

 

    Running Silver Ice knows one truth at this moment: A Lunar has been slain. Whatever manner of creature these loathesome things are summoning, either it or they managed to bring down one of the Celestial Exalted--one of the Chosen of Luna. ...That Lunar must be avenged. At the signal from the pair upon the bluff, a tiny sparrow takes off from its branch. Ducking and weaving through the leaves, the small bird is a mere blur of bluish-black as it approaches the ceremony from above. Inocuous. Harmless.

    And then, it begins to dive...

    And change...

    Wings grow and elongate. Talons become claws, and straw-thin legs stretch out. The beak grows like a quicksilver ripple into a horrendous maw of fangs and silver. Its black, beady eyes erupt into pits of flaming silver-white essence. Massive claws splay out as the creature *SLAMS* into the ground hard enough to send a tremor through the earth. Its growl is low as it starts to straighten, steadily building until it finally throws back its head into a howl to the heavens, arms lashing out from its sides to reveal its majestic, titanic splendor to the naked, day-lit heavens.

    A spider skitters down over its shoulder and clamps down onto the back of its hand. Unfolding into a moonsilver clasp that ejects four wicked mandible-blades out over the back of its hand, the black and silver beast turns its eyes down across the preparing cultists...

Its gaze is brief. Cursory. For in the very next moment, it leaps forward and begins its bloody assault.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Flurry a 'drop' action , and...3d"

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls 6 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 3 - 4: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 2 2 2 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 8 8 8 9 <10> <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 12 successes.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Dex 6, MA 5, Razors 3, Unity 4, Accuracy 6, Stunt 2. DDV is 11, reduced to 10-9-8. Base damage 10L, poisons on hit. -1 Stam, -3B/3L soak. Reducing them to 0 natural soak or Stamina 1 paralyzes them."

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls 6 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 3 - 5: [ -1- -1- 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 8 8 9 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 8 successes.

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls 6 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 3 - 6: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 2 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 <10> <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 9 successes.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "stunt 3, rather."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "I suspect that's the end of the fight."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, we'll see. suxx by 12, 8 and 6 respectively."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So 22, 18, and 16 lethal, they've got 4 lethal soak, so 18, 14 and 12 dice"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So, poison takes effect on the next tick, in the meantime, 4L soak."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nodnods to Owl.

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls: 18 [ 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 ]

         Successes: 9

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls: 14 [ 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 5 8 8 8 9 10 10 ]

         Successes: 6

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls: 12 [ 2 2 3 5 6 6 6 7 8 9 10 10 ]

         Successes: 5

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Yikies."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Methinks whoever the first roll was for is missing a head."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Explode, explode, and cripple."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "It's Stam+Res diff 5 to resist the poison. On a success they take an automatic level of lethal"

(Judge) Hunting Mist rolls 6: [ -1- 3 3 4 5 6 ]

        Resulting in a Botch!

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Weird poison."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Black Widow Razors, Moonsilver variant."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Awesome. He crumples in agony, preferring to drown rather than let the poison ravage his body."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Right. Done. So, the area is clear, and now there is a terrified mortal that just watched this spectacle."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Who's up for the "believe it or not, we're the good guys" speech?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Actually I'd better look over the guy, medicine and all that..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver nods, agrees that Owl should probably do the honors.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "A Per + Med for diagnosis."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "First, returning the bow to Elsewhere:"

(OOC) Heaven Blessed Owl just spent 1 motes of Essence from his Personal Essence pool

 

Flashing Silver lowers his claw slowly as the last cultist goes down... It's a very impressive display until his eyes follow the body down far enough to notice two unusual lumps that /shouldn't be there/ on his warform. It's at that moment that Running Silver Ice remembers that 'he' is a 'she' at the moment, and there is a groan as 'Flashing Silver Streak' realizes that the Warform has morphed to incorporate breasts into its attire. Will this humiliation never end?

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "notes that RSI is the one who decided to cross...um, shape? shift? Yeah I got nothing."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Sure its not an entire line of lumps? Female beasts, after all..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver nods, ICly though he would be well and gone after ten minutes in the town.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "thought*"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist chuckles.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alright. That Med + Per roll, Owl?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver is pretty sure it's just two. Bleh.

 

        Owl offers Crystal another lift down to the ritual area below. A few moments later, they arrive at the now more grisly scene. Owl suggests that Crystal take a look around whilst he tends to the no longer missing bound traveler.

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Flawless Diagnosis Tech!"

(OOC) Heaven Blessed Owl just spent 1 motes of Essence from his Personal Essence pool

 

Crystal Seeker switches to a full cartridge and keeps a lookout as Owl tends to the mortal. "Will he live?" She queries. "What was your plan for the rest of the villagers?"

 

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Perception + Medicine: [ -1- 3 3 5 5 6 6 7 <10> ]

        Resulting in 3 successes.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "3 sux + Flawless Diagnosis."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "...did we lose Mist again?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Damn. A near-perfect medicine Charm. Alright, mr. Traveler is suffering from fatigue, shock, blood loss and something much like malaria."

 

Flashing Silver's accent is far more gruff and cajun than 'her' human form. "Dis abomination must not be allowed to continue! Dem what traffic wit de dark, dey cannot be redeemed to de light. Dey 'ave killed..." He/she shudders, "Celestials."

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Int+Med to treat him, then?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yep."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Back it up with an Ex, get over five, and if you have the other Charms, it makes the treatment magical and restorative within the alloted hour."

 

Crystal checks to see if there are any signs the ritual may have still succeeded. It's possible that some sort of success did not require as long to make as they were taking. Her unmatched essence sight and danger sense process the possibilities as she takes in the ritual site with her focussed emerald gaze. "That is indeed a greivous offense, your Ladyship." Crystal responds. "Let's hope we were successful in disrupting the summons."

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Don't have the Sickness one yet. I've got Wound Mending Care tech, that should keep him from succumbing to the shock & bloodloss right?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It'll take care of the stresses his body has been placed under, and the open wounds on him. But if he has to make a Sta + Res check for disease, it doesn't do much for that."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Crystal. Blood was spilled in these waters, and now that you're actually looking for it, you see that the sigils are set up in a pattern that indicates...that little else is needed."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Actual "mundane" care can reduce the difficulty though"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods to Owl.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver immediately smashes a sigil.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Oh, fuckberries."

 

Flashing Silver turns and leaps at one of the sigils, slamming the moonsilver claws into it with a sudden roar. "Destroy the glyphs!"

 

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver also recovers Willpower from the earlier assault.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It's paint on leather, so more of a tear. They were really hoping to use the traveller's blood instead, but theirs does the trick. So much of it at once, and the timing of the ritual doesn't matter. It's been done enough times that the forms are not required, with the amount of fresh blood spilled again."

 

        Owl holds up his doctor's bag to the frightened traveler. "Relax, I'm a doctor, and believe it or not we're the good guys. Let's get you trea..." abruptly he turns around at the outburst. "What is it?"

"These Sigils and blood may have already completed the ritual. We should destroy the sigils and retreat in case an assault comes from the water." Crystal warns. "Take the man and let's go. We're as vulnerable as they were out in the open."

 

(OOC) Flashing Silver just spent -1 points of Willpower from his Willpower pool

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Owl, any objections to me picking him up?"

 

        "Uh oh," is Owl's response. "I doubt I could carry two people all that way."

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Crystal, You see the water charge with essence, centered around the proscribed area that the sigils proscribed. There are dematerialized forms shaping themselves there. It's taking time. Owl, care to interrupt your medical treatment to run?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Sounds like an idea."

 

    Flashing Silver hmphs! at the explanation from Crystal and turns, ducking down to pick up the man across 'her' arms. The position is not terribly comfortable for Flashing Silver Streak and she mutters, "Well, dis be unexpectedly uncomfortable, no?" as she runs with the wounded traveler. She doesn't even want to know what the rest of her looks like. "Now I understand Suchi's pain."

    "Get out of the way!! They're coming!" Crystal shouts suddenly, leaping back into the foilage to put some distance between herself and the water.

 

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver uses a dash to get 6+6+12+4 = 28 yards away.

 

        Owl runs for Crystal, scoops her up, and runs as fast as his legs can carry them, onwards and upwards.

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl is not going to be that fast.

 

    Crystal accepts Owls aide gratefully, clinging to him and keeping a look out behind them, her emerald-turquiose gaze piercing the underbrush below.

    "Beware, I could feel these creatures wield greater powers than their mortal followers." Crystal warns.

 

         The water roils like an overabundance of fish play under the surface, all greedy for the treasures to be found in the free air, as if they were never meant to be trapped in the stagnant water, wasting away in this fetid waste. At first, a form bursts through, like steam, a slick, black form, seeking sustanence, finding the blood and body of the fallen Innlandmuthian, greedily fastening onto it, and sucking its liquids out of it with an insatiable slurping sound. Soon, others follow, finding the bodies of the others after a short while. There is perhaps a score of them, all told, Dark gods better forgotten from the depths of under-Creation, where the Primordials and Gods alike banish their misbegotten creations.

         Leeches, all of them.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Owl, you headed up. Ice, where did you get yourself to?"

 

        "That sound does not bode well," Owl says, not bothering to look back.

 

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Out into the trees."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Wet swamp for miles. Trees, sure, but swamp trees. If that was not clear before, yit is explicit now. Do you wish to change your method of escape?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Er, well, how fast can I climb?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "How strong are you, Str + Ath?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I'm wondering if your jump is better than your climb..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Str 5, Ath 0. Cheetah's pace adds 6 to my Dex score for movement"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Dex 6"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I'm not sure where else I can set this guy."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That translates to five yards straight up. The Bluff is twenty."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alright, Dex + Athletics for climbing. Diff 4 for the bluff. Vetical, slimy, but a fair number of handholds and outcroppings."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "+2 for razor claws"

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls 6 + 2: [ -1- -1- 4 5 6 8 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "whew"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You make, barely. You're up in time."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "good save"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The Gods are upset that the forms are not observed, but nothing was asked of them either, so it was a bit of a free lunch."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Heh."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "So, you folkd have an idea as to what's going on yet?"

[RulesChat] Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "Are there rules for wielding a two handed weapon one handed? or trying to?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Yeah. Twenty Slug Gods just appeared and chomped down on some cultists."

[RulesChat] Cathak Zuriel says, "yes"

[RulesChat] Scarlet Starfall says, "The minimum strength requirement triples."

[RulesChat] Cathak Zuriel says, "What the dominatrix said."

[RulesChat] Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "Aha, is that all?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Uh huh. Well, if that's it, what-all are you going to do now?"

[RulesChat] Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "Do summoned weapons have strength requirements?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Are we all presumed back on the bluff then?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "that's a good question, I'll let the Celestials answer"

[RulesChat] Cathak Zuriel says, "Use the base weapon"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yep."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Up on the bluff."

Flashing Silver carefully sets down 'her' charge and mutters quietly, "I am never taking dis form again..." Though whatever that means is up to everyone's imagination. Maybe she really hates combat!

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "watching some dark god-like creatures have lunch below"

[RulesChat] Pleasing Sweet Viper says, "Thanks everyone!"

[RulesChat] Cathak Zuriel says, "I don't know if you can single wield a two handed ranged weapon though."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Mmm-hmn. What does all this mean? Crystal, have you found Amril yet? You two, have you found the way to Lumeria yet?"

        Owl sets Crystal back down on the bluff again, finally turning to look back at the summoning site. "Suggestions anyone?" He asks, looking at the leech-creatures intently.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Any Lore or Occult roll applicable to try and identify anything useful about these critters?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "good question"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Did the creatures come up through the water, or did they appear like through teleportation?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Crystal can prbably tell you a fair bit outright. Leech Gods are sorta 'common' in a way, in that they were rejected early in Creation's history. Having a whole bunch of them handy for a summoning means something."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Dematerialized."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "From a summoning."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "if Amril wasn't eaten, then he might be in some ruins around here, I'm waiting to see if the Celestials are going to destroy the village and slay the gods"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Ok, Mist, you lost me. Are they material or not right now?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Right now, they are. The were summoned Dematerialized, then materialized."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver has Lore 0.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "No ruins to be found on the surface."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So they appeared in non-material form in answer to the summoning. Then they materialized to begin snacking. Wait. The summoning is a thaumaturgical ritual isn't it?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Yep."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "That can't "teleport" gods can it?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Depends. On a lot of things."

 

"These god's were castoffs in the Primordial Era long before the time of mortals. They most often live underground. I've never heard of so many near the surface like this." Crystal says.

 

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "The question right now is, did it summon them "poof, teleport in" or was it more of an invitation, that they had to make the trip themselves"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "First option means nothing. Second implies they live nearby."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "There are exceptional circumstances for a number of factors. Exotic components available, Charm use, unique sorcery effects can all add a different effect."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "And if they live nearby...where."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Second option seems likely. Make an Int + Awareness roll, Owl."

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Intelligence + Awareness: [ 2 2 2 3 4 6 8 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alright. You remember those Sigils, made from Human Skin, with Old realm written on them that were torn up?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "With you so far."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver shall read them.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That had a lot of information on them. They're a little destroyed right now. Per + Invest to piece them together, once the Gods have gone away?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Confused again. Are the gods leaving then?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver only hit one of the sigils.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "They will eventually. They'll eat, get bored, and leave."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, then you can read 75% of the information perfectly well, and have to guess at the rest until you can piece it together."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I'll activate my perfect memory charm for 1 mote and try to put the puzzle together"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Hehehehe..."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Nicely done. You just rescued the module. I'd award you extra xp, but anyways..."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Perception + Investigation + 3 + 1: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 2 3 3 4 7 8 9 9 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 7 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It spells 'Lumeria', in Old Realm, and has many different levels of meaning. Occult + Int, please. Pump it up if you can, Crystal."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "unfortuneately there is a limit to my pumping ability as it were, I'm maxed out at the +4"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Each sigil is composed of four characters in Old Realm, arranged in a precise thaumiturgical pattern."

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Occult + Intelligence + 1 + 3: [ 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 6 6 8 8 9 9 <10> <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 10 successes.

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I hope it was enough ;)"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "That'll do, Donkey, that'll do."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "lol"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Right then. The ritual symbolically turns the proscribed ritual area into a part of Lumeria. Those Gods seem to be bound to it, otherwise it would not be necessary. The variations on the summoning ritual are complex, and a bunch of mortals simply are not capable of such a feat. Something got the ball rolling at some point. Wherever this 'Lumeria' is, there's a physical way there, and it is nearby enough that this entire community established itself here because of it."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "So no wonder they didn't chase us - they couldn't."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The wards described by the sigil also indicate a pact or exchange to take place. Power for blood seems to be a theme."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nodnods to Owl.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "That explains the progressive mutations."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nodnods to Ice. Higher Essence and age equals lamprey-face.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Well...is *this* place significant? Is there a cave or something nearby?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "How about I get back to treating Mr. Traveler and seeing what he's got to say about this mess?"

Crystals mind becomes a blur, reaching back through time to reconstruct the cultists ritual in her mind with the proper sigil forms before they were destroyed...step by step the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. Nearby must be a place called Lumeria where these creatures were being beckoned from. "I believe that somewhere nearby is the above where these creatures live. It is probably underground as that is their preferred habitat." Crystal informs the others. "The villages were exchanging blood for favors. They may even know where this place is."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Starts probably with their equivilent of a coming-of-age ritual. Hmm. That'd be a fairly epic survival check. Know anyone capable of that?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "What would be an epic survival check?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "7+suxx"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It's not obvious, and not nearby."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, relatively speaking."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, relatively speaking"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "do I know the name Lumeria?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Fudou could do it. Or maybe another Lunar. I'd say 'Hunting Mist' if you weren't running it"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Meanwhile, I'll tend to Mr. Traveler, and let's get the gag out of his mouth."

(Judge) Heaven Blessed Owl rolls Intelligence + Medicine: [ 3 3 3 4 5 7 7 9 <10> ]

        Resulting in 5 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "RIghto. Mr. Traveller is quite badly shaken up. Being fed upon, bundled away in the night, kept in their equivilent of a meat locker, and assaulted repeatedly had him in poor sorts."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "You take care of the blood-loss, lamprey wounds, and get his malaria under contorl."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will de-mind-warp him if he can.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "He knows he was in the basement of *one* of the buildings, and that it had a lot of spiders in it."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Lots of spiders, huh?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "He's distressed, and still in a bit of shock. happy to be around 'normal' people."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Any windows or whatnot? Any tell-tale signs? Even width and length?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "It's more a matter of not being able to orient properly, but it seems one of the houses has a cold-cellar."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Spiders implies a food source for same. That in turn implies some sort of bugs or flies."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Which I would think implies some sort of food storage...perhaps the tanner, the hunter/fisher, or the apothecary?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Bugs or flies, in a cold cellar... Do they have a food storage building?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nodnods.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Or they likely do."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver is betting the hunter/fisher

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will head in, commando-mouse style.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Humble Mouse Shape rocks."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Which takes up a number of the families living there. There is a chance they centralize their food gethering efforts."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Probably best. Take a look and see if they've twigged to our departure while you're there, would ya?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will hit that, if they have it

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods. Two hours to recover motes, those who were not healing or actively active, and with some motes to recover with HS's. Ice goes and checks it all out.

(OOC) Heaven Blessed Owl just spent -11 motes of Essence from his Essence Personal pool

 

Snuffling around, the mouse takes a quick tour of the inn, around the apothecary's, and finally returns to the food storage bin, heading into the cellar by secret paths used by swamp rats to hunt out yummy spiders.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "They're...active, busy, seem a little agitated. The whole town is sorta out and about. Sixty, maybe seventy folk are around, including old folk."

(OOC) Flashing Silver just spent -8 motes of Essence from his Essence Personal pool

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ok, we'll see waht the mouse reports"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver returns, FFT-style, "I had a good feeling!"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Heh, bets that they're either aware of the attack, or are just, "where did they GO?""

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "There are a few such food cellars, each specialized towards a different item to store. Only one of them has meat in it."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver checks it out more thoroughly!

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "What do I find?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, you're already familiar with the different types they have here. Mostly smoked or dried or salted. Different types too. Including 'pork'."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "heh."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "So no new information?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver will head over to the Apothecaries, and if it's empty, pose up a new action.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "As a mouse? How strong are you as a mouse?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Well I can nudge over a candle into something flammable. Otherwise I can change into a coral snake and bite her."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Then burn the building down."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, just gimme a str+ath check, if you please."

(Judge) Flashing Silver rolls Strength: [ 2 4 5 7 ]

        Resulting in 1 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alright, you knock something onto the brazier which is full of hot coals, and start a bit of a panic."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver sneaks away. "Anyone have any bright ideas for anything else useful I can do here?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver apparently spent two hours getting here.

Huh?  (Type "help" for help.)

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I wasn't sure what your intention was, to end the village or question one of the villagers where the slug gods came from"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Nope, I just cut you two hours to do stuff. If you end before then, you can go back early."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Also, in two hours, it'll be sindown."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Yeah, I know I'm confused again at this point...I thought you were looking for where he was being held & if there were new clues"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "I was, but there was nothing there."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "No new clues there."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Yeah, if I didn't waste two hours doing that, I wouldn't waste more time."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "Sorry, when no one else spoke up, I decided it was apparently a good idea."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver shrugs.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Fair enough!"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Traveller may have already told you everything you need to know about his lock-up."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "okay."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "So what's next?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl is always for making enemies lives more difficult.

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver is asking Owl and Crys that

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "So burn down the Apoth anyway?"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Okay. Right now we need to know where this "Lumeria" is, yes?"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "or who it is"

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Our current understanding is that these lamprey-people settled here because it was somehow near to Lumeria."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yes, and maybe some of them know where it is"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "The module is pretty close to being concluded. Well, you now know of the place, which is new. You know there's a whole bunch of stuff there. Crystal can figure out there's a fair bit of First Age stuff down there. And yes, somewhere, around here, is a way to get into there."

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "And, from the ritual, we get the impression this was set up somehow by some creature, potentially long ago. Jumped up mortals couldn't have done it. And Obed knows something about the place. Remember? He mentioned a city, "no, a world" that he'd go to..."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver says, "So back to Obed and mind-melt him?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist nods. Sorta like an idea of heaven, for the degenerate and dark cthonic energies that flow through him and his...

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "so RSI probably knows that Obed knows stuff, yeah"

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver can drain his WP pretty much immediately.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, what Obed knows isn't solid. Also, you start doing that, and all this can go to hell in a handbasket pretty fast."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is tired, and his thinking is slowing down.

-= OOC =- Heaven Blessed Owl says, "Yeah. Talking to him, not good idea. He's a good liar and none of us is good enough to catch him doing it."

-= OOC =- Flashing Silver is too

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "yeah, it's late"

 

Continued in Innlandsmuth, the Beginning Part III

 

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.