PCs: The Boulder, Div, Illuminant, Set Qaan Ra

(Due to time slot constraints the exciting conclusive battle to this epic showdown was delayed a day -Set)

 

 

Summary:  Three heroes have made their ways to the gruesome remains of the city of Jorosco.  There they encounter and confront the man responsible for the massacre the newly reborn Solar Set Qaan Ra.  He asks them to join his crusade to save Creation by forging it in the crucible of war, but they're in town for one thing only.  Will they be able stop him or will Set Qaan Ra prove victorious and drown the East in fire and blood?!  

 

 

 

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "ok so heres the situation theres one survivor from the massacre at Jorosco who has been spreading the news. However once this has started the news of 20,000 people getting executed probably spreads fairly quickly. So you guys can figure out how all you've heard (Div has had a previous scene for this) and then you can either meet in advance (which may be interesting giving Illuminant's and Div's history) or else fast forward to "And then we arrived at Jorosco...""

 

 

The Boulder heads for the destroyed city at all speed, only stopping when he absolutely can't move any more, pushing himself to get there to stop this monster before it can wreak more havok. Well, he keeps some reserves so that he isn't exhausted, of course. Wouldn't do to get thrashed when he's tired. Of course, his reserves are deeper, so, to someone without such stamina, he looks like he's pushing his limits. Always good to have an out, if you need it. He arrives at Jorosco just after dawn.

Illuminant is walking along at The Boulder's side, toting a heavy-looking travel bag, assisted by a walking staff. He huffs and puffs to keep up with The Boulder's ground-eating pace. This is the kind of effort that toughens up a sidekick!

 

 

The two men spot the plume of wispy smoke before they arrive and the air takes on an acrid smell as they get closer. It is a mix mostly wood smoke, tinged with perhaps a faint hit of burnt flesh and as the men get closer the stench of a slaughter house begins to rise.

         Thousands of ravens and the larger raitons roost in the trees, sleeping on engorged bellies before flying east towards the city for another day of feasting. Breaking the tree line the two travelers see untended fields and beyond that a weird looking forest surrounds the city. At this distance it is unclear, but it looks like thousands of tall pieces of wood stuck in the ground. As they get closer it becomes apparent that each is a crucifix with a dead person nailed to it.

 

 

-= OOC =- Div says, "Is it safe to say that the city is surrounded on all sides like this?"

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "We know your name, right?"

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "yes"

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "on both counts"

 

 

The Boulder stops short, staring in shock at the display. He swallows, then takes a deep breath. In an earth-shattering bellow, he yells, "Set Qaan Ra! Come out! Your doom is upon you! If you don't come out, The Boulder will be coming in after you!"

 

 

(Judge) The Boulder rolls Charisma + Performance: [ 2 2 4 6 6 7 <10> ]

         Resulting in 3 successes.

 

 

Illuminant sets down the travel bag with a plunk. It seems unlikely, after all, that there will be anyone left to steal it. "Golly!" he says, looking at the forest of corpses, "What a dastardly villain this must be!"

 

 

Sitting in the middle of the city and whistling while he nails another child to two crossed planks ripped from a house, Set pauses in mid note. He cocks his head, not sure if he heard something or if its just more of the thousands of raucous scavenger birds feasting on the remains of his sacrifice. He motions for the for massive ethereal wolf hound to go have a look.

         Moments later (the hounds are really fast on the dash) the Boulder and Illuminant spot the horse sized automaton on the city walls. When it spots them it lets out a loud howl that sends the thousands of feesting birds scattering and an almost deafening cacophony accompanies the rising cloud of black feathers.

 

 

          Div -- Divine Justice of Heaven, Ohnjay Ithsmay, Hero of Justice -- is coming from, presumably by coincidence, the exact opposite direction that Boulder and Illuminant have arrived from. He's walking with purpose, a heavy pack slung over his back instead of his usual quiver and bow. Instead, still wearing his buff jacket, he's holding the bow in his hands without an arrow nocked, his sword hanging in it's scabbard at his waist. He has a purpose. He's here to fight evil, the fight he always is ready for.

          As he starts to near the city, he sees the curious objects all around it. For a moment, power surges through him...and though he doesn't stop walking, his expression hardens noticably. Someone is going to pay for this. /Evil/ is going to pay for this.

 

 

(OOC) Div just spent 3 motes of Essence from his Essence Personal pool

-= OOC =- Div says, "Just activated Keen Sight Technique."

 

 

 

 

The Boulder roars right back at the thing, years of training to speak over a crowd in an arena giving his voice a very similar level of volume. "Only a coward gets others to fight for him! Set Qaan Ra! Come out and face your doom!" As he yells, he punches the ground, and sheets of stone rip themselves up to plaster over his body. He noticably grows taller and broader, the stone also inhancing his musculature. He heads for the city, scowling.

 

 

Illuminant follows along, clutching his puny staff with a white-knuckled grip. He certainly doesn't look like much of a threat, oh no!

 

 

 

 

         The dog turns tail and disappears back behind the wall. Let out a series of howls as moves out of sight. On hearing the warning signal from his dog, Set's hand snaps out and grabs the hilt of his blade, sheathed in the cobblestones next to him. He stands up slowly, muttering to himself . The dog obviously recognized the Boulder as essence users, even before the his display, he's clearly some sort of essence user what with his attuned artifacts.

         Activates flows like blood and races quickly through the city till the dog finds him. He mounts in a single smooth leap and the ethereal beast carries him to the top of the wall. He stares down at the two interlopers, more curious than anything else and calls out, "Greetings travelers! What brings you here?"

            The man you see standing before you is obviously unnatural. Either the remnant of Genesis technology or more likely has simply spent to much time in the Marches of the Wyld, but regardless of how this happened he's positively huge, you'd put him at a little over 12 feet tall, which curiously enough makes the daiklave he's holding seem proportionally correct. Beyond that though you're too far away to make out any details.

 

 

          Div looks at the city wall as he approaches it, frowning...and sighs, reaching his free hand behind himself into the pack slung on his back, pulling out a broadhead arrow. o O (Alright. Time to get to work. See if I can't get the drop on this...god-damn MONSTER!) He looks around, tears welling in his eyes at the sight of all the crucifexes, and then back to the wall. And he starts to climb, trying to scramble up a way quickly and use an arrow to create a foot/handhold halfway up. Y'know, to give him something to at least try to stop him if he suddenly slips. The ground hurts!

 

 

 

 

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "btw Sets caste mark his showing, he's a dawn for when you get closer but you're quite a ways away so its unlikely that you resolve something that small"

 

 

(Judge) Div rolls Strength + Athletics + 3: [ -1- 4 6 6 7 7 9 9 <10> ]

         Resulting in 6 successes.

 

 

(Judge) The Boulder rolls Perception + Awareness + Awareness: [ 2 3 4 5 7 7 8 8 9 ]

         Resulting in 5 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "Is that enough to see that your forehead is golden?"

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "yes definitely I think you'd have to botch to miss it. Its actively shining right now as I've spent 5 motes of peripheral. I've got a little flashlight strapped to my forhead shining out into the dawn light"

 

 

The Boulder continues forward, still scowling, but notices the man's castemark. "You there! Do you know where Set Qaan Ra is to be found? The Boulder is looking for him."

 

 

Illuminant keeps up with the Boulder, still clutching that staff, "Uh, Boss? I think that might, uh, be him. Set Quaan Ra, I mean."

 

 

The Boulder looks at Illuminant. "It is rude to presume the first person you see is an enemy. If he truely is an enemy, then he won't be able to hide it. If he isn't, and you attack an innocent person, then you are just as bad as what you fight against. A little caution goes a long way, Illuminant. Keep that in mind."

 

 

Set Qaan Ra smiles at the man. “I am he.  But I have heard of you Boulder! Your reputation precedes you, even in the lands of the Relzan! Would you join me on my crusade? We could use a man of your talents and my men would love to share a drink with you! Your friend can come too, if you'll vouch for him" He gestures to Illuminant.

 

 

Illuminant corrects the huge guy, "That's /The/ Boulder!"

 

 

Set Qaan Ra grins widely, his huge teeth even visible over the great distance, the Exaltation gives them a bright polished shine. "Yes yes of course, THE Boulder! So what say you? Will join my crusade? Look what I have done already alone! We shall take armies to the ends of the earth and sacrifice all the filthy city dwellers to Gaia and the Incarnae! They will defend creation from the Raksha and their armies and we will raise generations of men and women who are strong and unpampered!"

 

 

-= OOC =- Div says, "Hey Set, rough estimate of how wide yon city is? :D"

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "riiight"

-= OOC =- Div snrk.

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "Enough to house 20000 people."

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "yeah so I have NO idea. Wanna says 2 miles? Thats probably actually pretty low density, let me check google"

-= OOC =- Div says, "So I guess 'kind of big'"

 

 

The Boulder cocks his head, hearing the first part of the man's offer, then snorts, scowl deepening. "So this wasn't just a single event brought on by evil. You aim to destroy the lives of countless people, and you have no remorse. You even stoop so low as to try and get The Boulder, Champion of the City, to work for you. No, Set Qaan Ra, your time of carnage and destruction is over! Face the doom you have brought on yourself!" He starts running for the sundered gates of the city, aiming to get in before the man can escape.

 

 

          Ohnjay, having scampered up the city wall like a spider on crack cocaine, now sits atop it, frowning. The stench of death is on this city. He...will /not/ stand for this! He quickly gets down to ground level inside the city and starts to run towards the city square, narrowing his eyes and looking ahead. He can see hella', /hella'/ far and, if the city goes by a fairly regular grid, he can probably see right across the city without much trouble.

          To where, of course, there are people. Well, things that resemble people. Could this be his quarry, so far away?

 

 

Illuminant hustles after The Boulder! It's a lot easier to keep pace when he is not toting the heavy travel bag, which lies forgotten on the ground behind him.

Illuminant, in fact, runs ahead of The Boulder! He is off like a shot. Silly side kicks, always running ahead and getting into trouble.

 

 

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "I imagine you can see Set no problem since he's on top of the wall too, the others are still behind it but approaching fast"

 

 

Set Qaan Ra seems genuinely saddened by the Boulders refusal. he recognizes an inevitable fight when he sees one though, but makes no move to run away. Instead he begins activating a series of charms, using the time the men need to cross the distance to the wall and then scale the ramparts.

 

 

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "well and Set just flared fully totemic"

(OOC) Set Qaan Ra just spent 3 points of Willpower from his Willpower pool

You have spent 3 points of Willpower

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "the essence is already committed"

 

 

The Boulder grits his teeth as he sees the man flare up, and begins activating his own powerup charms. His yellow anima flares out, mimicing that of Set Qaan's, but a darker, more earthy tone to balance the bright gold of the Solar.

-= OOC =- Illuminant says, "so, rampart fight?!"

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "Looks like I'm just activating my anima."

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "For now, Illuminant."

 

 

Div see's the giant man on the walls anima banner flare. The swirling golden jackals meet the description he got in the bar days ago. His gut instinct tells him this is the man he came to kill. This is Set Qaan Ra.

 

 

Illuminant runs up the stairs of the ramparts, ahead of The Boulder and arriving on the wall. In one hand he still has that staff, gripping it in the center, but in the other hand, his own golden daiklaive - now that The Boulder isn't here to see it.

 

 

-= OOC =- Div says, "Is there anything particular in the town square right now?"

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "piles of bodies, huge pools of congealed blood and stacks of lumber ripped out of houses that he didn't burn"

-= OOC =- Div._.

-= OOC =- Div decides to check something.

 

 

(Judge) Div rolls Stamina + Resistance: [ -1- 4 6 7 <10> ]

         Resulting in 3 successes.

 

 

-= OOC =- Div doesn't botch it. Good.

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "see if you vomit?"

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "Well, Div."

 

 

 

 

          Div quickly arrives in the main square...to a horrible sight. He looks around in horror, and for a moment he can feel the bile rising in his throat, a handy flying to his mouth, but he manages to hold his most recent meal down, shaking his head. He looks up towards Set Qaan Ra, and...another man up there as well. Which one is it? He frowns, another charm running through him even as he moves towards a pile of bodies, fighting down his queasiness. He narrows his eyes, staring at Set in the distance. He needs to know the one thing that can confirm that's Set.

          He's staring at Set's forehead as his eyesight yet again expands far beyond that of a mortal.

 

 

 

 

(OOC) Div just spent 2 motes of Essence from his Personal Essence pool

-= OOC =- Div says, "Unsurpassed Sight Discipline so he can actually see that Caste Mark from like a mile away. :D"

-= OOC =- Set Qaan Ra says, "yep its dawn caste! Just like you heard!"

 

 

 

 

The Boulder is still running to catch up with Illuminant, annoyed that he's sprinted ahead. The kid's gonna get himself killed, for sure. He shakes his head and powers on, still a ways away.

 

 

Illuminant talks, bathed in the bright flare of the Dawn Caste's terrifying anima! In this way he buys The Boulder time to get onto the ramparts, "Fool! Don't you realize that Heaven itself is one vast city?! You are judged and found wanting!"

 

 

 

 

Set has circled around walls, North of the main gate where the city walls overlook the raging river Kemb. He seems larger than life, the golden jackals swirling about him weakening your resolve. His green jade daiklave in one hand and a black jade baneclaw are held at ready as he faces you. You realize up close that his already impressive bulk in enhanced by the superheavy plate armor he's wearing. A look of deep sorrow is etched into his face. "We don't have to do this," he says. "We can be allies in defending creation from the Wyld and the weak! The cities breed decadence and weakness in the masses! This will not hold the borders of reality! Look what happened before! In the time of the great contagion! The masses died and CREATION itself, not just its people was almost obliterated. The gods need strength to hold the borders and the people need to be strong to stand before the whiles of the Raksha. We must put them through the crucible for the good of the many!