Run by: Master of the Hunting Mist

Players: The Boulder, Mudo the Clown, Crystal Seeker

 

         The cries for help from the townsfolk went unheeded for a while; people were always suffering in Creation. Indeed, it seemed to be a mortal's lot, and Yu-Shan knows it doesn't care as long as the prayers keep rolling in, deserved or not. Some might even suggest that the suffering *enhanced* the number of prayers, and so many were reluctant to acknowledge that anything was wrong. However, come tax-time, when the harvests were taken in of the various crops and collected by the sheriff of the area and his men, the heads counted and the chattel tabulated, an uproar emerged the likes of which were never heard of in this tiny kingdom of Chaud; many of the peasants were in a listless, catatonic state, no or little work has been done since the last growing season, many were dead, many more missing, and some were ravening madmen, screaming about the crows who had taken their eyes, despite the fact that it was obvious to all they they were unharmed...

         The call goes out. Heroes are needed! This desperate kingdom has fallen on hard times, and needs help! Who can answer the call? Who can stand up for justice, righteousness, goodness and mortals?

         The Boulder will swear, to the death, that that a good hero is prepared ahead of time and can anticipate the needs of the people. He will, if asked, swear up and down that he was already on his way to help /before/ the call went out. And, he might even be right, though that could be because he's kinda going that way anyway.

         Regardless, the bronzed titan strides heroically into Chaud, /demanding/ by his very presence that evil roll over and give itself up.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Everyone else?"

 

        "Why oh why am I following this Gargantuan Gladiator to sure suffering!" laments the Marxwell, as he experiments with a new character. Someone has to play the hapless sidekick as Illuminant is caring for his sick grandmother. He tried to be plucky like Illuminant but he felt it needed something a bit more pathetic. Forcing him to keep going would give the Boulder something to do between crushing the skulls of the Lawless.

         Besides, the little clown thinks to himself with a shrugh, he can at least help cheer these dispirited people.

       Although the surface world is not normally her affair except in service to Crystal Seeker's new associate Hunting Mist, the cries of the tax-men are heard in more than prayer alone, and a nation that is no longer prosperous takes away from the purview of Ryudori. If he is to bring prosperity to her people, he reasons, should she not also restore prosperity to others...can a god of prosperity be said to be greedy? Crystal Seeker walks the thin line of the Geas by attuning her motivation to ideals which Hunting Mist has upheld in regards to heroism and her developing role as his attendant to act as a stand in while he is distracted elsewhere and seeks deep within her visions a means to place herself in an appropriate role to aide any other force that may also be seeking to alleviate the mysterious distress to the people of the region.

 

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "seeker are you a god?"

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "MF"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "No, she's a Mountain Folk. Full of Win. Only a DK can do better. :D"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "cool. They are awesome"

 

         The Stately Palace of Chaud is a grand place, for a kingdom that is run primarily upon agrarian produce, and looms slightly more than the trees your just came out from under as you arrived. The guards are cleaned and somewhat well-groomed, and can probably count to ten if they aren't wearing their gauntlets. You gravely mention your purpose, and they let you in with due haste and the respect accorded a guest of the Crown. You are offered refreshments and a chance to rest briefly from your journey as you are granted an audience with post haste, and so have a couple of hours to yourselves as the various ministers and officials of the Court come and go, trying hard to balance the kingdom that has suffered such a drastic blow to their peoples. After this concludes, you three are ushered into the presence of the King himself, a harried looking man with a Jade Crown upon his brow, fitted with precious stones and a sceptre of silver, fancily crafted and hanging almost limply in the King's grasp. Wearily, he looks to you, and a glimmer of hope enters his eyes. "You are the Heroes who answered the call?"

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist fistbumps Seeker

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

 

         The Boulder strides bouldly forward, silver armor glittering, bloodspike harness looking quite dangerous, and stands tall, chest thrust out. "The Boulder has heard of your kingdom's plight and has come to free you from it! Rejoice, for your worries are come to an end!" He's really good at this, isn't he?

 

(Judge) The Boulder rolls Charisma + Performance: [ -1- 2 2 2 5 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "He's certainly not *bad* at it!"

 

As "The Boulder" was headed out to Chaud, Crystal Seeker would have introduced herself as a servant of the Heros of the East and pleaded to be the Boulder's attendant and aide on his journey, recanting with perfect memory his many exploits so as to assure her qualifications in this role. She will stand to the side an behind him with a quill and notepad, obviously recording the exploits to come.

         Marxwell steps forward and glances nervously to either side and before speaking in a furtive voice, "And I'm uh, Mudo, Chosen hero and Priest of the first order of Panto God of Clowns, Mimes, and physical comedy." When a loud, comic bang goes off suspiciously, he dashes comically, head furst behind the Boulder, peeking his head up to gauge the reaction of the crowd his antics...

 

(Judge) Mudo the Clown rolls Manipulation  + 2: [ 3 5 6 7 7 <10> ]

        Resulting in 4 successes.

(Judge) Mudo the Clown rolls Performance: [ 2 4 6 <10> ]

        Resulting in 2 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Wow, nicely done, Mudo."

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "Sorry I always mispell performance"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "also how do I turn off guest chat"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I think it goes 'guest off'..."

 

         King Rold, mighty liege of this land, briefly smiles and claps his hands to Mudo's Antics, and sits straighty upon his throne upon The Boulders declaration. Gripping his Sceptre more firmly he nods. He proclaims, "To business, then!".

         The King slouches, and sighs in despair as he relates the details of this tragedy, "Oh, woe is We, who must suffer this Fate at this time! Our citizens have all been struck dumb, as if in a spell, and little can We do to rouse them! The crops fail and go to seed, the repairs go undone; it is as if the entire Kingdom of Chaud is being unraveled like a poorly knit coat! I place the security and future of my Kingdom into your able hands! Prove yourselves true, and myself right as King, and go forth to correct this mischief that has befallen us!"

         Chuckling softly at Mudo's antics to aide in lightening the mood. "I am merely "The Boulder's" attendant, Crystal Seeker. You can rest assured that his exploits are not exaggerated when it comes to bringing wrongdoers in to line and stopping their nefarious activities. Please enlighten us on the nature of your dilemma." Crystal says with smiling ruby lips as her soft laughter echoes like chiming crystal through the chamber.

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "oops, maybe move that pose up a bit in the edit"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "I want to have done research about this kingdom's politics on the way here: is the king just? honest? good human right record?"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "I can roll contacts and whatever ability is appropriate"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "now that I read the other, my pose can stay there"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Um, roll Manip + Investigate if you're gathering information as you move through the kingdom itself, Lore + Int if you're noting the history, Larceny + Manip + COntacta if you're checking your contacts on the sly for a report of sorts."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is afk for a bit. Coffee and such.

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

(Judge) Mudo the Clown rolls Larceny + Manipulation + Contacts 2: [ 2 5 6 9 9 9 ]

        Resulting in 3 successes.

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "sorry that took so long, I had to afk for a sec"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "he's also afk, he'll say when he's back"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, " so remind me seeker, How alien do you look?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "she looks like a god-blooded"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "possibly half-gemlord"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "or gemlord-blooded would be a beter term"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "that's a mouthful."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "but it can also be seen how she would be a sort of MountainFolk, once she tells people, it's just that god-blooded would be the first conclusion"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "cause there are lots of god-blooded on the surface"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "well going with the godblooded assumption, would you be offended if I played up Marxwell's womanizing on you? (he's based on the Marx brothers who were mostly shameless womanizers, except harpo who was totally faithful to his wife for many decades)"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "sure, go ahead, although her charms would have changed her motivation to serving the Boulder in his role here as hero and probably would defend against things that would distract from that"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "perfect. just perfect."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "so you can attempt as much hilarious and blatant womanizing as you like, but she will probably be all about business"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist is back, now haz Hot Chocolate & Bailey's!

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ok, we can make our roles for him then"

 

The Boulder nods, then strikes a HEROIC POSE! "Do not worry, Your Lordship! Your citizens shall be free and happy once more! The Boulder is your champion now!" With that, he whirls on his feet and HEROIC POSE walks out of the room to do JUSTICE!

 

(Judge) The Boulder rolls Charisma + Performance: [ 2 5 7 8 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 7 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Awesomeness!"

(Judge) Crystal Seeker rolls Manipulation + Investigation + Temperance + 1: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 2 3 4 6 9 <10> <10> ]

        Resulting in 5 successes.

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "can you tell me what I know about the king before I roll. I got 3 successes on that..."

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

        Resulting in 10 successes.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Mudo: right then. It really is a bit of a backwater kingdom. They grow food, and that is their chief source of income and influence."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist blinks at Seeker

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "is the leadership corrupt? lazy? incompitent?"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "are there ties to the Guild or criminal organizations? in short what would John Stewart make fun of if he came here?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Mudo: They're able, just so. They certainly aren't made for sterner stuff. The King is rumoured to be descended from a fertility Goddess and is possibly God-Blooded himself."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Jon Stewart would send a correspondent here to shame a much larger nation to do something better than they are."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Seeker: Right, you want the synopsis, or the entire financial history of this kingdom, its lineage, treaties, allies, secret arrangements, geography, rules of succession, hydrogophry, a rainfall per annum et al.?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "I haven't actually purchased the contacts yet because I was away so long, but that will be bought for Longinus's scattered academy at a five, should I just ignore that roll this time around, I'm pretty certain Crystal has their history well in hand and made enough on the investigation to begin noting the discrepancies"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Quite possibly before *they* did."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "I shall now pose, unless any of you have other questions?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Seeker, you have an *abundance* of information which may come into play as we go on. For now, I shall just say you have a *massive* amount of data to play with."

 

         King Rold's face lightens up, and a gleam comes to his eye, nay, a tear! He sniffs, once, and produces a hanky from an inside lining of his Robes of Office and dabs at it. "It does Our heart much good to know that justice walks this land still, and that the mighty may help those in need. Talk to my Exchequer, for he is the one who had the most contact with this plague, and the people afflicted. To think, The Boulder himself has come to help my tiny Kingdom! Ah well, will wonders never cease! Go forth, and do Right by all!"

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "she also has perfect memory, so I recommend you fill in detail as appropriate and Crystal will elaborate to others as appropriate"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Memory might be perfect, but context is not. If you want a particular piece of information, you willneed to ask for it. But if it exists, you likely have it memorized somewhere."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "that's good enough for me"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Alrighty, pose, all. I'll work on the Exchequer in the meantime."

 

        "What am I chopped yeddim? Clown heroes are nothing to laugh at." grumbles the clown. He meanders over to the pretty elemental in the longcoat. Turning on all of his charm he says, "Say sparkle eyes, what's a gem like you doing in a hole like this?"

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist spittakes on Mudo's pose

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

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "btw I regain motes whenever I make people laugh. It's my only really useful edge, so let me know the magnitude/highest occult rating of any crowd I please"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "my pool is tiny so this could save my life XD"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Mudo, you know Mist is gonna lean on you like an Older Brother if you keep that up..."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Two motes, Mudo. The entire throneroom and staff heard. While smallish, it does have staff."

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "cool that covers the cost of the excellency I used."

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "and I won't track it too closely if you won't ;)"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Rules-lite, unless it becomes important."

 

         Crystal Seeker bows politely, her sparkling yellow-topaz hair highlighting the yellow traveling sash often associated with mercury arrayed along her attendants robes, the clothing from Longinus's Agency having been left behind on this mission. "Fear not o King. Heroism is not lost in this Age and the strong do not always turn away from their duties." Practicing perfect protocol she turns and follows in "The Boulder's" wake as if having never heard Mudo, with only the hint of a glimmer in her Emerald-Turquoise eyes.

 

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "ahahaha"

 

         A servant awaits as you exit, having heard the King's suggestion, and offers politely and demurely to show you the way to the Exchequer's office. The walk is short, compared to many other palaces you may have been to in Creation, but the folk here seem happy enough with it. The Office of the Exchequer is a small cubbyhole of room, with a window, shuttered, and two candles going, plus a lantern filled with some viscious luminescent liquid in a crystal container within the lantern's frame. The man himself, wearing his Chain of office holding together a rather ratty fur cloak over his shoulders, is stooped over his worktable, replete with papers, ledgers, maps of the region divided up according to some arcane methodology, an inkwell, blotter, spare clean sheafs, a straight edge, pen holder, with pen and incense burner. Everything out of arm's reach is neatly stancked andplaced, while everything that he may be currently working on looks disheveled and moved constantly.

         Mudo the Clown says, "Jeez. Talk about Stone Cold."

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "He's off-season right now. Ask Boulder."

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "what?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ah, now he gets the punchline in"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist grins

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "sorry my spaghetti boiled over"

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

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "that was actually a good joke ooc, I'm impressed"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "me too. I'm really stretching my chops with Mudo"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Well, hell, *I* laughed. Now I just find it odd that we have The Boulder, an actual Wrestler called Stone Cold, Seeker..."

 

         The Exchequer, a hook-nosed man of some age, with thinning hair and a receding hairline/advancing forehead looks up at the group of you and squints. His skin is pale, eyes watery, and he is looking you over even as he words tumble out of his mouth, "Now Percival, what is the meaning of this? You know the shortfall caused by...", and stops as his mind finally catches up to what his eyes tried to inform them of.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "For those who wish to know, an Exchequer is basically the King's own accountant, responsible for the Treasury and Taxation."

 

        "Between you and the Boulder, Gem, you seem to have a real calcifying effect on people" Mudo cracks to Crystal Seeker. Turning to the Exchequer, "Allow me to deal with the money man, I speak crook."

        "my name is Mudo and this is the Boulder and his rockette Crystal Seeker. You're king hired us to deal with this plague. Now first things first, where's the harem?

Mudo the Clown waggles his eyebrows communicating his sincerity.

 

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "okay i'm done"

 

         The Exchequer blinks once, slowly, "Excuse me?"

         Mudo the Clown says, "you're excused."

         Softly spoken, so as to be a mere undertone easily dismissed should the deep voice of "The Boulder" echo forth in all its glory, Crystal Seeker takes note of the posture of another figure whose life revolves around knowledge and its uses. "Exchequer, please provide us with the details concerning the recent woes of your kingdom so that "The Boulder" may lay low any villany that may be present." Crystal Seeker says humbly from the Boulder's side, quill in hand to take notes and show that what the man says will be taken seriously.

         Mudo the Clown says, "the Boulder will take care of the Villanry, Miss Seeker and I can handle the laying low, preferably together."

 

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "feels like a heel."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Never let them see you sweat, Mudo-man."

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "you're on a roll actually, I'm impressed"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "I would never say anything so creepy OOC, unless I really trusted the woman to know I was kidding"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "if you dress up like a clown first, I think that would hint that the woman shouldn't take you seriously"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist snerks

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "Is the Boulder still with us?"

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "he hasn't said anything in a while"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown was kinda asking the boulder but putting it in 3rd person because well its the boulder

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist pokes The Boulder with a stick.

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "We may be moving too slowly for him...I dunno, never rp'd with him before..."

-= OOC =- The Boulder says, "Sorry."

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "no worries, I just wanted to make sure you weren't getting left out"

 

         The Boulder shrugs as Mudo takes the stage, and stands a bit in the background. Well, as much in the background as he is able to. He has magnanimously decided to allow his underlings to carry the conversation. Isn't he nice?

         Taken aback a bit, the Exchequer lowers his pen and shudders. "At first, I simply didn't believe the reports. I thought it was malingering, or some kind of protest at first. There was no way the *entire* prefecture was unproductive this past season. I sent men, I made charges, made to prosecute, but the silence was deafening, and my men themselves were shaken by what they had seen. The Sheriff went and roused his ment to action, then came back and implored me to come with him. I don't go out often, I chill easily from draughts, and so was reluctant and of little mind to put up with foolishness. But I saw, and it was like out of a dream of a nightmare that I saw the state of the people of Chaud. Some simply sat where they were, eyes glazed, while others did small and inconsequential tasks repetitively. Others screamed, and frothed at the mouth, and thrashed in the streets, oblivious to all else except the throes of whatever mania had overtaken them. Many were dead. There is little record of how this transpired, or how it went undetected in our Kingdom for so long. I fear we may have garnered the attention of something quite beyond us."

 

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "OOC the Boulder is funier than anything Mudo could ever do"

-= OOC =- The Boulder ;)

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "ironic isn't it"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "a clown is nothing without a straight man"

 

         The clown priest tokes on his cigar and turns to the man, "have your priests consulted the local spirit courts?"

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "omg, we'll all repose, starting with mudo"

 

          "We cannot say for certain that a malicious force is actively causing such a state without more information as to the symptoms of your situation." Crystal Seeker replies, building a mental checklist. "I take it you tested the water and food supply for contamination and examined your citizenry for signs of disease. What is your social standing with your locals gods...", she seems surprised that Mudo suggested the exact same thing as she, it almost seems suspicious for him to say something legitimate.

         Responding to Crystal Seeker and correcting himself, Mudo adds "yeah that's a good point about the water. Could be a trouble some nymph. I better go question all the nearby ones. Seeker care to join me for an exploratory dip?"

         Wow. Did you know that the ceiling here is /marble/? The Boulder didn't. He does now.

 

-= OOC =- Crystal Seeker says, "that's a great Boulder quote"

-= OOC =- The Boulder :D

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "Boulder, you put me to shame."

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist grins

 

Mudo the Clown says, "well actually I did that by myself, but still. :P"

 

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "that was to be OOC"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Those are all the poses I missed?"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "yup"

 

         Emeril, the Exchequer, rubs the back of his pate, and says abashadely, "Our Royal Medium was one of the ones afflicted, and dead now. We never installed the office into the Royal Palace proper, something to do with the unsightliness of the spirit-folk and their somewhat alien ways. So, we do not know on that matter, nor does he have a replacement. We have little in the ways of learned folk, for we rarely need them."

         "Well this is your lucky day." Mudo responds with a flourish "I happen to be a Clown Priest of the first order!" He brings out a notebook and starts to scribble "I'll begin with the Nymphs of course, moving on to the Nyads, Dryads, Flame ducks and sweet zephers. Then I'll start looking into you problems."

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Boulder, save us, oh gawd!"

-= OOC =- Mudo the Clown says, "I'm about ready to tone it down myself. Actually I'm past ready."

 

         "Since this is the capital, we should be able to pray for a hearing with the Spirit representing Chaud from here." Crystal Seeker notes. "Sadly, whether /needed/ or not, having a medium is useful in knowing whether the spirits are feeling maligned, and we can't yet rule out such an occurrence. Where do you recommend we offer our prayers so that they may be heard with the most reverence?", Crystal Seeker asks.

 

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Oh, don't get m wrong. That's what the Nymphs, Naiads, Dryads, Flame Ducks and Zephyrs will cry. Ah well. Poses, or are we done for tonight?"

-= OOC =- Hunting Mist says, "Ah, lagged slightly, okay."

 

         The clown furrows his pasted on eyebrows and thinks. "Well I'll need a big crowd, a couple hours to prepare a good routine, and a some props. An amphitheatre or large court should do. As for maligned spirits, I'm a clown priest, they'll end up maligned one way or another"

         Emeril replies to Seeker, "We say that the heart of this township around the grace of the Palace is the Royal Market, made available to permit the commerce of our folk, and shows our best side. If you think you can elicit a reply from the Spirit of our fair State, then so be it. I must contrive of a way for our nation to survive the upcoming tax season and pay schedules.", and finishes by falling silent and waiting for you to leave. Especially Mudo.

         Mudo the Clown leaves with a bow, thanking the humor gods for letting him get his own chuckles from time to time.

         Turning her rainbowed-hued face, as if patterned with every glistening color of jade and gem, to "The Boulder". ""The Boulder" should not lower himself before any spirit. I beg your leave to perform this task myself.", Crystal Seeker advises.

 

Continued in When the Scarecrow reigns! Part 2